The Privateer's-Man, One hundred Years Ago

by Frederick Marryat

  CHAPTER IV.

  Sail for Liverpool in the Sally and Kitty--Fall in with a Gale--Boy overboard--Nearly drowned in attempting to save him--See the owners at Liverpool--Embark in the Dalrymple for the Coast of Africa--Arrive off Senegal.

  A great deal of prize-money being due to us, I called upon the agentat Port Royal to obtain an advance. I found him in a puzzle. Owing tothe death of Captain Weatherall and so many of the officers, he hardlyknew whether those who applied to him were entitled to prize-money ornot. Whether he thought I appeared more honest than the others, orfrom what cause I know not, he requested me, as I knew every thingthat had passed, to remain with him for a short time; and finding thatI could read and write well, he obtained from me correct lists of theprivateer's crew, with those who were killed, and on what occasion.All this information I was able to give him, as well as the ratings ofthe parties; for on more than one occasion the privateers'-men hadcome to him representing themselves as petty officers, when they wereonly common seamen on board, and had in consequence received from hima larger advance than they were entitled to. As soon as his accountswere pretty well made up, he asked me whether I intended to go toEngland, as if so, he would send me home with all the papers anddocuments to the owner at Liverpool, who would require my assistanceto arrange the accounts; and as I had had quite enough of privateeringfor a time, I consented to go. About two months after leaving thehospital, during which I had passed a very pleasant life, and quiterecovered from my wounds and injuries, I sailed for Liverpool in theSally and Kitty West-Indiaman, commanded by Captain Clarke, a veryviolent man.

  We had not sailed twelve hours before we fell in with a gale, whichlasted several days, and we kept under close-reef-topsails andstorm-staysails. The gale lasting a week, raised a mountainous swell,but it was very long and regular. On the seventh day the wind abated,but the swell continued, and at evening there was very little wind,when a circumstance occurred which had nearly cost me my life, as youwill acknowledge, Madam, when I relate the story to you. During thedog-watch between six and eight, some hands being employed in theforetop, the other watch below at supper, and the captain and all theofficers in the cabin, I being at the helm, heard a voice apparentlyrising out of the sea, calling me by name. Surprised, I ran to theside of the ship, and saw a youth named Richard Pallant in the watergoing astern. He had fallen out of the forechains, and knowing that Iwas at the helm, had shouted to me for help. I immediately called allhands, crying a man overboard. The captain hastened on deck with allthe others, and ordered the helm a-lee. The ship went about, and thenfell round off, driving fast before the swell, till at last we broughther to.

  The captain, although a resolute man, was much confused and perplexedat the boy's danger--for his friends were people of property atIpswich, and had confided the boy to his particular care. He ranbackwards and forwards, crying out that the boy must perish, as theswell was so high that he dared not send a boat, for the boat couldnot live in such a sea, and if the boat were lost with the crew, therewould not be hands enow left on board to take the vessel home. As theyouth was not a hundred yards from the vessel, I stated thepossibility of swimming to him with the deep-sea line, which would bestrong enough to haul both him and the man who swam to him on board.Captain Clarke, in a great rage, swore that it was impossible, andasked me who the devil would go. Piqued at his answer, and anxious topreserve the life of the youth, I offered to try it myself. Istripped, and making the line fast round my body, plunged from theship's side into the sea. It was a new deep-sea line, and stiff in thecoil, so that not drawing close round me, it slipped, and I swamthrough it, but catching it as it slipped over my feet, I made itsecure by putting my head and one arm through the noose. I swam directfor the boy, and found that I swam with ease, owing to the strengthand buoyant nature of the water in those latitudes. I had not swummore than half-way before the line got foul on the coil on board, andchecking me suddenly, it pulled me backwards and under water. Irecovered myself, and struck out again. During this time, to clear theline on board, they had cut some of the entangled parts, and in theconfusion and hurry, severed the wrong part, so that the end wentoverboard, and I had half the coil of line hanging to me, and at thesame time was adrift from the ship. They immediately hailed me toreturn, but from the booming of the waves I could not hear what theysaid, and thought that they were encouraging me to proceed. I shoutedin return to show the confidence which I had in myself. I easilymounted the waves as they breasted me, but still I made my way veryslowly against such a swell, and saw the boy only at intervals when Iwas on the top of the wave. He could swim very little, and did notmake for the ship, but with his eyes fixed upon the sky, paddled likea dog to keep himself above water. I now began to feel the weight ofthe line upon me, and to fear that I should never hold out. I began torepent of my rashness, and thought I had only sacrificed myselfwithout any chance of saving him. I persevered, nevertheless, andhaving, as I guessed, come to the spot where the boy was, I lookedround, and not seeing him, was afraid that he had gone down, but onmounting the next wave, I saw him in the hollow, struggling hard tokeep above water, and almost spent with his long exertion.

