Part 1 (1/2)
The Pirate of the Mediterranean
by WHG Kingston
CHAPTER ONE
Malta, which I have selected as the opening scene of the following story, is, from its historical recollections, its fine clih, for such beauty as its scenery possesses, it ed that it is indebted very , however, the noise it has made in the world, and will, I suspect, should we ever be driven into a ith our vivacious continental neighbour, again , and twelve broad, in the middle of the Mediterranean, with a smaller rock, Gozo, to the north of it, and was, probably, at one time of this planet's existence, merely a continuation of Sicily or Italy's toe, or a lump, as it were, kicked off into the middle of the sea If, also, report speaks true, the very soil which gives verdure to its valleys, and nourishes its sweet-scented orange-groves, was ier nuion, colour, and costume, continue to exist on its surface, than on any silobe But in its capital, Valetta, with its nificent fortifications, and superb harbour, are centred its chief attractions, and which have gained for it a nae of history as the bulwark of Christendoan hosts of the Saracens
But as my tale is with the present rather than with the past, I will not stop to describe hohen it was called Mileta, Saint Paul landed on the island,--how the Vandals and Goths took possession of it, and were driven out by Belisarius,--how in 1530, the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, driven away from Rhodes, here settled,--how they built a fortress which withstood the entleraced,--how they at length degenerated, and its inhabitants, deceived by treachery froates, yielded their liberty to the great enemy of Europe, Buonaparte, and were uned,--and how, in the year 1800, with the the aid of an English fleet and a slish army, they drove out their conquerors, and put themselves under the protection of Great Britain
How Mr Cameron was first Civil Commissioner, and was succeeded by Sir Alexander Ball, a man justly endeared to the inhabitants as the sharer of their toils and victory,--hoas followed by Sir Hildebrand Oakes, after whoned, as their first Governor, for eleven years, co in 1813, Sir Thoallant soldier, and the terror of ill-doers, on whose decease the Marquis of Hastings and General Ponsonby successively beca the tiovernors ruled the land, that the events I am about to narrate took place, and as it is in the capital, Valetta, and its nificent harbour, that our scene more particularly lies, it is somewhat important that the reader should have them described to him
Valetta is situated on that side of the island which faces the north-east, though towards the southern end of it The harbour is of a very peculiar shape, and if the reader should not happen to possess a chart of it, hehis left hand on the table, with the fingers separated as widely as possible froer of his right hand, and place, widely apart, the tips of the others over the forefinger of his left hand The er of his left hand is Valetta, with Saint El along up to the knuckles
The space on the right is the Great Port, and on the left, Port Marsa Musceit, or the Quarantine Harbour The tip of the little finger of the right hand is Port Ricasoli On the bent-up third finger is the Bighi Palace, now a naval hospital, built by Napoleon as a residence for hielo at the end The fore-finger is called Isola, with the Cotonera fortifications at the knuckle, and the thumb is denominated Carodino, where the Palatario is situated, while the spaces between each of the fingers are sreat depth and security; and fro batteries completely enfilade the entrance of the harbour--the approach to which is further defended by Forts Saint Elmo and Ricasoli On the opposite side of Port Marsa Musceit, are two forts--Port Tigne at the entrance, and Fort Manuel; and there are several indentations, but of less depth and importance than those to the south Besides the forts I have mentioned, the city is protected by the Floriana lines, and several other works Indeed, it is said that there are sixty th of walls, which, in these economical times, are allowed slowly to crumble away If our merchants value their trade with the East--if our rulers value our possession of India--if our philanthropists value the civilisation of the world, and the continuance of peace, let not Malta be neglected To open the door is not the way to keep out a thief
