Percival Keene

Percival Keene Page 20

by Frederick Marryat

  CHAPTER TWENTY.

  The Arrow schooner had suffered very severely in the contest, havinglost her commanding officer and thirteen men killed and wounded: indeed,had not the Calliope been at hand, it was the general opinion that theStella would have overpowered her, notwithstanding that the latter hadlost her mainmast, for the Arrow was completely dismantled, and wouldnot have been able to have made sail.

  The Calliope sent her carpenters and best seamen on board to repair herdamages, and the next day we stood away for Port Royal, Jamaica, toannounce the destruction of the pirate vessel.

  In the morning Captain Delmar sent for me.

  "Mr Keene, as you cannot do duty for the present, and as I do not wishyou to be idle, I think you had better pay a little attention tonavigation. You send in your day's work, I perceive, but I suppose youhave never regularly gone through a course of study."

  "No, sir," replied I; "I fudge my day's work, and I should be very gladto learn navigation properly."

  "So I presume. Well, then, I have spoken with Mr Smith, the master,who has promised me to give you the necessary instruction. You willcommence to-morrow; you can sit at the table in the fore-cabin, whereyou will have nothing to distract your attention. You may go now."

  I bowed and left the cabin, and meeting Bob Cross on the main deck, Itold him what the captain had said.

  "I'm glad of it, Master Keene; it shows that the captain does now take astrong interest in you. He has never taken any trouble of that kindwith any midshipman before. It will be of great service to you, so payattention; it will please the captain if the master gives a good reportof you. Who knows but you may be sent away in a prize, and I sent withyou to take care of you? Wouldn't that be a capital spree?"

  The next day I commenced accordingly, under the tuition of the master,and as I had not Tommy Dott to play with, I gave satisfaction, andcontinued to do so until our arrival at Port Royal, when the captainwent up to the admiral's, stating all the particulars of the action,and, by way of sequel, my adventures on board of the pirate vessel. Theadmiral was so much interested that he requested Captain Delmar to bringme on shore to dine with me the next day.

  I was still very black; but that made me, I presume more interesting. Itold my story over again, and it afforded great amusement to thecompany; particularly to the ladies; and I have reason to believe thatmany compliments were paid me behind my back, by the admiral andofficers who dined there; at all events, Captain Delmar was muchpleased.

  My strange history soon got wind. The governor heard of it, and askedCaptain Delmar about it. The consequence was, that I received anotherinvitation from the governor, and Captain Delmar again informed me thatI might tell my own story, which I did, modestly as before. I saymodestly, for I never was a boaster at any time; and I really believethat I thought much less of the circumstances than those did to whom Inarrated them. I had at that time but one wish, which was to findfavour in the sight of Captain Delmar. I felt that all my prospects inlife depended upon that; and aware of his disposition, and the deferencethat he expected, humility had become, as it were, habitual.

  During the time that we remained at Port Royal I continued my studies inthe cabin and as the captain remained almost altogether on shore, Ifound the run of the cabin very pleasant; but as I had no inclination tostudy the whole of the day, I was not sorry that Tommy Dott was veryoften my companion in the cabin, an entrance to which, as he could notpass the sentry at the door, he obtained by climbing down the mizenchains, and creeping into the port windows. As soon as the captain'sboat was seen coming off Tommy was out again by the port as quick as amonkey, and I was very studiously poring over right-angled triangles. Irose, of course, as the captain entered the cabin. "Sit down, MrKeene," he would say--"sit down; the master has reported favourably ofyou, and I am glad to hear of it."

  One morning, when, as usual, Tommy Dott had come through the port, wewere so busily employed with a caricature which we were making of oldCulpepper, that the captain's boat came alongside without our beingaware of it, and the captain's voice speaking to the first lieutenant ashe was descending the after-ladder was the first intimation we receivedof his being on board.

  It was impossible for Tommy Dott to escape without being seen as heclimbed out. The table which was in the centre of the cabin was coveredwith a blue cloth, large enough for the table when all the additionalleaves were put to it, and in its present reduced size the cloth felldown to the deck; I pointed it out to Tommy, as the sentry's hand uponthe handle of the door announced the immediate entrance of the captain,and he darted underneath the table, that he might escape detectionintending as soon as the captain went into the after-cabin to make hisretreat by the cabin-door or windows. The captain entered, and I rose,as usual, from my chair.

  "Mr Keene," said he, "I have occasion to speak to the first lieutenanton important private business; oblige me by leaving the cabin till thatis done. You may as well tell Mr Hippesley that I wish to see him."

  "Yes, sir," replied I making a bow, and leaving the cabin. I felt verymuch alarmed lest Tommy should be discovered in his hiding-place; andafter the captain had stated that he had particular business with thefirst lieutenant, it was my duty, knowing that Mr Dott was there, tohave said so. I hardly knew what to do, or how to act. After all, itwas no great crime as it stood. Tommy Dott had come into the cabinwithout leave, and had concealed himself; but if I was to allow Tommy toremain there and listen to important and particular business, evidentlyof a secret nature, I should forfeit the good opinion and confidence ofthe captain: nevertheless, I was very unwilling to betray him; I wasdreadfully puzzled, and when I went to the first lieutenant he perceivedmy confusion.

  "Why, what is the matter with you, Mr Keene?--you look quitefrightened," said he.

  "Well, sir, I am," replied I; "and I think it my duty to tell you why Iam so."

  I then informed him that Tommy Dott was under the cabin-table, andwould, of course, hear the secret communications of the captain.

  "You have done very right, Mr Keene, and I know how unpleasant it is toyou to inform against your messmate; but at present there is no harmdone."

  He then laughed, and said, "However, Mr Dott shall never know that youhave said anything about it, and I will frighten him out of the cabinfor the future."

  He then went down the ladder, and into the fore-cabin. I expected thathe would have discovered Tommy as if by accident, but such was not thecase. The captain had just gone into the after-cabin, and Mr Hippesleyimmediately followed him, and shutting the door, informed him of MrDott's position, and why I had made it known. The captain could nothelp laughing, as, after all, it was no great offence.

  He then gave the necessary information to the first lieutenant, and theyboth walked into the fore-cabin; the first lieutenant saying, "If youplease, then, Captain Delmar, I will send a boat immediately with theletter."

  "Certainly," replied the captain, sitting down, and who evidently wasinclined to join in the joke with Mr Hippesley. "Sentry, send theofficer on deck to man the jolly-boat, and tell Mr Dott to come hereimmediately."

  I was on deck when the sentry put his head up the ladder and gave theorder, and I immediately perceived the plan of the first lieutenant andthe state of alarm in which Tommy Dott must have been put.

  The jolly-boat was manned, and Mr Dott called for in every quarter ofthe ship, but he did not make his appearance. After a delay of severalminutes, the officer on deck went down into the cabin, reporting thatthe jolly-boat had been manned some time but that Mr Dott was not to befound.

  "Not to be found!" replied the captain; "why, he can't have fallenoverboard."

  "Not he, sir," replied the first lieutenant; "he has gone to sleepsomewhere: either in the tops or the fore-topmast staysail netting."

  "He appears to be a very troublesome boy," replied the captain.

  "Very useless, indeed, sir," replied the first lieutenant. "Sentry,have they found Mr Dott?"

  "No, sir; quarter-mas
ters have been everywhere. He's not in the ship."

  "Very odd!" observed the captain.

  "Oh! he'll turn up soon, sir; but really, Captain Delmar, if you were togive him two or three dozen at the cabin gun, it would bring him to hissenses."

  "That I most certainly will do," replied Captain Delmar; "and Iauthorise you to do it, Mr Hippesley, as soon as he makes hisappearance; it will be of some service to him; but I hope no accidenthas happened to him."

  "I have no fear of that, sir," replied the first lieutenant: "if thepurser's steward's room had been open to-day, I should have sent to seeif he was not locked up in another attempt to steal raisins, but thathas not been the case. By-the-by, the spirit-room was open thismorning, and he may have been down there, and may have had the hatchesput over him."

  "Well, we must send another midshipman; call Mr Keene," said CaptainDelmar.

  The sentry called me, and I made my appearance.

  "Mr Keene, you'll go on shore to the dockyard in the jolly-boat: givethat letter to the master attendant, and wait for an answer."

  "Yes, sir," replied I.

  "Have you seen anything of Mr Dott?" said the first lieutenant; "youare constantly together."

  "I saw him just before Captain Delmar came on board, sir, but I have notseen him since."

  "Well, well, we will settle accounts with the young gentleman as soon ashe turns up," replied the captain: "you may go, Mr Keene."

  I perceived that the captain and first lieutenant both smiled as I leftthe cabin. It appeared that soon after they left it and the captainwent on shore; but Tommy was so frightened that he remained in hishiding-place, as he made sure he would be flogged if he made hisappearance, and he resolved to remain where he was until my return, thathe might consult me.

  As soon as I had reported myself, and given the answer to the firstlieutenant, I hastened to the cabin, and then poor Tommy crawled fromunder the table; the tears were still wet on his cheeks.

  "I shall be flogged, Keene, as sure as I stand here. Tell me, what canI do--what can I say?"

  "Tell the truth; that's the best way," replied I.

  "Tell the captain that I was hid under the table! that would never do."

  "Depend upon it, it's the best plan," replied I; "and it is the onlyadvice I can give you: you may be flogged if you tell the truth, but youare _sure_ to be flogged if you tell a lie. It will only add to youroffence."

  "Well, I've been thinking about it--I'm sure that Mr Hippesley willflog me if he catches me to-day or to-morrow; but if I remain hid for aday or two, they will really think that I have fallen overboard, andthen they will say, `poor Tommy Dott,' and perhaps be so glad when I domake my appearance, that they will forgive me."

  "Yes," replied I, delighted at the idea; "I'm sure they will, if you dotell the truth when you appear again."

  "Then, that is what I'll do. The first lieutenant said that I might bein the spirit-room. Where shall I go to?"

  "Why," said I, "you must remain under the table till dark, and then youmay easily slip down into the coal-hole, where it is so dark that theynever will see you, even if they go down for coals. It is the onlyplace I know of; stay there all to-morrow and next day, and come up inthe evening; or the next morning perhaps will be better."

  "Well, it's a very good place," replied Tommy; "anything better thanbeing flogged; but will you bring me something to eat and drink?"

  "Depend upon me, Tommy," replied I; "I'll contrive to bring yousomething every night."

  "Well, then, I'll do that," replied he.

  "Yes; and tell the truth when you come out," said I.

  "Yes, upon my honour I will;" and so saying, Tommy, hearing a noise,again dived under the cabin table.

  Soon afterwards I went out of the cabin. The first lieutenant beckonedme to him, and asked me where Mr Dott was, and I told him what had beenarranged between us. He laughed very much, and said--

  "Well, if Master Tommy punishes himself by two days' confinement in thecoal-hole, and tells the truth when he comes out, I think I may promisehe will get off his flogging; but don't you say that I have spoken toyou about it, and let him do as he proposes."

  When it was dark, I supplied Tommy with provisions, and he gained thecoal-hole without being discovered.

  The next day the speculations at his disappearance were general, and itwas now believed that poor Tommy had fallen overboard, and, as thesharks are thick enough in Port Royal, that he was safely stowed away inone of their maws. I will say that the whole of the ship's company werevery sorry for him, with the exception of Mr Culpepper, who observedthat no good ever came of a boy who stole raisins.

  "So you think, that because a lad steals a few of your confoundedplums," observed the second lieutenant, "he deserves to be eaten by thesharks. If I were Tommy Dott, I would haunt you if I could."

  "I'm not afraid of dead men," replied Mr Culpepper; "they are quietenough."

  "Perhaps so; but recollect, you make them chew tobacco, and thereforethey ought to rise up in judgment against you, if they do against anyone."

  As this conversation passed on the quarter-deck, it put an idea in myhead. That night I went to Tommy, whom I found terribly tired ofsitting on the coals. I brought him a bottle of mixed grog, and someboiled beef and biscuit. I consoled him by telling him that every onewas sorry at his disappearance, and that I was convinced that he wouldnot be punished if he told the truth.

  Tommy was for leaving the coal-hole immediately, but I pointed out tohim that the captain had not been on board that a and that it wasnecessary that the captain should believe that he had fallen overboardas well as the officers, or his compassion would not be roused. Tommysaw the propriety of this, and consented to remain another day. I thentold him what Mr Culpepper had said, and I added, "Now, Tommy, if MrCulpepper should see you by any chance, pretend to be your ghost."

  "That I will," replied Tommy, "if I get six dozen for it." I then lefthim.

  On my return on deck, I saw Bob Cross; he was on shore during the majorportion of the day, attending upon the captain, and as I was no longerin the captain's gig, I saw but little of him.

  "Well, Mr Keene," said he, "I think you have quite recovered yourcolour by this time, and I hope to see you in the gig again."

  "I do not think I shall yet awhile--I have not yet learnt navigationenough; but the master says he will be done with me in a fortnight, if Igo on as well as I do now."

  "Yes; I heard him tell the captain that you were very quick, and wouldbe a good navigator but I can't get over the loss of poor Tommy Dott; hewas a little scampish, that's sartin, but still he was a merry,kind-hearted boy--too good for the sharks, at all events. You must feelhis loss, Mr Keene, for you were always together."

  "No, I don't, Bob," replied I.

  "Well, I'm sorry to hear you say that, Mr Keene; I thought you had akinder heart."

  "So I have, Bob; but I'll tell you a secret, known only to the firstlieutenant and me; and that is, Tommy's in the coal-hole, very dirty,but quite safe."

  Bob Cross burst into a fit of laughing, which lasted some time.

  "Well, Mr Keene, you have really taken a weight off my mind; now tellme all about it. You know I'm safe."

  I then told Bob what had happened, and of Tommy's intention to make hisappearance on the following evening or the next morning.

  "Well," said Bob, "you're mischief itself, Master Keene, and that's afact; however, it's all right this time, and you have the captain andfirst lieutenant as your confidants and partners in the joke. You didperfectly right and I'm sure the captain and first lieutenant must bepleased with you; but recollect, Master Keene, keep your distance asbefore; don't presume."

  "Never fear, Bob," replied I: "but now I have told you that, I want youto assist me." I then repeated the conversation of Mr Culpepper withthe second lieutenant.

  "Now," continued I; "you see, Cross, I can't do anything myself; MrCulpepper hates me, and would suspect me; but if we could only frightenhim: you might
, for he would not think you were playing him a trick."

  "I see," replied Bob; "it will be a good thing for Tommy Dott, and anice wind-up of this affair. Let me alone. When I come on boardto-morrow evening I'll manage it if I can."

  After a little more conversation, we separated for the night.

  The next morning the captain came on board. He remained on deck withthe first lieutenant for some minutes, during which of course, he wasmade acquainted with Tommy Dott's position. When he came down into thecabin, I moved from my seat, as respectful and serious as before; andwhen ordered to sit down again, resumed my studies with great apparentdiligence. He did not say a word to me about Tommy Dott; and as he wasgoing out of the cabin, Mr Culpepper was announced by the sentry.

  "If you please, Captain Delmar," said Mr Culpepper, with his usualprofound bow, "what are we to do with the effects of Mr Dott, who hasfallen overboard? By the regulations of the service, they should besold before the mast. And I also wish to know whether he is to becontinued to be victualled, or whether it is your pleasure that he isdischarged as dead?"

  The captain smiled, and turned his face towards me; but I continued withmy eyes down on my book.

  "Perhaps we had better wait till to-morrow, Mr Culpepper," replied thecaptain, "and then you may sell his effects, and put DD to his name,poor fellow." And having made this reply, the captain went out of hiscabin. Mr Culpepper followed; and shortly afterwards the captain wenton shore again.

  Before dusk, the captain's gig, as usual, returned on board, and I wasat the gangway to meet Bob Cross; the boat was hoisted up, and then Bobcame to me.

  "I must first go down and see Mr Dott, that I may be able to swear tothe fact." Bob did so, and then returned on deck. Mr Culpepper wasabaft, walking by himself, when Bob went up and accosted him.

  "If you please, sir," said Bob, touching his hat, "did the captain sayanything to you about coals, for I expect we shall not stay here muchlonger?"

  "No," replied Mr Culpepper.

  "Then he must have forgot it, I suppose sir."

  "Well, there's plenty of coals," replied Mr Culpepper.

  "Well, sir, I don't know; but I think I heard the cook's mate say as howthey were getting rather low."

  "Getting rather low! then there must have been great waste," exclaimedMr C, who was very careful of his expenses.

