CHAPTER XXVI.
"He that has sailed upon the dark-blue sea, Has viewed at times, I ween, a full fair sight; When the fresh breeze is fair as breeze may be, The white sail set, the gallant frigate tight; Mast, spires and strand, retiring to the sight, The glorious main expanding o'er the bow, The convoy spread like wild swans in their flight, The dullest sailer waring bravely now, So gaily curl the waves before each dashing prow."
BYRON.
As Sir Gervaise Oakes' active mind was liable to such sudden mutationsof thought as that described in the close of the last chapter, Greenlyneither smiled, nor dwelt on the subject at all; he simply pointed outto his superior the fact, that they were now abreast of the Thunderer,and desired to know whether it was his pleasure to proceed any further.
"To the Carnatic, Greenly, if Sir Wycherly will have the goodness toshape his course thither. I have a word to say to my friend Parker,before we sleep to-night. Give us room, however, to look at Morganic'sfancies, for I never pass his ship without learning something new. LordMorganic's vessel is a good school for us old fellows to attend--hey!Greenly?"
"The Achilles is certainly a model vessel in some respects, SirGervaise, though I flatter myself the Plantagenets have no greatoccasion to imitate her, in order to gain a character."
"_You_ imitate Morganic in order to know how to keep a ship inorder!--Poh! let Morganic come to school to _you_. Yet the fellow is notbashful in battle neither; keeps his station well, and makes himselfboth heard and felt. Ah! there he is, flourishing his hat on the poop,and wondering what the deuce Sir Jarvy's after, now! Sheer in,Wychecombe, and let us hear what he has to say."
"Good evening, Sir Gervaise," called out the earl, as usual taking the_initiative_ in the discourse; "I was in hopes when I saw your flag inthe boat, that you were going to do me the favour to open a bottle ofclaret, and to taste some fruit, I have still standing on the table."
"I thank you, my lord, but business before pleasure. We have not beenidle to-day, though to-morrow shall be still more busy. How does theAchilles steer; now her foremast is in its place?"
"Yaws like a fellow with his grog aboard, Sir Gervaise, on my honour! Weshall never do any thing with her, until you consent to let us stay herspars, in our own fashion. Do you intend to send me Daly back, or am Ito play first lieutenant myself, admiral?"
"Daly's shipped for the cruise, and you must do as well as you canwithout him. If you find yourself without a second astern, in the courseof the night, do not fancy she has gone to the bottom. Keep goodlook-outs, and pay attention to signals."
As Sir Gervaise waved his hand, the young noble did not venture toreply, much less to ask a question, though there was not a littlespeculation on the poop of the Achilles, concerning the meaning of hiswords. The boat moved on, and five minutes later Sir Gervaise was on thequarter-deck of the Carnatic.
Parker received the commander-in-chief, hat in hand, with a solicitudeand anxiety that were constitutional, perhaps, and which noconsciousness of deserving could entirely appease. Habit, however, hadits share in it, since, accustomed to defer to rank from boyhood, andthe architect of his own "little fortune," he had ever attached moreimportance to the commendation of his superior, than was usual withthose who had other props to lean on than their own services. As soon asthe honours of the quarter-deck had been duly paid--for these SirGervaise never neglected himself, nor allowed others to neglect--thevice-admiral intimated to Captain Parker a desire to see him in hiscabin, requesting Greenly and Wycherly to accompany them below.
"Upon my word, Parker," commenced Sir Gervaise, looking around him atthe air of singular domestic comfort that the after-cabin of the shippresented, "you have the knack of taking a house to sea with you, thatno other captain of the fleet possesses! No finery, no Morganics, but aplain, wholesome, domestic look, that might make a man believe he was inhis father's house. I would give a thousand pounds if my vagabonds couldgive the cabin of the Plantagenet such a Bowldero look, now!"
"Less than a hundred, sir, have done the little you see here. Mrs.Parker makes it a point to look to those matters, herself, and in thatlies the whole secret, perhaps. A good wife is a great blessing, SirGervaise, though you have never been able to persuade yourself into thenotion, I believe."
