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Books: Mr. Midshipman Easy

F >> Frederick Marryat >> Mr. Midshipman Easy




A succession of questions was now put by the American mate, and
answered very skilfully by Gascoigne, who then inquired how the market
was?

It was necessary to make and reply to all these enquiries before they
could ask apparently indifferent questions of American traders; at
last, Gascoigne enquired,--

"Do you think they would allow us to go on shore? the pratique boat
has not been on board."

"They'll never find you out if you are off before daylight; I doubt if
they know that you are anchored. Besides, from Liverpool you would
have a clean bill of health, and if they found it out, they would not
say much; they're not over particular, I've a notion."

"What are those vessels lying in-shore?"

"I guess they have olive oil on board, the chief on 'em. But there
are two double lateens come in from Valparaiso the day before
yesterday, with hides and copper. How they 'scaped the British, I
can't tell, but they did, that's sure enough."

"Good-night, then."

"You won't take a glass of sling this fine night with a countryman?"

"To-morrow, my good fellow, to-morrow; we must go on shore now."

Our hero and Gascoigne returned on board the Rebiera, consulted with
Oxbelly and Mesty, and then manned and armed the two quarter and
stern boats. They thought it advisable not to hoist out their
long-boat; no fire-arms were permitted to be taken, lest, going off by
accident or otherwise, an alarm should be given. Our hero and Mesty
proceeded in the first boat, and pulled in for the town; Gascoigne
shortly after in the second, and the boatswain in the jolly-boat,
followed at some distance.

There was no notice taken of them; they pulled gently down to the
landing-place, which was deserted. There was a blaze of light, and
the sounds of revelry in every quarter on shore; but the vessels
appeared equally deserted as the American ones in the offing.

Finding themselves unobserved, for they had taken the precaution to
pull only two oars in each boat, they dropped gently alongside one of
the double-masted lateen vessels, and Mesty stepped on board. He
peeped down in the cabin, and perceived a man lying on the lockers; he
came up in his stealthy manner, closed the hatch softly, and said,
"All right." Jack left Gascoigne to take out this vessel, which he did
very successfully, for it was very dark; and although there were
sentries posted not far off, their eyes and ears were turned towards
the town, listening to the music.

A second vessel, her consort, was boarded in the same way, but here
they found a man on deck whom they were obliged to seize and gag. They
put him down in the cabin, and Mesty, with another boat's crew, cut
her cables, and swept her gently out towards the American vessels. One
more vessel was required, and Jack, pulling two oars as usual, saluted
a galliot heavily laden, but of what her cargo consisted was not
known. In this vessel they found two men in the cabin playing cards,
whom they seized and bound and, cutting her cables, were obliged to
make sail upon her, as she was much too large to sweep out. As they
were making sail they, however, met with an interruption which they
did not expect. The crew belonging to the vessel, having had enough
amusement for the evening, and intending to sail the next morning, had
thought it right to come off sooner than the others: it was then about
midnight or a little later, and while some of Jack's men were aloft,
for he had six with him, Jack, to his annoyance, heard a boat coming
off from the shore, the men in her singing a chorus. The galliot was
at that time just under steerage way, her topsails had been loosed and
her jib hoisted, but the former had not been sheeted home, for the
three men below could not, in the dark, find the ropes. The other
three men were on the fore-yard loosing the foresail, and Jack was
undetermined whether to call them down immediately, or to allow them
to loose the sail, and thus get good way on the vessel, so as to
prevent the boat, which was loaded with men, from overtaking them. The
boat was not more than twenty yards from the galliot, when, not
finding her where they left her, they pulled to the right, and lay on
their oars. This gave a moment of time, but they very soon spied her
out. "Caramba!" was the exclamation--and the head of the boat was
pulled round.

"Down, my lads, in a moment by the swifters," cried Jack. "Here's a
boat on board of us."

