Andrew Lang - "The Puzzle of Dickens's Last Plot"

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Mary Godolphin - "Robinson Crusoe"

New Philadelphia Book Publisher Highlights Local Talent
Book and Publishing News from Publishers Newswire(tm)

Looking for Child to be on Cover of a New Book, 'The Model Child'
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- The Philadelphia literary world will celebrate the launch of two new players today, April 10th: Kay Square Press, a new publishing company focused on Philadelphia-area artists, their stories, and their art; and Kay Square's first release, 'With the Rich and Mighty: Emlen Etting of Philadelphia' (ISBN: 978-0-9815129-0-7), a critical biography by Kenneth C. Kaleta.

FlatSigned Press Alleges Don Imus Remarks Damage Legacy of President Gerald R. Ford
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Nathan Yungerberg, an accomplished model scout and professional child photographer is launching a nation-wide casting call to find the cover model for his highly anticipated book release, 'The Model Child: A Parents Guide to the Child Modeling Industry' (ISBN: 978-0-9817018-0-6).

Books: Mr. Midshipman Easy

F >> Frederick Marryat >> Mr. Midshipman Easy




The fourth day the gale moderated, but they had no idea where they
were: they knew that they had been blown off, but how far they could
not tell, and Jack now began to discover that a cruise at sea without
knowledge of navigation was a more nervous thing than he had
contemplated. However, there was no help for it. At night they wore
the ships and stood on the other tack, and at daylight they perceived
that they were close to some small islands, and much closer to some
large rocks, against which the sea beat high, although the wind had
subsided. Again was the helm put up, and they narrowly escaped. As
soon as the sails were trimmed the men came aft and proposed that if
they could find anchorage they should run into it, for they were quite
tired out. This was true, and Jack consulted with Mesty, who thought
it advisable to agree to the proposal.

That the islands were not inhabited was very evident. The only point
to ascertain was, if there were good anchorage. The coxswain offered
to go in the boat and examine; and, with four men, he set off, and in
about an hour returned, stating that there was plenty of water, and
that it was as smooth as a mill-pond, being land-locked on every side.
As they could not weigh the bower-anchor they bent the kedge, and
running in without accident, came to in a small bay, between the
islands, in seven fathoms water. The sails were furled, and
everything put in order by the seamen, who then took the boat and
pulled on shore. "They might as well have asked leave," thought Jack.
In an hour they returned, and, after a short discussion, came aft to
our hero in a body.

The coxswain was spokesman. He said that they had had hard work, and
required now to have some rest--that there were provisions on board
for three months, so that there could not be any hurry, and that they
had found they could pitch a tent very well on shore, and live there
for a short time; and that, as there was no harm in getting drunk on
shore, they expected that they might be allowed to take provisions and
plenty of wine with them, and that the men had desired him to ask
leave, because they were determined to go whether or no. Jack was
about to answer with the handspike, but perceiving that the men had
all put on their cutlasses, and had their pistols at their belts, he
thought proper to consult Mesty, who, perceiving that resistance was
useless, advised Jack to submit, observing that the sooner all the
wine was gone the better, as there would be nothing done while it
lasted.

Jack, therefore, very graciously told them that they should have their
own way, and he would stay there as long as they pleased. Mesty gave
them the keys of the provision-hatch, and told them, with a grin, to
help themselves. The men then informed Jack that he and Mesty should
stay on board and take care of the ship for them, and that they would
take the Spaniard on shore to cook their victuals. But to this Jack
observed that if he had not two hands he could not obey their orders,
in case they wished him to come on shore for them. The men thought
there was good argument in that observation, and therefore allowed
Jack to retain the Spaniard, that he might be more prompt to their
call from the beach. They then wished him good day, and begged that
he would amuse himself with the "articles of war."

As soon as they had thrown a spare sail into the boat, with some spars
to make a tent, and some bedding, they went down below, hoisted up two
pipes of wine out of the three, a bag or two of biscuit, arms and
ammunition, and as much of the salt provisions as they thought they
might require. The boat being full, they shoved off with three cheers
of derision. Jack was sensible to the compliment: he stood at the
gangway, took off his hat, and made them a polite bow.

As soon as they were gone, Mesty grinned with his sharp-filed teeth,
and looking at our hero, said:

"I tink I make um pay for all dis--stop a little; by de piper as
played before Moses, but our turn come by-and-bye."

As for Jack, he said nothing, but he thought the more. In about an
hour the men returned in the boat: they had forgotten many things they
wanted--wood to make a fire, and several utensils; they helped
themselves freely, and having now everything that they could think of,
they again went on shore.