  "I don't know how far it may be so; but I think it might be as well toknow how matters stand; and if so be there's plenty, why I can tellCaptain Delmar when I go on shore to-morrow."

  "I'll see; I'll go down myself to-night," replied Mr Culpepper. "Themidshipmen are allowed a stove to themselves--very unusual--and they arecooking all day."

  "Talking about midshipmen, sir," replied Cross, "you may think it's veryodd but as I stand here--and you know, Mr Culpepper, I am not easilyscared--I saw that young Tommy Dott, or his ghost, this very evening."

  It was now quite dark; and Mr Culpepper stared at the coxswain, andthen replied, "Pooh, nonsense!"

  "It's no nonsense, I do assure you. I saw him with these eyes, sure asI stand here."

  "Where?" exclaimed Mr C.

  "Right forward, sir. I only mention it to you, but don't say a wordabout it, for I should only be laughed at; but I do assure you that Iwould kiss the Bible to it, if it was required. I never did beforebelieve in anything of that sort, that's sartain; but it's no usetalking about it, sir. I think I had better get a lantern, and get overthis coal business at once."

  "Yes, yes," replied Mr Culpepper; "but you won't know how much coalsthere are: I must go myself and see."

  Bob Cross was soon ready with the lantern, and went forward with MrCulpepper. The hammocks had been piped down, and they were obliged tobend double under them to get along the lower deck. I followedunperceived.

  The descent into the coal-hole was by battens, and not very easy for anold man like Mr C But Cross went down first, holding the light for thepurser to follow, which he did very slowly, and with great caution. Assoon as they both stood on the coals below, the purser took the light tomake his survey.

  "Why, there's plenty of coals for three months, coxswain," said he. "Ithought there was; you see they are nearly up to the beams abaft."

  "Look! sir--look!" exclaimed Cross, starting back; "what's that?"

  "Where?" exclaimed Mr C, alarmed.

  "There, sir--there he is: I told you so."

  The purser's eyes were directed to where Bob pointed, and then he beheldTommy Dott standing immovable, with his arms extended, as if denouncinghim--his eyes staring, and his mouth wide open.

  "Mercy!--murder!" cried the purser, dropping the lantern, which went outand left them in the dark; and he tumbled down on the coals.

  Bob Cross stepped over him, and hastened up to the lower deck, followedby Tommy Dott, who first, by way of revenge, jumped several times uponthe purser's face and body before he climbed up.

  The cry of the purser had given the alarm. The master-at-arms hastenedforward with his lantern just as Tommy had made his appearance above thecoamings. Seeing Tommy as black as a sweep, he too was frightened; themen had put their heads out of their hammocks and some of them had seenTommy.

  Bob Cross, as he crawled aft, cried out, "Tommy Dott's ghost!" I hadpretended to be terrified out of my wits as I ran aft, and all wasconfusion on the lower deck. The first lieutenant had come out of thewardroom, and seeing me, he inquired what was the matter. I repliedthat Mr Culpepper had gone down into the coal-hole, and had seen MrDott's ghost. He laughed heartily, and went back.

  Tommy had in the mean time made his appearance in the mids' berth, atwhich they had all rushed from him in dismay, just as I entered; when Icaught him by the hand saying, "Tommy, my boy, how are you?" They thenperceived that it was Tommy himself, and order was restored.

  Mr Culpepper was hoisted up out of the coal-hole; Master Tommy havingjumped upon his face, he looked a very miserable object, as he was wellblackened, as well as much bruised from the soles of Tommy's shoes, andhis nose had bled profusely. He was very incoherent for some time; butthe doctor gave him an opiate, and put him to bed.

  The next morning the whole affair was explained on the quarterdeck,Master Tommy well reprimanded, and desired to return to his duty. Thecaptain was very much amused at the winding up of this affair, as it wasa capital story to tell at the governor's. Tommy never had an idea thatI had blown upon him, nor did Mr Culpepper imagine that their meetingwas premeditated.

  I had now completed the usual course of navigation under the master, andhad no longer any cause for remaining in the cabin; I therefore returnedto my berth; but as I had taken a liking to navigation, I now wasemployed daily in working sights and rating the chronometer.

  We remained three weeks longer in Port Royal, and then were ordered outon a cruise, on the South American coast. There we continued for nearlysix months without anything occurring worth relating, except our havingcaptured four good prizes. We were returning to Jamaica, when we fellin with a schooner, which gave us the intelligence of the capture of theisland of Curacao by four English frigates.

  As we were near to the island and short of water, Captain Delmarresolved to touch at it, and remained two or three days.

  The reader will perhaps recollect that the old Dutch gentleman, whoselife I had saved in the pirate vessel, had stated that his name wasVanderwelt, and that he lived at Curacao. The next evening we enteredthe harbour, and it was astonishing to every one how so strong a placecould have been taken by so small a force. The commodore, who hadplenty of work on hand, requested, or rather ordered, our captain toremain with him for ten days or a fortnight, to assist him.

  On the third day after our arrival I obtained leave to go on shore, as Iwished to find out the old Dutch gentleman. As I was again in thecaptain's gig, I had very often landed, but had not had an opportunityof making inquiries, as I could not leave my boat and boat's crew.

  This afternoon I landed in the gig, and went up through the gate intothe town, but I co
uld not find anyone who spoke English. At last, byasking for the house of Mynheer Vanderwelt, it was pointed out to me,and I went up to the door; it was a very large house, with a verandahall round it, painted bright green and while alternately. There wereseveral slaves sitting down at the entrance, and I asked for MynheerVanderwelt; they stared at me, and wondered what I wanted, but as I wasin midshipman's uniform, they were of course very civil, and one of thembeckoned me to follow him, which I did, and was introduced to the oldgentleman, who was sitting in a cane arm-chair with his pipe in hismouth, and fanned by two slave girls, about twelve years old.

  As he had spoken to me in English on board of the pirate, I immediatelywent up to him, and said, "How do you do, sir?"

  "I am very well, sir," replied he, taking the pipe out of his mouth."What do you want? do you come from the English commodore? What is hispleasure?"

  "No, sir," replied I; "I do not come from the commodore; but I came upto see you."

  "Oh, that is all," replied the old gentleman, putting his pipe in hismouth again, and resuming his smoking. I felt rather nettled at histreatment, and then said--

  "Don't you know me, sir?"

  "No, sir," replied he, "I have not that honour. I have never seen youin my life before, and I do not know you."

  My blood was up at this cool declaration.

  "Then I wish you a good morning, sir," replied I; and turning on myheel, I was strutting out with all the dignity of an offendedmidshipman, when I was met face to face by the little girl, hisdaughter. She stared at me very much, and I passed her in sovereigncontempt; she followed me timidly, and looked into my face, then pantingfor breath, seized me by the arm. I turned to her at being stopped inthis manner, and was about to shake her off with anything butpoliteness, when she screamed out, and in a moment had sprung up, andwas hanging with both arms round my neck.

  "Fader, fader," she cried out as I struggled to disengage myself.

  The old gentleman came out at the summons.

  "Stop him! fader; don't let him go away," cried she in Dutch; "it is he!it is he!"

  "Who, my child?" asked the old gentleman.

  "The pirate-boy," replied the little girl, bursting into a paroxysm oftears, on my shoulders.

  "Mein Gott! it cannot be; he was _black_, my child; yet," continued theold gentleman, looking at me, "he is like him. Tell me, sir, are youour preserver?"

  "Yes," replied I, "I was; but that is of little consequence now. Willyou oblige me by removing this young lady?" continued I, for I washighly offended.

  "Sir, I ask your pardon," replied the old gentleman; "but I am not toblame. How could I recognise you in a white person when you were sodark-coloured at our meeting on board of that vessel? I am not toblame; indeed I am not, my dear young friend. I would have given tenthousand rix dollars to have met you, that I might prove my gratitudefor your noble defence of us, and our preservation at such a risk.Come, sir, you must forgive the mistake of an old man, who was certainlynot inclined to be civil to an officer who belonged to the squadron, whohad within these few days so humiliated us by their astonishing braveryand success. Let my little girl, whose life you saved, persuade you, ifI cannot."

  In the mean time the little girl had dropped from my shoulder, and wason the floor, embracing my knees, and still sobbing. I felt convincedthat what the old gentleman said was true, and that he had notrecognised me. I had forgotten that I had been stained dark at the timethat I had met them on board of the Stella.

  I therefore held out my hand to the old gentleman, and raising thelittle girl, we all three went in together to where we had found the oldgentleman on my first introduction to him.

  "If you knew how delighted I am to see you, and be able to express mythanks," said Mynheer Vanderwelt, "and poor Minnie too. How often havewe talked over that dreadful day, and wondered if ever we should see youagain. I assure you, on my honour, that now I no longer regret thecapture of the island."

  Minnie stood by me during the time her father was speaking, her largeblue eyes beaming through the tears with which they brimmed; and as Iturned to her, our eyes met, and she smiled. I drew her towards me.She appeared as if she only required some encouragement, for sheimmediately kissed me several times on the cheek nearest to her, everynow and then saying a word or two in Dutch to her father, which I couldnot understand.

  I hardly need say, that after this, intimacy was soon brought about. IfI thought that at first I had been treated with ingratitude, ampleamends was made afterwards.

  The old gentleman said during the evening, "Good heaven! if mydaughter's eyes had not been sharper than mine; if you had gone away,thinking that I did not choose to recognise you--had I found it outafterwards, it would have broken my heart, and poor Minnie's too. Oh!I am grateful--very grateful to God that it was not so."

  That I passed a very pleasant evening the reader may imagine. Thehousehold who had been told who I was, appeared to almost worship me.The old gentleman asked me a hundred questions as to my parentage,etcetera, about Captain Delmar and the service, and begged of me toremain with him altogether while the frigate was in port. I told himthat was impossible, but that I would come as often as I could obtainleave. At nine o'clock I bade them good night, and was escorted to theboat by six of the slaves carrying lanterns.

  Captain Delmar, as well as all the other captains of the frigates, hadtaken up his quarters on shore for the harbour was so narrow andlandlocked, that the heat on board was excessive. I found that the nextday old Mr Vanderwelt had paid his respects to Captain Delmar, givinghim an account of what had occurred on board of the pirate much moreflattering to me than what I had stated myself. The steward was presentat the time, and he had told Bob Cross, who communicated it to me.Mynheer Vanderwelt had also begged as a favour that I might be permittedto stay on shore with him during the time that the frigate was inharbour, but to this Captain Delmar had not consented, promising,however, that I should have occasional leave when the service wouldpermit of it.

  The reader may recollect that the island of Curacao had been surrenderedto the English in 1800, and restored to the Dutch in 1802. During thatinterval several English merchants had settled there and remained afterthe restoration, and now at the second capture we found them still onthe island. From these we received the information that Mr Vanderweltwas the richest man on the island, and that the Dutch government wasindebted to him in very large sums; that he had long retired frombusiness, although he had large property in the Havannah, which hereceived with his wife, who had been a Spanish lady, and that it was hisintention to have gone back to Holland by the first man-of-war whichshould have arrived.

  We remained three weeks at Curacao, during which time the firstlieutenant gave me leave to go on shore almost every evening after thecaptain had dismissed his gig, and to remain at Mr Vanderwelt's tillhalf-past eight the following morning, when I joined my boat, andattended on the captain. By this plan my duty was not interfered with,and I had many pleasant meetings with my new friends, and became, as maybe imagined, very intimate with little Minnie.

  I may as well describe her. She was about ten years old, tall for herage; she was very fair, with deep blue eyes, and very dark hair; hercountenance was very animated and expressive, and she promised to be avery handsome woman. Her father doted upon her, for he had no otherchild; he had married late in life, and his wife had died a few daysafter Minnie was born. She was very affectionate in disposition, andvery sweet-tempered; up to the present she had received but littleeducation, and that was one principal reason for Mr Vanderwelt'swishing to return to Holland. I soon became as one of the family, andcertainly was treated as such.

  Minnie was very curious to know what it was that I carried about my neckin the seal-skin pouch, but I never could tell either her or her fatherwhat it really was. Mr Vanderwelt very often asked me if I liked beingat sea, and I invariably replied in the affirmative.

  At last the frigate was to sail, and I had but one more evening to passwith them. M
r Vanderwelt appeared very grave, and little Minnie wouldevery now and then during the evening burst into tears at the idea ofour separation.

  At last the hour of parting arrived--it was very painful. I promised towrite to them, and Mr Vanderwelt told me that his house was alwaysready to receive me, and begged that if I wanted anything I would lethim know.

  I cried, myself, when I left the house--the first time that I evercried, I believe, on such an occasion. The next morning we were againunder weigh, to rejoin the admiral at Jamaica.

  Bob Cross had told me that he wished to have a little talk with me inthe first watch, and I met him on the gangway, our usual rendezvous.

  "Master Keene, I have some news for you, which I gained from the stewardlast night. I will say, that his ears are always open; not that I thinkhe is generally what is called an eavesdropper but he likes you, andwhen you are concerned, he does care to find out what is going on. Nowyou see, sir, that Dutch gentleman whom you saved from the nigger piratecame to call on Captain Delmar yesterday morning, and, after somepalaver, he told the captain that he wished you to remain with himaltogether, and leave his majesty's service; and he begged the captainto allow you to be discharged, and then he would be a father to you, asyou had no father. There was a great deal more which the steward couldnot make out, but it was all to that effect. Well, the captain saidthat it was very true that you had lost your father but that heconsidered you as _his own_ son, and could not part with you on anyaccount; and he stated that you were so promising an officer, that it bevery wrong that you should leave the service, and that it must not bethought of. The old gentleman said a great deal, and tried very hard topersuade the captain, but it was of no use. The captain said he wouldnever let you go till you were a post-captain and commanded a finefrigate, and then you would of course be your own master, and act as youplease."

  "I am very glad to hear all this, Bob, I can assure you."

  "Yes, sir, it is very good news: but, Master Keene, I only hope, knowingCaptain Delmar as you do, that you will act towards him as if you hadnever heard it."

  "I will, depend upon it, Cross. As for leaving the service, that Iwould not have done even if Captain Delmar had agreed to it. I'm anEnglishman, and I don't want to be under Dutch protection."

  "That's right, sir--that's right--just as I wished you to feel. Howtime flies away. Why, Master Keene, you have been afloat nearly threeyears."

  "Within a month, Bob."

  "And you're growing such a tall fellow, they won't keep you much longerin the captain's gig, I expect: I shall be sorry for that. So MasterTommy Dott is in another scrape."

  "How?--I heard nothing of it."

  "No, because it's only within this half-hour that he's got in it."

  "Tell me."

  "Why, sir, Mr Culpepper had fallen fast asleep on the gunroom table,under the skylight, which, as you know, is always open, and his head hadfallen back, and his mouth was wide open: there was no other officer inthe gun-room except Mr Culpepper: and Tommy Dott, who perceived him,asked Timothy Jenkins, the maintop-man, to give him a quid of tobacco;well, Jenkins takes it out of his cheek, red-hot, as you may suppose,and hands it to Master Tommy, who takes his perpendicular veryaccurately, and drops the quid into the purser's open mouth.

  "Mr Culpepper was almost choked, but after a terrible coughing, thequid comes up again; notwithstanding, he turns as sick as a dog, and isobliged to run to the basin in his cabin. Well, sir, as soon as hecomes out again, he goes up under the half deck, and inquires of thesentry who it was that did it; and the sentry, who is that sulky fellow,Martin, instead of knowing nothing about it, says directly, it wasMaster Tommy; and now there's a formal complaint made by Mr Culpepperon the quarter-deck, and Master Tommy will get it as sure as a gun."

  "He don't know how to play a trick," replied I; "he is always found outand punished: the great point is, not to be discovered--that's the realpleasure in playing a trick."

  "Well, you certainly do manage well, Master Keene; but I think it'salmost time you left them off now, you're getting an oldster. Why, youmust be seventeen, sir?"

  "Yes, Bob, not very far from it."

  "Well, I suppose I must say Mister Keene for the future."

  "You may call be what you like, Bob; you have been a good friend to me."

  "Well, sir, I only hope that Captain Delmar will make you apost-captain, as he says, and that you'll get a fine frigate, and I'llbe your coxswain; but that's a long way to look to, and we shan't haveany more councils of war on the gangway then."

  "No; but we may in the cabin, Cross."

  "A large sail on the starboard bow," cried the look-out man forward.

  "A large sail on the starboard bow," reported the mate of the watch.

  My glass was on the capstern, and I ran for it, and went forward toexamine the vessel, although my duty as signal midshipman was ended atsunset.

  "What do you make of it, Mr Keene?" said the officer of the watch.