The men were in a few seconds on deck, and the others, who had now
sheeted home the topsails, hastened aft. The vessel soon gathered
way, but before that her way was sufficient, the boat had pulled under
the counter, and the Spaniards, letting their oars swing fore and aft,
were climbing up, their knives in their teeth. A scuffle ensued, and
they were thrown down again, but they renewed their attempt. Our
hero, perceiving a small water or wine cask lashed to the gunwale, cut
it loose with his cutlass, and with one of the men, who was by his
side, pushed it over, and dropped it into the boat. It struck the
gunwale, stove a plank, and the boat began to fill rapidly; in the
meantime the galliot had gained way--the boat could not longer be held
on, from its weight, and dropped astern with the men in it. Those who
were half in and half out were left clinging to the gunwale of the
vessel, and as they climbed up were secured, and put down in the
cabin. Fortunately, no fire-arms having been used on either side, the
alarm was not given generally, but the sentry reported fighting on
board one of the vessels, and the people of the guard-boat were
collected, and pulled out; but they only arrived in time to see that
the galliot was under way, and that the two other vessels from
Valparaiso were not in their berths.

They hastened on shore, gave the alarm: the gun-boats, of which there
were three at the mole, were ordered out, but half the crew and all
the officers were on shore, some at balls, others drinking at taverns
or posadas; before they could be collected, all three vessels were
alongside of the Rebiera: and not aware that anything had been
discovered, our hero and his crew were lulled in security. Jack had
gone on board, leaving fourteen of his men on board the galliot--
Gascoigne had done the same--Mesty still remained on board his vessel;
and they were congratulating themselves, and ordering the men on board
to the windlass, when they heard the sound of oars.

"Silence!--what is that?" exclaimed Oxbelly.

"The gun-boats or row-boats, as sure as I'm alive!"

At this moment Mesty jumped up the side.

"Massa Easy, I hear row-boat not far off."

"So do we, Mesty. Gascoigne, jump into the boat--tell the men in the
prizes to make all sail right out, and leave us to defend their
retreat--stay on board of one and divide your men."

"Dat all right, Massa Easy. Mr Gascoigne, be smart--and now, sar, cut
cable and make sail; no time get up anchor."

This order was given, but although the men were aloft in a moment, and
very expeditious, as the Rebiera payed her head round and the jib was
hoisted, they could perceive the boom of the three gun-boats pulling
and sailing not five cables length from them. Although rather
short-handed, topsails, courses and top-gallant sails were soon set,
the men down to their quarters, and the guns cast loose, before the
gun-boats were close under their stern. Then Jack rounded to, braced
up, and the Rebiera stood across them to the westward.

"Why the devil don't they fire?" said Jack.

"I tink because they no ab powder," said Mesty. Mesty was right--the
ammunition chests of the gun-boats were always landed when they were
at the mole, in case of accidents, which might arise from the crew
being continually with cigars in their mouths, and in the hurry they
had quite forgotten to put them on board.

"At all events, we have powder," said Jack, "and now we'll prove it.
Grape and canister, my lads, and take good aim."

The commanders of the gun-boats had hailed each other, and agreed to
board the Rebiera, but she now had good way on her, and sailed faster
than they pulled. A well-directed broadside astonished them--they had
no idea of her force; and the execution done was so great, that they
first lay on their oars and then pulled back to the mole with all
speed, leaving the Rebiera in quiet possession of her prizes, which
had already gained two miles in the offing.

The Rebiera, as soon as Jack perceived that the gun-boats had
retreated, was put before the wind, and soon closed with her captures,
when she was hove-to till daylight with the three vessels in company.
Gascoigne returned on board, prize-masters were selected, and Jack
determined to keep them all with him, and take them to Palermo.


CHAPTER XL

In which there is another slight difference of opinion between those
who should be friends.

The two lateen vessels proved of considerable value, being laden with
copper, hides, and cochineal. The galliot was laden with sweet-oil,
and was also no despicable prize. At daylight they were all ready,
and, to the mortification of the good people of Malaga, sailed away to
the eastward without interruption.

"Me tink we do dat job pretty well, Massa Easy," observed Mesty, as he
laid the breakfast table.

"Nothing like trying," replied Gascoigne; "I'm sure when we stood into
the bay I would have sold all my prize-money for a doubloon. How do I
share, Jack?"

"Only as one of the crew, Ned, for you are a supernumerary, and our
articles and agreement for prize-money were signed previous to our
sailing."

"I ought to share with Mr Oxbelly's class by rights," replied
Gascoigne.

"That would be to take half my prize-money away. I shall want it all,
Mr Gascoigne, to pacify my wife for giving her the slip."

"Ah, very well; I'll get all I can."

