CHAPTER FOUR.
THE FIRST CAPTURE.
After this we rapidly overhauled the chase, and by the time that hercrew had got the wreck cleared out of the way, were once more alongside.
The French crew had ceased firing their stern-chasers upon the fall oftheir main-topmast, and it was the opinion of many that they had struck,their flag coming down with their topmast, and not being re-hoisted; wetherefore ceased firing also, but before we were fairly alongside theyhad rigged a small staff out over their taffrail, and had run their flagup again.
We were approaching the Frenchman upon his starboard quarter, with theintention of pouring in our larboard broadside directly the two shipswere fairly abreast, when our antagonist suddenly ported his helm, andthrew himself right athwart our hawse, the evolution being performedexactly at the instant which rendered a collision unavoidable. Our helmwas immediately put hard-a-starboard, with the intention of passingunder his stern if possible, but there was not sufficient room, and westruck him just abaft his main chains, the shock bringing down hismainmast, which had previously been badly wounded; while at the samemoment his starboard broadside came crashing in through our bows withmost destructive effect; one of our guns being dismounted, the foremaststruck in two places within a foot of each other, and the wheel smashedto pieces. Singularly enough the helmsman escaped without a scratch,but one poor fellow fell forward upon his gun, disembowelled.
The wind being light, the shock of the collision was very gentle, anddid no damage to the hull of either vessel. The two brigs droppedalongside each other, head and stern, and would soon have scraped clearagain, but the French threw their grapnels into our rigging the instantthat we dropped alongside, and immediately boarded.
The whole thing was so sudden that Captain Brisac was for a singleinstant confused; he rallied the next, however, and shouting "Boarders,repel boarders!" put himself at the head of our men.
The French captain led on his boarding party with magnificent dash andresolution, and for the first minute our men were driven irresistiblyback. Then came the turn of the tide, the English, maddened at thedisgrace of being forced to yield their ground to their hated enemies,recovered themselves, and in their turn pressed the French back again,every inch of the deck being fiercely contested. Captain Brisac and theFrench captain soon singled each other out, and after a few unavailingefforts succeeded in reaching each other and crossing swords. Ourskipper was a slight man of middle height and no very great personalstrength, while the Frenchman was a perfect giant; the fight betweenthem therefore was a very unequal one, especially as Captain Brisacpossessed but little skill with the sword. A few passes were madewithout any effect on either side, and then the Frenchman made adownward cut at his antagonist's head, with such tremendous force thatthe skipper's guard was fairly beaten down, and had not his adversary'scutlass turned its edge he would, in all probability, have been clovento the chin; as it was, he received a heavy blow on the head with theback of the weapon which partially stunned him, and placed himcompletely at the French captain's mercy.
The cutlass was instantly raised to repeat the stroke, when, in an agonyof apprehension at the imminent danger which threatened the man who hadshown me so much kindness, I drew a pistol from my belt, and, thrustingits muzzle into the Frenchman's face, pulled the trigger. The man flungup his arms and fell backwards dead, his distorted features, all blood-bespattered, presenting a hideous sight which haunted me for many a dayafterwards. The sight of blood is said to madden some animals, and I amsure it maddened me, for, furious with excitement, I forthwith dashedheadlong into the thickest of the _melee_, quite regardless ofconsequences, using with such savage freedom a cutlass which I snatchedout of the hand of a wounded man, that the French recoiled on every sidewith looks of dismay, while our own men, pressing forward with renewedvigour, at length drove the enemy back to their own ship.
"Hurrah, lads! after them!" I exclaimed, far too excited to give athought to the singularity of a newly-made midshipman presuming toassume the leadership in the presence of his superiors. Our men caughtmy enthusiasm, responding with a ringing cheer; and after them we went,helter-skelter, so rapidly that English and French tumbled over thebulwarks together. There was a momentary effort on the part of theFrench to make a stand on reaching their own deck; but they were, as acrew, now thoroughly demoralised, and our lads, their blood at lastcompletely roused, gave them no time to rally, but cut down every manwho offered the slightest opposition. Seeing that their case washopeless, the French crew flung down their arms and cried for quarter,and in less than two minutes from the instant of boarding, we foundourselves masters of the "Sans-Culotte" privateer, mounting eight long8-pounders and four 12-pound carronades, and with a crew originally ofeighty-one men, of whom nine were killed and twenty wounded; our ownloss being one man killed and one wounded. The action lasted threehours, and proved to be the first engagement of the war, much to thegratification of Mr Sennitt, who was intensely anxious for thedistinction of sending in the first prize.