  "I think she is a man-of-war; but it is so dark, that I cannot make herout very clearly."

  "Is she standing this way?"

  "Yes, sir, under top-sails and top-gallant-sails, I think."

  The officer of the watch went down to report to the captain, who had notyet turned into his cot. Captain Delmar had been informed that a Dutchfrigate was expected at the island, but not until the following month;still we had no reason to suppose that there were any of our frigatesdown in these latitudes, except those lying in the harbour at Curacao.The wind was light, about a three knot breeze, and there being no moontill after twelve o'clock, it was very difficult to make out what shewas. Some said she was a two-decked vessel. The captain went down tolook at his private signals for the night, and before he came up I wasall ready with the lanterns.

  "Two lights over one in a triangle; be quick, Mr Keene."

  "Aye, aye, sir," replied I.

  The lights were soon hoisted at the peak, but as they could not well beseen by the other vessel, as we were standing towards her, we went aboutand hove to across her hawse. For a quarter of an hour she continued tostand towards us without noticing the signals; at last the captain said,"They must be all asleep on board of the vessel."

  "No, Captain Delmar," replied I, keeping my telescope on the vessel,"they are not all asleep, for I saw lights on the main-deck through thebow-ports. I see them again now."

  "So do I," said the first lieutenant.

  "Then we'll beat to quarters, Mr Hippesley," rejoined the captain.

  The men were summoned to quarters, and hammocks piped up and stowed in avery short time, the guns cast loose, and every man at his post (but theports not opened), waiting the coming down of the stranger, now about amile distant, when suddenly she rounded to the wind on the same tackthat we were, and set her royals and flying-jib.

  "She does not answer our signals," observed the captain: "I suspect bythat and her present manoeuvre she must be an enemy."

  "I have no doubt of it, sir," observed the first lieutenant; "an Englishfrigate would not behave in that way."

  "Open the ports and get up the fighting lanterns, then," said thecaptain; for, up to the present, we had been careful not to show anylights.

  It was now plain to see that her men were at their quarters and that shewas prepared for action. When everything was ready on deck, the royalsand flying-jib were set, and we gave chase. The strange vessel wasabout three-quarters of a mile on our weather-beam; in half an hour wehad gained upon her considerably, and our sailing was so superior thatwe were satisfied, should she prove an enemy, that in an hour more weshould be engaged.

  Of course, we might have engaged her at the distance we were from her,but you cannot be too careful in a night action, and ought never toengage without first hailing the vessel to make sure that she is anenemy, as circumstances may, and have occurred by which an Englishvessel may not be able to answer the private signal, and, of course, avessel belonging to a neutral power would be in the same position.

 
; The incertitude which existed as to whether the strange vessel was anenemy or not created great excitement. My duty, as signal midshipman,placed me abaft on the quarter-deck, and Bob Cross, who was really aquarter-master, although doing duty as captain's coxswain, was at thewheel.

  At last we had brought the chase well on our weather quarter, and whenwe tacked we found that we lay well up, she being about a point on ourlee bow. Another half-hour brought us within two cables' length of her,when we kept away, so as to pass her to leeward, close enough to havethrown a biscuit on board. The stranger still remaining on the oppositetack, Captain Delmar then hailed from the gangway--

  "Ship, a-hoy!"

  There was a death-like silence on board of both vessels, and his voicepierced sonorously through the night wind.

  "Ah! yaw!" was the reply.

  "What ship is that?" continued Captain Delmar.

  During this time every man was at his gun; the captains, with thelanyards of the locks in their hands, ready to pour in a broadside.

  The reply from the other vessel was--"Vat chip is dat?"

  "His Britannic Majesty's ship Calliope," replied Captain Delmar; andthen he repeated--"What ship is that? Let every man lie down at hisquarters," said Captain Delmar. The order was hardly obeyed, when thestranger frigate poured in her broadside, and as we were then veryclose, with great execution to our hull and rigging: but as the men hadbeen lying down, very few of them were hurt.

  As soon as the crash was over, Captain Delmar cried out--"Up, men, andfire, as I round to under her stern."

  In a few seconds we had passed through the volumes of smoke, and luffedup under her stern: we poured in our whole broadside.

  "Let her go off again--flatten in there forward. Reedy about," was thenext order given.

  We ran away from her about three cables' length, until we had sufficientway to tack, and then we went about and stood towards her, steering forher weather quarter, as if we were going to engage her to windward.

  "Over to the larboard guns, my lads. Hands by, after bracings andhowlings, Mr Hippesley."

  "Aye, aye, sir, all ready."

  As soon as we were near enough, the after-yards were shivered, the jibsheet to windward, and the helm put up. The Calliope workedbeautifully; she paid sharp off, and we again passed under her stern,and gave another raking broadside; very unexpected on the part of theDutchman, who presumed that we were going to engage him to windward, andhad his men all ready at his larboard guns in consequence.

  The Dutch captain was evidently much annoyed: he stood at the taffrail,and, much to our amusement, cried out, in bad English, "You coward--notfight fair."

  As we shot ahead of her, to leeward, she gave us a portion of herstarboard broadside: but the men, having been over at the guns on theother side, were not quick enough, and they did us no injury; whereas,her mizzen-mast fell over the side a few minutes after we passed her.

  She then raid off, and so did we, so that she might not rake us, andbroadsides were exchanged on equal terms; but before we had exchangedthese broadsides, both ships running with the wind on the quarter, wefound that our superiority in sailing free was so great, that we shotahead of him out of his fire, and we were enabled to luff up and rakehim again.

  The last raking broadside brought down his main-topmast and then she wasall our own, as Bob Cross said; as she could not round to with no aftersail, and we could from our superiority in sailing, take our position aswe pleased, which we did, constantly keeping ahead of him, and rakinghim, broadside after broadside, and receiving but one broadside inreturn, until his foremast went by the board, and he had nothing but hismain-mast standing.

  This bettered his condition on the whole; as, although hardly manageablewith so little wind, he had more power over his vessel, as far asrounding to the wind, which he did, and the action continued; but ourfighting under sail gave us great advantage, and although an occasionalshot would come in, and we had to carry some men into the cockpit, forone shot we received, we certainly returned ten. The action hadcontinued about an hour, when, by the continual cannonading, the lightwind was beaten down, and it fell dead calm. This put us again upon amore equal footing, as the Calliope had not steerage way.

  We were then about a quarter of a mile apart, lying head and stern; butboth ships had fallen off during the calm, so that only the quarter gunsof each could be brought to bear. The major portion of the ship'scompany being, therefore, not able to use their guns, were employed inrepairing the damages we had received, which were very considerable,especially in the sails and rigging.

  I was standing by Bob Cross, who was looking out for cats' paws, as wecall slight breaths of wind, when he said in a low voice:--

  "Master Keene, I never had an idea that the captain could handle hisship so well: he really knows what he's about as well as any man in theservice."

  "I thought so, too," replied I. "Whew! there's a nasty shot," cried I,as one came in and upset half a dozen of the marines, who were haulingupon the mizzen-topsail sheet, which had just been spliced.

  "Yes, sir, that chap is made of good stuff, depend upon it--all theDutchmen are: if they could only keep their hands out of their breechespockets, they would be rummer customers than they are now; as it is,they are not to be played with; and, depend upon it, we're a long wayoff having him yet: we must pray for wind to come up and he must prayfor the calm to continue."

  "Where's Mr Keene?" said the captain, who was on the other side of thedeck.

  "Here, sir," said I, running up and touching my hat.

  "Mr Keene, go down quietly and ascertain how many men we have hurt: thedoctor will be able to tell you pretty nearly."

  "Aye, aye, sir," replied I, and I dived down below; just as I did so, ashot came in and cut away the lower rail of the copper stanchions whichwere round the hatchway, about a foot beyond my hat: had I not gone downso quickly, it would have taken my head off.

  I went down into the gun-room, for the doctor preferred being there tothe cockpit, as there was so much more room to operate, and I gave himthe captain's message.

  He was very busy taking off a poor fellow's leg. It was a horriblesight and made me sick and faint. As soon us the bone had been sawedoff, he said--

  "You will find all the wounded I have dressed in the steerage; thosethey have brought me down dead are in the cockpit. There have been fiveamputations already the master is badly wounded, and Mr Williams themate, is killed: those whom I have not been able to attend to yet, arehere in the gun-room. You must ascertain what the captain wishes toknow yourself, Mr Keene. I cannot, leave a leg with the arteries nottaken up, to count heads. Mr Rivers, the tenaculum--ease thetourniquet, now."

  As I felt what the doctor said to be true, I got a lantern and commencedmy examinations. I found fourteen wounded men waiting the doctor's carein the gun-room, which was almost a pool of blood. In the steeragethere were nine who had been dressed, and four in their hammocks, whohad undergone amputation of the arm or leg. I then went down into thecockpit, where I counted eleven of our best men lying dead. Havingobtained the information required, I was proceeding up the cockpitladder, when I turned towards the purser's steward's room, and saw MrCulpepper, the purser, on his knees before a lantern; he looked verypale--he turned round and saw me.

  "What's the matter?" cried he.

  "Nothing, sir; only the captain wishes to know how many men are killedand wounded."

  "Tell him I do not know: surely he does not want me on deck?"

  "He wants to know how many men are hurt, sir," replied I, for Iperceived that he thought that the message was sent to him.

  "Mercy on me! Stop a minute, Mr Keene, and I'll send up word by you."

  "I can't stop, sir," replied I, going up the ladder.

  Mr Culpepper would have called me back, but I preferred leaving him inhis error, as I wished to see which he most dreaded, the captain'sdispleasure or the shot of the enemy.

  I returned on deck and made my report. The captain looked very g
rave,but made no reply.

  I found that the two frigates were now lying stern to stern, and firingoccasional guns, which raked fore and aft. Except the men who workedthe guns aft, our people were lying down at their quarters, by the orderof the captain.

  "If we only had but a capful of wind," said the captain to the firstlieutenant, "but I see no appearance of it."

  I touched my hat and said, "The moon will rise in about ten minutes,sir, and she often brings the wind up with her."

  "That's true, Mr Keene, but it's not always the case. I only hope shewill; if not, I fear we shall lose more of our men."

  The firing continued, and our main-mast had received so many shots, thatwe were obliged to hold it for its support. While so employed, the moonrose, and the two vessels had now a good view of each other. I directedmy glass to the horizon under the moon, and was delighted to perceive ablack line, which promised wind; I reported it to the master, and thepromise was kept good, for in a quarter of an hour our sails flapped,and then gradually filled.

  "She has steerage way, sir," reported Bob Cross.

  "Thank Heaven for that," replied Captain Delmar. "Jump up, men. Braceround the yards, Mr Hippesley."

  "The enemy's main yard is cut in two in the slings, sir," reported I,after I had my glass upon her.

  "Then her last hope is gone," replied Mr Hippesley. "Haul over thestarboard jib-sheet forward--let her come to, quartermaster. Larboardguns, my lads."

  "Now, my men," cried Captain Delmar, "make short work of her."

  This injunction was obeyed. We had now a good sight of the enemy, andbrought our whole broadside to bear upon her stern; and after a quarterof an hour more firing I perceived that her ensign was no longer on thestaff, where it had been hoisted after the fall of the mizenmast;neither had she for the last five minutes given us a gun in return.

  "She has struck, sir, I think," said I to Captain Delmar; "her ensign isdown."

  "Pass the word `Cease firing,' Mr Hippesley; but let the guns be allreloaded in case of accidents. Have we a boat that can swim? Examinethe cutters, Mr Keene."

  I found the cutter on the larboard quarter, with her bottom out: shecould not swim, that was clear. The starboard one was in bettercondition.

  "The starboard cutter will float, sir; her gunwale is all torn away, butthere are rollocks enough to pull."

  "Let her be cleared away and lowered down, Mr Hippesley. Send for thesecond lieutenant."

  "I believe he's not on deck sir," replied the first lieutenant.

  "Not much hurt, I hope?"

  "A splinter, I was told, sir."

  "Where's Mr Weymss, the third lieutenant? Mr Weymss, jump into theboat, and take possession of the prize: take as many men as you can;and, Mr Keene, with Mr Weymss, and as soon as you have gained thenecessary information, come back with the boat and two hands."

  I followed the third lieutenant info the boat, and we pulled on board ofour antagonist. A junior officer received us on the deck, and presentedhis sword. His left arm was bound up, and he was very pale from loss ofblood. He spoke pretty good English; and we found that we had capturedthe Dort, Dutch frigate, of thirty-eight guns, bound to Curacao, with adetachment of troops for the garrison, and a considerable quantity ofammunition and specie on board for the use of the colony.

  We inquired whether the captain was much hurt, as he did not appear ondeck.

  "He is dead, gentlemen," replied the young officer: "he was my father.Our loss has been very great. I am only a cadet, yet I am commandingofficer."

  A tear rolled down his cheek as he said that the captain was his father,and I felt for him. Shortly afterwards he staggered to a carronadeslide, and dropped down on it, and very soon was in a state ofinsensibility.

  The carnage had been dreadful, and the bulwarks of the vessel had beenshattered to pieces. The scene was almost as had as the Stella's decksbefore she was blown up by the negro captain. Several of the guns weredismounted and two of them had burst. I had only time to go round thegun-deck, and then I ordered two hands into the boat, that I might makemy report to Captain Delmar.

  I asked the third lieutenant to allow me to take on board the youngofficer, who still remained lifeless on the carronade slide, and, as itwas proper for me to bring back with me the commanding officer, heconsented. We lowered him with a rope into the boat, and then Ireturned on board of the Calliope, and went up to the captain to make myreport, and present him with the sword of the officer commanding theprize.

  Just as I was commencing my story, Mr Culpepper came up without hiswig, and in a state of great disorder, with a piece of dirty paper inhis hand. He trembled very much from the effects of his alarm, but madea very profound bow, and said to Captain Delmar--

  "Here is the state of killed and wounded, Captain Delmar, as far as Ihave been able to collect them. I could not possibly get themascertained before, although I have been an hour or two employed--eversince Mr Keene came down."

  The captain, who did not like the interruption, replied very haughtily,"Mr Culpepper, it's the duty of the surgeon to send in the report ofkilled and wounded. You had better go down below, get your dress in alittle better order. Now, Mr Keene."

  Old Culpepper slunk away as I proceeded to give the information, and thecaptain now asked the carpenter if the pinnace was sufficientlyrepaired.

  "In a few minutes, sir," was the reply.

  "Mr Hippesley, you must, then, send forty hands on board the prize torepair her damages, as far as we can. Mr Weymss must remain on board."

  In the meantime the young officer had been taken down below to thesurgeon, who had now some leisure to attend to him. He was soonrestored, and the surgeon expressed his opinion that it would bepossible to save his arm. I went down to see him, and I gave him myhammock to sleep in for the present, and as soon as he was comfortablyarranged under the half-deck I returned to the quarter-deck, and mademyself as useful as I could, for we had plenty to do on board of our ownfrigate, knotting and splicing, having only made temporary repairs.

  It was now dawn of day, and very soon afterwards broad daylight. Themen were ordered aft with the buckets, and the decks, which were smearedand black with powder and the blood of the wounded, were washed down.That we were all very tired I hardly need say, but it was not yet timefor repose; the magazines had been secured and the fires lighted.

  Another boat, with the carpenter and assistant-surgeon, had been sent onboard the prize to remedy any serious damage and to assist in dressingthe wounded. I was sent with the boat. Mr Weymss, the thirdlieutenant, had not been idle: jury-masts were in preparation, the deckshad been cleared, the dead thrown overboard, and the wounded takenbelow.

  On mustering the remainder of the Dort's ship's company, and callingover the muster-roll of the troops on board, we found that she had lostthe captain, 2 lieutenants and 10 officers, 73 seamen and 61 soldiers,killed; and the first-lieutenant, 13 officers, and 137 wounded--147killed and 151 wounded: total 298. She had received several shotbetween wind and water, and had a good deal of water in the hold: thiswas, however, soon remedied by the carpenter and his crew, and thefrigate pumped out by the prisoners.

  I returned on board of the Calliope with this intelligence to thecaptain, and found that the surgeon had just sent in the report of ourown loss, which was, 1 officer and 17 men killed--master, 2 lieutenants,2 midshipmen, and 47 wounded.

  "Do you know who are the midshipmen wounded?" said the captain to me.

  "I heard that Mr James was killed, sir, but not the names of those whoare wounded; but I think one of them must be Mr Dott, or we certainlyshould have seen him about."

  "I should not be surprised," replied the captain. "Sentry, ask who arethe young gentlemen wounded."