For ten days they ran down the coast, going much too fast for the
wishes of the crew, who were anxious to make more money. They seized
a fishing-boat and put on board of her the four prisoners, which they
had found in the vessels, and arrived off Barcelona, without falling
in with friend or foe. The next morning, the wind being very light,
they discovered a large vessel at daylight astern of them to the
westward, and soon made her out to be a frigate. She made all sail in
chase, but that gave them very little uneasiness, as they felt assured
that she was a British cruiser. One fear, however, came over them,
that she would, if she came up with them, impress a portion of their
men.

"As certain as I'm here, and Mrs Oxbelly's at Southsea," said Oxbelly,
"they'll take some of the men--the more so as, supposing us to be a
Spanish convoy, they will be disappointed."

"They will hardly take them out of the prizes," observed Easy.

"I don't know that; men must be had for his Majesty's service somehow.
It's not their fault, Mr Easy--the navy must be manned, and as things
are so, so things must be. It's the king's prerogative, Mr Easy, and
we cannot fight the battles of the country without it."

"Yes," replied Gascoigne, "and although, as soon as the services of
seamen are no longer wanted, you find that there are demagogues on
shore who exclaim against impressment, they are quiet enough on the
point when they know that their lives and property depend upon
sailors' exertions."

"Very true, Mr Gascoigne, but it's not our fault if we are obliged to
take men by force; it's the fault of those who do not legislate so as
to prevent the necessity. Mrs Oxbelly used to say that she would
easily manage the matter if she were Chancellor of the Exchequer."

"I dare say Mrs Oxbelly would make a very good Chancellor of the
Exchequer," replied Gascoigne, smiling; "one thing is certain, that if
they gave the subject half the consideration they have others of less
magnitude, an arrangement might be made by which his Majesty's navy
would never be short of men."

"No doubt, no doubt, Mr Gascoigne; but, nevertheless, the king's
prerogative must never be given up."

"There I agree with you, Mr Oxbelly; it must be held in case of sudden
emergency and absolute need."

"We'll argue that point by-and-bye," replied Jack; "now let us consult
as to our measures. My opinion is, that if I made more sail we should
beat the frigate, but she would come up with the prizes."

"That's the best thing we can do, Mr Easy; but let us send a boat on
board of them, and take out all the men that can possibly be spared,
that there may be no excuse for impressing them."

"Yes," replied Gascoigne; "and as the wind is falling it is possible
it may fall calm, and they may send their boats; suppose we separate a
mile or two from each other."

"Dat very good advice, Massa Gascoigne," observed Mesty.

This plan was acted upon; only three men were left in the lateens, and
four in the galliot, and the vessels, in obedience to the orders,
sheered off on both sides of the Rebiera, who made all sail and
started ahead of the prizes. This manoeuvre was perceived on board of
the frigate, and made them sure that it was a Spanish convoy
attempting to escape. The fire-engine was got on deck, sails wetted,
and every exertion made to come up. But about four o'clock in the
afternoon, when the frigate was eight or nine miles off, it fell calm,
as Gascoigne had predicted, and the heads of all the vessels, as well
as the frigate, were now round the compass.

"There's out boats," said Mr Oxbelly; "they will have a long pull, and
all for nothing."

"How savage they will be!" observed Gascoigne. "Never mind that,"
replied Jack; "Mesty says that dinner is ready."

After dinner, they all went on deck, and found that the boats had
separated, one pulling for each of the prizes, and two for the
Rebiera. In less than an hour, they would probably be alongside.

"And now let us decide how we are to act. We must not resist, if they
attempt to impress the men?"

"I've been thinking upon that matter, Mr Easy, and it appears to me
that the men must be permitted to act as they please, and that we must
be neuter. I, as a lieutenant in his Majesty's service, cannot of
course act, neither can Mr Gascoigne. You are not in the service, but
I should recommend you to do the same. That the men have a right to
resist, if possible, is admitted; they always do so, and never are
punished for so doing. Under the guns of the frigate, of course we
should only have to submit; but those two boats do not contain more
than twenty-five men, I should think, and our men are the stronger
party. We had better leave it to them, and stand neuter."

"Dat very good advice," said Mesty; "leab it to us": and Mesty walked
away forward where the seamen were already in consultation.

Jack also agreed to the prudence of this measure, and he perceived
that the seamen, after a consultation with Mesty, were all arming
themselves for resistance.

The boats were now close on board, and English colours were hoisted at
the gaff. This did not, however, check the impetus of the boats, who,
with their ensigns trailing in the still water astern of them, dashed
alongside, and an officer leaped on board, cutlass in hand, followed
by the seamen of the frigate. The men of the Rebiera remained
collected forward--Easy, Gascoigne, and Oxbelly aft.

