CHAPTER FIFTEEN.
Malta lay basking on the calm blue ocean, in the full radiance of amid-day sun, hot, white, and dazzling, when Her Majesty's brig _Ione_made her number in the offing, approaching the port from the northward.It was observed at the signal station at the top of Government House,and from thence telegraphed to the guard-ship. At the same time anothersail appeared from the eastward. She soon was made out to be amerchantman. Both had a fair wind. The brig of war stood in for theharbour on a bowline, her yards braced up on the larboard tack; and avery beautiful object she appeared, with all her canvas to her royalsset to a nicety, as she rounded Fort Saint Elmo, and then kept away alittle and run to her former anchorage, when, at a wave of hercommander's hand, as if by magic, the whole crowd of canvas was in aninstant clewed up and furled, and she brought up off Fort Saint Angelo.The merchant brig, which had the yellow flag flying, ran towards PortMarsa Musceit, and deliberately furling one sail after another, shedropped her anchor at the quarantine station, for she had come from theland of the plague, and many a day must pass before she could get_pratique_. Captain Fleetwood ordered his gig and hastened on shore, inorder to report himself and to deliver his despatches to the governor.He had just returned from a trip to Naples, where he had been sent toconvey despatches and also to bring back a few casks of light wines forthe governor's table. He was cordially received by the old veteran,with whom he was a favourite. He was just taking his departure when hewas called back.
"It may be for your satisfaction to learn, Captain Fleetwood, as I knowthat you are in a hurry to reach England, that you are to be sent homeimmediately with despatches and the mails," said the governor kindly."I dare say we shall see you out here again before long, from what Ihear, eh?" Charles Fleetwood actually blushed.
"I shall certainly come back to the Mediterranean, with or without aship, as soon as I can," he answered; "and I hope I shall find you well,sir."
"I shall be glad to see you, my lad, and I wish ye every success," saidthe old governor kindly, as Fleetwood took his final leave. On his wayback to the ship he called at the post-office, for he was anxious toascertain, without delay, if there were any letters for him. He hopedto receive one from Cephalonia. He felt sure Ada would have contrivedto write to him; and as he made the inquiry his heart beat much fasterthan usual. He had a packet of letters delivered to him; he ran his eyehurriedly over the addresses. Her handwriting was not to be seen. Theywere all from England. He then made every inquiry in his power from theshipping agents and others about the _Zodiac_; but nothing had beenheard of her. It was supposed she must long ago have arrived at herdestination. None of Colonel Gauntlett's friends had heard of him.Disappointed and out of spirits, he at last returned on board. He wasafraid that he should be obliged to leave Malta without hearing of hersafe arrival; and then how many months might pass away before he mightreceive a line from her. He did not, however, forget that others wouldbe glad to hear that they were to revisit their homes, and as he passedMr Saltwell, the first lieutenant, who was superintending the businessof sending the governor's casks of wine on shore, he told him to preparefor sailing to England in a day or two. Before the captain had thrownhimself on the sofa in his cabin, which he did as soon as he reached it,the joyous news had flown through the ship. Jemmy Duff was the first tocarry the news into the midshipmen's berth.
"Huzza, my lads!" he exclaimed, whisking round his cap, and letting itcome down over the eyes of Togle, another youngster of his own standing,who was reeling after the fatigue of furling sails, and eating hisdinner,--"Old England for ever! Who'll bet that we shan't be kissingour sweethearts at home this day six weeks?"
"Why, what do you mean?" cried several, looking up.
"Who'll take my bet?" replied Duff.
"Why, I will," answered Togle, who did not like being disturbed,clearing his head at the same time from the cap. "I will, because Idon't think such an ugly-looking chap as you are can have a sweetheartto kiss."
Whereon he got the cap pressed down harder than before, with his nose ina slop of rum-and-water on the table.
"But what makes you sing out in that way?" asked Tompion, the secondmate. "You don't mean to say that we are homeward-bound, youngster?"
"I do, though; and the skipper has just come on board to say so,"replied Duff; and thereon there was a general shout of congratulation,for though all hands were very happy together, the thought of change wasexciting, and that of home was dear to most of them.
"Well, the hope of the Duffs will be once more pressed to the maternalbosom. I congratulate you, Jemmy," said Togle, who was trying to gethis own nose in order, after its flattening in more senses than one, byputting that of his antagonist out of joint a little.
