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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.

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Books: Mr. Midshipman Easy

F >> Frederick Marryat >> Mr. Midshipman Easy




"What do you think, Mesty?" said Jack; "do you think we shall take
her?"

"It is take her you mane; sure enough we'll take her: stop a bit--wait
till um all fast asleep."

About twelve o'clock there came on a mizzling heavy rain, which was
very favourable for our hero's operations. But as it promised soon to
clear up, by Mesty's advice they did not delay any longer. They crept
softly into the boat, and with two oars to steer her, dropped under
the bows of the vessel, climbed up the fore chains, and found the deck
empty. "Take care not fire pistol," said Mesty to the men, as they
came up, putting his finger to their lips to impress them with the
necessity of silence, for Mesty had been an African warrior, and knew
the advantage of surprise. All the men being on deck, and the boat
made fast, Jack and Mesty led the way aft; not a soul was to be seen:
indeed, it was too dark to see anybody unless they were walking the
deck. The companion-hatch was secured, and the gratings laid on the
after-hatchways, and then they went aft to the binnacle again, where
there was a light burning. Mesty ordered two of the men to go forward
to secure the hatches, and then to remain there on guard--and then the
rest of the men and our hero consulted at the wheel.

"By the power we ab the ship!" said Mesty, "but must manage plenty
yet. I tink der some d---n lazy rascal sleep 'tween the guns. A lilly
while it no rain, and den we see better. Now keep all quiet."

"There must be a great many men in this ship," replied our hero; "she
is very large, and has twelve or fourteen guns--how shall we manage to
secure them?"

"All right," replied Mesty, "manage all dat by-and-bye. Don't care
how soon daylight come."

"It has left off raining already," observed Easy; "there is a candle
in the binnacle,--suppose we light it, and look round the decks."

"Yes," replied Mesty, "one man sentry over cabin-hatch, and another
over after-hatch. Now den we light candle, and all the rest go round
the deck. Mind you leave all your pistols on capstern."

Jack lighted the candle, and they proceeded round the decks: they had
not walked far, when, between two of the guns, they discovered a heap
covered with gregos. "There de watch," whispered Mesty; "all fast--not
ready for dem yet."

Mesty blew out the candle, and they all retreated to the binnacle,
where Mesty took out a coil of the ropes about the mizzen-mast, and
cutting it into lengths, gave them to the other men to unlay. In a
few minutes they had prepared a great many seizings to tie the men
with.

"Now den we light candle again, and make sure of them lazy hounds,"
said Mesty; "very much oblige to dem all de same, they let us take de
ship--mind now, wake one at a time, and shut him mouth."

"But suppose they get their mouths free and cry out?" replied Jack.

"Den, Mr Easy," replied Mesty, changing his countenance to an
expression almost demoniacal--"there no help for it,"--and Mesty
showed his knife which he held in his right hand.

"Oh no! do not let us murder them."

"No, massa--suppose can help it, but suppose they get upper hand--what
become of us? Spaniards hab knives, and use dem too, by de power!"

The observation of Mesty was correct, and the expression of his
countenance when he showed his knife proved what a relentless enemy he
could be, if his blood was once roused--but Mesty had figured in the
Ashantee wars in former days, and after that the reader need not be
surprised. They proceeded cautiously to where the Spaniards lay. The
arrangements of Mesty were very good. There were two men to gag them
while the others were to tie their limbs. Mesty and Easy were to kneel
by them with the candle, with raised knives to awe them into silence,
or to strike home, if their own safety required it.

The gregos were removed off the first man, who opened his eyes at the
sight of the candle, but the coxswain's hand was on his mouth--he was
secured in silence. The other two men were awaked, and threw off
their coverings, but they were also secured without there being
occasion to resort to bloodshed.

"What shall we do now, Mesty?" "Now, sar," said Mesty, "open the
after-hatch and watch--suppose more men come up, we make them fast;
suppose no more come up, we wait till daylight--and see what take
place."

Mesty then went forward to see if the men were watchful on the
forecastle; and having again gone round the whole of the deck to see
if there were any more men on it, he blew out the candle, and took his
station with the others at the after-hatchway.

