Part 24 (1/2)
These men were, of course, always ready for mischief of any sort. There is no denying it, the seamen also were often cruelly ill-treated, fleeced on all sides, cheated out of pay, supplied with bad provisions, and barbarously tyrannised over by their officers. Now, on the contrary, a man-of-war's man is better fed, better lodged, better and more cheaply clothed, and in sickness better taken care of, than any cla.s.s of labouring-men. When he has completed twenty-one years'
service, he may retire with a pension for life of from tenpence to fourteen-pence a day; and when worn-out by age or infirmity, he may bear up for that magnificent inst.i.tution, Greenwich Hospital, there among old comrades to end his days in peace.
The mutiny I was speaking of had been going on for some time. The just demands of the seamen had been listened to, and their grievances remedied, when the mutiny broke out afresh, and, instigated by evil-disposed persons, the crews either landed their officers or put them under confinement, and made fresh demands, many of which it was impossible to grant. Our s.h.i.+p, with others of Lord Duncan's squadron, was brought up in Yarmouth Roads. The delegates had been tampering with us. Messages had at different times been sent on board, and I knew that something wrong was going forward; but what it was I could not tell. I was known to be a friend of Peter Poplar's, and no one doubted his remaining stanch to his captain and officers, so I am proud to say that they would not trust me.
One day I found Peter sitting down between decks, looking very grave. I asked him if something was not the matter with him.
”A great deal, Jack,” he answered; ”I don't like the look of things.
You must know, Jack, that the s.h.i.+ps at the Nore have again hoisted the red flag, and the mutineers swear that they'll make every s.h.i.+p of the fleet join them. What they now want, I don't know. They have got all the chief grievances redressed, and everything which reasonable men could expect granted. They'll not be content till all the delegates are made admirals, I suppose.”
”Still, I hope that we shall not be following their example,” said I.
”We have a good number of black sheep on board, but still, I think, there are enough honest men to keep them in check.”
”That's the very thing I doubt, Jack,” he whispered. ”I don't like the thoughts of peaching on a s.h.i.+pmate, but when villains are plotting treachery, as some on board here are doing, we have but one duty to perform. I must carry the information to the captain. In case they find me out, and heave me overboard, or trice me up at the yard-arm--as they are likely enough to do--if you live take care that my memory is treated with justice. Now, Jack, there is no time to lose; I'll tell the captain that he may trust to you and a few others, but the greater number of the s.h.i.+p's company have been won over by the promises of that artful fellow Parker and his mates.” Saying this, Peter walked boldly aft, and, unsuspected, entered the captain's cabin.
He told me afterwards that Captain Trollope received the information very calmly, nor did he seem at all to doubt its correctness. The plan was to wait till the s.h.i.+p was under way to proceed on a cruise in the North Sea, and then to seize the captain and all the officers, and to carry the s.h.i.+p instead to the Nore. Several other s.h.i.+ps had already weighed without orders, and had joined the mutineers at the Nore. No preparation, however, was made that I saw for the expected event.
The next day Peter and I were sent for into the cabin. ”Take up these things, and accompany me,” said the captain to us. There was a compa.s.s and a basket of provisions; and I saw that the captain had a pistol-case under his arm. Leaving the cabin, he led the way below to the door of the magazine. If any of the mutineers observed him, I don't suppose they guessed what he was about.
The powder-magazine of a man-of-war has a clear s.p.a.ce round it--a sort of ante-room, which is kept clear of everything, so as to decrease the risk of fire reaching it. This ante-room has a grated door before it.
The captain produced a key, and opening the grated door, went in, taking from us the articles we carried. He then locked himself in from the inside. This done, he opened the inner door of the magazine, exposing a number of powder-flasks to view. Having arranged his table and chairs, with the compa.s.s and his pistols, and some books he had brought, he said quietly, as if to himself, ”I'm ready for them!”
”Williams,” he continued, ”go and request the first lieutenant to come here. Poplar, do you go among the people, and say I directed you to call some of them to see me.”
I quickly performed my part of the duty; but Poplar was longer in collecting any of the people. He, however, at last returned with about twenty of them.
The first lieutenant seemed very much astonished at the summons, and could not make out what it meant. I fancy, indeed, when he got down there, and saw the captain quietly sitting in the powder-magazine, as if he was going to take up his berth there for the future, for an instant he thought him out of his senses. He did not long continue in that idea when the captain began to address him and the people who were a.s.sembled outside the grating.
”Turn the hands up, and get the s.h.i.+p under way!” he sung out in a loud voice. ”The pilot will carry her through the pa.s.sage, and then steer an easterly course till you receive further orders.”
”Now, men, you've heard the orders I have given to the first lieutenant.
