The Privateer's-Man, One hundred Years Ago

by Frederick Marryat

  CHAPTER X.

  Captain Levee and I engage with the French Privateer--We come off victorious--My revenge against the French Lady--We take our Prize to Liverpool.

  The wind was light, and we did not gain the mouth of the river tillnear sun-down, when the pilot left us; and as soon as we were threemiles in the offing, I hauled down the flag of truce in the sight ofthe French privateer, who was following us close, and was not morethan four miles from us. To avoid mistake, I had agreed with CaptainLevee that should I be coming out after dark, I would carry a light atthe peak, and this light I now hoisted. It enabled the Frenchprivateer to follow me, and appeared only as a mark of contempttowards him. I stood on in the direction where I was to find CaptainLevee, and could make out the Frenchman following me, and graduallynearing me. As it became dark I made more sail to keep him further offtill I had joined the Arrow, but the light at my peak pointed out tohim where I was. All this seemed a mystery to my officers and men,until having run out about four leagues, I desired them to keep asharp look-out for the Arrow.

  About half-past eight o'clock we perceived her lying-to; she hadfurled her sails after dark, as usual. The light I bore told her who Iwas, and I ran close to her, and, hailing Captain Levee, desired himto prepare for action, and that I would come on board to speak to him.This, of course, created a great bustle on board of the Arrow, and Ihastened on board that they might not show any lights. I then informedCaptain Levee of all that had passed, and that the Frenchman was notmore than five miles from us. We agreed that I should still keep upthe light, and bear away a little to draw the Frenchman to leeward ofthe port, and also to leeward of the Arrow;--that the Arrow shouldlower her sails again, so as not to be perceived until I had drawn theFrenchman past him, and that then I should commence the action undersail, and fight till the Arrow came up to my assistance. This beingarranged, I hastened on board of my schooner, and keeping away fourpoints, I waited for the coming up of my antagonist. In half an hourwe could perceive him through the gloom, not more than a mile from us,under all sail, standing steadily for the light which we carried atour peak.

  As I had already discovered that my little schooner sailed faster thanmy opponent, I allowed her to come up within a quarter of a mile ofme, when I rounded to; and desiring my men to aim at his rigging, soas to dismantle him, poured in my broadside of grape and langridge,and then shifted my helm and resumed my course, putting more sail on,so as to increase my distance to what it was before. This manoeuvre Iexecuted three times with success, and I had the satisfaction ofperceiving that his foretop-mast was shot away; but when I rounded-tothe fourth time, he did the same, and we exchanged broadsides. Theeffect of his superior artillery was evident, for my rigging and sailswere much damaged; happily nothing so serious as to impede our speed,and I again put before the breeze as before, and increased my distanceprevious to again rounding-to; for, as the water was very smooth, Iknew that if I was crippled she would lay me by the board immediately,and I might be taken and hanged before the Arrow could come up to myassistance. I therefore continued a running fight at such a distanceas rendered me less liable to suffer from his guns.

  It is true that this distance made my guns even more ineffective, butI was decoying my Frenchman off from the land, and placing the Arrowbetween him and his port, so that his return would be intercepted.This continued for about an hour, when I perceived that the Frenchmanhad got up a new foretop-mast, and had set the sail upon it. He nowran out his bow-chasers, and continued to fire upon me with themalone, not choosing to lose ground by rounding-to, to give me abroadside; and as his canvas was all out, and I was occasionallyrounding-to to dismantle him, we retained much the same distance fromone another. At last a shot from his bow-chaser struck off the head ofmy mainmast, and my gaff came down.

  This was serious. We hastened to reef the mainsail, and hoist it upagain upon the remainder of the mast, but having no gaff-topsail, ourspeed was necessarily decreased, and the enemy appeared to begradually closing with us. I looked out for the Arrow, but couldperceive no signs of her; indeed it was too dark to see farther thanhalf a mile. Finding that on the point of sailing we were on I had nochance, I determined to alter my course, and put my schooner rightbefore the wind, so that I might set the square mainsail, which wouldgive time for the Arrow to arrive; indeed at this time I was in astate of great anxiety. However, I had made up my mind not to be takenalive, and to sell my life as dearly as I could.