The first duty was of course to secure possession, after which, theweather appearing likely to continue fine, the hands were piped todinner--such dinner, that is, as could be procured on the spur of themoment, the galley fire having been extinguished at the time of clearingfor action. Captain Brisac allowed an hour for this meal and a littlerepose, at the expiration of which all hands were set to work to clearaway the wreck and repair damages, a task which kept us busy untilconsiderably after sunset. By eight p.m., however, our preparationswere complete, a prize crew was placed on board the "Sans-Culotte," anda nice little breeze having in the meantime sprung up from the westward,we made sail in company, shaping a course for Plymouth, off which wearrived about noon the next day.
The prize, now being safe from all chance of recapture, was sent in,while the "Scourge," hauling her wind upon the starboard tack, reachedoff the land on her way back to her appointed cruising-ground.
On the following day, about an hour before the time for serving dinnerin the cabin, Patterson, the captain's steward, popped his head in atthe door of the midshipmen's berth and announced,--
"Captain's compliments, and he will be glad to have the pleasure of MrChester's company at dinner."
"Tell Captain Brisac with my compliments that I am much obliged for hiscourteous invitation, which I accept with very great pleasure," Iresponded, looking up from the "Day's Work" upon which I was busy withmy slate and pencil.
"You're a lucky dog, Chester!" exclaimed young Harvey; "you seem to havedropped plump into the skipper's good books all at once. It is notoften that we mids are honoured with an invitation to the cabin-table, Ican tell you."
"Oh! come now, Harvey, I protest against your imposing upon theunfortunate Chester in that manner," interposed little Markham(nicknamed "Goliath" because he measured exactly three feet, six inchesin his stockings). "You know as well as I do that he is invited intothe cabin to-night, in order that the skipper may give him a goodwigging for that boarding business yesterday. I hope he won't be _very_hard upon you, old chap," he added, in a tone of deep sympathy, turningto me, "for somehow I have taken quite a liking to you, and if _I_ hadbeen at your elbow yesterday, instead of that over-grown lout, Harvey, Iwould have kept you out of the serape. You must be very quiet andsubmissive when he pitches into you, and plead ignorance--say you willbe a good boy and not do it again, you know."
"But have I really done anything very dreadful?" I inquired, more thanhalf taken in by the young monkey's serious manner.
"Oh, Lord! hold me, somebody, while I faint!" he exclaimed, turning upthe whites of his eyes like a dying duck in a thunder-storm, andflinging himself so suddenly backwards into the arms of Harvey that thelatter went down stern foremost, landing on the deck with one hand inthe beef-kid and the other in the blacking-box, while Markham rolled onthe top of him, kicking spasmodically, and simulating the feeblestruggles of an expiring person.
Luckily for "Goliath," it was the ludicrous side of this episo
de whichpresented itself most strongly to his victim, or a sound thrashingwould, in all probability, have been his portion; as it was, the pairscrambled to their feet again with a hearty laugh, as good friends asever.
"I declare, Chester, you'll be the death of me some day, if you go onlike this," resumed my would-be tormentor; "your touching innocencewould move a brass monkey to tears. Why," he continued, looking roundand addressing in low, measured tones, intended to express overwhelmingastonishment, the fragment of glass which still clung to one corner ofits frame, and, hanging suspended against the bulkhead, did duty as amirror--"he asks if he has really done anything very dreadful!! Is itactually possible, my gentle infant, that you are ignorant of the factthat you yesterday took the command out of your superior officers'hands, and that the punishment for such a crime--when it happens to be afirst offence--is keelhauling, while a repetition thereof is visitedwith the extreme penalty of the law?"