"Well, now we've had our cheer, and have all been flattering ourselveswith the thoughts of home, I'm ready to take any bet Duff likes to makethat we shall not be in England this day six weeks, or two months, if helikes, for I believe, after all, it's a hum of his; and I propose we cobhim as a punishment for deceiving his Majesty's liege subjects andgallant officers as he has done."
"I can prove, though, that I speak the truth," exclaimed Jemmy, who sawthe day turning against him. "Any one of you go and ask Mr Saltwell.He heard it from the captain, I tell you."
"No, no," put in Togle. "Punishment first and proof afterwards. That'sthe way the Turks manage, and they are sensible people. You can takethe cobbing first, and then go and ask Mr Saltwell, or the skipperhimself, if you like."
"You go and be damned, Togle," retorted Duff. "You know well enoughthat I'm speaking the truth; and mind, old chap, I shall keep you toyour bet,--two months, you said."
"I made no bet," answered Togle. "You offered to bet yourself, but youdidn't propose what it should be,--a dinner at the Star, or--"
Just then a personage appeared at the door of the berth, who wasimmediately appealed to.
"Oh! come in here, Muhajiar; you'll know all about it," cried Jack Raby."Take a glass. We haven't seen you for some time. Have you heardwhether we are going home?"
"So the purser's steward told me, gentlemen, and it is generallybelieved throughout the ship," returned the individual addressed, whoentered with such a bow as he could contrive to find room to make, andtook his seat at the table, where with much gusto he drank off theporter offered to him. He was a stout, tallish man, with a goodexpression of countenance, and most of those who remember Malta in thoseand even later days, will recollect him as one of the most respectabletailors in the place. He had been, I believe, in the marines; butgetting his discharge, set up for himself as a builder of garments, andsoon managed to establish a very thriving business. He was always onthe watch, and the moment a ship dropped her anchor he would come onboard to take orders. He knew everybody and everything that was goingforward, and was, consequently, a great authority.
"Huzza! it is true, for Paolo Muhajiar has heard it," exclaimed Togle,looking hard at Duff. "Well, Jemmy, I'll let you off your bet--but youwill see that I am right."
Signor Paolo Muhajiar took his leave, for he was not likely to get anyorders, at all events, to be paid, if he executed them; and the berthwas soon cleared of its rightful occupants--some to go on shore, othersto their duties, and the rest to see what was going forward in theharbour.
The scene there was amusing. There were boats of all sorts anddescriptions alongside; but there is one peculiarity of which Valettamay boast, to the disadvantage of nearly all other ports. The boatsintended for the conveyance of passengers are kept in good order, andbeautifully clean; and the boatmen belonging to them are also verycareful to dress neatly--their linen always looking as white as snow.Some of the boats alongside had goats on board, and the aquaticgoat-herds were offering to milk them to supply milk for the officers'tea. It is not a bad way to secure pure milk.
The three mids of the _Ione_--Jack Raby, Duff, and Togle--were on thepoop leaning over the quarter-rail, and amusing themselves by discussingaffairs in general, and watching the panorama r
ound them, when a boatwith two thin, slight lads pulled out of the dockyard creek.
"He for dive, signor," sung out one of them, looking up at our mids.
"He says he'll bet you he'll dive to the bottom and be back again soonerthan you will, Togle. So overboard with you, and show him he's wrong,"said Duff, trying to heave over his messmate.
"He says he'll bring up a shilling if you heave it overboard," answeredTogle, retaliating by seizing the first coin he could lay hands on outof Master Jemmy's waistcoat pocket--it was fortunately onlyhalf-a-crown. "There, Smaitch, it's too much for one of you though, soboth of you be after it."
And holding it up to show, before Duff could snatch at it, it wasglancing through the clear water of the harbour. Over went both thelads after it, eager to appropriate so rich a prize, and it is to befeared, had they had knives, they would have fought for it under thewaves, and have neither of them returned. Luckily Duff, as he could notsave his own coin, had managed to seize a shilling from Togle, whichserved to attract the attention of the one who was furthest from thegreat prize, and both of them came up to the surface an instantafterwards, with the pieces of money in their hands.
"Me for dive, signor--me for dive," they both again sung out, hoping toget another coin from Raby.
"No, no more me for dive, you blackguards," he answered, shaking hishead. "You've had quite enough from these two Master Greens already."