I intend to have them obeyed. Other s.h.i.+ps' companies have refused to obey orders, and have joined the mutineers at the Nore. This example shall not be followed on board this s.h.i.+p. I'd sooner die than see such disgrace brought on the s.h.i.+p I command. You all know me. The instant I find the course I have given altered--you see the magazine and this pistol--we all go up together!”
Some of the mutineers--for Peter had taken care to summon those he most suspected--lingered below; but the boatswain's whistle sounded shrilly along the decks, and one more glance at the determined eye of the captain sent them flying up to obey its summons. I shall never forget the appearance of that dauntless man as he sat still and alone in that dark place, prepared by a dire necessity to hurl himself and all with him to a terrible destruction. It was a subject truly worthy of the painter's highest art. We all, indeed, did know him, and knew that, whatever the cost, he was a man to do what he had threatened. The s.h.i.+p was quickly got under way, and while the larger number of the s.h.i.+ps of the squadron ran for the Nore against the wishes of their officers, we, to the surprise of all, who little knew what extraordinary influence guided our course, stood out to sea in search of the enemies of our country.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN.
JACK A PRISONER--A PRIVATEER AND A SLAVER.
On leaving the _Glutton_, I was struck down by sickness, and lay for many long months in the hospital at Portsmouth, scarcely expecting to recover. Oh, how hideous did Death, which I had braved a hundred times in open fight, appear as silently he stalked along the wards of the hospital! I trembled as I thought of the past;--how small was the hope I had in the future! There was no one to bring me comfort--no one to afford counsel--no one to point out the right, the only way by which a sinner can be justified in the sight of a pure, just, holy G.o.d. Many good resolutions I made--as many were soon afterwards broken. I recovered; health returned to my veins--vigour to my arm. Once more I was afloat in a das.h.i.+ng frigate.
We were off the Frenchman's coast. In a deep bay lay a number of the enemy's vessels. It was necessary to ascertain their character. They were supposed to be gun-boats. Our second lieutenant, Mr Ronald--a n.o.ble specimen of a naval officer, and as active as a cat, though he had but one leg--was directed to take the gig, a fast-pulling boat, and to gain all the information he could. I was with him; so was Peter. The frigate had made sail, as if about to leave the coast; but as soon as it was dark, she stood back again. The gig was lowered, and we shoved off.
In dead silence, with m.u.f.fled oars, we pulled in towards the sh.o.r.e. We knew that the enemy mustered strong in the neighbourhood. Thus it was necessary to be cautious. Not a word was spoken. The phosph.o.r.escent light sparkled from the blades of our oars, appearing brighter from the darkness which prevailed, but that could not be seen at any distance.
The time for our expedition had been well selected. We had pitchy darkness to favour our advance; but we knew that the moon would soon rise, and enable us to make the necessary observations. We pulled slowly in, for the tide was with us, and Mr Ronald told us to reserve our strength till it would be most required. As we got close in with the sh.o.r.e, we could make out the masts of a number of vessels, in a confused ma.s.s; but what they were without more light, it was impossible to say without going close up to them. Mr Ronald was not a man to leave his work half done through fear of consequences, so we pulled on till our oars almost touched some of the outer vessels. Our officer made his remarks as we continued our course round the bay.
Not a sound had broken the stillness of the night except the almost inaudible dip of our oars in the water. The clouds, which had hitherto obscured the sky, floated gradually away; the stars shone forth bright and clear, their sparkling orbs reflected in the smooth water; and then, rising from behind the land, the moon shed her calm silvery gleam across the sheltered bay. We were at the time under the shadow of some high land. ”Give way, my lads; it is time we should be out of this!”
whispered the lieutenant. It was time indeed! Peter's quick eye, looking seaward, observed several dark objects floating in the distance.
”Boats in!” he said, pointing in that direction. The lieutenant looked there also. There could be no doubt about it. There were four large boats. He ordered us to lay on our oars, to watch in what direction they would pull. We hoped that they had not as yet observed us. The people in the boats seemed to be holding a conference. At last they parted. One pulled across the mouth of the bay in one direction; one in the other; but two advanced up the bay. There seemed no possibility of our escaping without being seen. Still it was far from Mr Ronald's intention of giving in till he was actually laid hold of. Hitherto the shade of the cliff prevented our being seen. The gap between the boats through which we could hope to escape widened more and more. Meantime, our thoughts were occupied in the contemplation of the pleasures of a French prison, of which we had too often heard to have any wish to enjoy them. Mr Ronald watched our opportunity. ”Now, my lads,” he whispered, ”give way with a will!” We needed no encouragement. As a rat darts out of the corner in which it has taken shelter when the dogs stand ready on either side hoping to catch it, so we darted out from our sheltered nook towards the open sea.