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Under the Meteor Flag
Log of a Midshipman during the French Revolutionary War
By Harry Collingwood
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This is well-written and full of action. The formula is very much the
same as Kingston's--gales, shipwrecks, rafts, hand-to-hand battles, and
above all, a super-smart midshipman who doesn't even shave yet, but who
has influence in the Navy.
It is a good yarn, but there are a couple of things I do not like about
it. One is the habit of giving people surnames that are also parts of
the ship. I know that Marryat did it once or twice, and Kingston did
it, but it jars each time. I suppose the virtue of doing this is that
you are unlikely to find anyone in real life with that surname, so
confusion with actual people is avoided.
The other thing I don't like is the bringing-in of descriptions almost
word for word from other books by the same author. I suppose that's
better than bringing in descriptions by other authors.
A very strange thing is the title of the book. The word "meteor" is
mentioned only once, and on that occasion the meteor flag was waving
while they committed someone's body to the deep. I do think the title
ought to have something to do with the book, but at the time this book
was written there didn't seem to be a strong rule about it.
It is a longish book, and the audiobook is easy to listen to, but the
action goes so fast that you must not let your mind drift while you are
listening. NH.
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UNDER THE METEOR FLAG
LOG OF A MIDSHIPMAN DURING THE FRENCH REVOLUTIONARY WAR
BY HARRY COLLINGWOOD
CHAPTER ONE.
On board the "Scourge."
On the 9th of March, 1793, his Britannic Majesty's gun-brig "Scourge"
weighed, and stood out to sea from the anchorage at Spithead, under
single-reefed topsails, her commander having received orders to cruise
for a month in the chops of the Channel. The "Scourge" was a 16-gun
brig, but having been despatched to sea in a great hurry, after
receiving somewhat extensive repairs at the dockyard, she had only eight
long 6-pounders mounted, and, for the same reason, she was considerably
short-handed, her _crew_ amounting only to seventy men and boys, of whom
quite one half were eminently "green" hands. War with France had just
been once more declared, the various dockyards were busy night and day
preparing and turning out ships for service, and the officers were glad
to get hold of almost any class of men for their ships, provided only
that they were strong and able-bodied.
In this dashing little brig, I--Ralph Chester--held the exalted and
responsible post of midshipman; my appointment, on the morning in
question, being exactly one week old. I had only joined the ship,
however, three days before, and in the interval had been made the victim
of almost every practical joke which the ingenuity of my fellow-mids
could devise. It is not my purpose to recount these tricks, for
stirring times were at hand, and adventures of a sterner and far more
interesting nature were to meet me at the very outset of my career,
crowding thick and fast upon each other's heels; and it is in the
recital of these adventures that I hope to excite and gratify the
curiosity of my readers. A few--and _only_ a few--words are necessary
by way of personal introduction. My father--the Reverend Henry
Chester--was rector of the parish of --, which, as everybody knows,
enjoys the advantage of being located in the heart of the loveliest
scenery in Hampshire. Our family was not a large one; there were only
four of us--two boys and two girls--exclusive of my parents; which was a
decidedly fortunate circumstance, for if my father's family was
moderate, his income was still more so, and my poor mother's ingenuity
was often taxed to the utmost to make both ends meet, and at the same
time maintain for us all such outward tokens of respectability as became
the rector's family.
My elder brother, Henry, was destined to follow in the paternal
footsteps by entering the church. My sisters Florence and Amy (my
juniors respectively by two and four years) would, it was hoped,
contract in due time suitable marriages, with the friendly aid and
countenance of some of our more wealthy relations; and, for myself, my
dear father was most anxious that I should devote the few abilities with
which I had been endowed by nature to the study of the law. Personally
about the most unambitious man who ever lived, my father's ambition for
his children was absolutely boundless; and I believe, could the truth
have been arrived at, he quite hoped in course of time to see his sons,
the one Primate of England, and the other in possession of the woolsack.
But the prospect of spending my days in groping through musty law-books,
hunting up obscure precedents, convincing an enlightened jury, through
the medium of my persuasive arguments and impassioned eloquence, of the
innocence of rascals carrying the word "rogue" legibly imprinted upon
their countenances, and other operations of a kindred nature, had no
attractions whatever for me; my tastes and proclivities were all in
favour of an active outdoor existence; and, though I was prepared to
yield obedience if my father chose to _insist_ upon my following so
uncongenial an occupation, I felt that it was only due to myself to
point out to him that it would be utterly out of my power to infuse any
spirit or enthusiasm into my pursuit of it.
My father, on learning how utterly distasteful to me were his plans for
my future, at once waived his own inclinations, and came to the point by
inviting me to state specifically _what_ occupation I should prefer;
and, after taking a little time to give the question my most careful
consideration, I informed him that I had made up my mind to go into the
navy, if he saw no objection, and if I could get there. My decision
gave great concern to both my parents, and indeed I may say to the whole
family; but as time went on and it became every day more apparent that I
had set my heart upon going to sea, it was at length decided to yield to
my wishes; and the only question which then remained was how to get me
afloat under the most favourable auspices.
This question, fortunately for me, admitted of an easy solution. An
uncle of my mother--Sir Peregrine Portfire, K.B., Vice-admiral of the
Red, etcetera, etcetera--was applied to; and within a fortnight I was
directed to join the "Scourge" forthwith. A letter arrived by the same
post from my great-uncle, containing an enclosure addressed to Commander
George Brisac, soliciting his good service in my behalf, which enclosure
I was instructed to present to the gentleman addressed on joining the
ship.
I will not detain my readers by introducing them to the officers of the
"Scourge;" my sojourn on board that ship was but a short one, so short,
indeed, that I scarcely had time to become acquainted with them myself;
and, as I never fell in with any of them again in after-life, what
little it is necessary for the reader to know concerning them he will
glean in the progress of the narrative. And now to resume the thread of
my story.
The "Scourge," when we left her, was standing out to sea under single-
reefed topsails. The wind was about W.N.W., blowing strong, with
frequent squalls of mingled rain and sleet. The sky was entirely
obscured by dull, dirty, ragged-looking clouds, which hung so low that
they seemed to touch our trucks as they swept rapidly along overhead.
The sea under the shelter of the land was of course smooth, but as we
drew rapidly off the shore (the brig proving to be a wonderfully fast
little craft, to the intense satisfaction of all hands), we soon got
into rougher water; and then to the original miseries of rain and cold
were added the discomfort of frequent and copious showers of icy spray,
which, coming in over the weather bow, flew right aft and out over the
lee quarter, treating everybody, with the utmost impartiality, to a good
drenching on its way. All hands, from the skipper downward,
disregarding appearances, carefully enwrapped their carcases from head
to foot in oilskin; and if anything had been needed to complete the all-
pervading aspect of cold and wretchedness which the scene presented, it
would have been found in contemplation of the wet and shiny appearance
of the crew, each with a little stream of water trickling off the flap
of his sou'-wester down his back, and with hair and whiskers blowing
drenched and bedraggled about his pinched and purple visage.
The crowning misery of all--sea-sickness--I was happily spared, and I
was thus enabled to go about my duty without experiencing a wish that
some kindly sea would wash me overboard and end my life and my
wretchedness together; but, as it was, the circumstances attendant upon
my first experience of active service were such as might well have
damped the ardour of one even more enthusiastic than myself. My pride,
or my obstinacy, however, were such, that having once put my hand to the
plough, I was quite determined that nothing short of actual physical
incapacity should compel me to turn back.
We stretched off the land, close-hauled upon the starboard tack, the
whole of that day, and the greater part of the succeeding night; the
skipper's object being, as I gathered from a remark or two which I
overheard between him and the first lieutenant, to get well over toward
the French coast; where, if fortune favoured us, we might be lucky
enough to pick up a prize or two.
As the day wore on, the wind increased considerably in strength, and at
the end of the first dog-watch orders were given to take down another
reef in the topsails, and to stow the courses. The topsail yards were
accordingly lowered down upon the caps, and the crew proceeded aloft to
execute this duty, some of the green hands evincing a very marked
disinclination to go more than half-way up the lower rigging; and when
at length, by dint of mingled force and persuasion, they were got as
high as the tops, two or three refused point-blank to lay out upon the
yards. The first lieutenant raved at them, stamped furiously upon the
deck, and threatened unutterable things if they did not lay out
forthwith; and the captains of the tops, not to be behindhand, proceeded
vigorously to "freshen their way" with a rope's end. This latter
persuasive appeared to have the desired effect; and, slowly and with
excessive caution, the men proceeded to lay out. Suddenly the foot of
one of them on the main-yard slipped; he clung convulsively for a moment
to the yard, and then whirled off backwards, striking the main-rigging
on the weather side, and rebounding into the sea.
Instantly there arose the startling cry of "A man overboard!" I know
not what possessed me, but in the excitement of the moment, and without
in the least thinking of what I was doing, I no sooner saw the man
strike the water than I rushed aft, leaped upon the taffrail, and,
pausing a single instant to mark the spot where he fell, raised my hands
above my head, and took a most scientific header into the boiling surge.
As I was descending toward the water I heard a hearty cheer from the
men, and then the icy cold waves closed over my head; there was a
rushing sound in my ears, and darkness all around me.
When I rose to the surface, I found myself close to the drowning man,
who was struggling feebly and in an aimless sort of way, apparently half
stunned, and lying face downwards in the water. Swimming happened to be
one of the very few accomplishments in which I excelled, otherwise I do
not think it at all probable I should have leapt overboard so
unhesitatingly; be that as it may, though I had never been in rough
water before, and though, now that I was overboard, the sea seemed
incomparably more tempestuous than it had appeared to be from the ship's
deck, I felt perfectly at home. Paddling cautiously up to the man, I
seized him by the hair, and turned him over on his back, then threw
myself upon my back, and dragged his head up high enough upon my breast
to lift his mouth out of water, supporting him and myself by vigorous
strokes with my feet. Looking round, as we rose on the crest of a sea,
I could dimly descry the brig through the rapidly increasing gloom; and
to my horror she appeared to be a long distance away. I had time only,
however, for a momentary glance, when we sank into the trough, and I
lost sight of her. A few seconds afterwards I caught sight of her
again, and this time she was displaying in her rigging a lantern, the
sight of which I regarded (rightly, as it afterwards turned out) as a
sign and token that every effort would be used to recover us, and truly
the feeble gleam, appearing and disappearing as we rose and fell upon
the agitated surface of the sea, was to me a very star of hope and
encouragement.
My vigorous efforts to keep myself and the man afloat soon told upon me,
and I began to fear that I should be obliged to abandon my prize in
order to preserve my own life; luckily for us both, however, my
companion had ceased to struggle, and now lay supported within my arms,
to all appearance dead. As the time dragged heavily away, I grew more
and more exhausted, and at length the man slipped from my relaxing grasp
and began to sink. Happily at this instant I caught a momentary glimpse
of a small object standing out black and distinct against the narrow
belt of light lying along the western horizon, and I felt instinctively
that it was a boat coming in search of us; the sight imparted new energy
to my nerveless frame, and, recovering my grasp upon the man just as he
was sinking beyond my reach, I determined to keep him above water until
succour arrived, or go down with him.
How anxiously I kept watch upon the boat, and the desperate efforts I
made to keep afloat, it would be impossible to describe. The dancing
craft appeared to be lying at anchor upon the water, though in reality
she was foaming down towards us before the wind and sea, propelled by
the strong arms of eight of the stoutest oarsmen in the ship. At
length, however, she was near enough to enable me to discern the bow man
standing up, one hand shading his eyes, and the other grasping a boat-
hook. Presently a hail came down upon the wind toward us from the boat,
and directly afterwards another. I was by this time too weak to reply;
and could only hope that they would pull on until close enough to see
us; to my inexpressible horror, however, when some seven or eight
lengths away, the boat's head swerved sharply aside, and the craft
darted off upon a course at right angles to her former one. Then indeed
I uttered a shriek loud enough to awake the seven sleepers, and
immediately went under. I thought it was now all over with us both; but
the love of life is strong, especially in the young, and a convulsive
struggle brought us once more to the surface; but, blinded with salt
water, and with my senses fast leaving me, I no longer looked round for
the boat, but battled desperately, though more than half unconsciously,
for life; still retaining, with the tenacious grasp of the drowning, my
hold upon my companion. I at length heard faintly, and as though in a
dream, a voice saying, "There they are! port, sir, hard!" and then all
became an utter blank.
The first indication of returning consciousness was the sound of the
surgeon's voice saying, "All right! he is coming to; and we shall save
him yet."
"Thank God for that!" presently exclaimed another voice, which I
recognised as the skipper's; "I would not have lost the lad for the
worth of all that I possess. I never saw a more plucky thing in all my
life; and, if he lives, he will grow up to be an ornament to the
service."
At this point I opened my eyes, and found those of the speaker bent upon
me with an expression of deep solicitude. I furthermore found that I
had been stripped of my wet clothing, and was lying in the captain's own
cot, with the doctor and one of the seamen rubbing my limbs and body so
vigorously with their bare hands, in the endeavour to restore a brisk
circulation, that I seemed to be in imminent danger of being flayed
alive.
"How do you feel now, my boy?" inquired the skipper, as he bent over the
side of the cot, and laid his hand kindly upon my own.
"Very much better, sir, thank you," I replied; though, to tell the
truth, I was at that moment enduring the most acute pain in every nerve
of my body--the physical suffering attendant upon the returning tide of
life being actually much greater than that experienced while I was
undergoing the process of drowning.
"That's right," returned he, in a cheery tone of voice; "I am glad to
hear it, as every man in the ship will be. You have performed a right
gallant action, and I am sure you will be glad to know that your efforts
have not been in vain. The poor fellow whom you rescued is alive, and
likely to do well."
I felt too weak to make any reply to this gratifying speech, a fact
which the doctor instantly perceived, for he turned to the skipper and
remarked, "With your permission, sir, we will now leave the lad in quiet
to sleep off his exhaustion. I will just mix him a simple restorative,
while your steward tucks him in and makes him comfortable for the night;
after which I think we may safely leave the rest to nature, though, of
course, I shall look in upon both of my patients from time to time, so
as to make quite sure that they are going on all right."
If the worthy medico fulfilled his promise to "look in" upon me during
the night--and I feel quite sure he did--I was blissfully unconscious of
the fact, for under the soothing influence of the restorative draught,
and the warmth of the blankets liberally heaped upon me by the captain's
steward, I speedily sank into a deep, dreamless, refreshing slumber--a
delicious oblivion--from which I awoke in the morning to find myself
very little the worse for my exertions of the previous night.
When I opened my eyes I saw, through the open door of the state-room,
that the sun was streaming brightly down through the skylight, lighting
up the cosy little cabin, bringing out to the fullest advantage the
flowing tints of three or four well-executed pictures, which were
secured to the bulkheads, and altogether imparting a delightfully
cheerful appearance to the apartment. The vessel, however, was in
violent motion; I could, from my position in the cot, look out through
the stern windows; and I saw that there was a heavy sea running, and the
roar of the wind through the rigging, which was distinctly audible above
the sound of creaking timbers, rattling doors, trampling feet, and the
_swish_ of heavy showers of spray upon the deck, told me it was blowing
hard. I felt so greatly recovered, however, that I resolved to get up,
and, springing out of the cot, I proceeded to dress myself with as much
alacrity as the rolling and pitching of the ship would permit. While
engaged in this occupation, the doctor entered the cabin.
"Hillo!" he exclaimed, "turning out, eh? Well done, young gentleman.
Steady! you have not shipped your sea-legs yet, as our friend the first
lieutenant would say; you must be cautious, or you will be thrown
against something or other, and get a nasty knock. Well, and how do you
feel this morning?"
"A trifle weak," I replied, "that's all. I dare say I shall be better
when I have had breakfast."
"That's your sort," responded the jolly old medico; "if you are hungry,
there is not much wrong with you; but you mentioned breakfast. Have you
any notion what time it may happen to be?"
"Not much," I replied; "but I fear it is rather late."
"That depends upon what you call late," he retorted. "Some of your
town-bred dandies are only in their first nap about this time. As a
matter of absolute fact, however, it has just gone eight bells, or noon;
so that you see, my young friend, breakfast is over long enough ago.
But I dare say Patterson can find something for you all the same." He
rang a small hand-bell which stood on the table, and the captain's
steward made his appearance. "Patterson," said the doctor, "this young
gentleman complains that he is hungry. Have you any trifle, such as the
wing of a chicken, or something of that sort, in your pantry that you
could give him?"
"No, sir," replied the man, with a grin, "I'm afraid I've not. But if a
nice rasher of bacon and a cup of coffee will do--"
"Splendidly," I interrupted. "To tell you the truth, doctor, I am
hungry enough to eat a horse, harness and all; so I shall be very glad
to have either a rasher of bacon or anything else that is quickly
obtainable."
Patterson was not long in getting ready the promised repast, which I
cleared to the last morsel; after which I made my way on deck. The
skipper was there, promenading the weather side of the quarter-deck, the
first luff jogging fore and aft alongside of him. I was called up, a
few kind inquiries made, together with a eulogistic remark or two upon
my conduct of the previous evening; and the whole neatly finished off
with an intimation that, having begun so well, great things would be
expected of me in future, and that, having established a reputation for
zeal and gallantry, it was hoped I would do my utmost to maintain it;
after which I was dismissed. I soon found that my exploit had placed me
upon quite a different footing in the ship from that which I had
occupied before. The men treated me with real respect, instead of the
good-humoured burlesque thereof which they had accorded me hitherto; and
my fellow-mids at once received me into the berth upon a footing of
perfect equality with themselves, each one striving to do me some little
kindness or show me some little attention, in place of playing off
disagreeable practical jokes upon me. They would not have been
midshipmen had they not had a jocular remark or two to make upon the
subject, but it was all said in good part. The wind continued to blow
hard during the whole of that day, but toward sunset it moderated
somewhat, and veered a point or two to the northward. The ship had been
under close-reefed topsails and fore-topmast staysail ever since
midnight of the night before.
CHAPTER TWO.
HOW WE LOST HER.
The sun was just sinking below the horizon, his parting beams lighting
up gorgeously a heavy bank of clouds which hung low down in the western
quarter, when the lookout man aloft hailed, "A sail on the weather bow!"
Everybody was instantly on the alert.
"What do you make her out to be?" hailed Mr Sennitt, the first
lieutenant; while the skipper turned to me and said,--
"Mr Chester, be good enough to slip down into my cabin, and bring up my
telescope, if you please."
As I made a dive down the companion, I heard the lookout hail again:
"She is a large lugger, sir; I can make her out quite plainly; she is
just in the wake of the sun."
"All hands make sail," was the next order, given as quick as lightning.
I got the glass, and hurrying on deck with it, placed it in the
skipper's hands. The men were by this time lying out on the yards,
shaking a couple of reefs out of the topsails, and loosing the courses.
Captain Brisac slung the telescope over his shoulder, and, springing
into the rigging, made his way aloft to the crosstrees, where the
lookout still sat, with one hand grasping the topgallant shrouds, and
the other shading his eyes. The skipper braced himself firmly against
the topmost head, raised the telescope to his eye, and took a good long
look at the stranger, closed the glass sharply, and descended to the
deck again with all the agility of a monkey--or a midshipman.
"She _is_ a lugger, sure enough; and a large one too," he remarked, as
he rejoined the first lieutenant. "There can be no doubt that she is
French; and I have a strong suspicion that she is a privateer on the
lookout for some of our homeward-bound vessels. I do not think they
have made us out yet; when I saw her she was jogging easily along under
her fore and mizzen lugs and a small jib. If she does not see us within
the next five minutes, the chances are that she will not make us out at
all until the moon rises, which will not be for quite another hour; by
which time I hope we shall have drawn pretty close up to her."
The lookout was hailed from time to time, to inquire whether the lugger
had made any more sail or not; and each time the cheering reply was,
"Not yet, sir." At length the reply was, "It is too dark to see her
now, sir; but she had not when I lost sight of her."
The brig was now tearing along under single-reefed topsails, courses,
fore-topmast staysail, jib, and spanker, her lee side buried deep in the
foaming brine, and the sea coming bodily in over her bows by tons at a
time. She no longer rose lightly over the opposing waves, but dashed
headlong into them; rushing forward upon her way like a startled
courser.
Every night-glass in the ship was brought into requisition by the eager
officers, in their endeavours to catch an occasional glimpse of the
stranger; but the night had settled down pitchy dark, the sky having
rapidly become obscured by a thick veil of clouds immediately after the
disappearance of the sun below the horizon, so that not so much as a
solitary star was visible; all efforts to get a sight of the chase were
consequently quite in vain. _So_ dark was it that, standing by the
taffrail, it was impossible to see as far as the bows of the ship. Not
a light of any description was permitted on board the "Scourge;" even
the binnacle lights were carefully masked, and Captain Brisac soon began
to manifest a great deal of anxiety at the risk which he was undoubtedly
incurring in thus driving his ship at racing speed through the thick
darkness, without a warning light of any description to indicate her
presence to other craft. He contented himself, however, with placing
five of the sharpest-sighted men on the lookout; namely, one on the
flying-jibboom-end, one on each cat-head, and one on each of the fore-
yardarms.
The bearings of the chase had of course been very accurately taken the
last thing before losing sight of her, when she was estimated to be ten
miles distant, and about two points on the weather bow, going along upon
an easy bowline.
The "Scourge" was an exceedingly smart little brig under her canvas; and
when the additional sail had been set and every brace, sheet, tack, and
bowline trimmed with the utmost nicety, it was the general opinion that
she was going a good honest eleven knots. The chase was thought to be
travelling at the rate of four knots at most; it was hoped, therefore,
that when the moon rose we should find ourselves within three or four
miles of her.
The suspense, which we were compelled to endure as best we might, caused
the time to drag heavily on; at length, however, a brightening of the
sky in the eastern quarter proclaimed the welcome approach of the moon.
Slowly--very slowly--the brightness increased, the veil of cloud
breaking up before it, and revealing the sky beyond, all luminous with
silvery radiance. A few more anxious minutes, and the round white disc
of the moon rose slowly upwards into view, flinging a broad path of
light across the tumbling billows, and gleaming pale and ghostly on the
sails of the lugger, which now appeared directly ahead of us, and about
five miles distant.
Instantly every glass in the ship was levelled at the chase; and a
general exclamation of annoyance arose, as, while still engaged in
taking their first long look at her, the pursuers observed a sudden
fluttering of canvas about the mainmast which speedily resolved itself
unmistakably into a lofty well-set mainsail.
"Ah!" ejaculated the skipper, stamping his foot impatiently on the deck,
"they evidently have sharp eyes on board yonder lugger; they must have
seen us the moment that the moon rose."
"Yes," returned the first lieutenant, with his eye still glued to his
glass; "and the sharp eyes appear to belong to an equally sharp crew;
they are shaking out their reefs fore and aft and shifting their jib,
all at the same time. Depend upon it, sir, we shall have to work for
that craft before we get her."
"We shall catch her, Mr Sennitt, never fear," was the cheery response;
"she cannot be above half our size, and will have no chance with us in
such a breeze as this. And I do not anticipate that she is any more
heavily armed than we are, though she may possibly carry a few more men.
Her skipper will of course escape if he can! and when he finds that
impossible, he will, equally of course, fight, and very likely fight
well. Still, I do not think we shall have much difficulty in taking
him."
"In the meantime, however," remarked Sennitt, who had his glass
constantly at his eye, "unless I am greatly mistaken, he is gradually
creeping away from us; his rigging does not show out as plainly as it
did ten minutes ago, yet there is more light."
Another long and anxious observation of the chase by both officers
followed; and, imitating their example, I also brought my glass to bear
upon the flying craft. Flying she literally seemed to be rather than
sailing. At one moment her hull was completely hidden by an intervening
wave-crest, her sails only being visible; the next she would rush into
view, her low hull deluged with spray which glanced in the moonlight
like a shower of diamonds as it flew over her almost to the height of
her low mast-heads and dissipated itself in the sea to leeward; while
her masts bent like willow wands, inclining at what seemed to me a
fearfully perilous angle with the horizon.
"Upon my word, Sennitt, I fear you are right," at last said the skipper,
bringing his glass reluctantly down into the hollow of his arm. "Let us
lay our glasses aside for half an hour, we shall then be better able to
judge which ship is gaining upon the other, and if we find that we are
losing ground, there will be nothing for it but to shake the remaining
reef out of our topsails, and get the flying-jib on her; our spars are
good, and the rigging new; both ought to be quite capable of standing a
little extra strain."
"It will be rather a risky business to increase the strain already laid
upon the spars," said the first lieutenant, glancing anxiously aloft at
the topmasts, which were springing and buckling at every plunge of the
ship, with the enormous pressure of the tightly distended topsails;
"still it is perhaps worth trying; it would be a fine feather in our
caps if we could send into port the first prize of the war."
The stipulated half-hour passed away; and at the end of that period the
unwelcome conviction forced itself upon every one that the lugger was
having the best of it.
"There is no help for it, Mr Sennitt," said the skipper, "shake that
reef out of the topsails, and set the flying-jib; she _must_ bear it."
Excited by the exhilarating influence of the chase, the hands sprang
aloft with the utmost alacrity, and in an incredibly short space of time
had the reel out and the topsails distended to their fullest extent; the
flying-jib flapped wildly in the wind for a moment or two, and then
yielded to the restraint of the sheet, at which it tugged as though it
would tear away the cleat to which it was secured.
The effect of these additions to the before heavy pressure of canvas
upon the ship was immediate, and, to my inexperience, highly alarming.
The brig now lay over upon her side to such an extent that it was with
the utmost difficulty I could retain my footing upon the steeply-
inclined and slippery plane of the deck. The lee sail was completely
buried in the sea, which boiled in over the lee bow and surged aft along
the deck like a mill-race; while ever and anon an ominous _crack_ aloft
told of the severity of the strain upon the overtaxed spars.
Mr Sennitt kept glancing uneasily upward, as these portentous sounds
smote upon his ear; which Captain Brisac observing, he turned to the
first lieutenant and said,--
"Do not be alarmed, Sennitt; it is only the spars settling into their
berths; they--"
_Crash_! I sprang instinctively aft to the taffrail, out of the way of
the wreck, and then looked up to see both topmasts, snapped off like
carrots just above the caps, go swooping over to leeward, to hang by
their rigging under the lee of the courses; while the ship, with a sharp
shock, as though she had touched upon some unseen rock, recovered
herself and floated once more upon an almost even keel.
Captain Brisac was much too gentlemanly to swear. He simply turned to
the first lieutenant and said, "We have rather overdone it this time,
Sennitt; however, it is no use crying over spilt milk, so turn the hands
up, please, and let them clear away the wreck, and repair damages as
soon as possible."
The boom of a distant gun told us that the crew of the lugger had not
been unobservant of our misfortune, and that they were willing to expend
a charge of powder in acquainting us with their exultation thereat.
By daybreak next morning we had everything ataunt again; the chase,
however, had run completely out of sight, hours before, and was, at all
events for the present, hopelessly lost to us.
The wind had gone down very considerably during the night, and had
hauled round to about due north; the sea went rapidly down; the sky was
cloudless and intensely blue; the air became keen and frosty; and when
the sun rose, it found us standing to the westward under topgallant-
sails, without a single sail of any kind in sight.
CHAPTER THREE.
The "Sans-Culotte."
The adage that "it is an ill wind that blows nobody good" maintained its
reputation for truth, even in the case of the seemingly unmitigated
disaster of the previous night--that is to say, at least, as far as I
was concerned; inasmuch as the knowledge and experience which I acquired
of my profession during the operation of clearing away the wreck,
recovering the sails, rigging, and undamaged spars, fitting the new
topmasts into their places, and restoring the ship generally to her
former condition, gave me an advantage which I could scarcely have hoped
to secure in less than six months of the ordinary run of active service.
I watched with unflagging interest the progress of every operation as
the work went forward, with the result that I learned by actual
observation, coupled with the best use of my reasoning faculties, and
frequent questions to Mr Sennitt (who, I may say, heard and answered my
inquiries with quite astonishing patience), the position and use of
every rope that I saw fitted, the mode of working the yards, and much
other valuable knowledge.
It is surprising how speedily human curiosity becomes quickened and
aroused, if the individual devotes himself earnestly to the study of an
art or science. The thirst for knowledge increases with its
acquisition--at least, such is my experience--and is not to be satisfied
until every mystery connected with such art or science has been
mastered, and made the inalienable property of the student. It was so
with me in relation to everything connected with my profession. Having
gained a certain amount of knowledge concerning the mysteries of
seamanship, I craved for more; and throwing all my energies into the
discharge of my daily round of duties, made such rapid progress as
astonished everybody, myself included.
The "Scourge," meanwhile, was slowly pursuing her course down channel;
the wind, after the recent blow, having fallen light and baffling; it
was not, therefore, until the morning of the 13th that she reached her
cruising-ground, Scilly bearing at the time about N.E., distant 26
miles.
The day broke clear and cloudless, with a light air of wind from the
southward; the water being smooth, save for the long, rolling swell of
the Atlantic, which at the spot in question made itself very distinctly
felt. The air was mild and springlike, the unclouded sunbeams struck
with a perceptible sensation of warmth, and every one on board,
forgetting the recent misery of cold and wet, greeted the welcome change
with a corresponding flow of exuberant animal spirits.
The hands had just been piped to breakfast, when the lookout aloft
reported, "A sail right ahead!"
Recalling to mind the skipper's request on a previous occasion, I at
once ran down into the cabin for his telescope, which I brought on deck
and handed to him.
"Thank you, Mr Chester," said he. "I have remarked with very great
pleasure your real in the discharge of your duties. Go on as you have
begun, my boy, and you will soon become a valuable and efficient
officer."
Captain Brisac did not, however, himself go aloft this time; Mr
Clewline, the second lieutenant, happened to be on deck at the moment,
and the skipper handed him the glass, with a polite request that he
would "see what he could make of her."
Mr Clewline, I thought, seemed rather to resent the suggestion as an
affront to his dignity; he, however, made no demur, but proceeded aloft
with great deliberation, and, seating himself upon the fore-topsail
yard, took a very leisurely observation of the stranger.
Having devoted about a quarter of an hour to this occupation, he slowly
closed the telescope, and carefully slinging it over his shoulder,
descended to the deck with the same deliberation which had characterised
his ascent. It was not until he had regained the skipper's side that he
condescended to make his report; when, handing back the glass with a
stiff bow, he said, "I make out the stranger to be, sir, a brig,
apparently French, of about our own size; she is standing directly
toward us, upon the starboard tack, under topgallant-sails."
"Thank you, sir," returned the skipper shortly; then turning upon his
heel he went below to his cabin, Patterson having come on deck a minute
or two before, to announce that breakfast was ready.
The news quickly spread through the ship that the sail in sight was
supposed to be a Frenchman; and as the two vessels were approaching each
other, and an action, in the event of Mr Clewline's supposition proving
correct, inevitable, a considerable amount of excitement prevailed. The
men bolted their breakfast in less than half the time usually devoted to
that meal, and returned to the deck the moment they had disposed of
their last morsel; while the officers betrayed at least an equal amount
of eagerness, two or three of them hastily swallowing a cup of scalding
coffee, and munching up a biscuit, without giving themselves time even
to sit down.
"Old Sennitt"--as he was irreverently termed in the midshipmen's berth--
was one of the earliest to put in an appearance after breakfast, and his
first act was to go straight aloft with his glass. He devoted more time
even than Mr Clewline to the examination of the stranger, and it was
not until Captain Brisac had returned to the deck and hailed him that he
made a move.
As he came aft and joined his superior upon the quarter-deck, exultation
was visible in his face, and in every movement of his body.
"It is all right, sir," he exclaimed; "she is French beyond all
possibility of doubt. The cut of her canvas is alone sufficient
evidence of her nationality; but in order that there may be no room for
question of it, she has furled her royals, and has run up the tricolour
to her main-royal-mast-head. She is a brig, as far as I can make out
her rig, coming end-on to us as she is, and seems about our size, or
perhaps a trifle larger. I suppose we may as well clear for action at
once?"
"If you please, Mr Sennitt; and, not to be behindhand with them, let
them see the colour of our bunting before you do anything else."
The order to clear for action was received with enthusiasm; and the
little round ball which immediately soared aloft, breaking abroad and
displaying the naval ensign as it touched the main truck, was greeted
with a rousing cheer. The "green" hands were by this time not quite so
verdant as they had been a few days before, Mr Sennitt having drilled
them most remorselessly at every available opportunity--and as they had
been very judiciously intermingled with the experienced "salts," in
appointing them to their various stations, the work went on with, as
Captain Brisac remarked, "very creditable celerity." In little more
than half an hour, the yards had been slung, bulkheads knocked down, the
magazine opened, guns cast loose, loaded, and run out, and every other
preparation completed.
Meanwhile the two brigs had been slowly drawing together, and by 10 a.m.
were within a couple of miles of each other. There had been a little
manoeuvring on each side to secure the weather-gage; but our skipper,
perceiving that the action was likely to be thereby delayed, speedily
yielded the point, and allowed the Frenchman to take the coveted
position.
"It will make very little difference, five minutes after we are
engaged," he remarked to the first lieutenant, who, after having gone
the rounds and personally seen that everything was ready, had rejoined
him aft, just as the order had been given to the helmsman of the
"Scourge" to "keep away."
"There is one thing which we have not yet done," he continued, "it seems
quite unnecessary, but we may as well avoid all possibility of mistake
by showing the private signal."
The private signal was accordingly shown but evoked, as was expected, no
response. It was consequently hauled down again, and now everybody made
himself finally ready for the impending conflict. My readers will
naturally feel curious to know whether on this, the first occasion of my
"smelling gunpowder," I experienced any sensation of fear. I am old
enough now, and have seen enough of service, to have no misapprehension
of being misunderstood, or rather misjudged; I will therefore confess
the truth, and candidly acknowledge that, for a few minutes after the
completion of our preparations, I felt most horribly frightened. I knew
that I was about to be involved in a scene of death and destruction, of
sickening slaughter, and of even more sickening physical suffering; I
anticipated seeing my fellow-men struck down right and left, their limbs
torn away, and, quite possibly, their bodies cut in two by the cruel
chain-shot; I looked round upon the order and cleanliness which
everywhere prevailed on board our ship, and contrasted the existent
condition of things with the picture which my imagination conjured up of
impending blood and carnage; and I admit that for a few minutes my heart
almost failed me. That state of feeling, however, soon passed away, and
was succeeded by a condition of painful excitement and impatience, which
lasted until the first shot was fired, when it abruptly subsided,
leaving me as cool and collected as I am at the present moment.
I was not too frightened, however, to notice and admire the perfect
_sang-froid_ with which Captain Brisac and Mr Sennitt contemplated the
approach of our antagonist. They stood side by side, just abaft the
main-rigging, scrutinising every movement on board the French ship, and
exchanging critical remarks upon the smartness of her crew in shortening
sail and executing the various manoeuvres usual on board a ship going
into action; and I gathered, with no very comfortable feelings, that,
from what they observed, they quite anticipated a hard fight.
When the ships had approached each other within a quarter of a mile, we
were able, for the first time, to ascertain the actual armament of our
foe. Mr Sennitt was the first to seize the opportunity of counting her
ports, and he it was who announced, loud enough for everybody to hear,
that she showed six guns of a side, making her entire battery heavier
than our own by four guns. "Which makes her a very fair match for us,"
he contentedly remarked.
"We will engage her at close quarters, Mr Sennitt," said the skipper;
"be good enough, therefore, to have every gun double-shotted. Let no
man fire until I give the word; we will wait until we are fairly abreast
of her, and then give her our whole larboard broadside at once. Luff,
you may!" to the master, who had taken the wheel. "Luff, and shave her
as closely as you can, without actually touching her. Steady--so; that
will do very nicely."
As the French ship came up, she fired every gun along her larboard
broadside, commencing from forward, the moment they could be brought to
bear; and the shot came tearing in through our bulwarks, making the
splinters fly in all directions. In my ignorance I expected to see
about half our crew go down before that first discharge, but to my
unbounded surprise not a man was hurt.
The Frenchman was by this time so close that we could not only see with
the utmost distinctness the crew reloading their guns, but could hear
the confused jabber of excited conversation which appeared to be going
on unchecked on board. What a contrast to our own ship, where every man
stood at his post, steady and silent as a statue!
At last the two ships came up fairly abreast of each other, and were
passing so closely that an active man might have jumped from the one to
the other, when the skipper uttered the word "Fire!"
The four guns of our larboard broadside rang out simultaneously, the
concussion of the air causing the two ships to heel outwards; and
through the noise of the explosion I distinctly heard the crashing of
timbers, and the piercing shrieks of the wounded.
"That's one to us; we draw first blood," chuckled a voice behind me; and
I looked round to observe young Harvey, a fellow-mid, rubbing his hands
with an air of great satisfaction.
"Hard up with your helm," exclaimed the skipper; "shiver your main-
topsail and let her wear short round; stand by your guns there on the
starboard broadside, and fire as you bring each to bear."
The effect of this manoeuvre was to lay our ship almost directly athwart
the stern of the Frenchman, and so smartly was it executed that we had
pretty effectually raked him before he was able to bear up, and give us
another broadside, the whole of which flew over us harmlessly, except
for a hole or two in our sails.
The fight now became a running one, both ships going off before the
wind, and the Frenchman rather evincing a disposition to keep us at a
distance. He did not seem to like the taste he'd had of our quality, as
I heard the Irish captain of the after-gun, on the port side, remark.
But we possessed rather the advantage of him in the matter of speed, and
slowly edged down upon him until we were once more close alongside, when
the ships exchanged broadsides, both firing at the same moment. We
could see the white marks in our antagonist's sides, where our shot had
struck, but either from defective aim, or because he wanted to shoot
away our spars, all his shot again flew high, with no worse result than
the severing of the starboard main-topsail-brace, a casualty which it
took but a minute or two to repair.
Two or three more broadsides were exchanged without visible effect, and
then an unlucky shot wounded our fore-topmast so badly that, after
tottering for a minute or two, it went over the bows, dragging the main-
topgallant-mast down with it.
Captain Brisac proved himself quite equal to the occasion. He could not
prevent the "Scourge" from broaching-to, so, ordering the helm to be put
hard-a-port, he luffed us right athwart the Frenchman's stern, pouring
in the larboard broadside, which had been disengaged since our opening
fire, with such good effect that the French ship's main-yard was shot
away, and the mainmast-head badly wounded.
A strong gang was immediately set to work board on each ship to repair
damages; but as the Frenchman, by reason of the loss of his after-sail,
was unable to bring his ship upon a wind, he had no alternative but to
run dead before it, fully exposed, meanwhile, to the raking effects of
our larboard guns, which were kept playing upon him until he had passed
out of range, not one of his guns during that time being able to reply.
It took us rather over one hour to clear away the wreck, and get another
topmast on end, fully rig it, and make sail once more. Mr Sennitt, who
personally superintended the work, insisted that it should be thoroughly
well done--as well done in fact as though we had not been in the
presence of an enemy. The French had, in the meantime, been quite as
active as ourselves, and if their work was not so neatly done as our
own, still it _was_ done after a fashion, and they were ready to make
sail a few minutes before us, an advantage of which they availed
themselves with such alacrity that it became evident their chief anxiety
was to place, in the shortest possible time, the greatest possible
distance between us and themselves.
This project, however, by no means met the views of us "Scourges," and
the instant that it was possible, every available stitch of canvas was
packed upon our ship, with the view of closing with the enemy again as
promptly as possible.
Then began that most wearisome of all wearisome businesses, a stern
chase in a light breeze, during which the whole crew, from the skipper
downwards, whistled most devoutly for a wind.
Slowly--_very_ slowly we gained upon the chase, the master, who had
resigned the wheel at the cessation of the action, standing upon the
forecastle with his sextant, measuring, about once every five minutes,
the angle between the mast-head and the water-line of the chase, to
ascertain which ship gained upon the other. At last "I think we are
within range now, sir; shall we try a shot from our bow-chasers?" said
Mr Sennitt.
"We can scarcely reach him yet, I am afraid," said the skipper; "but
there will be no harm in trying."
The order was given, and old Tompion, the gunner, undertook in person
the task of levelling the gun. He went about the work with much
deliberation and a great display of science, and at length, watching a
favourable opportunity, fired. In another moment a white sear started
into view near the Frenchman's rudder and close to the water's edge.
"Hulled him! by all that's clever," exclaimed the first luff, while the
gratified Tompion looked slowly round upon his messmates, with modest
pride beaming from every feature.
"Returned, with thanks," murmured young Harvey, who was stationed close
beside me, as a puff of smoke veiled for an instant the stern of our
antagonist; and then the shot was seen bounding toward us, its path
marked by the jets of water which flew up wherever the ball struck. At
last it was seen to scurry along the surface for a short distance;
finally disappearing within about fifty fathoms of our bows.
"Try another shot there, forward," said the skipper, "and aim for his
spars. A guinea to the first man who knocks away a spar big or little."
Every man in the ship was of course anxious to try his hand, and Mr
Sennitt was obliged to interfere, with the view of allowing the best
shots to have the first chance.
Some curiously indifferent shooting now ensued, the very eagerness of
the men seeming to render them unsteady. I had strolled forward to
watch the game, and, after several most exasperating misses, exclaimed,
"I should like very much to try; I believe I could do better than that."
"Then try you shall, youngster," said Mr Sennitt; "the first shot a man
ever fires is often a very lucky one, and perhaps yours may be so. You
shall fire the next shot."
While the gun was being loaded, Tompion availed himself of the
opportunity to deliver a short lesson on gunnery, for my especial
benefit, of which all that I remember was that he attached great
importance to the "trajectory," and was eloquent on the subject of the
"parabolic curve."
I had watched with much impatience the very scrupulous nicety with which
most of the men pretended to lay the gun, and I was strongly impressed
with the conviction that over-carefulness had much to do with their
repeated failures; I took very little trouble, therefore, beyond seeing
that the muzzle of the gun had a good elevation, after which I simply
waited, squinting along the sights, until I saw that the weapon was just
about to come in line with the Frenchman's masts, when I pulled the
trigger-line smartly, and was dragged forcibly backwards by the collar,
just in time to avoid a serious blow from the recoiling gun.
I turned angrily round to ascertain what reckless individual it was who
had thus dared to lay unholy hands upon me, when my thoughts were
diverted by a ringing cheer from all hands. My shot had lodged in the
Frenchman's mainmast-head, just above the cap; and, while we still
looked, away went the main-topmast dragging the fore-topgallant-mast
down with it. I received a vast amount of praise for my exploit, but of
course it was merely a lucky shot, with which skill had nothing whatever
to do.
CHAPTER FOUR.
THE FIRST CAPTURE.
After this we rapidly overhauled the chase, and by the time that her
crew 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 of
their 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; we
therefore ceased firing also, but before we were fairly alongside they
had rigged a small staff out over their taffrail, and had run their flag
up again.
We were approaching the Frenchman upon his starboard quarter, with the
intention of pouring in our larboard broadside directly the two ships
were fairly abreast, when our antagonist suddenly ported his helm, and
threw himself right athwart our hawse, the evolution being performed
exactly at the instant which rendered a collision unavoidable. Our helm
was immediately put hard-a-starboard, with the intention of passing
under his stern if possible, but there was not sufficient room, and we
struck him just abaft his main chains, the shock bringing down his
mainmast, which had previously been badly wounded; while at the same
moment his starboard broadside came crashing in through our bows with
most destructive effect; one of our guns being dismounted, the foremast
struck in two places within a foot of each other, and the wheel smashed
to 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, and
did no damage to the hull of either vessel. The two brigs dropped
alongside each other, head and stern, and would soon have scraped clear
again, but the French threw their grapnels into our rigging the instant
that we dropped alongside, and immediately boarded.
The whole thing was so sudden that Captain Brisac was for a single
instant 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 and
resolution, and for the first minute our men were driven irresistibly
back. Then came the turn of the tide, the English, maddened at the
disgrace 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 the
French captain soon singled each other out, and after a few unavailing
efforts succeeded in reaching each other and crossing swords. Our
skipper was a slight man of middle height and no very great personal
strength, while the Frenchman was a perfect giant; the fight between
them therefore was a very unequal one, especially as Captain Brisac
possessed but little skill with the sword. A few passes were made
without any effect on either side, and then the Frenchman made a
downward cut at his antagonist's head, with such tremendous force that
the skipper's guard was fairly beaten down, and had not his adversary's
cutlass turned its edge he would, in all probability, have been cloven
to the chin; as it was, he received a heavy blow on the head with the
back of the weapon which partially stunned him, and placed him
completely at the French captain's mercy.
The cutlass was instantly raised to repeat the stroke, when, in an agony
of apprehension at the imminent danger which threatened the man who had
shown me so much kindness, I drew a pistol from my belt, and, thrusting
its muzzle into the Frenchman's face, pulled the trigger. The man flung
up his arms and fell backwards dead, his distorted features, all blood-
bespattered, presenting a hideous sight which haunted me for many a day
afterwards. The sight of blood is said to madden some animals, and I am
sure it maddened me, for, furious with excitement, I forthwith dashed
headlong into the thickest of the _melee_, quite regardless of
consequences, using with such savage freedom a cutlass which I snatched
out of the hand of a wounded man, that the French recoiled on every side
with looks of dismay, while our own men, pressing forward with renewed
vigour, at length drove the enemy back to their own ship.
