Chapter XVI
"The sea-breach'd vessel can no longer bear The floods that o'er her burst in dread career. The labouring hull already seems half fill'd With water, through an hundred leaks distill'd: Thus drench'd by every wave, her riven deck, Stript and defenceless, floats a naked wreck." FALCONER.
Newton remained at Bridgetown, under the roof of Mr Kingston, for morethan three weeks, by which time the brig was laden, and waiting forconvoy to proceed to England.
Mr Berecroft had made every preparation for his voyage, when anunexpected circumstance occurred, which eventually proved the occasionof great hardship and danger to Newton. This was, the master of a largeship belonging to the same owners, and then lying in Carlisle Bay, toproceed homeward by the same convoy, had so ingratiated himself with awealthy widow residing upon the island, that rather than he should againtrust himself to the fickle element, she had been induced to surrenderup to him her plantation, her negroes, and her fair self,--all equallybound to honour and obey through their future lives.
Mr Berecroft, in consequence of this resignation of his brother captain,was appointed to the command of the larger vessel; and Jackson, thefirst mate, ordered to take the command of the _Eliza and Jane_. Thiswas a sad blow to Newton, and one which he could not avoid, as MrBerecroft could not take him in his new ship,--all the subordinatesituations being already filled up.
At first, he was inclined to quit the brig; but by the advice of MrBerecroft and Kingston, he was persuaded to go the passage home, as hewas now first mate of the vessel, and would incur forfeiture of allwages if he broke the articles which he had signed at Liverpool.Unpleasant as the prospect was, he was further induced by Berecroft'sassurance, that now Jackson was provided for, he would arrange with theowners that Newton should be appointed the first mate of his own ship,as soon as they arrived in England.
In a few days the men-of-war made their appearance. Newton, who hadremained on shore until the last moment, shook hands with his friendlypatron, and thanking Mr Kingston for his kindness, went on board of thevessel with a sorrowful and foreboding heart.
Nor was he at all inclined to cheer up as he stepped on the deck of thebrig, and beheld Jackson with a handspike, still brandishing over hishead, standing across the body of one of the seamen, whom he had justdashed to the deck with the implement in his hand. At the sight ofNewton, the wrath of the new captain appeared to be increased. He eyedhim malevolently, and then observed, with a sneer, "That's what allskulkers may expect on board of my vessel."
Newton made no answer, and Jackson went forward, where the remainder ofthe crew were heaving up the anchor with the windlass. Newton walked upto the seaman, who appeared still insensible, and examined him. The ironplate at the end of the handspike had cut deep into the skull, and therewas every appearance of a contusion of the brain.
Calling the boy who attended the cabin, Newton, with his assistance,carried the man below, and laid him in his berth. He then repaired ondeck, and took the helm, the anchor of the brig being atrip. In aquarter of an hour the sail was on her, and she followed the coursesteered by the men-of-war, who were about to run through the otherislands, and pick up several vessels, who were waiting for theirprotection.
"If you expect an easy berth as first mate, you are mistaken, my joker,"said Jackson to Newton, as he steered the vessel; "you've skulked longenough, and shall now work double tides, or take the consequence. If youdon't, I'll be d----d!"
"I shall do my duty, Mr Jackson," replied Newton, "and fear noconsequences."
"Indeed! You saw how I settled a skulk just now;--beware of his fate!"
"I neither anticipate it, nor fear it, Mr Jackson. If it comes tohandspikes, two can play at that game. I rather think that before manyhours are over you will be sorry for your violence, for I believe thatman to be in considerable danger. Even now, I should recommend you todemand surgical assistance from the frigate."
"Demand it, if you dare--I am captain of this ship, sir. The rascal maydie--and be d----d!"
To this disgusting speech Newton made no reply. He had made up his mindto put up with everything short of downright aggression, and for threedays more he obeyed all orders, however arbitrary and however annoying.During this period the man who had been injured became gradually worse:his illness increased rapidly; and on the fifth day he becamedelirious, and in a state of high fever, when Newton again pointed outthe propriety of asking surgical aid from one of the men-of-war. Thissuggestion was answered by Jackson, who was now really alarmed, with avolley of oaths and execrations, ending with a flat refusal. The crew ofthe brig murmured, and collected together forward, looking occasionallyat the men-of-war as they spoke in whispers to each other; but they wereafraid of Jackson's violence, and none ventured to speak out. Jacksonpaced the deck in a state of irritation and excitement as he listened tothe ravings of his victim, which were loud enough to be heard all overthe vessel. As the evening closed, the men, taking the opportunity ofJackson's going below, went up to Newton, who was walking aft, andstated their determination that the next morning, whether the masterconsented to it or not, they would hail the frigate, and demand surgicalassistance for their shipmate. In the midst of the colloquy, Jackson,who hearing the noise of the people overhead coming aft, had a suspicionof the cause, and had been listening at the bottom of the ladder to whatwas said, came up the hatchway, and accusing Newton of attempting toraise a mutiny, ordered him immediately to his cabin, stating hisintention of sending him on board of the frigate the next morning to beplaced in confinement.