"What vessel is this?" cried the lieutenant who commanded the boats.

Jack, with the greatest politeness, took off his hat, and told him
that it was the Rebiera letter of marque, and that the papers were
ready for his inspection.

"And the other vessels?"

"Prizes to the Rebiera, cut out of Malaga Bay," replied Jack.

"Then you are a privateer," observed the disappointed officer. "Where
are your papers?"

"Mr Oxbelly, oblige me by bringing them up," said Jack.

"Fat Jack of the bone house," observed the lieutenant, looking at
Oxbelly.

"A lieutenant in his Majesty's service, of longer standing than
yourself, young man," replied Oxbelly, firmly;--"and who, if he ever
meets you in any other situation, will make you answer for your
insolent remark."

"Indeed!" observed the lieutenant, ironically; "now, if you had said
you were once a boatswain or gunner."

"Consider yourself kicked," roared Oxbelly, losing his temper.

"Heyday! why, you old porpoise!"

"Sir," observed Jack, who listened with indignation, "Mr Oxbelly is a
lieutenant in his Majesty's service, and you have no right to insult
him, even if he were not."

"I presume you are all officers," replied the lieutenant. "I am, sir,"
retorted Gascoigne, "an officer in his Majesty's service, and on board
of this vessel by permission of Captain Sawbridge of the Latona."

"And I was, until a few months ago, sir," continued Jack; "at present
I am captain and owner of this vessel--but here are the papers. You
will have no obstruction from us in the execution of your duty--at the
same time, I call upon the two young gentlemen by your side, and your
own men, to bear witness to what takes place."

"O very well, sir--just as you please. Your papers, I perceive, are
all right. Now you will oblige me by mustering your men."

"Certainly, sir," replied Jack: "send all the men aft to muster, Mr
Oxbelly."

The men came aft to the mainmast, with Mesty at their head, and
answered to their names. As the men passed over, the lieutenant made
a pencil-mark against ten of them, who appeared the finest seamen;
and, when the roll had been called, he ordered those men to get their
bags and go into the boat.

"Sir, as you must observe, I am short-handed, with my men away in
prizes; and I, as commander of this vessel, protest against this
proceeding: if you insist upon taking them, of course I can do
nothing," observed Jack.

"I do insist, sir; I'm not going on board empty-handed, at all
events."

"Well, sir, I can say no more," said Jack, walking aft to the
taffrail, to which Oxbelly and Gascoigne had retreated.

"Come, my lads, get those men in the boat," said the lieutenant.

But the men had all retreated forward in a body, with Mesty at their
head, and had armed themselves. Some of the seamen of the frigate had
gone forward, in obedience to their officer, to lead the men selected
into the boat; but they were immediately desired to keep back. The
scuffle forward attracted the notice of the lieutenant, who
immediately summoned all his men out of the boats.

"Mutiny, by heavens! Come up all of you, my lads."

Mesty then came forward, with a sabre in one hand and a pistol in the
other, and then addressed the seamen of the frigate:--

"I tell you dis, my lads--you not so strong as we--you not got better
arms--we not under gun of frigate now, and ab determination not to go
board. 'Pose you want us, come take us--'pose you can. By all de
power, but we make mince-meat of you, anyhow."

The seamen paused--they were ready to fight for their country, but not
to be killed by or kill those who were their own countrymen, and who
were doing exactly what they would have done themselves. The
lieutenant thought otherwise; he was exasperated at this sensation.

"You black scoundrel, I left you out because I thought you not worth
having, but now I'll add you to the number."

"Stop a little," replied Mesty.

The lieutenant would not take the Ashantee's very prudent advice; he
flew forward to seize Mesty, who, striking him a blow with the flat of
his sabre, almost levelled him to the deck. At this the men and other
officers of the frigate darted forward; but after a short scuffle, in
which a few wounds were received, were beaten back into the boats. The
lieutenant was thrown in after them, by the nervous arm of Mesty--and
assailed by cold shot and other missiles, they sheered off with
precipitation, and pulled back in the direction of the frigate.

"There will be a row about this," said Oxbelly, "as soon as they come
clear of the vessel. If the frigate gets hold of us she will show us
no mercy. There is a breeze coming from the north-west. How
fortunate! we shall be three leagues to windward, and may escape."