"Hurrah, lads! after them!" I exclaimed, far too excited to give a
thought to the singularity of a newly-made midshipman presuming to
assume the leadership in the presence of his superiors. Our men caught
my enthusiasm, responding with a ringing cheer; and after them we went,
helter-skelter, so rapidly that English and French tumbled over the
bulwarks together. There was a momentary effort on the part of the
French to make a stand on reaching their own deck; but they were, as a
crew, now thoroughly demoralised, and our lads, their blood at last
completely roused, gave them no time to rally, but cut down every man
who offered the slightest opposition. Seeing that their case was
hopeless, the French crew flung down their arms and cried for quarter,
and in less than two minutes from the instant of boarding, we found
ourselves masters of the "Sans-Culotte" privateer, mounting eight long
8-pounders and four 12-pound carronades, and with a crew originally of
eighty-one men, of whom nine were killed and twenty wounded; our own
loss being one man killed and one wounded. The action lasted three
hours, and proved to be the first engagement of the war, much to the
gratification of Mr Sennitt, who was intensely anxious for the
distinction of sending in the first prize.
The first duty was of course to secure possession, after which, the
weather appearing likely to continue fine, the hands were piped to
dinner--such dinner, that is, as could be procured on the spur of the
moment, the galley fire having been extinguished at the time of clearing
for action. Captain Brisac allowed an hour for this meal and a little
repose, at the expiration of which all hands were set to work to clear
away the wreck and repair damages, a task which kept us busy until
considerably after sunset. By eight p.m., however, our preparations
were complete, a prize crew was placed on board the "Sans-Culotte," and
a nice little breeze having in the meantime sprung up from the westward,
we made sail in company, shaping a course for Plymouth, off which we
arrived 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, reached
off the land on her way back to her appointed cruising-ground.
On the following day, about an hour before the time for serving dinner
in the cabin, Patterson, the captain's steward, popped his head in at
the door of the midshipmen's berth and announced,--
"Captain's compliments, and he will be glad to have the pleasure of Mr
Chester's company at dinner."
"Tell Captain Brisac with my compliments that I am much obliged for his
courteous invitation, which I accept with very great pleasure," I
responded, looking up from the "Day's Work" upon which I was busy with
my slate and pencil.
"You're a lucky dog, Chester!" exclaimed young Harvey; "you seem to have
dropped plump into the skipper's good books all at once. It is not
often that we mids are honoured with an invitation to the cabin-table, I
can tell you."
"Oh! come now, Harvey, I protest against your imposing upon the
unfortunate Chester in that manner," interposed little Markham
(nicknamed "Goliath" because he measured exactly three feet, six inches
in his stockings). "You know as well as I do that he is invited into
the cabin to-night, in order that the skipper may give him a good
wigging 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, turning
to me, "for somehow I have taken quite a liking to you, and if _I_ had
been at your elbow yesterday, instead of that over-grown lout, Harvey, I
would have kept you out of the serape. You must be very quiet and
submissive when he pitches into you, and plead ignorance--say you will
be a good boy and not do it again, you know."
"But have I really done anything very dreadful?" I inquired, more than
half taken in by the young monkey's serious manner.
"Oh, Lord! hold me, somebody, while I faint!" he exclaimed, turning up
the whites of his eyes like a dying duck in a thunder-storm, and
flinging himself so suddenly backwards into the arms of Harvey that the
latter went down stern foremost, landing on the deck with one hand in
the beef-kid and the other in the blacking-box, while Markham rolled on
the top of him, kicking spasmodically, and simulating the feeble
struggles of an expiring person.
Luckily for "Goliath," it was the ludicrous side of this episode which
presented itself most strongly to his victim, or a sound thrashing
would, in all probability, have been his portion; as it was, the pair
scrambled to their feet again with a hearty laugh, as good friends as
ever.
"I declare, Chester, you'll be the death of me some day, if you go on
like this," resumed my would-be tormentor; "your touching innocence
would move a brass monkey to tears. Why," he continued, looking round
and addressing in low, measured tones, intended to express overwhelming
astonishment, the fragment of glass which still clung to one corner of
its frame, and, hanging suspended against the bulkhead, did duty as a
mirror--"he asks if he has really done anything very dreadful!! Is it
actually possible, my gentle infant, that you are ignorant of the fact
that you yesterday took the command out of your superior officers'
hands, and that the punishment for such a crime--when it happens to be a
first offence--is keelhauling, while a repetition thereof is visited
with the extreme penalty of the law?"
"And pray what is _keelhauling_?" I inquired, beginning to perceive
that my mercurial friend was merely indulging in a joke at my expense.
"Keelhauling, sir," he replied, "is a form of punishment which consists
in 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 of
barnacles off the ship's bottom to furnish a satisfying breakfast for
the captain next morning. If the unfortunate wretch fails, the process
is to be repeated, with this addition, that on the second occasion the
quantity of barnacles provided is to be sufficient for both the captain
and the first lieutenant."
"Good gracious, how horrible!" I exclaimed, assuming as well as I could
an expression of serious concern. "I had no idea I was exposing myself
to the risk of such a fearful punishment. What would you advise me to
do?"
"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 of
the scrape if I can, and I'll take an opportunity of speaking to the
skipper before he goes down to dinner, and asking him not to pass
sentence of punishment upon you for the present. Then, if you'll keep
my watch for me to-night, I'll get another interview with him on the
quiet while you are doing so. I have some little influence with him--my
modesty 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 some
reference to the affair while at dinner though, and if he does, your
only chance will be to keep him in a good-humour, which you can easily
do if you only know how."
"But unfortunately I _don't_ know how!" I exclaimed, infusing as much
anxiety 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, demurely
listening to the conversation, but, instead of saying so, I gravely
entered into the required engagement.
"That's all right," he remarked. "Now listen attentively to me. The
skipper has one overpowering weakness, and that is a fondness for a
comic song. Let him be ever so exasperated, a comic song--_a good
comic_ song, mind you--never fails to soothe him. Therefore, if he
should happen to-night, by any chance, to refer to your unfortunate
lapse of duty yesterday, listen patiently and respectfully to all that
he has to say, and when he has finished, even if what he says strikes
you as being of a laudatory character--he is a very curious fellow in
that respect, often beginning by praising a man, when he means to end by
blowing 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 strike
up boldly at once. I may safely venture to say you will be supremely
astonished 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, old
Clewline is positively at sea, unless he has me constantly at his right
hand to--"
"Mr Clewline said, if you didn't come at once, Mr Markham, I was to
just fetch ye," said the marine, introducing his head once more.
"Very well, lead on, fellow, I follow," ejaculated he of Gath in a voice
expressive of deep disgust, and he forthwith disappeared up the steep
ladder, followed by a hearty peal of laughter from us, his late
audience.
"What a fellow it is!" exclaimed Harvey presently. "I am very glad to
see that you understand him, Chester. Otherwise, I am afraid he would
have got you into no end of scrapes. Not that he _means_ any harm, far
from it. He is one of the best-natured fellows alive, but he is so
wedded to practical joking that I believe nothing will ever break him of
it. 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 to
have taken up his permanent abode at the mast-head: I daresay he is
there now."
It was even so, for when I went aft to the cabin, in compliance with the
captain's invitation, a glance aloft revealed him comfortably perched on
the crosstrees, from which commanding position he reminded me
pantomimically of the potent charm to be found in a comic song.
The dinner-party, that evening, consisted of Captain Brisac, Mr
Sennitt, old Bolus the doctor, and myself. The table was liberally
furnished, the wine good, and the party in excellent spirits, as was
natural after securing a prize so speedily. Moreover, Captain Brisac
was a thorough gentleman, and knew exactly how to make his guests feel
at ease, which is not always the case where the superior is also the
host. The conversation turned pretty frequently, as might be expected,
on technical matters, but there were frequent divergences in the shape
of laughter-provoking anecdotes, in which the doctor shone forth
conspicuously.
It was not, however, until after the cloth had been removed that the
skipper 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 your
timely interposition, I must infallibly have been killed; and I thank
you very sincerely for the promptitude with which you acted. Sailors
are not in the habit of making overmuch of such services; we perform
them for each other, and think very little about it; but the fact
remains, all the same, and I shall not forget it. I have also to thank
you for the conspicuous gallantry you displayed in boarding the prize,
gallantry which evidently had a strong effect upon the men, and
contributed in no inconsiderable degree to our success. So pleased am I
with your conduct that I have felt justified in making special mention
of you in the despatch which I sent in with the prize, and I think I may
venture to promise you that what I have said will be found to exercise a
favourable influence on your future prospects. Go on as you have begun,
and you will do well. Above all things, study hard; you will find it
uphill work at first, no doubt, but every step you take will make those
which succeed it easier, until you will at length find that you can
acquire naturally and without effort all the knowledge that is required
to make you proficient in your profession. Of course I do not mean that
you should give your _whole_ time to study, a little recreation now and
then is not only allowable, but beneficial; but do not give your whole
thoughts to play, as I am sadly afraid your messmate Markham does."
This mention of my mercurial friend brought back so vividly to my mind
the recent scene in our berth that I was--as the newspaper reporters
say--"risibly affected," a circumstance which did not fail to attract
general attention.
Captain Brisac looked both disconcerted and annoyed. "What is it, Mr
Chester? 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 something
ridiculous which _he_ said. I hope you will be pleased to excuse me,
sir. I should be extremely sorry to do anything having the appearance
of rudeness or disrespect."
"I feel quite sure you would," returned the skipper, his brow clearing
once more, and an amused look coming into his eyes.
"But let us hear what that jocular young gentleman has been saying; it
is 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 a
little bit of fun on his part--an attempt, in fact, to impose upon me."
"Out with it, Mr Chester," exclaimed the doctor, his eyes fairly
dancing with fun; "I'll be sworn he has been in some way taking your
name in vain, sir," he continued, turning to the captain.
"I think it more than likely, but it is quite impossible to feel
offended with the lad, he is always so utterly devoid of anything like
evil intention."
Seeing that my narrative would not be likely to do any harm, I thereupon
proceeded to tell my story, which proved productive of a great deal of
laughter. At its conclusion the skipper said, "Pour yourself out
another glass of wine, Mr Chester, and then, I suppose, I must excuse
you. Mr Sennitt will not easily forgive me, if I prevent you from
keeping your proper watch."
On reaching the deck I found that the wind had hauled round to about
W.N.W., bringing with it a raw and dismal fog, which speedily saturated
with moisture everything with which it came in contact. As the night
wore on, it became more and more dense, and by midnight it had become so
thick that it was impossible to see from one end of the ship to the
other, 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 the
watch, with the exception of half-a-dozen of the smartest hands, who
were placed on the lookout, were allowed to dispose themselves about the
deck in the most sheltered spots they could find.
The fog lasted all through the first watch, and when I went on deck at
midnight to take my turn of duty, it was thicker than ever. The vapour
came sweeping down upon the ship in great opaque masses, some of which
were so dense that it was barely possible to distinguish objects on the
opposite side of the deck, while the lower yards were only visible from
the deck at very rare periods. The few men moving about loomed more
like gigantic shadows than human beings, and the binnacle lamps (the
only lights visible) emitted a feeble and ghostly glimmer which hardly
sufficed to render visible the features of the man who stood by the
wheel. No lights of any kind were exhibited on board the "Scourge,"
Captain Brisac preferring to trust to a good lookout, and the
precautions adopted by other vessels, for our safety from collision,
rather than run the risk of betraying our presence to an enemy by the
exhibition of lights. For the same reason he had given orders that the
ship's bell should on no account whatever be struck during the
continuance of the thick weather.
Somehow I could not help thinking that the skipper's precautions exposed
us to a great deal of danger. Supposing, for example, that some other
ship, practising the same "precautions," happened to be in our immediate
neighbourhood and approaching us on the opposite tack, what would be the
result? Why, in all probability the two craft would fall on board each
other, inflicting serious mutual damage, amounting perhaps to the
complete destruction of one or both. The idea made me very uneasy, so
much so, indeed, that, my imagination at length becoming excited, I was
on the point of giving an alarm at least a dozen times, thinking every
now and then that I could discern the dim outline of a strange ship
sweeping silently down upon us like a gigantic ghost. So strong,
indeed, did the illusion at length become, that I could have sworn I
caught a momentary glimpse of a light to windward, and, after hesitating
a few minutes, I became so convinced that I _had_ seen a light, that I
went 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 three
minutes, and then turned away, saying,--
"You did quite right, my lad, to speak to me, but I really think you
must have been mistaken. Why, if it had really been so, the stranger
must have been close aboard of us; it would be impossible to see an
ordinary light at a much greater distance than a hundred fathoms in such
a fog as this; why, it is thick enough to cut with a knife, the old
barkie 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 is
again, sir!"
"_I_ can see nothing," he returned somewhat impatiently, after taking
another long look. "Here, let us go round and examine the lookout men."
Every man was found broad awake and keenly watchful, yet none of them
had seen anything resembling a light, or indeed anything at all of a
nature to lead them to suppose that there was another ship in close
proximity to ourselves. I could not believe that my imagination had
been playing me a trick, yet it required no very great penetration on my
part to see that my superior thought but little of my assertion in
comparison with the reports of the lookout men. We both returned to the
spot from which we had started, and stood intently gazing to windward,
until, for my part, I was almost ready to declare upon oath that the
atmosphere was full of faint twinkling lights. The impression was
beginning to force itself upon me that I had been making a fool of
myself, and I was about to say so, when a faint and almost imperceptible
sound seemed to float down to us out of the thick folds of impenetrable
mist to windward.
"There, sir!" I exclaimed; "did you hear nothing then?"
"Why, to tell you the truth, Mr Chester, I half thought I did," replied
Sennitt; "but after all I believe it is only fancy; your imagination has
infected my own, and if we stand here much longer we shall fancy a whole
French fleet there to windward. Luckily it is eight bells," he
continued, consulting his watch by the light of the binnacle, "so we
will 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 confidence
which is conveyed in the expression "Let those look out who have the
watch," that, notwithstanding all my previous apprehensions, in another
ten minutes I was fast asleep.
CHAPTER FIVE.
WE FLY FROM THE FRENCHMAN.
When I went on deck again at the change of the watches, it was still
very thick, but the breeze was freshening, and it and the sun together
promised soon to disperse the vapour. It was still so thick, however,
that it was impossible to see more than three or four lengths away from
the vessel, and the "Scourge" was consequently kept hove-to.
The skipper had made his appearance on deck for a few minutes before
sitting down to breakfast, and about nine o'clock he came up again, just
as the fog had begun to clear away in earnest, opening up like a curtain
every now and then, and showing clear spaces of about half a mile or so
in extent, then settling down again as thick as ever, but each time
clearing away more thoroughly, and revealing larger and still larger
open spaces. At length the mist lifted for a moment to such an extent
that it became possible to see to a distance of perhaps a couple of
miles, and as it did so there was a simultaneous hail from the lookout
aloft and five or six of the hands on deck of "Sail ho!"
"Sail ho! sure enough," exclaimed the skipper and Mr Sennitt, as both
caught sight of the stranger at the same moment. "A frigate! French,
too, as I'm a living sinner," continued the first luff, taking a squint
through his glass at the craft. "Ah! he is as sharp-sighted as we are,"
he went on, with the telescope still at his eye. "Up goes his helm, and
there go the lads aloft to make sail, he's coming down to say `how d'ye
do' to us, sir. And there goes the tricolour up to his peak."
"Hard up with the helm, my man," said Captain Brisac very quietly to the
helmsman. "Turn the hands up, and pack on her, Mr Sennitt; discretion
is the better part of valour with us just now, and our only chance is to
show Johnny Crapaud a clean pair of heels." Our lads flew aloft like
lightning, and away we went staggering to leeward, with stunsails alow
and aloft on the port side, steering a course which would take us pretty
directly up Channel. So smart were the "Scourge" in making sail that
they were all down on deck again, and every inch of our canvas dragging
at us like a cart-horse, before the Frenchman had got his stunsail-booms
fairly rigged out.
As soon as we had got the canvas fairly set, ropes all coiled down, and
the decks generally cleared up, I slipped down into the berth for my
telescope, with which I returned to the deck, and proceeded to make a
deliberate inspection of our unwelcome neighbour.
She was about a mile and a half distant from us, bearing a couple of
points on our weather quarter, and I thought I had never seen a more
beautiful sight than she presented, as she came foaming after us, with
the sun lighting up her snowy canvas and flashing brightly from her
burnished copper as she rose on the crest of the swell, showing her
cutwater half-way down to the keel. Her sails were evidently new--so
new, indeed, that they had scarcely had time to stretch to their proper
dimensions--and her paint looked fresh and clean; these circumstances
impressing the acute Mr Sennitt with the conviction that the craft was
fresh out of the dockyard from an extensive overhaul, or that she was a
new vessel. The beautiful and graceful model of her hull, and the smart
appearance of her spars and rigging, induced him to incline very
strongly to the latter supposition.
It soon became evident that this beautiful craft was going nearly two
feet to our one, but she was steered so shamefully that she had not
materially decreased the distance between us at the end of the first
hour; our hopes, therefore, which had sunk to zero with the imminent
prospect of a French prison before our eyes, began once more to soar
skyward as mile after mile slipped away beneath our flying keel, and
every minute increased the probability of our falling in with one of our
own cruisers. The skipper was dreadfully put out at being obliged to
run away, but though the French frigate was very nearly dead astern she
yawed about sufficiently to enable us to count sixteen ports of a side,
and even Mr Sennitt--who was accounted the greatest fire-eater on
board--was fain to acknowledge that this was just a gun or two too many
for us.
By four bells every trace of the fog had cleared away, the sun shone
brilliantly in a cloudless sky, the air had a decided feeling of warmth
in it, the westerly breeze blew freshly, and the waves curled crisply
and broke into foam at their crests under its enlivening influence;
altogether it was a thoroughly delightful day, such as is occasionally
to be met with toward the end of March--a day when winter and summer
have fairly met to fight for the mastery, and summer is getting it all
her own way. As time sped on, and still no friendly sail appeared,
while the frigate astern drew more and more perceptibly up to us,
anxiety once more resumed its sway, and frequent were the admonitions to
the lookout aloft to "keep his weather eye lifting."
At length the Frenchmen decided to try the range of their guns, and
opened fire upon us from their lee bow-chaser. The shot flew wide, but
it went far enough beyond us to show that we were fairly within range.
Another and another followed, and still we were unscathed. An interval
of about a quarter of an hour elapsed before they again fired, and when
they did the shot was somewhat better aimed, passing through the main
and fore-topsails and falling into the sea a considerable distance
ahead.
"I think we are now near enough to venture upon a return of the
compliment, Mr Sennitt," said the skipper. "Let Tompion see what he
can do with the stern-chaser, in the way of knocking away some of the
fellow's spars. It seems a pity to spoil so pretty a picture, but
better that than for us to experience the delights of a French prison."
Tompion was accordingly summoned and bid do his best to "wing" the
Frenchman, a task to which he devoted himself with great gravity and a
considerable assumption of importance. The gun, after being carefully
loaded, was trained with the most scrupulous nicety, and then Tompion,
trigger-line in hand, stood squinting along the sights until a
favourable moment arrived, when--there was a concussion; the smoke
cleared away, and a shot-hole was seen in the frigate's foresail, very
nearly in a line with the mast.
"Very prettily shot, Tompion," said the skipper; "try again. A few
inches nearer, and you would have buried that shot in his foremast.
Wound the spars if you can; the breeze seems inclined to freshen; and if
you can gouge a good substantial piece out of some of his lighter spars,
the wind will do the rest for us by sending them handsomely over his
bows."
In a few minutes more away sped a second of the worthy Tompion's
messengers; it, too, passed through the foresail, close to the yard, but
apparently without doing any further damage. In the meantime the
Frenchmen were by no means idle with their guns, and our running-gear
began to be somewhat cut up; luckily, however, the damage was of an
unimportant character, and such as could be put right in a few minutes,
with the aid of a marline-spike and a grease-shoe. The firing now
became more rapid on both sides; but though the spars on each side had
several narrow escapes, none had, so far, fallen, and the damage done
seemed in each case to be but of the most trifling description.
At length Mr Sennitt walked aft and said, "Let me try my hand, Tompion;
I used to be considered rather a crack shot on board the old `Dido.'"
Tompion, of course, resigned his place to his superior officer, though
it was evident from the expression of his phiz that he had no great
faith in the first luff's shooting powers. But our worthy "first"
speedily justified his boast; for his shot struck the boom-iron at the
Frenchman's larboard fore-yard-arm, snapping it off, unshipping the
boom, and creating a very pretty state of confusion with the topmast and
lower stunsails and their gear.
A ringing cheer was raised on board the "Scourge" at this success, and
Sennitt was about to try his hand a second time, when the frigate was
seen to yaw broad off her course; a thin streak of flame flashed along
her side, a veil of white fleecy smoke started into view, and was wafted
aside by the wind, and sixteen twelve-pound shot--the entire contents of
her starboard broadside--came whistling about our ears. I was standing
aft, close to the taffrail, on the port side, at the moment, and one of
the shot came crashing in at the stern-port nearest me, striking the
stanchion heavily, and making the splinters fly in all directions, one
of them striking me on the left temple, ripping up the skin and baring
my poor unfortunate skull for a length of some four inches. The blow
stunned me just for a moment, and I fell to the deck; but before any one
had time to pick me up, I had recovered and staggered to my feet again,
feeling a trifle confused, and somewhat sick--if the truth may be told--
at the sight of my own blood, which streamed down over my face
copiously, rendering me, I have no doubt, a truly ghastly spectacle; but
otherwise I felt not much the worse.
The frigate was at this time scarcely half-a-mile distant, and had her
guns been properly served, the broadside to which she had treated us
ought to have left us floating a helpless wreck on the water, and
completely at her mercy; but, instead of this, the shot which damaged me
was the only one which could be said to have taken effect; the remainder
of the broadside passing some through our sails, and some wide of their
mark altogether.
"A miss is as good as a mile," remarked the skipper to Sennitt, after he
had glanced round, and noted the trifling damage done. "Hillo, Chester,
are you hurt, my lad?" he added, addressing me, as he observed my gory
visage. "Slip down to the doctor, and get him to clap a plaster over
your mast-head, and then turn in, if you like. What a set of lubbers
they are aboard that frigate!" he continued to Sennitt. "Had she been
English, instead of French, that broadside would have blown us out of
the water. I have been for the last ten minutes seriously thinking of
hauling down the colours, rather than risk a heavy sacrifice of life;
but if that is the best they can do, we will hold on everything, at all
events for a short time longer. I wonder whether there would be any
chance of--" and he said something in so low a tone that I did not catch
it. Sennitt pondered deeply for a minute, then he looked up and said,
"Upon my word, sir, I think it would. Our lads are rather raw, but they
behaved splendidly in the case of the privateer, and so, I believe, they
would now. Yes, I think it might have just a chance of success; a bold
rush often does wonders."
"You are right, Sennitt. Call the hands aft, if you please, and let us
see how they take the proposal."
My head was beginning to ache most villainously, but curiosity got the
better of me for the moment, and I determined to postpone my visit to
friend Bolus, until I had heard what the skipper had to say.
In a minute or two every man was on the quarter-deck, hat in hand, and
expectancy in every feature.
"My lads," commenced the skipper, "I have sent for you, because I have a
proposition to make, and I wish to see for myself how you individually
take it. When the frigate astern was first made out this morning, I was
in hopes that the little `Scourge' would prove active enough to keep us
out of reach of the Frenchman's shot; but you have seen for yourselves
how completely fallacious that hope has been. The frigate goes two feet
to our one, and were she being fought as so beautiful a craft ought to
be, all hands of us would, by this time, be fairly under way for a
French prison. But you see how it is; there are a lot of tinkers and
tailors aboard there; they are not seamen, and do not deserve the luck
of being sent to sea in such a fine vessel; it is evident that, though
they may possibly know how to sail her, they cannot fight her. They
cannot possibly keep her long; the English are _certain_ to have her
sooner or later, and since that is the case, why should not _we_ have
her? No, stay a moment; don't cheer, lads, until you have heard me out.
Of course, anything like a regularly fought action between us and her
is out of the question; she is a two-and-thirty twelve-pounder, against
which we can only show eight six pounders; a single broadside from
her--_well_ delivered--would send us to the bottom. But I think there
is just a possibility--by a little manoeuvring on our part--of getting
alongside her; and if that can be done, I am of opinion that, by a bold
rush from all hands, we might secure possession of her. No doubt there
will be plenty of hard knocks to be had for the asking; but even that is
better than a French prison. What say you, my lads?"
A hearty cheer was the first response; then there was a general putting
of heads together, and much eager talking for about a couple of minutes.
Finally a topman--one Bob Adams--a magnificent specimen of the British
tar, a perfect Hercules in build, and one of the prime seamen of the
ship, shouldered his way to the front, and, with an elaborate sea-scrape
and a tug at his forelock, addressed the skipper,--
"We hopes your honour will excuse us, if we've taken a minute or two to
work out this here traverse, and reduce it to plain sailing; but the
purposal as your honour has laid athwart our hawse fetched us all up
standin' just at first, and it warn't until we'd had time to pay off,
and gather way on t'other tack, as I may say, that we was able to get
the bearins of it. You see, sir, there's only about sixty on us all
told, now that we've sent away a prize crew, and we reckon that there
ain't far short of 220 hands aboard of Johnny, yonder. Nevertheless and
notwithstanding, howsumdever, as your honour says, they're little better
than so many tailors, and tailors was never worth very much that ever
any of us heard on at a good stand-up fight; so the long and the short
of it is this, sir; you put us alongside, and _we'll have her_ in the
twinklin' of a purser's lantern. Ain't that it, boys?"
"Ay, ay, that's it, Bob; you've paid it out without so much as a single
kink; we mean to have her," responded a voice in the crowd.
"Then three cheers for the skipper, and may he get us lots of prize-
money," exhorted Bob, to the intense amusement of Captain Brisac; and
the cheers were given with such energy that I have no doubt they were
distinctly heard on board the Frenchman.
Captain Brisac briefly thanked the men for their plucky response to his
call, and then sent them back to their quarters, all impatience for the
eventful moment to arrive.
The frigate was rapidly nearing us, but I thought there would be time to
get my head plastered up; so I rushed below, and found Bolus standing at
the table, with his coat off and his shirt-sleeves rolled up; a
formidable array of long, narrow-bladed knives, sharp enough to cut one
if only _looked_ hard at, on one hand, and an equally formidable array
of saws, tweezers, long needles, silken thread, etcetera, etcetera, on
the other.
"Here, doctor," I exclaimed; "the skipper's compliments, and will you
`clap a plaster over my mast-head,' and bear a hand about it, please;
the Frenchman will be alongside of us in less than five minutes, and we
are going to board and carry him with a rush."
"And _you_, I presume, intend to head the boarders as usual," remarked
the doctor, with a quiet grin. "What is the extent of the damage?
Here, sit down and let me have a look at it; don't be impatient; I'll
undertake to tinker you up as good as new in two or three minutes," he
continued, as I seated myself, and he began to sponge the blood away.
"There is no great harm done, merely a simple laceration of the scalp.
There, I think that will keep the top of your head from blowing off,
until after you have demolished the Frenchman. I should dearly like to
go with you, but what would my poor patients do, if I happened to get an
unlucky knock on the head? No; I must remain where I am, I suppose,
though it's too bad that I should be cooped up here, while others are
having all the fun. Now you may go as soon as you please, but look
here, my boy," he added in quite a different tone; "take care of
yourself; a knock on the head, such as you have had, is very apt to make
one giddy, and giddiness is an awkward mishap at a critical moment; take
my advice, and remain quietly below until all is over."
CHAPTER SIX.
OUR "DASHING EXPLOIT."
The doctor's advice was well meant, and no doubt good, but I was too
excited to think so at the moment, so I darted on deck just in time to
hear the skipper say,--"Now, lads, he is coming up on our port quarter.
Run the starboard guns over to port, and load fore and aft with a round
shot and a charge of grape on top of it. Give the muzzles a good
elevation, and fire at the moment that the two ships touch, then away on
board for your lives, and recollect, the first blow is half the battle,
so let it be a good hard one. Steady now, here she comes."
During my visit to the doctor's den, sail had been shortened on board
the "Scourge," down to the topsails jib, and driver; the stunsails being
stowed and the booms run in; while the courses, topgallant sails, and
royals were merely clewed up. The Frenchman evidently had been a great
deal mystified by this manoeuvre and the cessation of firing on our
part; and now, while he was ranging up on our port quarter, and so close
that one might almost have hove a biscuit on board, all was confusion
with him; the hands being busy taking in their canvas in a slipshod,
lubberly way that would have disgraced a collier; while the babble of
tongues must have been deafening, judging from what we heard of it.
Our skipper was standing just abaft the main-rigging, conning the ship,
with one hand on the topmast backstay all ready for a spring, while he
signalled the helmsman with the other. Sennitt was forward, also ready
for the rush; while Mr Clewline, who with a dozen hands was to remain
on board and take care of the ship, was in the waist. The men stood at
their guns, with their cutlasses drawn, the captains with the trigger-
lines in their hands, ready to fire at the instant of collision. Harvey
was forward with Mr Sennitt; while little Markham and I stood by to
follow in the skipper's wake.
As the frigate drew up abreast of us, her captain sprang into the mizen
rigging and hailed through a speaking-trumpet, "Mais, Monsieur le
capitaine, why you shall not haul down votre drapeau; Vous avez se
rendre, n'est pas?"
Captain Brisac raised his hand to his mouth as though to reply; waving
it at the same time for the helmsman to sheer us alongside; the men with
the grappling irons being crouched under the bulwarks all ready to
heave; and all hands fore and aft straining forward like hounds in
leash, waiting breathlessly for the coming shock.
"What ship is that?" hailed the skipper; not that he wanted particularly
to know, just at that moment; he hoped to find out for himself very
shortly; but the question served to fill up time until the moment for
action should arrive.
"`L'Audacieuse;' fregate de --," began the French captain; when an
officer sprang into the rigging beside him, and said something in an
excited manner, pointing at us and gesticulating with frightful
vehemence.
In the meantime our helmsman, touching the wheel as daintily as though
we had been sailing a match, brought us alongside so cleverly that the
two ships touched with a shock which was barely perceptible, just enough
in fact "to swear by," as the gunner remarked.
"Heave!" shouted Sennitt to the men with the grappling irons, "Fire!"
roared the skipper; and away went our double broadside crash into the
Frenchman, eliciting such a chorus of shrieks and yells as might lead
one to suppose that Pandemonium had broken loose. Three or four of the
frigate's guns replied: and there was an ominous crashing among our
spars; but no one paused to ascertain the extent of the damage; and our
men had sprung like tigers into the frigate's rigging almost before our
own guns had exploded; they were, therefore, so far safe. Captain
Brisac made a dash at the frigate's mizen rigging while giving the word
to fire; with Markham and myself close upon his heels; but before he had
fairly got a hold of the ratlines a sponge was thrust out of one of the
upper-deck ports, catching him in the face, and inflicting such a blow
that he fell back upon us unfortunate mids, and would have gone down
between the two ships had we not caught him unceremoniously by the
collar and steadied him on his feet again.
The sponge was the reverse of clean, and the blow had been delivered
with such hearty good-will just between the eyes that our venerated
commander's claret was very effectually tapped; he presented therefore a
somewhat alarming spectacle as he flung himself in upon the Frenchman's
deck; his face black from contact with the foul sponge, the dingy colour
being pleasantly relieved by bold streaks and dashes of crimson.
"Mille diables!" ejaculated the astonished French captain, as this
apparition appeared before him--he having jumped down on deck again as
we ranged alongside; and he placed himself on guard in the most approved
fashion. Captain Brisac had no more knowledge of sword-play than he had
of flying, a circumstance which often proved exceedingly embarrassing--
to his adversaries, for he had a rough-and-ready way of handling his
weapon which, if not so scientific, was equally as effective as the
utmost refinements of the thoroughly accomplished swordsman. Instead
therefore of engaging, as his antagonist evidently expected, he simply
bore down the guard by sheer strength of wrist, and rushing in upon his
astounded adversary, delivered a blow with his left hand straight from
the shoulder, which laid the unhappy Frenchman senseless upon his own
deck. "Hurrah, lads!" he shouted; "give it them right and left; drive
the rascals below or overboard, and push forward to meet Mr Sennitt."
The division which had boarded with us, abaft, replied with a cheer,
which was responded to by Sennitt's party forward; and away we went,
driving the French along the deck before us until they were all huddled
up amidships between the two parties of boarders: and there they made a
most determined stand.
And now ensued a fierce and sanguinary hand-to-hand conflict; our men
still pressing impetuously forward; and the French opposing us with a
resolution which their previous conduct had given us no reason whatever
to expect, obstinately contesting with us every inch of the deck, and,
if they yielded for a moment, renewing the defence more actively than
ever; cutlasses and pikes were used with savage freedom; and the dead
and wounded encumbered the decks until they became almost impassable.
The fight had been raging thus furiously for some three or four minutes
without our gaining any perceptible advantage; our men were falling
fast; and it became evident that unless something decisive were speedily
done, we should be overpowered by sheer force of numbers. The French
were congregated in a compact group amidships, our party being divided
into two, one of which had been led on board aft by the skipper, while
the other had followed Mr Sennitt forward; the French were consequently
between us and the lieutenant's party. It occurred to me that if Mr
Clewline could pour a charge or two of grape into the crowd of
Frenchmen, it might have the effect of freshening their way; and I was
pushing towards the bulwarks intending to slip down on board the
"Scourge" and see what could be done, when I observed for the first time
that she was no longer alongside; and on looking farther I caught a
glimpse of her through one of the open ports, lying about a couple of
cables' lengths distant.
I called Markham's attention to this; at the same time mentioning what I
had thought about the grape.
"A capital notion, young-un!" he replied. "Your infantile intellect is
really developing with marvellous rapidity. Clewline can't be
communicated with, however, where he is; so we must just do the best we
can for ourselves. And look here! here is a six-pounder cast loose and
all ready to our hands; watch the roll of the ship, and we can run it
right inboard--here you, Peters,"--to one of the seamen, "lend a hand
here to run in this gun and slew it round with its muzzle forward. So!
that's just right; now then for a charge; do you see a--? Oh, here's a
cartridge; in with it; ram it well down, Peters; and you, Chester, see
if you can find anything to put in on top of the powder;--marline-
spikes; tenpenny nails; empty bottles; blue pills and black draughts;
the cook's tormentors; or the skipper's best china tea
service--_anything_ will do that is obnoxious to the interior of the
human system--"
"Will this do?" I inquired, fishing out from the scuppers a heavy
object of cylindrical shape, over which I had stumbled two or three
times.
"Bless your dear little innocent heart! yes," answered Markham, "it will
do berry nicey nicey. Why, it's the very thing, greeny; it's
_cannister_; in with it; if this does not wake them up, call me a
Dutchman, that's all. Now we're all ready. You let the skipper know
what we're going to do, Chester; and I'll stand by to fire directly he
gives the word."
It was no very easy matter to secure the skipper's attention and make
him understand what we proposed to do; but I managed to accomplish it at
last. As soon as he understood me, he hailed in a voice which rose
clear and high above the din, "Is Mr Sennitt there?"
"Ay ay, sir," came back in the well-known tones of the "first."
"We are going to try the effect of a charge of cannister," hailed the
skipper; "be good enough therefore to send your party into the fore
rigging; and you, my lads," to his own division, "stand by to rush aft
behind the gun. Now!"
The first lieutenant's division sprang like cats into the fore rigging,
and scuttled away for their lives half-way up to the top; while our
party at the same instant made a dash aft and formed again in the rear
of the gun. The movement was effected with such lightning-like rapidity
that the French could do nothing but stare at us open-mouthed.
Captain Brisac paused a single instant, to make sure that all our lads
were out of the way of the shot; and then he called upon the Frenchmen
to surrender. Two or three flung down their arms; but the rest,
recovering from their momentary astonishment, started on a rush aft;
seeing which, the skipper sprang on one side and shouted "Fire!"
The charge took effect in the very thickest of the crowd, literally
mowing the French down in heaps. At the same instant both parties of
the "Scourges" renewed their attack, and this time their rush proved
irresistible; there was a momentary attempt at a stand, but our lads
were no longer to be denied; and after another very short but very
fierce tussle the French threw down their weapons and cried for quarter.
I, however, did not witness the final _denouement_; for, being hurried
forward by the rest in the final rush, I found myself in the thick of
the _melee_ before I was quite prepared, and received a crushing blow on
the head which felled me to the deck.
The prisoners were immediately secured; and the bulk of the "Scourge's"
crew shifted into the prize, a sufficient number only being left on
board the brig to work her; the wounded also were retained on board the
frigate, where there was of course much better and more roomy
accommodation for them; our worthy medico shifting over, bag and
baggage, to look after us. The damage to spars and rigging, which
turned out to be unimportant in both ships, was soon made good; and
about 3 p.m. we made sail in company, shaping a course for Plymouth,
where we arrived without mishap, late on the following evening.
We all received very great credit for what the papers were pleased to
term our "dashing exploit;" Captain Brisac being rewarded with post
rank, while Mr Sennitt was made a commander, and Mr Clewline moved a
step up the ratlines. We midshipmen also received our reward in the
shape of "honourable mention;" nor were the warrant-officers forgotten;
so that, what with promotion and prize-money, the "Scourges" were for a
time the envy of the entire navy. The war, however, had only just
begun, or rather broken out afresh; and everybody soon consoled
themselves with the reflection that our luck might any day become their
own. The prize proved to be the frigate "L'Audacieuse," of thirty-two
guns and 230 men. She was a bran-new ship, and had come out of Brest on
her first cruise only the day before we fell in with her. Her loss in
the engagement amounted to forty-six killed and thirty-one wounded; our
own casualties amounting to fourteen killed and twenty wounded.
My own wound proved to be of a somewhat serious character, the blow
having been inflicted with some heavy blunt instrument, and producing
concussion of the brain; I was, however, well looked after, and as soon
as it was safe to move me, I was transferred to my own home, where I was
nursed, petted, and made much of to my heart's content, until I was in
the greatest danger of being spoiled, through the outrageous pampering
of my self-love and vanity to which I was subjected.
Luckily, my great-uncle, Sir Peregrine condescended to interest himself
in my welfare; the moment, therefore, that I was fairly convalescent he
swooped down on the vicarage, like a hawk upon a dove-cot, and carried
me off with him to London, where he treated me to a week's cruise among
the sights of the place. At the end of that time he drove with me one
fine morning to the Admiralty, where I received my appointment to the
"Juno" frigate, then fitting-out at Portsmouth for the Mediterranean.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note. It may be necessary to explain to the uninitiated reader that the
terms "he" and "she" are indifferently used at sea, in reference to
craft, but when the masculine pronoun is applied it is understood to
refer more especially to the _commanding officer_ of the vessel; while
the pronoun "she" refers to the _vessel herself_.--H.C.
CHAPTER SEVEN.
ON BOARD THE "JUNO."
My short stay with my great-uncle, Sir Peregrine, proved to be a source
of very great mutual satisfaction. He was a confirmed old bachelor,
with a perfect horror of women and children, and by his persistent
avoidance of both had gained for himself a character for moroseness and
ill-temper. My mother, however, happened to be somewhat of a favourite
with him--if a man possessed of such an unpromising character could be
considered capable of so much warmth of feeling as to justify the
expression--and having, for her sake, interested himself so far as to
launch me in my profession, curiosity prompted him to keep me in view.
He was greatly gratified to see my name appear in connexion with the
capture of the "Sans-Culotte;" and when the "Scourge" arrived in
Plymouth so speedily with her second prize, and he heard of my being
wounded, he posted down from town, determined to see Captain Brisac for
himself, and ascertain by actual word of mouth how I had behaved. My
kind skipper was so lavish with his praises that Sir Peregrine was in an
ecstasy of delight; and from that time he became a different man; in
consequence, I presume, of his having stumbled upon an object which
excited within him a genuine interest. During the week of my stay with
him in town he went everywhere with me, though his normal condition was
that of martyrdom to gout; and on my receiving my appointment to the
"Juno" he insisted on presenting me with an entire new rig-out from stem
to stern; including a very fine and powerful telescope, the best sextant
that could be bought for money, and one or two other matters of use in
my profession. It had been intimated to me that, in consideration of my
scarcely-healed wound, I need not join my ship until the last moment;
but Sir Peregrine insisted on my going down at once, in order that I
might not lose the chance which the fitting-out of the ship presented
for increasing my knowledge of practical seamanship. "It is not that I
am tired of your company, Ralph: do not think that, my dear boy," he
earnestly said; "but you have now an opportunity which may perhaps never
occur again for acquiring knowledge which is only to be gained in this
way; and it is a species of knowledge which may at any moment be of the
utmost service to you. You will have to endure a week or two of
discomfort, but that is a trifling matter compared with the lasting
advantage which you will thereby obtain, and you will live to bless the
day when your old uncle hurried you away from the pleasures of town to
the discomforts of a ship passing through the riggers' hands. One word
more, my boy. Your father cannot, I suppose, afford you a very liberal
allowance of pocket-money; I shall therefore supplement what he gives
you by an allowance of a hundred a year out of my own pocket for the
present, that being in my opinion quite as much as a lad of your age
ought to spend. At the same time, understand me, if you should by any
chance be in difficulties and require a further sum, you may freely draw
on me; provided of course that the difficulty is not of your own making,
or of a dishonourable nature--but there, I do not think I need fear that
of you, Ralph."
This was on the day previous to my starting for Portsmouth. It was
arranged that I should go down by the coach; Sir Peregrine at that time
strongly disapproving of midshipmen driving down in private carriages,
or even posting down to join their ships--"it would be quite time enough
for that sort of thing when I had a ship of my own," he considered. We
were both accordingly on the move early next morning, the old gentleman
insisting on going with me to the coach-office, and seeing me fairly
under way. While sitting at breakfast he handed me a letter for Captain
Hood, my new skipper, who it appeared was an intimate friend of Sir
Peregrine's--with the contents of which, however, I was not made
acquainted. He ate very little, devoting the limited time at our
disposal to the bestowal upon me of such good advice as his knowledge
and experience of the service suggested--advice, the value and benefit
of which, I had frequent after occasion to acknowledge. As we rose from
the table, he opened a drawer in his secretary, and drew from it a
sealed packet which he handed me, saying, "Slip this into your pocket,
Ralph, and take care of it; you may open it as soon as you like after
you have joined your ship."
We drove to the coach-office in his own carriage, both of us being
unusually silent on the way. For my own part, I candidly confess I felt
the parting keenly, the dear old boy having completely won my heart by
his altogether unexpected kindness; and that organ was too full to
permit of my then entering upon a light and trivial conversation; while
false shame prevented my giving utterance to those feelings of reverence
and regard which were agitating my breast. Just at the last moment Sir
Peregrine brightened up again, seeming to have a lot of things to say
which he had forgotten until then; his last injunction, however, was, to
stick by the ship until she should be "all ataunto;" when I might apply
with a clear conscience for leave to run home for a day, just to say
good-bye previous to sailing.
Punctual to the second, our coach weighed, and stood out of the inn-yard
in tow of four spanking bays, who rattled and jolted us over the stones
at the rate of a good honest twelve knots an hour. The morning--early
in June--was brilliantly fine; the air delightfully warm and pleasant;
and as we left town behind us, mother earth, arrayed in delicate green,
was looking her loveliest. The roads were in splendid condition, a
smart thunder-shower or two during the previous night having thoroughly
laid the dust, from which, therefore, we suffered no annoyance whatever.
The rain had also washed every particle of dust from the hedges and the
foliage of the trees, while it had refreshed the flowers in the villa
and cottage-gardens which were scattered along the roadside, causing
them to diffuse their sweets so bountifully that the atmosphere was
heavy with perfume. The sun shone brilliantly; the sky was a dazzling
blue, flecked here and there with thin white fleecy clouds, the shadows
of which, chasing each other over the landscape, imparted additional
variety and charm to the scene. My depression of spirits soon yielded
to the exhilarating influence of the day, and enabled me to enjoy
thoroughly the drive down, the pleasure of which left upon my mind an
agreeable impression, to which I often afterwards reverted with much
satisfaction.
We reached Portsmouth about 3 p.m., and the coach stopping at the
"George," I decided to stop there also, for that night at least; I
accordingly ordered dinner and a room; and then strolled down to the
harbour while the former was being got ready. As, however, I had no
intention of reporting myself until the following day, I satisfied
myself with ascertaining the whereabouts of my new ship, and taking a
distant look at her; after which I returned to the hotel, sat down to
dinner, strolled as far as Southsea Common afterwards, and got back to
the hotel and turned in about ten o'clock, determined to make a good
long night of it, as I did not know when I should next have the
opportunity of taking a whole night's undisturbed repose.
I was on board the "Juno" by nine o'clock the next morning, and reported
myself to Mr Annesley, the first lieutenant, who, early as it was,
already appeared to have been hard at work for some time.
"So you are come down to join?" he said, on my presenting myself. "I am
very glad to see you, Mr Chester; and I wish one or two more of the
young gentlemen would follow your example. I am entirely alone here;
not a soul to help me, and I am wanted in half-a-dozen places at once;
so I shall really be glad of your assistance. I suppose you are
prepared to commence duty at once? That's right; then be good enough to
take the launch, and go to the dockyard with this order for stores, and
bring them off as quickly as possible. Just give them an overhaul,
however, before taking them over, and satisfy yourself that they are
good, sound, serviceable stuff. Those dockyard people have been trying
to palm off upon me a lot of old junk, which must have been in store for
the last twelve years at least. It is simply rotten, and would go like
so much burnt thread in our first breeze of wind. Of course I refused
to receive it, and have consumed a great deal of valuable time in
getting sound stuff in place of it. Do not let them take you in; but
_insist_ on having everything of the best. Now go; get back as quickly
as possible, and remember, I shall trust to you to do your very best for
the ship."