And the lads, after singing out a few more times, pulled on ahead, stillcrying, "Me for dive, signor; me for dive;" though little, beyond a fewpence, did they get from the crew of an old Mediterranean cruiser likethe _Ione_.
"Now suppose there were sharks here as they have in the West Indies, itwould not be quite so easy to go overboard as it is," observed Duff, whoquickly recovered his temper, which he had lost with his half-crown.
"Oh, these fellows would laugh at a shark," answered Raby. "Why eventhe blackies don't fear them, and will attack and kill the largest. Bythe by, did you ever hear of the big fellow they keep in Port Royalharbour to do the duty of guard-boat? Not a man dares swim on shorewhen big Tom is on duty, and he never takes a snooze they say."
"You don't mean to say so," said Togle, "but how do they manage to keephim there?"
"Oh, the Government promised him a superannuated pension when he's nolonger fit for work; but, as he finds he must go on shore to receive it,he is obliged to keep afloat; though he's been so many years at it thatno one remembers when he first came on the station."
"He must be a rum old joker," observed Duff. "Hillo, here comes oldMonsieur Collet with his cargo of ginger-beer. Let's go and get some;for I'm very thirsty."
And away they all three scrambled to the gangway, to which a boat hadcome with a little wizened old man in her, and laden with bottles ofginger-beer, and other refreshing drinks.
"Hand us up ginger-beer there," sung out Jemmy Duff. "But, I say,Monsieur Collet, remember, no pop--no pay."
"Oh, no, signor. All my ginger-beer pop very much."
And, to prove the truth of his assertion, off went half a dozen of hisbottles fizzing away together; some, however, remained, and the oldFrenchman insisted on himself cutting the lashings of the corks to givefull effect of the pop. He would then put a far from clean thumb overthe mouth to prevent the liquid from escaping; but still the froth wouldfiz and fume round it.
"Thank ye, Monsieur Collet, none of your digitalis for me," remarked theassistant surgeon, who observed the operation, which, however, fewothers seemed to care for.
The attention of the idlers was soon drawn off from old Collet, and hisrefreshing draughts, towards a boat which pulled alongside, filled withmusicians, who if they produced sounds not especially harmonious, tookcare that they should be loud enough to be heard far and wide.
"Huzza for the Banjee," sung out some of the men forward. "Come,Smaitch, tip us a tune there--Go ahead, Banjee!" and on this requisitionthe performers in the Banjee boat began to exert their talents to thegreat delight of their hearers, who rewarded them with showers of pence.Not, however, of this character are the principal Banjee boats; whichreally contain very good musicians, who enliven the harbour with theirsweet harmony, and are often some of the best performers from the OperaHouse. Valetta harbour is in truth as lively and animated, asinteresting and picturesque a sheet of water as is to be found in anypart of the world. On the north side of where the ship lay were thedazzling white walls of the city towering towards the blue sky, with theMarina below them, and numerous vessels moored along the quays; on theother side the frowning batteries of Fort Saint Angelo, and the Venetianlooking canal, called Dockyard Creek; many of the houses having doorscut through the rock opening down to the water, the whole wearing anaspect more Oriental than European. Then the boats, darting about inevery direction, mostly painted bright green and yellow, with uprightsterns rising high above the gunnel, and great big eyes painted on thebows--very often having the name of some ship or other on them inaddition.
And the boatmen, with their long red or blue caps, the tassel reachingto their waists, their gay waistcoats, their shirt-sleeves rolled upabove their elbows exhibiting their brawny arms, their red sashes, theirblue overall trousers, and their nankeen ones below, are not unworthy ofremembrance. But the most picturesque objects are the lateen sails withtheir long tapering yards either wing and wing when skimming alongbefore the wind, or heeling over when close-hauled upon it.
Such in part was the scene viewed from the deck of the _Ione_.
Captain Fleetwood sat meditating in his cabin. He had read all hisletters from home. They contained nothing that was not satisfactory,and yet his thoughts were far from cheerful. He was out of spirits atnot hearing from Ada; from being unable to gain any information abouther. He, however, had received no positive orders for sailing, and hetrusted that tomorrow or the following day some vessel from Cephaloniamight arrive, and bring a letter for him; still his heart would sinkwith forebodings of ill, when he recollected the suspicions he hadentertained, and the warnings he had given to Bowse respecting thesperonara and her crew. A man who is in love, when he is absent fromthe object of his affections, is certainly very much to be pitied, if hehas the slightest particle of imagination; for he is sure to employ itin conceiving that all sorts of misfortunes and miseries, and disasters,are befalling her.
