Chapter LV
We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplativenear the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Menwill talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
At daylight the next morning we were off the Texel, and could see thelow sand-hills; but we had scarcely made them out, when the fog in theoffing cleared up, and we made a strange vessel. The hands were turnedup, and all sail made in chase. We made her out to be a brig of war; andas she altered her course considerably, we had an idea that she was anenemy. We made the private signal, which was unanswered, and we clearedfor action; the brig making all sail on the starboard tack, and wefollowing her--she bearing about two miles on our weather bow. Thebreeze was not steady; at one time the brig was staggering under hertop-gallant sails, while we had our royals set; at another we would havehands by the top-gallant sheets and topsail halyards, while she expandedevery stitch of canvas. On the whole, however, in an hour we had nearedabout half a mile. Our men were all at their quarters, happy to be sosoon at their old work. Their jackets and hats were thrown off, abandana handkerchief tied round their heads, and another, or else theirblack silk handkerchiefs, tied round their waists. Every gun was ready,everything was in its place, and every soul, I was going to say, wasanxious for the set-to; but I rather think I must not include thecaptain, who from the commencement, showed no signs of pleasure, andanything but presence of mind. When we first chased the vessel, it wasreported that it was a merchantman; and it was not until we had broaddaylight, that we discovered her to be a man-of-war. There was one thingto be said in his favour--he had never been in action in his life.
The breeze now fell light, and we were both with our sails set, when athick fog obscured her from our sight. The fog rolled on till we met it,and then we could not see ten yards from the brig. This was a source ofgreat mortification, as we had every chance of losing her. Fortunately,the wind was settling down fast into a calm, and about twelve o'clockthe sails flapped against the mast. I reported twelve o'clock, and askedthe captain whether we should pipe to dinner.
"Not yet," replied he; "we will put her head about."
"Go about, sir?" replied I, with surprise.
"Yes;" said he, "I'm convinced that the chase is on the other tack atthis moment; and if we do not, we shall lose her."
"If she goes about, sir," said I, "she must get among the sands, and weshall be sure of her."
"Sir," replied he, "when I ask your advice, you will be pleased to giveit. I command this vessel."
I touched my hat, and turned the hands up about ship, convinced that thecaptain wished to avoid the action, as the only chance of escape for thebrig was her keeping her wind in the tack she was on. "'Bout ship--'boutship!" cried the men. "What the hell are we going about for?" inquiredthey of one another, as they came up the ladder. "Silence there, foreand aft!" cried I. "Captain Hawkins, I do not think we can get herround, unless we wear--the wind is very light."
"Then wear ship, Mr Simple."
There are times when grumbling and discontent among the seamen is soparticipated by the officers, although they do not show it, that theexpressions made use of are passed unheeded. Such was the case atpresent. The officers looked at each other, and said nothing; but themen were unguarded in their expressions. The brig wore gradually round;and when the men were bracing up the yards, sharp on the other tack,instead of the "Hurrah!" and "Down with the mark!" they fell back with agroan.
"Brace up those yards in silence, there," said I to the men.
The ropes were coiled down, and we piped to dinner. The captain, whocontinued on deck, could not fail to hear the discontented expressionswhich occasionally were made use of on the lower deck. He made noobservation, but occasionally looked over the side, to see whether thebrig went through the water. This she did slowly for about ten minutes,when it fell a perfect calm--so that, to use a common sea phrase, hegained little by his motion. About half-past one, a slight breeze fromthe opposite quarter sprung up--we turned round to it--it increased--thefog blew away, and, in a quarter of an hour, the chase was againvisible, now upon our lee beam. The men gave three cheers.
"Silence there, fore and aft," cried the captain, angrily. "Mr Simple,is this the way that the ship's company have been disciplined undertheir late commander, to halloo and bawl whenever they think proper?"
I was irritated at any reflection upon O'Brien, and I replied, "Yes,sir; they have been always accustomed to express their joy at theprospect of engaging the enemy."