The boat was alongside, ready manned. I accordingly slipped down the
side, and took command, with the feeling that I had suddenly become a
personage of considerable importance.
On reaching the dockyard I found that I was only one of many who were
there upon a similar errand to my own, and I had to await my proper
turn. This occasioned a very serious loss of time; and when at length
my turn came, the stuff which they offered me was so unmistakably bad,
that even my comparative inexperience was not to be imposed upon, and I
refused point-blank to accept it. I was thereupon told in a very off-
hand way that I was quite at liberty to please myself as to whether I
took or left it; but if I declined what was offered me, I should get
nothing else; and without waiting for a reply, the storekeepers coolly
left me, and began issuing to the midshipman whose turn came after mine.
So thorough a snubbing as this clearly showed me that my own unaided
efforts would be wholly insufficient to enable me to carry out my
instructions to Mr Annesley's satisfaction, and I was debating within
myself whether it would not be better to go on board again and report my
non-success, when an officer who was passing stopped, eyed me sharply,
and then held out his hand. It was my old skipper, Captain Brisac.
"Ah, Chester!" he exclaimed; "I am glad to see you, my lad--glad too
that you are on your pins once more, though you are looking very thin
and pale about the gills. How is the wound; pretty well healed up?
That's right; but you ought not to be standing about in this hot sun.
Are you here on duty?"
I told him I was, mentioning at the same time the annoyance and
inconvenience to which I had just been subjected.
"Where is the stuff they offered you?" said he; "I should like to have a
look at it."
It was still lying on the wharf, close at hand, and I pointed it out to
him. It was a quantity of hemp cordage, for use principally as
standing-rigging. He turned it over, inspecting it carefully, laying
open the strands here and there, and testing its quality both by sight
and smell. Finally he turned upon one of the storekeepers who happened
to be passing, and said,--
"Here, you sir, is this the best stuff you have in store?"
The man hesitated and looked confused for a moment; then put a bold face
upon the matter, and replied, "Yes, sir, it is; and rare good stuff it
is, too; it's the best that's made."
"Oh! it is, is it?" retorted the skipper. "Then I think it is about
time that the Admiral's attention should be directed to the quality of
the rigging upon which the safety of his Majesty's ships and the lives
of their seamen depend. Just lay that coil aside for half an hour, if
you please; and if any one asks why you have done so, you may say it was
at the request of Captain Brisac of the `Audacious.'"
The man's visage lengthened out to a portentous extent. He saw he had
brought his pigs to the wrong market for once, and he hurriedly
exclaimed,--
"Beg pardon, sir, I'm very sorry the stuff is not to your liking; but I
think we _can_ suit you, if you'll be so good as to step this way.
Perhaps that other _is_ rather old, but we've a lot of it in store, and
we're bound to get rid of it somehow. Now here, sir, is some cordage
that was only brought in fresh last week from the ropemaker's; how'll
that do, sir?"
"Ah!" said the captain, examining it critically, "that is nearer the
mark, decidedly. That ought to do for you, ought it not, Mr Chester?"
turning to me.
"Perfectly well, sir," I replied. "I should be quite satisfied to be
served with rope of that quality."
"Have you your order with you?" asked Captain Brisac.
"Yes, sir," I replied; "here it is."
"Then serve this young gentleman at once," he said authoritatively to
the storekeeper; "and be careful what you are about with that old
`junk,' or you will be getting yourselves into serious trouble over it."
The storekeeper went away to get some assistance, and while he was gone,
I availed myself of the opportunity to thank the skipper for the service
he had just rendered me; after which he shook hands, saying he was in a
great hurry: but if I could get leave that evening, he would be very
happy if I would dine with him at the "George" at six, sharp. I thanked
him duly for his kind invitation, but declined it, as I felt that my
absence might possibly be a source of inconvenience to Mr Annesley,
which I explained.
"Quite right, Mr Chester--quite right," returned he; "_never_ allow
pleasure to interfere with duty, if you wish to make headway in your
profession. I shall perhaps be seeing Captain Hood--who is your new
captain, I believe--this evening, and if so, I will put a spoke in your
wheel for you. Good-bye!"
I was alongside the "Juno" with my cargo, just in time to get it hoisted
out before the men went to dinner. Mr Annesley met me at the gangway,
as I climbed up the side, and asked me how I had got on, and what sort
of stuff I had brought with me? I related my morning's adventures, and
told him how Captain Brisac had helped me out of my difficulty with the
dockyard storekeepers, winding up by calling his attention to the
quality of the rope, which was just then being hoisted in.
"Capital!" he exclaimed; "nothing could be better. This is by far the
best we have ever had served out to us; it is of first-rate quality, as
every inch of rope served out to the navy should be. One can trust to
this upon a pinch, without much fear of being disappointed. I am very
much obliged to you, Mr Chester, for the way in which you have executed
your first duty on board here. I hope you will discharge all your
duties equally well; and if you do, I feel sure we shall get on
capitally together. I believe I have rather a reputation for strictness
and severity, but no one who strives to do his duty well will find me
either strict or severe. But are you the Mr Chester who was with
Captain Brisac in the `Scourge' during his last cruise?"
I replied simply that I was.
"Upon my word, young gentleman, I am glad to hear it," said Mr
Annesley; "for I shall have the satisfaction of knowing that I have at
least _one_ midshipman of promise under me, whatever the rest may be.
Now come down into the gun-room, and get something to eat; we are the
only officers on board, so I thought it was not worth while to lay out a
couple of tables. And while we are eating, you may as well give me an
account of your action with, the French frigate, which, by the way, has,
I see, been purchased into our own navy, and given to Captain Brisac."
I, of course, gladly accepted so kind an invitation; and, as we ate, I
described as graphically as I could every incident of the action, being
frequently interrupted in the course of my narrative by questions which
showed how keenly interested my interrogator was in every detail,
particularly those relating to the handling of the two ships.
"Thank you, Mr Chester," said Mr Annesley, when I had finished; "you
have interested me much, and instructed me somewhat, also: one or two of
the evolutions which you have so clearly described were very cleverly
conceived, and as boldly carried out. I hope you will remember then, as
most certainly _I_ shall, it is knowledge of this kind which is so pre-
eminently useful to a naval officer. Courage is of course an
indispensable quality in every one who has to fight his Majesty's
battles, whether on sea or land; but the ability to manoeuvre a ship in
the heat of battle, so as to place her in the most advantageous
situation with regard to her antagonist, is of fully equal importance;
and without the knowledge necessary to effect this, the most conspicuous
courage, both of officers and crew, may become of no avail. Remember
this, my lad, and lose no opportunity for perfecting yourself in the
science of practical seamanship. Now let us go on deck again, as I hear
the hands have turned to."
CHAPTER EIGHT.
NEW COMRADES.
We were busy the whole of that afternoon, and up until nine o'clock in
the evening, the riggers working "overtime," as the admiral was most
anxious for us to go to sea at the earliest possible moment; and Mr
Annesley, during the time, was all over the ship, taking me with him,
and keenly watching the fitting of every spar and piece of rigging,
being fully determined that every part of the work should be well and
conscientiously done. I thought him unnecessarily particular over what
then seemed to me to be trifles; but the time came, when I perceived
that no part of the rigging or equipment of a man-o'-war could be justly
regarded as of trifling importance.
The work being pushed forward thus energetically, we made rapid
progress; and on the day fortnight from my joining the ship, she was all
ataunto, with sails bent, stores of every kind, including powder and
shot, on board, fully manned, and, in fact, quite ready for sea.
Captain Hood had paid a couple of flying visits to the ship since I had
joined her, but I had not seen him, as I happened on both occasions to
be away at the dockyard; but on the morning in question he came on board
about eleven o'clock--his own gig having been sent on shore for him--
mustered the hands and read his commission, made us a short speech, and
then went on shore again, previously giving Mr Annesley instructions to
have everything ready for a start by three o'clock that afternoon. As
soon, therefore, as the gig had left the ship's side, blue-peter was run
up to the fore-royal-mast-head, the fore-topsail was loosed, and
everybody not actually belonging to the ship was ordered to be out of
her in an hour's time. Then came the men's dinner-time, after which
there was a general straightening and clearing up, fore and aft, the
boats were hoisted in and secured, and finally the messenger was passed,
and the anchor hove short-stay-a-peak.
And now, while all hands are supposed to be waiting with suppressed
impatience for the appearance of the man who, for a time at least, was
to exercise an almost omnipotent influence over the welfare and
happiness of our little community, upon whose skill and courage our very
lives were frequently to depend, and to whom we all looked up as our
future leader in every deed of enterprise or daring, an opportunity
occurs for me to say a descriptive word or two concerning the principal
individuals with whom I found myself brought into association.
To commence at the top of the tree and work my way downwards--Captain
Hood was, when he took command of the "Juno," a man of about two-and-
thirty years of age, of medium height and slight build, with a well-
formed figure, and a face which, though by no means handsome, was
strikingly agreeable to look at, chiefly because of its frank, easy,
good-natured expression. He was always scrupulously well-dressed, even
in the vilest of weather; and there was just the faintest perceptible
trace of Bond-street dandyism in his air, conveying at first an
impression of slight mental weakness--an impression, however, which was
rapidly dispelled upon a more intimate acquaintance. His manner was
quiet and imperturbable to an astonishing degree; and the more exciting
the circumstances in which he was placed, the more calm and placid did
his demeanour become. But those who flattered themselves that these
characteristics indicated a lax disciplinarian found themselves
grievously mistaken. He was strictness itself, in the matter both of
discipline and etiquette; was as brave as a lion, a perfect seaman, with
an eye which seemed intuitively to light at once and infallibly upon the
slightest fault, and with a will of iron concealed beneath the placid
suavity of his demeanour. His influence, though it could scarcely be
said to be felt, was irresistible; and by its means he, in an incredibly
short time, wrought the ship's company into one of the smartest, if not
absolutely _the_ smartest, in the service.
Mr Annesley, the first lieutenant, was in many respects a strong
contrast to his superior. A tall, dark, square-built and muscular-
looking man, with handsome features, dark, flashing eyes, and well-
proportioned figure, every nerve of which seemed a-quiver with
superabundant vitality. His gesture, though restrained, was earnest and
emphatic; his language in conversation, refined and eloquent; in
carrying on the duty of the ship, short, sharp, and incisive. His
manner to his superiors was quietly respectful, to his equals, somewhat
distant, though without any trace of hauteur, and to his inferiors,
gentle and sympathetic, or cold, stern, and repellant, accordingly as
they won his approval or incurred his displeasure. He, like the
skipper, was also a prime seaman, with a dauntless courage which verged
very closely upon recklessness, though it never was allowed to actually
merge into that undesirable quality.
The second lieutenant, Mr Michael Flinn, was a rollicking, good-
tempered, good-natured young Irishman, careless and impulsive, as the
generality of his countrymen are, always ready to perform a service for
a friend, and still more ready to break the head of an enemy; a passably
good officer afloat, but possessed with a perfect genius for getting
into scrapes--and out of them again--on shore, with no consciousness
whatever of his own dignity as one of his Majesty's officers, and ever
ready to join heart and soul in any escapade of which he might happen to
get an inkling. He was admirably adapted for such work as a cutting-out
expedition, or a dash ashore to spike the guns of an outlying battery;
but, when I first knew him, was utterly unfit for any service requiring
discretion or tact in its execution.
The third lieutenant, the Honourable Edward Plantagenet Mortimer, was
simply a useless, soft-headed dandy, who would as soon have dreamed of
throwing himself overboard as of soiling his hands; there was no harm in
him, he was good-natured enough, but he was emphatically _the_ idler of
the ship, never even making a pretence of performing any duty, but
simply dawdling about the deck in kid gloves, with an eye-glass
eternally screwed into his starboard top-light. His one idea was that
he was a brilliant performer on the flute; and in his watch below he was
incessantly rendering the lives of his neighbours a burden to them by
the melancholy wailings which he evoked from that instrument. It was
said that he could fight--when no other alternative was open to him--but
the bustle and confusion, and, above all, the exertion, he considered
such "a howwid boah," that he always most carefully avoided those
occasions for distinguishing himself, which other men are wont to seek
with avidity. Why on earth he ever entered the navy was a puzzle which
utterly defied solution.
The master, Mr Rawlings, was a middle-aged man, quiet and unobtrusive
in manner, and with very little to say upon any subject unconnected with
his profession. There, however, he was unapproachable. He was simply
perfect as a navigator, seemed to have been in and out of every harbour
in the world, and was intimately acquainted with the position of every
rock and shoal which guarded their approach, together with the
distinctive features of every light, beacon, or buoy which announced
their vicinity; knew the direction and rates of the various currents,
and could tell, without referring to his chart, the depths of water over
bars and in channels, together with the bearings of the fairways in the
latter, how wide they were, and the hour of high-water in them at the
full and change of the moon; in fact, his information on such matters
appeared to be quite inexhaustible. He was unquestionably the ablest
master in the entire British navy; and one of the first anxieties of a
captain, when in quest of a crew, was to get hold of "old Rawlings" as
master.
We midshipmen were six in number; four of my messmates being older, and
one younger than myself. They were all good-tempered, agreeable lads,
and in other respects were about on a par with the average run of
midshipmen. The master's-mate, Mr Percival, was berthed with us. He
was a fine, gentlemanly, young fellow of about eighteen years of age,
with great ability and intense application, bidding fair to achieve
eventually a reputation equal to that of his chief, for whom he
entertained a profound admiration.
And now, having introduced my fellow-officers, let me say what it is
necessary to say respecting the ship.
The "Juno" was one of the old class of frigates, of which, however, she
happened to be an extremely favourable specimen. She was very strong,
being oak-built throughout, and copper fastened; her timbers being of
the most solid description, and exceptionally heavy scantling. She came
to us with the unenviable reputation of being a poor sailer, though she
was a very _good_ model, particularly under water; but Mr Annesley paid
her a visit while in the dry dock, and attentively studied her lines,
having done which he determined to alter her trim altogether, putting
her nine inches deeper down in the water aft, and reducing her ballast
to the extent of twenty tons. The result answered his most sanguine
expectations; for while she still stood up well under her canvas, she
was steadier in a sea-way, lighter and drier forward, paid off quicker
in stays, and though still scarcely a clipper, her rate of sailing had
considerably improved. Her accommodations were somewhat cramped, as
compared with the newer and larger class of frigates; but as far as I
was concerned, coming into her from the little "Scourge," there seemed
to be a positive superabundance of room. She mounted thirty-two long
twelves, and mustered a crew of 190 men.
It had been my intention to act upon Sir Peregrine's suggestion, and ask
for a day or two's leave to run home and see my friends once more,
before finally quitting Old England upon a cruise of unknown duration;
but we had been so excessively busy that I really had not the conscience
to make such a request; and now that the ship was finally ataunto, it
appeared that we were to proceed to sea forthwith. I was therefore
obliged to content myself with writing them a long letter, to which I
put the finishing touches while we were waiting for the captain, Mr
Annesley having kept a shore-boat alongside to take ashore a few letters
which he had hastily scribbled after the completion of the preparations
for unmooring, and by which he kindly intimated that any one who had
letters to send might send them.
At length, about 3:30 in the afternoon, the captain's gig was seen
approaching the ship, the side was manned, and in a few minutes more
Captain Hood stood upon his own quarter-deck.
"You may--ah--run my gig up to the davits, if you please, Mr Annesley,"
said he, "and then we will--aw--weigh at once if--ah--you have
everything ready."
"Quite ready, sir," replied the first luff, turning away to give the
necessary orders. The gig was hoisted up and secured, the hands were
sent aloft to loose the canvas, the topsails were sheeted home and mast-
headed, the jib run up, and, simultaneously with this, the capstan-bars
were shipped, one of the ship's boys mounted the capstan-head violin in
hand, and to a merry air upon that instrument out stepped the men, the
anchor was quickly run up to the bows, and with the last drain of the
flood-tide the "Juno," under topsails and jib, with a light north-
easterly air of wind, glided with a slow and stately movement out of the
harbour, squaring away directly down through the Solent as soon as we
had cleared the anchorage at Spithead, instead of going out round the
island to the eastward, as was at that time usual with men-o'-war. This
circumstance, trifling as it was, had a very exhilarating effect upon
all hands, as it seemed to foreshadow that our skipper, notwithstanding
his somewhat affected manner, had a habit of taking the shortest and
most direct road when he had an object to achieve.
There were several ships lying at Spithead as we passed through, and it
was observed that one of them--the "Boston," a frigate of about our own
size--was just getting under way, her destination being the east coast
of North America. Her skipper, Captain Courtenay, and ours were, it
appeared, old friends, and having met that day at the Admirals' office,
there had been a little good-natured banter between them as to the
comparative sailing powers of the two ships, each being of course of
opinion that his own ship could beat the other; and it had been finally
arranged that, as both frigates were to sail that day, there should be a
friendly race down Channel, the stake being the time-honoured one--a new
hat. Accordingly, as soon as we had room, the "Juno" was rounded-to
with the main-topsail to the mast, to wait until the other ship should
join us.
We were not detained very long. Hardly were we hove-to when the
"Boston" was seen threading her way out through the fleet, and in a few
minutes more she was close abreast of us, the "Juno" bearing up at the
moment which would bring the bows of the two ships exactly level.
Captain Courtenay appeared at the gangway as the "Boston" drew up
alongside, and on our skipper showing himself, hailed "Juno ahoy! are
you ready?"
"Ay, ay," was the response, "we are--aw--quite ready."
"Then--_off_!" shouted the "Boston's" skipper, and at the word down came
his topgallant sheets, the yards going up at the same moment, and the
royal sheets fluttering down into their berths, as the yards rose to
meet them; then up went the royal yards to their respective mast-heads,
the courses dropped heavily down, the staysails and flying-jib slid up
their stays, and the driver was hauled out, the whole being done with
the regularity and rapidity of a well-oiled and easy-working machine.
In the meantime our own hands had not been idle, and under Mr
Annesley's able manipulation the "Juno" proved herself quite as smart as
her antagonist in spreading her snowy pinions.
From that moment all was pleasant excitement on board as the two ships
slid gently along side by side within hailing distance of each other.
Speculation was rife, and the most diverse opinions as to the issue of
the trial were expressed both on the quarter-deck and the forecastle.
The "Boston" had the name of being a tolerably smart craft, but during
the run down the Solent neither ship appeared able to claim any very
decided advantage over the other, sometimes one and sometimes the other
drawing a trifle ahead. On arriving off "Egypt" we were able to edge
away a little, and then stunsails were set on the starboard side in both
ships, still, however, without altering our relative positions.
As the sun declined toward the horizon the wind gradually dropped,
finally dying away altogether, and leaving us absolutely motionless save
for the drift of the ebb-tide, which still swept us along to the
westward. It was a magnificent evening, the water, smooth as glass,
reflecting on its glittering surface an absolutely unbroken picture of
our stately consort, with every snowy sail, every spar and rope, as
clearly shown as though she were reposing on the polished surface of a
gigantic mirror. The western sky, glowing with tints of the clearest,
palest amber melting into a delicate rose, which merged in its turn
imperceptibly into a clear, deep, transparent blue as the eye glanced
from the horizon toward the zenith, was without a trace of cloud, and
against this pure and exquisitely tinted background the outlines of
Hurst Castle stood sharply out, the castle itself and the low spit of
land on which it is built appearing of a deep, rich, powerful, purple
hue, as though carved out of a giant amethyst, while the country further
inland exhibited tints varying from the deepest olive--almost
approaching black--through the richest greens, away to the most delicate
of pearly greys in the remote distance. The Wight--about a quarter of a
mile distant on our port hand--presented a picture of exquisite and
almost fairy-like beauty, with its wooded slopes, waving cornfields, and
grassy dells, aglow with the rich purply-golden haze of sunset,
repeating their beauties in the waveless tide which washed its shores.
As I stood gazing entranced upon the varied beauties of earth, sea, and
sky, the scene gradually changed, a marvellous transformation was taking
place, the sky tints deepened into a warmer, richer glow, the colours of
the landscape slowly faded into sombre neutral, the castle stood out
black as ebony against the dying flush in the sky, the water blushed
crimson for a moment, then paled to a cold greyish purple as a faint
breeze began to ruffle its surface, the azure of the sky became
momentarily deeper and richer and more purple in tone, and presently,
out from the clear cerulean depths started into view the planet Venus,
beaming down upon us with a soft, silvery, lambent radiance, and tracing
upon the bosom of the darkening wave a delicate thread of quivering
liquid light--
"`Who can paint like Nature?'" said a voice at my elbow, while an arm
was slid quietly within my own, and I found myself joined by young
Raleigh, a fellow-mid--and by all accounts a scion of the same family as
the renowned Sir Walter--"what mortal brush could hope to emulate the
exquisite softness, delicacy, richness, and power of those tints which
have just faded out of the picture before us, or what artist could
adequately express the quiet, dreamy beauty of the present scene? Dame
Nature has been kind in permitting what will probably be our last
glimpse for some time to come of our native land, to be one of such
surpassing loveliness. We are bound to a region the beauty of which has
been for ages a favourite theme among poets, yet I fancy many of us will
look with yearning fondness upon the cherished memory of the parting
smile with which old England has bidden us a long good-night."
"I am sure _I_ shall, for one," said I, "I have heard and read much of
the beauties of the `sunny South,' but I find it difficult to imagine
anything more exquisitely beautiful than many scenes which I have
witnessed at home when Nature has been in her happier moods."
"Ah! that is because you have never been away from home," remarked
Raleigh. "I have already been up the Mediterranean once, and without
for a moment attempting to decry the--"
"Hands, trim sails. In with the stunsails on the starboard side; rig in
and secure the booms, ease up the larboard braces, and take a small pull
upon the starboard, rig out the booms on the port side and get the
stunsails on her again. Be smart, my lads, or we shall have the frigate
alongside presenting us with a full view of her stern all the way down
Channel."
_So_ spake the first lieutenant, the boatswain's whistle chirped, and in
a moment the stillness on board gave place to a scene of bustle and
animation. The breeze, after faintly ruffling the glassy surface of the
water with an occasional cat's-paw, came softly stealing out from the
E.S.E., and every sail was immediately trimmed with the most scrupulous
nicety to woo the gentle zephyr. The lighter and more lofty sails first
acknowledged its welcome presence, alternately swelling out and
fluttering to the masts, like the gentle rise and fall of the breast of
sleeping beauty, then they filled out steadily, the lower and heavier
canvas also sullenly yielding to its influence; a soft, musical,
rippling sound arose beneath the frigate's bows, tiny whirlpools formed
in the wake of the rudder and trailed away astern, the pressure of the
spokes upon the helmsman's hand became firm and steady, a faint creak
was occasionally heard aloft as the strain upon the spars increased, the
sails "went to sleep," the sheets tautened out, the ripple under the
bows grew louder and louder, until it emulated the rush of a mountain
torrent, and the foam gathered round the cutwater, hissing along the
side, and swirling far away in our wake, as the "Juno," yielding to the
freshening breeze, swept out past the Needles, and hauled up a point or
two for Ushant.
CHAPTER NINE.
INTO A TRAP AND OUT AGAIN.
The "Boston" was still in company at breakfast-time the following
morning, but we had by that time contrived to leave her a good two miles
astern, a feat which in view of that frigate's reputation occasioned
general exultation to the "Junos," for, as little Summers sagely
remarked at the breakfast-table, "what was the use of going to sea in a
ship whose sailing powers were unequal to the task of taking her crew
alongside an enemy?"
"Well, the old tub has not done badly, so far," observed young Smellie.
"She turns out a good deal better than I had been led to expect. I met
a mid who had formerly belonged to her, on the day that I came down to
join, and he said that the fastest he had ever known her to go was six
knots, and that it took her the length of a dog-watch to go about."
"Well, if she will stay at all, we shall not be so badly off as I was in
the old `Ajax,'" ejaculated Summers. "We were always obliged to _wear_
her, and if we could get her round upon the other tack without running
more than three miles to leeward we considered we had done pretty well."
"Is it your _habit_ to exaggerate, or do you only indulge in it
occasionally, young 'un?" quietly inquired Percival, the master's-mate,
looking up from a book he was devouring with his breakfast.
"Exaggerate? How do you mean?" returned Summers, flushing up very red
in the face. "I thought it would be understood that I was only joking."
"And I have no doubt it _was_ so understood," remarked Percival, "but if
you are not above taking a bit of friendly advice, let me recommend you
not to deviate a single hair's-breadth _from_ the truth, even in joke;
it is a dangerous practice, and as easy an introduction to deliberate,
systematic lying as any with which I am acquainted. Now don't look so
hurt, my boy, of course you meant no harm--you had no intention to
deceive us, it was merely a thoughtless speech, but be advised by me and
avoid that particular species of thoughtlessness as you would the
plague, nothing is much easier to acquire than a reputation for
untruthfulness, and certainly nothing is more difficult to get rid of."
Poor little Summers hung down his head for a few moments, dreadfully
abashed at this unexpected rebuke, then looking up, with the flush still
on his face, he said, "Thank you, Mr Percival. You hit me rather hard,
but I believe you are right, I am afraid I _have_ yielded rather too
much to the bad habit of which you speak, but I don't think I shall be
likely to do it again. And now, to change the subject, does anybody
know exactly where we are bound?"
"There was a vague rumour floating about Portsmouth, a few days ago,
that Lord Hood--by the way, I wonder if he is in any way related to our
skipper?--is to take a fleet to Toulon, though for what purpose nobody
seemed to know; I hope we shall not be ordered to join," said Smellie.
"I hope not!" remarked Percival. "_I_ also heard the rumour to which
you refer, and I fancy there must be some truth in it, for it went so
far even as to specify by name several ships as having been selected to
form part of the fleet, and I know that there has been a pretty general
overhaul and refit going on with many of them. There is a large French
fleet at this moment lying in Toulon harbour, and I am of opinion that
the expedition--if such there is to be--is for the purpose of getting
hold of a few of them. It is said that there are no less than thirty-
four ships, many of them of large size, lying there ready for sea, while
they have one seventy-four, and two forties--all very fine vessels--on
the stocks and about ready for launching. If Lord Hood can take the
pick of such a fleet as that, we should be able to lay up in ordinary
the old `Juno' and a few more like her. But I do not think we need
distress ourselves much respecting the Toulon fleet. If Lord Hood wants
any frigates, he will take them out with him. _Our_ mission, I expect,
will be to cruise up and down the Mediterranean, doing the best we can
for ourselves; our skipper has, no doubt, influence enough to ensure
that he shall not be hampered by being attached to blockading fleets, or
anything of that kind, where you get a great deal of work and very
little prize-money."
Percival's assumption turned out to be correct. We called at Gibraltar,
and remained a couple of days, giving some of us, of whom I happened to
be one--an opportunity of exploring this extraordinary fortress, from
whence we went on to Malta, remained there a week, and were then ordered
out to cruise. We were told that the French had seventeen ships-of-war
cruising in the Mediterranean, but we seemed to be altogether out of
luck's way, for we never had the good fortune even to sight one, and,
beyond picking up some half-a-dozen insignificant French traders, we did
positively nothing for six entire months.
At length, about the middle of December, the ship requiring a slight
refit, we bore up for Malta, arriving there on the 23rd of the month--
just in time for the Christmas festivities. We of the cockpit contrived
to get our full share of leave, and enjoyed ourselves immensely, but as
nothing occurred particularly worthy of note, I shall not enter into
details as to the pranks we played, and our several modes of seeking
enjoyment.
On the 4th of January, 1794, we received orders to take on board 150
supernumeraries for the garrison at Toulon, the rumour of the proposed
fleet under Lord Hood having in the meantime become an accomplished
fact, and that gallant officer having accepted the surrender of the port
from the Toulonese, in trust for Louis XVII. We received these
supernumeraries on board early next morning, and sailed immediately
after the completion of the embarkation.
It took us a week to make the passage, the wind being fair but light,
and the weather beautiful during the whole time. On the fourth day out,
poor old Rawlings, the master, complained of severe shooting pains in
the head, accompanied by giddiness and nausea, and the next day found
him confined to his berth in a high fever.
We arrived off the port at about 10 p.m. It was a beautiful night, the
moon, just entering her second quarter, beamed softly down upon us from
the cloudless, star-spangled sky, and a light air of wind from the
southward just filled our sails and fanned us along at a rate of about
four knots. When about five miles off, we hoisted lights for a pilot,
the skipper being anxious to get in that night, so as to discharge the
supernumeraries the first thing in the morning, the vessel being
somewhat crowded. Three-quarters of an hour elapsed, during which we
looked in vain for a boat coming off to us, when, having approached
within a couple of miles of the entrance to the harbour, Captain Hood
gave orders for the ship to be hove-to.
Another half-hour passed away, and still no sign of a pilot.
"If poor Rawlings had not been in the sick-bay--aw--we should have been
snugly at anchor by this time," said the skipper to Mr Annesley. "I'll
be bound to say that the--aw--old fellow has been in and out of the
place a dozen times at least, and he would have taken us in like a--ah--
like a shot."
"Quite likely, sir," returned Mr Annesley, with his telescope to his
eye; "I think it would be difficult to name a port which he has _not_
been into. It is unfortunate that he should be laid up just at this
juncture. They must be very early birds in Toulon, or surely somebody
would have made out our lights before this. And,"--he lowered his
telescope--"it is very queer, but I cannot make out the British fleet in
there, surely we ought to see them from where we now are?"
"Not if they are in the inner harbour, which I--aw--suspect they are.
The Italian bwig which came in on the day we sailed was from Marseilles,
and her master weported a succession of stwong easterly winds
hereabouts, which would natuwally send the Bwitish fleet farther in; we
shall find them there all wight; where else could they be?" remarked the
skipper.
"Very true, sir," observed the first lieutenant. "Shall we fill on her
and heave about? I see no sign of a boat coming off."
"Yes, if you please," was the answer. "By-the-bye, I wonder if young
Percival has ever been inside there; if he has, pewhaps he could take us
in."
"I scarcely expect he has ever seen the inside of the harbour, sir,"
said Mr Annesley; "still, we can ask him. Shall I pass the word for
him?"
"Yes, do," said the skipper. "I should like to get in to-night, if
possible."
"Pass the word for--oh! here he is," said the first luff, as Percival
strolled aft from the forecastle, whence he had been taking a good look
at the harbour. "Mr Percival, Captain Hood wishes to know if you have
ever been into Toulon?"
"No, sir, I never have," replied Percival, addressing himself to the
skipper direct; "but I have just been having a look at the place, and I
feel sure I could take the ship in. Mr Rawlings, on the first day that
he was taken ill, brought out his chart, and showed me the way in, with
all the marks and bearings of the fairway, and I have been able to make
out every one of them quite distinctly. It is a fine, clear night, with
little wind and no sea, so that if we _did_ happen to touch anywhere we
should do no harm, but I think I could safely promise to take her in
without scouring her copper."
"Vewy well, then, Mr Percival, I'll wisk it. Take charge, sir, and do
the best you can for us," said the skipper.
The main-topsail was filled, and as soon as the ship had way enough on
her, we hove about, and bore away for the harbour, with a hand in the
fore-chains on each side, taking frequent casts of the lead, and
Percival on the poop, conning the ship. As we drew in towards the
harbour, sail was shortened, and we crept in under topsails and jib
only.
At length we safely entered the inner harbour, Percival's skill having
proved fully equal to the occasion, and there, as had been expected, we
found a number of ships lying snugly at anchor.
"Ah!" said the skipper, "here is the admiral, just as I expected. Do
you see that bwig, Mr Percival?"
"Yes, sir," returned Percival, "I wanted to weather her, but we shall
not do it, the wind is too light, and the tide too strong; we must tack
under his stern, as there is shoal water not far to leeward of where he
is."
"Then, in that case, we'll give her a little more muslin," said Mr
Annesley. "Haul out the driver, and down with the fore tack and sheet;
look sharp, my lads! Now, Mr Percival, we are all ready."
We were now drawing up on the brig's starboard quarter, and almost
within hailing distance. Captain Hood was preparing to hail the vessel,
when a figure was seen on the taffrail of the stranger, and the next
moment some indistinct words were hoarsely bellowed at us.
"_What_ does he say?" said the skipper, turning to the group of officers
standing near.
"Couldn't exactly make out," said one. "Didn't hear very distinctly,"
said another. "I thought it sounded like French," said Percival.
"Oh!" said the skipper, "he is of course asking who we are. His
Bwitannic Majesty's fwigate `Juno,' from Malta, with supahnumewawies for
the garrison," he added, roaring back between his hands at the
motionless figure on board the brig.
"Viva!" was the reply, accompanied by the wave of a navy cap.
"He's Fwench," said the skipper; "one of the fellows who has suwendered
to our fleet. Can any of you gentlemen speak Fwench well enough to ask
him which is the Bwitish admiral's ship?"
There was no one, it appeared, with quite sufficient confidence in his
knowledge of the French language to undertake this duty, so I stepped
forward and, with becoming modesty, offered to obtain whatever
information was required. Permission being given, I approached the
side, and squeaked out, in the most manly tones at my command, the
proposed inquiry.
The figure gesticulated violently, then stooped down to commune with
three or four more, whose heads could now be seen just above the
taffrail; finally he raised himself to an upright position, and shouted
back, "Yesh, yesh!"
"I'm afraid he did not understand you, Mr Chester," said Mr Annesley.
"Try him again."
I did so, with even more confusing results than before.
"Ask him which is the Bwitish fleet," suggested the skipper.
I put this question also, and the confusion appeared to become worse
confounded; some half-a-dozen replies coming back to us all jumbled up
together, English and French words being so hopelessly intermixed, that
it was utterly impossible to make head or tail of what they were saying.
We were by this time passing close under the brig's stern, and Percival
was remarking to the first lieutenant that it was quite time to heave
about, as he was sure we must be close upon the shoal, when the voice,
which had hailed us first, shouted out for us to "Luff!"
"Hard down with your helm!" exclaimed Annesley; "over with it, my man:
tacks and sheets! Ah! we have cut it too fine," as with a gentle surge
the frigate was brought up all standing on the shoal. "Away aloft, men;
clew up and haul down; furl everything!"
The topsail and jib halliards were let run, the canvas was clewed up,
and in a minute or two more all was snugly stowed. The men were just in
the act of laying in off the yards, when a little puff of wind coming
down the harbour caught the frigate's bow, and to our great
gratification paid her head round until her fore-foot scraped off the
bank. The order was at once given to let go the anchor; the cable
smoked out through the hawse-pipe, and the ship swung round, head to
wind. We found, however, that her heel was still fast on the shoal, and
the rudder immovable; it was therefore determined, as the tide was on
the turn, to hoist out the launch at once, and run away a kedge, in
order to haul the ship off while the operation was still possible.
Tackles were accordingly got up on the fore and main-yardarms, and in
less than five minutes the launch was in the water alongside.
"Where is Mr Chester?" said the first lieutenant, looking round.
"Here, sir!" I replied, emerging from the shadow of the bulwarks, where
I had been taking a peep at things in general through an open port, from
which I had observed, among other things, a six-oared gig pull from the
brig, and make towards the town; but foolishly I failed to report the
circumstance, not at that moment attaching the slightest importance to
it. "Jump into the launch, Mr Chester, and take charge," said Mr
Annesley. "I want the kedge run away here, about two points on our port
bow. You must not go farther to windward than that, or the tide will
take our quarter, when we float, and drive us down on the brig. Now off
you go, and be as smart as you can."
"Ay, ay, sir!" I replied, touching my cap, and away I scrambled down
into the launch, where I found the kedge already stowed, with hawsers
coiled down on top of it until the boat's stern was barely a couple of
inches out of water.
"Shove off and give way, men!" I exclaimed, as my foot touched the
thwart; the bowman shoved the boat's head off, the oars dropped into the
phosphorescent water with a luminous splash, and we pulled down the
harbour in the direction indicated by Mr Annesley. We pulled steadily
on until all the hawser in the boat had been paid out, when we let go
the kedge, and hailing the frigate to "heave in," paddled back
alongside.
While running out the kedge, I had observed a boat pulling toward the
"Juno," and when we reached the frigate, we found this craft alongside.
In the meantime the frigate had been hove off the bank without much
difficulty, and the tide acting strongly on her hull the moment that she
floated, she had drifted down to her kedge, which had been lifted, and
the anchor having been tripped as she drifted over it was once more let
go, just as we got alongside. The launch, not being required any
farther at the moment, was passed astern, the crew being first ordered
out of her. In order to regain the frigate's deck, it was necessary for
us to pass over the boat alongside, which was lying in the wake of the
gangway, and as we did so, I noticed that the eight men composing her
crew were unmistakably French, and that, strange to say, they were fully
armed. This struck me as so singular a circumstance, that I resolved to
have a good look at the other individuals who had come off to us, and
who were doubtless on deck in confabulation with the skipper. I found
them, as I expected, on the quarter-deck, talking to the captain and the
first lieutenant. There were two of them, apparently French officers;
but the one who was talking spoke excellent English, and was, at the
moment when I drew near the group, explaining to Captain Hood that, in
compliance with a regulation of the port, and the commanding officer's
orders, it would be necessary for the ship at once to proceed higher up
the harbour to the quarantine ground, there to perform ten days'
quarantine, and that he, the speaker, was deputed to pilot the ship then
and there to her new berth.
"Phew!" ejaculated the skipper. "Quarantine, eh? with all these people
on board; this is a pretty business, truly. I can't understand it at
all; there is no sickness at present at Malta, and we carry a perfectly
clean bill of health. Surely there must be a mistake somewhere. Before
taking up a berth in this quarantine ground, I should like to
communicate with Lord Hood. Can you point me out his ship, monsieur?"
"You cannot see her from here, Monsieur le Capitaine," replied the
Frenchman. "Besides, an interview with the British Admiral will avail
you nothing; he is doubtless retired by this time, and, even if he were
not, he could not interfere; he has no authority whatever in the present
matter."
I thought I detected a covert smile of derision passing over the
speaker's face as he said this, and I turned to see whether I could
detect anything of the kind on that of his companion, but I found he had
withdrawn to the gangway, apparently to call his people up out of the
boat, for they were just coming up over the side, as I looked. In
another moment he sauntered back, and rejoined the group from which he
had so quietly slipped away.
"Do you say that we cannot see the British flag-ship from here, sir?"
inquired Mr Annesley. "Then pray where is she? It seems to me that
every ship in the harbour is within view from here; yet, now I come to
look, I cannot see a single British ship among them all. Does it not
strike you, sir, that there is something rather peculiar about this
business?" turning to the skipper.
I was sure I saw the two French officers start and glance quickly at
each other at this remark; and then, for the first time, I noticed that
they wore tri-coloured cockades in their hats.
"Why, those gentlemen have _national_ cockades in their hats!" I
exclaimed involuntarily.
"By Jove! you are right, young gentleman, they have!" ejaculated the
skipper. "What is the meaning of all this, monsieur? Are you a
Nationalist, or are you a Royalist in disguise? And I beg that you will
at once tell me the whereabouts of Lord Hood and his fleet. Unless I
receive a distinct answer, I shall be forced to believe that treachery
is meditated, and shall take the necessary precautionary steps
forthwith."
The Frenchmen looked in each other's faces for an instant, and then the
one who had called his boat's crew on deck turned to the skipper and
said, in French,--
"Calm yourself, monsieur, I have the honour to inform you that you and
your ship's company are prisoners. But the English are a good people,
and we will treat you all with the utmost kindness. The English admiral
went away some time ago, and Toulon is now in the hands of the
Nationalists."
The expression of mingled horror and disgust which slowly overspread the
features of the skipper and the first luff, like a summer cloud sailing
slowly across the disc of the full moon, would have been irresistibly
laughable under other circumstances, but as matters stood nobody felt
the slightest inclination to laugh.
"_Prisoners_!!" ejaculated Mr Annesley. He was apparently too full for
further utterance, but he had already said quite enough. "We are
prisoners!" flew from mouth to mouth, like wildfire, and in less than
two minutes every man in the ship had become acquainted with our
position. Every officer came crowding aft, to ascertain the truth of
the startling rumour, and a more disgusted and dejected-looking group of
mortals than we appeared, it would have been difficult to find.
The disagreeable announcement once made, the French officers hastened to
place matters upon a more agreeable basis, exerting themselves to the
utmost to get up a lively general conversation, and explaining how it
was that we had so easily run into the trap. A very few words sufficed
for this, the matter was so excessively simple.
It appeared, from the French officers' statement, that Lord Hood, after
sustaining a long and harassing siege of nearly four months, had, on the
night of the 18th of the previous December, been at length compelled to
evacuate Toulon, he finding it utterly impossible to hold it any longer
with the small force at his command--barely 17,000 men--against the
overwhelming numbers of the besiegers, who mustered close upon 50,000.
But though unable to prevent the Republicans from obtaining possession
of this important place, the British admiral resolved that it should
pass into their hands, comparatively speaking, valueless. Immediately,
therefore, that it was finally decided to retire from the place, he set
on foot preparations to destroy the arsenal, magazines, etcetera, and
such of the French ships as it was deemed inexpedient to take away with
him; and though he was unable to carry out in their entirety the whole
of his arrangements, it was pretty evident, from our informants'
account, that the destruction actually effected was something enormous;
the dockyard, with its various storehouses, the magazines, two powder-
ships, and two 74-gun ships of war--the "Heros," and "Themistocle"--
being burnt.
It must have been a magnificent and awe-inspiring sight to witness these
destructive operations, effected as they were during the darkness of the
night. The conflagration of the stores, warehouses, and ships, the
explosion of powder magazines and powder vessels--the latter being _set
on fire_ by our lubberly allies, the Spaniards, instead of being
scuttled, as had been arranged--and the incessant flash of the cannon
and musketry--a hot conflict raging all the while between the British
and the Republican forces--could not fail of being an awfully impressive
sight; and such it had evidently proved to our informants, who described
the various scenes which they had witnessed on that memorable night with
a very considerable amount of graphic power.
So interested were we all, for the moment, in this narration, that every
one appeared to have completely forgotten our excessively unpleasant
position, until it was recalled to our minds by an exclamation from our
third lieutenant, the Honourable Edward Plantagenet Mortimer.
"Aw--excuse my intewupting this extwemely intewesting er--ah--
conversation," said he, in his usual dandified style, "but I should like
to diwect your attention, Captain Hood, to the--ah--important fact
that--ah--_the wind has changed_, and, if I may be allowed to expwess an
opinion, I would say that if we could get the canvas upon the ship, I
believe _we could fetch out of the harbour again_."
The effect was electrical. The remark suggested such readiness of
resource, such consummate seamanship, and such dashing courage on the
part of the speaker, that, had it been uttered by Mr Annesley even, we
should probably have been somewhat surprised; but emanating from the
source it did, our astonishment simply beggars description. There was a
dead silence for a moment, while we were ruminating upon and digesting
the possibilities involved in the suggestion, and then, as it became
apparent that a bold dash for freedom was still in our power, a ringing
cheer burst out, fore and aft.
In an instant the skipper was himself again. "Silence, fore and aft!"
he exclaimed; "every sound you utter now may cost a man's life. To your
stations, men, and let every order be executed with the rapidity and--
ah--silence of thought. Mr Annesley, make sail, if you please.
Gentlemen,"--to the Frenchmen--"you will wegwet to learn that you have
made a slight--ah--mistake. Instead of our _being your_ prisoners, you
are _ours_. And--er--as your countwymen, with their chawactewistic
politeness, may possibly salute us as we pass the battewies, and as they
may, in their anxiety to do so, omit to dwaw the shot from their guns,
allow me to suggest that you wetire below. Mr Carnegie--our lieutenant
of mawines--has, I see, been thoughtful enough to pwovide an escort for
you, and in his hands I have much pleasure in leaving you; you will find
him a twuly delightful companion. Good evening, gentlemen, for the
present."
At first the Frenchmen appeared unable to believe their own ears. Then,
as they began to realise that we were actually about to attempt our
escape, they rapidly threw themselves together, back to back, and began
to handle their sabres menacingly. Carnegie, however, who upon hearing
the Honourable Mortimer's remark had grasped the situation in an
instant, had at once slipped off, returning in a very few minutes with
some five-and-twenty fully-armed marines, and with these he promptly
surrounded the chagrined Frenchmen, who found the way in which the
"jollies" handled their half-pikes so little to their taste that they at
length came to the conclusion that discretion was, in their case, the
better part of valour, and sullenly suffered themselves to be conducted
below.
In the meantime our lads had been anything but idle. With the activity
of so many cats they had scuttled away aloft, laying out upon the yards,
and casting off the gaskets in a style which must have done Mr
Annesley's heart good, and which, to a moral certainty, considerably
astonished the Frenchmen on board the surrounding ships and in the
batteries. There was no confusion whatever; everything was done with as
much method and precision as if we had been merely exercising the crew;
but, on the other hand, not one second of precious time was wasted, and
it really was a pretty sight to see all the canvas falling
simultaneously from the yards, the topsail sheets instantly going home
into their places, and the three topsail-yards directly afterwards
soaring away up to the mast-heads. Then home came the topgallant
sheets, and up went the yards, the royals following, and being set
literally before the topgallant halliards were belayed. The fore-and-
aft canvas was at the same time set, and the moment that the royals were
at the mast-heads the yards were braced for casting the ship. The
carpenter and one of his mates were stationed at the hawse-pipe, armed
with their keenest axes, and stood ready to strike directly the word was
given. In three minutes from the time that the order had been given to
make sail, Mr Annesley turned to the skipper and said, with the utmost
composure, "All ready, sir."