  I swam down to him, and hailing him, found he was still sensible, bututterly exhausted. I desired him to hold on by my hand but not totouch my body, as we should both sink. He promised to obey me, and Iheld out my right-hand to him, and made a signal for them to haul inon board, for I had no idea that the line had been cut. I wasfrightened when I perceived the distance that the ship was from me--atleast a quarter of a mile. I knew that the deep-sea line was but ahundred fathoms in length, and therefore that I must be adrift, and myheart sunk within me. All the horrors of my situation came upon me,and I felt that I was lost; but although death appeared inevitable, Istill struggled for life--but the rope now weighed me down more andmore. While swimming forward it trailed behind, and although itimpeded my way, I did not feel half its weight. Now, however, that Iwas stationary, it sank deep, and pulled me down with it. The waves,too, which, while I breasted them and saw them approach, I easily roseover, being now behind us, broke over our heads, burying us underthem, or rolling us over by their force.

  I tried to disengage myself from the line, but the noose being jammed,and having the boy in one hand, I could not possibly effect it. Butwhat gave me courage in my difficulties was, that I perceived that thepeople on board were getting out the boat; for although the captainwould not run the risk for one person, now that two were overboard,and one of them risking his life for the other, the men insisted thatthe boat should be hoisted out. It was an anxious time to me, but atlast I had the satisfaction of seeing her clear of the ship, andpulling round her bow. The danger was, however, considered so great,that when they came to man the boat, only three men could be found whowould go in her, and in the confusion they came away with but two oarsand no rudder. Under these disadvantages they of course pulled veryslowly against a mountainous sea, as they were obliged to steer withthe oars to meet it, that the boat might not be swamped. But thesight of the boat was sufficient to keep me up. My exertions werecertainly incredible; but what will not a man do when in fear ofdeath. As it approached--slowly and slowly did my powers decrease. Iwas now often under water with the boy, and rose again to freshexertion, when at last a crested wave broke over us, and down we wentseveral feet under the water. The force of the sea drove the boyagainst me, and he seized me by the loins with my head downwards. Istruggled to disengage myself! It was impossible. I gave myself up forlost--and what a crowd of thoughts, and memories passed through mybrain in a few moments, for it could not have been longer. At last,being head downwards, I dived deeper, although I was bursting from solong holding my breath under water.

  This had the desired effect. Finding me sinking instead of rising withhim, the boy let go his hold that he might gain the surface. I turnedand followed him, and drew breath once more. Another moment had sealedour fates. I no longer thought of saving the boy, but struck out forthe boat which was now near me. Perceivi
ng this, the boy cried out tome for pity's sake not to leave him. I felt myself so far recoveredfrom my exhaustion, that I thought I could save him as well as myself,and compassion induced me to turn back. I again gave him my hand,charging him on his life not to attempt to grapple with me, and againresumed the arduous struggle of keeping him as well as myself abovewater. My strength was nearly gone, the boat approached but slowly,and we now sunk constantly under the water, rising every few secondsto draw breath. Merciful God! how slow appeared the approach of theboat. Struggle after struggle--fainter and fainter still--still Ifloated. At last my senses almost left me, I took in water inquantities. I felt I was in green fields, when I was seized by the menand thrown into the bottom of the boat, where I lay senselessalongside of the boy. There was great danger and difficulty in gettingagain to the ship. More than once the boat was half filled by thefollowing seas, and when they gained the ship it was impossible to getus out, as, had they approached the side, the boat would have beendashed to atoms. They lowered the tackles from the yard-arms. Thethree men clambered up them, leaving us to take our chance of theboat being got in, or her being stove to pieces; in which latter case,we should have been lost. They did get us in, with great damage to theboat, but we were saved. The line was still round me, and it was foundthat I had been supporting the weight of seventy yards. So sore was Iwith such exertion, that I kept my hammock for many days, during whichI reviewed my past life, and vowed amendment.

  We arrived at Liverpool without any further adventure worth recording,and I immediately called upon the owner with the papers intrusted tome. I gave him all the information he required, and he asked mewhether I should like to return to privateering, or to go as mate of avessel bound to the coast of Africa. I inquired what her destinationwas to be, and as I found that she was to go to Senegal for ivory,wax, gold dust, and other articles, in exchange for English prints andcutlery, I consented. I mention this, as, had she been employed in theslave-trade, as were most of the vessels from Liverpool to the Coast,I would not have joined her. A few days afterwards, I went on board ofthe Dalrymple, Captain Jones, as mate; we had a very quick passage toSenegal, and brought our vessel to an anchor off the bar.