"I hardly think, Parker, the wife can do it all. Now there's Stowel,Bluewater's captain, he is married as well as yourself--nay, by George,I've heard the old fellow say he had as much wife as any man in hismajesty's service--but _his_ cabin looks like a cobbler's barn, and hisstate-room like a soldier's bunk! When we were lieutenants together inthe Eurydice, Parker, your state-room had just the same air of comfortabout it that this cabin has at this instant. No--no--it's in the grain,man, or it would never show itself, in all times and places."
"You forget, Sir Gervaise, that when I had the honour to be yourmessmate in the Eurydice, I was a married man."
"I beg your pardon, my old friend; so you were, indeed! Why, that was aconfounded long time ago, hey! Parker?"
"It was, truly, sir; but I was poor, and could not afford theextravagances of a single life. _I_ married for the sake of economy,Admiral Oakes."
"And love--" answered Sir Gervaise, laughing. "I'll warrant you,Greenly, that he persuaded Mrs. Parker into that notion, whether true ornot. I'll warrant you, he didn't tell _her_ he married for so sneaking athing as economy! I should like to see your state-room now, Parker."
"Nothing easier, Sir Gervaise," answered the captain, rising and openingthe door. "Here it is, air, though little worthy the attention of theowner of Bowldero."
"A notable place, truly!--and with a housewife-look about it that mustcertainly remind you of Mrs. Parker--unless, indeed, that picture at thefoot of your cot puts other notions into your head! What young hussyhave you got there, my old Eurydice?--Hey! Parker?"
"That is a picture of my faithful wife, Sir Gervaise; a propercompanion, I hope, of my cruise?"
"Hey! What, that young thing your wife, Parker! How the d--l came she tohave you?"
"Ah, Sir Gervaise, she is a young thing no longer, but is well turnedtowards sixty. The picture was taken when she was a bride, and is allthe dearer to me, now that I know the original has shared my fortunes solong. I never look at it, without remembering, with gratitude, how muchshe thinks of me in our cruises, and how often she prays for oursuccess. _You_ are not forgotten, either, sir, in her prayers."
"I!" exclaimed the vice-admiral, quite touched at the earnest simplicityof the other. "D'ye hear that, Greenly? I'll engage, now, this lady is agood woman--a really excellent creature--just such another as my poorsainted mother was, and a blessing to all around her! Give me your hand,Parker; and when you write next to your wife, tell her from me, Godbless her; and say all you think a man ought to say on such an occasion.And now to business. Let us seat ourselves in this snug domestic-lookingcabin of yours, and talk our matters over."
The two captains and Wycherly followed the vice-admiral into theafter-cabin, where the latter seated himself on a small sofa, while theothers took chairs, in respectful attitudes near him, no familiarity orjocularity on the part of a naval superior ever lessening the distancebetween him and those who _hold subordinate commissions_--a fact thatlegislators would do well to remember, when graduating rank in aservice. As soon as all were placed, Sir Gervaise opened his mind.
"I have a delicate piece of duty, Captain Parker," he commenced, "whichI wish entrusted to yourself. You must know that we handled the shipwhich escaped us this morning by running down into her own line, prettyroughly, in every respect; besides cutting two of her masts out of her.This ship, as you may have seen, has got up jury-masts, already; butthey are spars that can only be intended to carry her into port.Monsieur de Vervillin is not the man I take him to be, if he intends toleave the quarrel between us where it is. Still he cannot keep thatcrippled ship in his fleet, any more than we can keep our prize, and Imake no doubt he will send her off to Cherbourg as so
on as it is dark;most probably accompanied by one of his corvettes; or perhaps by afrigate."
"Yes, Sir Gervaise," returned Parker, thoughtfully, as soon as hissuperior ceased to speak; "what you predict, is quite likely to happen."
"It _must_ happen, Parker, the wind blowing directly for his haven. Now,you may easily imagine what I want of the Carnatic."
"I suppose I understand you, sir;--and yet, if I might presume toexpress a wish--"
"Speak out, old boy--you're talking to a friend. I have chosen you toserve you, both as one I like, and as the oldest captain in the fleet.Whoever catches that ship will hear more of it."
"Very true, sir; but are we not likely to have more work, here? andwould it be altogether prudent to send so fine a ship as the Carnaticaway, when the enemy will count ten to six, even if she remain?"
"All this has been thought of; and I suppose your own feeling has beenanticipated. You think it will be more honourable to your vessel, tokeep her place in the line, than to take a ship already half beaten."
"That's it, indeed, Sir Gervaise. I do confess some such thoughts werecrossing my mind."