"And pray what is _keelhauling_?" I inquired, beginning to perceivethat my mercurial friend was merely indulging in a joke at my expense.
"Keelhauling, sir," he replied, "is a form of punishment which consistsin being lashed to a stout rope which is passed under the ship's bottom,and whereby the unhappy criminal is dragged along the keel from forward,aft; he being required, during the journey, to gather a sufficiency ofbarnacles off the ship's bottom to furnish a satisfying breakfast forthe captain next morning. If the unfortunate wretch fails, the processis to be repeated, with this addition, that on the second occasion thequantity of barnacles provided is to be sufficient for both the captainand the first lieutenant."
"Good gracious, how horrible!" I exclaimed, assuming as well as I couldan expression of serious concern. "I had no idea I was exposing myselfto the risk of such a fearful punishment. What would you advise me todo?"
"Well, that is by no means an easy question to answer," he replied."I'll tell you what I'll do, though. I should like to help you out ofthe scrape if I can, and I'll take an opportunity of speaking to theskipper before he goes down to dinner, and asking him not to passsentence of punishment upon you for the present. Then, if you'll keepmy watch for me to-night, I'll get another interview with him on thequiet while you are doing so. I have some little influence with him--mymodesty forbids me to say how I got it--and if I ask him _for my sake_to forgive you, he may very possibly do so. I expect he'll make somereference to the affair while at dinner though, and if he does, youronly chance will be to keep him in a good-humour, which you can easilydo if you only know how."
"But unfortunately I _don't_ know how!" I exclaimed, infusing as muchanxiety as I could into my tone and manner.
"No?" returned he. "Well, I'll tell you, if you solemnly engage never,under any circumstances, to divulge the source of your information."
I thought this extremely good, with Harvey sitting by, demurelylistening to the conversation, but, instead of saying so, I gravelyentered into the required engagement.
"That's all right," he remarked. "Now listen attentively to me. Theskipper has one overpowering weakness, and that is a fondness for acomic song. Let him be ever so exasperated, a comic song--_a goodcomic_ song, mind you--never fails to soothe him. Therefore, if heshould happen to-night, by any chance, to refer to your unfortunatelapse of duty yesterday, listen patiently and respectfully to all thathe has to say, and when he has finished, even if what he says strikesyou as being of a laudatory character--he is a very curious fellow inthat respect, often beginning by praising a man, when he means to end byblowing him up sky-high--just bow to him and say, `With your permission,sir, I will now change the subject by singing a comic song,' and strikeup boldly at once. I may safely venture to say you will be supremelyastonished at the effect you will produce, and if--"
"Mr Clewline wishes to see you on deck _at once_, please, Mr Markham,"said a marine, popping his head in at the door.
"Oh! all right," returned Markham. "I'll be up in a minute or two.It's a great nuisance, but I assure you, my dear Chester, that poor, oldClewline is positively at sea, unless he has me constantly at his righthand to--"
"Mr Clewline said, if you didn't come at once, Mr Markham, I was tojust fetch ye," said the marine, introducing his head once more.
"Very well, lead on, fellow, I follow," ejaculated he of Gath in a voiceexpressive of deep disgust, and he forthwith disappeared up the steepladder, followed by a hearty peal of laughter from us, his lateaudience.
"What a fellow it is!" exclaimed Harvey presently. "I am very glad tosee that you understand him, Chester. Otherwise, I am afraid he wouldhave got you into no end of scrapes. Not that he _means_ any harm, farfrom it. He is one of the best-natured fellows alive, but he is sowedded to practical joking that I believe nothing will ever break him ofit. He keeps the whole ship alive, as you will have seen by this time;but he is always in disgrace, and during the last cruise may be said tohave taken up his permanent abode at the mast-head: I daresay he isthere now."
It was even so, for when I went aft to the cabin, in compliance with thecaptain's invitation, a glance aloft revealed him comfortably perched onthe crosstrees, from which commanding position he reminded mepantomimically of the potent charm to be found in a comic song.