  The sentry replied, "Mr Castles and Mr Dott."

  "Well," replied the captain, "he'll be in no more mischief for sometime; I heard of his trick to the purser."

  As the captain was saying this, I perceived the piece of paper which thepurser had br
ought up as his report of killed and wounded lying on thetable with the other reports. It had, apparently, not been examined bythe captain, but my eye caught it, and I observed, written in a shakinghand, "Pieces of beef, 10; ditto pork, 19; raisins, 17; marines, 10." Icould not help smiling.

  "What are you amused with, Mr Keene, may I ask?" said the captain,rather gravely.

  "I beg your pardon, sir, for venturing so in your presence," replied I;"but it is Mr Culpepper's report of killed and wounded;" which I thentook up, and handed to the captain.

  This proof of Mr Culpepper's state of mind during the conflict was toomuch for even Captain Delmar, who laughed outright.

  "The old fool," muttered he.

  "You may go now, Mr Keene. If breakfast is ready, tell Mr Hippesleyto let the men have it as soon as possible."

  "Aye, aye, sir," replied I, and bowing respectfully, I quitted thecabin; for I felt that Captain Delmar thought that he had not been quiteso reserved towards me as he always wished to be.

  As soon as I had given the captain's orders, I went down to find outTommy Dott. He was in his hammock, next to mine, in which I had put theyoung Dutch officer. Dott was wide awake, and, apparently, veryfeverish.

  "Where are you hurt, Tommy?"

  "I am sure I don't know," said he. "Get me some water, Keene."

  I got a pannikin of water, and he drank it.

  "Don't you know where you are hurt?"

  "I believe it's my side--somewhere about the body, I know; but I'm sostiff all over, that I can't tell exactly where. Something hit me, andI fell right down the hatchway; that's all I know about it until I foundmyself in my hammock."

  "Well, at all events, you won't be punished now for dropping the quidinto Mr Culpepper's mouth."

  "No," replied Tommy, with a smile, in spite of his pain; "but I wouldhave played him a better trick than that if I had had any idea that weshould have been so soon in action. I wish I could turn round, Keene--Ithink I should be easier."

  I turned poor Tommy in his hammock, and then left him. I looked at theson of the Dutch captain--he was slumbering; he was a very slight youth,with very beautiful, but very feminine features. I felt a kindnesstowards him, poor fellow; for he had lost his father, and he was aboutto pass his best years in prison. But the boatswain's mates piped tobreakfast, and I hastened down into the berth to get my share of thecocoa.

  As soon as the men had finished their breakfast, the hands were againturned up, the lower deck cleared and washed, new sails bent and theguns properly secured; screens were put up round the half-deck where thewounded were in their beds. The dead were brought up and sewed up intheir hammocks, laid out on gratings, and covered with the ensign andunion jack, preparatory to their being committed to the deep. Anotherparty was sent to assist on board of the prize, and the prisoners werebrought on board, and put down in the fore-hold, which had been clearedfor their reception.

  By noon everything was so far ready that we were enabled to take theprize in tow, and make sail on the Calliope, after which the men, whowere exhausted, went to dinner, and were permitted to sleep during theremainder of the day until the evening, when the ship's company wasordered up, and the dead were committed to the deep blue sea with theusual ceremonies.

  The breeze was steady but the water was smooth during the night, andglad I was to throw myself on one of the lockers in the midshipmen'sberth, after so many hours of excitement. I slept till four in themorning, and finding the planks not quite so soft as they might be, Ithen turned into the hammock of the midshipman of the morning watch, andremained till six hells, when Bob Cross came down and told me that thecaptain would soon be on deck.

  "Well, Cross," said I, as I came on deck and went aft to look at theprize in tow, "this is a nice business, and our captain will gain agreat deal of credit."

  "And he deserves it, Master Keene," replied Cross: "as I said before, Inever had an idea that he could handle his ship so well--no, nor none ofthe ship's company. We all thought Mr Hippesley the best officer ofthe two, but we have found out our mistake. The fact is, Mr Keene,Captain Delmar wraps himself an in his dignity like a cloak, and there'sno making him out, till circumstances oblige him to take it off."

  "That's very true, Bob," replied I: "it is only this very morning thathe laughed himself, and I laughed also, and he pulled up immediatelyafterwards, twice as stiff to me as before."

  I then told Bob of Mr Culpepper's report, which amused him very much.

  "I am sure that he is pleased with you, Mr Keene, and I must say thatyou were very useful and very active."

  "Do you know that the carpenter says that we have received injuries thatcannot be well repaired without the ship going into dock, and I shouldnot be surprised if we were to be sent home, if the survey confirms hisreport. I hope we shall; I am tired of the West Indies, and I shouldlike to see my mother; we have a nice breeze now, and we are two pointsfree. If it lasts, we shall be at Jamaica in a fortnight or less."

  The captain coming on deck put an end to our conversation.

  Before night the prize had got up jury-masts, and sail set upon them,and we went through the water more rapidly. In ten days we arrived atPort Royal with our prize. The captain went on shore, and what wasstill more agreeable, we got rid of all our prisoners and wounded men.A survey, in consequence of the carpenter's report was held upon theCalliope, and the result was, she was ordered home to be repaired. TheDort was commissioned by the admiral, and Mr Hippesley received anacting order to the sloop of war, which had become vacant by thecommander of her being promoted into the Dort, which was now christenedthe Curacao.

  In ten days after our arrival we were ready, and made sail for OldEngland. Tommy Dott and the second lieutenant remained on board, andwere both convalescent before we entered the Channel. Tommy Dott'swound, by the bye, was a splinter in the back, added to severe bruisesfrom tumbling down the hatchway.

  Captain Delmar had shown great kindness to the son of the Dutch captainand he did not send him on shore with the rest of the prisoners, butpermitted him to remain, and come home in the Calliope. He recoveredslowly, but was soon out of danger, and was walking about with his armin a sling long before we arrived in England. It appeared to me that,during the passage home, old Culpepper was not so much in the goodgraces of Captain Delmar as he used to be; he was, however, moreobsequious than ever. We had a fine run home, and in seven weeks fromour leaving Port Royal, we dropped our anchor at Spithead.

  I may have been wrung, but it certainly did appear to me that as weneared the coast of England, the behaviour of Captain Delmar was morereserved to me (I may say it was harsher) than ever it had been before.Hurt at treatment which I felt I did not deserve, I tried to analyse thecause as I walked up and down the deck, and at last I decided that hispride was again alarmed. On the one hand he was returning to his owncountry, to meet with his aristocratical connections, and on the otherhe was reminded of my mother, and his _mesalliance_ with her--if such aterm can be used to a woman who had sacrificed herself to one above herin rank. At all events, I was the result of that connection, and Ipresumed that he was ashamed of it, and consequently kept me at adistance, and checked his feelings towards me. Perhaps he thought thatmy mother might be induced to disclose to me that which I had under hisown hand-writing, and wore next my heart; or he might consider I was nolonger a boy, but a tall young man, and one who might be induced toclaim his protection. Such were my reflections, and my resolutions weretaken accordingly--I wanted no Bob Cross to counsel me now.

  When the captain left the ship, I made no request, as did the othermidshipmen, for leave to see my friends; nor even when he returned onboard, which he did several times after the ship had gone into harbour,and was stripping, preparatory to being docked. One thing, however,gave me great satisfaction, which was, that when the despatch which webrought home was published, I found my name honourably mentioned inconjunction with other officers, and but three midshipmen were named.

  When the Calliope went into
dock the report of the dockyard was veryunfavourable. She required a thorough repair which would take somemonths. She was therefore ordered to be paid off. In the mean time thecaptain had gone to London. During his sojourn at Portsmouth I hadnever spoken to him, except on duty, and he had left me without a wordof explanation as to his intentions towards me. As soon, however, asthe order came down for paying off the ship, I received a letter fromhim, very cold and stiff, stating that I might, if I pleased, join anyother ship, and he would recommend me to the captain; or I might remainon the books of the guard-ship, and wait until he commissioned anothervessel, when he would be happy to take me with him.

  My reply was immediate. I thanked him for his kindness, and hoped Imight remain on board the guard-ship until he took the command ofanother vessel, as I did not wish to sail with any other captain. I hadbeen brought forward by him in the service, and preferred waiting formonths rather than lose his kind protection.

  The only reply to my letter was an order from the Admiralty, for me tobe discharged into the guard-ship when the Calliope was paid off.

  I hardly need say that I had written and received letters from mymother, who was delighted at my name being mentioned in the despatches;but I will defer family news till the proper opportunity, as I mustfirst tell all that occurred in the Calliope before she was paid off.

  The reader will recollect that the son of the Dutch captain, whose namewas Vangilt, had been permitted to come home in the ship, instead ofbeing sent to prison. He and I were very intimate and when I discoveredthat he was the cousin of Minnie Vanderwelt, I became more partial tohim. He was very melancholy during the passage home; how, indeed, couldhe be otherwise, with the prospect of being a prisoner during theremainder of the war? and he often expressed his feelings on thesubject.

  "Could you not escape?" said I, one evening.

  "I fear not," replied he. "If once out of prison, I have no doubt butthat I could get a conveyance over the Channel by means of thesmugglers; indeed, I have connections in England who would assist me."

  When Captain Delmar went away to town, he had quite forgotten the poorfellow, and Mr Weymss, who was the commanding officer, did not make anyspecial report of him as he thought he might defer it till the lastmoment, as every day out of prison would be so much gained by youngVangilt, who was a general favourite.

  In this instance, my regard for the young man made me quite forget myduty as an officer, and the Articles of War. I knew that I was about todo wrong; but I considered that, with so many thousand prisoners whichwe had in England, one more or less could be of no consequence, and Iset to work to see if I could not effect his escape.

  After much cogitation, I found I could do nothing without Bob Cross andI consulted with him. Bob shook his head, and said it was, he believed,hanging matter; but, after all, it was a pity that such a nice ladshould be peeping between iron bars. "Besides," continued he, "he losthis father in the action, and he ought not to lose his liberty also.Well, Mr Keene, show me how I can help you."

  "Why, Bob there's a very pretty little girl, who very often comesalongside with the old woman, and you go down into the boat and talkwith her."

  "Yes, sir," replied Bob, "that's the little girl I told you of, thatused to repeat her fables on my knee. The fact is, I hope to splice hersome of these days. It's her mother who is with her, and she will notlet her come on board to mix with the other women, because she is goodand modest; too good for me, I'm afraid, in one sense of the word."

  "How do you mean Bob?"

  "Why, sir, when I first knew her, she and her mother were living uponwhat they could earn, for the father was killed in action many yearsago, and I used to help them as far as I could; but now I find that,although they are not changed, things are, most confoundedly. Her unclelost his wife; he is considered a rich man, and being stone blind, andhaving no one to take care of him after his wife's death, he sent forthis girl and her mother to keep his house and he is very fond of thegirl, and declares that he will leave her all his money, and that sheshall marry well. Now, sir, if she was to marry me, a petty officeronly, it would not be considered that she married well; so you see, sir,there's a hitch."

  "Who and what was he?"

  "He was a smuggler, sir, and a very successful one; he has six or sevenhouses, all his own property besides the one he lives in himself. Helives about a quarter of a mile out of Gosport. I know all about him,although I have never seen him. Soon after he left off smuggling, helost his eyesight, and, somehow or another, he considered it was ajudgment upon him--at least his wife, who had joined the Ranters,persuaded him so--and so he took a religious turn, and now he doesnothing but pray, and call himself a poor blind sinner."

  "Well, Bob, but I do not see why you should give up the girl."

  "No, sir; nor will she or her mother give me up. I could marry herto-morrow without his consent, but I do not like to do her that injury."

  "He is stone-blind, you say?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "We'll talk your affair over another time. What I want at present is,to help this poor young Vangilt to escape. He says, that if once clear,the smugglers would put him on the other side of the water. Now, itappears to me that it would be very easy for him to get out of the shipunperceived, if he were dressed in woman's clothes, so many women aregoing and coming all day long."

  "Very true, sir, especially on pay-day, when nobody keeps any look-outat all. I see now, you want some of Mary's clothes for him; they wouldfit very well."

  "Exactly; and I think that, as her uncle had been a smuggler, we mightgo and consult him as to his escape over the water. Vangilt will pay100 pounds with pleasure--he told me so. That will be an introductionfor you as well as for me to the old fellow."

  "I think we had better let the old fellow suppose it's a woman--don'tyou, sir? But what shall we call ourselves?"

  "Why, I will be a sort of agent for ships, an you shall be a captain."

  "A captain! Mr Keene."

  "Yes; a captain, who has had a ship, and expects another. Why, you werea captain of the fore-top before you were rated coxswain."

  "Well, sir, I must consult Mary and her mother, and then I'll let youknow: they will come this afternoon. Perhaps in helping Mr Vangilt, Imay help myself."

  That night Bob Cross told me that Mary and her mother were quite willingto assist, and that they thought it would be a very good introduction toold Waghorn: that we must expect some religious scruples at first, butwe must persevere, and they had no doubt that the old man would contriveto get the young man over to Cherbourg, or some other place on the otherside; that we had better call on him in the evening, and they would beout of the way.

  As soon as the work was over for the day, Bob Cross and I obtainedleave, and set off for Mr Waghorn's house. We were met by Mary and hermother, who pointed it out to us, and then continued their walk. Wewent to the door, and found the old man smoking his pipe.

  "Who's there?" cried he, as we lifted the latch of the gate.

  "Friends, sir," replied Cross; "two persons who come to talk onbusiness."

  "Business! I've no business--I've done with business long ago: I thinkof nothing but my perishing soul--poor blind worm that I am."

  He was a very fine-looking old man, although weather-beaten, and hissilver locks hung down on his collar; his beard was not shaved, butclipped with scissors: his want of sight gave him a mournful look.

  "Nevertheless, sir, I must introduce myself and my friend, the captain,"replied I, "for we want your assistance."

  "My assistance! poor blind beetle--how can I assist you?"

  "The fact is, sir, that a young woman is very anxious to return to herfriends, on the other side of the water; and knowing that you haveacquaintance with those who run to and fro, we thought you might helpthe poor young woman to a passage."

  "That's to say, you've heard that I was a smuggler. People do say so;but, gentlemen, I now pay customs and excise--my tea has paid duty, andso has my tobacco; so d
oes everything--the king has his own. The Biblesays, `Render under Caesar the things which are Caesar's.' Gentlemen, Istand by the Bible. I am a poor, sinful old wretch--God forgive me."

  "We ask nothing against the Bible, Mr Waghorn; it's our duty to assistthose who are in distress; it's only a poor young woman."

  "A poor young woman. If she's poor, people don't do such work fornothing; besides, it's wrong, gentlemen--I've given up all that,--I've aprecious soul to look after, and I can't divert my attention from it. Iwish you good-bye, gentlemen."

  At this moment Mary and her mother returned, and we rose up. "MrsJames, is that you and Mary? Here's a captain and his friend come tome; but it's a fool's errand, and so I've told them."

  I then stated to Mrs James what we had come for, and begged that shewould persuade Mr Waghorn.

  "Well, Mr Waghorn, why won't you?--it's a good action, and will haveits reward in heaven."

  "Yes; but she's a poor young woman, and can't pay her passage, so it'sno use."

  "On the contrary," replied I, "the captain here will become security,that 100 pounds shall be paid down as soon as she arrives in any part ofFrance or Holland."

  "Will he? But who's the captain?"

  "I haven't a ship just now, but I expect one soon," replied Bob; "themoney shall be paid at once, if you will only receive the young womanuntil she can be sent off."

  "Well let me see--there's James Martin; no he won't do. There's WillSimpson; yes, that's the man. Well, it's a good act; and, captain, whenwill you bring the money?"

  Now the ship was to be paid off on Wednesday and as we had each threeyears' pay due, there was no difficulty about that; so I replied, "OnWednesday, the captain will give the money to this lady, or whoevercomes with us to receive the young woman; will you not, Captain Cross?"

  "Oh! certainly; the money is ready at an hour's notice," replied Bob."I'm sure that she'll pay me back, if she can; and if she can't, it's ofno consequence."

  "Well, well, it's a bargain," replied the old man. "I'm a poor blindbeetle, a sinful old soul; I've nothing to do but to make my peace withHeaven. It's charity--`Charity covereth a multitude of sins,' saith St.Paul. Recollect 100 pounds--that's the bargain. I'll send Mrs Jamesto you; you must not call again till she's on the other side of thewater."

  "Many thanks, sir," replied Bob. "I won't call till I hear she is safe,and then I'll bring you some tobacco to smoke, such as you don't oftenpick up nowadays."