"Then see how easy it is to rose them out of it. I cannot fight theFrench, in this moderate weather, without a reinforcement. When the rearjoins, we shall be just ten to ten, without you, and with you, should beeleven to ten. Now, I confess, I don't wish the least odds, and shallsend away somebody; especially when I feel certain a noble two-deckedship will be the reward. If a frigate accompany the crippled fellow,you'll have your hands full, and a very fair fight; and should you geteither, it will be a handsome thing. What say you _now_, Parker?"
"I begin to think better of the plan, Sir Gervaise, and am grateful forthe selection. I wish, however, I knew your own precise wishes--I'vealways found it safe to follow them, sir."
"Here they are, then. Get four or five sets of the sharpest eyes youhave, and send them aloft to keep a steady look on your chap, whilethere is light enough to be certain of him. In a little while, they'llbe able to recognise him in the dark; and by keeping your night-glasseswell levelled, he can scarcely slip off, without your missing him. Themoment he is gone, ware short round, and make the best of your way forCape la Hogue, or Alderney; you will go three feet to his two, and, mylife on it, by day-light you'll have him to windward of you, and thenyou'll be certain of him. Wait for no signals from me, but be off, assoon as it is dark. When your work is done, make the best of your way tothe nearest English port, and clap a Scotchman on your shoulder to keepthe king's sword from chafing it. They thought me fit for knighthood atthree-and-twenty, and the deuce is in it, Parker, if you are not worthyof it at three-and-sixty!"
"Ah! Sir Gervaise, every thing you undertook succeeded! You never yetfailed in any expedition."
"That has come from attempting much. My _plans_ have often failed; butas something good has generally followed from them, I have the credit ofdesigning to do, exactly what I've done."
Then followed a long, detailed discourse, on the subject before them, inwhich Greenly joined; the latter making several useful suggestions tothe veteran commander of the Carnatic. After passing quite an hour inthe cabin of Parker, Sir Gervaise took his leave and re-entered hisbarge. It was now so dark that small objects could not be distinguisheda hundred yards, and the piles of ships, as the boat glided past them,resembled black hillocks, with clouds floating among their tree-like andwaving spars. No captain presumed to hail the commander-in-chief, as herowed down the line, again, with the exception of the peer of the realm.He indeed had always something to say; and, as he had been conjecturingwhat could induce the vice-admiral to pay so long a visit to theCarnatic, he could not refrain from uttering as much aloud, when heheard the measured stroke of the oars from the returning barge.
"We shall all be jealous of this compliment to Captain Parker, SirGervaise," he called out, "unless your favours are occasionally extendedto some of us less worthy ones."
"Ay--ay--Morganic, you'll be remembered in proper time. In the meanwhile, keep your people's eyes open, so as not to lose sight of theFrench. We shall have something to say to them in the morning."
"Spare us a night-action, if possible, Sir Gervaise! I do detestfighting when sleepy; and I like to see my enemy, too. As much as youplease in the day-time; but a quiet night, I do beseech you, sir."
"I'll warrant you, now, if the opera, or Ranelagh, or a drum, or amasquerade, were inviting you, Morganic, you'd think but little of yourpillow!" answered Sir Gervaise, drily; "whatever you do yourself, mylord, don't let the Achilles get asleep on duty; I may have need of herto-morrow. Give way, Wychecombe, give way, and let us get home again."
In fifteen minutes from that instant, Sir Gervaise was once more on thepoop of the Plantagenet, and the barge in its place on deck. Greenly wasattending to the duties of his ship, and Bunting stood in readiness tocirculate such orders as it might suit the commander-in-chief to give.