"How d---n lucky, we nebber tell dem about the dollars," said Mesty,
as Jack and he were watching the motions of the men.

"It is, indeed," replied Jack; "not that they could spend them here."

"No, Massa Easy, but suppose they find all that money, they take boat
and go away with it. Now, I hab them in my clutch--stop a little."

A narrow piece of salt pork had been left at the gangway: Jack,
without knowing why, tossed it overboard; being almost all fat, it
sank very gradually: Jack watched it as it disappeared, so did Mesty,
both full of thought, when they perceived a dark object rising under
it: it was a ground shark, who took it into his maw, sank down, and
disappeared.

"What was that?" said Jack.

"That ground shark, Massa Easy--worst shark of all; you nebber see him
till you feel him"; and Mesty's eyes sparkled with pleasure. "By de
powers, they soon stop de mutiny; now I hab 'em."

Jack shuddered and walked away. During the day, the men on shore were
seen to work hard, and make all the preparations before they abandoned
themselves to the sensual gratification of intemperance. The tent was
pitched, the fire was lighted, and all the articles taken on shore
rolled up and stowed away in their places; they were seen to sit down
and dine, for they were within hail of the ship, and then one of the
casks of wine was spiled. In the meantime the Spaniard, who was a
quiet lad, had prepared the dinner for Easy and his now only
companion. The evening closed, and all was noise and revelry on
shore; and as they danced, and sung, and tossed off the cans of wine
by the light of the fire, as they hallooed and screamed, and became
more and more intoxicated, Mesty turned to Jack with his bitter smile,
and only said--

"Stop a little." At last the noise grew fainter, the fire died away,
and gradually all was silent. Jack was still hanging over the gangway
when Mesty came up to him. The new moon had just risen, and Jack's
eyes were fixed upon it.

"Now, Massa Easy, please you come aft and lower down little boat; take
your pistols, and then we go on shore and bring off the cutter; they
all asleep now."

"But why should we leave them without a boat, Mesty?" for Jack thought
of the sharks, and the probability of the men attempting to swim off.

"I tell you, sar, this night they get drunk, to-morrow they get drunk
again, but drunken men never keep quiet,--suppose one man say to
others, 'Let's go board and kill officer, and then we do as we
please,' they all say yes, and they all come and do it. No, sar-must
have boat--if not for your sake, I must hab it, save my own life
anyhow, for they hate me and kill me first; by de powers, stop a
little."

Jack felt the truth of Mesty's observation; he went aft with him,
lowered down the small boat, and they hauled it alongside. Jack went
down with Mesty into the cabin and fetched his pistols. "And the
Spaniard, Mesty, can we leave him on board alone?"

"Yes, sar, he no got arms, and he see dat me have--but suppose he find
arms he never dare do anything--I know de man."

Our hero and Mesty went into the boat and shoved off, pulling gently
on shore; the men were in a state of intoxication, so as not to be
able to move, much less hear. They cast off the cutter, towed her on
board, and made her fast with the other boat astern.

"Now, sar, we may go to bed; to-morrow morning you will see."

"They have everything they require on shore," replied Easy, "all they
could want with the cutter would be to molest us."

"Stop a little," replied Mesty. Jack and Mesty went to bed, and as a
precaution against the Spaniard, which was hardly necessary, Mesty
locked the cabin door but Mesty never forgot anything.

Jack slept little that night--had melancholy forebodings which he
could not shake off; indeed, Jack had reflected so much since he had
left the ship, he had had his eyes so much opened, and had felt what a
responsibility he had taken by indulging himself in a whim of the
moment, that it might be almost said, that in the course of one
fortnight he had at once from a boy sprung up into a man. He was
mortified and angry, but he was chiefly so with himself.

Mesty was up at daylight, and Jack soon followed him: they watched the
party on shore, who had not yet left the tent. At last, just as Jack
had finished his breakfast, one or two made their appearance; the men
looked about them as if they were searching for something, and then
walked down to the beach, to where the boat had been made fast. Jack
looked at Mesty, who grinned, and answered with the words so often
repeated--

"Stop a little."

The men then walked along the rocks until they were abreast of the
ship.

"Ship ahoy!"

"Halloo," replied Mesty.

"Bring the boat ashore directly, with a beaker of water."

"I knew dat," cried Mesty, rubbing his hands with delight. "Massa
Easy, you must tell them No."

"But why should I not give them water, Mesty?"

"Because, sar, den they take boat."

"Very true," replied Easy.

"Do you hear on board?" cried the coxswain, who was the man who
hailed--"send the boat immediately, or we'll cut the throats of every
mother's son of you, by God!"