  "Happy to see you, Captain Cross, and your friend there," replied theold man.

  We then took our leave. Mrs James, after we were gone, praised theappearance of Captain Cross, as such a nice-looking man, and old Waghornevidently thought well of him by the answer he made. Mary, however,pretended to prefer me.

  As soon as I returned on board, I told young Vangilt what I had beenabout. He wrung my hand, and the tears started in his eyes. "You, asan officer, are indeed risking much for me. As to the money, you knowme, I trust, too well, not to be sure of receiving it as soon as I cansend it; but I never can repay your kindness."

  "Perhaps you may be able to help me one of these days," I replied. "Whoknows? It's fortune of war, my good fellow; but it's as well not to beseen too much together." So saying, I left him.

  The next day, Mrs James came off with the necessary garments and bonnetfor his escape, and they were given me by Bob Cross. The day after waspay-day; and the ship was in such a state of confusion, and there wereso many people on board, that there was no difficulty whatever. Vangiltchanged his clothes in the midshipmen's berth, which was empty, and BobCross handed him down the side into the boat, where Mrs James waited toreceive him. Bob and I had both been paid, and we gave her the 100pounds for old Waghorn. The boat shoved off; Vangilt arrived safe atWaghorn's house, where he was kept concealed for eight days, when, forthe sum of 20 pounds, he was safely landed on the French coast, oldWaghorn having pocketed 80 pounds by the transaction which, consideringhe acted out of pure charity, was a pretty good reward.

  Having thus successfully managed, by being guilty of high treason, inaiding and abetting the enemy, I bade farewell to Bob Cross, leaving himto follow up his amour, while I went to Chatham to pay my respects to mymother. I had made up my mind how to act. I was no longer a child, buta man in reflection as well as appearance.

  I arrived, and hastened to the house from which I had escaped somysteriously the last time I was in it. My mother threw herself in myarms, embracing me, and then looking at me with surprise and pleasure.Three years and a half had changed me; she hardly knew me, for herassociation of ideas had still pictured me as the smart stripling whomshe had, with so much anguish, consigned into the hands of Bob Cross.She was proud of me--my adventures, my dangers, my conduct, and myhonourable mention in the Gazette, were all known to her, and she hadbeen evidently congratulated by many upon my successful career. Mygrandmother, who had grown much older in appearance, seemed to besoftened towards me, and I had sense enough to receive her advances withgreat apparent cordiality. My aunt and the captain were delighted tosee me, and I found that my two cousins, of whose appearance I had beenduly apprised, were very pretty children. I found that my mother hadtwo assistants in her business and everything appeared to be on agrander scale, and more flourishing than ever.

  The first two or three days were devoted to narratives, communications,explanations, and admirations, as is usually the case after so long anabsence; after which we quietly settled down in the relative positionsof mother and son, and she assumed, or rather would have assumed, hercontrol over me; but this was not my wish; I had made up my mind that,although a clever woman, I must in future control her, and I took thefirst opportunity of a long _tete-a-tete_ to let her know that such wasmy intention.

  Speaking of Captain Delmar, I at once told her that I knew he was myfather, and that I had his own handwriting to prove it. She denied itat first; but I told her that all denial was useless, that I hadpossession of the letter he had written to her upon my supposed death,and that it was no ghost, but I, who had frightened my grandmother.

  This was my first blow, and a heavy one, to my poor mother; for whatwoman can bear to be humiliated by her offspring being acquainted withher indiscretion? I loved my mother, and would fain have spared herthis pang, had it not been that all my future plans were based upon thisone point, and it was necessary she should aid and abet me in them.

  My poor mother was bowed to the earth when she found that it was in vainto deny my parentage; she covered her face with her hands in deep shamebefore her child, but I consoled, and caressed, and told her (what Ireally felt), that I was indebted to her for not being the son of aprivate marine; that, at all events, I had noble blood in my veins, andwould prove myself worthy of my descent, whether it were acknowledged ornot; but from that hour I took the command over her--from that hour itwas I that dictated, and her authority as a parent was gone for ever.Let it not be imagined that I treated her harshly; on the contrary, Iwas more kind, and, before other people, more dutiful than ever I wasbefore. She was my only confidant, and to her only did I explain thereasons of my actions: she was my adviser, but her advice was not thatof a parent, but that of an humble, devoted, and attached friend; andduring the remainder of her days this position was never altered.

  As soon as my mother had acknowledged the fact there was no longer anyreservation on my part. I told her what was the conduct of CaptainDelmar towards me. I pointed out his checking any display of paternalfeelings towards me, and also the certainty that I had that he waspartial to and proud of me. I explained to her the line of conductwhich I had pursued, and was determined still to pursue, towards him.

  "Percival," said my mother, "I see the judiciousness of what you say andof your behaviour towards him; but allow me to ask you: What is theobject you are aiming at--I mean particularly aiming at? Of course youhope to obtain advancement from his interest, and perhaps, if he becomesmore attached to you, he may not forget you when he dies; but it appearsto me that you ha
ve something nearer to your heart than all this--tellme, am I right?"

  "You are, my dear mother; my great end is, that Captain Delmar shouldacknowledge me as his son."

  "I fear that he will never do that, Percival; nor, indeed, do I thinkyou would gain by it. When you are more advanced in the world, yourparentage may be considered as obscure, but still, being born inwedlock, it will be more respectable than the acknowledgment you wouldseek from Captain Delmar. You are not aware of the affronts you maymeet with by obtaining what you evidently wish; and once known as theson of Captain Delmar, you may wish that it was never promulgated."

  "I was born in wedlock, mother, as you say, and as many others are, whonow are peers of the realm, and in virtue of their being born inwedlock, succeed to property to which they would otherwise not beentitled. Your shame (excuse me for using the word) and my disgrace areequally covered by that wedlock, which is an answer to any accusationsof illegitimacy. As to affronts, I do not fear them, or ever shall,from those who know me. I can defend and protect myself; but it is agreat difference to me to let the world suppose that I am the son of Benthe marine, when I know myself to be the son of the future Lord deVersely. I wish to be acknowledged by Captain Delmar in such a way asto convince the world that such is the fact, without the world beingable to throw it up in my face. That is easily done if Captain Delmarchooses to do it; and if done as it ought to be done, will lead to mybenefit. At all events, it will satisfy my pride; for I feel that I amnot the son of your husband, but have blood boiling in my veins whichwould satisfy the proudest aristocrat. I prefer the half relation tothat class, such as it is, with all its penalties to being supposed tobe the son of the man whom, from prudential motives alone, you took tobe your husband."

  "Well, Percival, I cannot blame you; and do not you, therefore, blameyour mother too much, when you consider that the same feeling was thecause of her becoming your mother."

  "Far from it my dear mother," replied I; "only let us now act inconcert. I require your assistance. Allow me to ask you one question--Have you not realised a sufficient sum of money to enable you to retirefrom our business?"

  "I certainly have, my dear Percival, much more than is necessary for meto live in comfort, and I may say, some little luxury; but I havethought of you, and for your sake, every year, have continued to add tomy profits."

  "Then, my dear mother, for my sake give up your business as soon aspossible; money is not my object."

  "Tell me what your reasons are for this demand."

  "My dear mother, I will be candid with you. I wish you to retire frombusiness, and leave this place for any distant part of England; I wishyou to change your name, and, in one word, I wish Captain Delmar shouldbelieve that you are dead."

  "An why so, Percival? I cannot see how that will benefit you; it was onmy account that he took charge of you. You are not sure that he may notbe severed from you, and who knows but that my supposed death mayoccasion him to desert you altogether?"

  "You assist my cause, my dear mother, by what you say, if it is on youraccount that Captain Delmar is my friend; and if as you say, he mightdesert me when you are dead, or supposed to be so, it is evident thathis motive of action must be fear. You have the secret of my birth,which he supposes to be known only to you and to him. I am convincedthat if you were supposed dead, and that the secret was his own, if hethought that there was no proof whatever against him, he would then notcare showing towards me that regard which he is inclined to feel as afather, and which is now checked by his pride. Captain Delmar isnaturally of a kind and affectionate disposition--that I am sure of.Your memory would do more for me than your existence ever can, and asfor the rest, leave that to me. At all events, if he should, as I donot believe he will, be inclined to throw me off, I have still hiswritten acknowledgment that I am his son, to make use of in case ofnecessity. Now, my dear mother, you must consent to do as I wish. Giveup your business as soon as possible, and retire to another part of thecountry. When I consider it a proper time to do so, your death shall bemade known to him. I have no doubt that he will be afloat again in afew months, and when we are out of England I will bide the proper time."

  "But your grandmother, Percival--must I tell her?"

  "No; tell her only that you intend to retire from business and go awayfrom Chatham; say that you will in future reside in Devonshire, and askher to accompany you. Depend upon it she will be pleased with yourintentions. As to what we arrange relative to Captain Delmar, saynothing to her--she hates his very name, and is not likely to talk abouthim."

  "Well, Percival you will allow me till to-morrow to think about itbefore I give a decided answer."

  "Certainly, my dear mother; I wish you so to do, as I am convinced thatyou will agree with me; and I infinitely prefer that you should decideon conviction, than be induced by maternal regard."

  As I was well assured, my mother's decision was favourable to my wishes.She consulted with my grandmother, who approved of her intentions, andthen it was made public that Mrs Keene intended to retire frombusiness, and that the good-will was to be disposed of along with thestock. My aunt Milly and Captain Bridgeman appeared well content thatmy mother should take the step which she proposed. In short, all thefamily approved of the measure, which is not a very usual circumstancein this world. I now employed myself in assisting my mother in heraffairs. In a month we found a purchaser of the stock and good-will,and when the sum paid was added to my mother's former accumulations, shefound herself possessed of 12,000 pounds in the Three per Cents, theinterest of which, 360 pounds, was more than sufficient for her livingcomfortably in Devonshire, especially as my grandmother had stillremaining an income very nearly amounting to 200 pounds per annum.

  In another month everything was arranged, and my mother bade farewell toher sister and all her friends, and left Chatham, after having residedthere more than seventeen years.

  Long before my mother had removed from Chatham I received a letter fromyoung Vangilt, announcing his safe arrival in Amsterdam, and enclosingan order to receive the money advanced, from a house in London. Hisletter was very grateful, but, as I had cautioned him, not one word wasin it which could implicate me, had it fallen into other hands.

  I may as well here observe, that in the hurry of paying off the ship,Vangilt was never missed, and although it did occur to the commandingofficer after he had gone on shore that Mr Vangilt had not been sent toprison, he thought it just as well not to raise a question which mightget himself into a scrape; in short, nothing was thought or said aboutit by anybody.

  A few days before my mother quitted Chatham I went up to London toreceive the money, and then went to Portsmouth to repay the portionbelonging to Bob Cross. I found that Bob had made good use of his time,and that the old smuggler now received him as a suitor to his niece.

  As however, Mary was still very young--not yet seventeen--and Bob hadacknowledged that he had not laid by much money as yet, the old man hadinsisted that Bob Cross should get another ship, and try a voyage or twomore before he was spliced; and to this arrangement both the mother andMary persuaded him to consent. I went to call upon them with Bob, anddid all I could, without stating what was not true, to give the old mana favourable opinion of Cross. I even went so far as to say that if hecould not procure another vessel, I was ready to put down a sum of moneyto assist him; and so I was; and had it been requisite, I have no doubtbut that my mother would have advanced it; but Bob, a fine seaman, notyet thirty years old, was always sure of a ship--that is, a man-of-war.To save himself from impressment, Cross had dressed himself in longtoggery as a captain of a merchant vessel, and was believed to be such.

  Having satisfied myself that everything went on favourably in thatquarter, I again returned to Chatham, that I might escort my mother andgrandmother into Devonshire. We bade farewell to my aunt and CaptainBridgeman, and set off for London, where we remained a few days at anhotel, and then took the day coach down to Ilfracombe, where my motherhad decided upon taking up
her future residence, changing her name toOgilvie, which had been my grandmother's maiden name.

  Ilfracombe was then a beautiful retired spot, and well suited to mymother from its cheapness: with their joint incomes, my grandmother andshe could command anything they wished. We soon hired a very prettylittle cottage _ornee_, ready furnished, as my mother would not furnisha house until she had ascertained whether there were no drawbacks to thelocality. I ought to observe, that my grandmother now appeared quite aspartial to me as she had before been otherwise. I treated her withgreat respect.

  Although it was not difficult to obtain a renewal of leave from aguard-ship, after I had remained six weeks with my mother, it wasnecessary that I should make my appearance at Portsmouth. It wasarranged that I should take my departure for Portsmouth in three days,when, on reading the Plymouth newspaper, I learnt that thenewly-launched frigate Manilla, of 44 guns, was put in commission, andthat the Honourable Captain Delmar had come down and hoisted hispennant. This, of course, changed my plans. I resolved to set off forPlymouth, and wait upon Captain Delmar. I wrote to Bob Cross, enclosingan order for my chest and bedding on board of the guard-ship atPortsmouth, acquainting him with my intention, but requesting him not toact until he heard from me again.

  I had a long conversation with my mother, from whom I obtained a renewalof her promise to abide and act by my instructions. I took a respectfulfarewell of my grandmother, who gave me 100 pounds, which I did notwant, as my mother had given me a similar sum, and then set off forPlymouth.

  The reader may perhaps inquire how it was that Captain Delmar--as he hadpromised to pay my expenses--had not made any offer of the kind, orcommunicated with me on the subject? But the fact was, that he knew Ihad three years' pay due, besides the prize-money for the Dutch frigate,which, however, I had not yet received, although it was payable. Inpecuniary matters I was certainly well off, as my mother desired that Iwould draw for any money that I required, feeling convinced that, beingaware of her circumstances, I should not distress her by anyextravagancies in that she did me justice.

  I was now eighteen years old, and just starting again on my career. AsI grew up, my likeness to Captain Delmar became more remarkable everyday. My mother could not help observing it even to me. "I almost wishthat it was not so, my dear mother. I fear it will be the cause ofannoyance to Captain Delmar; but it cannot be helped. At all events, itmust satisfy him, allowing that he has any doubt (which I am sure he hasnot), that I am his own child."

  "That I believe to be quite unnecessary," replied my mother with a deepsigh.

  "I should think so too, my dear mother," replied I, caressing herkindly. "At all events, I will prove, whether I ever obtain it or not,that I am not unworthy of the name of Delmar: but I must wait nolonger--the coach is about to start. Adieu, and may God bless you."

  On my arrival at Plymouth--or Plymouth Dock, as Devonport was thencalled--I inquired at which hotel Captain Delmar had taken up hisquarters. It was the one to which I had intended to have gone myself;but I immediately had my luggage taken to another, for I really believethat Delmar would have considered it a great liberty for any one of hisofficers to presume, to lie down in the same caravanserai as himself.The next morning I sent up my name and was admitted.

  "Good morning, Mr Keene," said the captain. "I presume that you havecome down to request to join my ship, and I therefore consent before youmake the request. I trust you will always show the same zeal anddeference to your officers that you did in the Calliope. You have grownvery much, and are now a young man. I shall give you the rating ofmate, and I trust you will not do discredit to my patronage."

  "I trust not, Captain Delmar," replied I. "I have but one wish in theworld, which is to please you, who have so befriended me from myboyhood. I should be very ungrateful if I did not do my duty with zealand fidelity; I am indebted to you for everything, and I am aware I mustlook to you for every future prospect. I have to thank you, sir, foryour great kindness in publishing my name in the public Gazette."

  "You deserved it, Mr Keene, and it certainly will be of great advantageto you when you have served your time. Has your time gone on since theCalliope was paid off?"

  "Yes, sir; I am still on the books of the Salvadore?"

  "How much time have you served?"

  "Nearly four years and a half, sir."

  "Well, the rest will soon be over; and if you do your duty, my patronageshall not be wanting."

  Here there was a bow on my part, and a pause, and I was backing out withanother bow, when the captain said, "How is your mother, Mr Keene?"

  "She has been advised to retire from business, and to settle in thecountry," replied I, mournfully; "her health is such, that--" Here Istopped, as I preferred deceiving him by implication, or rather allowinghim to deceive himself.

  "I am sorry to hear that," replied he; "but she never was strong as ayoung woman." Here the captain stopped, as if he had said too much.

  "No, sir," replied I; "when in the service of Mrs Delmar she could notbe put to anything that required fatigue."

  "Very true," replied the captain. "You may go on board, Mr Keene, anddesire my clerk to make out a letter, requesting your discharge from theSalvadore into the Manilla. Do you require anything?"