It was now nine o'clock, and it was not easy to distinguish objects onthe ocean, even as large as a ship, at the distance of half a league. Bythe aid of the glasses, however, a vigilant look-out was kept on theFrench vessels, which, by this time, were quite two leagues distant,drawing more ahead. It was necessary to fill away, in order to closewith them, and a night-signal was made to that effect. The whole Britishline braced forward their main-yards, as it might be, by a commonimpulse, and had there been one there of sufficiently acute senses, hemight have heard all six of the main-top-sails flapping at the sameinstant. As a matter of course the vessels started ahead, and, the orderbeing to follow the vice-admiral in a close line ahead, when thePlantagenet edged off, so as to bring the wind abeam, each vessel didthe same, in succession, or as soon as in the commander-in-chief's wake,as if guided by instinct. About ten minutes later, the Carnatic, to thesurprise of those who witnessed the man[oe]uvre in the Achilles, woreshort round, and set studding-sails on her starboard side, steeringlarge. The darkest portion of the horizon being that which lay to theeastward, or, in the direction of the continent, in twenty minutes thepyramid of her shadowy outline was swallowed in the gloom. All thistime, la Victoire, with the Druid leading and towing, kept upon abowline; and an hour later, when Sir Gervaise found himself abeam of theFrench line again, and half a league to windward of it, no traces wereto be seen of the three ships last mentioned.
"So far, all goes well, gentlemen," observed the vice-admiral to thegroup around him on the poop; "and we will now try to count the enemy,to make certain _he_, too, has no stragglers out to pick up waifs.Greenly, try that glass; it is set for the night, and your eyes are thebest we have. Be particular in looking for the fellow under jury-masts."
"I make out but ten ships in the line, Sir Gervaise," answered thecaptain, after a long examination; "of course the crippled ship musthave gone to leeward. Of _her_, certainly, I can find no traces."
"You will oblige me, Sir Wycherly, by seeing what _you_ can make out, inthe same way."
After a still longer examination than that of the captain, Wycherly madethe same report, adding that he thought he also missed the frigate thathad been nearest le Foudroyant, repeating her signals throughout theday. This circumstance gratified Sir Gervaise, as he was pleased to findhis prognostics came true, and he was not sorry to be rid of one of theenemy's light cruisers; a species of vessel that often provedembarrassing, after a decided affair, even to the conqueror.
"I think, Sir Gervaise," Wycherly modestly added, "that the French haveboarded their tacks, and are pressing up to windward to near us. Did itnot appear so to you, Captain Greenly?"
"Not at all. If they carry courses, the sails have been set within thelast five minutes--ha! Sir Gervaise, that is an indication of a busynight!"
As he spoke. Greenly pointed to the place where the French admiral wasknown to be, where at that instant appeared a double row of lights;proving that the batteries had their lanterns lit, and showing adisposition to engage. In less than a minute the whole French line wasto be traced along the sea, by the double rows of illumin
ation, thelight resembling that which is seen through the window of a room thathas a bright fire, rather than one in which lamps or candles areactually visible. As this was just the species of engagement in whichthe English had much to risk, and little to gain, Sir Gervaiseimmediately gave orders to brace forward the yards, to boardfore-and-main tacks, and to set top-gallant-sails. As a matter ofcourse, the ships astern made sail in the same manner, and hauled up ontaut bowlines, following the admiral.
"This is not our play," coolly remarked Sir Gervaise; "a crippled shipwould drop directly into their arms and as for any success at long-shot,in a two-to-one fight, it is not to be looked for. No--no--Monsieur deVervillin, show us your teeth if you will, and a pretty sight it is, butyou do not draw a shot from me. I hope the order to show no lights isduly attended to."
"I do not think there is a light visible from any ship in the fleet, SirGervaise," answered Bunting, "though we are so near, there can be nogreat difficulty in telling where we are."
"All but the Carnatic and the prize, Bunting. The more fuss they makewith us, the less will they think of them."
It is probable the French admiral had been deceived by the near approachof his enemy, for whose prowess he had a profound respect. He had madehis preparations in expectation of an attack, but he did not open hisfire, although heavy shot would certainly have told with effect.Indisposed to the uncertainty of a night-action, he declined bringing iton, and the lights disappeared from his ports an hour later; at thattime the English ships, by carrying sail harder than was usual in sostiff a breeze, found themselves out of gun-shot, on the weather-bow oftheir enemies. Then, and not till then, did Sir Gervaise reduce hiscanvass, having, by means of his glasses, first ascertained that theFrench had again hauled up their courses, and were moving along at avery easy rate of sailing.