He was aroused from his meditations by a message from the governor,requesting to see him immediately, on urgent business. He sprang up,put on his cocked hat, buckled to his sword-belt, and ordering his gigto be manned, pulled on shore as fast as he could, and toiled upwards,by steps innumerable, to the governor's palace.
"Ye will be surprised, doubtless, Captain Fleetwood, at my sending forye again to-day," said the governor, in a kind tone, as he entered."But sit down, mon, sit down and rest yourself, for I have a veryextraordinary communication to make to ye, which I cannot fail to thinkwill agitate ye; and I therefore considered it advisable to speak to yeon the subject myself."
"For Heaven's sake tell me what it is, sir," exclaimed Fleetwood, who,on first entering, had seen that something was wrong; and his fearshaving already pointed all round the compass, he had settled that it wasin some way connected with Ada Garden.
"Ye must be calm and tranquil, mon, in a case like this; for ye willrequire all your judgment and discretion to discover the means ofaccomplishing your object;" continued the governor, not noticing theinterruption. "And as I considered ye a mon in every way calculated forthe purpose I have in view, and, moreover, particularly suited, fromother reasons, which ye yourself will allow, I instantly madeapplication to employ you on it." Fleetwood almost groaned. He couldnot again venture to interrupt the governor, though he was bursting withimpatience to have his fears relieved or confirmed. "Well, I see yewish to be informed on the subject, which is very natural, CaptainFleetwood; and, therefore, I must premise that I have this day receivednotice of the arrival of a brig, a merchantman from Smyrna, and that sheis now performing quarantine in Port Marsa Musceit. He
r master haswritten a statement which has been forwarded to me; and which, ifcorrect, and I see no reason to doubt it, proves that further effortsare required to put down piracy and robbery and murder in these seas;and by God they shall not be wanting as long as I'm ruler here."
"Well, sir; well, sir," ejaculated Fleetwood.
"But ay, the statement. It is to the effect that the brig _Mary Jane_,William Jones master, on her voyage from Smyrna to Malta, did inlatitude ... degrees north, longitude ... degrees east, sight the hullof a vessel dismasted. That not lying much out of her course, shehauled up for her; and on a nearer approach she appeared to bewater-logged, by her lowness in the water, and the heavy way in whichshe rolled; that on getting close to her, the _Mary Jane_ was hove to,and a boat lowered into the water, into which the first mate and aboat's crew got, and pulled on board her. It appears that the mate,when he first got alongside, thought that she had been brought into herpresent condition by a storm, from the appearance her shattered bulwarkspresented; but that, climbing up her side, she found a number ofshot-holes, and round-shot sticking in them, and her spars and rigginglying about the decks, evidently destroyed by shot. He therefore cameto the conclusion that she had been hotly engaged with an enemy of verysuperior force, as she herself only carried four guns; and it wouldrequire a large number, or else very rapid firing, for a long time, tosend so many into her as he observed. He soon discovered that there wasno human being alive on board her; but on more minute examination, hewas of opinion, from the state of the decks, that there had been somesevere fighting, and a number of people killed on them. All the bodies,however, had been thrown overboard. The hold of the ship had beenransacked, was almost empty, as were the cabins, which had evidentlybeen fitted up for passengers, and there were a few articles of femalegear scattered about, which made him suppose that there had been ladieson board."
"Great Heaven!" ejaculated Captain Fleetwood, starting up. "The name,sir--the name?"
"The name is just what the mate had considerable difficulty himself indiscovering; for, you see, the master had a fancy to have it painted solow under the counter, that it could not be seen, sunk deep in the wateras the ship now was. At last, however, one of the men who accompaniedhim, found a book with the name of Bowse in it, which he concluded to bethat of the master."
"The same," groaned poor Fleetwood. "It was the _Zodiac_. She islost--lost to me for ever. Oh, Ada, Ada!"
And again he groaned, as if death could alone relieve his heart from hisload of misery.