  When the enemy perceived that we had put before the wind, he did thesame, and as we were about half a mile from each other, we continuedto exchange broadsides as we ran, she gradually nearing us so as tomake her heavy artillery more effective. This portion of the contestcontinued for an hour, during which my little schooner had receivedmuch injury, and we were constantly repairing damages. At last, muchto my delight, the day began to dawn, and I then discovered the Arrowabout a mile and a half from us, right astern, under a press of sail.

  I pointed her out to my officers and men, who were inspired with freshcourage at the sight. The enemy also perceived her, and appeareddetermined to bring the combat to an issue previous to her coming up,and I feared that, at all events, I might swing at the yard-arm, letthe issue of the coming combat be what it might. She neared, steeringa course so as to cut me off, and I continued to pour in my broadsidesto cripple her if possible, as she did not now fire, but ran steadilyfor me, and my chances were bad.

  Anxious that the Arrow should close as soon as possible, I hauleddown my square mainsail, that we might not run from her, and preparedfor an obstinate resistance if boarded. At last the Frenchman waswithin a cable's length, and at this critical moment the Arrow wasabout a mile to windward. We poured in our last broadside, andhastened to seize our pikes and cutlasses to repel the boarders, whento my satisfaction I found that one of our shot had cut his gaff intwo. I immediately rounded to the wind; and as my antagonist waswithin pistol-shot of me, with her men all ready for the leap onboard, I put my helm down, went round in stays, and crossed her sonear to windward that you might have thrown a biscuit on board.

  This manoeuvre prevented his boarding, and I may say saved my life,for his gaff being shot away, he could not heave in stays to followme, but was obliged to wear round after me, which increased hisdistance at least a cable's length to leeward. A furious broadside,however, which he poured in, crippled me altogether. Every thing camerunning down upon the decks, and I was left a complete wreck; but Iwas to windward of him, and although he might sink me, he could notboard or take possession until he had refitted his after-sail.

  But now his time was come. A fresh antagonist, with equal weight ofmetal, was close to him, and he had to decide whether he would fightor run. Whether he conceived that running was useless, which itcertainly was, or was determined to take us both or die, I know not,certain it is that he did not put his vessel before the wind, butwaited with determination the coming up of the Arrow. Captain Leveepassed under the Frenchman's stern, raking him with a broadside thatalmost unrigged him, and then engaged him to leeward, so as to cut offall chance of his escape.

  The Frenchman returned the fire with spirit, and I took my men from myguns that we might set some sail upon the vessel, for after the Arrowcommenced her fire no further notice was taken of me by the Frenchman.After a contest well maintained for half an hour, the mainmast of theFrenchman went by the board, and this almost settled the question, ashe could not keep his vessel to the wind, and consequently she felloff, and received a raking fire from the Arrow. At last her bowspritwas between the main and fore rigging of the Arrow, and her deckswere swept by the Arrow's raking fire. I had got some sail up forward,and was anxious to be at the close of the action. I perceived that theFrenchman was attempting to board the lugger, and was pouring all hispeople on the forecastle, and I therefore edged down to him that Imight, with my people, board him on the quarter, which would placehim, as we say, between two fires. The conflict was at its highest;the French attempting and the Arrow's crew repelling them, when
I laidmy schooner on her quarter, and leaped on board of her with my fewremaining men. The Frenchmen turned to repel my attack, and thusweakened their party opposed to the Arrow's men; the consequence was,that they were first beaten back, and then boarded by Captain Leveeand his crew.