It was just at break of day that the Spaniards who had to keep the
morning watch having woke up, as people generally do at that hour at
which they expect to be called, dressed themselves and came on deck,
imagining, and very truly, that those of the middle watch had fallen
asleep, but little imagining that the deck was in possession of
Englishmen. Mesty and the others retreated, to allow them all to come
up before they could perceive them, and fortunately this was
accomplished. Four men came on the deck, looked round them, and tried
to make out in the dark where their shipmates might be. The grating
was slapped on again by Jack, and before they could well gain their
eyesight, they were seized and secured, not however without a scuffle
and some noise.

By the time that these men were secured and laid between the guns it
was daylight, and they now perceived what a fine vessel they had
fairly taken possession of--but there was much to be done yet. There
was, of course, a number of men in the ship, and moreover they were
not a mile from a battery of ten guns. Mesty, who was foremost in
everything, left four men abaft, and went forward on the forecastle,
examined the cable, which was coir rope, and therefore easily divided,
and then directed the two men forward to coil a hawser upon the
fore-grating, the weight of which would make all safe in that quarter,
and afterwards to join them on the quarter-deck.

"Now, Mr Easy, the great ting will be to get hold of captain; we must
get him on deck. Open cabin-hatch now, and keep the after-hatch fast.
Two men stay there, the others all come aft."

"Yes," replied Jack, "It will be a great point to secure the captain--
but how are we to get him up?"

"You no know how to get captain up? By de holy, I know very well."
And Mesty took up the coils of rope about the mizzen-mast, and threw
them upon deck, one after another, making all the noise possible. In a
short time, there was a violent pull of a bell at the cabin-door, and
in a minute afterwards a man in his shirt came up the cabin-hatchway,
who was immediately secured.

"Dis de captain's servant," said Mesty, "he come say no make such
d---d noise. Stop a little--captain get in passion, and come up
himself."

And Mesty renewed the noise with the ropes over the cabin. Mesty was
right; in a few minutes the captain himself came up, boiling with
indignation. At the sound of the cabin-door opening, the seamen and
our hero concealed themselves behind the companion-hatch, which was
very high, so as to give the captain time to get fairly on deck. The
men already secured had been covered over with the gregos. The
captain was a most powerful man, and it was with difficulty that he
was pinioned, and then not without his giving the alarm, had there
been anyone to assist him; but as yet no one had turned out of his
hammock.

"Now we all right," said Mesty, "and soon ab de ship; but I must make
him 'fraid."

The captain was seated down on the deck against one of the guns, and
Mesty, putting on the look of a demon, extended above him his, long
nervous arm, with the sharp knife clutched, as if ready every instant
to strike it into his heart. The Spanish captain felt his situation
anything but pleasant. He was then interrogated as to the number of
men in the ship, officers, etc, to all which questions he answered
truly; he cast his eyes at the firm and relentless countenance of
Mesty, who appeared but to wait the signal.

"I tink all pretty safe now," said Mesty. "Mr Easy, we now go down
below and beat all men into the hold."

Our hero approved of this suggestion. Taking their pistols from the
capstern, they rushed down with their cutlasses, and leaving two men
to guard the cabin-door, they were soon among the crew, who were all
naked in their hammocks: the resistance, although the numbers were
more than double of the English, was of course trifling. In a few
minutes, the Spaniards were all thrown down into the hold of the
vessel, and the hatches placed over them. Every part of the ship was
now in their possession, except the cabin, and to that they all
repaired. Our hero tried the door, and found it fast; they beat it
open, and were received with loud screams from one side of the cabin,
and the discharge of two pistols from the other, fortunately without
injury: those who had fired the pistols were an elderly man and a lad
about the age of our hero. They were thrown down and secured; the
cabin was searched, and nobody else found in it but three women; one
old and shrivelled, the other two, although with their countenances
distorted with terror, were lovely as houris. So thought Jack, as he
took off his hat, and made them a very low bow with his usual
politeness, as they crouched, half-dressed, in a corner. He told them
in English that they had nothing to fear, and begged that they would
attend to their toilets. The ladies made no reply, because, in the
first place, they did not know what Jack said, and, in the next, they
could not speak English.

Mesty interrupted Jack in his attentions, by pointing out that they
must all go upon deck--so Jack again took off his hat and bowed, and
then followed his men, who led away the two prisoners taken in the
cabin. It was now five o'clock in the morning, and there was movement
on board of the other vessels, which laid not far from the ship.