"Very well, Mr Simple," replied he.
"How are we to shift her head?" inquired the master, touching his hat:"for the chase?"
"Of course," replied the captain, who then descended into his cabin.
"Come, my lads," said Swinburne, as soon as the captain was below, "Ihave been going round, and I find that your _pets_ are all in goodfighting order. I promise ye, you sha'n't wait for powder. They'll findthat the _Rattlesnake_ can bite devilish hard yet, I expect."--"Aye, andwithout its _head_, too," replied one of the men, who was the Joe Millerof the brig. The chase, perceiving that she could not escape--for wewere coming up with her, hand over hand, now shortened sail for action,hoisting Dutch colours. Captain Hawkins again made his appearance on thequarter-deck, when we were within half a mile of her.
"Are we to run alongside of her or how?" inquired I.
"Mr Simple, I command her," replied he, "and want no interferencewhatever."
"Very well, sir," replied I, and I walked to the gangway.
"Mr Thompson," cried the captain, who appeared to have screwed up hiscourage to the right pitch, and had now taken his position for a momenton one of the carronades; "you will lay the brig right--"
Bang, bang--whiz, whiz--bang--whiz, came three shots from the enemy,cleaving the air between our masts. The captain jumped down from thecarronade, and hastened to the capstern, without finishing his sentence."Shall we fire when we are ready, sir?" said I; for I perceived that hewas not capable of giving correct orders.
"Yes--yes, to be sure," replied he, remaining where he was.
"Thompson," said I to the master, "I think we can manage, in our presentcommanding position, to get foul of him, so as to knock away hisjib-boom and fore topmast, and then she can't escape. We have good wayon her."
"I'll manage it, Simple, or my name's not Thompson," replied the master,jumping into the quarter-boat, conning the vessel in that exposedsituation, as we received the enemy's fire.
"Look out, my lads, and pour it into her now, just as you please," saidI to the men.
The seamen were, however, too well disciplined to take immediateadvantage of my permission; they waited until we passed her, and just asthe master put up his helm, so as to catch her jib-boom between ourmasts, the whole broadside was poured into his bow and chess-tree. Herjib-boom and fore-topgallant went down, and she had so much way throughthe water, that we tore clear from her, and rounding to the wind shota-head. The enemy, although in confusion from the effects of ourbroadside, put up his helm to rake us; we perceived his manoeuvre, anddid the same, and then, squaring our sails, we ran with him before thewind, engaging broadside to broadside. This continued about half anhour, and we soon found that we had no fool to play with. The brig waswell fought, and her guns well directed. We had several men taken downbelow, and I thought it would be better to engage her even closer. Therewas about a cable's length between both vessels, as we ran before thewind, at about six miles an hour, with a slight rolling motion.
"Thompson," said I, "let us see if we cannot beat them from their guns.Let's port the helm and close her, till we can shy a biscuit on board."
"Just my opinion, Simple; we'll see if they won't make another sort ofrunning fight of it."
In a few minutes we were so close on board of her, that the men wholoaded the guns could touch each other with their rammers and sponges.The men cheered; it was gallantly returned by the enemy, and havoc wasnow commenced by the musketry on both sides. The French captain, whoappeared a
s brave a fellow as ever stepped, stood for some minutes onthe hammocks; I was also holding on by the swifter of the main rigging,when he took off his hat and politely saluted me. I returned thecompliment; but the fire became too hot, and I wished to get under theshelter of the bulwark. Still I would not go down first, and the Frenchcaptain appeared determined not to be the first either to quit the postof honour. At last one of our marines hit him in the right arm: heclapped his hand to the part, as if to point it out to me, nodded, andwas assisted down from the hammocks. I immediately quitted my post, forI thought it foolish to stand as a mark for forty or fifty soldiers. Ihad already received a bullet through the small of my leg. But theeffects of such close fire now became apparent: our guns were only halfmanned, our sides terribly cut up, and our sails and rigging in tatters.The enemy was even worse off, and two broadsides more brought hermainmast by the board. Our men cheered, and threw in another broadside.The enemy dropped astern; we rounded to rake her; she also attempted toround to, but could not until she had cleared away her wreck, and takenin her foresail, and lowered her topsail. She then continued the actionwith as much spirit as ever.