  "No, sir, I thank you. I need not trespass on your generosity just now.Good morning, sir."

  "Good morning, Mr Keene."

  "I beg your pardon Captain Delmar," said I, as I held the door ajar;"but should you like Robert Cross, your former coxswain, should join youin the same capacity? I know where he is."

  "Yes, Mr Keene, I should like to have him: he was a steady, good man.You will oblige me by writing to him, and requesting him to joinimmediately. Where is he?"

  "At Portsmouth, Captain Delmar."

  "Very well; tell him to come round as fast as he can. By the bye, youwill have two of your old messmates--Mr Smith, the master, and MrDott. I hope the latter is a little more steady than he was. I was inhopes to have had your old acquaintance, Mr Culpepper, with us; but hedied about six weeks back--a fit, or something of that kind."

  "Thank heaven for that," thought I. Again I made my most respectfulbow, and quitted the room.

  I returned to my own hotel, and sitting down, I began to reflect uponthe interview. I recalled all that had passed, and I made up my mindthat I was right in preparing him for the report of my mother's death:his reception of me was all that I could have expected from him--it wascordial; but my blood boiled when I called to mind that he had only madea casual inquiry after my mother, as I was leaving the room; and thenhis checking himself because he had inadvertently said that she was notstrong when she was a young woman. "Yes," thought I; "he cannot bearthe remembrance of the connection; and it is only for myself, and notfrom any natural affection of a parent, that he cares for me; or if hedoes care for me as his son, it is because I have his blood in my veins;and he despises and looks down upon the mother. I am sure that he willbe anything but sorry to hear that my mother is dead, and he shall begratified. I will now write to her."

  I could not help observing that there was some change in the appearanceof Captain Delmar. Strange to say, he looked more youthful; and as Icompared our two faces in the mirror on the mantel-piece behind him,when I stood up, he appeared more like me in appearance than ever. Whatwas it? "Oh!" thought I, "I have it. His hair is no longer mixed withgrey: he must wear a wig." This was the fact, as I afterwardsascertained; the colour of his wig was, however, much darker than my ownhair.

  By the same post I wrote to Bob Cross, acquainting him with what hadpassed, and begging him to come round by the first water conveyance, andbring my chest and bedding with him. I then walked down to the dockyardto have a look at the Manilla, which was, as I had heard, a splendidvessel; went up again to order a mate's uniform, and returned to thehotel. It was useless going to the ship at that time, as the marinesand boys had only been drafted into her that morning; and there wasnothing to do until she was clear of t
he shipwrights, who were still onboard of her, and employed in every part of her. The first lieutenanthad not yet come down. The master was the only officer who had joined,and he had hoisted the pennant. I was delighted to find that he was tosail with us; and we passed that evening together.

  During the evening the master said, "I hear there are plenty of good menstowed away by the crimps at different places. I wish we could onlyfind out where they are, and get hold of them. I fear, if we do not, weshall either be badly manned in haste from the Tower tender, or have towait a long while before we sail. Now, Keene, don't you think you couldmanage so as to get us some men?"

  "I've got one already," replied I: "Bob Cross, the captain's coxswain."

  "And a real good one too," replied the master; "the best helmsman we hadin the Calliope. You and he were very thick together."

  "Yes," replied I: "when I came on board, a mere lad, he was very kind tome, and I am very partial to him in consequence."

  That night after the master and I had parted, I thought over thequestion he had put to me, as to obtaining good seamen for the ship, andI made up my mind that I would wait till Cross arrived, and consult withhim as to a project which I had in my head. In the mean time I went toa slop-shop by the dockyard wall, and provided myself with a commonsailor's toggery, of the real cut, with a banyan covered hat, and allcomplete. Three days afterwards Cross joined me, having found a passageround in a cutter; and as soon as I had talked over his affairs, Iproposed my plan to him, in which he heartily coincided.

  That I did this to please the captain is certain: I had no other view.It was necessary, however, that I obtained the captain's permission, andI went to him and explained my ideas. The captain was too willing tolet me try it, and thanked me for my zeal.

  "Go on board, Mr Keene, and tell them I have given you six weeks' leaveof absence, and then you can do as you propose."

  I did so, for it was absolutely necessary that as few as possible shouldbe acquainted with what I was about, as I ran a great risk. I have nohesitation in saying that I should have been made away with by thecrimps, had they discovered me.

  I dressed myself as a common seaman, darkened my face, and dirtiedmyself a little, especially on the hands, and Bob Cross and I then wentat night into one of the low public houses, with which the town isfilled; there we pretended to be much alarmed lest we should be pressed,and asked for a back-room to smoke and drink in. We called in thelandlord, telling him we were second mates of vessels, and not securefrom the impress; that we never were at Plymouth before, our shipshaving put in damaged, and that the crew were discharged; and asked ifthere was no safe place where we could be stowed until we could findanother vessel ready to start.

  He replied, that there was a house at Stonehouse where we could be quitesafe; but that, of course, we must pay the crimps well for our board andlodging and that they would find us a ship when we wished to go; andfurther, that we must give him something handsome for taking us there.To this we agreed, and at midnight we set off in company with ourlandlord, each of us carrying our bundles, and in less than an hourarrived at a sort of farm-house detached from the road.

  After a short parley we obtained entrance, and were taken into a smallroom where the crimp inquired of us what money we had, and then told uswhat his charges were. The reason of his doing this was, because if wehad no money, or very little, he would have disposed of us very soon bysending us on board of some ship, and obtaining an advance of our wagesfrom the captain as his indemnification; but if we had plenty of money,he would then keep us as long as he could that he might make his profitof us; his charges were monstrous, as may be supposed, and we hadreplied that we had very little money. We contrived to look as carelessand indifferent as we could, agreed to everything, paid the landlord ofthe pothouse a guinea each for taking us to the house, and were thenushered into a large room, where we found about twenty seamen sitting ata long table, drinking, and playing cards and dominoes.

  They did not appear to notice us, they were so busy either playing orlooking on. Cross called for a pot of ale, and we sat down at thefarther end of the table.

  "What a dislike the men must have to the press," said Cross to me, "whenthey submit to be mured up here in prison."

  "Yes, and cheated by such a scoundrel as the crimp appears to be."

  "Don't talk so loud, Jack," replied Cross; for I had insisted upon hiscalling me Jack, "lest we should be overheard."

  We then asked to go to bed, and were shown by the crimp into a roomwhich had about fourteen beds in it.

  "You may take your choice of those five," said he, pointing to fivenearest the door: "I always come up and take away the candle."

  As we found some of the other beds occupied, we did not resume ourconversation, but went to sleep.

  The next morning we found that we mustered about thirty-five, many ofthe more steady men having gone to bed before we arrived. Afterbreakfast, Cross and I each entered into conversation with a man, andpumped them very cleverly. Our chief object was, to ascertain thehouses of the other crimps, and, as the men knew most of them, havinginvariably resorted to them at the end of their voyages, we obtained thelocality of five or six, all apparently public-houses, but having backpremises for the concealment of seamen: all these were carefully noteddown.

  As we became more intimate, the seamen, who were glad to talk, fromweariness of confinement, asked us many questions. We said that we haddeserted from a man-of-war, and then a hundred questions were asked usas to our treatment. I allowed Bob Cross to be spokesman, and hisreplies were very sensible. He told them that all depended upon whatsort of captains and first lieutenants were on board; that he had beenpressed twice: the first time he was comfortable enough, and made 200pounds prize-money in eight months; but in the last man-of-war he wasvery uncomfortable, and had therefore cut and run. Altogether, he madethe service appear much more favourable than they supposed, although thecrimp, who had stood by, did all he could to persuade the men to thecontrary.

  We remained in this house for more than a week, and then declared thatwe had no more money, and must find a ship. The crimp said that he hada berth for one of us as second mate of a brig, and I agreed to take it,leaving Bob Cross to get a berth for himself as soon as he could. As Iraid up, there was no demand upon the owners of the vessel, and it wasarranged that I should be down at a certain wharf at three o'clock inthe morning, when I should find a boat waiting for me. I waited up withBob Cross until the clock had struck two, and then the crimp let me out.He did not offer to go down with me, as he had no money to receive;and, as it was pitch-dark, there was little chance of my being picked upby a press-gang at that hour. I wished Cross good-bye, and set off forPlymouth Dock with my bundle on my stick.

  Not knowing where to go at such an hour, I walked about to see if Icould perceive a light in any house: I did so at last through the chinksof the shutters of a small ale-house, and tapped at the door; it wasopened, I was ushered in, and the door closed immediately upon me. Ifound myself in the presence of several marines with their side-arms,and seamen with cutlasses. An officer started up from his seat, andcollaring me said, "You're just the fellow we want. We're in luckto-night." In fact, I was in the hands of a press-gang, and I waspressed myself.

  "Yes, he'll do: he'll make a capital maintop-man," said a midshipman,getting up and surveying me.

  I looked at him, and perceived my old acquaintance Mr Tommy Dott, growna great deal taller; I perceived that he did not recognise me. "But,sir," said I to the officer of the party, who was so disguised that Icould not tell his rank, "suppose I belong to a man-of-war already?"

  "That you do not; or if you do, you must be a deserter, my good fellow;that is evident by your stick and bundle. Now sit down and drink somebeer, if you like; you are going to serve in a fine frigate--you may aswell make yourself comfortable, for we shall not go on board yet, forthis hour."

  I determined to keep up my _incognito_, as it amused me. I sat down,and it then occurred
to me that my not going on board of the vesselmight lead to an explanation with the crimp, and that an alarm might becreated and the men dispersed in consequence. There were still twohours to daylight, and if I could take up the press-gang, we mightsecure all the men in the house before the dawn of day.

  As I had just made up my mind to act, there was a stamping of feetoutside and a knock at the door. When it was opened, another portion ofthe press-gang, headed by another officer, entered. I counted heads,and found that they mustered thirty hands--quite sufficient, as theywere armed, to secure all my late companions. I therefore went up tothe officer, and begged to speak with him aside.

  I then told him that I had just come from a crimp's house nearStonehouse, where I left in their beds thirty-five as fine men as everwalked a plank, and that, as I was pressed myself, I did not mindtelling him where they were, and he could take them all.

  The officer curled up his lip, as if to say, "You're a pretty scoundrelto betray your companions," but immediately resolved to act upon it.Without stating his intentions, he ordered all the men out, and puttingme between two marines, so as to prevent my escaping, I was desired tolead on. I did so, and we proceeded in silence until we arrived near tothe house. I then pointed out to the officer that it must besurrounded, or the men would escape, and that it must be done verycarefully, as there was a large dog which would be sure to give thealarm. My advice was attended to, and when all the men were at theirstations, the whole advanced slowly towards the house. The dogcommenced baying, as I had foreseen, and shortly afterwards the crimpput his head out of a window, and perceived that the press-gang werebelow. But all attempts to force an entrance were in vain, every windowbelow, and the doors, being secured with iron bars.

  "Is there no way of getting into this den?" said the officer to me.

  "Why sir, I'll try."

  As Bob Cross had given another name, I knew that I risked nothing incalling out his, and I therefore requested the officer to imposesilence, and when it was obtained, I cried out, "Bob Cross! Bob Cross!!Where's Bob Cross?"

  After that, I went to the small door at the side of the house, which ledto the homestead, and again cried out, "Bob Cross!--where's Bob Cross?"

  I then told the officer that we must wait patiently, and that if it wasdaylight before we got in, all the better.

  About ten minutes after that, as I remained at the small door, I heardthe bars quietly removed; I then requested the officer to attempt toforce the small door, and it yielded almost immediately to theirefforts.

  "Now, sir, leave a guard at the other door, that they may not open it,and escape by it, also five or six hands to catch any who may jump outof the upper windows, and then enter with the rest of your party."

  "You know what you are about, at all events," said he, giving thedirections which I had pointed out, and then entering with the remainderof his party, with the exception of one marine that held me by the arm,with his bayonet drawn.

  The scuffle within was very severe, and lasted for many minutes: atlast, the armed force, although not so numerous, prevailed, and one byone, the men were brought out, and taken charge of by the marines, untilthe whole of them were discovered in their retreats, and secured.

  Day now dawned, and it was time to be off. To make more secure, thepressed men were lashed two and two, with small rope, which had beenprovided on purpose. Bob Cross, who, of course, had not mixed in theaffray, gave me a nod of recognition, and we set off as fast as the mencould be persuaded to move; certainly not a very gay procession, foralthough the wounds were not dangerous, there was scarcely one of theparty, amounting in all to upwards of sixty men, who was not bleeding.Hardly a word was exchanged. We were all put into the boats, and rowedoff to the hulk appropriated to the crew of the frigate, until she wasrigged, and as soon as we were on board, we were put below under thecharge of sentries.

  "What! you here?" said some of the pressed men.

  "Yes," replied I: "they picked me up as I went to ship myself lastnight." The crimp, who had been brought on board with the others, thenstarted forward. "It is he who has blown upon us; I'll swear to it."

  "You may swear if you please," replied I; "that will do you no good, andme no harm."

  The crimp talked with the other men, and then indignation was levelledagainst me. Most of them swore they would be even with me, and have mylife if they could; indeed, they could hardly be prevented laying handsupon me; but Bob Cross told the sentry, and he interfered with hisbayonet; notwithstanding which, fists continued to be shook in my face,and vengeance threatened every minute.

  "I told you, my lads," said Bob Cross, "that I have been on board of aman-of-war before this, and you'd better mind what you're about, oryou'll repent it; at all events, if one of you touches him, you'll havefive dozen lashes at the gangway before to-morrow morning."

  This made the poor fellows more quiet; most of them lay down, and triedto sleep off their misery.

  "Why don't you make yourself known, Mr Keene?" said Cross to me, in awhisper: "I saw the master go on the quarterdeck just now."

  "I think I had better not: there are more houses to examine, and if mytrick was known, it would soon get wind from the women, and I should bewaylaid, and perhaps murdered by the crimps. The captain will be onboard by ten o'clock, I have no doubt, and then I will contrive to seehim, somehow or another."

  "But you could trust the master--why not see him?"

  "I'll think of it--but there's no hurry."

  I was afraid that Tommy Dott would have discovered me, and I kept out ofhis way as much as I could.

  "I'll tell you what, sir--as I've not joined the ship, why not let it besupposed that I am impressed with the other men, and then I can send forMr Dott and make myself known? The commanding officer will, of course,send for me, and I will enter, and then I shall be allowed to go about,and can speak to the captain when he comes on board."

  "Well, that is not a bad idea. Talk to the sentry."

  "Who's the captain of this ship, sentry?" said Bob Cross.

  "Captain Delmar."

  "Delmar!--why, he's my old captain. Did not I see a Mr Dott, amidshipman?"

  "Yes there is a Mr Dott on board."

  "Well, I wish you would just pass the word to Mr Dott, to say that oneof the pressed men wishes to speak to him."

  The sentry did so, and Mr Dott came down.

  "How d'ye do, Mr Dott?" said Bob Cross, while I turned away.

  "What Cross, is that you? Are you dressed?"

  "Yes, sir, can't be helped. I'm glad I'm to sail with you, sir. What'sbecome of Mr Keene?"

  "Oh, I don't know; but if he's not hanged by this time, I believe thathe's to join the ship."

  "Won't I pull your ears for that?" thought I.

  "What other officers have we of the Calliope, sir?"

  "There's the master, Mr Smith, and the surgeon."

  "Well, Mr Dott, one must always make a virtue of necessity. Tell MrSmith that I shall enter for the ship; and I'll put my name down atonce, instead of being penned up here."

  "That's right, Cross; and I say, you chaps, you'd better follow a goodexample. Sentry, let this man go with me."

  Bob Cross then went with Tommy Dott, and entered for the service. Themaster was very glad to see him again and said, "Why, Cross, Mr Keenesaid that you had promised him to join us."

  "Why, sir, so I had; but it's a long story. However, it's all the samein the end: here I am, and I hope I shall get my old rating."

  Soon after, Bob Cross came down and said, "Well, my lads, I'm free now,and I advise you all to do the same. Come, Jack," said he to me, "whatd'ye say?"

  "No, no," replied I. "I won't unless all the rest do."

  Bob then took me on one side, and told me what had taken place, andasked me what he should say to the captain. I told him, and then heleft us.

  At ten o'clock the captain came on board. Bob Cross went up to him andsaid he wished to say something to him in the cabin. He followed thecaptain dow
n, and then explained to him that I was among the pressed menbut as a means of obtaining plenty more men, I had remained among them,and had not made myself known, for fear my trick should get wind; alsothat I thought the crimp should be kept on board, although he was of nouse as a seaman.