"Where is Mr Percival?" inquired Captain Hood.
"Here, sir!" replied Percival, stepping forward and touching his cap.
"Take charge, sir, if you please," said the skipper. "And do not forget
that the safety of the frigate, and our chances of escape from a long
captivity are absolutely in your hands. If we touch the ground and hang
for five minutes, we shall be simply blown out of the water."
"I will do my best, sir," quietly replied Percival taking up a
convenient position for conning the ship.
"I feel sure you will, sir," returned the skipper. "Say when we shall
cut."
"At once, sir, if you please," was the reply.
"Cut, and cut with a will!" said Mr Annesley. Three or four quick
strokes were heard, the frigate's head paid slowly off until her sails
filled, when the head-yards were swung, the fore-and-main-tacks were
boarded, the sheets hauled aft, and every sail trimmed as if for a
sailing-match.
The fact that our movements were closely watched became apparent the
moment that the hands appeared in the rigging to loose the sails, a very
perceptible stir taking place on board the brig, while lights rapidly
made their appearance in the several batteries.
"We are about to have a warm quarter of an hour," remarked the skipper,
who had been keenly noting these sinister indications, while the first
luff was getting the ship under weigh. "Let the crew go to quarters at
once, if you please, Mr Annesley."
"Ay, ay, sir!" was the reply. "If we only had a little more wind--and
there it comes--blow, good breezes, blow! I believe we shall scrape
clear, after all. Beat to quarters!"
A sharp roll of the drum immediately broke in upon the quietude of the
night; there was a momentary bustle--but only momentary the men having
already gone to quarters, as a matter of course--and then all was
profound silence once more on board, save for a gentle rippling sound
beneath the bows and along the sides, and the occasional creak of a
block aloft.
"Say when you wish to tack, Mr Percival," said the first luff,
stationing himself alongside the master's-mate.
"Not yet, sir," said Percival; "the wind is favouring us a little just
now--there it freshens a trifle, and she looks up better than ever.
Keep her a good clean full, quarter-master, and let her go through the
water. I wish there was not quite so much tide, though it _is_ in our
favour; it is setting us bodily down towards the shoal water. Keep the
lead going, there, in the fore-chains. We should do none the worse,
sir, if the Frenchmen's boat were cut adrift."
"Cut it adwift at once," said the skipper, who was standing close by;
"cut it adwift at once, and the launch as well; we cannot afford to have
so much as a rope's end dragging alongside just now. Ah! I have been
expecting that," as the brig before referred to, having got a spring
upon her cable, and brought her broadside to bear, opened fire upon us.
"Never mind," continued the skipper, "we shall soon be out of harm's
way, as far as she is concerned; it is the fire of the battewies I dwead
most; they, no doubt, mount heavy metal, and if the guns are well served
a single bwoadside will unwig us. This is an ugly looking fellow here,
on our starboard bow; they evidently mean mischief there, by the number
of lights they show. Let the starboard bwoadside guns be twained for
the thwee ports where we see the most light, Mr Annesley, and let each
gun be fired, as it is bwought to bear."
At this juncture another broadside from the brig whistled overhead,
making a few eyelet-holes in our canvas and cutting one or two
unimportant ropes; and immediately afterwards a shot, quickly followed
by another, and yet another, came plunging at us from the fort.
The guns were evidently pointed with the intention of bringing down our
spars, but luckily we again escaped without any damage worth speaking
of. Matters were beginning to assume a very lively aspect for us; for
as we glided down the harbour we could see the lights glancing in
battery after battery, on each side of us, until every one of them was
lighted up.
Still, on swept the frigate, silent as a ghostly ship, and without a
light of any kind visible on board her, the battle-lanterns being every
one carefully masked, the men standing silent and motionless as statues
at their guns; even the remarks interchanged between the officers were
expressed in low murmurs only loud enough to reach the ear for which
they were intended, the oppressive silence being intensified rather than
broken by an occasional "Luff! luff, you may, quarter-master," from
Percival.
Presently, _crash_ came a simultaneous discharge of five heavy guns from
the battery on our starboard hand, and four from another battery on the
opposite shore; the shot hissed overhead, there was a dull crushing thud
or two aloft, and a little rattling shower on deck as ropes and
splinters came clattering down. Some of our spars had evidently been
badly wounded, and the carpenter and his mates were sent aloft to
ascertain the extent of the damage. While they were ascending the
rigging, _bang_ went our foremost gun on the starboard side, followed by
the remainder of the broadside; and the moon happening to shine full
upon the stone walls of the fort which had just opened upon us, we saw,
as the smoke drove astern, a little cloud of dust rise about one of the
embrasures, a ragged patch of chipped and broken stone appeared to start
out upon the wall, and faintly borne down to us on the heavy night-wind
came the sound of shrieks and yells of agony. It was perfectly evident
that our shot had told with severe effect.
As though the discharge of our broadside had been the preconcerted
signal for a general cannonade, every battery within range on each side
of the harbour now opened fire upon us, some of them, however,
fortunately for us, being unable to bring more than a single gun to
bear. Had the guns on shore been served with only ordinary skill, we
should undoubtedly have been destroyed; as it was, though the shot flew
over and over us thick as hail, lashing the sea into foam all round us,
shredding our sails to ribbons, cutting up very badly our standing and
running rigging, bringing down our main-topgallant-mast, and severely
wounding several of our other spars, we still glided safely on, our hull
uninjured, and not a man hurt. Orders were now sent down for the guns
on the main-deck to play upon every battery upon which they could be
brought to bear, and for each gun to be laid with the greatest possible
accuracy, precision rather than rapidity of fire being the skipper's
object. An irregular fire from both broadsides accordingly now
commenced; and that it was not altogether without effect was
demonstrated by the speedy silencing of two or three out of the many
guns now playing upon us; but, as our object was to escape with the
least possible delay, Captain Hood would not allow the frigate's course
to be altered by so much as one single hair's-breadth in order to bring
our guns more directly to bear upon either of the batteries.
"We shall have to make a short board presently, sir," said Percival to
the skipper, as we drew down to within half a mile of the harbour
entrance; "there is shoal water directly ahead of us now, and we have
broken off a couple of points within the last ten minutes. Shall we
heave about at once, or go on as far as we can? If we stand on much
farther, we shall be exposed to the fire of yonder battery, which seems
to be preparing a warm reception for us."
"Go about at once, sir, by all means," replied the skipper. "We have
got off wonderfully well so far; we will certainly not run any
unnecessary risks now. Ready about, Mr Annesley."
"Ay, ay, sir. Ready about!" repeated the first lieutenant. The men
went to their several stations, the coiled-up braces, etcetera, were
thrown off the belaying-pins, and all was ready for the execution of the
proposed manoeuvre.
"Down with your helm, quarter-master," was the next order. The tiller-
ropes creaked as the wheel was rapidly spun round by the brawny and
dexterous arms of the quarter-master, and the ship slowly luffed to the
wind.
"Hold on of all!" suddenly exclaimed Percival. Then, turning to the
skipper, he continued. "The wind is favouring us again, sir; she is
still clean full; and if the breeze keeps as it is for ten minutes more,
we shall fetch out clear of everything."
"So much the better," remarked the skipper. "Our present course,
however, will take us unpleasantly close to that battery; so,"--looking
round until his eye lighted on me--"be so good as to step down to the
main-deck, Mr Chester, and request Mr Flinn to treble-shot his
larboard broadside and pour it into that battery as we pass. Perhaps we
may be a second or so beforehand with them; and if so, a well-directed
broadside on our part may stop their fire altogether."
I soon found Mr Flinn; and, having delivered my message, returned at
once to the quarter-deck, anxious to see how we should fare with this
last battery, which, to judge by appearances, was the most formidable of
them all. As I emerged through the hatchway. Percival gave the word to
the helmsman to keep away a couple of points, the frigate having just
shaved past the most prominent part of the shoal. This brought the
battery directly abreast of us, and less than a quarter of a mile
distant; and I was waiting for the concussion of our broadside, which I
momentarily expected would be poured into it, when the whole face of the
fort blazed out into a line of fire; there was a deafening roar, a loud
whirring sound in the air, a crashing among our spars aloft, two
distinct and heavy thuds, telling that some of the shot had struck our
hull; and then, as the mizen-topmast fell over the side, the fore-
topgallant-mast following--the topmast-head being shot away--our whole
broadside rang out at once, and we distinctly heard the crushing sound
of the shot as it struck the masonry.
The breeze had in the meantime freshened somewhat, and notwithstanding
our crippled condition, we were slipping through the water at the rate
of about five knots. We had by this time run the gauntlet of all the
batteries on each side of the haven, and we considered that we had had
the worst that we were to have; our spirits accordingly began to rise,
as the prospect of escape became more hopeful. The skipper expected
that we should have to sustain a couple more broadsides from the battery
with which we had just exchanged compliments, after which, if we escaped
further serious damage, we might consider ourselves safe. Every eye--
excepting perhaps Percival's and the helmsman's--was accordingly
directed anxiously to the dark frowning mass which stood out
indistinctly from the dark background of land, and which every moment
grew more and more vague and undefined, expecting to see the lurid line
of fire blaze out from the darkness once more. But minute after minute
passed by, the frigate drawing out from the land all the while, and the
breeze freshening with every fathom of additional distance, until
nothing could be discerned, even with the aid of our night-glasses, but
the feeble glimmer of the lanterns showing through the port-holes; and
presently these abruptly disappeared: the battery was shut in by a
projecting point of land and _we had escaped_.
The moment that this agreeable fact became known the crew with one
accord gave three hearty cheers, the skipper himself for the nonce
laying aside his usual _sang-froid_ and leading off. The guns were
secured, a liberal allowance of grog served out, and then, late as it
was--about half an hour after midnight--all hands turned-to to repair
damages.
CHAPTER TEN.
AN IMPORTANT MISSION.
Once fairly at sea and out of reach of the enemy's shot, we had time to
take a look at ourselves and realise the extent of our damages. When
passing over the same ground a few hours before, the "Juno" presented as
pretty a picture as a nautical connoisseur could wish to see, with her
hull recently painted, every spar in its place, and adjusted there to a
nicety, her rigging in perfect order, and her white sails--the new look
just worn off them, and barely stretched into their proper shape--
without a blemish or fault to mar their perfect appearance. _Now_, she
passed out to sea with her fore and main-topgallant-masts and mizen-
topmast hanging over the side, the fore-topsail-yard down on the cap,
the spankerboom shot away in the jaws, the flying-jib-stay and halliards
cut through and the sail towing alongside, her canvas riddled with shot-
holes, ends and bights of ropes streaming out in the wind everywhere
aloft, and two 36-pound shot in her side. Luckily, however, our
casualties ended here; for, notwithstanding the hailstorm of shot
through which we had passed, not a man on board was hurt.
We were busy the remainder of that night, and a good part of the
following day, making good the damages sustained. By evening, however,
we were all ataunto once more; and as soon as the work was finished,
Captain Hood mustered the hands and made them a speech, thanking them,
both officers and men, for the courage and determination with which all
had co-operated with him in effecting the escape of the ship from an
enemy's port, wherein she actually lay aground surrounded by armed
ships, and with numerous heavily armed batteries opposing our departure.
Percival was specially referred to, his skill in piloting the ship in
and out again being dwelt upon in highly commendatory terms; and then--
the skipper being a rare hand at turning out a neat speech and rounding
it off with a compliment--the men were told that, having behaved so
exceptionally well, their officers would now have no hesitation about
engaging in any enterprise, however hazardous or hopeless it might
appear, confident that the men they led would support them as long as
they had strength to stand.
At the close of this speech the men, as in duty bound, gave three
cheers, the hammocks were piped down, and life on board the "Juno"
resumed once more its normal conditions.
The first question which suggested itself to the skipper, after getting
his ship once more into fighting order, naturally was what was to be
done with the supernumeraries which we had on board. His instructions,
it appeared, made no provision whatever for the possibility of such a
_contretemps_ as had befallen us, and he was, in consequence, quite at a
loss what to do. Finally, after talking the affair over with Mr
Annesley, he resolved to take them back to Malta, and a course was
accordingly shaped for that island. We accomplished the passage in five
days, and landed the men, who were glad enough to plant their feet on
mother earth once more, after knocking about in their confined quarters
for nearly a fortnight.
During our absence, information of the evacuation of Toulon by Lord Hood
had reached the island, and it was taken quite for granted that, going
to the place in ignorance of this important fact, as we were, we should
inevitably fall into some trap and be made prisoners; when therefore we
put in an appearance once more, and the details of our escape were made
known, we immediately became the object of unbounded curiosity and
admiration. Hundreds flocked to see the ship (many of them being
intensely disappointed at the almost entire absence of visible
indications of the peril through which she had passed), and officers and
men alike were pointed out and looked after in the streets, until we ran
the greatest risk of becoming inordinately vain of our exploit. The
admiration of the islanders did not end here, however; for it being
deemed advisable to place the frigate in dry dock to examine her bottom
and smooth her copper, after having touched the ground, as well as to
make good a few defects which were beyond our own unaided powers, we
were balled, _feted_, picnicked, and generally made much of for three
days by the excitable and pleasure-loving inhabitants, at the end of
which time, our repairs being completed, we were hurried away to sea
with sealed orders, to be opened off Cape Spartivento.
We arrived off this headland on the 22nd of January, and Captain Hood
then learned that we were to remain on the spot until the evening of the
24th, when, if no farther instructions reached him, he was to open a
sealed paper which he found enclosed with his orders. The ship was
accordingly hove-to and placed under reefed topsails, a private signal
was hoisted at the main-royal-mast-head, and in order that the time
might not be absolutely wasted, the crew were put through a special
course of drill.
A sharp lookout was maintained, in order that there might be no
possibility of our being passed unobserved by any craft bearing later
instructions; but though we saw plenty of feluccas passing along the
coast, the only craft which came at all near us was a magnificent 40-gun
frigate, which hoisted French colours and bore down towards us on our
showing our ensign; but having approached within four miles and lying
hove-to for half an hour, she resumed her original course to the
northward, leaving us in a most unchristian frame of mind towards the
admiral, whose orders tied us to the spot, and prevented our accepting
the challenge she had given. We at first cherished the hope that if we
did not go out to her, she would come down and attack us, but such a
slice of good luck was not just then to fall to our lot.
The stipulated period of our stay off Cape Spartivento having at length
expired, Captain Hood broke open the packet to which reference has
already been made, and having acquainted himself with the farther
instructions therein contained, orders were forthwith issued to make
sail to the northward and westward.
We had a fine breeze from the eastward, to which we showed a heavy press
of canvas; the frigate accordingly made short miles of the trip along
the Sardinian coast, and on the following evening arrived off the Gulf
of Ajaccio in Corsica, the coast-line being about twenty miles distant,
and consequently "hull-down;" the mountain-chain, however, which forms
as it were the backbone of Corsica, was distinctly visible, lighted up
as it was by the gorgeous tints of sunset. Sail was now shortened to
topsails, and the frigate hove-to.
While all hands were wondering more or less what the next move would be,
I was sent for by the skipper to go to him in his cabin. On arriving
there, I found him and Mr Annesley seated at the cabin-table with a
decanter of port standing between them, glasses of the same at their
elbows, and a large map spread out in the full light of the cabin lamp,
which had just been lighted; the table being further littered with a
large number of official-looking documents.
As I entered the cabin, Captain Hood raised his eyes from the map, over
which both officers had been earnestly poring, and said,--
"Oh! come in, Mr Chester, and bwing yourself to an anchor. Atkins! a
wine-glass for Mr Chester. There, help yourself, young gentleman."
I poured out a glass of the port, wondering, as I sipped it, wherever
the skipper managed to pick up so very excellent a wine; and when the
steward had retired, closing the door after him, Captain Hood looked
across the table at me, and said,--
"Mr Chester, I have been gweatly gwatified at the continued good
weports which Mr Annesley makes of your conduct. He speaks vewy highly
of your intelligence, persevewance, zeal, and couwage, and I--ah--may
say that--er--I have myself noted fwom time to time your possession of
those--ah--desiwable chawactewistics. Partly on this account, and
partly because of your--ah--intimate knowledge of the Fwench language, I
have selected you for the performance of a service in which all the
qualities I have mentioned are--er--conspicuously necessawy. You will
understand this more clearly when I explain that the service consists in
the safe conveyance of certain vewy important documents to the hands of
a Corsican gentleman on shore yonder, in the face of unknown but
possibly sewious difficulties from the numewous Fwench twoops occupying
the island, and into whose hands the documents in question must by no
means be allowed to fall. I should hesitate vewy stwongly about
intwusting one so young with a mission so delicate but for Mr
Annesley's positive assuwance that I may safely do so. Now, what say
you? are you willing to undertake the service?"
To say that I _jumped_ at the offer would but feebly express the
eagerness with which I answered in the affirmative. Here was one of
those chances for distinguishing myself for which I had so ardently
longed, and here too was the prospect of at least temporary freedom from
the restraints of discipline and the monotony of shipboard, to say
nothing of the possibilities of excitement and adventure involved in the
performance of a secret service in the enemy's country. It was with the
utmost difficulty I controlled my excitement sufficiently to listen to
the skipper's instructions, and to absorb and master the information
necessary to the successful conduct of the enterprise.
The map spread upon the table was a map of Corsica drawn to a large
scale, and showing every road, stream, mountain-path, wood, chateau--
indeed I might almost say _every house_ on the island; and upon it was
marked in red ink the various French posts, as far as they could be
ascertained, while crosses in blue ink indicated the posts of the
insurgent Corsicans. Captain Hood produced also a skeleton map of the
island drawn to a very small scale, containing only such information as
was necessary for my guidance; and during the delivery of his
instructions frequent reference was made to both these maps, as well as
to a manuscript book of what would be called "sailing directions" if it
referred to a journey by water instead of by land, and from which I made
brief notes from time to time, by way of memory-refreshers, in a tiny
book with which Captain Hood furnished me. The skipper kept me with him
for more than two hours--in fact until he had satisfied himself that I
not only thoroughly understood what was required of me--which was very
simple, being merely to find an individual, who was to be identified by
certain pre-arranged tokens, and to deliver my despatches, or whatever
they were, into his hands--but also that I had mastered every scrap of
information which he was able to give me. When at length he found that
I was fully "posted up," he dismissed me to make my preparations,
cautioning me to dress in plain clothes, and to exercise the utmost care
that I carried no document or article of any description with me whereby
I might be identified as belonging to the English service, "otherwise,"
he grimly observed, "they will hang you without hesitation on the
nearest tree. One thing more," he continued, as I rose to leave the
cabin; "as soon as you are landed, we shall proceed in search of
Commodore Linzee's squadron, which we are ordered to join; it is
therefore quite uncertain when you may have an opportunity to return to
the ship; but as I have reason to believe we shall operate somewhere at
the northern end of the island, as soon as you have accomplished your
mission you had better make for either Calvi or Bastia, and when you can
learn our actual whereabouts, seize the first opportunity which offers
to rejoin. Here," handing me a packet, "is a sufficient amount of
Fwench money to cawwy you handsomely thwough the business if no hitch
occurs; if it does, you must exercise your ingenuity to get yourself out
of the difficulty. Now go away and get weady, and--ah--er--I heartily
wish you success. Good-bye."
He offered me his hand--with just the slightest perceptible touch of
stiffness in the gesture--which I seized and shook so heartily in the
excitement of the moment as to cause him to raise his eyebrows in
astonishment at my audacity. The next minute I was on deck once more,
with the cool night-air fanning my flushed and burning cheeks, while it
urged the frigate through the water at a rate of about seven knots
toward the lights of Ajaccio, which glimmered on the horizon broad on
our starboard bow.
CHAPTER ELEVEN.
THE ROAD TO AJACCIO.
My descent to the midshipmen's berth for the purpose of making my few
preparations was the signal for a general fusillade of questions from my
inquisitive messmates as to the why and wherefore of my summons to the
cabin, and great was the disgust which each felt that _he_ had been
passed over in favour of so unimportant a personage as myself. It was
quite true that no one of them could claim to possess more than the
merest rudimentary knowledge of French, yet each was prepared with what
he considered an amply sufficient reason why he should have been
specially selected for the service.
Mr Midshipman Raleigh maintained that the duty was his by right, in
virtue of his seniority; and as to his ignorance of French, that was a
mere trifle which he was quite satisfied would never have proved the
slightest impediment to his success.
Little Percy Neville--a blue-eyed, golden-haired lad whom not even a
blind man could well have mistaken for anything else than pure Anglo-
Saxon--flattered himself that "the cut of his jib" was so eminently
French as to deceive even the most practised eye; while as to language,
he could say _bonjour or bon soir_, and bow with the air of a born
Parisian. These accomplishments were, he considered, amply sufficient
to ensure his perfect safety while travelling, and to enable him
triumphantly to accomplish his mission--if need were--in the full light
of day, and under the very eyes of unsuspecting thousands.
Mr Robert Summers was of opinion that that was all very well, and
_might_ do; but if _he_ had been entrusted with the duty, his first step
would have been to proceed straight to Ajaccio, and there disburse some
of the French coin in the acquisition of an organ and monkey, together
with a full suit of picturesque Italian rags, all of which he knew would
be easily procurable; and provided with these, he would have felt
prepared to face with the most unruffled nonchalance the severest
scrutiny of a whole regiment of French detectives--the acuteness of the
mere soldiery he considered would have proved simply beneath his
contempt.
Each of the other "young gentlemen" was equally ready to suggest an
infallible scheme for baffling the vigilance of the enemy; and if the
conversation had no other value, it at least served to amuse me while
making my preparations for the expedition.
The money was mostly paper, and my first act was to carefully secrete it
among the lining of the suit of "long togs" which I had decided to bend
for my cruise ashore. I then packed a small leather bag with a shirt or
two, selecting such as--I say it with shame--I had been too lazy to
mark, a pair of socks, a brush and comb, a piece of soap--afterwards
rejected upon the urgent representation of Bob Summers that the French
_never_ used soap, much less carried it about with them--and a few other
necessaries of trifling bulk, together with a small sketch-book and a
box of colours; my idea being that the best way to elude inconvenient
attention was by neither courting nor avoiding it, and my intention was
to endeavour to pass as a young German artist student on a sketching
tour, a sufficient knowledge of German and drawing for such a purpose
being among my accomplishments. Lastly, I summoned up courage to ask of
Mr Annesley the loan of a pair of beautiful little pocket-pistols which
I had frequently noticed when I had had occasion to go to his cabin.
This completed my equipment, and by the time that I was ready and once
more on deck the frigate had approached to within some six miles of the
land, and was in the act of heaving-to, it being considered that we were
now as close in as it was prudent to go.
When I stepped on deck, Captain Hood was on the quarter-deck, talking to
Mr Annesley and Mr Rawlings, the master--who was so far convalescent
as to be able once more to resume the duties of his post--and as I
approached the group, I heard the skipper remark, "And so you know
Ajaccio well, Mr Rawlings?"
"Ay, ay, sir," responded the master, "almost as well as I know
Portsmouth Harbour; I have been in there twice, and can put the ship
wherever you want her, within a fathom or so, dark as it is."
"Is there not a ruin of some sort close to the water's edge, about six
miles to the southward of the town?"
"There is, sir; an old chapel I believe it is. The ground rises rather
steeply from the water's edge there, and is covered with trees. The
ruin stands just on the edge of an over-hanging bank, about thirty feet
above high-water mark; and the beach below is--or was when I saw it
last--littered with stones and blocks of masonry which have fallen from
the building."
"Would it be safe to attempt a landing there with a boat on such a night
as this?" asked the skipper.
"Couldn't find a safer spot to land on anywhere in the island,"
confidently replied Rawlings. "The beach is all shingle, and pretty
steep, bottom quite clear of rocks, and not a ripple there with the wind
this way. Run the boat's nose up high and dry, and jump out on to the
beach without wetting your feet. Then, as to the chance of being
discovered, the place is dreadful lonesome, specially at night--they do
say as it's ha'nted, though I can't vouch for the truth of the story;
but I _do_ know this much, that the last time I was ashore there, I took
a stroll out as far as the ruin towards nightfall, and they told me as I
don't know what would happen if I went there; nobody ever went a-near
the place at nightfall, so they said."
"And _did_ anything happen?" inquired Mr Annesley.
"Lord bless you! no, sir. I enjoyed the walk amazingly; sat and smoked
my pipe among the ruins, and watched the sun go down; stayed there till
the moon rose, and then walked back again to the town, and never saw a
soul within a mile of the spot all the while I was there."
"Does not the high road to Ajaccio pass close by the ruin?" inquired the
skipper.
"Within a cable's length of it," replied Rawlings. "And when once
you're in the road, turn to the left, and it's all plain sailing for the
rest of the way right into the town. There's only one turning in the
road, and that's just after you leave the ruin; but it is only a narrow
road; it turns to the right, and leads off somewhere among the hills."
"Just so," remarked the skipper in a tone of great satisfaction. "What
Rawlings says agrees most accurately with the information supplied to
us, you see," he continued, addressing Mr Annesley; "so I think if
young Chester only follows out his instructions with ordinary care, he
should have no difficulty in finding the place to which he is sent."
"None whatever, I should imagine," returned Mr Annesley. "He is very
young, I admit, to be entrusted with such important documents, but on
that very account he is all the less likely to attract attention; and I
have the utmost faith in his readiness of resource, which I believe is
quite equal to the task of keeping him clear of all difficulty. Do you
still feel quite confident of success?" he asked, turning to me.
"Perhaps I ought not to say quite so much as that, sir," I replied, "but
I feel no nervousness whatever, and I will do all I possibly can to
succeed."
"That is quite sufficient," said the skipper. "And now it is time you
were off. Let them man my gig, the crew taking their sidearms with
them. And as you know the place so well, Mr Rawlings, I will ask you
to take command of the expedition, and kindly put Mr Chester fairly in
the main road to Ajaccio. Remember, Mr Chester--the first turning to
the right."
"Ay, ay, sir," I replied. A few brief and final instructions were given
me; the skipper once more shook hands, and wished me success, Mr
Annesley following suit; and then, the gig being by that time manned and
in the water, I slipped down the side and seated myself in the stern-
sheets alongside old Rawlings, the bowman shoved off, and the crew,
dropping their oars with a splash into the water and dashing it into
liquid fire, stretched out to their work, sending the light boat dancing
over the wavelets toward the distant shore, and leaving far astern a
luminous wake, with six small whirlpools of fire eddying on each side of
it.
We pulled steadily on for half an hour, and then, that no precaution
might be omitted, the crew were ordered to muffle their oars. This
done, we resumed our way, but at a much quieter pace, the land rising up
before us an uniform black mass against the deep violet of the star-
studded sky, without the faintest suggestion of detail of any kind
whereby to direct our course. How Rawlings could possibly hit a spot so
absolutely invisible as the ruin seemed quite incomprehensible to me;
but there is no doubt he was specially gifted in that respect, it being
apparently impossible for him to forget or confuse the slightest details
of any locality which he had once visited.
Be that as it may, we paddled gently on until the boat was so completely
within the shadow of the land that we were in utter darkness, it being
impossible to distinguish the face of the stroke oarsman from where I
sat. A few more strokes, and Rawlings uttered in a low tone the word
"oars!" they were noiselessly laid in, and in another moment the boat's
bow grated upon the shingle of the beach.
"Now as soon as we have landed, shove off to about fifty or sixty
fathoms from the beach, and lay on your oars, ready to pull quietly in
again when you hear me whistle three times. But if I _hail_ instead of
whistling, bend your backs and send her in upon the beach with all your
strength, and then jump out and shove her off again the moment I'm
aboard, for in that case I shall have Johnny Crapaud after me," said
Rawlings to the coxswain, as we stepped gingerly forward to the bow of
the boat.
As soon as our feet touched the shingle, we turned round, and giving the
boat's nose a vigorous shove launched her off the beach, with enough
stern-way upon her to carry her the prescribed distance from the beach
without the aid of the oars. As we stood for a moment watching her, we
were much disconcerted to observe how distinctly she could be seen upon
the surface of the starlit water by eyes which had become accustomed to
the surrounding gloom.
I should have been seriously apprehensive of almost instant discovery,
but for Rawlings's steady adherence to his original statement that no
one would ever approach the place after dusk upon any consideration. As
it was, I felt that the sooner Rawlings was once more on board and on
his way back to the ship, the easier should I be in my mind; I therefore
proposed that we should push ahead for the high road without further
pause.
The spot was indeed of a character calculated to impress with awe and
superstitious dread the uneducated mind. The ground sloped steeply
toward the shore, terminating, at its juncture with the beach, in a sort
of low cliff or precipitous bank about thirty feet high, the face of
which was densely overgrown with shrubs of various kinds, from the midst
of which irregular strata of a coarse dirty-white marble cropped out.
On the extreme verge of the cliff stood the shattered ruin already
referred to, barely distinguishable from where we stood, as a gaunt,
shapeless, indefinable mass; while the beach below was encumbered with
stones and blocks of masonry which had fallen from it from time to time.
The uneven surface of the ground for some distance on each side of the
ruin, and as far back as the road, was completely overshadowed by
enormous cypress-trees, all of which seemed extremely ancient, while
some appeared quite dead and withered. There was, in addition to these
trees, a thick undergrowth of long rank grass and stunted shrubs, among
which an outrageously prickly variety of the cactus made itself
conspicuously apparent to the touch; while, more than half hidden by the
undergrowth, there were dotted here and there a few sepulchral stones
and monuments in the very last stage of irretrievable dilapidation. Add
to these sombre surroundings the melancholy sighing of the night-wind
through the branches of the trees overhead, and the occasional weird cry
of some nocturnal bird, and it will not be wondered at if I confess I
felt a strong desire to get beyond the precincts of the eerie place with
as little delay as possible.
After listening intently for a minute or two, without hearing any sound
whatever indicative of the proximity of the enemy, our eyes meanwhile
growing more accustomed to the intense darkness, we pushed forward as
rapidly as the nature of the ground would permit, and in about ten
minutes more found ourselves in an excellent road about sixty feet wide,
which Rawlings informed me led direct to Ajaccio, distant about seven
miles.
"Now, Mr Chester," said he, "my duty is ended as far as you are
concerned, and all I have to do is to slip back to the beach and get off
to the ship as soon as possible, and we shall not be long running out to
her with this pretty little breeze. I only wish your task was as easy
as the remainder of mine--but there, if it was, there'd be no honour nor
credit in the doing of it, whereas I make no manner of doubt that if you
succeed in this business your promotion will be certain the moment
you've sarved long enough, and anyway it'll be a fine feather in your
cap. I got an inkling of what it is, while talking to the skipper just
now, but didn't get quite the rights of it; is it a secret?"
"Certainly not from _you_" I replied; "at least I have not been given to
understand so. My errand is merely to deliver certain papers into the
hands of a certain individual ashore here, and then rejoin the ship as
early as possible. The task would be absurdly easy, were it not for the
unsettled state of the country, which seems to be all up in arms, what
with the French, the insurgent Corsicans, and the banditti, the latter
being, I am told, especially dangerous."
"No doubt--no doubt!" remarked Rawlings in an absent sort of way.
"Well, I wish you well over your cruise, my lad; keep a cool head, for
it seems to me that you've white water all round you, whichever way you
shape a course. Concerning the rejoining business, how are you going to
set about that?"
"Captain Hood advised me to make the best of my way to the northern end
of the island, as soon as I have delivered my despatches; he thinks it
most likely I shall find the `Juno' there."
"Ay, ay? So that's it, eh?" ejaculated Rawlings. "Well, I s'pose
you'll haul your land-tacks aboard for that trip; it'll be a change from
knocking about at sea. But if you find you can't work that traverse,
just you slip down to Ajaccio some quiet night; there's a whole fleet of
pleasure-boats of all sorts and sizes there; just jump aboard one of
'em, slip your moorings, and make a coasting v'yage of it. They're most
of 'em capital sea-boats, and you know a good model when you see one by
this time, I s'pose. Don't take a larger craft than you can handle,
and, above all, don't take a lateener; they're fine craft when they have
a full crew aboard as knows how to handle 'em, but they're dreadful
awkward for one hand. You'll find some little things about five-and-
twenty foot over all; they're plenty large enough, and some of 'em are
regular leg-o'-mutton-rigged--a big sail for'ard and a jigger aft; they
sail like witches, and'll go right in the wind's eye. Look out for one
of them chaps; one man can handle 'em in any weather. And now I must be
off. Good-bye, my lad, and good luck to ye."
So saying, he shook hands, and, plunging into the shrubbery,
disappeared.
CHAPTER TWELVE.
BETRAYED INTO THE HANDS OF THE PHILISTINES.
I was now fairly embarked upon my adventure, the various difficulties of
which seemed suddenly to present themselves to my mind in all their
formidable reality. While safe on board the frigate, surrounded by my
shipmates, they had appeared to be the veriest trifles, scarcely worth a
serious thought; but now that I stood alone in an enemy's country, with
nothing to depend upon but my own sagacity and nerve, I saw in an
instant--as though the truth had been revealed by a lightning-flash--
that I had indeed undertaken a task, the successful performance of which
would tax to their utmost extent every one of the qualities for which
the skipper had given me credit.
However, I was now irretrievably in for it; there was no possibility of
backing out, had I been ever so inclined--but I was not; I would have
died first--so pulling myself together, and conquering by a strong
effort a curious quaky sensation which had for a moment oppressed me, I
set out upon my journey.
The spot to which I was bound was a chateau situated about eighteen
miles inland, in the very heart of the mountain district. It was the
property of Count Lorenzo Paoli, the brother of the General Paoli who,
at the head of the Corsican insurgents, was then endeavouring to drive
the French out of the island. My despatches--or whatever they were--
were for Count Lorenzo; and though I was of course unacquainted with
their contents, I surmised that they had relation to some probable
assistance to be rendered by the English to the Corsicans. Under
ordinary circumstances my mission would have been extremely easy of
accomplishment; but, as I have already remarked, the island was in a
thoroughly unsettled state, almost every male inhabitant being in arms.
The French, irritated by the rising of the Corsicans, and imbued with
that feeling of cold-blooded and demoniacal ferocity which developed
itself during the Reign of Terror, rendering that period of French
history for ever infamous, were of course those from whom I had most to
fear. But the Corsicans, their naturally excitable temperament raised
to frenzy by the atrocities of the French, rendered suspicious by
frequent treachery, and impetuously rushing into a system of the most
hideous reprisals, were almost equally dangerous, their creed being that
he who was not with them must necessarily be against them; and their
proceedings with regard to suspected persons were rumoured to be of the
most summary character. Lastly, there were the brigands, composed
principally of the very dregs of Corsican society, a community made up
of all the criminality in the island, thieves, murderers, escaped
convicts, and outcasts of every description, utterly destitute of the
faintest spark of honour, patriotism, _or_ humanity, preying upon friend
and foe alike, and outstripping both in deeds of fiendish cruelty. As I
thought these matters over, it seemed to me that my only safety lay in
the most careful avoidance of every human eye, pursuing my journey
during the dead of night, and lying _perdu_ throughout the day.
A walk of two or three hundred yards along the main road brought me to
the "turning-off" on the right, which I was directed to follow in order
to gain the chateau. It appeared to be quite a by-road, so narrow that
there seemed scarcely room for two vehicles to pass, and it was in a
most wretched condition, the surface being ploughed into deep broad
ruts, and completely cut up by the feet of cattle.
It led apparently through the heart of an extensive forest, the trees of
which, uniting their branches overhead, must have veiled the way in
semi-obscurity even at noon-day. When I turned into it--at about two
o'clock a.m.--the starlit sky gave just sufficient light to enable me to
pursue my way along the main road; but by the time I had penetrated a
couple of hundred yards into this by-path, I was enveloped in a
perfectly Egyptian darkness. By degrees, however, my vision became
accustomed to the gloom, and I stumbled on over the uneven ground for a
distance of some twelve miles, when daylight began to appear through the
leafy canopy overhead, and prudence suggested to me the desirability of
forthwith seeking some safe hiding-place wherein to pass the day and
take that repose of which I was beginning to feel the need. I therefore
turned off the road and plunged into the forest for about a quarter of a
mile, when I came upon a dense and almost impenetrable thicket which
seemed admirably suited to my purpose; I accordingly forced my way into
it until I found a spot of clear ground wide enough to stretch myself
upon comfortably, when flinging myself upon the turf, and placing my bag
beneath my head, I almost immediately dropped off into a deep and
dreamless slumber.
It was just three o'clock in the afternoon when I awoke. My somewhat
unwonted exertions of the previous night had greatly fatigued me, and I
should probably have slept on until darkness had once more returned, had
it not been for a wandering sun-ray which had found its way through the
branches overhead, and, shining directly in my face, had awakened me. I
awoke stiff, ravenously hungry, and parched with thirst. I had had the
forethought to provide against an inopportune attack of the former
feeling, by putting a biscuit or two in my pocket; but in the excitement
of coming away I had omitted--as I now found to my chagrin--to bring my
flask with me. I accordingly brought out my biscuits, and endeavoured
to make a meal of them alone, but they were, like all biscuits, dry, and
my throat was so parched that I found I could scarcely swallow a
mouthful. While struggling with this little difficulty a faint breeze
brought to my ear a sound which I decided must be the rushing of a
distant stream over its rocky bed, and thinking of nothing at the moment
so much as my intense thirst, I sprang to my feet, and seizing my bag,
set out in the direction from which the sound appeared to come.
My progress was anything but rapid, the ground being entirely overgrown
with creepers and thick shrubs, but that I was proceeding in the right
direction was satisfactorily demonstrated by the increasing distinctness
with which I could hear the sound of the rushing water.
My exertions in the close and stifling atmosphere of the wood soon made
me uncomfortably warm, at the same time increasing my thirst to an
almost unbearable degree, but there was nothing for it but patience, so
I pushed on, panting and perspiring, as rapidly as it was possible for
me to get over the ground. As I continued to advance, the sound
increased in volume, though it still appeared to come from a
considerable distance, and I at length came to the conclusion that it
was not caused so much by the rush of the river over its bed as by the
fall of the water down a cataract. The surmise eventually proved to be
correct, for after an hour and a half of severe exertion, the latter
half-hour of which I had been journeying over steeply-rising ground, I
found myself beside a considerable stream, the waters of which, about a
hundred yards higher up, came foaming and tumbling down from a height of
some fifty feet, through a deep cleft in the face of the rock, into a
deep, transparent pool, from whence they passed away over a rocky bed,
and wound out of sight among the trees.
It was a lovely spot upon which I had thus stumbled. The ground rose
abruptly on both sides of the stream; that on the opposite side being a
rocky precipice, the strata of variously-coloured stone twisted and
contorted in the most extraordinary manner, geraniums of various hues
growing out from between the interstices of the rock, and the summit of
the precipice crowned with a rich profusion of trailing creepers, some
of which, notwithstanding the time of year, were in blossom, and the
perfume of which scented the air.
Round the mossy rim of the basin into which the waters fell, and which
appeared to be always damp with spray, grew a profusion of exquisitely
delicate ferns; the sward beyond was thickly starred with a species of
double daisy and the elegant hyacinth, and enclosing all was the pine
wood through which I had been travelling.
The beauties of the place, however, had no attraction for me until I had
in some measure assuaged my burning thirst, which I did by going down
upon my hands and knees on a convenient rock, and plunging my heated
face into the cool, pellucid water. I was careful to drink at first
with extreme moderation, and then, having satisfied the first sharp
craving for a draught, I stripped and plunged in, treating myself to as
thorough an ablution as was possible in the absence of my cake of old
brown Windsor. Refreshed and invigorated with the bath, I at length
emerged, and dressing with all expedition, sat down to discuss my
biscuits, which I disposed of to the last mouthful, gazing admiringly
upon my surroundings meanwhile.
My meal finished, it became necessary for me to set out forthwith in
search of the road which was to guide me to my destination. I had no
intention whatever of retracing my steps over the ground already
traversed. In the first place, I was exceedingly doubtful whether I
could find my way back to the spot from which I had started, and in the
next, I considered that it would be simply a waste of time and strength.
I had not been altogether unmindful of the course I was steering while
seeking for the river, and I was of opinion that though I had been
travelling rather away from the road, if anything, yet on the whole my
course had been pretty much in its direction. In order to regain it,
therefore, all that seemed necessary was to make my way in a direction
about at right angles with my former course.
I accordingly edged away in what I judged to be the right direction,
choosing my ground, however, more with a view to easy than to direct
progress. I estimated that it would occupy about an hour, or perhaps an
hour and a half--certainly not more--to regain the road, and as I was
anxious to do this before it became quite dark, I pushed rapidly
forward, and the wood growing somewhat more open as I proceeded, with
less undergrowth, I made very fair progress.
The hour which I had allowed myself passed, and still there was no sign
of the road. I felt sure, however, that it could not be far away, and
at all events I was going in the right direction, the ground rising
continuously, so I carried on under a heavy press of sail, expecting
every moment to emerge into the beaten track, and growing increasingly
anxious to do so as I noted the rapidity with which darkness was falling
upon the scene, notwithstanding the fact that the trees were by this
time so far apart and the ground so clear that walking was as easy as it
would have been on the road itself. In this state of mingled hope and
anxiety I hurried on for another hour, still without hitting upon the
road; by which time it had become so dark that I grew fearful of losing
my way. The stars had appeared, and shone brilliantly, their light,
however, being insufficient to enable me to see where I was going; so
after stumbling on over the uneven ground for a quarter of an hour
longer, during which I experienced more than one awkward tumble, the
conclusion forced itself upon me that I had strayed somewhat from the
right direction, and had better defer until the next morning any further
effort to discover the lost road.
Having arrived at this conclusion, my next business was to find a
tolerably comfortable spot in which to bestow myself for the night.
While searching for this, I quite unexpectedly reached the edge of the
wood, and in another minute stood beyond its boundary, finding myself
upon a broad expanse of rugged, open moorland, at the farther extremity
of which the ground again rose steeply until it terminated in what was
evidently the ridge of the mountain-chain running north and south
through the island.
Two circumstances struck me at the same moment on emerging into the
open, one of which was that a heavy thunder-storm was rapidly working up
against the wind, the other being that a hut or hovel of some sort stood
about half a mile distant.
The question immediately arose in my mind whether I should approach this
building, upon the chance of obtaining a night's lodging therein, or
whether it would be more prudent to pass the night and brave the
gathering storm in the open. I might of course have returned to the
comparative shelter of the wood, but I should have been obliged to
penetrate it for some distance before it would be thick enough to afford
me the slightest protection from the deluge of rain which was coming up
in those black and threatening clouds, and, in addition to this, I felt
that, while only inadequately sheltered from the rain, I should be
exposed to the very serious danger of being struck by lightning. Then
again, it was possible that the hut might be deserted, in which case I
need have no hesitation about availing myself of its shelter. There was
of course, on the other hand, a chance of its being inhabited, but if
so, its occupant would probably be no one more dangerous than a simple
herd or wood-cutter, and it was not from such that I had anything to
fear. As I stood irresolute, turning these matters over in my mind, a
vivid flash of lightning, followed, after a pause of some seconds, by
the long reverberating roll of distant thunder, reminded me of the
desirability of coming to a decision, one way or another, without delay;
I accordingly made up my mind to risk going to the hut, rather than
remain exposed to the storm.
I therefore hurried forward, the lightning meanwhile flashing out more
and more vividly, and at shorter intervals; the thunder sounding louder
and nearer at every discharge; and the vast curtain of cloud spreading
rapidly athwart the sky, obliterating the stars, and enveloping nature
in a pall of awful gloom.
On approaching the hut, it became apparent that it was uninhabited, for
the door hung pendent from one hinge, the other being wrenched off,
while of the two small windows which admitted light to the interior, one
sash was gone altogether, the aperture being completely denuded of every
vestige of woodwork, while the other was protected only by a battered
and weather-stained wooden shutter. The edifice itself was constructed
of sods, the roof being roughly framed together with branches--no doubt
lopped from the trees of the neighbouring wood--and thatched.
I reached the building only just in time. While yet a hundred yards or
so from it, the cool night-breeze dropped all in a moment, and was
succeeded by a hushed and breathless calm. An awful silence suddenly
fell upon nature, the myriad insect voices became mute, the night-birds
ceased to utter their melancholy cries, the sighing of the wind through
the trees of the distant wood was no longer heard; a hush of dread
expectancy ensued. A few seconds elapsed, and then a mysterious murmur
filled the air, the trees swayed and tossed their branches wildly for a
moment, a fierce gust of hot air swept past, and all was still again. I
dashed forward and reached the doorway, and as I passed across the
threshold, the canopy of cloud overhead was rent open, a blinding flash
of livid lightning blazed out, illumining for a single instant the whole
landscape, as well as the interior of the building, and at the same
instant came a deafening crash, such as might occur were the universe
suddenly to crumble into ruin. So near was the lightning that I really
fancied (if it _was_ fancy and not fact after all) I could feel it
scorch my cheek, and there could be no doubt whatever about the strong
sulphurous smell which pervaded the atmosphere.
Again and yet again flashed forth the terrible lightning, crash on crash
came the thunder, and then the flood-gates of heaven were opened, and
the rain came rushing down in a perfect torrent.
I expected nothing less than to be speedily flooded out, but fortunately
the roof of the hut proved weather-tight, and the rain happening to beat
upon the back of the house, in which were no openings, the interior of
the place remained perfectly dry.