  As soon as I had gained the deck of the Frenchman, I thought ofnothing but to single out the French captain. At first I could not seehim, but as his crew retreated from Captain Levee and his men, Iperceived him, pale and exhausted, but still attempting to rally them.As my object was to take him alive, I rushed in advance at him,wrestled, and threw him on his back on the deck. There I held him,while the combatants fighting and retreating, tumbled over us oneafter another, and bruised us severely with their weight. At last theFrench were beaten below, and I had time to breathe; calling to two ofmy men, I desired them to take charge of the French captain, and asthey valued their lives, not to let him escape, or destroy himself,but to take him into our vessel and guard him carefully in my cabin.Having done this, I went to Captain Levee, and we embraced.

  "You did not come a minute too soon," I said, wiping the blood from myface.

  "No, indeed; and but for your clever manoeuvre, you would have beenbeaten. Your vessel is a mere nutshell compared to this;--you didwell, more than well, to maintain the combat so long. Have you lostmany men?"

  "We had ten sent below before we boarded; what may have followed sinceI do not know. I have the French captain safe in my cabin."

  "I saw the men hand him over:--well, now to repair damages, and thenI will tell you what you shall do. I must send on board and help you;the Arrow has not suffered much considering, and I can spare the men.As soon as we have cleared up the decks a little, we will breakfasttogether, and talk the matter over."

  It required two hours before we could clear the decks of our vessels,for we had separated, and the Arrow had taken charge of the prize.Before I took the boat to go on board the Arrow, I went down into mycabin, where the French captain lay bound and watched by two of themen.

  "You are prepared to pay the penalty agreed upon, Monsieur?" said I.

  "I am, Sir," he replied. "I now understand what you meant when yousaid that I should meet with my match. I have no one to blame butmyself. I urged you to the conditions, expecting an easy and certainconquest with my superior vessel. I have fallen into my own net, andthere's an end of the matter--except that when things go wrong, awoman is certain to be at the bottom of it."

  "I am aware, Sir," I replied, "that your wife instigated you to act asyou did, or you would never have so behaved. In attempting to revengethe death of one husband, she has lost two."

  "_C'est vrai_," replied the Frenchman, composedly, and I then quittedthe cabin, and went on board of the Arrow.

  "Well, Elrington," said Captain Levee, "what do you intend to do withthe French captain? Is he to pay the forfeit, and swing at theyard-arm?"

  "I don't like hanging a man, especially a brave man, in cold blood," Ireplied. "It was all his wife's doing, and he has confessed as much."

  "He would certainly have hanged you," replied Levee.

  "Yes, that I believe; but it would have been that he might have aquiet life at home--not from any resentment against me. Now I have nofeeling of that kind to actuate me."

  "What will you do, then?"

  "Not hang him, certainly; and yet I should like to punish her."

  "She deserves it," replied Captain Levee. "Now, Elrington, will youapprove of my suggestion?"

  "Let me hear it."

  "It is this: they do not know that I have assisted in taking theprivateer, as they have no idea that I am here. As soon as we haverefitted her and your vessel, I will remain where I am. You shall runinto the mouth of the Garonne, with your colours flying, and theEnglish Jack over the French flag on board of the prize. This willlead them to suppose that you have taken the vessel withoutassistance. When just out of gun-shot, heave-to, fire a gun, and thenswing an effigy to the yard-arm, and remain there, to make themsuppose that you have hung the French captain. At nightfall you canmake sail and rejoin me. That will punish her, and annoy themgenerally."

  "I will do so; it is an excellent device, and she will never know thetruth for a long time to come."

  We remained all that day refitting; in the evening I made sail, incompany with the French schooner, which was manned by Captain Levee,and stood in shore. At break of the following day I ran in, standingfor the harbour, without my colours being hoisted, and then itoccurred to me that I would make their disappointment greater, byallowing them first to imagine that the victory was theirs; so, whenabout six miles off, I hoisted French colours on the French schooner,and French colours over English on board of my own.