It was now near midnight, and Sir Gervaise prepared to go below.Previously to quitting the deck, however, he gave very explicit ordersto Greenly, who transmitted them to the first lieutenant, that officeror the captain intending to be on the look-out through the night; themovements of the whole squadron being so dependent on those of the flagship. The vice-admiral then retired, and went coolly to bed. He was nota man to lose his rest, because an enemy was just out of gun-shot.Accustomed to be man[oe]uvring in front of hostile fleets, the situationhad lost its novelty, and he had so much confidence in the practice ofhis captains, that he well knew nothing could occur so long as hisorders were obeyed; to doubt the latter would have been heresy in hiseyes. In professional nonchalance, no man exceeded our vice-admiral.Blow high, or blow low, it never disturbed the economy of hiscabin-life, beyond what unavoidably was connected with the comfort ofhis ship; nor did any prospect of battle cause a meal to vary a minutein time or a particle in form, until the bulk-heads were actuallyknocked down, and the batteries were cleared for action. Althoughexcitable in trifles, and sometimes a little irritable, Sir Gervaise, inthe way of his profession, was a great man on great occasions. Histemperament was sanguine, and his spirit both decided and bold; and, incommon with all such men who see the truth at all, when he did see it,he saw it so clearly, as to throw all the doubts that beset minds of aless masculine order into the shade. On the present occasion, he wassure nothing could well occur to disturb his rest; and he took it withthe composure of one on _terra-firma_, and in the security of peace.Unlike those who are unaccustomed to scenes of excitement, he quietlyundressed himself, and his head was no sooner on its pillow, than hefell into a profound sleep.
It would have been a curious subject of observation to an inexperiencedperson, to note the manner in which the two fleets man[oe]uvredthroughout that night. After several hours of ineffectual efforts tobring their enemies fairly within reach of their guns, after the moonhad risen, the French gave the matter up for a time, shortening sailwhile most of their superior officers caught a little rest.
The sun was just rising, as Galleygo laid his hand on the shoulder ofthe vice-admiral, agreeably to orders given the previous night. Thetouch sufficed: Sir Gervaise being wide awake in an instant. "Well," hesaid, rising to a sitting attitude, and putting the question which firstoccurs to a seaman, "how's the weather?"
"A good top-gallant breeze, Sir Jarvy, and just what's this ship's play.If you'd only let her out, and on them Johnny Crapauds, she'd be downamong 'em, in half an hour, like a hawk upon a chicken. I ought toreport to your honour, that the last chicken will be dished forbreakfast unless we gives an order to the gun-room steward to turn usover some of his birds, as pay for what the pigs eat; which were realcapons."
"Why, you pirate, you would not have me commit a robbery, on the highseas, would ye?"
"What robbery would it be to order the gun-room to _sell_ us somepoultry. Lord! Sir Jarvy, I'm as far from wishing to take a thingwithout an order, as the gunner's yeoman; but, let Mr. Atwood put it inblack and white."
"Tush!" interrupted the master. "How did the French bear from us, whenyou were last on deck?"
"Why, there they is, Sir Jarvy," answered Galleygo, drawing the curtainfrom before the state-room window, and allowing the vice-admiral to seethe rear of the French line for himself, by turning half round; "andjust where we wants 'em. Their leading ship a little abaft our lee-beam,distant one league. That's what I calls satisfactory, now."
"Ay, that _is_ a good position, Master Galleygo. Was the prize in sight,or were you too chicken-headed to look."
"I chicken-headed! Well, Sir Jarvy, of all characters and descriptionsof _me_, that your honour has seen fit to put abroad, this is the mostunjustest; chickens being a food I never thinks on, off soundings.Pig-headed you might in reason call me, Sir Jarvy; for I _do_ looksarter the pigs, which is the only real stand-by in a ship; but I neverdreams of a chicken, except for _your_ happetite. When they was eight on'em--"
"Was the prize in sight?" demanded Sir Gervaise, a little sharply.
"No, Sir Jarvy; she had disappeared, and the Druid with her. But thisisn't all, sir; for they does say, some'at has befallen the Carnatic,she having gone out of our line, like a binnacle-lamp at eight bells."
"Ay, _she_ is not visible, either."
"Not so much as a hen-coop, Sir Jarvy! We all wonders what has become ofCaptain Parker; no sign of him or of his ship is to be found on thebriny ocean. The young gentlemen of the watch laugh, and say she musthave gone up in a waterspout, but they laughs so much at misfortins,generally, that I never minds 'em."
"Have you had a good look-out at the ocean, this morning, MasterGalleygo," asked Sir Gervaise, drawing his head out of a basin of water,for, by this time, he was half-dressed, and making his preparations forthe razor. "You used to have an eye for a chase, when we were in afrigate, and ought to be able to tell me if Bluewater is in sight."