I took advantage of the frequent lightning-flashes to survey the
interior of my place of shelter, which I ascertained to be entirely
devoid of furniture of every kind, there being absolutely nothing in the
place except a heap of wood in one corner, composed of dry twigs and
branches, probably gathered from the adjacent forest.
I stood in the doorway for some time, watching the magnificent spectacle
of the storm, until an increasing sensation of fatigue reminded me of
the desirability of resting while I had the opportunity. I accordingly
fixed upon a spot which seemed tolerably free from the eddies of wind
which found easy access to the building, and first, by some strange
instinct for which I cannot account, concealing the bag in which were
the despatches among the wood stacked in the corner, placed my back
against the wall, and folding my arms soon dropped off into a deep
sleep, lulled thereto by the sound of the pouring rain upon the root.
I seemed to have been asleep but a few minutes, when I became conscious
of an odour of burning pine; then through my still-closed eyelids I
perceived that the hut was lighted up. I heard the crackling sound of
the blazing torch, and, as consciousness fully returned, I also heard
voices speaking in a low tone in French.
"Are you quite certain this is he? Why, he is a mere lad!" I heard a
voice exclaim.
"Quite sure, noble signor," replied another voice, gruff, harsh, and
repellent. "I could see plainly, though the night was dark; I had been
watching the approach of the boat, and had been lying so long concealed
in the darkest part of the ruins that my eyes had grown thoroughly
accustomed to the gloom, so that when I followed this one and the other
to the road, it seemed quite light. Moreover, they both passed close to
me as I was making my way through the trees towards the road, and I saw
their faces distinctly enough to recognise them both again wherever I
might meet them. I never forget a face I have once seen," the voice
added in a sinister tone.
"Umph!" ejaculated the first voice. "I can scarcely credit that the
English captain would be fool enough to entrust important despatches to
so young an officer. Poor lad! how soundly he sleeps; he must have lost
his way and been wandering aimlessly about in the wood. By-the-way, did
you hear him say where he had secreted those same despatches?"
"No, signor, I did not; but he had a bag with him when he landed, no
doubt they are in that."
"A bag? What sort of a bag? I see no bag here anywhere. Perhaps--look
here, Monsieur Guiseppe, or whatever your name is, I hope you are not
playing fast and loose with us. You have not stolen the bag and handed
over the despatches to some of your own people, claiming a reward for
the safe conveyance of such important documents, eh?"
"Stolen? For what does your mightiness take me?"
"For a traitor, my good fellow--nay, no occasion to snatch at your knife
in that threatening fashion; it is dangerous, for I am a hasty man, and
apt to use these without much reflection," and I heard the click of a
pistol-lock. "I am sorry if I have wounded your delicate sense of
honour, but when a man sells his own countrymen for gold, one is a
little--just a trifle, you know--apt to be suspicious of him."
"A man _must_ live," responded the churlish voice. "I have a wife and
children to feed and clothe, and no man would employ me. If I have
turned traitor, it is because I have been driven to it."
"No doubt, no doubt," remarked the other speaker in a somewhat sarcastic
tone of voice. "The good Corsicans, your fellow-countrymen, have
perhaps been weak enough to allow your slightly singular cast of
countenance to prejudice them against you, eh? Well, I really cannot
blame them; you must yourself admit that it is the reverse of
prepossessing."
"I am as God made me," growled the traitorous Corsican.
"Say rather, as the devil and your own evil passions made you," retorted
the Frenchman. "Do not libel your Creator by attributing to Him any
share in the work of moulding a visage whereon the words `treachery,
avarice, theft, and murder' are printed in large capitals. You may
possibly have been born simply ugly, but your present hang-dog cast of
countenance is entirely your own handiwork, my good friend Guiseppe.
Now _pray_ do not fumble at your knife again, that is an excessively bad
habit which you have contracted; take my advice and break it off. If
you do not, it will assuredly get you into serious trouble some day."
The individual thus addressed muttered some inaudible reply, which
sounded, however, very much like an imprecation, to which his tormentor
responded with a gay laugh. Then I heard the door creak upon its
solitary hinge and scrape along the ground, as it was dragged open, and
the voice of the Frenchman said, addressing some one outside,--
"Well, Pierre, how are things in general looking by this time?"
"Much better, _mon sergent_" replied another voice. "The rain has
ceased, the clouds are dispersing, and yonder appears the first gleam of
daybreak."
"That is well," remarked the sergeant. "We will wait another half-hour,
by which time it will be light enough to see where we are going, and
then we must march once more."
The door creaked-to again; I heard a sound as of some one settling
himself comfortably, and then all was once more silent, save for the
sound of heavy breathing, of which I had been cognisant all through the
foregoing conversation.
I had been fully awakened, as may easily be supposed, by almost the
first words which I had distinctly heard; but I had presence of mind
enough not to give any indication of the fact. It was clear that this
rascally Corsican--who appeared to be regularly in league with the
enemy--had unfortunately witnessed my landing, and he must also have
overhead and understood much if not all of the conversation which had
passed between Rawlings and myself. And it seemed equally clear that he
had put the Frenchmen upon my track, and that to him I was chiefly
indebted for my unlucky capture--for of course I _was_ a prisoner,
though they had not roused me to make me acquainted with the fact. As
soon as the conversation ceased, I rapidly turned the circumstances over
in my mind, and decided upon two things, one of which was to keep secret
my knowledge of the French language, and the other, to act upon the idea
suggested by the sergeant's words, and lead him to believe that my bag
with the despatches had been stolen from me. For the rest, I was unable
to form any plan, my original one of passing for a German art student
being completely knocked on the head by the Corsican's discovery; so I
resolved to be governed by the turn which events might take.
On one thing I was resolved, and that was to keep careful watch for an
opportunity to escape, as I was in imminent risk of being hanged or shot
at any moment, so long as I remained a prisoner.
Notwithstanding my anxiety, I was dozing off once more, when footsteps
approached me, a hand was laid on my shoulder, and the voice of the
sergeant exclaimed in French, "Hallo, here! awake, my young friend,
awake!"
I opened my eyes with a start, and saw standing before me a young man of
about four-and-twenty years of age. He was dressed in the uniform of a
French regiment of the line--blue tunic, red trowsers with a stripe of
yellow braid down the seam, red forage cap trimmed with the same, and
his sword buckled close up to his belt. He had dark hair and eyes, the
latter of which beamed upon me good-naturedly, and he had a pleasant
expression of countenance, which afforded me much comfort.
Seated or reclining in more or less uncomfortable attitudes against the
walls of the hut were some five-and-twenty men wearing a similar
uniform, their muskets being piled in the middle of the room; while,
apart from the rest, was a man standing with his back towards me, gazing
abstractedly out of the window. He was dressed in the ordinary Corsican
garb, and was leaning upon a long-barrelled musket, the butt of which
rested upon the floor, his hands being crossed upon the muzzle of the
barrel, and his chin resting upon them.
"Good morning!" said I in English to the sergeant, as I struggled to my
feet; "who are you, pray, and where have you come from?"
"Approach, most amiable Guiseppe, and lend us your valuable aid as
interpreter," said the sergeant, turning to the Corsican; "and see, my
friend, that you interpret correctly. What was it he said?"
The Corsican, whose brutal and sinister countenance fully justified the
sergeant's previous remarks upon it, translated my salutation into
excellent French.
"Tell him," said the sergeant, "that you saw him land, and overheard
sufficient of his conversation with his fellow-officer to satisfy you
that he is the bearer of despatches from the English to one of your
countrymen; that you betrayed him, and that I and my men were in
consequence sent out to scour the country in search of him. Tell him
also that, being found, he may make up his mind to be hanged before
sunset; or--no, do not say anything about the hanging at present, he
will know all about that soon enough, poor lad!"
The rascal translated this speech in a manner to suit himself; that is,
he said never a word concerning his own treachery, but to make up for
the omission he included that part which had reference to my probable
speedy fate.
Of course I had learned pretty much all this in the first conversation
between him and the sergeant; it was no news to me, but it terribly
confirmed the surmises which had suggested themselves to my mind when I
first became conscious that I was a prisoner. There was a single ray of
hope, it is true, to which I clung, but it was by no means bright. I
was evidently to be taken before his commanding officer, and I would
acquaint him with the fact of my being a British officer, and claim to
be treated as a prisoner of war. But then there was the ugly fact of my
being in plain clothes--how was that to be got over? There was of
course the shadow of a possibility that I might get out of my
difficulties, could I but fabricate a sufficiently ingenious string of
falsehoods; but now that it actually came to the point, I could not
bring myself to the depths of meanness and cowardice which this
involved. I had learned at school the maxim that "liars never prosper,"
and my dear old father had taught me to avoid falsehood from much higher
considerations than those of mere temporal prosperity. I determined
therefore that, whatever the danger, I would not endeavour to shield
myself by anything so despicable as a lie.
In the meantime it was no use to be down-hearted over my misfortune,
that would only tend to make matters worse instead of better; besides
which, I had no notion of showing my enemies that I was disheartened or
apprehensive; so I brightened up, and assuming a great deal more
nonchalance than I felt, I directed the Corsican to inquire our
destination, and also to say that I hoped we should breakfast before
starting, as I felt frightfully hungry.
He interpreted my question, adding that, as he supposed the sergeant
could find his way back to Ajaccio without assistance, he would now
leave us, as he had several matters requiring his immediate attention.
Before going, however, he trusted that the sergeant would pay him the
reward promised in case of my capture, or give him a note to the
colonel, certifying that he had duly performed his contract.
The sergeant seemed rather surprised at the proposal; beyond expressing,
however, an ironical regret that the party was to be deprived of Master
Guiseppe's entertaining society, he made no demur, and drawing an old
letter from his pocket he scribbled in pencil on the inner side of the
envelope the required certificate, which he handed over to the Corsican
with the remark,--
"There you are, most glorious Apollo; take care of it, for it is worth
_more_ than you are likely to honestly earn for many a year to come.
Will you stay and have some breakfast? No? Well, good-bye then for the
present; I dare say we shall meet again."
"Assuredly, signor, and not long hence, I trust. For breakfast I have
all I require with me, and I shall eat as I travel, since time is
precious with me, and I wish to get a lift as far as Ajaccio in one or
other of the market carts. _Au revoir_!"
The Corsican flung his musket over his shoulder as he spoke, and,
thrusting the certificate into his ammunition pouch, strode out of the
hut and disappeared, just as one of the men entered with a pot of hot
coffee, which had been prepared outside.
Upon this the sergeant produced some bread and meat from his wallet, and
drawing forth a knife divided it into two equal parts, one of which he
offered me, saying,--
"Come, _mon enfant_, eat and be merry while you have the opportunity.
We have a long tramp before us, and for you there is probably a still
longer journey afterwards; still, do not let that spoil your appetite.
We cannot understand each other, but I am sorry for you, _pauvre
garcon_! and we may as well be friends for the short time that remains."
He offered me his hand, as he said this, which I shook heartily.
The speech was by no means calculated to raise my spirits, but I took
pains to conceal my knowledge of its import, hoping that my supposed
ignorance of the language would cause the men to speak unrestrainedly to
each other, and perhaps let fall some piece of information of value,
should I see a chance to make my escape.
We fell to at our breakfast, for which, strange to say, I had a very
tolerable appetite, notwithstanding the disastrous turn which my affairs
had taken, and the soldiers, producing what provisions they had, also
set their teeth to work upon them with a will, laughing and chattering
gaily together meanwhile, but without letting drop any information
likely to help me out of my difficulty.
Breakfast over, the men fell in. I was placed in the centre of the
body, the sergeant giving instructions to those having my more immediate
custody to shoot me on the instant, should I make any attempt to escape.
The word was given to march, and we tramped away across the moor for
about a couple of miles, when we struck upon a beaten track, into which
we turned, and which I learned from a remark made by one of the men was
the road to Ajaccio.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
BELL' DEMONIO.
As we trudged along, I had an opportunity to study to some extent the
characteristics of the individuals forming my escort, and I may say
without reserve that a more unprepossessing set of men it has seldom
been my lot to encounter. With the solitary exception of the sergeant,
who seemed a gay, careless, good-natured fellow enough, they appeared to
be a thoroughly "bad lot:" low, ruffianly-looking men in their outward
semblance, and--judging from their conversation, much of which, however,
I failed to understand from their liberal use of what is now termed
"slang"--utterly given over to the indulgence of the lowest and most
degrading forms of vice, scoffing at all things pure and holy, and
luxuriating in the recital of deeds of all manner of cruelty and
debauchery.
I had heard something of the terribly-brutalising effects of the Reign
of Terror, but the conversation of these wretches gave me such a vivid
insight of the incredible depths of depravity of which the human mind is
sometimes capable as I could certainly not otherwise have gained, unless
indeed by associating with the ruffians who gathered daily round the
guillotine to insult and exult over the death-agonies of their victims.
It was not to be expected that I should altogether escape the attentions
of wretches such as these, and accordingly my ears were soon assailed
with ribald jests and ruffianly speculations touching the mode and time
of my execution, the manner in which I should bear myself, and so on;
but I turned a deaf ear to it all, devoting my entire energies to the
devising of some practicable method of escape, and, as it appeared to
them that I understood nothing of what was said, my tormentors after a
time turned their conversation to other matters.
"I expect we shall very soon make another excursion in this direction,"
said one.
"Indeed, and for what purpose?" asked another.
"Nay, then, has it not been told thee, Adolphe, that our colonel
suspects one of these Corsican aristocrats of being concerned in the
present rising of his countrymen, and of plotting with the accursed
English for assistance?" remarked the first speaker.
"_Mille bombes_! that it might be so. It would be rare sport to hunt
the old rat out of his hole, or, better still, burn him in it. It would
be a pleasant change from the dullness of mounting eternal guard,
marching and countermarching every day, and all to what purpose? For my
part I am tired of it, and long for a little more of the sport we had in
dear Paris. Ah! it was worth living for, to see fifty or sixty of the
proud aristocrats carted away to the guillotine every day. I doubt if
there is such a thing as a guillotine in the whole island."
"_Soyez tranquille, mon cher Adolphe_! The machine is not difficult to
construct. But for real amusement give me such as we had at Ostend,
when Davoust shot down with grape 500 men, women, and children under the
ramparts, to say nothing of those which we sent afloat in the harbour in
old and leaky boats which sank with all on board. And, ah, the sport
that it was to chase the people through the streets until they could fly
no longer, and then bayonet them! You were there, Antoine, _mon
camarade_! you have not forgotten the day?"
"And never shall," responded Antoine, the most ruffianly-looking of the
whole party. "A day or two like that would bring these vile Corsicans
to their senses. `Give them plenty of bayonet,' say I. And if you want
real sport, do as I did: chase the mothers until they drop, then bayonet
their children first, and themselves afterwards. But do not bayonet the
mothers _too_ soon, or you rob yourself of half your amusement."
"Good! ah, ah! _very_ good indeed!" laughed the wretches.
"But say, Baptiste, _mon cher_, who is this Corsican of whom you were
speaking?"
"He is called Count Lorenzo Paoli," responded Baptiste. "He has a fine
place away yonder among the hills, which, it is said, would make those
rich who could have the plundering of it. And, moreover, he has a
daughter--ah! but she is simply divine," and the brute smacked his lips
in a way which made me long to spring at his throat. "_Le cher
Guiseppe_--is he not delightful?--says that this boy Englishman has
papers which are thought to be for this rascally Count, and if it be so,
_ma foi_! but there will be rare doings at the chateau before long."
It may be imagined what were my feelings on hearing this.
How fervently I blessed the lucky inspiration which prompted me to
conceal my bag, and how much more imperative now became the necessity
that I should effect my escape without delay, not only for my own sake,
but in order also that I might recover possession of those compromising
papers, and warn the Count of the fearful danger which threatened him.
There was much more conversation of the kind recorded above, but I will
not revolt the reader's feelings by repeating it; what I have already
given is intended merely to convey an idea of the unparalleled
ruffianism and brutality which characterised the soldiery of the
Republic at that period.
The way, which was being enlivened with such delectable converse, led
back through the forest which I had already traversed, only we were now
passing along the road, such as it was. It consisted simply of a path
of varying width, but nowhere very wide, cleared through the trees, the
undergrowth of the forest forming a sort of hedge on either side of the
way. The branches met overhead, veiling the path in semi-obscurity, and
so completely intercepting all but an occasional ray of the sun that the
ground appeared to be in a perpetual state of dampness, the clayey soil
being in consequence so much cut up, notwithstanding the small amount of
traffic which seemed to pass over it, that it had become almost
impracticable for foot-passengers. Here and there an old tree-stump
projected out of the ground, while in other places the stumps had been
removed without filling in the corresponding hole. These holes were now
full of water, and as they sometimes occurred in places where there was
a general depression of the ground, flooded by the heavy rain of the
previous night, their presence only became known when one of the party
floundered in and found himself, if lucky enough to avoid going head
over heels, and so securing entire immersion, up to the waist in muddy
water of about the consistency of pea-soup. To add still farther to the
discomfort of the journey, the ground was excessively slippery, so that,
what with one difficulty and another, we made but very slow progress.
We had reached and become involved in an exceptionally bad spot--a
spring apparently rendering the clay so soft that the entire road for
about thirty yards had been worked into a perfect quagmire, into which
we sank above our knees at every step, the tenacious clay holding our
feet almost as though they had been in a vice--when, without the
slightest warning of any kind, a withering volley of musketry was poured
in upon the devoted band from the bushes on both sides of the road, and
while the smoke still enveloped us out dashed some thirty or forty
Corsicans, armed, some only with their clubbed muskets, others
flourishing in addition long double-edged knives of a most bloodthirsty
appearance.
Every man of us went down before that deadly discharge; some being
killed outright, while a few, myself among the number, were only
wounded. But the tragedy was soon completed; hampered as we were with
the difficulties of the road, and disabled by our wounds, resistance was
impossible, and before the smoke of the musketry discharge had cleared
away every Frenchman had received the _coup-de-grace_. I also should
undoubtedly have received my quietus, had I not had the presence of mind
to exclaim in French, just as a stalwart mountaineer was bending over me
with his long glittering blade upraised, that I was an Englishman. The
man hesitated for an instant, and that slight pause saved me. I rapidly
explained who and what I was, and another individual, apparently the
leader of the band, approaching at the moment, I was reprieved until an
opportunity could be found for verifying my statement. In the meantime,
however, my captors were kind enough to take charge of my watch, my
money, and one or two other valuables which they found in my pockets.
The bodies of the Frenchmen were rifled with a thoroughness and celerity
which I could not but admire, their pockets being turned inside-out, and
every article of the slightest value, including their weapons and
ammunition, appropriated. One individual especially, who was working
away with his back turned towards me, appeared to possess all the
coolness and dexterity of a London pick-pocket.
He was certainly not much troubled with squeamishness either; for while
operating upon the body of the sergeant, he discovered upon one of the
fingers a ring, which, being unable to remove, he without hesitation
drew his keen blade across the member, severing it from the body at a
single stroke; he then removed the ring, dropped it coolly into his
pouch, and jauntily jerked the dismembered finger in among the shrubs by
the roadside. Then, animated apparently by a sudden frenzy, he plunged
his blade again and again into the lifeless body, his fury increasing
with every stroke, until the uniform was slashed almost to rags,
finishing off by drawing his weapon across and across the face, until it
was mutilated beyond all possibility of recognition. He then rose to
his feet with a sigh of satisfaction, while the admiring laughter and
jocular remarks of his comrades evinced their high appreciation of the
performance.
Turning round, he faced me just in good time to catch on my features the
expression of sickening disgust with which I had viewed his actions. A
threatening scowl instantly overspread his repulsive features, and,
raising his knife, he advanced with such an evident intention of using
it upon me, that three or four of his companions interposed, and with
considerable difficulty at length succeeded in dissuading him from his
purpose.
It was the traitor Guiseppe.
The booty, such as it was, being secured, the party marched off the
ground, taking a contrary direction to that pursued by the Frenchmen. I
was placed in the centre of the band, the leader of which was kind
enough to warn me that any attempt at escape would be promptly met by an
effectual application of the knife. It thus appeared that I had only
escaped from one danger to fall into a second, almost, if not equally,
as great. Had my captors been merely insurgents, I should not have felt
any very great anxiety; but, though I was not directly addressed, I
gathered within the first few minutes of our march that I had fallen
into the hands of a party of brigands, and from all that I had heard of
the unscrupulous character of these gentry, I believed that they would
not have the slightest hesitation about murdering me, it the whim seized
them, merely by way of "divarshin."
My left arm had been broken above the elbow by a musket-shot in the
fusillade which had destroyed the Frenchmen, and, dangling helplessly at
my side, gave me exquisite pain, as I stumbled along over the uneven and
slippery road. The injury was plainly perceptible, yet no one offered
to bind up the bleeding limb, and of course it was quite impossible for
me to do so myself. I might have requested one of my captors to perform
the service for me, but a scrutiny of their countenances afforded me so
little encouragement that I decided to suffer on, rather than place
myself in their rough and merciless hands.
On emerging from the wood, we turned off to the left, and, forsaking the
road altogether, made across the moor in the direction of another wood,
which entirely clothed the sides to the very summit of a high hill about
five miles distant. We were a couple of hours performing the journey
across the open moor, and another hour was occupied in threading our way
through the wood, the ground being very rugged and rising steeply all
the while. At length, however, we reached a wide open space along one
side of which a mountain-stream was noisily rushing "in spate," as they
say in Scotland; the surroundings of the place being very similar to
those of the spot where I had quenched my thirst, and bathed on the
previous evening--the principal difference being that here there was no
waterfall. Instead, however, of this being a picturesque solitude, it
had all the bustle and animation of a camp upon a small scale.
As we drew near the place, although there had been no visible sign of
the proximity of other human beings, signal-whistles had been given and
answered, and I was consequently in a measure prepared for the scene
which suddenly burst upon us on emerging into the open.
Some twenty or more bell-shaped tents were disposed in a circle on the
greensward, the little tri-coloured bannerets, which in some cases still
fluttered at their apex, seeming to indicate that they had at no very
distant period been French property. In the centre of the circle a
large wood fire was blazing and crackling, with an immense cauldron
hanging suspended over it, gipsy fashion, from a tripod.
A man in white cap and apron--he turned out to be a French prisoner--was
standing over this pot, armed with a long iron ladle with which he kept
diligently stirring up its contents, the savoury steam from which was
greeted with ejaculations of approval from my hungry captors. Outside
the doors of some of the tents the muskets of its occupants were piled,
the owners of the weapons, for the most part, being scattered about the
sward in picturesque groups; some laughing, talking, and smoking
together, while others were deeply interested in games of cards--played
with packs so greasy, worn, and thumb-marked, that those who had used
them a few times would as readily recognise a particular card on seeing
its back as they would by looking at its face--while a few, more
industriously disposed, were diligently cleaning and polishing their
weapons. There must have been quite a hundred men in the camp
altogether, counting the detachment which had brought me in, all wearing
the garb of Corsican mountaineers; and a fine, stalwart set of men they
were, almost without exception. Their countenances, however, wore an
expression of reckless, relentless ferocity, which augured ill for any
unfortunate against whom they might fancy they had a grievance, should
he chance to fall into their clutches.
My captors were dismissed immediately on our arrival in camp, with the
exception of two who mounted guard over me, while their leader entered a
tent somewhat larger than the rest. We were quickly surrounded by a
group of curious and eager questioners, anxious apparently to learn the
result of the expedition, and to "take stock" of the prisoner--my
unlucky self.
The information supplied by my custodians evidently afforded them great
gratification, and though they spoke a patois which was quite
unintelligible to me, the gesticulations which accompanied the closing
portion of the narrative, and the shouts of laughter and applause with
which it was received, showed me that the exploit of the amiable
Guiseppe was duly receiving honourable mention.
After an absence of about twenty minutes, the individual whom I have
designated as the leader of the party which brought me in, issued from
the tent, and, coming up to where I stood, said, with much greater
courtesy than I had hitherto received,--
"Be good enough to step this way, Signor Englishman, if you please."
I followed him into the tent from which he had just emerged, and found
myself in the presence of an individual whose appearance differed so
entirely from that of the rest of the band, that I could not help
wondering what could possibly have induced her to associate herself with
them.
Start not, reader, at the word _her_--it is no misprint; I actually
found myself in the presence of a _woman_. Not such an one, either, as
might be expected to be found--if indeed one would expect to find a
woman at all--amid such surroundings; not an old, withered, vindictive-
looking hag, repulsive alike in appearance and manner, but a woman,
youthful, handsome, and to all appearance gentle, though her demeanour
was somewhat cold and distant.
I set her down at about three or four and twenty years of age. She was
reclining on a pile of rugs when I entered the tent, so I could not just
then judge of her stature, but before the interview terminated she had
risen to her feet, and I then saw that she was rather above medium
height. Her skin was dazzling fair, hair and eyes black as night; the
beauty of the latter being rather marred, according to my taste, by a
curious glitter, which, but for the calmness of their owner's demeanour,
I should have regarded as slightly suggestive of incipient insanity.
Her figure, clothed in a picturesque, if somewhat theatrical, adaptation
of the costume of her comrades, was somewhat slight, but eminently
graceful, while her hands and feet would have delighted a sculptor with
their symmetry. Her voice was especially beautiful, being a full, rich,
and powerful contralto.
The midshipmen of the British navy have not as yet rendered themselves
especially remarkable by their bashfulness, and I was neither much
better nor much worse than my neighbours in that respect; but I was so
taken aback when I entered the tent and my eyes met those of its
occupant, that I could only bow somewhat awkwardly, blushing like a
simpleton the while.
"This, signora, is the prisoner of whom I told you," said my conductor
by way of introduction.
"Why, he is a mere boy, Benedetto; and wounded, too! What is the nature
of your wound, child?"
"A broken arm, signora," I replied unsteadily; the unexpected accents of
pity in her voice, or the excruciating pain I had been suffering for the
previous four hours, suddenly unnerving me.
"Poor fellow!" she exclaimed. "And it has not been attended to. How
did it happen?"
"A stray ball struck me this morning, when the party under this
gentleman surprised and shot down the French detachment," I answered.
A gleam of almost fiendish ferocity passed like a lightning-flash across
the beautiful face of my fair interrogator at the mention of the French;
but it disappeared again in an instant, and, turning to Benedetto, she
asked with just the slightest ring of harshness in her voice,--
"Is the Padre in camp?"
"He is not," was the reply. "He left us yesterday to go into Ajaccio,
telling us not to expect him back here until late to-night."
"Then I will turn leech myself," said she. "It will not be for the
first time. Fetch me a bowl of water from the stream, Benedetto, and
bid them bring some wine to the tent."
Benedetto departed upon his mission with alacrity, and my hostess, or
whatever she was, rising to her feet, bared her beautiful, round, white
arms to the elbow, drew from a large chest a supply of lint and old
linen, and, arming herself from the same depository with a pair of
scissors, proceeded deftly to slit up from wrist to shoulder the left
sleeve of my jacket and shirt. By the time that this was done,
Benedetto had returned with a bowl of water in one hand, and a jar of
wine in the other. A small quantity of the latter revived my strength
and steadied my nerves, and then this curious pair went to work to dress
my wound, and set the shattered limb, displaying during the operation an
amount of skill on the part of the woman, and of gentleness on that of
the man, for which I was wholly unprepared.
A set of splints, which had evidently seen previous service, was finally
produced and applied, and the arm carefully adjusted in a sling, after
which food was placed before me; and though I was suffering too much
pain and in too feverish a condition to take much, I soon found myself
in a condition of ease which was comfort itself compared with my state
during the earlier part of the day.
At the conclusion of my meal I was advised, or I might say _ordered_, to
lie down upon the pile of rugs which my strange hostess had vacated; an
order which I obeyed gladly, for fatigue and pain together had produced
a feeling of almost utter exhaustion, and, in spite of the anguish of my
wound, I soon dropped off into a doze which was a something between
sleeping and waking, in which, while my consciousness never entirely
left me, my fancy, breaking away from the control of reason, rambled off
and indulged in the most extraordinary vagaries. I heard the rush of
the stream, the murmur of the wind through the branches of the trees
with which the camp was surrounded, the hum of many voices outside the
tent, the frequent snatch of song, or peal of laughter, the occasional
angry altercation, and--once or twice--voices speaking in low tones
within the tent; but all seemed to strike upon my ear as though the
sounds reached me from an incredible distance, and then the absurd idea
took possession of me that I was increasing in bulk to such an
extraordinary extent, that my recumbent body covered miles of ground.
Then my sight seemed to undergo an equally extraordinary alteration, for
it appeared that I was able to see away over the tree-tops down into the
town of Ajaccio; the lines of the streets, the architecture of the
houses, and the very features of the inhabitants being distinguishable.
Then I thought I was rising gradually in the air, my powers of vision
steadily increasing at the same time. First I saw the wide stretch of
blue foam-flecked ocean glittering in the sun; then the coast of France
rose above the horizon, Toulon harbour, as might be expected, coming
prominently forward in the picture; then the vine-clad hills and fertile
plains, the populous cities and picturesque villages of the interior
spread themselves out like a panorama; and finally the northern sea-
board, the English Channel dotted here and there with white gleaming
sails, the chalk cliffs of old England, the Hampshire downs, and my dear
old home with all the loved familiar faces appeared, and I heard them
speaking lovingly of poor absent me.
Then with a suddenness that was absolutely painful all these pleasant
fancies passed away, and I imagined myself to be a disembodied spirit
floating helplessly in the midst of immeasurable space, enveloped in
murky clouds and thick darkness, and whirled hither and thither at the
mercy of a furious wind.
Of course I had no idea of the actual passage of time during this period
of delirium, but it seemed that I had thus been the sport of the
elements for countless ages, when the sensation gradually passed away,
and I sank into a condition of complete unconsciousness.
When I awoke daylight was just making itself visible through the canvas
sides of the tent, and overpowering the feeble glimmer of a small lamp
which hung suspended from the pole. I remained motionless for some
little time after I had opened my eyes, trying to remember where I was,
and what had happened, and then wondering in a vague speculative sort of
way who and what was the strange being who appeared to govern the
reckless band of outlaws into whose hands I had fallen. I thought at
first that I was alone in the tent, but a restless movement on my part
undeceived me.
A cool soft hand was laid upon my forehead, and the voice of my hostess
inquired in gentle tones whether I felt better.
I replied that I did, but complained of thirst, upon which there was a
faint rustle, followed by a gurgling sound, and then the beautiful
unknown, kneeling beside me, raised my head and presented to my lips a
brimming goblet containing a draught of very peculiar taste, but cold as
ice, and, oh! _so_ refreshing. I drained it to the last drop, and asked
for more, which was given me. I was then advised to lie down, and sleep
once more.
It was evening when I next awoke, and on opening my eyes I felt more
bewildered than ever.
I was stretched upon a luxurious bed, the four slender posts of which
were elaborately carved into the semblance of palm-trees, the graceful
foliage forming the canopy; the stems and leaves of the trees being
richly gilt. The bed was draped with heavy silken hangings overlaid
with magnificent lace, and the linen was pure, white, and fresh as new
fallen snow. This bed occupied one end of a lofty room of moderate
size.
A massive cornice ran round the room, and was supported by decorated
pilasters, which divided the walls into compartments. A coved ceiling
sprang from the cornice, and both ceiling and walls were decorated with
paintings, in distemper, of mythological subjects; the lower portion of
the wall, however, having what is, I believe, termed a dado, ornamented
with a diaper pattern, each square of which contained a conventional
representation of a different flower.
The end of the room facing the bed was almost entirely occupied by a
large bay-window draped with heavy curtains of silk and lace, matching
the hangings of the bed. There was not much furniture in the room; an
elegantly-appointed toilet-table, a couch, and one or two chairs being
all that it contained, as far as I could see. One of the casements of
the window was open, and through it there stole into the room a cool
gentle breeze laden with sweet odours which evidently had their origin
in some contiguous garden. A hilly and heavily-wooded landscape was
visible through the window and beyond all was a sky glowing with the
thousand evanescent beauties of a gorgeous sunset.
I lay for some time enjoying the magnificent spectacle before me, and
wondering in a feeble sort of way how much of my present and recent
experiences was real, and how much was due to the delirium through which
I was conscious of having passed. Were my present surroundings, for
instance, real, or was I simply dreaming a vivid dream? And had I
really been present in the body at that bandit camp, or was it only
fancy? The present appeared to be a waking reality, and so had the
other, yet both experiences seemed so strange that I knew not what to
think.
Upon one point, however, I did not long remain in doubt; whatever else
might be fancy, the sensation of hunger soon forced itself upon my
notice as a most prosaic and undeniable fact, and I very speedily
decided that I ought to make somebody acquainted with it.
I glanced round the room in quest of a hand-bell or some other means of
attracting that somebody's attention, and, seeing nothing of the kind,
made a move with the intention of getting out of bed to reconnoitre, but
fell back, weak and helpless as an infant. My movement, however, was
not without result, for there was a sudden stir behind the curtains; a
black-eyed, dark-skinned damsel emerged from her place of concealment,
looked in upon me, uttered an ejaculation in what I imagined to be
Italian, and forthwith beat a hasty retreat, notwithstanding my feeble
hail for her to remain.
She returned, however, in two or three minutes, accompanied by, without
exception, the most lovely being it has ever been my happy lot to
behold. It was a young girl in her thirteenth year, as I subsequently
learned, though I should have supposed her to be quite sixteen.
She was of about medium height, and her exquisite figure was already
assuming the rounded graces of budding womanhood. Her skin was a clear
pale olive with just the faintest and most delicate tinge of colour in
the velvety cheek; her face was a perfect oval, and her small
exquisitely poised head was covered with a wealth of soft, silky,
chestnut hair, so dark as to appear black in the shade, but when a ray
of light fell upon it, the rippling ringlets revealed the full beauty of
their deep rich colour. The eyebrows and long drooping lashes were of
the same colour as her hair, and her eyes--well, they were deep hazel;
but it was impossible to ascertain this until after repeated
observations--they glowed and sparkled to such a bewildering extent.
Add to this a mouth "shaped like Cupid's bow" with full rich scarlet
lips, just parted sufficiently to permit a glimpse of the small regular
pearly teeth within, a small round deeply-dimpled chin, an ivory-white
neck and shoulders, upon which the delicate head was set with fairy-like
grace, and you have as accurate a portrait of this dainty beauty as it
is within my poor power to paint.
She approached the side of the bed, and, looking inquiringly in my face
for a moment, said in excellent English,--
"I congratulate you, sir, on your recovery from that terrible fever. I
am glad--oh! so very much, and so will be the count, my father, when he
returns. He has been obliged to go away on important business, and will
not perhaps be back for a day or two. But you are in excellent hands;
old Maria, my nurse, is a skilful leech, and Angela here and I have been
able to watch beside you, if we could do nothing more. Now, tell me,
are you hungry? You should be, for you have taken nothing except
Maria's horrid medicine for two whole days, and how long before that I
know not. Now, however, nurse has something more palatable for you; she
said you would awake soon and be better, and she has made you some
excellent broth. Shall she bring it up?"
"By all means," I replied. "I am so weak with hunger, or something,
that I seem scarcely able to speak. But before we do anything else,
allow me to ask where I am, and to whom I am indebted for so much
kindness. The last thing I remember was that I was in camp with--"
"Bell' Demonio," she interrupted. "Yes, she brought you to us two days
ago. You were then very ill indeed, and Bell' thought you ought to have
better nursing than she could give you. It is all quite right; you are
in the Chateau Paoli belonging to my father, Count Lorenzo di Paoli; I
am his only daughter Francesca, and this is my foster-sister Angela.
Now you must talk no more for the present, but take the broth like a
good boy which I shall bring you."
So saying, she tripped away out of the room, returning again in about
ten minutes, accompanied by an ancient and inexpressibly ugly female,
who, I was duly informed, was the before-mentioned Maria.
This antique dame felt my pulse, laid her hand upon my brow, put a few
questions to me through the medium of her young mistress, and finally
pronounced that I was very much better, that the fever had left me, and
that all I should be likely henceforth to require would be careful
nursing and judicious nourishment. A sample of the latter, she
intimated, would be found in the substantial basin of broth which was
now placed before me, and which I was to be sure and consume to the last
drop.
I had not much difficulty in effecting a satisfactory disposal of the
meal, and when I had finished, my wounded arm was carefully dressed
afresh, and, to finish off with, I enjoyed as copious an ablution in
deliciously cold water as circumstances would permit; after which I was
left to myself with imperative orders to go to sleep again as soon as
possible. I passed a most comfortable night, sleeping pretty soundly
until broad daylight, when I awoke to find myself very much better in
every respect, and, not to weary my readers, I may say in a word that
from that time my improvement in health was both rapid and regular.
While partaking of a light breakfast on the morning following my return
to consciousness, my lovely young hostess informed me joyously that her
father had unexpectedly returned very late on the previous night, and
that he proposed paying me an early visit, if I felt strong enough to
see him.
I gladly assented to this proposal, for it suddenly flashed across my
mind that though by a series of accidents I had almost without an effort
of my own reached the place of my destination, my mission was still
unaccomplished; my bag, containing the all-important despatches, being
liable to discovery by the first visitor to the old hut, if indeed it
had not already been discovered; and the only chance which now remained
of its recovery was to describe as well as I could to the count, the
place of its concealment, and request him to despatch a trusty messenger
forthwith in quest of it.
Accordingly, as soon as breakfast was over, my wound dressed, and my
toilet attended to, the dark-eyed Angela was despatched with a message
to the count that I should be happy to see him as early as might be
consistent with his own convenience. A few minutes afterwards he
presented himself, and the ancient Maria, who had mounted guard _over_
me in the interval, was dismissed.
Count Lorenzo di Paoli was a fine, stalwart, soldierly-looking figure of
a man, dark-complexioned, and with a noble cast of countenance which
accorded well with his stately carriage and demeanour.
His features were stamped with an expression of stern gravity and
melancholy, which impressed me greatly at this, my first interview with
him, and which I could readily account for when I learned, later on, the
tragical fate of his lovely young wife many years before.
He greeted me with grave cordiality, expressing his deep regret "that I
had received so rough a welcome to the country which my presence had
been intended so signally to benefit, and hoping that he and his
household would prove able to efface the unfavourable impression which I
must have received."
Of course I replied in suitable terms to this polite speech, expressed
my gratitude for the extraordinary kindness which I was receiving under
his roof, and then begged him to favour me with particulars of the
circumstances under which I had become an inmate of his establishment.
"Certainly I will," said the count. "Your curiosity is quite natural,
and, apart from that, there are doubtless matters connected with your
visit to this island, which are at present causing you no small share of
anxiety. Before I say more, however, let me give you the assurance
that, excepting for the unfortunate adventure in which you received your
wound, everything has gone right; the despatches and other papers of
which you were the bearer have duly reached my hands; I have
accomplished the first and most difficult part of my mission, and the
papers are now accomplishing theirs. You may rest satisfied therefore
that your difficult and dangerous task has been successfully achieved,
and you have now nothing whatever to do but recover your health at your
leisure. I trust it is not necessary for me to say that the longer you
are able to remain with us, the greater will be our gratification."
He then proceeded to narrate the circumstances under which I had been
brought to the chateau; the details of which, however, I shall reserve
for the next chapter.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN.
AT THE CHATEAU PAOLI.
"To-day is Wednesday," commenced the count. "On Sunday evening last,
just as it was growing dusk, I was informed that Bell' Demonio requested
an audience on a matter of great import. I accordingly descended to the
library, into which this extraordinary woman had been shown, and on
inquiring the nature of her business she informed me that on the
previous Wednesday--a week ago to-day, in fact--a detachment of her band
had attacked and destroyed a party of French troops, who had with them
as prisoner a young Englishman--yourself of course. She stated that in
the attack you had unfortunately been wounded, and your wound having
been left unattended to for some hours, fever had set in. She nursed
you as well as she could up to Sunday, when finding that no improvement
in your condition took place, she grew alarmed, and having learned from
your disjointed ravings that you had some business with me, determined
to come on to the chateau and request that I would take you under my
care. I of course assented at once, and in a couple of hours more you
were brought here, strapped to a stretcher--that being the only way in
which you could be kept sufficiently quiescent to prevent irreparable
injury to your wounded arm.
"Circumstances did not permit of my sending into Ajaccio for a
physician, but most fortunately my daughter's old nurse Maria is well
skilled in matters relating to medicine and surgery, and her services
were at once called into requisition. She soon discovered that the
unskilful treatment of your wound was the chief cause of your illness,
and with infinite difficulty, for you were very violent, we succeeded in
getting the limb reset, and the wound properly attended to. This done,
the fever soon yielded to the influence of the medicines which the good
soul administered with rigorous punctuality. In the meantime, however,
you spoke several times about certain papers concerning which you seemed
to be singularly anxious, and at length by patiently listening to your
rambling utterances we were enabled to make a shrewd guess as to their
whereabouts. I set out in search of them, and discovered your bag, with
the papers intact, safely concealed beneath a pile of brushwood in the
corner of the old hut on the moor."
"Then I have been ill a whole week?" I exclaimed in considerable
dismay.
"Exactly so," replied the count. "How long did you imagine your illness
had lasted?"
"About two days," I replied.
"Well, it is just a week," remarked the count. "I hope you are not in
any very serious hurry to leave us. In the first place I doubt whether
Maria will consent to your rising from your bed for at least another
week, and after that you will be some time regaining a sufficiency of
strength to enable you to travel, and in the next place I am anxious to
cultivate the acquaintance of one who has done so great a service to us
Corsicans."
"You are extremely kind, count," said I, "and under other circumstances
there is nothing I should like better than to remain your guest as long
as I could find a decent excuse for so doing; but my ship, the `Juno,'
has gone to the north end of the island, where we all expect there will
be some very smart work shortly, and I would not miss being with her for
anything I could name."
"Ha, ha! not very complimentary to us, eh, Francesca?" laughed my host.
"This young fire-eating English sailor-officer would rather be where his
brains would be ever in jeopardy than enjoying the _dolce far niente_ up
here among the hills. What very pugnacious animals you Englishmen are,
to be sure!
"But do not fear, my dear boy, nothing will be done there yet for a
little while, and, if you lake great care of yourself, it is quite
possible you may yet be able to rejoin the `Juno' in time to get your
full share of the hard knocks to be had there, and which will doubtless
be plentiful enough to suit even the most impetuous of your countrymen."
"Which do you think will be my quickest way to rejoin my ship, when I am
able to do so--by land, or by water?" I inquired.
"By water, I should say, certainly," replied the count. "The entire
island is in a perfect ferment, and you would find travelling by land a
slow and wearisome as well as a highly dangerous process. We are
perfectly quiet here, it is true, our situation being an isolated one,
and in the very heart of the hills; but in and about all the towns the
French troops literally swarm, while the woods and more secluded
villages are haunted either by bands of Corsican insurgents or banditti,
both of which would be likely to regard a stranger with as much
suspicion as the French; and although you might be able to travel for a
few miles to the northward from here in comparative safety, you would
find your difficulties increase with every additional mile of your
advance. And it is only fair to mention that I cannot assure you of
absolute safety even here. I have reason to believe that I am very
strongly suspected by the French of being favourable to the
insurrectionary movement now in progress--as indeed I may admit to you
that I am, my brother being in command of the insurgents--and I feel
sure that, could a particle of direct evidence be secured against me, my
arrest would instantly be attempted. This I should stoutly resist in
the present condition of affairs, as my life would not be worth a
moment's purchase were I to fall into the hands of the enemy; but it is
very doubtful whether the chateau could hold out beyond an hour or two
against a determined attack, every man I could possibly spare being away
with my brother."
"Would not your own countrymen help you in such a case?" I inquired.
"There is no help available, except that of the banditti," replied the
count, "and, with the single exception of Bell' Demonio's band, I would
almost as soon throw open my gates to the French as to them. If Bell'
were at hand at such a time, we should be perfectly safe, but one can
never tell where she is to be found; her movements are as uncertain as
those of the wind, and it is quite probable that she is now at the north
end of the island, co-operating with my brother."
"Who is this Bell' Demonio?" I inquired. "Is it possible she can be
the beautiful woman I saw in the camp to which I was taken after being
wounded, and where I fell ill?"
"The same," answered the count. "She is the leader of the band into
whose hands you fell. Poor soul! her story is a very extraordinary as
well as a very terrible one; the mere mention of her name is sufficient
to excite a Corsican to frenzy at the remembrance of her wrongs.
"Six months ago Isabel di Solzi was one of the happiest girls in all
Corsica. Her father, Count Robert di Solzi, a descendant of the most
ancient and most distinguished family of all the Corsican nobility,
idolised her, and gratified her every whim, no matter how extravagant it
might be, and she ruled the chateau as its absolute queen.
"Her lover, as handsome and gallant a young fellow as maiden could wish,
doted upon her, as a matter of course, and she returned his love with
all the passion of her fiery and enthusiastic nature, and the prospect
before her seemed to be one of almost perfect human happiness.
"Her father, fond as he was of her, and reluctant as he was to part with
his only daughter, nevertheless viewed the match with unqualified
favour; the proposals had been formally made and accepted; the
preliminaries were all arranged, and the marriage was fixed for a
certain day.
"Time passed on, slowly enough, we may be sure, to the impassioned
lovers, and at length the day arrived on the morrow of which the wedding
was to take place. Isabel's lover rode out early to the chateau,
ostensibly for the purpose of concluding the last trifling arrangements
connected with the ceremony, but doubtless it was in reality to enjoy
one more interview with his inamorata before the performance of those
holy rites which were to make her his for ever. The Count di Solzi was
absent when he arrived, and the young couple, anticipating no evil,
wandered away from the chateau, and at length in their preoccupation
entered a wood through which runs the road from Ajaccio across to the
eastern side of the island. They sauntered along this road for a
considerable distance, when they heard the tramp of a party of soldiers
behind them, and looking back found themselves in the presence of a
detachment of French infantry.