"I doubt if she could catch us. At any point of sailing they may come
up with the prizes, but can do nothing with them."

"No, the boats which boarded them are already returned to the frigate;
she must wait for them, and that will give us a start, and it will be
night before they can make sail."

"Fire a gun for the prizes to close," said Jack; "we will put the men
on board again, and then be off to Palermo as fast as we can."

"We can do no better," said Oxbelly. "If ever I chance to meet that
fellow again, I will trouble him to repeat his words. Trim the sails,
my lads."

"His language was unpardonable," observed Jack.

"Since I've been in the service, Mr Easy, I have always observed that
some officers appear to imagine, that because they are under the
king's pennant, they are warranted in insulting and tyrannising over
all those who have not the honour to hoist it; whereas, the very fact
of their being king's officers should be an inducement to them to show
an example of courtesy and gentlemanly conduct in the execution of
their duty, however unpleasant it may be."

"It is only those who, insignificant themselves, want to make
themselves of importance by the pennant they serve under," replied our
hero.

"Very true, Mr Easy; but you are not aware that a great part of the
ill-will shown to the service is owing to the insolence of those young
men in office. The king's name is a warrant for every species of
tyranny and unwarrantable conduct. I remember Mrs Oxbelly telling one
of them, when--"

"I beg your pardon, Mr Oxbelly," interrupted Jack, "but we have no
time to chat now; the breeze is coming down fast, and I perceive the
prizes are closing. Let us lower down the boat, send the men on board
again, and give them their orders--which I will do in writing, in case
they part company."

"Very true, sir. It will be dark in half an hour, and as we are now
standing in-shore, they will think that we intend to remain on the
coast. As soon as it is quite dark we will shape our course for
Palermo. I will go down and look at the chart."


CHAPTER XLI

Which winds up the nautical adventures of Mr Midshipman Easy.

In half an hour the prizes were again alongside, the men put on board,
and the boat hoisted up. The frigate still remained becalmed to
leeward, and hoisted in her boats. They watched until she was hid by
the shades of night, and then wearing round stood away, with the wind
two points free, for the coast of Sicily. The next morning when the
sun rose there was nothing in sight. Strange anomaly, in a state of
high civilisation, where you find your own countrymen avoided and more
dreaded than even your foes!

The run was prosperous, the weather was fine, and the prizes did not
part company.

On the sixteenth day the Rebiera and her convoy anchored in Palermo
Bay. The wind was light in the morning that they stood in, and as
Jack had a large blue flag with Rebiera in white letters hoisted at
the main, Don Philip and Don Martin were on board and greeting our
hero, before the Rebiera's anchor had plunged into the clear blue
water.

The information which our hero received, after having been assured of
the health of Agnes and her parents, was satisfactory. The
disappearance of the friar had, at first, occasioned much surprise;
but as the servants of Don Rebiera swore to his return without the
black, and the letter of Don Rebiera, sent to the convent, requesting
his presence, was opened and read, there was no suspicion against the
family. A hundred conjectures had been afloat, but gradually they had
subsided, and it was at last supposed that he had been carried off by
the banditti, some of whom had been taken, and acknowledged that they
had seized a friar, on a day which they could not recollect. The
reader will remember that it was Mesty.

The Rebiera received pratique, and Jack hastened on shore with Don
Philip and his brother, and was once more in company of Agnes, who, in
our hero's opinion, had improved since his departure. Most young men
in love think the same after an absence, provided it is not too long.
The prizes were sold and the money distributed, and every man was
satisfied, as the cargoes fetched a larger sum than they had
anticipated.

We must pass over the pros and cons of Don Rebiera and his lady, the
pleading of Jack for immediate nuptials, the unwillingness of the
mother to part with her only daughter, the family consultation, the
dowry, and all these particulars. A month after his arrival Jack was
married, and was, of course, as happy as the day was long.

A few days afterwards, Mr Oxbelly advised departure, as the expenses
of the vessel were heavy, and it was his duty so to do. Don Philip
and Don Martin obtained leave to go to England, with their sister and
her husband. Nevertheless, Jack, who found Palermo a very pleasant
residence, was persuaded by the Don and his wife to remain there a
month, and then there was crying and sobbing, and embracing, and
embarking; and at last the Rebiera, whose cabins had been arranged for
the reception of the party, weighed and made sail for Malta, Jack
having promised to call upon the governor.