"Now, then," said Jack, "what shall we do with the prisoners?--could
we not send the boat and bring our own vessel alongside, and put them
all in, tied as they are? We should then get rid of them."

"Massa Easy, you be one very fine officer one of these days. Dat d---n
good idea, anyhow;--but suppose we send our own boat, what they tink
on board of de oder vessel? Lower down lilly boat from stem, put in
four men, and drop vessel 'longside--dat it."

This was done; the cutter was on the seaward side of the ship, and, as
the ship was the outermost vessel, was concealed from the view of the
Spaniards on board of the other vessels, and in the battery on shore.
As soon as the lateen vessel was alongside, the men who had already
been secured on deck, amounting to seven, were lowered into her, and
laid upon the beans in the hold; all except the captain, the two
cabin-prisoners, and the captain's servant. They then went down
below, took off one part of the hatches, and ordered the Spaniards up
from the hold: as they came on deck they were made fast and treated in
the same manner. Mesty and the men went down to examine if there were
any left concealed, and finding that they were all out, returned on
deck. The men who had been beaten down in the hold were twenty-two in
number, making the whole complement of thirty. As soon as they had
all been put into the xebeque, she was again hauled off and anchored
outside, and Jack found himself in possession of a fine ship of
fourteen guns, with three prisoners male and three prisoners female.

When the men returned in the boat from the vessel in which the
prisoners had been confined (the hatches having been secured over
them, by way of further precaution), by the advice of Mesty they put
on the jackets and caps of the Spanish seamen, of which there was a
plentiful supply below.

"Now, what's to be done, Mesty?" inquired Jack.

"Now, sar, we send some of the men aloft to get sails all ready, and
while they do that I cast loose this fellow," pointing to the
captain's servant, "and make him get some breakfast, for he know where
to find it."

"Capital idea of yours, Mesty, for I'm tired of bean-soup already, and
I will go down and pay my respects to the ladies."

Mesty looked over the counter. "Yes, and be quick too, Massa Easy;
d--n the women, they toss their handkerchief in the air to people in
the battery--quick, Massa Easy."

Mesty was right--the Spanish girls were waving their handkerchiefs for
assistance; it was all that they could do, poor things. Jack hastened
into the cabin, laid hold of the two young ladies, very politely
pulled them out of the quarter gallery, and begged that they would not
give themselves so much trouble. The young ladies looked very much
confused, and as they could no longer wave their handkerchiefs, they
put them up to their eyes and began to weep, while the elderly lady
went on her knees, and held her hands up for mercy. Jack raised her
up, and very politely handed her to one of the cabin lockers.

In the meantime Mesty, with his gleaming knife and expressive look,
had done wonders with the captain's steward, for such the man was: and
a breakfast of chocolate, salt meat, hams and sausages, white biscuit
and red wine, had been spread on the quarter-deck. The men had come
from aloft, and Jack was summoned on deck. Jack offered his hand to
the two young ladies, and beckoned the old one to follow: the old lady
did not think it advisable to refuse his courtesy, so they accompanied
him.

As soon as the females came on deck, and found the two cabin prisoners
bound, they ran to them and embraced them with tears. Jack's heart
melted, and as there was now no fear, he asked Mesty for his knife,
and cut loose the two Spaniards, pointing to the breakfast, and
requesting that they would join them. The Spaniards made a bow, and
the ladies thanked Jack with a sweet smile; and the captain of the
vessel, who still lay pinioned against the gun, looked, as much as to
say, Why the devil don't you ask me? but the fact was, they had had
such trouble to secure him, that Jack did not much like the idea of
letting him loose again. Jack and the seamen commenced their
breakfast, and as the ladies and prisoners did not appear inclined to
eat, they ate their share and their own too; during which, the elderly
man inquired of Jack if he could speak French.