"There was a great deal of ill-feeling existing even then between the
Corsicans and the French, though it was not of course anything like what
it is at present; hostilities had not as yet broken out; the flame which
is so fiercely raging to-day throughout the island being then no more
than a smouldering spark.
"Still, the _rencontre_ was disagreeable, and to shorten it as much as
possible Isabel and her lover turned back with the intention of passing
the French in the opposite direction. But by the time that they had
resolved on this, the French were upon them, and instead of courteously
permitting them to pass, the officer in command ordered them to halt and
give an account of themselves.
"They had of course no option but to obey, which they did. The French
officer, however, either doubted, or affected to doubt, their story, and
announced his intention of taking them both as prisoners into Ajaccio.
"Isabel's lover remonstrated, entreated, and threatened by turns, in
vain; and at length the officers, turning from him, began to assail the
trembling Isabel with jests of the coarsest kind. This was more than
the hot Corsican blood could endure, and suddenly breaking from his
guard, the frantic lover rushed upon the commanding officer, who seemed
to be the chief offender, and with a single blow struck him senseless to
the ground. The next moment he would have been impaled upon the
bayonets of the soldiery, had the other officers not interfered; they
knew their chief, and knew too that they would never be forgiven, did
they not preserve their victim for a punishment to be inflicted by
himself.
"A halt was immediately called, they being at the time in perhaps the
most lonely part of the road. A strong guard was placed over the
prisoners, the rest of the men piling their arms, and vigorous efforts
were at once proceeded with for the restoration of the injured officer.
"The injury being slight, they were soon successful, and a mock drum-
head court-martial was then instituted, by which the male prisoner was
tried and convicted; sentence was passed, and the ruffianly band at once
proceeded jeeringly to carry it into execution. The unhappy lover was
stripped and firmly bound to a tree; the shrieking Isabel was then
dragged before him, and in her presence he was scourged to death with
the soldiers' belts. The miserable girl was then released, the troops
shouldered their arms and marched merrily away, safely reaching in due
time their barracks in Ajaccio.
"Meanwhile the day passed on; Count Robert returned to the chateau, and
as was his custom at once sought his daughter. Failing to find her, he
made inquiry among the servants, and then learned that the lovers had
left the domain some hours before. This intelligence made the count
somewhat uneasy, and remounting his horse, he set out in quest of the
truants upon the road which he learned they had taken. He penetrated
the forest for some distance, and at length was startled by hearing
shrill screams of maniacal laughter.
"Imagine if you can his horror and distress, when, on reaching the spot
from which the sounds proceeded, he discovered his daughter seated upon
the ground, with her dead lover's head upon her lap, uttering peal after
peal of blood-curdling laughter, as she strove to bind up the bruised
and lacerated body in strips of linen torn from her own clothing.
"On approaching her, the poor girl appeared to recognise her father in a
confused sort of way, and with a little difficulty he at length
persuaded her to allow him to lay the murdered man across the horse's
back, and to accompany him home.
"It was of course patent to the distracted count that a fiendish
atrocity of some sort had been committed, but it was quite impossible to
gather any particulars or even the most meagre hint from the poor
demented girl by his side; he therefore made the best of his way back to
the chateau, whence immediately upon his arrival he despatched a couple
of mounted servants--one of whom had charge of a note conveying a hint
of the catastrophe to the friends of the murdered man, while the other
had instructions to find and bring back with him to the chateau the
first medical man in Ajaccio. By nightfall the chateau was full of
self-invited guests, attracted thither by the rumours which had reached
their ears concerning the events of the day, and all sorts of surmises
and suggestions were made as to the probable perpetrators of the
outrage. The doctor, too, as well as the friends of the murdered man,
was there, and the former had on seeing his patient lost no time in
administering a powerful opiate with the object of procuring for the
unfortunate Isabel a temporary relief from the unnatural excitement of
her overtaxed brain.
"When at length the drug had done its work, and the poor girl lay
stretched upon her bed in a state of unconsciousness, a general
consultation was held, at which it was resolved to spare no pains to
discover and punish the authors of so atrocious a crime, and with this
understanding the visitors on the following morning departed on their
several ways.
"For days the efforts put forth to discover the offenders resulted in a
complete failure, and in the meantime poor Isabel lay tossing restlessly
with brain-fever. At length one night an intoxicated French soldier
blurted out the secret in the hearing of every one of the occupants of
the tavern, and a little judicious questioning, mingled with occasional
expressions of incredulity, extracted from the fellow the full details
of the crime. These were promptly communicated to Count di Solzi, who
immediately called upon the officer who had been named as the chief
culprit, and taxed him with it.
"The wretch scornfully admitted his share in the outrage, and scoffed at
the agonising grief of the poor old man. A challenge followed, as a
matter of course, and a meeting was arranged for the following morning;
but when that morning dawned, the French officer was found dead in bed,
stabbed to the heart. The count was immediately arrested on suspicion
of being the assassin, and though all the neighbouring nobility knew the
charge to be as monstrous and ill-founded as ever was brought against
mortal man, and did all that lay in our power to have the matter
properly investigated--and though soon after his arrest one of his own
servants came voluntarily forward and confessed that it was he, and not
his master, who had done the deed--poor Isabel's father was summarily
tried, sentenced, and hanged over the gate of his own chateau.
"This act of base and cruel injustice, coupled with the previous
outrage, caused the smouldering spark of discontent and disaffection to
blaze forth at once into a devastating insurrectionary flame.
"The most ruthless reprisals were forthwith resorted to on both sides;
assassination, secret and open, became the order of the day; the
Corsicans flew to arms, and the struggle commenced which is now being
waged, and which can never end until the hated French have been
extirpated from off the face of the island."
"And how fared the unhappy Isabel meanwhile?" I inquired.
"She was on her father's arrest brought here at the imminent risk of her
life," replied the count, "and while she still lay delirious, her
father's execution took place; the chateau was then sacked, and when the
soldiers had loaded themselves with every article of value which it was
possible for them to take away, they set fire to the place, and, driving
back at the point of the bayonet all who approached for the purpose of
extinguishing the flames, stood by until it was burned to the ground.
It was late at night before all was done, and the officer in charge of
the troops who had carried through this shameful deed of murder and
spoliation was imprudent enough to camp for the night close to the scene
of the outrage. Sentinels were duly posted, and everything was, as this
man thought, made perfectly secure; but he was fatally mistaken. The
sentinels were surprised in detail, and despatched without having had an
opportunity to give the alarm, and then a band of upwards of 100 armed
Corsicans stole in upon the defenceless camp and slaughtered every one
of the sleeping Frenchmen--not one survived to tell the tale.
"Isabel, contrary to expectation, rapidly recovered both her health and
her reason; but it soon became apparent that a terrible change had been
wrought in her, though _how_ terrible we did not realise until
afterwards.
"Of course it was not to be expected that a girl who had passed through
what she had would ever be the same again, but there was a change in
her, apart from what might reasonably have been expected under the
circumstances. Her reason appeared to be completely restored; she
talked calmly and rationally enough upon all subjects, not excepting
even her misfortunes; but there was a coldness and reserve about her,
even with us, her most intimate friends, which we found it very
difficult to understand. At length one day we missed her, and
apprehensive of a recurrence of the temporary aberration of intellect
from which she had so recently recovered, we searched for her in all
directions for three whole days without success, at the end of which
time we received a note from her, thanking us for what she was pleased
to term our great kindness, and informing us that she had taken steps to
carry out the sole purpose of her future life, which was vengeance upon
the authors of her wrongs, and the enemies of her country. We knew not
what to make of this statement at first, but we soon afterwards learned
that it meant she had formed a guerilla band at the head of which she
had placed herself--the avowed object of which is war to the knife with
the French, as long as any of them remain in Corsica.
"And most terribly has she carried out her purpose so far, for already
nearly 300 Frenchmen have perished upon the weapons of her band, and
fourteen French officers have met their deaths at her own hands.
"The adoption of so vindictive a purpose has gained for her the title of
Bell' Demonio, a title which she has accepted as perfectly appropriate,
and as indicative of the relentless vengeance which her enemies may look
for from her."
"What a terrible history of wanton wrong and of merciless retribution!"
I exclaimed, when the count had finished his narrative. "It is horrible
to think that beings claiming to be civilised can be capable of such
monstrous deeds, but it is so, as I can testify from the conversation of
the Frenchmen who took me prisoner, and by the bye that reminds me that
_you_ were the subject of their remarks. Have you any reason to suppose
yourself in any sort of danger?"
"Well, no," replied the count; "I should scarcely say that I consider
myself in absolute _danger_; of course it is only reasonable to suppose
that, since my brother has placed himself at the head of the insurgents,
I should be regarded with a certain amount of suspicion; but that
occasions me no anxiety whatever, for I have no one about me but those
whom I can implicitly trust, and even to them I confide no more than I
can possibly help, so I think I may say I am reasonably safe from
betrayal. At the same time I omit no precaution, because I have strong
reason to suppose that my actions are being watched, as I believe I have
already mentioned. But perhaps you will favour me with a recapitulation
of the remarks made by the French concerning me? I have hitherto had no
means of ascertaining exactly in what estimation they hold me, and any
light on the subject would be especially valuable just now."
In accordance with this request, I related the substance of the
conversation which had occurred among the Frenchmen while I was being
conveyed toward Ajaccio. The count listened intently, never
interrupting me once, but I could see by the expression of his features
how powerfully he was moved, especially by the remarks which had
reference to his daughter. When I had finished--
"Thank you signor--how shall I call you?" said he.
"My name is Ralph Chester," I replied.
"I thank you sincerely, Signor Ralph, for the very valuable information
which you have afforded me. It gives to my position an altogether new
and somewhat alarming aspect. It is true that I am safe, so far as the
papers which you brought are concerned; they are out of my hands, and,
even if discovered, contain nothing which could possibly compromise me;
but what you have just told me appears to indicate a decided _desire_ on
the part of the French to find some excuse for molesting me.
Personally, there is nothing I should like better than an opportunity
for holding the chateau against an attack from the French. I hate them
with a deadly hatred--heaven knows it is not without ample cause!--but
if the day were to go against us, I shudder to think of the inevitable
fate of my darling child. But, signor, she should never fall into their
hands alive. I would rather blot out her innocent young life with these
unarmed hands than leave her alive at the mercy of those fiends. I have
already told you somewhat of what they can do, but they are capable of
even greater refinement of cruelty than that which poor Bell' Demonio
experienced at their hands. I am glad to have heard what you have just
told me, but it greatly increases my anxiety; could I only place
Francesca in safety it would not greatly matter, but as it is--yes, I
must endeavour to find a secure retreat for my child, or I shall have no
further peace of mind. The more I think of it the clearer does it
become that the chateau is no longer a fit place for her."
We conversed for some time longer, and then Maria made her appearance,
and, with the licence of an old servant, unhesitatingly expressed her
conviction that I had conversed far more freely than was at all good for
me in my feeble condition, and asserted decidedly that unless I were at
once left for the rest of the day in perfect quiet, the direst
consequences would surely follow. Upon this the count abruptly took his
departure, with an elaborate apology for what he chose to term his want
of consideration.
For the remainder of the day a strict embargo was laid upon my room by
that stern old disciplinarian, Maria, and on the following day the count
was only permitted to enter for the purpose of making a few brief but
kind inquiries as to my progress.
I spent the time chiefly in meditating upon the charms of the count's
lovely daughter, and in hoping for the happiness of a visit from her;
but to my intense disappointment she remained invisible. Maria mounted
strict guard over me, and when circumstances necessitated her absence,
the dark-eyed Angela was called in to relieve the watch.
The latter was evidently willing enough to chat with me, but it soon
became apparent that she had received her orders from Maria, and that
she entertained too wholesome a dread of that individual lightly to
disobey her. Under these circumstances the time dragged on wearily
enough, so that when on the fourth day I received permission to rise
from my bed and change my room for an hour or two, I regarded the
inflexible Maria with feelings of gratitude almost akin to love.
The experience of a sick-bed is unfortunately so little a rarity that
most of my readers will be able to realise for themselves the delight
with which, after a refreshing toilet, and clad in the easiest as well
as the most gorgeous of dressing-gowns, I passed out through the door of
the sick-room. The sprightly Angela was my guide, and also to a great
extent my support, as we passed down a short corridor and turned into a
small but elegantly furnished room single glance round which was
sufficient to assure me that I was in the favoured abode of beauty. A
table littered with a variety of those flimsy trifles which ladies are
wont to dignify with the name of "work" occupied the centre of the room,
a harp stood in one corner and a guitar in another, an easel supporting
an unfinished sketch in water-colours stood by one of the two windows
which lighted the room, and a small bookcase filled with elegantly-bound
books occupied a niche in one of the walls. A tiny riding-gauntlet of
embroidered leather trimmed with lace, and a gold-mounted riding-switch
lay upon a most inviting-looking couch, while an open book, placed face
downwards, occupied a low-seated reclining chair, which faced the other
window; some small but choice water-colours graced the walls, and
against that which faced the windows stood a small chamber organ. In
addition to these evidences of taste and luxury there were a few small
but exquisite statuettes supported on wall brackets; delicate alabaster
vases of choice and sweetly-scented flowers, and a cage of gaily
plumaged birds.
"There!" said my guide, as she deposited me in the most comfortable
chair in the room, "is that to your liking, signor?"
"Perfectly," I replied. "But see here, Angela, have you not made some
mistake? Was it understood that I was to occupy this room? If I may
hazard a guess, I should say it is your mistress's own especial
apartment, the one to which she retreats when she desires strict
privacy."
"You are quite right, signor, it is my lady's boudoir, but the count's
instructions were that you were to be taken to the most comfortable room
in the chateau; and though there are many larger and more grand, I know
of none where you would be quite so comfortable as in this."
"I have no doubt you are perfectly right, little one," said I; "but I
greatly fear that in taking possession of this apartment I shall be
intruding--"
"It is very unkind of you to think any such thing, signor; no one who
has suffered as you have in the cause of my countrymen could ever be
deemed an intruder in _any_ of the apartments of the Chateau Paoli,"
said a clear, silvery voice behind me. I turned and saw that the owner
of the apartment had just entered at the open door in time to hear my
remark.
The beautiful girl looked more lovely than ever, I thought, as she
somewhat shyly congratulated me on the progress I had made toward
recovery.
She playfully scolded the unabashed Angela for not putting the room in
somewhat better order before introducing me to it, apologised for the
state of confusion which it was in, and finally asked me if she could do
anything to add to my comfort. With all the boldness of a British
midshipman, I at once replied that my comfort and happiness would be
complete if she would but condescend to favour me with as much of her
society as possible.
The dear girl blushed, laughed, called me a bold boy, and then, at my
earnest request, placed herself in a chair near me, and, after a slight
pause of embarrassment, commenced a conversation, the theme of which was
the struggle upon which the Corsicans had just entered.
This, of course, was all very well and highly interesting; no one could
have looked at and listened to so lovely a creature unmoved as she
descanted in feeling language upon the wrongs from which the Corsicans
had suffered so greatly at the hands of the French; but, to tell the
truth, I felt just then too weak to take more than a languid interest in
the subject, it was too exciting for me in my invalid condition, besides
which, I perceived that the theme was a painful one to my companion; I
therefore gradually drew the conversation into a lighter channel, and we
were soon deep in the discussion of poetry, music, and painting,
subjects in which we both seemed to be equally interested, and our
enthusiasm upon which speedily broke down the slight barrier of reserve
which had interposed itself between us at the commencement of the
interview. The result was that when that objectionable old party,
Maria, came to announce the arrival of the moment when a return to my
own room was judged advisable, she found us both comfortably established
upon the same lounge, sitting very close to each other, and deep in the
beauties of a portfolio of choice engravings which rested upon our
knees; moreover, we had grown so confidential that by mutual agreement
our usual formal style of address had been discarded, my young hostess
promising to call me "Ralph," if I would address her as "Francesca."
From this date my progress toward perfect recovery was rapid. A few
days more were passed in Francesca's boudoir, in the enjoyment of her
delightful society, and then came the happy moment when supported by her
arm, I was able to move slowly and for short distances about the
superbly laid-out grounds of the chateau. These delightful walks, which
became more extended every day, naturally resulted in the establishment
of still more intimate relations between us, and in a very short time
each knew all about the past history and the future prospects of the
other. The latter were eminently satisfactory on both sides, for, with
all the assurance of a boy and a midshipman, I speedily announced my
intention of winning my post rank in the shortest possible amount of
time, chiefly as a desirable preliminary to my return to Corsica for the
purpose of claiming the lovely Francesca's hand in marriage.
The sweet girl laughed heartily at me, at first; though younger than
myself, she was more of a woman than I was of a man, and she assumed
with me a great many of the airs of a senior; but upon my vehement and
repeated protestations of the seriousness and permanent nature of my
intentions, her laughter ceased, she became embarrassed and agitated,
and finally, after much pressing, assured me, her face crimsoned with
blushes the while, that if I ever came to claim her, she would be mine.
Now I am quite aware that my conduct in this respect was wrong. I was
too young, and my prospects were far too vague at that time, to justify
me in speaking of love to any woman, besides which, in so
unceremoniously laying siege to the beautiful Francesca's susceptible
heart, I might, for all that I could tell, be seriously interfering with
the count's plans for his daughter's future. But at the time neither of
us thought anything of this, or of any thing or being but ourselves; we
were perfectly content with the state of things as they were, happy in
the present, and quite agreed as to the future, to which, however,
neither of us gave a single serious thought. I do not think Francesca
was to blame in the matter, she had never had a mother to teach her
prudence, but _I_ certainly acted very wrongly, for, though little more
than a boy, I was old enough to know better.
I offer no excuse for my conduct, it was quite inexcusable, but as I am
telling the story of my life, I feel that I should not be dealing fairly
with my readers did I attempt to pass over my faults and misdeeds in
silence.
A day or two more passed swiftly away, I was rapidly regaining strength,
my fractured arm-bone had knit itself firmly together again--though of
course it was still quite useless, the splints not having been removed,
and the use of a sling promising to remain a necessity for some little
time longer--and I was revolving seriously in my mind the question of
what would be the best course to pursue in order to rejoin my ship, when
a little incident occurred which immediately diverted my thoughts in an
entirely different direction.
Francesca and I were sauntering slowly down the broad tree-bordered
drive which led from the main road to the chateau, when a man passed us.
Francesca stopped him, to ask a question or two, and to give him some
directions, and I thus got a full view of his features for perhaps quite
three minutes. To my intense surprise I recognised in him the
individual who had betrayed me to the French troops, and who had without
doubt betrayed them in turn to Bell' Demonio's guerilla band; in a word,
it was Guiseppe.
When our eyes met for the first time I saw in a moment that he not only
recognised me, but also that he was most anxious to know whether I
recognised him. I had it on the tip of my tongue to tax him with his
perfidy, and to threaten to denounce him; but there was a something in
his glance which gave me the idea that he was meditating further
treachery, and I instantly decided that the most effective means to
defeat his plans, if he entertained any, would be to throw him off his
guard, and watch keenly the course of events; I therefore assumed a
calmness and indifference of demeanour which I certainly did not feel,
and looked at him as though I had never seen him before.
Waiting until the fellow was well out of ear-shot, I asked Francesca
whether he was one of the servants at the chateau.
"Well, no," she replied, "he is not exactly that. He is merely a kind
of hanger-on; his father died in our service, and this man was, in his
younger days, one of our stable-boys, but he left us about a year ago to
become a wood-cutter and charcoal-burner, and since then he just comes
and goes when he likes, finding board and lodging when he requires it,
and giving in return any trifling services that may be required of him."
Nothing more was said about the man at that time, but I resolved to
speak to Count Lorenzo about him at the first opportunity.
This presented itself the same evening, on our return to the chateau. I
recalled to the count's mind the conversation which had passed
respecting him among the French soldiers, and also directed his
attention to the fact that the subject of my remarks had been referred
to in terms which seemed to leave no room for doubt as to his treachery.
"But the individual of whom you speak was called Guiseppe, was he not?"
remarked the count, when I had said my say.
"Certainly," I replied. "What is the name of this man?"
"Matteo, Matteo Bartolozzi is his full name," replied the count. "I
thought there must be a mistake somewhere; you have evidently been
misled, my friend, by an accidental resemblance. Matteo a traitor!
Pardon me, my dear Signor Ralpho, but if you knew the poor fellow as
well as I do, you would recognise the absurdity of the supposition. I
have known Matteo all his life, and I should have no hesitation in
trusting him with _anything_, ay, even with my daughter's safety."
"Heaven forbid that such a necessity should ever arise," I fervently
exclaimed. "It would be better to confide her to the protection of a
pack of starving wolves. I am _not_ deceived by any accidental
resemblance, I feel as sure of the identity of this man, whom you call
Matteo, with the traitor Guiseppe, as I am of my own existence. Believe
me, count, I would not speak so positively, did there exist the faintest
possibility of doubt."
"But, my good sir," returned the count somewhat tartly, "I assure you
that what you say is quite impossible. I repeat, I have known the man
all his life, and I have done him nothing but good. I have befriended
him in a thousand ways, and I know he would lay down his life rather
than bring harm to me and mine."
I saw that my efforts to undeceive the count were worse than useless,
and I therefore abandoned the attempt; at the same time his arguments
utterly failed to convince me that I had been mistaken, they did not
even raise the most transitory doubt in my mind; I therefore determined
to simply wait and watch the course of events.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN.
A NIGHT ATTACK UPON THE CHATEAU.
For the next two days, matters went on at the chateau much as usual.
Old Maria was as sedulously attentive as ever, her sole occupation being
apparently the preparation of tempting and strengthening dishes for my
consumption, and the concoction of tonic herbal medicines which she
administered with relentless severity.
The weather continued gloriously fine, enabling me to be in the open air
the greater portion of each day; and although the count was absent, his
beautiful daughter more than supplied his place, as far at least as I
was concerned; so that, what with judicious nursing and nourishment,
plenty of easy exercise in the delicious bracing mountain air, and the
delightful society of Francesca Paoli, I was rapidly gaining both in
health and spirits.
On the second evening after my conversation with Count Lorenzo
respecting the man whom he called Matteo Bartolozzi, Francesca and I
were slowly returning to the house, after a somewhat longer walk than
usual, when we were startled by the sound of a horse approaching at a
rapid gallop behind us. Turning round, we saw that it was the count.
He reined up when alongside of us, and, gaily saluting us, dismounted,
and walked the rest of the distance to the house with us. When we
reached the broad terrace in front of the chateau, he handed over his
still panting horse to one of the servants, and, placing an arm in mine,
dismissed his daughter, saying he had an important communication to make
to me.
The moment that Francesca was fairly out of ear-shot he turned to me and
said,--
"I received about an hour ago an intimation that a party of French
soldiers are on their way here, for the purpose of arresting me, on
suspicion of conspiring with the insurgents against the French
government, and I was also informed that authority had been given to the
officer in command to take me by force, should I refuse to surrender
myself and accompany them quietly. I at once set out to return here,
galloping all the way, and on reaching the cross roads about six miles
from here, I saw approaching along the Ajaccio road a detachment of
infantry, which I have not the least doubt is the party referred to. I
have quite made up my mind not to surrender; it would be simply throwing
away my life to do so with the existing state of feeling of the French
towards us Corsicans. I should doubtless be subjected to the ceremony
of a trial, but it would be quite a mock affair; my doom is probably
already fixed. I shall therefore defend the chateau as long as its
walls will hold together, and I do not quite despair of doing so
successfully, although my garrison will be but a weak one--I do not
suppose I can muster more than twenty people all told, and they by no
means reliable if it comes to a downright hand-to-hand tussle. The
question is, what are we to do with you? Should we fail, and you again
fall into the hands of the French, your fate is sealed, they will
assuredly hang you as a spy on the nearest tree."
"May I venture to ask, count, what are your intentions with regard to
your daughter?" said I.
He turned deadly pale for an instant, then the blood rushed furiously to
his head, his face crimsoned, his eyes sparkled vindictively, and the
veins of his forehead stood out like knotted cords as he hoarsely
ejaculated,--
"The man who lays a hand upon her must pass over my dead body; and let
me tell you, Signor Inglese, I shall not die easily; much French blood
will flow before I fall."
"Unless an unlucky bullet happens to strike you fairly in the forehead,
early in the fight," I suggested.
"And do you imagine that I shall be imbecile enough to expose myself in
so reckless a fashion as to render that probable?" he returned. "No!
If I fight, it will be for life, not for glory, therefore I shall take
every reasonable precaution to protect my life."
"Still," I persisted, "in the excitement of a fight prudence is
sometimes forgotten for a brief space. Would it not be advisable to
take any measures that may be possible to secure a retreat, should such
unhappily become necessary?"
The count made no reply for a full minute, during which we continued to
pace the terrace in the deepening twilight. Then he turned to me and
said,--
"I wonder whether you will understand me if I say, that, as far as _I_
am concerned, retreat is quite impossible. If I once come into
collision with the French, I must either conquer or die; there is, for
me, no middle course."
"Then that settles the question, as far you are concerned," I replied.
"Is it imperative that your daughter should also die, in the event of
our sustaining a defeat?"
"She must either die or fall into the hands of the French," replied the
count sternly; "and with the fate of poor Bell' Demonio fresh in our
memories, neither she nor I would for an instant hesitate as to which
alternative to accept. I would send her away to seek shelter with some
friend, but her presence, if discovered, would only compromise that
friend irretrievably, as well as prove fatal to herself. Besides, to
speak the truth, there is so much treachery existing among us that I
dare not run the risk. If your ship were only within reach, I think I
dare trust Francesca on board her; she would at least be safe from the
French, and I have no doubt your captain would afford her temporary
protection, until other arrangements could be made."
"That he would, I am certain," I replied eagerly, "I can certainly
venture to promise so much in his behalf. Unfortunately, however, the
`Juno' is now at the north end of the island, and the only safe means--
or rather the _least dangerous_ means of reaching her seems to me to be
by water. I have come to the conclusion that that is the way by which I
shall have to go, and if you felt you could confide Miss Francesca to my
protection, I should be only too happy to have the opportunity to--to--"
"Make love to her on the way, eh?" interrupted the count, with a smile.
"Nay, never blush and look confused, my boy. Do you think that, because
I have not seen much of you for the last few days, I am altogether
blind? I know, just as well as you do, that you two children fancy
yourselves in love with each other; and were you a few years older I
might have somewhat to say in the matter; as it is, you are both too
young for me to take any serious notice of it. However, that is not now
the question. Do you really think you could safely convey my daughter
to the north end of the island, and place her, not on board your ship,
but in the care of her aunt, my brother's wife? You are a seaman, I
know, and are doubtless skilled in your profession; but how would you
proceed? It would be perfect madness to attempt engaging a vessel to
convey you along the coast, the reward for delivering you both over to
the French authorities would be an irresistible temptation to the
fishermen or coasters."
"I should not dream of running so serious a risk," I replied. "My plan
is very simple. I should make for Ajaccio, timing myself to reach the
place about two or three o'clock in the morning, seize the most
promising-looking boat I could find, and make sail in her. The only
difficulty would be with my wounded arm, which is at present quite
useless, but I dare say--"
"If that is your only difficulty," again interrupted the count, "it may
be easily overcome. I would send one of my people with you, a man whom
I can implicitly trust, and who has moreover had some experience on
board the small craft which trade along the coast."
"Not Matteo, I hope?" said I.
"No, not Matteo," replied the count. "You are prejudiced against him,
and would probably refuse to take him. The man I am thinking of is
called Giaccomo--he is one of the under-gardeners."
"I should like to see the man," said I; "but in the meantime had we not
better make what preparations we can to defend the chateau, as well as
to secure a retreat, should such be necessary?"
"By all means," said the count. "Let us first go to the stables, and
arrange the means for your escape, should it be necessary, and then we
will go round the chateau together, and see what can be done in the
matter of defending it."
We turned away and walked round to the stables, in which stood ten fine
horses. These, the count ordered to be removed at once to a place which
he called the Elfin Grotto, giving instructions that the three which
were considered to be the fleetest were to be saddled and bridled ready
for instant use, Francesca's saddle being required for one of them. He
also hunted out Giaccomo--who looked a smart honest fellow enough--and
ordered him to go with the horses to the grotto, holding himself in
readiness for a lengthened journey at a moment's notice, and that he was
to understand he was under my immediate orders, to do whatever I might
require of him.
We then retired to the interior of the chateau, to examine into its
capabilities of defence, and, as much to get her out of the way as for
any other reason, Francesca was directed to prepare a small package of
clothing, such as would serve her for a week or so, her father informing
her that it might be necessary for her to leave the chateau for a short
time, and that in such an event I had undertaken to escort her to a
place of safety.
This done, we made a careful examination of each floor of the building,
beginning with the lowest or ground floor. The chateau was built in the
Italian style of architecture, and consisted of two wings and a lofty
central tower. The windows of the lower floor reached from near the
ceiling right down to the ground, and gave access, by means of a row of
three steps, directly to the rooms from the broad terrace along the
front. These windows were protected by strong solid shutters of oak
which were arranged to be fastened on the inside with three heavy iron
bars, one at the top, one half-way down, and one at the bottom. The
door was a very solid and substantial affair of oak thickly studded with
nails, and was so well provided with massive bolts that I felt confident
of its power to resist anything except artillery. This completed the
defences of the lower floor, so far as the front was concerned. The
back we had very little fear about; a high and solid stone wall
surmounted by a formidable _chevaux-de-frise_ extending for about thirty
yards from each wing, and then stretching back far enough to enclose the
stables and other offices, as well as a spacious kitchen-garden. The
windows of the next two floors were quite unprotected; and the count
therefore gave immediate orders to have all the available beds,
mattresses, cushions, etcetera, piled up along the lower portion of each
window, just high enough to protect a person when kneeling on the floor.
The grand staircase, which was the only one accessible from the front
entrance, was also strongly barricaded in three or four places, a sort
of breastwork being constructed on the first landing, behind which the
defenders might shelter themselves from the fire of an attacking party
below. This done, nothing remained but to collect the arms and
ammunition, muster the attendants, and await the development of events.
We had not very long to wait. Evening had closed down upon us and
deepened into night during the progress of our preparations, and the
count and I were watching from one of the windows the exquisitely
beautiful spectacle afforded by a clear moonrise, when we observed some
moving objects among the deep shadows cast by the trees of the distant
avenue, and, once or twice, the cold gleam of steel where the mellow
rays of the moon penetrated through the overarching branches. Presently
a small group of figures emerged from the shadows of the trees and
approached along the central drive which led up to the broad expanse of
flower-beds beyond the terrace. As they came nearer, we perceived that
they consisted of an officer in the uniform of one of the French
regiments of foot, a couple of files of men, and a bugler.
"Come," said the count to me, as soon as we had clearly made out the
character of our visitors, "let us go down and see what this gentleman
has to say."
We made our way down the staircase--passing through openings which had
been purposely left in the barricades, but which could be effectually
closed in less than a minute--and accompanied by half-a-dozen of the
most resolute and trusty of the count's people, armed with musket and
dagger, emerged through the great door upon the terrace, the steps
leading to which the Frenchmen were just ascending. They were allowed
to fairly reach the terrace, a distance of some thirty yards or so then
intervening between us and them, when the count stepped forward, and,
raising his hand, cried in French, in an authoritative voice,--
"Halt! I allow no body of armed men to approach my chateau any nearer
than the spot where you now stand, without my first receiving an
explanation of the reason for their presence. The officer in command
may, however, come forward and state his business; but I warn you that,
if the rest attempt to approach, my men will at once fire upon you."
The Frenchmen halted, and the officer, after apparently giving his men
some brief instructions in a low tone of voice, advanced towards us,
raising his shako as he joined us, and saying,--
"Have I the honour to address Count Lorenzo di Paoli?"
"I am the individual whom you name," replied the count. "To what
circumstance am I indebted for the honour of this somewhat extraordinary
visit?"
"I am instructed by General Lefevre, the officer in command of the
forces now stationed at Ajaccio, to request your immediate attendance
before him in reference to a matter closely affecting your own honour,"
replied the Frenchman.
"As I have not the advantage of General Lefevre's acquaintance, and
cannot conceive what interest he can possibly have in any matter
relating to my honour, you may go back to him, sir, and tell him I
positively decline to accede to his request, which--to say the least of
it--is a very singular one to make to a Corsican noble."
"I regret to say that the general, anticipating the possibility of your
refusal, has ordered me, in such a case, to arrest you. It is a
disagreeable necessity, which I would much rather have avoided; but you
leave me no alternative. Count Lorenzo di Paoli, I arrest you in the
name of the National Assembly, on a charge of conspiracy," answered the
Frenchman, stepping forward and attempting to lay his hand on the
count's shoulder.
"Stand back, sir!" cried Count Lorenzo, stepping back a pace and
levelling a pistol at the officer's head. "I am fully acquainted with
your general's designs against me; and I decline to walk into the trap
which he has set for me. I repudiate and defy his authority, which I
will resist to the death; and you may go back and tell him so."
"Ha! say you so?" exclaimed the Frenchman. "Rash man, you will soon
feel the power of the authority which you have so arrogantly defied, for
I may inform you that I have at hand a party strong enough to _compel_
your submission; and my orders are, not to return to Ajaccio without
you."
"Then go, sir, and bring up your party," retorted the count scornfully;
"and we will endeavour to give you such a reception as shall teach your
general to beware how he attempts to molest a Corsican noble for the
future."
The French officer bowed, raised his shako, and somewhat hastily
retired, withdrawing his men from the terrace directly he joined them;
and we stood watching them down the drive, until, having reached a point
about midway between the terrace and the avenue, and well out of musket-
shot, the little party halted; a bugle-call was sounded; and we saw a
large body of men deploy into line beneath the trees and advance along
the drive at the double.
We then retreated to the interior of the chateau, carefully locking and
barring the great door behind us; and, closing the barriers on the grand
staircase as we ascended, made the best of our way to the principal
floor, from whence we had decided to conduct the defence in the first
instance.
Our dispositions for the defence of the chateau were simple in the
extreme. We had only the front of the house to defend, the sides and
rear being protected by the high wall before referred to; we therefore
divided our little garrison into two parties, one to each wing of the
building; the count heading one party, and confiding the direction of
the other to me. As our plans were complete, the count and I separated
on reaching the gallery at the head of the staircase, he going to that
part of the building which he had undertaken to defend; and I making the
best of my way to my own command.
On entering the saloon where my party was stationed, I at once went to
the nearest window to reconnoitre. The moon was by this time riding
high in the unclouded ether, flooding the scene with the soft effulgence
of her silvery beams, and rendering every object which was not obscured
by the black shadows of the trees as distinct as though it had been
daylight. Her brilliant disc was invisible from the front windows of
the chateau, she having by this time passed somewhat to the rear of the
building; and this of course gave us a very decided advantage, inasmuch
as it rendered it difficult for the attacking party to distinguish us at
the windows, while they were exposed in the full radiance of the
brilliant moonlight.
When I reached the window, the main body of the French had just joined
the smaller party, and had been halted. They presented a formidable
array, numbering, in my estimation, quite a hundred, all armed with
musket and bayonet; and I thought I detected among them a small party of
grenadiers. Three or four individuals, apparently officers, were
standing a little distance apart from the rest, and appeared to be
consulting together. They remained thus for about five minutes, when
their bugler sounded a parley; and one of the officers, separating
himself from the rest, advanced alone towards the chateau, displaying a
white handkerchief attached to his sword-point. On seeing this, Count
Lorenzo threw open the window immediately over the door, and stepped out
upon the balcony, also exhibiting a white handkerchief. The officer
continued to approach until he was within easy speaking distance, when
he halted, and exclaimed,--
"Once more, Count Lorenzo di Paoli, I call upon you to surrender
yourself. Resistance, as you must see, from the force under my command,
will be quite useless, and can only result in a needless effusion of
blood, which I assure you will be visited with the severest retribution.
Not on you alone, but also on all those who may be taken in arms with
you, will this retribution descend; for your own sake, therefore, and
for the sake of the misguided men who are being tempted by your rashness
to their _own_ destruction, I ask you again, and for the last time, to
yield without further resistance."
"I have but one answer to make to your appeal, sir," replied the count,
"and it is this. I positively refuse to place myself in the power of
those who have again and again proved themselves completely devoid of
the principles of honour and justice. And I here and now throw off my
allegiance to a country the government of which is in the hands of
regicides and wholesale murderers, and declare myself to be in active
sympathy with the Corsican patriots."
"Enough, sir, and more than enough," haughtily returned the Frenchman.
"On your head must rest the responsibility for whatever bloodshed may
now ensue."
And turning on his heel, he disdainfully snatched the handkerchief from
his sword-point and strode resentfully away. He had, during this brief
colloquy, been covered by the muskets of the entire party under my
command; and at its conclusion, though I promptly interfered, I was
barely in time to prevent a volley being fired upon him. I learned
afterwards that the count, knowing the temper and feeling of his people,
had, before going out on the balcony, given the most positive orders to
those under his command that, whatever the issue of the interview might
be, the officer was to be allowed to retire unmolested.
The attack commenced immediately upon the French officer rejoining his
command, the entire force advancing at a rapid double, in order to place
themselves as speedily as possible under the cover afforded by the steep
slope which divided the flower-garden from the broad terrace in front of
the chateau. The rush was made, and the cover gained in less than a
couple of minutes; but our coolest and steadiest marksmen had already
been stationed at the windows, with orders to select an individual mark
and to make every shot tell; the result was that, almost immediately
upon the troops getting in motion, an irregular fire broke out upon them
from the chateau; and short as was the time occupied in making their
rush, they left some ten or eleven of their number prostrate behind
them.
The Frenchmen by no means intended letting us have things all our own
way, however, for directly they were safe under the shelter of the slope
they crept up it, and, shielding themselves as well as they could behind
the massive stone balustrades bounding the terrace, opened upon us a
galling and continuous fire. This fire grew hotter and hotter, until
the rattle of musketry all along the front of the terrace became
continuous; the bullets pattering in showers through every window, and,
in spite of our hastily arranged bulwarks, wounding more or less
severely many of our people; while the terrace itself was obscured by a
thick curtain of fleecy smoke.
This had lasted for perhaps five minutes, when from my loophole of
observation I descried dimly in the midst of the smoky canopy, some
half-a-dozen indistinct forms hurriedly crossing the terrace toward the
great entrance door of the chateau. I immediately directed the
attention of my party to these men, ordering them to concentrate the
whole of their fire upon them, and stop their advance, if possible, at
all hazards. We were just in time. An almost simultaneous volley rang
out, just as the men were getting so near the walls that they could not
be aimed at without complete exposure on the part of the marksmen, and
every one of them fell. A few seconds afterwards a series of sharp
explosions took place, which told us that these men had been the bearers
of grenades or petards with which to blow open the door. But our
success had not been obtained without its price; for three of our men
were shot dead, and one more so seriously wounded that he had to retire
from the combat, in consequence of the way in which our men had been
obliged to expose themselves, in order to cover the grenadiers with
their muskets.
Meanwhile, the curtain of smoke which veiled the terrace was every
moment growing more dense, and in a few minutes from the fall of the
grenadiers it had become so thick that it was quite impossible to see
what was going on outside at a distance of more than twenty feet from
the windows. The fire was maintained as furiously as ever, but the
bullets no longer flew so thickly about our ears; a clear indication
that our antagonists were as much blinded as we were, and were aiming
pretty much at random; as it was of the utmost importance to economise
our ammunition as much as possible, I therefore directed my party to
cease firing for a time, until the smoke should have cleared away a
little, or, at all events, only to fire when they could descry an object
at which to aim. I then went across to the other wing, to suggest to
the count the adoption of a similar plan, and had just reached his side
when a violent explosion occurred below us, accompanied by a sound of
splitting and rending of timber, and a heavy crash.
"To the landing! to the landing, every man of you!" shouted the count.
"They have blown down the door, and nothing can now prevent their
entering the house. But keep cool and steady, my men, and we may yet
successfully defend the staircase. Ah! I was just about to seek you!"
he exclaimed, as his eye fell upon me. "You must fly at once; do not
delay another instant, I beg of you. You will find Francesca in the
music saloon, she will be your guide to the grotto; and as soon as you
have reached it, mount and ride for your lives. Take care of her,
Ralph, as you would that your own sister should be cared for; and may
God be your shield and defence in every danger! Now go; there is no
time for further parley; but you know all that I would have you do, and
you know where to seek for the friends with whom I wish you to place
Francesca. God bless you, my dear boy, and farewell until we meet
again; I have already said farewell to my daughter."
He wrung my hand convulsively, and releasing it, fairly pushed me away
from him along the corridor which led to the music saloon.
As I hurried away a loud shout arose from the hall below, accompanied by
a sound as of axes and bars crashing into the barricade at the foot of
the staircase; then a rattling volley of musketry rang out from the
gallery, followed by loud shrieks and agonised groans, fierce oaths, and
yells of defiance; an answering volley from below, followed by more
shrieks and one or two heavy falls; and as I rapidly increased my
distance from the scene of action the varied sounds merged into a fierce
and whirling din, such as might have arisen had Pandemonium opened its
adamantine gates, and poured out upon the hapless chateau a legion of
destroying fiends. On entering the saloon I found Francesca on her
knees, ready equipped for a journey, and with a small gold crucifix in
her hands, which she had removed from her neck. As I entered the
apartment she rose to her feet, and, hastily replacing the jewel, came
up to me, and, placing her hands in mine, exclaimed with quivering
lips,--
"Oh! Ralph dearest, what is the meaning of all this dreadful strife,
and why have they attacked the chateau?"
"I will tell you as soon as we are out of the reach of immediate
danger," I replied; "at present we have no time for anything but action,
so, if you are ready, we will proceed at once."
"I am quite ready," she answered; "but I feel very undecided what to do.
My father told me to prepare for a journey, and to be ready to leave
the chateau with you at any moment, but do you think I should be
justified in doing so, now that he is in such dreadful peril?"
"The peril is by no means as great as you appear to think," said I, "and
your compliance with your father's instructions will relieve him of a
very serious embarrassment; so let us not linger another moment, I
entreat you."
The suggestion that her presence might possibly prove embarrassing to
her father at once decided her, and, placing her hand in mine, she said
simply, "I am ready; let us go," and moved to the door of the apartment.
We passed down the entire length of the corridor, and presently reached
the head of a staircase leading to the rear portion of the house, and
ordinarily used exclusively by the servants. Descending this, we
traversed a short passage at its foot, and finally emerged through a
door into the garden at the rear. A path closely bordered with
mulberry-trees led down through the centre of this garden, passing down
which we eventually reached a rustic, building ordinarily used as a
tool-house. Entering this, Francesca turned to me and said,--
"Now, Ralph, there is a secret door in that back wall, but I have never
been through it, so I do not know its exact position. But it is opened
by pressing a spring, the head of which is formed like an ordinary nail-
head, differing from the others only in that it projects a little more
from the woodwork than the others. Do you think you can find it?"
I ran my hand over the boarding, and soon encountered what would have
seemed to any one unacquainted with the secret merely an ill-driven
nail. Pressing firmly upon this, it yielded; a cleverly-concealed door
opened and revealed a very narrow passage-like space between the wooden
partition and the solid stone boundary-wall of the garden. Entering
this and turning my back upon the open door, in accordance with
Francesca's directions, and feeling cautiously before me with my feet, I
found myself standing at the head of a flight of stone steps. These I
cautiously descended, Francesca following closely behind me after
closing the secret door in her rear, and in a _few_ seconds we found
ourselves at the foot of the steps, and standing in an arched tunnel
apparently about six feet high and as many feet wide. We then moved
cautiously but rapidly forward, hand-in-hand, meeting with no difficulty
or inconvenience during our passage, excepting such as arose from the
mephitic atmosphere. This, however, was in itself sufficiently trying,
and I was heartily glad when, after the lapse of nearly a quarter of an
hour, we suddenly experienced a delicious whiff of cool pure night-air,
and immediately afterwards emerged from the confined tunnel-like passage
into a moderately spacious cavern, through the foliage at the mouth of
which a broad patch of the luminous star-lighted sky was visible.
"Who goes there?" ejaculated a voice from a mass of deep shadow on one
side of the cave.
I recognised Giaccomo's voice, and at once replied, adding an inquiry as
to whether he had detected any signs of the presence of the enemy in the
neighbourhood of the cavern.
"None whatever, signor," he replied. "I have seen nothing all the time
I have been here, and have heard nothing except the sound of distant
firing in the direction of the chateau."
"Then let us be off at once," said I. "The sooner we get into the main
road the less likelihood will there be of our meeting with molestation."
Without more ado Francesca was accordingly assisted by Giaccomo to
mount, my wounded arm precluding me from seizing that coveted privilege,
after which the Corsican and I sprang into our saddles, and the
cavalcade moved forth into the dazzling moonlight, taking our way over
the short springy turf in a direction which enabled us to keep the
chateau between us and the French, being cautious at the same time to
keep as much as possible within the shadow of the trees. After
travelling in this way for about a couple of miles, the chateau became
entirely concealed from view by the intervening trees (though the sound
of brisk firing could still be distinctly heard); I therefore sent
Giaccomo to the front as guide, with instructions to shape such a course
as would take us out upon the high road to Ajaccio, and ranged my own
horse up alongside that of Francesca, who had behaved with admirable
coolness and courage throughout the adventure, but seemed keenly
distressed at the necessity which forced her from her father's side at a
time of such peculiar peril to him. This feeling I at once set myself
to combat, making as light as possible of the peril, and stating that
the attack upon the chateau was merely a wanton outrage on the part of
the French, inflicted by way of retaliation in consequence of the
count's refusal to obey a discourteous summons from their general at
Ajaccio. I was successful beyond my utmost hopes, my fair companion
deriving from my representations a comfort and reassurance which I
scarcely intended, but which I certainly had not the heart to take away
again, so that by the time we reached Ajaccio--which we did without
adventure of any kind--she had grown to regard the whole affair with a
very tolerable amount of equanimity.