"I shall not send the boat," replied Jack, who now thought Mesty was
right.

"You won't--won't you?--then your doom's sealed," replied the man,
walking up to the tent with the other. In a short time all the seamen
turned out of the tent, bringing with them four muskets, which they
had taken on shore with them.

"Good heavens! they are not, surely, going to fire at us, Mesty."

"Stop a little." The men then came down abreast of the ship, and the
coxswain again hailed, and asked if they would bring the boat on
shore.

"You must say, No, sar," replied Mesty.

"I feel I must," replied Jack; and then he answered the coxswain,
"No."

The plan of the mutineers had
been foreseen by the wily negro--it was to swim off to the boats which
were riding astern, and to fire at him or Jack, if they attempted to
haul them up alongside and defend them. To get into the boats,
especially the smaller one, from out of the water was easy enough.
Some of the men examined their priming and held the muskets at their
hips all ready, with the muzzles towards the ship, while the coxswain
and two men were throwing off their clothes.

"Stop, for God's sake, stop!" cried Jack. "The harbour is full of
ground sharks,--it is, upon my soul!"

"Do you think to frighten us with ground sharks?" replied the
coxswain; "keep under cover, my lads; Jack, give him a shot to prove
we are in earnest, and every time he or that nigger show their heads,
give them another, my lads."

"For God's sake, don't attempt to swim," said Jack, in an agony; "I
will try some means to give you water."

"Too late now--you're doomed"; and the coxswain sprang off the rock
into the sea, and was followed by two other men: at the same moment a
musket was discharged, and the bullet whistled close to our hero's
ear.

Mesty dragged Jack from the gangway, who was nearly fainting from
agonising feelings. He sank on the deck for a moment, and then sprang
up and ran to the port to look at the men in the water. He was just
in time to see the coxswain raise himself with a loud yell out of the
sea, and then disappear in a vortex, which was crimsoned with his
blood.

Mesty threw down his musket in his hand, of which he had several
already loaded, in case the men should have gained the boats.

"By the powers, dat no use now!" Jack had covered his face with his
hands. But the tragedy was not complete: the other men, who were in
the water, had immediately turned and made for the shore; but before
they could reach it, two more of these voracious monsters, attracted
by the blood of the coxswain, had flown to the spot, and there was a
contention for the fragments of their bodies.

Mesty, who had seen this catastrophe, turned towards our hero, who
still hid his face. "I'm glad he no see dat, anyhow," muttered Mesty.

"See what!" exclaimed Jack.

"Shark eat em all."

"Oh, horrid! horrid!" groaned our hero.

"Yes, sar, very horrid," replied Mesty, "and dat
bullet at your head very horrid. Suppose the sharks no take them,
what then? They kill us and the sharks have our body. I think that
more horrid still."

"Mesty," replied Jack, seizing the negro convulsively by the arm, "it
was not the sharks--it was I,--I who have murdered these men."

Mesty looked at Jack with surprise. "How dat possible?"

"If I had not disobeyed orders," replied our hero, panting for breath,
"if I had not shown them the example of disobedience, this would not
have happened. How could I expect submission from them? It's all my
fault--I see it now-and, O God! when will the sight be blotted from my
memory?"

"Massa Easy, I not understand that," replied Mesty: "I think you talk
foolish-might as well say, suppose Ashantee men not make war, this not
happen; for suppose Ashantee not make war, I not slave, I not run
away,--I not come board Harpy--I not go in boat with you--I not hinder
men from getting drunk--and dat why they make mutiny--and the mutiny
why the shark take um?"

Jack made no reply, but he felt some consolation from the counter
argument of the negro.

The dreadful death of the three mutineers appeared to have had a
sensible effect upon their companions, who walked away from the beach
with their heads down and with measured steps. They were now seen to
be perambulating the island, probably in search of that water which
they required. At noon, they returned to their tent, and soon
afterwards were in a state of intoxication, hallooing and shouting as
the day before. Towards the evening they came down to the beach
abreast of the ship, each with a vessel in their hands, and perceiving
that they had attracted the notice of our hero and Mesty, tossed the
contents of the vessels up in the air to show that they had found
water, and hooting and deriding, went back, dancing, leaping, and
kicking up their heels, to renew their orgies, which continued till
after midnight, when they were all stupefied as before.

The next day Jack had recovered from the first shock which the
catastrophe had given him, and he called Mesty into the cabin to hold
a consultation.

"Mesty, how is this to end?"

"How you mean, sar?--end here, or end on board of the Harpy?"