Jack, with his mouth full of sausage, replied, that he could; and then
commenced a conversation, from which Jack learnt as follows:

The elderly gentleman was a passenger with the young man, who was his
son, and the ladies, who were his wife and his two daughters, and they
were proceeding to Tarragona. Whereupon Jack made a bow and thanked
him; and then the gentleman, whose name was Don Cordova de Rimarosa,
wished to know what Jack intended to do with them, hoping, as a
gentleman, he would put them on shore with their effects, as they were
non-combatants. Jack explained all this to Mesty and the men, and
then finished his sausage. The men, who were a little elevated with
the wine which they had been drinking, proposed that they should take
the ladies a cruise, and Jack at first did not dislike the idea, but
he said nothing. Mesty, however, opposed this, saying, that ladies
only made a row in a ship, and the coxswain sided with him, saying,
that they should all be at daggers drawn. Whereupon Jack pulled out
the "articles of war," and informed the men, that there was no
provision in them for women, and therefore the thing was impossible.

The next question was, as to the propriety of allowing them to take
their effects; and it was agreed, at last, that they might take them.
Jack desired the steward to feed his master the captain, and then told
the Spanish Don the result of the consultation, further informing him,
that as soon as it was dark, he intended to put them all on board the
small vessel, when they would cast loose the men and do as they
pleased. The Don and the ladies returned thanks, and went down to
pack up their baggage; Mesty ordering two men to help them, but with a
caution, that they were not to encumber themselves with any of the
money, if there should happen to be any on board.

The crew were busy during the day making preparations for sailing. The
coxswain had examined the provender in the ship, and found that there
was enough for at least three months, of water, wine, and provisions,
independent of luxuries for the cabin. All thoughts of taking any
more of the vessels were abandoned, for their crew was but weak to
manage the one which they had possession of. A fine breeze sprang up,
and they dropped their fore-topsails, just as a boat was shoving off
from the shore; but seeing the fore-topsails loosed, it put back
again. This was fortunate, or all would have been discovered. The
other vessels also loosed their sails, and the crews were heard
weighing the anchors.

But the Nostra Senora del Carmen, which was Jack's prize, did not
move. At last the sun went down, the baggage was placed in the
cutter, the ladies and passengers went into the boat, thanking Jack
for his kindness, who put his hand to his heart and bowed to the deck;
and the captain was lowered down after them. Four men well armed
pulled them alongside of the xebeque, put them and their trunks on
deck, and returned to the ship. The cutter was then hoisted up, and
as the anchor was too heavy to weigh, they cut the cable, and made
sail. The other vessels followed their example. Mesty and the seamen
cast longing eyes upon them, but it was of no use; so they sailed in
company for about an hour, and then Jack hauled his wind for a cruise.


CHAPTER XIV

In which our hero finds that disagreeable occurrences will take place
on a cruise.

As soon as the ship had been hauled to the wind, Jack's ship's company
seemed to think that there was nothing to do except to make merry; so
they brought up some earthen jars full of wine, and emptied them so
fast that they were soon fast asleep on the deck, with the exception
of the man at the helm, who, instead of thirty-two, could clearly make
out sixty-four points in the compass, and of course was able to steer
to a much greater nicety. Fortunately, the weather was fine, for when
the man at the helm had steered till he could see no more, and
requested to be released, he found that his shipmates were so
overpowered with fatigue, that it was impossible to wake them. He
kicked them one by one most unmercifully in the ribs, but it was of no
use: under these circumstances, he did as they did, that is, lay down
with them, and in ten minutes it would have taken as much kicking to
awake him as he gave his shipmates.

In the meantime the ship had it all her own way, and not knowing where
she was to go, she went round and round the compass during the best
part of the night. Mesty had arranged the watches, Jack had made a
speech, and the men had promised everything, but the wine had got into
their heads, and memory had taken that opportunity to take a stroll.
Mesty had been down with Jack, examining the cabin, and in the
captain's state-room they had found fourteen thousand dollars in bags.
Of this they determined not to tell the men, but locked up the money
and everything else of value, and took out the key. They then sat
down at the cabin table, and after some conversation, it was no matter
of surprise, after having been up all the night before, that Jack laid
his head on the table and fell fast asleep. Mesty kept his eyes open
for some time, but at last his head sank down upon his chest, and he
also slumbered. Thus, about one o'clock in the morning. There was
not a very good watch kept on board of the Nostra Senora del Carmen.

About four o'clock in the morning, Mesty tumbled forward, and he hit
his head against the table, which roused him up.