After striking the high road we performed the remainder of the journey
at a foot-pace, our object being to reach the town by about one o'clock
in the morning, by which time Giaccomo assured me the entire inhabitants
of the place would be in bed and fast asleep.
On reaching that point in the road where I had taken leave of Rawlings,
the "Juno's" sailing-master, we dismounted, and turning the horses'
heads homeward, after adjusting their bridles so that they would not be
likely to trail on the ground or entangle their feet, Giaccomo
administered to each of the animals a smart stroke across the flank with
his riding whip, which sent them off at a rattling gallop back along the
road we had come, the man assuring me that they would be certain to keep
on steadily until they again found themselves at their stable door at
the chateau. We did this so as to avoid the necessity of attracting
attention to ourselves by seeking stabling for them in the town at that
late hour. When our steeds were fairly out of sight we resumed our way,
and walked leisurely into Ajaccio, which we safely reached just about
the time we had previously fixed upon as most desirable for our arrival.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN.
THE "MOUETTE", THE "VIGILANT", AND THE "REQUIN."
On reaching the port my first consideration was to discover a suitable
craft in which to make the trip along the coast to the north end of the
island. When it actually came to the point I must confess that the idea
of seizing and carrying off the property of somebody else was extremely
repugnant to me. Still, I could see no other course open without
exposing the party to imminent danger of betrayal, and I had resolved in
my own mind that, since necessity seemed to point to the deprivation of
some unfortunate individual of his property, the deprivation should be
only temporary; I would take the most suitable boat I could find, and
when done with seek some means of returning her to her owner with a
handsome sum of money as hire.
Having made up my mind so far, I took counsel with Giaccomo, who knew
the place well, and he immediately ran over a list of craft belonging to
the port, any one of which he thought would serve our purpose passably
well. In the midst of his statement, however, he suddenly interrupted
himself with many objurgations upon his own stupidity, to which he added
a statement that he had just that instant thought of a craft which would
suit us admirably, one, moreover, which we need not distress ourselves
about returning.
"That sounds rather promising," said I. "What is she, Giaccomo?"
"She is a pleasure-boat measuring about fifteen tons," replied the man;
"she is a very strange-looking craft, but she sails like the wind. She
is the property of one of the French officers, who built her for his own
amusement."
"Then," said I, "if she is likely to suit us, we will certainly make a
prize of her without compunction. Lead on, my man, and let us see if we
can find her."
We went on some distance further until we came to the waterside, not
meeting with a single soul on the way, and there we helped ourselves to
a rowing-boat and pulled out into the bay, where, according to
Giaccomo's account, we should find her if she then happened to be in
port.
We pulled through a large fleet of fishing-boats, coasting feluccas, and
other craft, mostly of a size ranging from two to fifty tons, and at
length, just as I was beginning to think our search would be in vain,
Giaccomo exclaimed,--
"There she is!"
I looked in the direction indicated, and saw a long low-hulled craft,
cutter-rigged, with what struck me as a set of spars altogether
disproportionate to her size.
"Oh!" I exclaimed in a tone of disappointment, "_she_ will never do.
Why, she would capsize with half a capful of wind."
"By no means, signor," replied the Corsican. "Though yew would never
believe it, to look at her, she carries her canvas better and longer
than any boat belonging to Ajaccio, and as for working to windward--she
is simply astounding."
"If that be so," said I, "let us paddle up alongside and take a look at
her."
We did so, and on a nearer inspection found her to be, according to the
then prevalent ideas concerning naval architecture, quite as
extraordinary as Giaccomo had described her to be. She was about five
times as long as she was wide, with a bow like a fine wedge, a good
clean run, and very little freeboard; she was in fact a singular
foreshadowing of the modern type of racing cutter, and consequently, at
that date, absolutely unique.
I was rather taken with her appearance, and my curiosity, moreover,
being strongly excited by the marvellous stories told by Giaccomo
respecting her sailing powers,--which, he asserted, he had had frequent
opportunities of observing, from having been occasionally engaged to
accompany her owner on his cruises,--I decided forthwith to take
possession of her as a lawful prize. Mooring the boat alongside we
accordingly crept softly on board, and Giaccomo immediately descended
into the little forecastle to ascertain whether any one happened to be
on board. The forecastle proved to be empty, but on going down into the
cabin we saw by the feeble glimmer of the cabin lamp a lad of about
eighteen comfortably stretched out on the cushions laid along upon the
top of the lockers.
Drawing his long knife from its sheath, Giaccomo unceremoniously broke
in upon the slumbers of this youth, and brandishing the gleaming blade
before his astonished eyes, while admonishing him in a fierce whisper
not to utter a sound above his breath if he placed the slightest value
upon his life, he ordered him to enumerate what stores there were on
board, and to indicate their locality. This the lad did, leading us
first to a small but well-arranged pantry, and then opening the lockers
and exhibiting their contents. A brief survey was sufficient to satisfy
me that the craft was amply provisioned for our cruise, and this matter
being thus satisfactorily settled, we repaired to the deck and proceeded
to loose the sails and get the cutter under way; the lad whom we had so
roughly aroused being persuaded by occasional suggestive exhibitions of
Giaccomo's knife to render his best assistance in the task.
While the two were thus engaged, I conducted Francesca below, and having
indicated to her the small but luxuriously-furnished sleeping cabin of
the owner, proposed that she should take possession thereof, and
endeavour to recruit her somewhat exhausted energies by procuring, if
possible, a few hours' sleep. I then returned to the deck, and found my
"crew" in the act of getting up the anchor. This was soon done, the
head-sails were trimmed, and under a gentle westerly breeze we proceeded
to work out of the bay.
As the cutter had a boat of her own towing astern, I cast adrift the one
we had "borrowed," and left her to take her chance of drifting ashore
and finding her way once more into her proper owner's hands.
Shortly after leaving our anchorage we passed close to leeward of a long
rakish-looking lateener, on board which, as ill-luck would have it, an
anchor-watch was being kept. I suppose the circumstance of our getting
under way at so unusual an hour must have attracted attention on board
this craft, at all events the casting adrift of the shore-boat had been
observed; and as we approached we were hailed from her deck with an
inquiry as to whether we were aware that one of our boats had gone
adrift.
"Ay, ay," replied Giaccomo, "we know it; it is all right: we shall pick
her up presently, but we do not care to tack just now in this light wind
for fear of-- Diavolo! hold your tongue, you son of a boiled monkey, or
I will let daylight into you on one side and out on the other."
The latter part of this speech had been addressed to our prisoner, who,
encouraged by the close proximity of the two vessels, had without a sign
of warning lifted up his voice and shouted with all the power of his
lungs,--
"_Perfidie! nous som--_" The remainder of the sentence had been choked
back by the iron grasp of Giaccomo's hand upon the lad's throat, the
dagger being flashed before his eyes and the threat hissed into his ears
at the same moment.
But it was enough, the mischief had been done. As we glided past the
craft's stern we saw the man on watch dart to the companion and
disappear, returning to the deck in less than a minute, accompanied by
another individual, whose fluttering white garment sufficiently
indicated that he had come direct from his berth without waiting to
observe the decencies of ordinary life. He, too, hailed us, but we
wasted no breath in attempting to reply, fully aware that nothing we
could say would allay the suspicion which had been aroused. Instead
therefore of shouting back, and possibly attracting the attention of
other craft, we devoted all our energies to trimming our canvas to the
best advantage, and packing upon the cutter every rag we could set.
"Per Baccho!" ejaculated Giaccomo between his set teeth, addressing the
author of the mischief, and emphasising his remarks with a smart prod of
the knife in the most fleshy part of that misguided individual's person,
"I have a great mind to slash your throat open, and then launch you
overboard as a breakfast to the sharks. You have drawn upon us the
attention of that rascally guarda-costa, the captain of which will not
be satisfied until he has received a full explanation of your remark.
But, maledetto! remember this, the moment our capture seems certain I
will slit you up as I would a sardine,"--appropriate gesture with the
knife,--"so if you object to being slit open like a sardine you will
give me all the help you can. You comprehend?"
The lad comprehended so well that he was frightened half out of his
wits, and went round the deck, taking an extra pull here, easing off
half an inch of sheet there, shifting the water-casks, and, in short,
doing all he knew to increase the speed of the cutter, glancing
anxiously astern at the guarda-costa in the intervals, and from her to
his dreaded shipmate.
Of course I am aware that I ought to have interfered and put a stop to
this terrorism on the part of the hot-blooded Corsican, and I _should_
have done so, had there appeared any probability of his executing his
sanguinary threats; but I had already seen enough of him to believe that
his bark was a great deal worse than his bite, and so, as the prisoner
had evidently got us into what might prove a very awkward scrape, I was
willing that he should not be allowed to go altogether unpunished.
It was even as Giaccomo had foreseen. We were scarcely a mile from the
guarda-costa when we saw her canvas drooping in heavy festoons from her
long tapering yards, and by the time that we had increased our distance
to a couple of miles her anchor was a-trip, and she was sweeping round
on her way out after us.
I called my aide aft and asked him whether he knew the craft.
"Too well, signor," he replied. "It has been my lot to be chased by her
often, and many an anxious moment has she caused me. She has the name
of being the fastest sailer inside the Gut, and she is the terror of
every honest smuggler round the coast here."
"Ho, ho!" said I. "So that is how the land lies, is it, master
Giaccomo? You have been a bit of a smuggler in your time, eh?"
"Yes," he frankly returned, "and not so very long ago either. And I
should have been taken to a certainty, had not a shot from one of your
cruisers turned yonder inquisitive gentleman back."
"Let us hope we may meet with a similar slice of luck this time," said
I. "Do you think we stand any chance of getting away from her?"
"Everything depends on the weather," was the reply. "In light winds,
such as this, I have never seen anything to approach this cutter for
speed; but should it come on to blow, the `Vigilant' will run us under
water."
This was a singularly agreeable piece of information to receive just at
that moment, for the sky had gradually become flecked with fast-flying
patches of scud, and a dark threatening bank of cloud was working up to
windward. So far, however, the breeze remained light, and while we were
gliding through the water at the rate of something like five knots, with
scarcely a ripple under our bows to indicate the fact, the guarda-costa
appeared to have little beyond bare steerage-way.
At first I was sanguine enough to hope that, seeing how we slipped away
from her, the lateener would 'bout ship, and return to her moorings; but
nothing of the kind: she held on like grim death, her skipper, no doubt,
being seaman enough to read in the increasingly-threatening aspect of
the heavens a promise that his turn should come by-and-by.
In the meantime the wind grew rapidly lighter until it became
"breathless" calm; and there we both lay, heaving sluggishly on the long
swell, our sails flapping idly from side to side, and our bows boxing
the compass.
The cloud-bank meanwhile had been steadily rising, and at length it
completely veiled the sky, obscuring first the stars, and finally the
moon, and enveloping the whole face of nature in a mantle of inky
blackness. So intense was this darkness that we lost sight of the
guarda-costa, the land, and in fact everything save the two or three
riding-lights which the more prudent of the skippers had chosen to
display on board their craft in the roadstead.
A breathless hush prevailed, broken only by the loud creak of our boom
and the flap of the sails. Giaccomo and his shipmate, or prisoner--
whichever the reader likes--were somewhere forward, probably sitting
down; but it was impossible to see them in the impenetrable darkness.
I called Giaccomo aft, and his voice, when he spoke in reply, sounded
strange, weird, and unnatural. I considered the aspect of the sky
portentous in the extreme, but I wished to have his opinion, as that of
a man accustomed to the weather of that region, and I asked him what he
thought of it.
"We shall have it down upon us very heavily before long," he replied;
"but I do not think it will last above three or four hours."
"Then we had better bear a hand and shorten sail," said I. "You take in
the gaff-topsail, and bowse down a double reef in the mainsail, and I
will in foresail and shift the jib. I suppose there is a storm-jib
somewhere on board?"
"Down in the locker, forward," said he. "Be careful to close the hatch
securely when you come up, signor, or we shall be swamped in less than
ten minutes; she will bury herself in the breeze that we are going to
have."
We all three worked like Trojans, and in a remarkably short space of
time had the "Mouette"--as I found the cutter was named--under double-
reefed mainsail and storm-jib, the latter well in along the bowsprit,
with topmast lowered as far as it would come, the fore-hatch and cabin
skylight battened down, and everything made snug and ready for a regular
stand-up fight with the elements.
While we were busy with these preparations, I admonished Giaccomo to
keep a smart lookout, and I was careful also to do the same myself, in
case the guarda-costa should endeavour to cut matters short by sending
away a boat after us; but the man assured me that the skipper of the
craft knew too well what he was about to risk the loss of a boat's crew
by sending them away under such threatening conditions of weather.
Smart as we had been in making our preparations, we were only barely in
time. We had just comfortably completed our work, and I had established
myself at the tiller, with Giaccomo at the mainsheet, and Francois--as
the French lad called himself--at the jib-sheet, when there came a
terrific flash of lightning, green and baleful, illumining for a single
instant the entire scene, and revealing our pertinacious friend, the
"Vigilant," in her old berth astern, with her long tapering yards
lowered to the deck, and two stumpy lugs and a pocket-handkerchief of a
jib hoisted in their place. Then, as the opaque darkness closed down
upon us again, there followed the long deep reverberating roll of the
thunder. Another vivid flash quickly succeeded, the thunder this time
being much louder and nearer; and then, after a pause of about a minute,
there came a perfect _blast_ of lightning, so intensely bright that the
whole atmosphere appeared for one brief moment to be literally on fire.
Simultaneously with the flash came the awful deafening crackling crash
of the thunder, the terrific detonations of which completely stunned and
unnerved me while they lasted, so overpowering were they in comparison
with anything of the kind which I had before heard. We had scarcely
time to recover our hearing before we became conscious of a hissing
roaring sound in the atmosphere, momentarily increasing in intensity,
and, looking to windward, there appeared in startling relief against the
sable background a long line of luminous milky foam rushing down toward
us from the horizon. In an incredibly short time the squall was upon
us. On it came, like a howling fiend, over the tortured surface of the
ocean, causing it to hiss and seethe like the contents of a boiling
cauldron, and striking the cutter with such resistless fury that she
went over helplessly before it, burying her lee-rail so deeply in the
brine that her sails lay prostrate upon the surface of the water.
Each of us instinctively shouted to the others to "hold on," grasping at
the same moment whatever came nearest. I managed somehow to clamber up
the deck, as the cutter went over, and, passing out over the low
bulwarks, established myself on the upturned side of the little craft.
Giaccomo had done the same, while Francois was standing on the side of
the cabin-companion, and clinging convulsively with both hands to the
weather-rail.
Crawling up to the side of the Corsican, I placed my mouth to his ear
and shouted,--
"Do you think you can cut away the mast?"
"No! no! no!" he earnestly returned. "See, signor, her head is paying-
off, and she will come up again in a minute or two; she _cannot_ turn
over altogether, her ballast is too well secured for that, and she will
not fill even if she remains thus for half an hour yet; no water can get
below except through the companion, and the doors fit so well that very
little will get down even through them. See there, she is coming up
again already."
It was even so. While the man was speaking, the cutter's bows had been
rapidly paying-off, until we headed, as nearly as we could guess,
straight for the shore; when, the pressure of the wind being no longer
upon her broadside, the heavy ballast had gradually dragged the yacht
into an upright position, and we had, somewhat precipitately, to
scramble inboard again.
The moment that the yacht recovered herself, the wind of course caught
her sails, and away we at once started to leeward with the speed of a
hunted stag. This, however, would never do; the shore was straight
ahead, and, at the rate at which we were travelling, twenty minutes
would have seen us dashed into matchwood upon the rocks.
Very cautiously, therefore, we brought her upon a wind, and though, when
we again got broadside-to, she threatened to go over once more with us,
we managed by careful manipulation of the sheets to avoid such a
catastrophe; and when we had got her once fairly jammed close upon a
wind, some former experience of mine in cutter sailing enabled me to
keep her right side uppermost. But it was perilous work for a good hour
after the squall struck us. I have occasionally seen in my later days
some bold and even reckless match-sailing, but I have never yet seen a
craft so desperately overdriven as was, perforce, the little "Mouette"
on that memorable night. While the first strength of the gale lasted we
were literally under water the whole time, the sea boiling and foaming
in over our bows, and sweeping away aft and out over the taffrail in a
continuous flood.
I believe we should have sailed faster, and we should assuredly have
made much better weather of it, had we been able to get a close reef
down in the mainsail; but under the circumstances this was impossible,
since, being so short-handed, it would have delayed us long enough to
allow the "Vigilant" to get alongside us before we had got through with
the work. There was, therefore, nothing for it, but to keep on as we
were, the cutter heeling over to an angle of quite 500, so that we were
really standing upon the inside of the lee bulwark, with our backs
resting against the steeply-inclined deck, up above our knees in the
sea, beneath which the little craft's lee-rail was deeply buried; while,
owing to our great speed, we rushed _through_ instead of riding over the
sea which was rapidly getting up, so that, when an unusually heavy
"comber" met us, we were literally _buried_ for the moment, while it
swept over us.
Luckily the first mad fury of the blast lasted only for two or three
minutes, or our mast could never have resisted the tremendous strain
upon it; as it was, stout though the spar--absurdly disproportionate to
the size of the craft, I then considered it--it swayed and bent like a
fishing-rod, causing the lee-rigging to blow out quite in bights, while
that to windward was strained as taut as harp-strings, the resemblance
to which was increased by the weird sound of the wind as it shrieked
through it.
Scarcely had the tempest burst upon us before the veil of cloud which
had obscured the heavens was rent to shreds by its fury, the sky was
cleared as if by magic, the moon and stars reappeared--the former low
down upon the horizon,--and we had an uninterrupted view of the wild
scene around us.
We were heading straight out from the land, and sailing so close to the
wind that we were taking the seas nearly stem-on; and I frankly confess
that my heart was, metaphorically speaking, in my mouth for the greatest
part of that night, while watching the little craft rush bodily into the
steep slope of wave after wave, and felt her quiver like a frightened
thing as they swept hissing and seething over our heads. My admiration
for the skill of her builder was boundless; for, had I not witnessed the
cutter's achievements, I could never have credited the power of wood and
iron to successfully resist such a terrific strain and battering as she
received.
When the first wild struggle for existence was over, and we had fairly
settled down to our work in that mad life-or-death race, we had time to
look round and see how our opponent had come out of the struggle. We
had not far to look. There she was, about three miles to leeward, and
well on our quarter, dashing gallantly on; now rushing upward upon the
crest of a wave, amid a deluge of spray, and lifting her fore-foot out
of the water as though about to leave the element altogether and take
flight into the air, like a startled sea-bird; and anon plunging down
into the trough until only a small portion of the heads of her sails was
visible. She was evidently making much better weather of it than we
were; but on the other hand half-an-hour's patient observation revealed
to us the comforting fact that, notwithstanding her vaunted speed, we
were both head-reaching and weathering upon her.
Satisfied at length that this was actually the case, I asked Giaccomo
what he now thought of our chances of escape.
"We shall get away from her," he replied exultingly. "I have no longer
any fear of _her_; what I now dread is the possibility of the cutter
foundering from under us. There must be a considerable amount of water
making its way into her interior, with the sea sweeping over us thus
incessantly; indeed, I am convinced that we are sensibly deeper in the
water than we were."
"Do you think you could manage to get the pump under way?" I asked.
"I would _try_," he replied; "but the well is on the larboard side,
close by my feet, and deep under water."
"Then," said I, "we must endeavour to get her round upon the other tack.
We will watch for a `smooth,' and directly it comes, you and Francois
must round-in upon the mainsheet. Are you both ready?"
They replied in the affirmative, and after watching in vain for some
five minutes, a terrific sea burst over us, burying the craft--as it
seemed to me--nearly half-way up her mast, and beyond it the water was
comparatively smooth.
"In with it!" I gasped, as we came out on the other side of this liquid
hill. They gathered in the sheet as though their lives depended on it,
and at the same moment I eased off the weather tiller-rope, and gave the
craft her head. She surged up into the wind, her canvas flapping so
furiously that it threatened to shake the mast out of her; her lee-
gunwale appeared above the surface, and placing my feet against the
tiller I pressed it gradually over, helping her round while stopping her
way as little as possible; a sea rushed up and struck her on the port-
bow, sending her head well off on the other tack, the jib-sheet was
promptly hauled over, the mainsail filled, and as we hurriedly scrambled
over to the other side of the deck and secured ourselves anew with
lashings round our waists, the "Mouette" plunged forward on the larboard
tack, looking well up to windward and heading about due north.
The fixing and rigging of the pump was a work of considerable difficulty
and danger, but it was eventually done; and then Giaccomo and Francois,
placing themselves one on each side, set resolutely to work, with the
determination of not leaving off as long as a drop of water would flow
from the spout.
The clear stream which gushed out as soon as the brake was set going
showed us unmistakably that we had not begun a moment too soon, and had
we still entertained any doubt upon this point, it would have been
dispelled by the length of time it took to clear the little craft of
water. It was broad daylight when at length Giaccomo panted
triumphantly,--
"There she sucks!"
Just before sun-rise we noticed the first indications of a break in the
gale, and by eight o'clock it had so far moderated that our lee-rail was
just awash, and instead of diving through the seas, as we had been ever
since the gale struck us, the cutter managed to rise over everything but
the heaviest. It was still too wet forward to permit of taking off the
forecastle-hatch, but communication between cabin and forecastle could
be effected by means of a sliding door in the bulkhead; so Francois was
sent below with instructions to prepare a thorough good breakfast, with
plenty of hot coffee--which, let me say, I have found infinitely more
comforting and refreshing than spirits, after long exposure to wet or
cold, or both combined.
After the setting of the moon we had lost sight of the guarda-costa
until dawn once more betrayed her whereabouts. When first seen she was
hull-down and about three points on our lee quarter, still under her two
lugs and jib. So far, this was satisfactory; we had walked fairly away
from her in her own weather, and Giaccomo was in ecstasies.
"Ah!" he chuckled, "Monsieur Leroux would have almost forgiven us for
running away with his `Mouette,' had he been here to see what a shameful
beating she has given the `Vigilant.' The story is sure to leak out
through some of the lateener's people, and poor old Lieutenant Durand,
who commands her, will not dare to show himself ashore at Ajaccio, he
will be so laughed at."
But the guarda-costa's people had no idea of tamely accepting their
defeat as final. No sooner was it light enough for them to fairly make
us out, than they shifted their sails, substituting single-reefed
lateens for the lugs, and taking in their storm-jib out of the way.
Their increased spread of canvas soon told a tale, for before half an
hour had passed it became evident that they were gaining upon us, going
faster through the water, that is; but she did not appear to weather on
us much, if at all. The fact that the "Vigilant" was overhauling us,
however, gave me very little uneasiness, for I calculated that, as we
were both then sailing, it would take her quite three hours to get
within gunshot of us, and probably another half-hour before there would
be much probability of her hitting us, and by that time I expected we
should be within four hours' sail of San Fiorenzo, where I fully
expected to find the old "Juno," and probably a few more of our own
ships; and I thought it very doubtful whether the Frenchmen would keep
up the chase so far as that, for fear of running into a trap and being
themselves caught.
We therefore went to breakfast with tolerably easy minds, to say nothing
of good appetites, and thoroughly enjoyed the meal,--a most sumptuous
one, considering the place and the circumstances of its preparation,--
Giaccomo condescending so far to relax the sternness of his demeanour to
Francois as to pat that individual approvingly on the shoulder, and to
assure him that such cookery went far to atone for his extraordinary
indiscretion of the night before.
Francesca sat down to breakfast with us, having quite unexpectedly made
her appearance on deck, fresh, blooming, and cheerful, about half an
hour before. To my unbounded surprise, she assured me that she had
passed a very tolerable night, having indeed been sound asleep for the
greater portion of the time. She had been somewhat alarmed when the
cutter was thrown upon her beam-ends, but had not been in the least
incommoded by the accident, nor indeed aware of its full extent, the cot
upon which she was lying being a very ingenious affair, so contrived
that it always maintained a perfectly horizontal position, no matter how
much the cutter rolled and pitched, nor how greatly she heeled over.
This was very gratifying news to me, for I fully expected to see her
appear in the morning excessively frightened, and possibly very
seriously bruised by the violent motion of the little craft in which she
had passed so adventurous a night.
By the time that we had all breakfasted the wind had so far moderated
that it became necessary to make sail upon the cutter; the "Vigilant"
having crept up well abeam of us, though still hull-down and apparently
close in with the land. We accordingly shook both reefs out of the
mainsail, and got the foresail and working-jib set, with which canvas we
rushed along in true racing style, our lee-rail well buried, and the
craft taking just enough weather-helm to allow of her being steered to a
hair's-breadth. Her performance perfectly enchanted me; I had never
seen anything like it before, and to my unaccustomed eyes she seemed
fairly to fly. Even Giaccomo and Francois, both of whom had repeatedly
sailed in her, asserted that they had never seen her do so well before.
When we again had time to take a glance to leeward at the "Vigilant," we
discovered that well-named craft bowling along under whole canvas, and
evidently trying her hardest to head-reach upon us. For the first half-
hour we endeavoured to flatter ourselves that we were still holding our
own, but at the end of that time such self-deception was no longer
possible; the breeze suited us admirably, but there was still too much
sea for the little "Mouette," and the "Vigilant's" superior power at
length began to tell. Had they carried sail as recklessly through the
night as we had, there can be no doubt they would have been alongside of
us by daylight. By this time, too, we were abreast of Calvi, and were
able to bear away with a beam wind for Acciajola Point, round which, and
at the bottom of the bay, lay San Fiorenzo, our destination. Our
altered course gave our opponent a further advantage by bringing her a
couple of points before our beam, and we had the mortification of seeing
that the craft was edging out to intercept us, and would, to a moral
certainty, cut us off before we could reach the headland.
Still, I resolved to stand on, and trust to the chapter of accidents for
our ultimate escape. If the change in our course had given the
"Vigilant" one important advantage, it had given us another, to which I
attached quite as much weight; it had brought the wind and sea abeam,
and permitted us to ease up our sheets, while the sea no longer retarded
us: it also permitted us to set a little extra canvas, and we
accordingly lost no time in getting our topmast on end and setting the
gaff-topsail, after which we could do nothing but sit still and
anxiously watch the result.
Meanwhile the two vessels were rapidly converging upon a point distant
about a mile from Cape Acciajola. The wind continued to drop, the sea
going down at the same time; and as the morning advanced and the weather
became lighter, we appeared to be once more getting rather the advantage
of our pertinacious antagonist. So completely was our attention engaged
by the "Vigilant," that it was not until that craft had hoisted her
colours that we became aware of the fact that a new actor had appeared
upon the scene, and was within seven miles of us. This was a brig,
which when we first caught sight of her was running in for the land from
the W.S.W., with every stitch of canvas set that would draw, including
lower, topmast, and topgallant studding-sails on her port side. She lay
about three points on our weather quarter, and was steering for the Gulf
of San Fiorenzo.
The appearance of this stranger naturally added very greatly to my
anxiety. I could not in the least make up my mind as to her
nationality, for she hoisted no colours in response to the "Vigilant's"
display of her ensign, and though she struck me as being thoroughly
French, both in build and rig, I could not understand why she should be
running for San Fiorenzo, if our fleet was there; while if it was not,
it seemed pretty certain that I had run into what old Rawlings, the
sailing-master, was wont to designate "the centre of a hobble," in other
words--a decided predicament. How to act, under the circumstances, I
knew not; I was thoroughly embarrassed.
Away to leeward was the "Vigilant," in such a position that if we bore
up we should be simply running straight into her clutches; up there to
windward was this mysterious brig, from which there was no possibility
of escape if we hauled our wind, while if we kept straight on we were
still almost certain to fall into her hands, assuming that we were lucky
enough to escape the "Vigilant." Of course there was just a bare
possibility of her being English, but if so her appearance strangely
belied her.
It seemed to me that the least imprudent thing to do would be to keep
straight on as we were going, and this I accordingly did. I still felt
very anxious to know for certain who and what this brig really was, and
at last I determined to hoist the English flag over the French at our
gaff-end, hoping that this signal would evoke some response; but as far
as the brig was concerned it was entirely without effect.
Not so, however, with regard to the "Vigilant;" the sight appeared to
greatly irritate her worthy skipper, for he immediately hauled his wind,
and very soon afterwards tried the effect of his long brass nine upon
us. The shot fell short some sixty or seventy fathoms, but it was well
aimed, and pretty conclusively demonstrated that Monsieur Durand was
growing angry. Finding that we were as yet out of range, the lateener
once more kept away upon her former course, evidently recognising the
possibility that, if she did not, we might still slip past her.
Another quarter of an hour brought us abreast of the Cape, and in about
ten minutes more we had opened the town of San Fiorenzo. Well out in
Mortella Bay a large fleet of ships lay at anchor, while much nearer the
shore a 74-gun ship and a frigate were visible, also apparently at
anchor, and briskly engaging a battery of some sort, which appeared to
be built on a projecting point of land. At the same time the roar of
the distant cannonade, which had been shut off from us by the
intervening high land, was borne distinctly to our ears. Meanwhile the
inscrutable brig had steadily pursued her course, without appearing to
take the slightest notice of the little drama which was being enacted
ahead of her, and now came foaming up upon our weather quarter, steering
so as to shave close past our taffrail.
I had by this time lost all doubt as to her nationality, though she
still kept her bunting well out of sight; she was unmistakably French
all over, from keel to truck. And though she was an enemy I could not
help admiring the beautiful order and neatness which characterised her
appearance: two qualities which were rarely to be witnessed on board
French ships at that period. I was rather surprised that she had not
pitched a shot across our fore-foot before this, as a delicate
intimation that the time had arrived for us to heave-to; but as she had
not, I began to entertain a faint glimmer of hope that she was engaged
upon some special service of such importance that she could not spare
time to interfere with us.
It was evident that she had no intention of rounding-to, for there still
stood her studding-sails without a sign of any preparation for taking
them in. Our attention was now of course, for the moment, given
exclusively to her; our curiosity being strongly roused as to her
intentions. In another moment she swept magnificently across our stern,
so closely that a bold leap would have carried a man from her weather
cat-head down upon our deck; and as she did so we became aware of sundry
tanned and bearded faces, some of which seemed familiar to me, peering
curiously down upon us through her open half-ports. At the same moment
a dapper young fellow in the uniform of a British midshipman sprang into
the main-rigging, speaking-trumpet in hand, and hailed us somewhat in
the following fashion,--
"Cutter ahoy! who are you, and whither bound? and what is that
piratical-looking craft down to leeward? If he is interfering with you,
you had better bear up and follow in my wake; I'll take care that--
hilloa! if that isn't Chester may I never--ahoy! Chester, old boy!
don't you know _me_?--Bob Summers, you know. Up helm, old fellow; the
`Juno' is in there, and--"
The rest was unintelligible, the brig being by this time too far away to
allow of further conversation. Of course I bore up at once, for the
brig being in English hands, I had no further occasion for anxiety with
regard to the "Vigilant." That craft, true to her name, had evidently
been on the watch to see what would come of the meeting which had just
taken place, and had already arrived at the conclusion that what had
passed boded her no good, for the moment we bore up, she did the same,
wearing short round upon her heel, and shaping a course, as nearly as we
could judge, for Calvi. Bob, however, who was evidently burning to
distinguish himself, seemed to regard this as a favourable opportunity
for so doing, and promptly squared away, steering a course which would
enable him to intercept the guarda-costa; we following steadily in his
wake to witness the fun. Almost immediately afterwards we heard the
shrill notes of the bo'sun's whistle, followed by the hoarse bellowing
sound in which that functionary is wont to transmit the commanding
officer's orders to the ship's company. And occasionally we were
gratified with the sight of Mr Bob Summers squinting curiously at us
through his telescope, out of one of the stern-ports.
The moment that the brig was fairly within range of the "Vigilant," Bob
bowled a 9-pound shot across that craft's fore-foot, as an invitation to
her to heave-to. Monsieur Durand, however, seemed in no humour for
accepting any such invitation just then, for he immediately returned a
decided negative from his long brass 9-pounder, sending the shot very
cleverly through both Bob's topsails, and narrowly missing the mainmast-
head. I expected to see Master Bob round-to and deliver his whole
broadside in retaliation--it would have been quite like him to do so;
instead of this, however, he maintained a grim silence, notwithstanding
that Monsieur Durand continued his efforts to cripple the brig. At
length, however, Bob got within short pistol-shot of his adversary, and
then in came his studding-sails, all together, down went his helm, and
_crash_! went his broadside of four 9-pounders into the devoted
Frenchman, bringing his sails and his flag down by the run, together.
As the brig rounded-to, her main-topsail was thrown aback, bringing her
to a standstill directly to windward of the "Vigilant," and within easy
hailing distance. Then Master Bob hove into view in the main-rigging
once more, still with the precious speaking-trumpet in his hand, and the
guarda-costa was sternly ordered to surrender--as I afterwards learned,
we being at the moment rather too far astern to hear what passed,--which
she forthwith did. The cutter was thereupon lowered and manned, and a
prize crew went on board to take possession, little Summers himself also
going with the party.
In the meantime we in the "Mouette" joined company, heaving-to close
under the brig's quarter, and making out for the first time the word
"Requin" (Shark), which was painted on her stern in small red letters.
After the lapse of perhaps a quarter of an hour the brig's cutter shoved
off from the side of the "Vigilant," and in another minute Bob and I
were shaking hands as vigorously as though we had not seen each other
for years. As soon as he had done with me, the young rascal turned to
Francesca, whereupon I introduced him in due form in French. Francesca
at once frankly gave him her hand, and made a pretty little speech as to
the happiness which it afforded her to make the acquaintance of any
friend of her "cher Ralph," etcetera, etcetera.
Master Bob, whose knowledge of French was of the slenderest and most
flimsy description, was in no wise disconcerted by being addressed in
what was to him practically an unknown tongue. He bowed with all the
elegance and grace he could muster, smiling meanwhile as suavely as he
knew how, and finally responding somewhat in this style,--
"_Je suis_ most happy _a avez le plaisir a-makez votre_ acquaintance,
Mile. Paoli. _J'ai_ already _l'honneur de_ being partially acquainted
with _votre oncle_, General di Paoli, and a fine fellow he is. And--my
eye! won't he be surprised to see you? I only wish you could stay on
board _le_ `Juno,' or, better still, take up your quarters aboard the
brig, the skipper giving her of course to Chester and me with a roving
commission. That _would_ be jolly; but there--what's the use of
thinking of such a thing? Of course it is ever so much too good to be
true. By the way, Chester,"--turning to me--"have you dined yet?
Neither have I. Now suppose we all go aboard the brig then; I'll leave
a couple of hands to help your crew here, and we can then make sail in
company. I say, we shall present quite an imposing appearance as we
bring-up in the roadstead. I expect the skipper will send for us on the
quarter-deck, and thank us before all hands for our gallantry and
important services."
Bob jumped into the boat alongside, as he concluded; I followed, and
then Francesca stepped daintily down into the dancing craft, where the
gallant Bob established her snugly in the stern-sheets, close alongside
himself. He then seized the yoke-lines, gave the order to "shove off
and give way" in his most authoritative manner, and in ten minutes more
we were all three comfortably established in the cosy little cabin of
the brig, with a very tolerable dinner on the table before us.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.
THE CONVENTION REDOUBT.
Bob's curiosity to hear my story was about equal to his appetite for
dinner, so while we proceeded with the demolition of the comestibles, I
related to him the various adventures which had befallen me since
leaving the old "Juno," demanding in return an explanation of the
circumstances which led to his turning up in the opportune manner
related in the last chapter.
"Oh!" replied he, "I can tell you that in half-a-dozen words. When the
boat returned from landing you, old Rawlings went at once to the cabin
to make his report, and soon afterwards we filled away and stood to the
nor'ard and east'ard under easy canvas. Then the wind fell light, and
by-and-by it dropped altogether, and when daylight began to appear we
found ourselves within about six miles of this brig. The skipper and
Mr Annesley both toddled up as far as the main-topsail-yard to take a
look at her. They were about a quarter of an hour up there, and when
they came down, the first and second cutters were sent away to see who
and what she was. Mr Flinn had charge of one boat, Percival and I went
in the other. We soon saw that she was French, and the lads gave a
cheer and laid themselves out to race for her. Our boat was rather the
lighter of the two, and Percival and I promised our people a bottle of
grog if we got alongside first, in consequence of which we beat Flinn
all to splinters. Seeing us walking ahead, he hailed us to keep back in
line with him, which was likely, wasn't it? Oh, yes! Didn't he wish he
might get it? By the time that we were within half a mile of her the
brig had got her boarding-netting all triced up, guns loaded and
depressed, and everything ready for a warm reception. She withheld her
fire until we were close to her, intending, I suppose, to utterly
demolish us just before we got alongside; but I was watching them with
my telescope, and as soon as they had got their broadside carefully
trained and were about to fire, we simply took a broad sheer to port,
and before they could lay their guns afresh, we were under her bows, and
into her head, from whence we at last managed to hew our way in upon
deck. This disheartened the Frenchmen, and they began to give way, and
at that moment in came Flinn and his lot over the starboard quarter,
laying about them right and left. That settled the business; the
Johnnies flung down their arms and cried for quarter, which of course we
gave them.
"She turned out to be the `Requin,' privateer, armed with eight long
nine-pounders, with a crew of forty men in her forecastle, and her hold
crammed with the choicest pickings of the cargoes of some five or six
prizes. So you see she proved to be a valuable prize herself. I was
put in charge, with a prize crew of eight men, to take her into Malta;
and I also carried a despatch for the admiral on the station. The old
boy was as pleased as Punch, when he read the skipper's letter, and
actually invited me to dine with him that night, which you may be sure I
did. He asked me a good many questions about the fight, and about the
brig herself, and next day he came on board us and gave the craft a
thorough overhaul. The result was, that we were ordered alongside the
arsenal wharf, where we discharged the entire cargo, took in a lot of
iron ballast, filled the magazine and water-casks, shipped a quantity of
shot and provisions for the fleet here, added seventeen more hands to
our books, and sailed again just a week ago to-day, with orders to join
the fleet at San Fiorenzo and report myself to Admiral Hood, for whom
also, by the way, I have a letter or despatch, or something of that
sort."
Such was the account which Mr Robert Summers gave of himself, and upon
its conclusion we adjourned to the deck.
We were by this time within three miles of the fleet, and within about
six miles of the two detached ships, which were still maintaining a
vigorous cannonade upon the shore battery. We brought our telescopes to
bear upon these two ships, and soon had the gratification of recognising
in one of them our own dear old craft, the "Juno." She did not appear
to have received very much damage, but the other, which we were unable
to identify, seemed to be very much cut up about her spars and rigging.
While still intently watching the progress of the fight, we observed a
thin column of greyish brown smoke curling up into the air from the
"Juno's" consort. That it was not the smoke from her guns we could see
at once by its peculiar colour. It rapidly increased in volume, and as
it did so the ship's fire slackened until it died away almost entirely.
Still watching the vessel, as the smoke from her guns drove away to
leeward, we saw three little tongues of flame darting out from her side.
"Tell you what, Chester!" exclaimed Summers; "those fellows ashore are
firing red-hot shot, and they've set the old barkie on fire."
Such was in fact the case, and in a few minutes we saw a signal run up
to the royal-mast-head of the "Victory," Lord Hood's flag-ship. The
seventy-four immediately replied, and at once ceased firing altogether,
the fire from the "Juno" also slackening somewhat. Then we saw the
rigging of the two ships blacken, as the hands went aloft to loose the
canvas. Rapidly, yet as steadily as though the crews were merely being
put through their sail drill, the heavy folds of canvas were let fall
from the yards, sheeted home, and hoisted, the head-yards were braced a-
back, and in another minute or two the bows of both craft paid off, and
they stood out from the land, close-hauled upon the larboard tack, to
rejoin the rest of the fleet, our old ship delivering her port
broadside, as the guns were brought to bear, by way of a parting salute.
We were by this time threading in and out among the transports on our
way to a vacant berth at no great distance from the "Victory," and in
about five minutes afterwards the "Requin" and her prizes came to an
anchor. It was amusing enough to see Master Bob strutting up and down
the diminutive quarter-deck of the brig, his telescope tucked under one
arm, and the cherished speaking-trumpet under the other, issuing his
orders as to the stowing of the canvas and the squaring of the yards,
etcetera; but after all it was only natural: it was his first command,
and he was anxious that everybody should see that he was fully qualified
for it. When at length everything had been done to his satisfaction, he
ordered the gig to be lowered, and, jumping into her, pulled away to the
admiral's ship to deliver his despatch.
Meanwhile I amused myself by watching the seventy-four and the "Juno,"
as they worked up to the anchorage, and was glad to perceive that the
fire which had broken out on board the "Juno's" consort had been
conquered.
By the time that they had reached their berths, Bob had returned, in
high feather at Lord Hood's commendations upon his conduct; and I then
joined him, leaving Francesca for the present on board the brig, while
we pulled away to the "Juno," to report ourselves to the skipper.
We were received very graciously by Captain Hood, and very cordially by
the rest of the officers; so much so, indeed, that as far as I was
concerned I was both gratified and moved to discover the high estimation
in which all appeared to hold me.
I had only time to glance hurriedly round the decks, and to notice that
the jolly old craft appeared to have suffered but slightly in her recent
engagement with the shore battery, when Captain Hood invited me into his
cabin, and forthwith led the way.
I had, on reporting myself, announced to him in general terms the fact
that I had accomplished my mission; now I had of course to enter into
full particulars, and give a detailed narrative of my adventures.
It was a sight to be remembered, to see the skipper open his eyes in
amazement, when I described to him the particulars of my flight from the
island with Count Lorenzo's daughter, winding up with a statement that
she was at that moment on board the brig. He was good enough to
compliment me very highly upon the zeal, courage, and discretion which I
had manifested in the performance of a most important duty, and he also
evinced some little concern respecting my damaged arm,--which, to speak
the truth, was none the better for my experiences on board the
"Mouette,"--sending word there and then for the surgeon to come aft and
give it an overhaul; but I could see that his curiosity was powerfully
excited with regard to Francesca, and, as soon as my disabled limb had
been dressed and made tolerably comfortable, he ordered his own gig to
be lowered, and, requesting my company in the boat, jumped into her and
was conveyed to the brig.
He evidently had as good an eye for a pretty woman as he had for a ship,
and seemed immensely struck with my lady-love, doing his best to render
himself agreeable, and placing the ship and all hands at her disposal.
Francesca, however, young as she was, had a perfect knowledge of "the
proprieties;" she felt out of place on board ship, and clearly
recognised the desirability of at once placing herself under her aunt's
care: she therefore thanked the skipper very gracefully for his generous
offer, and said she would merely trouble him so far as to avail herself
of his aid in making her way to the quarters of her uncle, General
Paoli.
This was a matter involving very little difficulty. The general had
established his head-quarters in a small fishing village, about four
miles from San Fiorenzo, situated on the shore of a tiny cove visible
from the brig's deck; we therefore proceeded in the gig, in the first
place, alongside the "Mouette," where we shipped Francesca's small
packet of personal belongings, and then, taking Giaccomo in the boat
with us, we stepped the mast, hoisted the lug, and ran merrily down
before the wind to the entrance of the cove, landing on the beach in
perfectly smooth water, after rather more than an hour's sail.
It was by this time growing dusk, and when we reached the cottage in
which General Paoli had established himself, we found that he was out
going the rounds, and seeing personally to the posting of the sentinels.
His wife, however, who had determined to share with, and if possible
mitigate for her husband the hardships of the campaign, was "at home,"
and from her we all received a most cordial welcome. She was of course
distressed to hear of the strait in which we had left her brother-in-
law, the count, but was quite decided in her opinion that he had done
right to send Francesca away to her, and believed that, once freed of
anxiety respecting his daughter, it would be found that he had been able
to defend himself so vigorously as to eventually beat off his
assailants. She pressed us very earnestly to remain until the general
should return, in order that he might have an opportunity personally to
thank us both--and me especially--for the important service rendered to
his niece; but Captain Hood was anxious to get back to his ship, so as
to go on board the admiral's ship, to take part in a council of war: we
were therefore reluctantly compelled to decline.
Before returning to the "Juno," however, we hunted up one or two
Corsican officers with whom the skipper had already become acquainted,
and learned from them that the Mortella Tower (the battery which had
been that day attacked by the two frigates) had, as far as they had been
able to ascertain, borne the storm of shot unscathed.
On the way back to the ship I learned from the skipper that the "Juno's"
consort in the action was called the "Fortitude," and that she had
suffered severely in the engagement, losing six men killed, and fifty-
six wounded, having three of her lower-deck guns dismounted, and also
being set on tire.