"Hoot, mon, hoot! ne'er say die while there's life!" exclaimed the bluffold governor. "Ye have no positive proof that any one ye care for isdead or lost to ye. I tell ye, the mate of the _Mary Jane_ found no onedead on board the vessel; and, as she had no boats remaining, it is justa plausible supposition that the survivors of the crew and thepassengers may have escaped from the ship they thought was sinking inone of them; and we may hear of your friends turning up somewhere orother; for I do not pretend to deny that, when I first received noticeof the outrage, I felt convinced that my friend, Colonel Gauntlett andhis bonnie niece were among the sufferers."
"Too true, they were, sir," replied Fleetwood, by a great effort,endeavouring to collect his thoughts for active service.
"It was that supposition, and not ignorant also of your attachment tothe young leddie, which made me resolve to apply, instanter, that the_Ione_ might be sent in the first place to search for the crew andpassengers of the late brig the _Zodiac_; for I ought to say, she sankwhile the _Mary Jane_ was yet close to her; and then, it will begratifying and soothing to your feelings, under the circumstances, tochastise the miscreants who have perpetrated this atrocity--and I do notsuppose, Captain Fleetwood, that ye will be disposed to spare them morethan I should."
And the grim old soldier gave a look which indicated no inclination tobe lenient.
"We will hang every mother's son of them; and teach other villains thatthese seas can no longer be made the field for the exercise of theirmarauding disposition. Ye understand, Captain Fleetwood--ye may takethem alive if ye can; but ye may sink, burn, and destroy them all,sooner than let one escape."
"I comprehend, sir, clearly," answered Fleetwood. "When can I sail?"
"I am expecting your orders every instant," replied the governor. "Itis a considerate change of destination, to be sure; but I knew the dutywould be gratifying to you; and, fortunately, your brig is the onlyvessel on the station fit to be sent on it, while the despatches can gohome by the _Racehorse_ as well. Sit quiet a few minutes till theorders arrive; and I will in the mean time glance my eye over a paper Ihave to read."
Captain Fleetwood threw himself back in his seat, and covered his eyeswith his hands. The old governor, who had purposely been morecircumvolute even than usual, in order not too suddenly to shock hisfeelings, looked up at him with a kind expression, which showed that hetruly entered into his wretchedness.
"I have been considering, sir," said Fleetwood, suddenly looking up,"what clue can be found of the pirates' places of retreat; for, if theydid not destroy those on board the _Zodiac_, I feel sure that they willhave carried them off."
"Ah! that is the proper spirit with which to meet a misfortune,"exclaimed the governor, rising and placing his hand on Fleetwood'sshoulder. "Look it in the face, and think how you can best overcome it.You deserve to succeed--and you will succeed, mon, I am sure. Well, asto the clue, that is an important consideration, which must be thoughtof."
Captain Fleetwood remained some time longer in consultation with thegovernor. His orders, which had been sent up to the palace, were handedto him, and with them in his pocket he hurried on board.
"Mr Saltwell," he said, as he ascended the side, "hoist the blue-peter,and take every means of getting all hands on board. We sail to-nightfor the Levant. I shall be happy to see you as soon as convenient inthe cabin."
"Ay, ay, sir," mechanically answered the first lieutenant, who, as helooked at his commander, at first thought that he had gone out of hismind; but he soon saw that something extraordinary had happened to causethis sudden change in their destination, and without stopping further toconsider what it was, he took the necessary steps to obey the orders hehad received. The announcement, as might have been expected, created,at first, no little dissatisfaction and disappointment throughout theship, but that was before any one was aware of the reasons of thechange. Mr Togle was the first of the midshipmen to hear the news, anddown he rushed into the berth, where most of his messmates werecollected.
"You've lost your bet, Jemmy," he exclaimed, giving Duff a slap on theshoulder. "Instead of going to England we're bound for the Levant, oldfellow; so fork out. You betted a dinner at the Star, didn't you?"
"Well, suppose I believed your humbug," answered Duff, "I'm ready togive you a dinner at the Star; but if we don't go to England, I'm sure Idon't know how you are to eat it; so I've done you, old fellow!"
Thereon the discussion grew warm, as to how a bet under suchcircumstances should be settled, no one believing Mr Togle's assertionof their change of destiny. It was interrupted by the shrill pipe ofthe boatswain's whistle, and the hoarse cry of--
"All hands, unmoor ship," which echoed along the decks.
"There's something in the wind, any how," exclaimed Jack Raby, as theyall jumped up to hurry to their stations.
"I told you so," said Togle. "We shall have plenty of adventures beforewe again see old England, depend on it."