"The Harpy,--there appears little chance of our seeing her again--we
are on a desolate island, or what is the same thing; but we will hope
that it will be so: but how is this mutiny to end?"

"Massa Easy, suppose I please, I make it end very soon, but I not in a
hurry."

"How do you mean, Mesty, not in a hurry?"

"Look, Massa Easy; you wish take a cruise, and I wish the same ting:
now because mutiny you want to go back--but by all de powers, you tink
that I, a prince in my own country, feel wish to go back and boil
kettle for de young gentlemen. No, Massa Easy, gib me mutiny gib me
anyting--but--once I was prince," replied Mesty, lowering his voice at
the last few emphatic words.

"You must one of these days tell me your history," replied Jack; "but
just now let us argue the point in question. How could you put an end
to this mutiny?"

"By putting an end to all wine. Suppose I go shore after they all
drunk, I spile the casks in three or four places, and in the morning
all wine gone--den dey ab get sober, and beg pardon--we take dem on
board, put away all arms, 'cept yours and mine, and I like to see the
mutiny after dat. Blood and 'ounds--but I settle um, anyhow."

"The idea is very good, Mesty,--why should we not do so?"

"Because I not like run de risk to go ashore--all for what? to go
back, boil de kettle for all gentlemans--I very happy here, Massa,"
replied Mesty, carelessly.

"And I am very miserable," replied Jack; "but, however, I am
completely in your power, Mesty, and I must, I suppose, submit."

"What you say, Massa Easy--submit to me?--no sar, when you are on
board Harpy as officer, you talk with me as friend, and not treat me
as negro servant. Massa Easy, I feel--I feel what I am," continued
Mesty, striking his bosom, "I feel it here--for all first time since I
leave my country, I feel that I am someting; but, Massa Easy, I love
my friend as much as I hate my enemy--and you nebber submit to me--I
too proud to allow dat, 'cause, Massa Easy--I am a man--and once, I
was a prince."

Although Mesty did not perhaps explain by words half so well as he did
by his countenance the full tide of feeling which was overflowing in
his heart, Jack fully understood and felt it. He extended his hand to
Mesty, and said--

"Mesty--that you have been a prince, I care little about, although I
doubt it not, because you are incapable of a lie; but you are a man,
and I respect you, nay, I love you as a friend--and with my will we
never part again."

Mesty took the hand offered by Jack. It was the first peace offering
ever extended to him since he had been torn away from his native
land--the first compliment, the first tribute, the first
acknowledgment, perhaps, that he was not an inferior being; he pressed
it in silence, for he could not speak; but could the feelings which
were suffocating the negro but have been laid before sceptics, they
must have acknowledged that at that moment they were all and only such
as could do honour, not only to the prince, but even to the Christian.
So much was Mesty affected with what had happened, that when he
dropped the hand of our hero, he went down into the cabin, finding it
impossible to continue the conversation, which was not renewed until
the next morning.

"What is your opinion, Mesty? Tell me, and I will be governed by it."

"Den, sar, I tell you I tink it right that they first come and ask to
come on board before you take them--and, sar, I tink it also right as
we are but two and they are five, dat dey first eat all their
provisions. Let 'em starve plenty, and den dey come on board tame
enough."

"At all events," replied Jack, "the first overtures of some kind or
another must come from them. I wish I had something to do--I do not
much like this cooping up on board ship."

"Massa, why you no talk with Pedro?"

"Because I cannot speak Spanish."

"I know dat, and dat why I ask de question. You very sorry when you
meet the two pretty women in the ship, you not able to talk with them,
I guess that."

"I was very sorry, I grant," replied Jack.

"Well, Massa Easy, by and bye we see more Spanish girl. Why not talk
all day with Pedro, and den you able to talk with dem."

"Upon my word, Mesty, I never had an idea of your value. I will learn
all the Spanish that I can," replied Jack, who was glad to have
employment found for him, and was quite disgusted with the articles of
war.

As for the men on shore, they continued the same course as before, one
day succeeded another, and without variety. It was, however, to be
observed that the fire was now seldomer lighted, which proved their
fuel scarce, and the weather was not so warm as it had been, for it
was now October. Jack learnt Spanish from Pedro for a month, during
which there was no appearance of submission on the part of the
mutineers, who, for the first fortnight, when intoxicated, used to
come down and fire at Jack or Mesty when they made their appearance.
Fortunately drunken men are not good marksmen; but latterly this had
been discontinued, because they had expended their ammunition, and
they appeared to have almost forgotten that the ship was there, for
they took no notice of her whatever.