  "Mr Keene has behaved very prudently," replied Captain Delmar. "Iunderstand his motives--leave the rest to me."

  A few minutes after Bob had communicated to me what the captain hadsaid, the pressed men were ordered up, and ranged along thequarter-deck. A finer set of men I never saw together: and they allappeared to be, as they afterwards proved to be prime seamen. Thecaptain called them one by one and questioned them. He asked them toenter, but they refused. The crimp begged hard to be released. Theirnames were all put down on the ship's book together.

  The captain, turning to me--for I had stood up the last of the row--said, "I understand the officer of the impress agreed to release you ifyou would tell him where your comrades were. I don't like losing a goodman, but still I shall let you go in consequence of the promise beingmade. There, you may take a boat and go on shore."

  "Thank your honour," replied I. I went to the gangway immediately; butI never shall forget the faces of the pressed men when I passed them:they looked as if I had a thousand lives, and they had stomach enough totake them all.

  I went on shore immediately, and going to my hotel, washed the colourand dirt off my face, dressed myself in my mate's uniform, and went tothe hotel where the captain lived. I found that he had just come onshore, and I sent up my name, and I was admitted. I then told thecaptain the information which we had received with regard to nine or tenmore houses, and that I thought I might now go on board, and never berecognised.

  "You have managed extremely well," replied Captain Delmar; "we have madea glorious haul: but I think it will be better that you do not go onboard; the press-gang shall meet you every night, and obey your orders."I bowed, and walked out of the room.

  The next night, and several subsequent ones, the press-gang came onshore, and, from the information I had received, we procured in thecourse of a fortnight more than two hundred good seamen. Some of thedefences were most desperate: fort as one crimp's house after anotherwas forced, they could not imagine how they could have been discovered;but it put them all on their guard; and on the last three occasions themerchant seamen were armed and gave us obstinate fights; however,although the wounds were occasionally severe, there was no loss of life.

  Having expended all my knowledge, I had nothing more to do than go onboard, which I did, and was kindly received by the master and the otherofficers, who had been prepossessed in my favour. Such was thesuccessful result of my plan. The crimp we did not allow to go onshore, but discharged him into a gun-brig, the captain of which was anotorious martinet; and I have no doubt, being aware of his characterand occupation, that he kept his word, when he told Captain Delmar thathe would make the ship a hell to him--"and sarve him right too," saidBob Cross, when he heard of it; "the money that these rascals obtainfrom the seamen, Mr Keene, is quite terrible; and the poor fellows,after having earned it by two or three years' hard work, go to prison ina crimp-house to spend it, or rather to be swindled out of it. It isthese fellows that raise such reports against the English navy, thatfrighten the poor fellows so; they hear of men being flogged until theydie under the lash, and all the lies that can be invented. Not that themasters of the merchant vessels are at all backward in disparaging theservice, but threaten to send a man on board a man-of-war for apunishment, if he behaves ill--that itself is enough to raise aprejudice against the service. Now, sir, I can safely swear that thereis more cruelty and oppression--more ill-treatment and more hard work--on board of a merchantman, than on board any man-of-war. Why so?Because there is no control over the master of a merchant vessel, whilethe captain of a man-of-war is bound down by strict regulations, whichhe dare not disobey. We see many reports in the newspapers of theill-treatment on of merchant vessels; but for one that is made known,ninety-nine are passed over; for a seaman has something else to do thanto be kicking his heels at a magistrate's office; and when he gets clearof his vessel, with his pay in his pocket, he prefers to make merry andforget his treatment, to seeking revenge. I say again, sarve that crimpright, and I hope that he'll get a lash for every pound which he hasrobbed from the poor seamen."

  I may as well inform the reader that, as it is mostly the case after themen have been impressed, nearly the whole of them entered the service;and when, some time afterwards, they ascertained that it was I that hadtricked them, so far from feeling the ill-will towards me that they hadon their first coming on board, they laughed very much at my successfulplan, and were more partial to me than to any other of the officers.

  Our frigate was now well manned, and nearly ready for sea. I wrote tomy mother, enclosing the heads of a letter to her which she should sendto Captain Delmar, and in a day or two I received an answer, with a copyof what she had sent. It was to the effect that I was now going awayfor the second time, and that it was possible she might never see me orCaptain Delmar again; that she wished him success and happiness, andbegged him, in case she should be called away, not to forget hispromises to her, or what she had undergone for his sake; but she trustedentirely to him, and that he would watch over me and my interests, evenmore out of regard to her memory, than if she were alive to support myclaims upon him.

  The letter was given to Captain Delmar when he was on the quarter-deck,and he went with it down below. He came on deck shortly afterwards. Ilooked at him but did not perceive that he was in any way put out ormoved by its reception. Claims for past services, whether upon thecountry or upon individuals, are seldom well received; like the paymentof a tavern bill, after we have done with the enjoyments, we seeminclined to cavil at each separate item--_ainsi va le monde_.

  It was reported down at Mutton Cove, that our ship, which sailed withsealed orders was to be sent to the West Indies. This the captain didnot expect or wish, as he had had enough of the tropics already. Whenhe, however, opened his orders, it was found that Mutton Cove wascorrect, and the captain's instructions were, to seek the admiral of thestation with all possible dispatch.

  We carried sail day and night, and as the Manilla proved a remarkablyfast sailer, we were very soon in Carlisle Bay, Barbadoes, where wefound the admiral and six sail of the line, and a few smaller vessels.As soon as the despatches were opened by the admiral, our signal, aswell as that of all the smaller vessels, was made, and before theevening we had spread our canvas in every direction, being sent torecall the whole of the disposable force to rendezvous at Carlisle Bay.We knew that something was in the wind, but what, we had no idea of.Our orders were to proceed to Halifax, and we had a quick passage. Wefound two frigates there, and we gave them their instructions; and then,having remained only twenty-four hours, we all made sail together forBarbadoes.

  On our arrival there, we round the bay crowded with vessels:twenty-eight sail of pennants and a fleet of transports, containing tenthousand troops. Three days afterwards the signal was made to weigh,and the whole fleet stood out from Carlisle Bay, it being now well knownthat the capture of the island of Martinique was the object of theexpedition. On the third day we arrived off the island, and our troopswere disembarked at two points, expecting to meet with strongopposition. Such, however, to our surprise, was not the case. Itappeared that the militia of the island, being composed of slaves, andwho were sent to oppose us, did not consider that slavery was worthfighting for quite as well as liberty, and therefore very quietly walkedhome again, leaving the governor and regular troops to decide thequestion as to whether the island was for the future to belong to theFrench or English. But the two following days there was some hardfighting, and our troops, although they advanced, had a severe loss.The French retired from the advanced posts to Fort Dessaix, and weobtained possession of the fort on Point Salamon.

  The next point to be attacked was Pigeon Island, and there the navy werecalled into ac
tion; we had to get the carronades and mortars up a hillalmost inaccessible; we did it, much to the surprise of the troops, whocould hardly believe it when the battery opened fire. After a briskcannonading of ten hours, Pigeon Island surrendered, and then theadmiral stood into, and anchored the fleet in Fort Royal Bay; not,however, in time to prevent the French from setting fire to the frigateswhich were in the harbour. A few days after, the town of St. Pierre andthe town of Fort Royal surrendered, and Fort Dessaix only held out. Formore than a week we were very busy constructing batteries and landingcannon and mortars; and when all was ready, the bombardment of FortDessaix commenced, and five days afterwards the French capitulated, andthe island was formally surrendered to the English.

  I have hurried over the capture, as it has oftentimes been described indetail. All I can say is, that it was very hard work for the seamen,and that they had their full share of the fatigue; but, from thepeculiar nature of the service, an affair took place which was of muchimportance to me. I said before that the sailors were employed in thehard duty of getting the guns, etcetera, on shore, and up to where thebatteries were to be erected--in short, working like slaves in the heatof the sun, while the troops remained quiet investing the fort. Therewas no objection raised to this, and the seamen worked very willingly;but the staff and mounted officers of the army, who rode to and frogiving orders, were not quite as civil as they might be--that is, someof them; and a certain feeling of dissension and ill-will was created inconsequence.

  The junior officers of the navy, and the lieutenants who could be sparedto direct the labour of the seamen on shore, received occasionally veryharsh language from some of the military officers, and did not fail togive very prompt replies to those who they did not consider had anyright to control them. Complaints were made to the captains of themen-of-war, and, on being investigated, the result generally was, thatthe captains defended their officers, and the military gentlemenobtained no redress. The active service, however, did not admit of anynotice being taken of it at the time; but after the island hadsurrendered, these unfortunate animosities were resumed.

  A few days after the capture of the island, the prisoners and troopswere embarked an the fleet sailed, a sufficient garrison being left uponthe island for its defence. The admiral also thought proper to leavetwo or three men-of-war in the harbour, and our frigate was one. Forthe first few days everything went on smoothly. The French inhabitantswere soon on good terms with us, and balls and parties had commenced;but the seamen and soldiers, when they met at the liquor-stores, beganto quarrel as to which branch of the service had done most towards thetaking the island. This will always be the case with people so addictedto intoxication. Several severe wounds were received in the variousskirmishes which took place, and at last the seamen were interdictedfrom going on shore. Indeed, as they were not armed, and the soldierscarried their bayonets, it was too unequal a contest when an affray tookplace; but the ill-will spread, and at last arrived to the superiorofficers.

  The consequence was, that a challenge was given to one of the captainsof the frigates by an adjutant. It was accepted; but not an hour afterit was accepted, the captain was taken with a fever, and on the morningof the following day, when the duel was to have taken place, he was notable to quit his bed; and the military gentlemen, on arriving at theground, found an excuse instead of an antagonist. Whether it was reallysupposed that the fever was a mere excuse to avoid the duel, or that theanimosity prevailing gave rise to the report, certain it is, that therewere many sneers on the part of the military men, and great indignationon the tart of the naval officers; who, if they could have so done,would have gone on shore on purpose to insult every officer they couldmeet who wore a red coat; but in consequence of this excitement beingknown all leave was prohibited.

  Captain Delmar, who was the naval commanding officer, had taken up hisquarters on shore; he had done all he possibly could to prevent theunpleasant feeling from continuing, and had shown great forbearance andgood sense: but it so happened that, being in company with some of themilitary staff, observations were made in his presence, relative to theconduct of the naval captain ill with the fever, that he could notpermit. He gave a flat denial to them, and the consequence was, thatlanguage was used which left no alternative but a duel.

  This was the Monday night, and as it was too late then, it was agreedthat the meeting should take place on the following evening at sunset.I believe this was proposed by Captain Delmar, in preference to themorning, as he knew his antagonist was a regular duellist and he wishedto have the next day to put his affairs in order, previous to themeeting. I should here observe that the captain had not been onanything like intimate terms with his lieutenants. The surgeon andmaster were old shipmates, and with them he was sociable: whether it wasthat he did not choose to ask the favour of the commissioned officers,certain it is, that he sent for the master to be his second on theoccasion, and on the master returning on board, he desired me to go onshore with the boat and take the captain's pistols with me, but not toallow them to be seen by any one; a message was also sent for thesurgeon to go on shore to the captain.

  When the surgeon and I arrived at the house where the captain resided,and were ushered up, the sitting-room was empty. I had put the case ofpistols in a piece of canvas, so as to look like despatches about to besent to England, and I uncovered them and placed them on one of thetables. A few minutes afterwards the captain came out, and I was verymuch surprised at his appearance; he was very flushed and heated in theface, and appeared to tremble as he walked. The surgeon also looked athim with surprise. We knew him to be incapable of fear, and yet he gaveus the appearance of a person very much troubled.

  "Doctor," said he, "I am glad that you are come. I feel very unwell--feel my pulse."

  "Yes, sir," said the doctor, "that you certainly are; you have the samefever on you as Captain W. Singular."

  "Yes, but it will be rather too singular, doctor. Poor W had obloquyenough on account of his illness; and if a second captain in the navywere to be obliged to send a similar excuse, we should be at a prettydiscount with the red-coats. If you can do any thing for me, do; but itmust be perfectly understood that fight to-morrow evening I will, evenif I am carried to the ground."

  "Certainly, Captain Delmar, if it is possible. I think that a littleblood must be taken from you immediately, and probably the fever maysubside."

  But before his arm could be bound up, the captain became incoherent inhis discourse; and after the bleeding had been performed, when heattempted to look at his papers, he was so confused that he found itimpossible, and was obliged to be put to bed immediately. When thesurgeon came out of his bed-room, he said to us, "He'll never get up tofight that duel, depend upon it; the fever increases--it may be that hemay never rise again--I fear it is the yellow fever."

  "A bad job," replied the master--"a very bad job indeed; two captains inthe navy receiving challenges, and both sending excuses on account ofillness. The service will be disgraced. I'll fight the soldiermyself."

  "That will never do," replied the surgeon; "it will not help the captainthat he has sent one of his officers in his stead. Steward, make a bedup here in this room; I shall not leave the house to-night."

  "It's of no use my staying here," observed the master: "nor you either,Keene: let's go on board, and we will be here early to-morrow morning.Confounded bad job this. Good-bye."

  The master and I returned to the boat. I had been reflecting a gooddeal on the disgrace which would, at all events for a certain period, bethrown upon the service and Captain Delmar by this unfortunatecircumstance, and before I had gone up the ship's side I had made up mymind. As soon as we were on board, I requested the master to allow meto speak to him in his cabin; and when we were there, after canvassingthe question, and pointing out to him what discredit would ensue, andworking him up into a great state of irritation, I then proposed to himwhat I considered to be the best course to pursue. "Every one says howlike I am to Captain Delmar, M
r Smith," said I.

  "If you were his own son, you could not be more so," replied the master.

  "Well, sir, I am now as tall as he is: the colour of my hair is lighter,certainly; but the captain wears a wig. Now, sir, I am perfectly surethat if I were to put on the captain's uniform and wig, as the duel isto take place in the evening, they never could find out that it was notthe captain; and as for a good shot, I think I can hit a button as wellas the best duellist in existence."

  The master bit his lips, and was silent for a short time. At last hesaid, "What you propose is certainly very easy; but why should you riskyour life for Captain Delmar?"

  "Why, did you not offer to do it just now for the honour of the service?I have that feeling, and moreover wish to serve Captain Delmar, who hasbeen my patron. What's the life of a midshipman worth, even if I wereto fall?--nothing."

  "That's true enough," replied the master bluntly; and then correctinghimself, he added, "that is, midshipmen in general; but I think you maybe worth something by-and-by. However, Keene, I do think, on the whole,it's a very good plan; and if the Captain is not better to-morrow, wewill then consider it more seriously. I have an idea that you are morelikely to pin the fellow than the captain, who, although as brave a manas can be, he has not, I believe, fired twenty pistols in his life.Good night; and I hardly need say we must keep our secret."

  "Never fear, sir. Good night."

  I went to my hammock, quite overjoyed at the half-consent given by themaster to my proposition. It would give me such a claim on CaptainDelmar, if I survived; and if I fell, at all events he would cherish mymemory; but as for falling, I felt sure that I should not. I had apresentiment (probably no more than the buoyant hope of youth) that Ishould be the victor. At all events, I went to sleep very soundly, anddid not wake until I was roused up by the quartermaster on the followingmorning.

  After breakfast the master requested a boat to be manned, and we went onshore. On our arrival at the house, we found the surgeon in greatanxiety: the captain was in a state of delirium, and the fever was atthe highest.

  "How is he?" demanded the master.

  "More likely to go out of the world himself than to send another out ofit," replied the surgeon. "He cannot well be worse, and that is allthat I can say. He has been raving all night, and I have been obligedto take nearly two pounds of blood from him; and, Mr Keene," continuedthe surgeon, "he talks a great deal of you and other persons. You maygo in to him, if you please; for I have as much as possible kept theservants away--they will talk."

  "Bob Cross is down below, sir," replied I: "he is the safest man to waitupon him."

  "I agree with you, Keene--send for him, and he shall remain at hisbedside."

  The master then spoke with the surgeon, and communicated my proposition;and the surgeon replied, "Well, from what I have learned this night,there is no person who has so great a right to take his place; andperhaps it will be as well, both for the captain's sake and his own; atall events, I will go with you, and, in case of accident, do my best."