"I shall obey your order," replied Newton, "as you are in command ofthis vessel. I only hope that you will adhere to your resolution ofcommunicating with the frigate." So saying, he descended the companionhatch.
But Jackson, who, both from the information of the cabin-boy, and thefact that the incoherent ravings of his victim became hourly morefeeble, thought himself in jeopardy, had no such intention. As the nightclosed in, he remained on deck, gradually taking off first one sail andthen another, until the brig was left far astern of the rest of theconvoy, and the next morning there was no other vessel in sight; then,on pretence of rejoining them, he made all sail, at the same timechanging his course, so as to pass between two of the islands. Newtonwas the only one on board who understood navigation besides Jackson, andtherefore the only one who could prove that he was escaping from theconvoy. He was in confinement below; and the men, whatever may have beentheir suspicions, could not prove that they were not steering as theyought.
About twelve o'clock on that day the poor sailor breathed his last.Jackson, who was prepared for the event, had already made up his mindhow to proceed. The men murmured, and proposed securing Jackson as aprisoner, and offering the command to Newton. They went below and madethe proposal to him; but he refused, observing, that until it was provedby the laws of the land that Jackson had murdered their shipmate, he wasnot guilty, and therefore they had no right to dispossess him of hiscommand; and until their evidence could be taken by some of theauthorities, he must remain; further pointing out to them, that as hecould be seized immediately upon his arrival at an English port, orfalling in with a man-of-war during their passage, the ends of justicewould be equally answered, as if they committed themselves by taking thelaw into their own hands.
The men, although not satisfied, acquiesced, and returned to their dutyon deck. Jackson's conduct towards them was now quite altered; he notonly treated them with lenity, but supplied them with extra liquor andother indulgences, which, as captain, he could command. Newton, however,he still detained under an arrest, watching him most carefully each timethat he was necessitated to come on deck. The fact was, Jackson, awarethat his life would be forfeited to the laws of his country, hadresolved to wreck the brig upon one of the reefs to the northward, thentake to his boats, and escape to one of the French islands. At hisinstigation, the body of the man had been thrown overboard by some ofthe crew, when they were in a state of half intoxication.
Newton, who had
been below four days, had retired as usual to hishammock, when a sudden shock, accompanied by the fall of the masts bythe board, woke him from a sound sleep to all the horrors of shipwreck.The water pouring rapidly through the sides of the vessel, proved to himthat there was no chance of escape except by the boats. The shriek, soawful when raised in the gloom of night by seamen anticipating immediatedeath, the hurried footsteps above him, the confusion of many voices, withthe heavy blows from the waves against the side of the vessel, told himthat the danger was imminent, even if escape were possible. He drew on histrousers, and rushed to the door of his cabin. Merciful Heaven! what washis surprise, his horror, to find that it was fastened outside. A moment'sthought at the malignity of the wretch (for it was indeed Jackson, who,during the night, had taken such steps for his destruction) was followed byexertions to escape. Placing his shoulders against his sea-chest, andhis feet against the door, his body in nearly a horizontal position, hemade a violent effort to break open the door. The lock gave way, but thedoor did not open more than one or two inches; for Jackson, to makesure, had coiled down against it a hawser which lay a few yards furtherforward in the steerage, the weight of which the strength of no five mencould remove. Maddened with the idea of perishing by such treachery,Newton again exerted his frantic efforts--again and again, withoutsuccess. Between each pause, the voices of the seamen asking for theoars and other articles belonging to the long-boat, proved to him thatevery moment of delay was _a nail in his coffin_. Again and again werehis efforts repeated with almost superhuman strength; but the doorremained fixed as ever. At last, it occurred to him that the hawser,which he had previously ascertained by passing his hand through thesmall aperture which he had made, might only lay against the lower partof the door, and that the upper part might be free. He applied hisstrength above, and found the door to yield: by repeated attempts he atlast succeeded in kicking the upper panels to pieces, and having forcedhis body through the aperture, Newton rushed on deck with the littlestrength he had remaining.
The men--the boat--were not there: he hailed, but they heard him not; hestrained his eyes--but they had disappeared in the gloom of the night;and Newton, overcome with exhaustion and disappointment, fell downsenseless on the deck.
Newton Forster Page 16