Valetta is a place of life, bustle, and aniesticulation; and it is full of naval and military officers, and soldiers, and sailors, who are not addicted to quietude, especially the latter; and there are Greeks, and Moors, and Spaniards, and Italians, and Jews innuated there, and priests and friars of all orders, who delight in the ringing of bells, so that silence is little known in this city of rauns, and churches The streets are wide and handsoer, as I have described, are on a level, while those which lead up froles to them, and are occasionally steep, so that, in ht of steps, the best known of which are the Nix Mangiare stairs, leading fro-place at the Great Port to the upper part of the town The houses are balconied, lofty, and spacious, with terraces on the roofs, whence, in clear weather, Etna is visible; and where, in the cool of the evening, the inhabitantsbreeze from the sea, and behold it, in its intense blueness, dotted hite sails gliding in all directions over its surface It is full of fine churches, the towers of which rise above the flat roofs of the palace-like houses, the whole surrounded by a broad walk, and a fringe of ra with cannon
It is to that part of the fortifications facing the mouth of the Great Port that I particularly wish to conduct the reader
It was some four hours or so past noon when the boat of a British -place at the fort of Nix Mangiare stairs, and out of her stepped two persons, whose blue jackets, adorned with crown-and-anchor buttons, and the patches of white cloth on their cohars proclai to the exalted rank of ht envy the free joyous laugh in which they indulged, seeht elastic tread hich they sprang up the long flight of steps before the, in a moment, several civilians and soldiers of various ranks, who, puffing and blowing, with handkerchiefs at their foreheads, were toiling upwards, while they arrived at the suasp, and as cool, apparently, as when they landed
Their ears, as they went up, were saluted by--
”_Yah hassare, carita_--Nix ue, sar! mi fader him die too,” and other pathetic cries and similar equally veracious assertions, from nues, in rags and tatters, who endeavoured to excite their co their wounds and scars The two youths had time to put their hands in their pockets, and to distribute a few pence to the wretched-looking beings on their way; both pocket and heart, if that were possible, being ht of stairs, without stopping to conteht, and took the way along the ramparts towards Fort Saint Elhtest necessity for their hurry, as they appeared to have come on shore simply to take a walk, for they now slackened their pace, and proceeded on side by side
”Well, I'lad, Duff, that you have joined us,” exclaimed the one who appeared to be soht it, e parted four years ago at old Railton's that ere next to ot leave to enter the service”
”Neither did I expect to get afloat, and still less to becoht you, left school I overnor and told hio to sea I should never be fit for anything At last he believed that I was in earnest, and with a light heart I turned reen, and shi+pped on board the old _Rodney_ But, I say, old fellohat sort of a chap is our skipper?
He looks like a taut hand”
”There is not a better fellow afloat,” was the answer ”He's none of your milk-and-water chaps who'll let butter melt in their ht to be done, and what man can do; and heslack in stays when he carries on the duty, and there's not a smarter shi+p in the service, nor a happier one either, though he won't allow an idler on board The fact is, my boy, both officers and men know that no one can shi+rk their work, so it comes easy to all, and we have more leave and less punishment than nearly any other vessel on the station
”But, I say, Jack Raby, is it true, that he makes the est of the two
”I believe you, sters lie out in the topsail-yards, and hand the canvas in fine style, ay, and black down the rigging at tilove-wearing gentlemen dip their hands in the tar-bucket, and keep them there, if he sees they are in any way squeao, he seems to be somewhat of a Tartar,” exclaimed the midshi+pman called Duff, with a half-doubtful expression of countenance, as if his new shi+p on his credulity
”Not a bit of it,” was the rejoinder ”Let me tell you, that you'll soon find that your slack captains are the worst to sail with They let every one do as they like till all hands begin to take liberties, and the hard work falls on the , and they then suddenly haul up, and there is six ti and desertion than in a strict shi+p, and she soon becoular hell afloat I hate your honey-ood oodness to brace round the foreyard when the shi+p's taken aback' No, no--give me a man who kno to command men Depend on it Duff, you'll like Captain Fleetwood before you've sailed with hih”
By this ti up on the banquette, they could enjoy a good view up the harbour
”There,” exclai, which lay at the elo ”Isn't the _Ione_ a beauty now?”
”Yes, she is, indeed; and a fine craft, I dare say, in every respect,”
answered Duff
”Oh, there's nothing can co with his subject ”She'll sail round almost any shi+p in the fleet; and I only wish, with Charlie Fleetwood to command her, and her present cree could fall in with an enemy twice her size We should thrash hi hi”