  The matter was, therefore, considered as arranged, and I went into thecaptain's room. He was delirious, and constantly crying out about hishonour and disgrace; indeed, there is no doubt but that his anxiety tomeet his antagonist was one very great cause of the fever having run sohigh; but at times he changed the subject, and then he spoke of me andmy mother. "Where is my boy--my own boy, Percival?" said he--"mypride--where is he? Arabella, you must not be angry with me--no,Arabella; consider the consequence;" and then he would burst out in suchfond expressions towards me, that the tears ran down my cheeks as Iplanted a kiss upon his forehead; for he was insensible, and I could doso without offence.

  Bob Cross, who had for some time been at his bedside, wiped the tearsfrom his eyes, and said, "Master Keene, how this man must have sufferedto have cloaked his feelings towards you in the way which he has done.However, I am glad to hear all this, and, if necessary, I will tell himof it--ay, if I get seven dozen for it the next minute."

  I remained with Bob Cross at his bedside for the whole day, during whichhe more than twenty times acknowledged me as his son. As the eveningclosed in, I prepared in silence for the duty I had to perform. To thesurprise of Cross, who was ignorant of what I intended, I stripped offmy own clothes and put on those of the captain, and then put his wigover my own hair. I then examined myself in the glass, and wassatisfied.

  "Well," said Cross, looking at me, "you do look like the captainhimself, and might almost go on board and read the articles of war; but,surely, Master Keene," added he, looking at the captain as he laysenseless in bed, "this is no time for foolery of this sort."

  "It is no foolery, Bob," replied I, taking his hand; "I am going torepresent the captain and fight a duel for him, or the service will bedisgraced."

  "I didn't know that the captain had a duel to fight," replied Bob,"although I heard that there had been words."

  I then explained the whole to him. "You are right, Master Keene--rightin everything. May God bless you, and send you good luck. I wish Imight go with you."

  "No, Bob, that must not be."

  "Then, God bless you, and may you floor the soldier. Lord, what a stateI shall be in till I know what has taken place!"

  "It will soon be known, Bob; so good-bye, and I trust we shall meetagain." I then went out of the bed-room.

  The surgeon actually started when I made my appearance, and acknowledgedthat the personation was exact. Taking the arm of the surgeon and themaster, we set off, the master carrying the pistols, which had beenprepared; and in a quarter of an hour we arrived at the place ofmeeting. My disguise was so complete that we had not hesitated to walkout sooner than we had intended; and we found ourselves the first on thefield of action, which I was glad of.

  About dusk, which was the time agreed upon and about five minutes afterour arrival, our antagonists made their appearance. There was no timeto be lost, as there is little or no twilight in the West Indies; so apolite bow was exchanged, and the ground marked out at eight paces bythe master and the second of my opponent. A very short parley then tookplace between Mr Smith and the other gentleman, who officiated for theadjutant, in which it was decided that we should turn back to back, withour pistols ready, and that on the words, "Make ready--present--fire"given in succession, we were to turn round to each other, level, andfire. This made it more difficult to hit; indeed it was almostimpossible to take aim, as the words were given so quick after eachother; and the great point was, to fire as soon as the word was given.

  The first discharge was not lucky for me. I missed my antagonist, andreceived his bullet in my left shoulder; this did not, however, disableme, and I said nothing about it. The pistols were again loaded andhanded to us; and on the signal being given, my adversary's pistol wentoff a little before the word "fire" was given, and I felt myself againhit; but I returned the fire with fatal success. The ball went throughhis body, and he fell. The surgeon, master, and his second, immediatelywent up, and raised him in a sitting position; but in a few minutes hewas senseless.

  In the meantime I remained where I was, having dropped my pistol on theground. That I had an unpleasant pang at the idea of a fellow-creaturehaving fallen by my hand in a duel, I acknowledge; but when I called tomind why I had fought the duel, and that if had saved the honour of thecaptain (may I not say at once my father's honour? for that was myfeeling), I could not, and did not, repent the deed. But I had not timegiven me to analyse my feelings; a sensation of faintness rapidly creptover me. The fact was that I had been bleeding profusely; and while thesurgeon and the others were still hanging over the expiring adjutant, Idropped and fell fainting on the ground. When I recovered I foundmyself in bed, and attended on by the surgeon, the master, and BobCross.

  "Keep quiet, Keene," said the surgeon, "and all will be well; but keepquiet, that we may have no fever. Here, drink this, and try if youcannot go to sleep." They raised me up, and I swallowed the mixture; myhead was so confused, and I was s
o weak, that I felt as if I hardlydared breathe, lest my breath should leave my body, and I was glad tofind myself again on the pillow. I was soon in a sound seep, from whichI did not arouse for many hours, and, as I afterwards was told, had hada very narrow escape, from the exhaustion arising from the excessivehaemorrhage.

  When I opened my eyes the next morning, I could scarcely recall mysenses. I saw Bob Cross sometimes, and I heard moaning and talking. Ithought the latter was my own voice, but it was Captain Delmar, whosefever still continued, and who was in an alarming state. It was nottill the evening, twenty-four hours after the duel, that I couldcompletely recall my senses; then I did, and motioned to Cross that Iwanted drink. He gave me some lemonade--it was nectar; he then went outfor the surgeon, who came to the bedside, and felt my pulse.

  "You'll do now, my boy," said he; "get another good sleep to-night, andto-morrow morning you will have nothing to do but to get well."

  "Where am I hit?" said I.

  "You had a ball in your shoulder and another in your hip, but they areboth extracted; the one in the hip cut through a large vein, and thehaemorrhage was so great before you could be brought here, that at onetime I thought you were gone. Your life hung upon a thread for hours;but we may thank God that all is right now. You have no fever, and yourpulse is getting strong again."

  "How's the captain, sir?"

  "As bad as bad can be just now; but I have hopes of a change for thebetter."

  "And Captain W, sir?"

  "Poor fellow! he is dead; and has so decidedly proved that his fever wasnot a sham, the soldiers are a little ashamed of themselves--and so theyought to be; but too often good feelings come too late. Now, Keene, youhave talked quite enough for to-night; take your sedative mixture, andgo to sleep again; to-morrow, I have no doubt, you will be able to askas many questions as you like."

  "Only one more, sir:--is the adjutant dead?"

  "I have not heard," replied the surgeon; "but we shall know to-morrow:now go to sleep, and good-night."

  When the surgeon left the room, "Bob?" said I.

  "Not an answer will I give to-night, Mr Keene," said Bob Cross;"to-morrow morning we'll have the rights and wrongs of the whole story.You must obey orders, sir, and go to sleep."

  As I knew Bob would do as he said, I laid my head down, and was soononce more in forgetfulness. It was not daylight. When I again awoke,and found Cross snoring in the chair by the bedside; poor fellow, he hadnever lain down since he came on shore, when the captain was first takenill. I felt much better, although my wounds tingled a little, and I wasvery anxious to know if Captain Delmar was out of danger; but that couldnot be ascertained till I saw the surgeon. I remained thinking over theevents which had passed. I called to mind that the captain, in hisdelirium, had called me his own boy, his Percival and I felt more happy.

  About an hour after I had awoke, the surgeon came into the room. "Howis Captain Delmar, sir?" said I.

  "I am glad to say that he is much better; but I must wake up poor Cross,who is tired out."

  Cross, who was awake the moment that we spoke, was now on his legs.

  "You must go to the captain, and keep the bed-clothes on him, Cross. Heis now in a perspiration, and it must not be checked--do youunderstand?"

  "Yes," replied Bob, walking away into the other room.

  "You are all right again, Keene," said the surgeon, feeling my pulse;"we will look at your wounds by-and-by, and change the dressing."

  "Tell me, sir," said I, "how have you managed? Nobody has found itout?"

  "Oh, no; it is supposed that Captain Delmar is badly wounded, and thatyou have the yellow fever, and we must keep it up--that is the reasonwhy Bob Cross is the only one allowed to come into the sick rooms. Ihave no doubt that Captain Delmar will be sensible in a few hours, andthen we shall be puzzled what to say to him. Must we tell him thetruth?"

  "Not at present, sir, at all events: tell him that he has fought theduel, and killed his man; he will think that he did it when he was outof his senses, or else that the fever has driven it from his memory."

  "Well, perhaps that will be the best way just now; it will relieve hismind, for with his return to sensibility will also revive his feelingsof disgrace and dishonour; and if they are not checked, the fever maycome on again."

  The surgeon gave me some breakfast this morning, and then dressed mywounds, which he pronounced were doing quite well; and about twelveo'clock the master came on shore with the first lieutenant. The mastercame into my room after the first lieutenant went away, who had beentold by the surgeon that he could not see Captain Delmar--and he, ofcourse, did not wish to come into contact with me, who he supposed hadthe yellow fever. In the afternoon Captain Delmar woke up from hisstupor--the fever had left him, and he had nothing to combat with butextreme debility. "Where am I?" said he, after a pause; and,recollecting himself, he continued to Cross, who was the only person inthe room, and who had received his instructions from the surgeon, "Howlong have I lain here?"

  "Ever since the duel, sir."

  "The duel--how do you mean?"

  "I mean ever since your honour fought the duel, and killed the soldgerofficer."

  "Killed--duel--I can't recollect having fought the duel."

  "Dare say not, your honour," replied Bob; "you were in a roaring feverat the time; but you would not stay in bed, all the surgeon could do--goyou would; but when you had fought, we were obliged to carry you backagain."

  "And so I really have fought--I have not the least recollection--I musthave been in a high fever indeed. Where's the surgeon?"

  "He's in the verandah below, sir, speaking to some soldger officers whohave come to inquire after your health. Here he comes."

  The surgeon came in, and Captain Delmar then said to him, "Is this alltrue that Cross has been telling me? Have I really fought a duel andkilled my adversary?"

  "I regret to say, sir, that he is dead, and was buried yesterday; but,if you please, you must not talk any more at present--you must be quietfor a few hours."

  "Well, doctor, so that my honour is saved, I am content to obey you--it's very odd--" Here the captain was exhausted, and was silent, and ina few minutes he was again asleep, and remained slumbering till the nextmorning, when he was much better. He then entered into conversationwith the surgeon, making him describe the duel; and the latter did so,so as to satisfy the captain; and he also informed him that I had beentaken ill with the fever, and was in the next room.

  "Next room!" replied the captain: "why was he not sent on board? Areall the midshipmen who are taken ill to be brought to my house to becured?"

  I overheard this reply of the captain, and it cut me to the heart. Ifelt what an invincible pride had to be conquered before I could obtainmy wishes.

  The surgeon answered Captain Delmar,--"As only you and Mr Keene weretaken with the fever, I thought it better that he should remain here,than that the ship's company should take it by his being sent on board.I trust, Captain Delmar, I have done right?"

  "Yes, I see," replied the captain; "you did perfectly right--I did notthink of that. I hope Mr Keene is doing well?"

  "I trust that we shall get him through it, sir," replied the surgeon.

  "Pray let him have anything that he requires, Mr ---; let him want fornothing during his illness and convalescence. He would be a heavy lossto the service," added the captain.

  "He would, indeed, sir," replied the surgeon.

  "Here are the journals of St. Pierre, in which there are severalaccounts of the duel, most of them incorrect. Some say that you weretwice wounded, others once."

  "I dare say they thought so," replied the captain, "for Cross tells methat I was carried home. It's very singular that I should have foughtin such a condition. Thank you, Mr ---; I will read them when I havelain down a little, for I am tired again already."

  The surgeon then informed the captain of the death of Captain W.

  "Poor fellow!" replied Captain Delmar. "Well, I will not make anyappoin
tments until I am better." The captain then lay down again,leaving the newspapers on the coverlet.

  A week now passed, during which both the captain and I became nearlyconvalescent: we had both been out of bed, and had remained for a fewhours on the sofas in our respective rooms. The surgeon told me that itwould be necessary to tell him the truth very soon, and that he thoughthe would do so on the following day. It did, however, happen that thediscovery was not made to him by the surgeon. In the afternoon, whenthe latter was on board, Captain Delmar felt so strong that he resolvedto put on his clothes, and go into the sitting-room. He desired Crossto give them to him, and the first articles handed to him were histrowsers, and Bob quite forgot that I had worn them.

  "Why, how's this?" said the captain--"here's a hole through thewaistband, and they are bloody."

  Bob was so frightened, that he walked out of the room as if he had notheard what the captain had said. It appears that the captain took uphis coat, and discovered another hole in the shoulder, with the samemarks of blood.

  "This is quite a dream," said the captain, talking to himself--"I've nowound, and yet the newspapers say that I was wounded twice. Cross!Cross!--Where is Cross?"

  Bob, who had taken refuge in my room, where we overheard everything hesaid, whispered, "It's no use now, Mr Keene,--I must tell it all; neverfear me, I know how to do it." And then he obeyed the captain'ssummons, leaving me in a state of great nervous anxiety.

  "Cross," said the captain sternly, "I insist upon knowing the truth: Ihave been deceived by my officers. Did I, or did I not, fight thisduel?"

  "Well, sir," replied Cross, "the truth was only kept back from you tillyou were quite well again, and I suppose I must tell it to you now. Youwere too ill, and you raved about our honour, and that you weredisgraced, and that--"

  "Well, go on, sir."

  "I will, Captain Delmar; but I hope you'll not be angry, sir. Mr Keenecould not bear to see you in that way, and he said he would lay down hislife for you at any time, and he begged Mr Smith, the master, to allowhim to fight the duel, because he said that he was so like you in person(which, somehow or other he is, that's certain), that no one would knowit was him if he put on your honour's wig and uniform: that's how itwas, sir."

  "Go on," said the captain.

  "Well, sir, the master could not bear the sneering of the sogers onshore, and he consented that Mr Keene should take your place, which hedid, sir; and I hope you will not be angry with Mr Keene, for it's yourold coat, sir, and I think it may have a piece let in, that it won't beseen."

  Cross then went on describing the whole affair--of course praising me--and told the captain that everybody on board, as well as on shore,thought that he was wounded and that I had been taken with the yellowfever, and that nobody knew the real truth except the master, thesurgeon, and himself.

  "Is Mr Keene seriously hurt?" inquired the captain, after a pause.

  "No, sir; the doctor says he will do very well. He was as near gone asever a man was: at one time his breath would not move a feather--all theblood was out of his body."

  For a minute the captain made no reply; at last he said, in a quiettone, "You may leave the room, Cross."

  What were the thoughts and feelings of Captain Delmar when he was leftto reflect upon the information which he had received, I cannot tell butthat he was not angry I inferred by the tone in which he desired Crossto leave the room. I was absorbed in my own feelings, when the surgeonentered the room, and gave me a letter. "Here's a schooner just come inwith despatches from the admiral," said the surgeon: "the secondlieutenant has brought them on shore for the captain, and among theletters from England I found this one for you. I have seen Cross,"continued the surgeon, nodding his head significantly as he left theroom.

  "The second lieutenant, with despatches, sir," reported Bob Cross to thecaptain in the other room--"Shall I show him in?"

  "No, I am not well; desire him to send them in by you," replied thecaptain.

  While the captain was busy with his despatches, I read my letter, whichwas from my mother, enclosing a copy of one from my grandmother,announcing my mother's death. Of course there were a great many dyingwishes; but that was a matter of course. I felt happy that this letterto the captain arrived at such a propitious time, as I knew that theannouncement of my mother's death would be a great point in my favour.That it ought not to have been, I confess; but I knew whom I had to dealwith: the captain was ashamed of his intimacy, and the claims of mymother upon him, but not so much ashamed of me; and, now that she wasremoved, probably he might not be at all ashamed. My mother was norelation, and below him--I was his own flesh and blood, and halfennobled by so being.

  The captain sent on board orders for getting under weigh. It appearedthat the admiral had written to him, desiring him to sail for the coastof South America, to look after a French frigate, and that, as there wasno farther occasion for so large a force at Martinique, he was to leavethe next senior officer in command; but this was Captain W, who had diedof the fever.

  As senior in command, Captain Delmar then filled up the vacancy; thecaptain of a corvette was appointed to Captain W's ship; our firstlieutenant to the command of the corvette; but the lieutenant's vacancywas not filled up, much to the surprise of the officers of the squadron.This was the work of the afternoon; in the evening the master was sentfor, and a consultation held with him and the surgeon, which ended inthe captain's consenting to go on board with his arm in a sling, as ifhe had been wounded, and my being put into a cot, and removed on boardto the captain's cabin, as if still too weak with the fever to quit mybed. Cross was enjoined silence, and I was made acquainted by thesurgeon with the result of the conference.

  The next morning we were all embarked, and we hove the anchor up, andmade sail to the southward. It must be observed, that I had neitherseen nor had any communications with the captain, during the whole ofthis time. He was informed by the surgeon that I was in great distressof mind at the news of my mother's death, and that my recovery would beretarded in consequence.

 

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