On the other hand, Jack had decided that if he waited there a year the
overtures should come from them who had mutinied; and now, having an
occupation, he passed his time very quietly, and the days flew so fast
that two months had actually been run off the calendar before he had
an idea of it.

One evening as they were down in the cabin, for the evenings had now
become very cold, Jack asked Mesty whether he had any objection to
give him a history of his life. Mesty replied that if he wished he
was ready to talk, and at a nod from our hero Mesty commenced as
follows.


CHAPTER XV

In which mutiny, like fire, is quenched for want of fuel and no want
of water.

Although we have made the African negro hitherto talk in his own mixed
jargon, yet, as we consider that, in a long narration, it will be
tedious to the reader, we shall now translate the narrative part into
good English, merely leaving the conversation with which it may be
broken, in its peculiar dialect.

"The first thing I recollect," said Mesty, "is, that I was carried on
the shoulders of a man with my legs hanging down before, and holding
on by his head.

"Everyone used to look at me and get out of the way, as I rode through
the town and market-place, so loaded with heavy gold ornaments that I
could not bear them, and was glad when the women took them off; but as
I grew older I became proud of them, because I knew that I was the son
of a king. I lived happy. I did nothing but shoot my arrows, and I
had a little sword which I was taught to handle, and the great
captains who were about my father showed me how to kill my enemies.
Sometimes I laid under the shady trees, sometimes I was with the women
belonging to my father; sometimes I was with him and played with the
skulls, and repeated the names of those to whom they had belonged, for
in our country, when we kill our enemies, we keep their skulls as
trophies.

"As I grew older, I did as I pleased; I beat the women and the slaves;
I think I killed some of the latter--I know I did one, to try whether
I could strike well with my two-handed sword made of hard and heavy
wood,--but that is nothing in our country. I longed to be a great
captain, and I thought of nothing else but war and fighting, and how
many skulls I should have in my possession when I had a house and
wives of my own, and I was no longer a boy. I went out in the woods
to hunt, and I stayed for weeks. And one day I saw a panther basking
in the sun, waving his graceful tail. I crept up softly till I was
behind a rock within three yards of it, and drawing my arrow to the
head, I pierced him through the body. The animal bounded up in the
air, saw me, roared and made a spring, but I dropped behind the rock,
and he passed over me. He turned again to me, but I had my knife
ready, and, as he fixed his talons into my shoulder and breast, I
pierced him to the heart. This was the happiest day of my life; I had
killed a panther without assistance, and I had the wounds to show.
Although I was severely hurt, I thought nothing of it. I took off the
skin as my blood dropped down and mixed with that of the beast--but I
rejoiced in it. Proudly did I go into the town dripping with gore and
smarting with pain. Everyone extolled the feat, called me a hero and
a great captain. I filed my teeth, and I became a man.

"From that day I ranked among the warriors, and, as soon as my wounds
were healed, I went out to battle. In three fights I had gained five
skulls, and when I returned they weighed me out gold. I then had a
house and wives, and my father appointed me a Caboceer. I wore the
plume of eagle and ostrich feathers, my dress was covered with
fetishes, I pulled on the boots with bells, and with my bow and arrows
slung on my back, my spear and blunderbuss, my knives and my
double-handed sword, I led the men to battle and brought back skulls
and slaves. Everyone trembled at my name, and, if my father
threatened to send me out, gold-dust covered the floor of his hall of
council--Now, I boil the kettle for the young gentlemen!

"There was one man I liked. He was not a warrior, or I should have
hated him, but he was brought up with me in my father's house, and was
a near relative. I was grave and full of pride, he was gay and fond
of music; and although there was no music to me equal to the tom-tom,
yet I did not always wish for excitement. I often was melancholy, and
then I liked to lay my head in the lap of one of my wives, under the
shady forest behind my house, and listen to his soft music. At last
he went to a town near us where his father lived, and as he departed I
gave him gold-dust. He had been sent to my father to be formed into a
warrior, but he had no strength of body, and he had no soul; still I
loved him, because he was not like myself. There was a girl in the
town who was beautiful; many asked for her as their wife, but her
father had long promised her to my friend; he refused even the
greatest warrior of the place, who went away in wrath to the
fetishman, and throwing him his gold armlets asked for a fetish
against his rival. It was given, and two days before he was to be
married my friend died. His mother came to me, and it was enough. I
put on my war dress, I seized my weapons, sat for a whole day with my
skulls before me, working up my revenge, called out my men, and that
night set off for the town where the warrior resided, killed two of
his relatives and carried off ten of his slaves. When he heard what I
had done, he trembled and sent gold; but I knew that he had taken the
girl home as his wife, and I would not listen to the old man who
sought to pacify me.