"By de mass, I tink I almost fall asleep," cried he, and he went to
the cabin window, which had been left open, and found that there was a
strong breeze blowing in. "By de Lord, de wind ab come more aft,"
said Mesty, "why they not tell me?" So saying, he went on deck, where
he found no one at the helm; everyone drunk, and the ship with her
yards braced up running before the wind, just by way of a change.
Mesty growled, but there was no time to lose; the topsails only were
set,--these he lowered down, and then put the helm a-lee, and lashed
it, while he went down to call our hero to his assistance. Jack roused
up, and went on deck.

"This nebber do, Massa Easy; we all go to devil together--together--
dam drunken dogs--I freshen um up anyhow." So Mesty drew some buckets
of water, with which he soused the ship's company, who then appeared
to be recovering their senses.

"By heavens!" says Jack, "but this is contrary to the articles of war;
I shall read them to them to-morrow morning."

"I tell what better ting, Massa Easy: we go lock up all de wine, and
sarve out so much, and no more. I go do it at once, 'fore they wake
up."

Mesty went down, leaving Jack on deck to his meditations. "I am not
sure," thought Jack, "that I have done a very wise thing. Here I am
with a parcel of fellows who have no respect for the articles of war,
and who get as drunk as David's sow. I have a large ship, but I have
very few hands; and if it comes on bad weather, what shall I do?--for
I know very little--hardly how to take in a sail. Then--as for where
to steer, or how to steer, I know not--nor do any of my men; but,
however, as it was very narrow when we came into the Mediterranean
through the straits, it is hardly possible to get out of them without
perceiving it; besides, I should know the rock of Gibraltar again if I
saw it. I must talk to Mesty."

Mesty soon returned with the keys of the provision-room tied to his
bandana.

"Now," says he, "they not get drunk again in a hurry." A few more
buckets of water soon brought the men to their senses: they again
stood on their legs, and gradually recovered themselves. Daylight
broke, and they found that the vessel had made an attempt for the
Spanish coast, being within a mile of the beach, and facing a large
battery a fleur d'eau; fortunately they had time to square the yards,
and steer the ship along shore under the topsails, before they were
perceived. Had they been seen at daylight in the position that they
were in during the night, the suspicions of the Spaniards would have
been awakened; and had a boat been sent off, while they were all
drunk, they must have been recaptured.

The men, who perceived what danger they had been in, listened very
penitently to Jack's remonstrances; and our hero, to impress them more
strongly on their minds, took out the articles of war, read that on
drunkenness from beginning to end; but the men had heard it read so
often at the gangway, that it did not make a due impression. As Mesty
said, his plan was better, and so it proved; for as soon as Jack had
done, the men went down to get another jug of wine, and found, to
their disappointment, that it was all under lock and key.

In the meantime, Jack called Mesty aft, and asked him if he knew the
way to Toulon. Mesty declared that he knew nothing about it.

"Then Mesty, it appears to me that we have a better chance of finding
our way back to Gibraltar; for you know the land was on our left side
all the way coming up the Mediterranean; and if we keep it, as it is
now, on our right, we shall get back again along the coast."

Mesty agreed with Jack that this was the ne plus ultra of navigation;
and that old Smallsole could not do better with his "pig-yoke" and
compasses. So they shook a reef out of the topsails, set top-gallant
sails, and ran directly down the coast from point to point, keeping
about five miles distant. The men prepared a good dinner; Mesty gave
them their allowance of wine, which was just double what they had on
board the Harpy--so they soon appeared to be content. One man, indeed,
talked very big and very mutinously, swearing that if the others would
join him they would soon have liquor enough; but Mesty gave him his
look, opened his knife, and swore that he would settle him, and Jack
knocked him down with a handspike; so that, what with the punishment
received, and that which was promised, the fellow thought he might as
well say no more about it. The fact is, that had it not been from
fear of Mesty, the whole of the men would, in all probability, have
behaved equally as bad; nevertheless, they were a little staggered, it
must be owned, at seeing Jack play so good a stick with the handspike.

After this night Jack and Mesty kept watch and watch, and everything
went on very well until they were nearly abreast of Carthagena, when a
gale came on from the northward, and drove them out of sight of land.
Sail after sail was reduced with difficulty from their having so few
hands, and the gale blew for three days with great fury. The men were
tired out and discontented. It was Jack's misfortune that he had but
one good man with him: even the coxswain of the boat, although a
fine-looking man, was worth nothing. Mesty was Jack's sheet-anchor.