"He's a fine fellow, by God!" exclaimed Thompson; "I never saw a manfight his ship better: but we have him. Webster's down, poor fellow!"
"I'm sorry for it," replied I; "but I'm afraid that there are many poorfellows who have lost the number of their mess. I think it uselessthrowing away the advantage which we now have. He can't escape, andhe'll fight this way for ever. We had better run a-head, repair damages,and then he must surrender, in his crippled state, when we attack himagain."
"I agree with you," said Thompson; "the only point is, that it will soonbe dark."
"I'll not lose sight of him, and he cannot get away. If he puts beforethe wind, then we will be at him again."
We gave him the loaded guns as we forged a-head, and when we were abouthalf a mile from him, hove-to to repair damages.
The reader may now ask, "But where was the captain all this time?" Myanswer is, that he was at the capstern, where he stood in silence, notonce interfering during the whole action, which was fought by Thompson,the master, and myself. How he looked, or how he behaved in other pointsduring the engagement, I cannot pretend to say, for I had no time toobserve him. Even now I was busy knotting the rigging, rousing up newsails to bend, and getting everything in order, and I should not haveobserved him, had he not come up to me; for as soon as we had ceasedfiring he appeared to recover himself. He did not, however, firstaddress me; he commenced speaking to the men.
"Come, be smart, my lads; send a hand here to swab up the blood. Here,youngster, run down to the surgeon, and let him know that I wish areport of the killed and wounded."
By degrees he talked more, and at last came up to me, "This has beenrather smartish, Mr Simple."
"Very smart indeed, sir," replied I, and then turned away to givedirections. "Maintop there, send down the hauling line on the starboardside."
"Ay, ay, sir."
"Now then, my lads, clap on, and run it up at once."
"Maintop, there," hailed the captain, "be a little smarter, or byG----d, I'll call you down for something." This did not come with agood grace from one who had done nothing, to those who were working withall their energy. "Mr Simple," said the captain, "I wish you would carryon duty with less noise."
"At all events, he set us that example during the action," muttered theJoe Miller; and the other men laughed heartily at the implication. Intwo hours, during which we had carefully watched the enemy, who stilllay where we left him, we were again ready for action.
"Shall I give the men their grog now, sir?" said I to the captain; "theymust want it."
"No, no," replied the captain; "no, no, Mr Simple, I don't like what youcall _Dutch_ courage."
"I don't think he much does; and this fellow has shown plenty of it,"said the Joe Miller, softly; and the men about him laughed heartily.
"I think, sir," observed I, "that it is an injustice to this fine ship'scompany to hint at their requiring Dutch courage." (Dutch courage is aterm for courage screwed up by drinking freely.) "And I mostrespectfully beg leave to observe, that the men have not had theirafternoon's allowance; and, after the fatigues they have undergone,really require it."
"I command this ship, sir," replied he.
"Certainly, sir, I am aware of it," rejoined I. "She is now all readyfor action again, and I wait your orders. The enemy is two miles on thelee quarter."
The surgeon here came up with his report.
"Good heavens!" said the captain, "forty-seven men killed and wounded,Mr Webster dangerously. Why, the brig is crippled. We can do no more--positively, we can do no more."
"_We can take that brig, anyhow_," cried one of the seamen from a dozenof the men who were to leeward, expecting orders to renew the attack.
"What man was that?" cried the captain.
No one answered.
"By G----d! this ship is in a state of mutiny, Mr Simple."
"Will _soon_ be, I think," said a voice from the crowd, which I knewvery well; but the captain, having been but a short time with us, didnot know it.
"Do you hear that, Mr Simple?" cried the captain.