"Admiral Blue!--Well, Sir Jarvy, it _is_ remarkable, but I had justrubbed his division out of my log, and forgotten all about it. There_was_ a handful of craft, or so, off here to the nor'ard, at day-light,but I never thought it was Admiral Blue, it being more nat'ral tosuppose him in his place, as usual, in the rear of our own line. Let mesee, Sir Jarvy, how many ships has we absent under Admiral Blue?"
"Why, the five two-deckers of his own division, to be sure, besides theRanger and the Gnat. Seven sail in all."
"Yes, that's just it! Well, your honour, there _was_ five sail to beseen, out here to the nor'ard, as I told you, and, sure enough, it mayhave been Admiral Blue, with all his craft."
By this time, Sir Gervaise had his face covered with lather, but heforgot the circumstance in a moment. As the wind was at the north-west,and the Plantagenet was on the larboard tack, looking in the directionof the Bill of Portland, though much too far to the southward to allowthe land to be seen, his own larboard quarter-gallery window commanded agood view of the whole horizon to windward. Crossing over from thestarboard state-room, which he occupied _ex-officio_, he opened thewindow in question, and took a look for himself. There, sure enough, wasvisible a squadron of five ships, in close order, edging leisurely downon the two lines, und
er their top-sails, and just near enough to allowit to be ascertained that their courses were not set. This sightproduced a sudden change in all the vice-admiral's movements. Thebusiness of the toilet was resumed in haste, and the beard was mowedwith a slashing hand, that might have been hazardous in the motion of aship, but for the long experience of a sailor. This important part ofthe operation was scarcely through, when Locker announced the presenceof Captain Greenly in the main cabin.
"What now, Greenly?--What now?" called out the vice-admiral, puffing ashe withdrew his head, again, from the basin--"What now, Greenly? Anynews from Bluewater?"
"I am happy to tell you, Sir Gervaise, he has been in sight more than anhour, and is closing with us, though shyly and slowly. I would not letyou be called, as all was right, and I knew sleep was necessary to aclear head."
"You have done quite right, Greenly; God willing, I intend this to be abusy day! The French must see our rear division?"
"Beyond a doubt, sir, but they show no signs of making off. M. deVervillin will fight, I feel certain; though the experience of yesterdaymay render him a little shy as to the mode."
"And his crippled ship?--Old Parker's friend--I take it _she_ is notvisible."
"You were quite right in your conjecture, Sir Gervaise; the crippledship is off, as is one of the frigates, no doubt to see her in. Blewet,too, has gone well to windward of the French, though he can fetch intono anchorage short of Portsmouth, if this breeze stand."
"Any haven will do. Our little success will animate the king's party,and give it more _eclat_, perhaps, than it really merits. Let there beno delay with the breakfast this morning, Greenly; it will be a busyday."
"Ay--ay, sir," answered the captain in the sailor's usual manner;"_that_ has been seen to already, as I have expected as much. AdmiralBluewater keeps his ships in most beautiful order, sir! I do not thinkthe Caesar, which leads, is two cable's-length from the Dublin, thesternmost vessel. He is driving four-in-hand, with a tight rein, too,depend on it, sir."
At this instant, Sir Gervaise came out of his state-room, his coat inhis hand, and with a countenance that was thoughtful. He finisheddressing with an abstracted air, and would not have known the lastgarment was on, had not Galleygo given a violent pull on its skirts, inorder to smooth the cloth about the shoulders.
"It is odd, that Bluewater should come down nearly before the wind, in aline ahead, and not in a line abreast!" Sir Gervaise rejoined, as hissteward did this office for him.
"Let Admiral Blue alone, for doing what's right," put in Galleygo, inhis usual confident and sell-possessed manner. "By keeping his shipsastern of hisself, he can tell where to find 'em, and we understandsfrom experience, if Admiral Blue knows where to find a ship, he knowshow to use her."
Instead of rebuking this interference, which went a little further thancommon, Greenly was surprised to see the vice-admiral look his stewardintently in the face, as if the man had expressed some shrewd andcomprehensive truth. Then turning to his captain, Sir Gervaise intimatedan intention of going on deck to survey the state of things with his owneyes.