  I continued to stand on till within two miles and a half of thebatteries, and could see crowds flocking down to witness the supposedtriumphant arrival of their privateer into port; when of a sudden Ihauled my wind, hove-to, brailed up my sails, and changed the colours,firing a gun in bravado. Allowing them half an hour to comment uponthis disappointment, I then fired another gun, and hoisted up to theyard-arm the figure of a man, composed of clothes stuffed with hay,made to represent the French captain; and having so done, I remainedduring the whole forenoon, with my sails brailed up, that they mighthave a clear view of the hanging figure. At last we perceived a largeboat, with a flag of truce coming out of the river. I remained where Iwas, and allowing it to come alongside, I perceived in it the Frenchofficer, who had pledged himself to give the conditions of the combatto the lady; and seated by him was the French captain's wife, with herhead sunk down on her knees, and her face buried in her handkerchief.

  I saluted the officer as he came on the deck. He returned my bow, andthen said, "Sir, the fortune of war has proved in your favour, and Iperceive that the conditions of the issue of the combat have beenadhered to on your side. Against that I have not a word to say, as myfriend would have as rigidly adhered to them. But, Sir, we war notwith the dead, and I have come off at the request of his miserablewife, to beg that you will, now that your revenge is satisfied,deliver up to her her husband's body, that it may receive the rites ofthe Church, and Christian burial. You surely, as a brave man, will notdeny this small favour to a woman whom you have twice deprived of herhusband?"

  "Sir," I replied, "on condition that his lady will step on board andmake the request herself, I will comply with it, but on no otherterms."

  "It will be most painful, and her feelings might well have been sparedsuch a trial as to meet your face again, and make the request inperson; but as you insist upon it, I will make known your terms."

  As he went into his boat I ran down into the cabin, and desired themto cast loose the French captain, saying to him, "Sir, your wife ishere requesting your body, which she believes to be swinging at theyard-arm, for I have put that trick into execution to punish her. Inever intended to take your life, and I shall now do more, I shallgive you not only life, but liberty--such shall be my revenge."

  The French captain stared as if confounded, but made no reply. I thenwent on deck, where I found the lady had been lifted up the side. Theyled her to me, and she fell on her knees, but the effort was too muchfor her, and she fainted away. I ordered her to be taken down into thecabin, and, without any explanation, desired the French officer toaccompany her, not wishing to be present at the unexpected meeting. Itherefore remained on deck, and ordering the men to lower down theeffigy, they did so, laughing at the French seamen in the boat, whofor the first time perceived, for they had not looked up before, thatit was only a sham captain. I looked over the side, and told them thatthe captain was alive and well, and would be in the boat very soon, atwhich they were greatly rejoiced. In the mean time the explanationtook place in the cabin, and after a few minutes the French officercame up, and expressed his satisfaction at what I had done.

  "You have given a lesson, Sir, without being guilty of barbarity. Yourconduct has been noble."

  He was soon followed by the French captain and his lady, who was nowall gratitude
, and would have kissed my hands, but I prevented her,and said, "Madam, at least now you have no occasion to hate me. If Iwas so unfortunate, in self-defence, as to slay your first husband, Ihave restored to you your second. Let us, then, part in amity."

  The French captain squeezed my hand, but said nothing. I begged theywould take some refreshment, but they were too anxious to return andundeceive their friends, and requested permission to go into the boat.Of course I consented, and as the boat pulled away, the crew gavethree huzzas, as a compliment to us. When they were a mile in shore, Ihauled down the colours of both vessels, and made sail out to rejoinCaptain Levee, which I did in the evening, and then related all thathad passed.

  He was much pleased with the result of the affair, and we then, havingconsulted, considered it advisable to run back to Liverpool with theprize, for she required so many hands to man her as to render us by nomeans efficient vessels. Moreover, I have omitted to state that whileI was in the Garonne, the Arrow had taken two good prizes, which shehad manned and sent to Liverpool. We therefore made sail to thenorthward, and in a week were again in port, with our prize. We foundthat the other vessels had arrived safe, and the owner was muchpleased with the results of this short and eventful cruise.