The dinner-party, that evening, consisted of Captain Brisac, MrSennitt, old Bolus the doctor, and myself. The table was liberallyfurnished, the wine good, and the party in excellent spirits, as wasnatural after securing a prize so speedily. Moreover, Captain Brisacwas a thorough gentleman, and knew exactly how to make his guests feelat ease, which is not always the case where the superior is also thehost. The conversation turned pretty frequently, as might be expected,on technical matters, but there were frequent divergences in the shapeof laughter-provoking anecdotes, in which the doctor shone forthconspicuously.
It was not, however, until after the cloth had been removed that theskipper made any reference to the occurrences of the previous day.Then, addressing himself to me, he said, "Let me take this opportunity,Mr Chester, of thanking you for saving my life yesterday. But for yourtimely interposition, I must infallibly have been killed; and I thankyou very sincerely for the promptitude with which you acted. Sailorsare not in the habit of making overmuch of such services; we performthem for each other, and think very little about it; but the factremains, all the same, and I shall not forget it. I have also to thankyou for the conspicuous gallantry you displayed in boarding the prize,gallantry which evidently had a strong effect upon the men, andcontributed in no inconsiderable degree to our success. So pleased am Iwith your conduct that I have felt justified in making special mentionof you in the despatch which I sent in with the prize, and I think I mayventure to promise you that what I have said will be found to exercise afavourable influence on your future prospects. Go on as you have begun,and you will do well. Above all things, study hard; you will find ituphill work at first, no doubt, but every step you take will make thosewhich succeed it easier, until you will at length find that you canacquire naturally and without effort all the knowledge that is requiredto make you proficient in your profession. Of course I do not mean thatyou should give your _whole_ time to study, a little recreation now andthen is not only allowable, but beneficial; but do not give your wholethoughts to play, as I am sadly afraid your messmate Markham does."
This mention of my mercurial friend brought back so vividly to my mindthe recent scene in our berth that I was--as the newspaper reporterssay--"risibly affected," a circumstance which did not fail to attractgeneral attention.
Captain Brisac looked both disconcerted and annoyed. "What is it, MrChester? What have I said to afford you so much amusement?" he asked.
"I beg your pardon, sir," I replied. "I was not laughing at anything_you_ said, but your mention of Mr Markham reminded me of somethingridiculous which _he_ said. I hope you will be pleased to excuse me,sir. I should be extremely sorry to do anything having the appearanceof rudeness or disrespect."
"I feel quite sure you would," returned the skipper, his bro
w clearingonce more, and an amused look coming into his eyes.
"But let us hear what that jocular young gentleman has been saying; itis not a state secret, I suppose, is it?"
"Oh dear no, sir; at the same time I know he would never have said it,had he had the least idea it would ever reach your ears; it was only alittle bit of fun on his part--an attempt, in fact, to impose upon me."
"Out with it, Mr Chester," exclaimed the doctor, his eyes fairlydancing with fun; "I'll be sworn he has been in some way taking yourname in vain, sir," he continued, turning to the captain.
"I think it more than likely, but it is quite impossible to feeloffended with the lad, he is always so utterly devoid of anything likeevil intention."
Seeing that my narrative would not be likely to do any harm, I thereuponproceeded to tell my story, which proved productive of a great deal oflaughter. At its conclusion the skipper said, "Pour yourself outanother glass of wine, Mr Chester, and then, I suppose, I must excuseyou. Mr Sennitt will not easily forgive me, if I prevent you fromkeeping your proper watch."
On reaching the deck I found that the wind had hauled round to aboutW.N.W., bringing with it a raw and dismal fog, which speedily saturatedwith moisture everything with which it came in contact. As the nightwore on, it became more and more dense, and by midnight it had become sothick that it was impossible to see from one end of the ship to theother, and Captain Brisac gave orders for the "Scourge" to be hove-to.The vessel was accordingly brought to the wind on the starboard tack,with her head pointing in the direction of the French coast, and thewatch, with the exception of half-a-dozen of the smartest hands, whowere placed on the lookout, were allowed to dispose themselves about thedeck in the most sheltered spots they could find.