On reaching the "Juno" we found the decks cleared up, every sign of the
late combat effaced, and all hands below, but the anchor-watch. Mr
Annesley, however, was on deck, awaiting the skipper's return, and as I
followed the latter up the side, the first luff paused before following
him into the cabin, and said that, as soon as Captain Hood had left for
the admiral's ship, he should be glad to hear an account of my shore-
cruise. I accordingly watched the departure of the gig, and then made
my way to the poop, where all three of the lieutenants were awaiting me,
and to them I related in full detail all that had occurred to me from
the moment of leaving the ship to that of rejoining her. I will not
repeat the flattering encomiums which my narrative elicited; suffice it
to say that I was greatly gratified by the approval expressed by them
all, and particularly by Mr Annesley's assurance that I had only to go
on as I had begun to become an ornament to the service, and a credit to
all connected with me.
The next day or two passed in a state of comparative inactivity with the
fleet, Lord Hood having arrived at the conclusion, through his
experience of the effects of the engagement between the "Fortitude" and
"Juno" and the Mortella Tower, that a further sea-attack upon that
battery would be useless, and that its reduction would have to be
effected by the land forces. I use the words "comparative inactivity"
advisedly, for though the ships themselves were idle, as far as the
prosecution of the campaign was concerned, the admiral was indefatigable
in drilling and exercising the crews, and in accustoming those of the
different ships to act in concert. And in addition to this there was an
immense amount of passing to and fro between the fleet and the shore, in
the transmission of despatches and the landing of stores and ammunition;
and in these services the little "Mouette" came in very useful,
sometimes rushing backward and forward with bulky packets of official
documents, and at other times making the passage with a whole fleet of
deeply-laden boats in tow. As might be supposed, my experience of her
capabilities naturally led to the craft being entrusted to me while thus
engaged, so that I was kept in a state of constant activity. I must,
however, do Captain Hood the justice to record that, before detailing me
for this service, he gave me the option of remaining on board the
"Juno," and being excused from duty until my arm had become completely
healed. But as I could take as much care of my wounded limb on board
the cutter as I could on board the frigate, I gratefully declined, to
the gratification of the skipper, I could easily see; and I thus had
frequent opportunities of seeing Francesca, as well as of making the
acquaintance of her uncle, General Paoli.
At length, after the interchange of a vast amount of correspondence
between Lord Hood and Major-General Dundas, the officer in command of
the land forces, it was one evening announced that an attack would be
made on the following day upon the Mortella Tower from some batteries
thrown up on the adjacent heights, and accordingly, the moment that
there was light enough to sight the guns, the cannonade commenced. It
lasted for several hours, the fort replying with the utmost vigour to
the fire of our batteries, and doing a great deal of execution. By-and-
by some genius on our side proposed paying-off the French in their own
coin by trying the effect of a few red-hot shot upon them. A make-shift
furnace for heating the shot was accordingly hastily constructed, and
the shot were heated before being discharged at the fort. This sun had
the desired effect. The parapet of the tower was lined with mantlets
constructed of bass junk for the purpose of protecting the gunners from
splinters, and the red-hot shot striking these mantlets set them on
fire, whereupon the French flag was hauled down, and the garrison
surrendered.
We of the fleet witnessed this only from a distance, as it was thought
possible it might be necessary for some of the ships to approach and
engage the battery from the sea, thus distracting the enemy's attention,
and placing him between two fires. Everybody therefore remained at his
post on board ship in case of his services being required. Luckily,
however, for our reputation interference on the part of the fleet was
unnecessary, the land forces proving sufficient for the subjugation of
the battery, which mounted three guns only--two eighteens and one six-
pounder,--and was garrisoned by no more than thirty-three men.
So far, so good. But though we had taken the Mortella Tower, we were
still nearly as far off having San Fiorenzo as ever. The town was
commanded and completely defended by a formidable redoubt, which mounted
twenty-one heavy guns, and was moreover perched upon an eminence which
commanded every other accessible height in the neighbourhood, and the
possession of this redoubt really meant the possession of San Fiorenzo.
So the question of the hour became, how to find a way of getting into
this Convention Redoubt, as the place was called.
The first proposal was to storm the place. But on making a careful
reconnaissance it became evident that, from its strength and the
steepness of the acclivity leading up to it, a storming-party would be
annihilated before it could possibly reach the top. Its great elevation
above the sea-level rendered it equally hopeless to think of achieving
any good result by an attack on the part of the fleet. And so strict a
watch was maintained by its garrison, that our leaders soon became
convinced of the impossibility of effecting a surprise. Naturally the
subjugation of this redoubt became the all-absorbing topic of
conversation.
While the interest was at its highest, it happened that Mr Annesley had
occasion to go on shore, and he took a passage with me in the little
"Mouette." He had never landed on the island before, and so, as we ran
down toward the creek, I pointed out to him the various points of
interest in the landscape. He was very anxious to get a sight of the
Convention Redoubt, but this was not just then possible, a high rocky
acclivity close to the shore shutting out the view. I had often looked
at this rock, and had thought what a fine view of the redoubt might be
had from its summit, and how easily the place might be reduced, were it
only possible to plant guns there, and I mentioned something of this
while we were going ashore.
Our worthy "first" remained silent for a good ten minutes after I had
concluded my remarks, intently examining through his telescope the face
of the rock meanwhile. At last he said,--
"I should like to give that rock a bit of an overhaul, Chester. Are you
a good hand at climbing?"
"Pretty fair, sir, I believe," was my modest reply.
"Well, then, as soon as I have transacted my business, we will both go
and see what it looks like," said he.
Accordingly, as soon as he was at liberty, we made our way to the base
of the rock. I call it a rock, and so it certainly was; but there was a
considerable depth of soil in many places about its sides, which soil
was thickly covered with short close herbage, upon which a few goats
were browsing here and there, and it sent a thrill through us both to
see these active animals leaping from one projection to another, or
clinging like flies to the almost perpendicular faces of the thinly-
scattered grassy slopes. Looking up at them through our telescopes, it
frequently seemed that they had got themselves into such a position,
that it would be equally impossible for them to attempt either to go
forward or to return without precipitating themselves headlong to the
bottom of the precipice.
It was not an encouraging spectacle to two persons who entertained
serious thoughts of scaling such a cliff, especially as stones detached
by the feet of the scrambling goats above occasionally came plunging
down about our ears; but sailors are not easily, daunted when it comes
to a question of climbing, and accordingly after a careful examination,
with the view of selecting the most practicable path, we went resolutely
at it.
It was not quite so bad as it looked for about two-thirds of the way up;
but when we neared the top, the rocky face became so nearly
perpendicular--indeed, it actually overhung in places--that we had
serious thoughts of abandoning the enterprise altogether. However, we
did not like to be beaten after having achieved so much, so we
persevered, and at last, after a most perilous and laborious climb,
actually succeeded in reaching the summit.
The view from our exalted situation was superb. We were standing upon
the highest eminence for many miles round, and the air was so clear and
transparent that distant objects were as distinctly seen as though
viewed through a telescope. On our left the blue expanse of the
Mediterranean stretched far away to the northward and westward, dotted
here and there with the sails of a few tiny coasting or fishing craft.
Below us, and apparently near enough for us to have thrown a stone on
board any of them, lay the fleet of men-o'-war and transports, with
their sails loose to dry from a heavy shower of the previous night, and
the men about their decks reduced to mere moving specks. In front of,
and still below us, and so near that we could distinguish the
accoutrements of the men forming its garrison, was the redoubt, with its
twenty-one guns projecting their muzzles threateningly over the sod
parapet, and symmetrical little pyramidal piles of shot heaped up
alongside each gun. Beyond it lay San Fiorenzo, with its narrow
streets, red-tiled, white-washed houses, terraced gardens,
insignificant-looking churches, and the harbour beyond, with the cliffs
stretching away beyond it again as far as Cape Corso, and away out at
sea the small island of Capriaja. Upon our right a continuous chain of
hills reared themselves, thickly wooded to their very summits; while in
our rear Calvi, although something like thirty miles distant, was
clearly distinguishable.
But the redoubt was with us the chief point of interest. We examined it
with the utmost minuteness, and Mr Annesley, who possessed some skill
with the pencil, made an accurate sketch of it, indicating clearly what
seemed to us its weakest points. This done, we made a very careful
examination on all sides of the face of the rock upon which we stood,
finally coming to the conclusion that, though a difficult feat, it was
possible to raise a few 18-pounders to the summit.
That same evening Mr Annesley, accompanied by the skipper, proceeded on
board the "Victory," and reported to the admiral the fact of our having
scaled the rock, exhibited his sketch of the redoubt, and explained his
ideas as to the practicability of establishing a battery upon the
summit. The result was that, on the following morning, Lord Hood,
Commodore Linzee, Sir Hyde Parker, Captain (afterwards Lord) Nelson, the
skipper, and Mr Annesley took a passage ashore with me in the
"Mouette," and all hands of us shinned aloft--the first luff and I to
show the way, the rest to reconnoitre.
On reaching the foot of the cliff our superiors (with the exception of
Captain Nelson) rather threw cold water upon the proposed scheme of
raising guns to the top; Mr Annesley, however, with respectful firmness
maintained his belief in the practicability of his ideas; and after a
great deal of discussion they decided to at least attempt the ascent
themselves, and see how the project looked from the lofty stand-point of
the summit.
By the time that we had accomplished our climb their views had become
somewhat modified, Captain Nelson's quick eye having lighted upon
several spots, in the progress of his ascent, where it would be
practicable to erect sheers or to secure tackles. But it was the sight
of the redoubt itself, as seen from the top of the rock, and the
complete command of it which would be obtained by a battery planted at
the spot whereon they stood, which finally decided the admiral to make
the attempt.
The details of the plan were arranged there and then, the most
advantageous positions for sheers, etcetera, fixed upon during the
descent, the resources of the fleet discussed on the passage off, and,
immediately on our arrival alongside the "Victory," the preparations
were commenced. Anchors, chains, ropes, blocks, etcetera, were loaded
into the ships' boats, spare spars were launched overboard and formed
into a raft, and that same evening the "Mouette" left the fleet, with
fourteen boats and the raft in tow; and the wind happening to be dead
fair, and just a nice little breeze for the purpose, enabling us all to
crowd every stitch of canvas we could set, we ran gaily down before it,
and by dusk had everything ashore in readiness for the commencement of
our task the first thing on the following morning.
It is not necessary to describe in detail the operations which
eventually resulted in the planting of a battery of 18-pounder guns,
together with the necessary ammunition, upon the summit of that
precipitous rock, at a height of no less than 700 feet above the sea-
level; suffice it to briefly say that by the almost unparalleled skill
and perseverance of the officers in charge, and the equally
extraordinary exertions of the bluejackets, the feat was actually
accomplished, and by sunset on the 15th of February, 1794, everything
was ready for opening fire.
I had hoped that, as the idea might fairly be said to have originated
with me, I should be entrusted with the charge of one of the working
parties engaged in the task of establishing the battery; but, much to my
disappointment, I was left in charge of the cutter, which, during the
progress of the operations, was kept going between the fleet and the
shore literally day and night, in consequence of which Mr Robert
Summers was turned over to me as my first lieutenant. We grumbled
almost incessantly at our hard lot in not being allowed to render our
valuable assistance more directly to the work in hand, but the reward
for our enforced self-denial was nearer at hand than either of us
expected.
The morning of the 16th broke fair and clear, with scarcely a breath of
air to ruffle the surface of the water, and with the first streak of
dawn all hands were aroused by the roar of the cannonade from the Cliff
Battery, as we had named it. All day long without a moment's
intermission was the fire kept up, and on into the evening as long as
there was light enough to see. Then the fire slackened down somewhat,
the efforts of our gunners being merely directed through the night to
the prevention of all attempts on the part of the enemy to execute
repairs. On the following morning our guns again opened upon the
devoted redoubt, and shortly after midday a message was brought down to
me for conveyance to the admiral, the substance of which was that there
was every indication of a practicable breach being effected before
sunset.
There was a fresh breeze dead against us, but we crowded sail on the
cutter to such an extent, in our eagerness to get off to the fleet with
the welcome news, that it is the greatest wonder in the world we did not
carry the sticks out of her. Arrived under the lee of the "Victory,"
Bob and I jumped into our dinghy, and, rowing alongside the flag-ship,
sprang up her lofty sides, and, finding the admiral on the quarter-deck,
went up to him and delivered our message.
"I was wondering," said Sir Hyde Parker, who was also on the quarter-
deck, "what good news you young monkeys had to tell, that you were
carrying-on upon the boat in that unmerciful manner. If you are not
more careful, young gentlemen, that craft will turn the turtle with you
some day, and our friend Hood will lose two of his most promising
officers, eh?"
The admiral looked at us for a moment with just the ghost of a smile
flickering over his inscrutable features, and then ordered the signal to
be made for the captains of the various men-o'-war to rendezvous on
board the flag-ship.
"I have arranged with Dundas," he said, "to send a brigade on shore to
help make up the storming-party, and I think it will be best to let each
captain call for a certain number of volunteers."
Bob and I stepped forward with one accord, just as Sir Hyde whipped
round upon his heel and said sharply,--
"If you have no objection, sir, I should like to lead our bluejackets in
this affair. You will have to send some one with them; they will be
worse than useless in the hands of the soldier-officers, since they will
not understand each other, and I might as well go as another."
"Not to be thought of for a moment, sir," returned the admiral. "No,
no, no; give one or other of the captains a chance to distinguish
himself; you have already made your mark. Well, what can I do for you,
young gentlemen?" turning to us.
"We shall volunteer, sir," said I, as bold as brass; "and we should feel
_very_ much obliged if you will put in a word for us with the sk-- with
Captain Hood, sir, if you please."
"Have either of you ever been present at the storming of a fortress?"
asked the admiral.
"No, sir," cut in Bob, taking the words out of my mouth, "but we have
boarded an enemy's ship before now, sir, which is pretty much the same
thing."
"About as much like it as the musketry-fire of a squad of marines is to
the broadside of this ship," remarked the admiral. "No, my lads, take
my advice and remain on board your ship. I have no doubt your courage
is more than sufficient for such work, but you lack _strength. Men_ are
needed for a storming-party; you could be of no possible use, and by
going would only risk your lives needlessly. I am sorry to be obliged
to refuse you, but I should not be justified in acceding to your
request. You may retire, young gentlemen, but I shall not forget your
gallant behaviour."
We accordingly retreated down the side, very much crestfallen and
disappointed indeed, and, jumping into the dinghy, returned to the
"Mouette," just as the captains' gigs from the various ships were coming
up alongside.
Seating ourselves upon the companion-slide, and dangling our legs
disconsolately down the companion, we abandoned ourselves to the most
gloomy reflections, watching meanwhile the boats as they dashed up
alongside the flag-ship, and cynically criticising the stroke and action
of the several crews; and I am afraid the skippers themselves did not
altogether escape our disparaging remarks.
We had been sitting thus for about a quarter of an hour, giving
unrestrained vent to our feelings of dissatisfaction, when Bob's
countenance suddenly brightened, and, turning to me, he exclaimed in an
animated tone of voice,--
"I say, Chester, what fools we are! Let's go aboard the old `Juno' and
wait until the skipper returns, and when he calls for volunteers we'll
be the first to step to the front. Old Hood," (it was in this
unpardonably disrespectful manner he alluded to the admiral) "has
forgotten all about us by this time, and so he will never think of
mentioning to the skipper our request, and I don't see why we haven't a
good chance yet. Do you?"
No sooner said than done. We knew that the chiefs would at that moment
be seated in the admiral's cabin, so, filling upon the cutter, we bore
away and ran down under the lee of the "Juno," whose deck we gained just
as the captains' gigs were shoving off from the "Victory's"
accommodation-ladder.
Ten minutes afterwards Captain Hood came up the side, and immediately
gave orders for all hands to come aft. He then, accompanied by Mr
Annesley, went up on the poop, and stood there, watching the eager and
expectant faces of the men as they clustered thickly in the waist on
both sides of the deck. The officers were all grouped together upon the
quarter-deck.
Waiting until all hands were present, the skipper stepped forward to the
head of the poop-ladder, and, waving his hand for silence, said,--
"My lads, I have just weturned from a conference with the admiwal, at
which every captain in the fleet was pwesent. And I am--ah--charged by
Lord Hood to expwess to you all--officers and men alike--his thanks for
your wecent exertions in waising the guns to the top of yonder wock.
The battewy thus--er--ah--placed in position will, it is expected,
effect a--a pwacticable bweach in the wall of the Convention Wedoubt by
sunset this evening, and it is intended to storm the place as soon as--
ah--darkness sets in. The storming-party is to be made up of an equal
number of soldiers and bluejackets,"--here the speaker was interrupted
by an enthusiastic cheer from his audience, the repetition of which was
checked by the skipper's uplifted hand--"the storming-party," he
continued, "is to be composed equally, I say, of soldiers and
bluejackets, and the admiwal has authowized each captain to call for
fifty volunteers--keep steady, men; be silent and--ah--wait until I have
quite finished, if you please. I am authowized to call for fifty
volunteers; but I wish you all distinctly to understand that no man who
has in any way misconducted himself will be accepted. Now let those who
volunteer for the storming-party come abaft the mainmast."
Bob and I, knowing what was coming, had gradually edged to the front--we
were of course, with the rest of the officers, already abaft the
mainmast--and, directly the skipper ceased, we stepped smartly out and
posted ourselves at the foot of the poop-ladder, to show that we were
volunteering; and then faced round to witness the effect of Captain
Hood's speech upon the crew.
The scene was irresistibly comic. In the first place we found that the
group of officers had simply shifted position in a compact body, so that
we all stood pretty much as we were before. The front ranks of the men
had also advanced until they were well abaft the mainmast, when they
halted--that is, they _would_ have baited had it not been for the
pressure behind, which was pretty steady in the front portion of the
mass, but in the rear something very like a panic ensued, and almost
before one could count ten those unfortunates who had not already gained
the coveted position began to clamber over the booms, along the hammock-
rail, and actually out through the ports, along the main-channels, and
in again through the ports farther aft, in their eagerness to volunteer.
The struggling and elbowing increased until it became almost desperate,
when one of the boatswain's mates--a brawny, muscular, old sea-dog, with
a mahogany visage, a gigantic pig-tail, and his chest and arms
elaborately tattooed--stepped out, and, facing round, exclaimed in
stentorian tones,--
"Avast heaving there, ye unmannerly swabs; do you take his Majesty's
quarter-deck,"--lifting his hat--"for a playhouse-booth on Southsea
common? Belay all, and stand fast, every mother's son of ye, and let me
speak to the skipper for ye."
Then, facing the poop once more, he stepped forward out of the crowd,
and doffing his hat, while he made an elaborate sea-scrape with his
right foot and gave a tug at his forelock, he addressed the skipper
somewhat as follows,--
"I hope your honour'll kindly overlook this little bit of a scrimmage
that's just took place, and forgive our unperliteness, seeing as how a
many of us has never had a chance of larnin' how to behave ourselves in
delicate sitivations. Your honour doesn't need to be told--at least, we
hopes not--that we didn't mean nothing in any way unbecoming or
disrespectable to you or the rest of the hofficers--no, not by no manner
of means whatsomever. All we want to say is just this here: that all
hands on us, down to the powder-monkeys, begs most respectably to
wolunteer for this here boardin'-party; and we hopes as how you'll take
the whole kit of us, 'ceptin' of course the black-sheep as your honour
spoke of just now, and let them and the `jollies' look arter the old
barkie, who won't mind takin' care of herself for an hour or two--God
bless her!--while us, her precious hinfants, is havin' a little bit of a
lark with the Crapoos ashore there."
A loud murmur of approval greeted this effort on the part of the
boatswain's mate, and then everybody awaited in silence the reply.
A deep flush of gratification lighted up Captain Hood's features as he
said,--
"I thank you from my heart, men, for your--um--generous wesponse to my
call, and I am sincerely sowwy that I cannot take you--er--eh--at your
words. But the admiwal's instwuctions are impewative, and I have no
power to dwaw more than the specified number. As therefore you have
_all_ volunteered, the `Juno's' contingent shall be chosen by lot,
whereby all partiality or unfairness will be avoided, and I hope that
the awwangement will pwove satisfactowy."
The crew were accordingly arranged in a double rank, fore and aft the
deck, and lots drawn--each man choosing a folded slip of paper from a
bundle, fifty of which were marked, the remainder being blank.
Then came the question of selecting officers, a proper quota of which
were to go with the men. It came out at this stage of the proceedings
that our skipper had been chosen to command the naval brigade; Mr
Annesley therefore, much to his chagrin, found that he had no option but
to remain on board. The second and third lieutenants tossed up to
decide which of them should go, and the "second" was lucky enough to
win. One other officer was required, and the lot fell on Percival, the
master's-mate. The doctor was to go, as a matter of course, but he was
to be a non-combatant. Little Summers and I--poor Pilgarlic--were so
entirely consumed with disgust, that we could find no words sufficiently
powerful to express our feelings, and we simply stood glaring at each
other in moody silence.
Suddenly a brilliant idea flashed through my brain. Winking
encouragingly at the disconsolate Bob, I stepped boldly up to the
skipper, and, touching my cap, said,--
"I hope, sir, as the officers will doubtless go ashore in the cutter,
that you will allow Summers and me to land and join the storming-party.
We will try to make ourselves useful, sir, in the carrying of messages
and so on, and--and we have been looking forward so much to the affair
that--that we _hope_ you will not disappoint us, sir."
"Oh!" said the skipper; "you wish--you and Summers--to join the
storming-party, eh? Well, I weally don't know what to say about that;
it would scarcely be fair to the other young gentlemen, you know.
Still--um--ah--let me see. The admiwal and some of the officers, not
forming part of the stormers, are going on shore, and they will
doubtless use the cutter; and as they will stay until all is over, I
think you may venture to join us, and if you get into twouble over the
affair, I must do the best I can to make excuses for you."
"Hurrah, Bob!" I exclaimed, as I rejoined my despondent friend. "Faint
heart never won fair lady; the skipper has given us permission to slip
ashore and join the stormers, so off you go at once and get ready. And
don't be long, old chap, for the admiral and a lot more are going ashore
in the little `Mouette,' and we must be on hand directly our signal is
made."
"Never fear," joyously responded Bob. "I'll be ready in a brace of
shakes; I've only to get my `weepons' as our Scotch doctor calls them,
and I'll be on deck again as soon as you are."
Having already so successfully enacted the part of a petitioner, I
determined to try my luck once more, and accordingly hunted up the
Honourable Mortimer, who had retired to his cabin. One of the hobbies
of our somewhat eccentric "third" was the collection of choice weapons,
several valuable specimens of which adorned his state-room. If he ever
saw anything specially curious or choice in the shape of sword or
pistol, he never rested until he had made it his own; but when once the
coveted article had come into his possession he seemed to lose all
further interest in it, and accordingly, being also a good-natured
individual enough, he was always ready to lend from his stock, provided
an undertaking were entered into to take due care of the borrowed
article, and to faithfully return it.
To this accommodating friend I briefly stated my case, which was simply,
that as there was just a bare possibility--I did not like to put it any
stronger, remembering that he was one of the disappointed ones--of my
being present at the storming of the redoubt, I was anxious to be
provided with some more efficient weapon than my dirk, and that I would
feel very much obliged to him if he would lend me one of his swords.
This he at once did, bidding me take my choice, and I thereupon selected
a beautiful Turkish scimitar, the curved blade of which, inlaid with a
delicate scroll pattern in gold, was as keen as a razor. Tucking this
under my arm, and thanking him duly for his kindness, I next hurried
away to the armourer, and wheedled him out of a pair of ship's pistols,
together with the necessary ammunition; after which I returned to the
deck and awaited my ally, calm in the consciousness that I was now
prepared for any and every emergency. I was almost immediately
afterwards joined by Bob, whose face beamed with delight as he directed
my attention to a ship's cutlass which he had girded to his thigh, and a
pair of long-barrelled duelling-pistols which our fire-eating "second"
had entrusted to his care. We at once trundled down over the side into
our cockleshell of a boat, and, getting on board the "Mouette" with all
speed, roused up the anchor and dodged about well in view of the
admiral, keeping a sharp lookout for the "whiff" in the mizzen-rigging,
which was our especial signal for service.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.
THE STORMING OF THE REDOUBT, AND THE ATTACK ON BASTIA.
As the afternoon wore on the wind grew light, and by eight bells it had
so far died away that it was practically valueless to the boats which
were to convey the naval brigade to the shore. The admiral, however,
would not allow the men to row, being anxious that they should reach the
scene of action fresh and vigorous; at the last moment, therefore, one
of the lieutenants belonging to the "Victory" was sent onboard the
"Requin"--or the "Shark," as she was now almost universally called--with
orders to get under weigh and tow the flotilla down to the cove.
At the same time our signal was made, in obedience to which we went
through the fleet and took on board Lord Hood, Sir Hyde Parker, Vice-
Admiral Hotham, Captain Purvis of the "Princess Royal," Commodore
Linzee, Captain Elphinstone of the "Robust," Captain Nelson of the
"Agamemnon," and some half a dozen other officers who were going on
shore to witness the attack.
By the time that we had embarked all our passengers, the "Shark" was
under weigh and dodging about, waiting for the boats, which were
alongside their respective ships, taking in their proper complement of
men.
When all was ready, the boats shoved off and pulled for the brig, which
was by this time hove-to in readiness for taking them in tow. Admiral
Hood himself marshalled the boats in the order which he wished them to
take; and two stout hawsers being passed out of the brig's stern-ports,
the boats were lashed to them in two divisions, larboard and starboard;
and when everything was arranged to the satisfaction of our chief, he
gave the order for the brig to fill, and away we went.
It took us an hour and a half to reach the cove, the wind being so
light; and in order to remain in company, the little "Mouette's" canvas
had to be reduced to a close-reefed mainsail and small jib, under which
we were still able to sail round the flotilla occasionally, in order
that Lord Hood might see that all was right.
It was just growing dusk when the boats, having cast off from the towing
hawsers, pulled into the cove and grounded on its steep shingly beach.
We anchored the "Mouette" about a cable's length from the beach, landed
our passengers, and watched them fairly out of sight on the San Fiorenzo
road, when Bob and I leaped into our dinghy and were pulled ashore. The
naval brigade was by this time in motion; and, hurrying forward, we soon
found ourselves alongside the "Juno's" contingent, under the command of
the second lieutenant, whose Irish blood was already up, and who greeted
our appearance with a rollicking joke, which would in almost any other
man have been unbecoming the dignity of his rank. But "Paddy" Flinn--or
Micky Flinn, as he was indifferently called by his friends--had a subtle
knack of behaving in an undignified manner, without jeopardising the
respect due to him; for, let his vagaries take what form they would, he
never by any chance descended to the committal of a mean, cowardly, or
ungentlemanly act.
The camp of the land forces was pitched at a distance of about two miles
from the beach; and the march was accomplished in about three-quarters
of an hour, our tars beguiling the way with jokes and yarns of the most
outrageous and improbable character. The strictest discipline was
always maintained on board ship; but on land-expeditions, which would
admit of it, a little more freedom was tacitly permitted.
When we reached the point of rendezvous, we found the troops who were to
share with us the honours of the night already on the ground, and
waiting. The guns of the Cliff Battery were still thundering away far
above us; and the redoubt was replying with apparently undiminished
vigour.
The place of rendezvous was a sort of ravine, situated about midway
between the two opposing batteries; the ground being masked from the
redoubt by one of the precipitous sides of the ravine. At the farther
end, the precipice gradually merged into a steep slope, from the summit
of which rose the hill upon which the redoubt stood; and up these two
steep slopes the storming-party had to go.
By the time that all was ready, night had completely set in. Contrary
to our hopes, it was exquisitely fine, not a single shred of cloud
obscuring the deep blue vault of heaven. The wind had died away to the
faintest zephyr, and the dew was falling so copiously that it promised
soon to wet us to the skin. At a signal, made by the waving of a
lantern, the guns of the Cliff Battery above us suddenly became mute, as
though the artillerymen had given up for the night; and a calm and
tranquil silence ensued, broken only by the gentle rustle of the fitful
breeze through the foliage of some firs which were dotted here and there
along the precipitous sides of the ravine, the chirping of insects, the
occasional twitter of a sleeping bird, or a low murmur here and there in
the serried ranks of armed men which stood awaiting the order to rush
forth to death or victory. The stars flooded the scene with their
subdued and mellow radiance, and, but for the occasional gleam of a
naked weapon, everything was suggestive of restfulness and peace.
It had been hoped that we should be able to take the garrison of the
redoubt at least partially by surprise; but the fineness and silence of
the night rendered this impossible; as soon, therefore, as everything
was ready, the party moved forward toward the farther end of the ravine,
the soldiers leading the way, in accordance with the proviso of Major-
General Dundas, who refused to co-operate with the naval brigade upon
any other terms. It took us but a few minutes to reach the end of the
ravine; and directly we were clear and had reached a point where the
first slope became practicable, we were led up it at an easy pace, and
halted just beneath its brow--and consequently under cover--in order
that all hands might recover their wind in readiness for the rush up the
second slope to the redoubt.
I was not, at that period of my life, particularly susceptible to
serious thought or grave reflections; but as I stood on that steep hill-
side in the hush and solemn beauty of the starlit night, and looked upon
that band of silent men, every one of them with the pulses of life
beating quick and strong within him, his frame aglow with health, and
every nerve quivering with intense excitement, the awful thought flashed
through my brain that, with many of them, a few brief seconds only stood
between them and eternity. I wondered to how many of them had the same
idea presented itself; and then came the question, "Does God ever in His
infinite mercy, in such supreme moments as this, inspire similar
reflections in the minds of the doomed ones, in order that they may not
be hurried into His presence wholly unprepared?" It might be so, I
thought; and if that were the case, was it not probable that, coming to
me at such a time, they foreshadowed my own doom, and warned me to
prepare for it while still I had an opportunity? Five minutes hence,
perhaps, and Time would be, for me, no more. The signal to advance--the
breathless rush--the flash and roar of artillery, a sickening crash, a
hideous whirl, in which all nature becomes blotted out, and then--The
Great White Throne.
Was that what lay before me? The oppressive excitement under which I
had been labouring passed away; tears of emotion welled up into my eyes,
and my heart went up to God in a brief, silent, fervent prayer for mercy
and forgiveness; that if I were about to die I might be pardoned for
Christ's sake and received into everlasting life. For a minute or two
the fear of death--or rather, of the eternity beyond death--had been
upon me; but with the conclusion of my hurried prayer the mantle of fear
fell from my shoulders, and a blessed peace--"the peace of God, which
passeth all understanding," as I reverently believed--took its place. I
was supported by a consciousness, or perhaps it was only a belief, that
whatever happened I was safe; and from that moment my only anxiety was
to faithfully do my duty.
At length, sufficient time having been allowed for the men to completely
recover their breath and brace themselves for the final rush up the hill
to the redoubt, the word was given, and we dashed over the brow of the
slope and charged up the steep ascent; and at the same instant the
artillerymen in the Cliff Battery--who had been keenly watching our
movements--reopened with a terrific fire upon the devoted redoubt.
Our men gave a single ringing, soul-stirring cheer, as they sprang into
view, and then were silent, the exertion of pressing up that steep
acclivity leaving them no breath to waste in profitless noise. The
distance to be traversed was not more than 200 yards--no great matter
upon level ground--but the hill rose so abruptly that, after the first
fifty yards, our pace was reduced to something between a walk and a
climb. The French, too, had evidently expected and been on the watch
for us; for we had hardly advanced twenty paces before the parapet of
the redoubt blazed out above us in a long line of fire; a storm of round
shot and grape swept down upon us; great ghastly gaps were mown out of
our ranks, a hideous chorus of shrieks and groans rose above the
thundering roar of the artillery, and long lines of dead and dying men
marked the path of the pitiless shot. The calmness and stillness of
night gave place to a horrible discord of deafening sounds; the earth
beneath our feet shook and vibrated with the ceaseless discharge of
heavy guns; the baleful glare of portfires and fireballs flung down the
hill by the enemy to enable them more clearly to ascertain our position,
and the incessant flash of the cannon, cast a fierce, unearthly light
upon the scene. Again, again, and again came the hissing storm of iron,
each time with more deadly effect; the ground before and around us was
ploughed and gashed by the rushing shot; our men were swept away before
it like withered leaves before a hurricane; the death-cries of cherished
comrades continually pierced the ear; the storming-party was melting
away like snow beneath the scorching breath of that fiery tempest; and
still the remnant struggled on.
At length that fearful breathless climb was nearly over. We were so
near the redoubt that the muzzles of the guns could no longer be
depressed sufficiently for the shot to take effect; the artillerymen,
therefore, left their cannon and joined the grenadiers in throwing down
hand-grenades upon us, or in pouring in a ceaseless musketry-fire. The
guns in the Cliff Battery also became silent, in dread of striking
friends as well as foes. A few yards more, and we were close enough to
distinguish the stern, bronzed features of the defenders clustering
thick in the breach to bar our entrance, the musketry flashes gleaming
on their glistening eyeballs, and flickering on their levelled bayonet-
points. My recent runs on shore, and the exercise of climbing up and
down the Cliff rock seemed to have given me an advantage over the rest;
for there was by this time no one in front of me. Two individuals there
were, however, close at hand, in one of whom I recognised the skipper,
the other being Major-General Dundas. They were evidently racing for
the breach, and the skipper was getting the worst of it, being
thoroughly blown. We were all three pretty evenly in line, but the
soldier had chosen his road with the greater judgment. At last the
skipper, too exhausted to keep upright any longer, put his sword between
his teeth and went down on his hands and knees. I saw at once the
nature of the rivalry, it was a struggle which should reach the breach
first, the army or the navy; and I knew Captain Hood would rather lose a
hundred pounds than be beaten.
Like them, I was dreadfully exhausted, the fatigue I experienced being
so great that it amounted to positive pain; the muscles of my legs in
particular ached and quivered violently with the exertions I had been
making. Still, I was not nearly so bad as the other two, being
decidedly strong and vigorous for my age, and I determined that the
skipper should be gratified if it lay in my power; so I scrambled to his
side and held out my hand to him shouting,--
"Let me give you a tow, sir; and we'll be in before the red-coat yet."
He grasped my hand without a word, rose to his feet, and together we
strained and pressed upward. A couple of yards still lay between us and
the hedge of bayonets which guarded the breach. The bullets flew about
us thick as hail; one passing through my hat, another shredding away
half the bullion from the skipper's starboard epaulette, two more
actually passing through my jacket and razing the skin; yet by a miracle
we escaped unwounded.
One more desperate effort, and we staggered up the loose _debris_ and
into the breach, a clear yard ahead of our rival; and then, shoulder to
shoulder, we stood and tried to recover our breath as best we could,
defending ourselves meanwhile from the innumerable cuts and thrusts
which were aimed at us. The next to arrive was, of course, Major-
General Dundas; then came Mr Flinn, closely followed by the captain of
the "Juno's" main-top; then five or six soldiers; and, thus
strengthened, we pressed forward, foot by foot, the Frenchmen
obstinately contesting every inch of the way, until we had fairly
penetrated to the interior of the redoubt, when--a path being thus
cleared for those who came behind--the relics of the storming-party
surged in and rushed upon the enemy with such resistless impetuosity
that some of the garrison threw down their arms and surrendered; while
the rest broke and fled in direst confusion.
A feeble cheer announced our success, which was immediately answered by
a ringing "three times three--and one cheer more, for the storming-
party," from the occupants of the Cliff Battery away aloft in the cool
night-air.
Poor little Bobby Summers came panting in with the ruck, after all was
over; and the first use he made of his breath, after he had recovered it
sufficiently to speak, was to abuse me in unmeasured terms for what he
was pleased to term my "meanness," in leaving him to struggle up the
hill unaided.
All hands remained on shore that night, to make everything secure, and
to guard against the possibility of an attempt to retake the redoubt;
the storming-party being quickly reinforced by a strong detachment from
the camp, which had been held in readiness to march in as soon as the
redoubt should be carried.
Then came the sickening task of collecting the dead and wounded,
arranging the former for burial, and attending to the wants of the
latter and making them as comfortable as possible under the
circumstances. But I will not go into the details of this accompaniment
to the "pomp and circumstance of war," lest I should unnecessarily
harrow the feelings of my readers; suffice it to say that our task was
not accomplished until long after sun-rise; while that of the naval and
military surgeons of course lasted for weeks.
The fall of the Convention Redoubt left the town of San Fiorenzo at our
mercy, and accordingly, when next day our troops marched into the town,
it was found that the French had evacuated it, and had retired to
Bastia.
This, the most important town in the island, and, at the period of my
story, also the most strongly fortified--whatever it may be at the
present day--is about six miles from San Fiorenzo; and is situated on
the eastern or opposite side of the long narrow peninsula which forms
the northern extremity of Corsica. It was against it that, in Lord
Hood's opinion, our next operations ought to be directed.
His views, however, and those of Major-General Dundas were widely
divergent as to the practicability of the proposed scheme; the latter
being of opinion that we had neither strength nor means sufficient to
effect the reduction of so strongly fortified a place as Bastia; while
Lord Hood, on the other hand, was sanguine of success. This difference
of opinion between the heads of the forces led to a protracted and
vexatious delay, during which we of the fleet busied ourselves
successfully in raising the French thirty-eight-gun frigate, "Minerve,"
which her crew had sunk in San Fiorenzo harbour. This ship was
afterwards added to our navy under the name of the "San Fiorenzo."
I must not omit to mention that, a few days after the taking of the
Convention Redoubt, Captain Hood publicly thanked me, on the "Juno's"
quarter-deck, for the assistance I had rendered him on that memorable
night; and the story also reaching the admiral's ears, I had the
gratification of being warmly commended by that great chief, as well as
of finding that my name had been prominently mentioned in his despatches
home. Several other officers also thanked me for supporting the
reputation of the navy, Captain Nelson being especially eulogistic--for
him--on the subject. So that, altogether, I received a far greater
share of credit than it seemed to me so simple a matter merited.
At length, meeting after meeting having taken place between Lord Hood
and Major-General Dundas, without those officers being able to agree
upon the question of investing Bastia, something very like a rupture
took place; the admiral declaring that so confident was he of success,
that, since General Dundas would not co-operate with him, he would
undertake alone the task of reducing the place with the seamen and
marines belonging to the fleet.
This resolution once arrived at, Lord Hood forthwith set about the work
of carrying it out with his accustomed energy. An old twenty-eight-gun
frigate, called the "Proselyte," was specially fitted up as a floating
battery, and, with the rest of the fleet, taken round to Bastia roads.
The marines were then landed, and, aided by a strong contingent of
bluejackets, who were placed under the command of Captain Horatio
Nelson, at once set to work to throw up a chain of sod batteries,
completely investing the town on the land side.
So much precious time had been wasted in discussing the _pros and cons_
of this matter, that, notwithstanding our utmost exertions, it was not
until the second week of April, 1794, that our batteries were finished,
the guns mounted, and everything ready for the projected attack. The
evening of the 10th, however, saw our preparations completed; and on the
morning of the 11th the "Proselyte" was moved inshore and moored in a
convenient position for battering the seaward defences of the town.
The attack immediately afterwards commenced; the "Proselyte" and the
shore batteries opening fire simultaneously. The French replied with
the utmost spirit, their guns being admirably served, especially those
which played upon the "Proselyte;" and it soon became evident that that
unfortunate craft was getting decidedly the worst of it. She was the
only ship engaged, the admiral having early come to the conclusion that
it would be madness to expose his fleet, unprotected, to the fire of the
heavy metal mounted in the French defences; we therefore--the few of us,
that is, who were not detailed for duty on shore--had nothing to do for
the time being but watch the fun.
The action had been in progress but a short time, when we observed that
the "Proselyte" was swinging round; and on looking at her more
attentively, with the aid of our telescopes, we discovered that some of
her moorings had been shot away. Her remaining cables soon brought her
up again; but not until she had drifted into a frightfully exposed
position. The fire of the French batteries was immediately concentrated
upon the devoted craft with increased energy; and presently little jets
of greyish smoke, issuing here and there from her sides, showed that the
enemy was effectively firing red-hot shot.
About ten minutes afterwards a little string of balls was seen soaring
aloft to her mast-head. The balls burst apart, and four signal flags
fluttered in the breeze.
I raised my telescope to my eye and read out the numbers to Mr
Annesley, who was busy turning over the leaves of the signal-book.
He ran his finger hastily along the column of figures, and read out to
the skipper, who was looking over is shoulder,--
"Ship on fire--send assistance."
"Now, Mr Chester, keep your eye on the admiral, and see what he says,"
remarked the skipper.
As he spoke I saw a signal going aloft on board the "Victory," and
managed to get it into the field of my telescope just as the flags burst
abroad at the mast-head.
I read out the numbers again.
"All right; I know what that means, without turning up the numbers,"
said the skipper quickly. "It means, `Send away boats to ship in
distress.' So have the goodness to pipe away the pinnace and first and
second cutters, if you please, Mr Annesley."
In another moment the boatswain's shrill pipe was sounding throughout
the ship; the boats, which were hanging at the boom, were brought
alongside, manned, placed in charge of a midshipman to each boat, and
despatched with all speed to the assistance of the unlucky "Proselyte,"
from which, by this time, dense clouds of dark smoke were issuing.
Meanwhile the boats from the rest of the fleet were also pushing off
with the same object as ourselves; and an exciting race ensued. We were
among the last to arrive alongside, having had a longer distance to pull
than any of the other boats; and when we reached the doomed craft, the
flames were bursting out through her ports, roaring fiercely up through
her hatchways, and soaring aloft by means of her rigging like fiery
serpents. Some of her guns were already nearly red-hot. Part of her
main-deck had fallen in; and her main and mizzen-masts were so far burnt
through at the foot that they threatened momentarily to fall.
Although the flames were blazing so fiercely, and had obtained such a
complete hold upon the ship that the magazine was expected to explode at
any moment, and although the enemy, taking full advantage of the
disaster, was concentrating a terrific fire upon that part of the ship
where her crew were mustered, awaiting their turn to go down over the
side into the boats which were waiting to receive them, there was not a
trace of hurry or confusion. Commander Serocold, who had been given the
command of the unfortunate craft, stood on the rail and personally
directed the process of trans-shipping; sending down first the injured,
then the younger and rawer portion of the crew, then the veterans--the
sturdy old bronzed and weather-beaten salts, whose nerves were
thoroughly proof against the worst terrors of battle, fire, or flood,--
next the officers, and finally, when he was quite satisfied that no
living being but himself remained on board, he raised his uniform cap as
if in salute, slipped down the side, and gave the order to "give way."
"Stretch out to your work, lads," he exclaimed, as the oars dashed into
the water; "throw your whole hearts into it; the fire must be close to
the magazine, and--"
A terrific concussion, a dull heavy roar, and the poor old "Proselyte"
was rent to pieces, as a broad sheet of flame flashed up from her hull
skyward. A wall of water some five feet high leapt up just under our
stern, and immediately afterwards curled over upon us, completely
swamping the boat. Fragments of planks and beams, heavy bolts, spars,
and other wreckage whizzed through the air all around us; and one of the
guns, still mounted on its carriage, and with its shattered tackles
streaming in the air, was hurled outwards and fell into the water with a
tremendous splash, within six feet of where we were all left struggling
in the water. Then a great cloud of black smoke shot up into the air;
and the blackened remains of the hull, collapsing amidships, sank out of
sight, creating a great seething whirl, which dragged us all helplessly
into its vortex, and sucked us ruthlessly down, down deep into the
darkening bosom of the ocean.
Stunned, and almost insensible from the violence of the shock, I still
had presence of mind left to close my nostrils with the fingers of one
hand, and to hold my breath, as I was helplessly whirled hither and
thither; and at last, just as my powers of endurance had reached the
point of exhaustion, I rose again to the surface, and beheld once more
the welcome sight of the bright sunlight flashing upon the dancing
billows.
The water all round me was thickly strewn with wreckage; and a few
pieces were still falling here and there, showing the height to which
the fragments had been projected. A dozen or so of human heads appeared
on the surface of the water at no great distance from me; and others
were momentarily popping up above the waves; the owners, one and all,
immediately striking out, more or less scientifically, for the nearest
floating object.
Looking round me, I soon had the satisfaction of discovering the gallant
commander of the ill-fated "Proselyte," clinging to the keel of our
boat, which was floating bottom-up at no great distance from me. Seeing
that all hands appeared pretty well able to take care of themselves, I
at once struck out and joined him.
"Ah! Mr Chester," he exclaimed, as I ranged alongside, "glad to see
that you have weathered it so well. It was a very narrow squeak; and we
have come out of it a good deal better than I dared expect. I have been
trying to count heads, and I make out thirty-eight, all told; how many
men had you with you?"
"Twelve," I answered.
"Twelve?" he repeated, "then that brings us out all right, for I counted
twenty-four of my people as they passed down into the boat, and I make
twenty-five, which, with you and your dozen, brings up the complement.
Here come the boats to pick us up. I have no doubt the explosion has
frightened all the sharks within a dozen miles of us, and started them
off to seaward under a heavy press of sail; otherwise I should not feel
quite so easy in my mind about those poor fellows. Some of them are
clinging to very small pieces of wreckage, and would have no chance if
attacked."
I remarked that I thought there was not very much danger; an opinion
which soon received singular confirmation; for while we were still
speaking, immense numbers of fish of all sizes and descriptions, some
killed, and others merely stunned by the violence of the explosion,
floated up to the surface; and shortly afterwards, when the boats had
picked us all up, and we were pulling out toward the fleet, we fell in
with an enormous shark, floating helplessly on his back, in an
apparently paralysed condition. A running bowline was promptly slipped
over his tail and drawn taut; and he was triumphantly and unresistin |