"I regret to say that I did hear it, sir; I little thought that eversuch an expression would have been made use of on board of the_Rattlesnake_." Then, fearing he would ask me the man's name, and topretend not to have recognised it, I said, "Who was that who made use ofthat expression?" But no one answered; and it was so dark, that it wasimpossible to distinguish the men.
"After such mutinous expressions," observed the captain, "I certainlywill not risk His Majesty's brig under my command, as I should havewished to have done, even in her crippled state, by again engaging theenemy. I can only regret that the officers appear as insolent as themen."
"Perhaps, Captain Hawkins, you will state in what, and when, I haveproved myself insolent. I cannot accuse myself."
"I hope the expression was not applied to me, sir," said Thompson, themaster, touching his hat.
"Silence, gentlemen, if you please. Mr Simple, wear round the ship."
Whether the captain intended to attack the enemy or not, we could nottell, but we were soon undeceived; for when we were round, he orderedher to be kept away until the Dutch brig was on our lee quarter: thenordering the master to shape his course for Yarmouth, he went down intothe cabin, and sent up word that I might pipe to supper and serve outthe spirits.
The rage and indignation of the men could not be withheld. After theywent down to supper they gave three heavy groans in concert; indeed,during the whole of that night, the officers who kept the watches hadgreat difficulty in keeping the men from venting their feeling, in whatmight be almost termed justifiable mutiny. As for myself, I could hardlycontrol my vexation. The brig was our certain prize; and this wasproved, for the next day she hauled down her colours immediately to amuch smaller man-of-war, which fell in with her, still lying in the samecrippled state; the captain and first lieutenant killed, and nearlytwo-thirds of her ship's company either killed or wounded. Had weattacked her, she would have hauled down her colours immediately, for itwas our last broadside which had killed the captain. As firstlieutenant, I should have received my promotion, which was now lost. Icried for vexation when I thought of it as I lay in bed. That hisconduct was severely commented upon by the officers in the gun-room, aswell as by the whole ship's company, I hardly need say. Thompson was forbringing him to a court-martial, which I would most gladly have done, ifit only were to get rid of him; but I had a long conversation with oldSwinburne on the subject, and he proved to me that I had better notattempt it. "For, d'ye see, Mr Simple, you have no proof. He did not rundown below; he stood his ground on deck, although he did nothing. Youcan't _prove_ cowardice, then, although there can be no great doubt ofit. Again, with regard to his not renewing the attack, why, is not acaptain at liberty to decide what is the best for His Majesty's service?And if he thought, in the crippled state of the brig, so close to theenemy
's coast, that it wasn't advisable, why, it could only be broughtin as an error in judgment. Then there's another thing which must beremembered, Mr Simple, which is, that no captains sitting on acourt-martial will, if it be possible to extricate him, ever prove_cowardice_ against a brother captain, because they feel that it's adisgrace to the whole cloth."
Swinburne's advice was good, and I gave up all thoughts of proceeding;still it appeared to me, that the captain was very much afraid that Iwould, he was so extremely amiable and polite during our run home. Hesaid, that he had watched how well I had behaved in the action, andwould not fail to notice it. This was something, but he did not keep hisword: for his despatch was published before we quitted the roadstead,and not the name of one officer mentioned, only generally saying, thatthey conducted themselves to his satisfaction. He called the enemy acorvette, not specifying whether she was a brig or ship corvette; andthe whole was written in such a bombastic style, that any one would haveimagined that he had fought a vessel of superior force. He stated, atthe end, that as soon as he repaired damages, he wore round, but thatthe enemy declined further action. So she did--certainly--for the bestof all possible reasons, that she was too disabled to come down to us.All this might have been contested; but the enormous list of killed andwounded proved that we had had a hard fight, and the capture of the brigafterwards, that we had really overpowered her. So that, on the whole,Captain Hawkins gained a great deal of credit with some; althoughwhispers were afloat which came to the ears of the Admiralty, andprevented him from being posted--the more so, as he had the modesty notto apply for it.
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