The fog lasted all through the first watch, and when I went on deck atmidnight to take my turn of duty, it was thicker than ever. The vapourcame sweeping down upon the ship in great opaque masses, some of whichwere so dense that it was barely possible to distinguish objects on theopposite side of the deck, while the lower yards were only visible fromthe deck at very rare periods. The few men moving about loomed morelike gigantic shadows than human beings, and the binnacle lamps (theonly lights visible) emitted a feeble and ghostly glimmer which hardlysufficed to render visible the features of the man who stood by thewheel. No lights of any kind were exhibited on board the "Scourge,"Captain Brisac preferring to trust to a good lookout, and theprecautions adopted by other vessels, for our safety from collision,rather than run the risk of betraying our presence to an enemy by theexhibition of lights. For the same reason he had given orders that theship's bell should on no account whatever be struck during thecontinuance of the thick weather.
Somehow I could not help thinking that the skipper's precautions exposedus to a great deal of danger. Supposing, for example, that some othership, practising the same "precautions," happened to be in our immediateneighbourhood and approaching us on the opposite tack, what would be theresult? Why, in all probability the two craft would fall on board eachother, inflicting serious mutual damage, amounting perhaps to thecomplete destruction of one or both. The idea made me very uneasy, somuch so, indeed, that, my imagination at length becoming excited, I wason the point of giving an alarm at least a dozen times, thinking everynow and then that I could discern the dim outline of a strange shipsweeping silently down upon us like a gigantic ghost. So strong,indeed, did the illusion at length become, that I could have sworn Icaught a momentary glimpse of a light to windward, and, after hesitatinga few minutes, I became so convinced that I _had_ seen a light, that Iwent up to Mr Sennitt and reported it.
"A light, Mr Chester. Where away?" said he rather anxiously.
"Here, sir," I replied; "broad on our starboard quarter."
He gazed steadfastly in the direction I had indicated for two or threeminutes, and then turned away, saying,--
"You did quite right, my lad, to speak to me, but I really think youmust have been mistaken. Why, if it had really been so, the strangermust have been close aboard of us; it would be impossible to see anordinary light at a much greater distance than a hundred fathoms in sucha fog as this; why, it is thick enough to cut with a knife, the oldbarkie can scarcely force her way through it."
As he finished speaking I seemed to catch another glimpse of the light,just for a single instant, and I breathlessly exclaimed, "There it isagain, sir!"
"_I_ can see nothing," he returned somewhat impatiently, after takinganother long look. "Here, let us go round and examine the lookout men."
Every man was found broad awake and keenly watchful, yet none of themhad seen anything resembling a light, or indeed anything at all of anature to lead them to suppose that there was another ship in closeproximity to ourselves. I could not believe that my imagination hadbeen playing me a trick, yet it required no very great penetration on mypart to see that my superior thought but little of my assertion incomparison with the reports of the lookout men. We both returned to thespot from which we had started, and stood intently gazing to windward,until, for my part, I was almost ready to declare upon oath that theatmosphere was full of faint twinkling lights. The impression wasbeginning to force itself upon me that I had been making a fool ofmyself, and I was about to say so, when a faint and almost imperceptiblesound seemed to float down to us out of the thick folds of impenetrablemist to windward.
"There, sir!" I exclaimed; "did you hear nothing then?"
"Why, to tell you the truth, Mr Chester, I half thought I did," repliedSennitt; "but after all I believe it is only fancy; your imagination hasinfected my own, and if we stand here much longer we shall fancy a wholeFrench fleet there to windward. Luckily it is eight bells," hecontinued, consulting his watch by the light of the binnacle, "so wewill turn the ship over to the care of a fresh set of eyes and ears.Let the watch be called as quietly as possible."
This was done, and so completely had I already acquired that confidencewhich is conveyed in the expression "Let those look out who have thewatch," that, notwithstanding all my previous apprehensions, in anotherten minutes I was fast asleep.