Part 7 (2/2)
”He really was the means of saving your life,” said McTavish.
”Then I'm obliged to you, Rogers, and you may call me old Higson as often as you like, provided you do me an equal service every time.”
The next morning the frigate stood out of the Bay of Funchal on her way to the West Indies.
CHAPTER FOUR.
THE FRIGATE AT TRINIDAD--MAGNIFICENT SCENERY--MIDs.h.i.+PMEN ON Sh.o.r.e-- PURCHASE A SPIDER-MONKEY, AND TAKE A RIDE WITH HIM INTO THE COUNTRY-- ADAIR MEETS SOME RELATIVES--HE AND JACK NEARLY LOSE THEIR HEARTS, BUT DON'T--COLONEL O'REGAN AND HIS DAUGHTER STELLA--A COUNTRY-HOUSE--VISIT TO A COFFEE PLANTATION--THE COLONEL'S SCHEMES--THE COLONEL AND HIS DAUGHTER EMBARK ON BOARD THE PLANTAGENET--THE DRAGON'S MOUTH--THE FRIGATE IN DANGER.
The mists of the early morning hung over the ocean, but not with sufficient density to obscure altogether the outline of the land, as her Majesty's frigate _Plantagenet_ was entering the Boca Navios, or s.h.i.+p channel, one of the Dragon's Mouths which lead from the north into the Gulf of Paria, between the island of Trinidad and the mainland of South America. Captain Hemming stood, speaking-trumpet in hand, conning the s.h.i.+p; the crew were at their stations; hands in the chains, ever and anon, as they hove the lead, in deep, sonorous voices shouting out the depth of water; every one was on the alert, for the currents were uncertain and the wind baffling. As the sun rose the silvery mist seemed to be drawn up like a curtain, exposing a magnificent spectacle; islands of fantastic shapes rising from the calm, blue water, clothed to their summits with mighty trees, of varied hues, growing out of the crevices of the rocks. Here, lofty cliffs; there, some deep bay, with plantations and cottages beyond; or a shady valley, the fit abode of peace and contentment, as Adair, who was just then in a sentimental mood, observed; now in a wilder, more open spot were seen the huts of a whaling establishment; and then, further on, open glades and gra.s.sy enclosures; while on the port side towered up to the clear, bright sky the lofty ridge-like mountains of Trinidad itself. The breeze freshening, at length the handsome capital of the island, Port of Spain, on the sh.o.r.es of its wide bay, opened out to view; its broad streets running at right angles to each other, and thus allowing every air from the water to blow freely through them. On the other side of the town could be seen the Savannah, a park-like enclosure bordered by pretty villas, with a panorama of superb hills clothed with vegetation, forming the background of the picture; between which, extending right across the island, was discerned the entrance to the fertile valley of Diego Martin; while across the gulf on the mainland rose the majestic mountains of c.u.mana. Leave was given to all not required on board to go on sh.o.r.e. The captain went to call on the governor, the officers to amuse themselves, according to their respective tastes.
The talents of Norris as interpreter were called into requisition; indeed, he had a good opportunity of practising his Spanish and Portuguese as well as French, the white population being composed of a mixture of most of the nations of Europe. The young gentlemen were wandering about, as mids.h.i.+pmen are wont to do, in a strange town; now stopping to buy fruit in the market-place, now entering a shop to look for something they did not exactly know what; now popping their heads in at a church-door, when they caught sight of a short, broad-faced, yellow-skinned Carib with a monkey perched on his head, one on each shoulder, and a fourth nestling in his arms, standing at the corner of a street.
”Hurra!” cried Tom, ”here's the chance we have long been wis.h.i.+ng for.
Come along, Norris, and try to make the monkey-merchant understand that we are ready to treat for one of his happy family.”
”For combien sixpenny pieces voulez-vous sell us one of those rum chapsos, mon amis?” said Norris, with perfect confidence, as if expecting an answer. Though the Carib knew no more French than did the mids.h.i.+pman, guessing what was wanted, he made the three monkeys on his head and shoulders jump down to the ground to exhibit themselves.
Having gone through their performances, at a word they sprang back into their former positions, the most active being a long-tailed, long-armed creature, with a body like a lath, who had the post of honour on the Indian's head.
”That's the fellow for us,” cried Tom, clapping his hands. ”I don't think old Scrofton will ever acknowledge that he had his origin in such a spider-like animal.”
”No, but he may be after saying that we are descended from some such creature, if he catches us skylarking aloft,” observed Gerald.
”He'll not venture on such an impertinence,” answered Tom. ”I vote we have him.”
Though there were some dissentient voices, the majority were in favour of the spider-monkey. A dollar was asked, a high price for a monkey, considering that hundreds are caught in the woods to be cooked for dinner; but then, as the Carib tried to explain, this one was civilised, and his education had cost something, though he could neither read nor write at present; but he might do so, if the young gentlemen would take the trouble of teaching him. The Indian's arguments prevailed. A dollar was quickly collected, Tom paying twice as much as any one else, that he might have a proportionate interest in the beast; and Master Spider, as he was forthwith called, became the mids.h.i.+pmen's monkey.
Poor Master Spider, he little knew the fate awaiting him. Now he was theirs, the question was what to do with him till they returned on board. Should they take him with them into the country, he would to a certainty be off among his native woods, they agreed. They modestly requested several shop-keepers in the neighbourhood to take charge of him, but all declined the trust. They bought, however, of a saddler a chain and strap to a.s.sist in securing their captive. At first they were going to put the strap round the monkey's neck; but the Carib hinted that if they did, Master Spider would be throttled, and so it was fastened round his loins, he ungratefully giving Paddy Desmond, who performed the operation, a severe bite in return.
”Ye baste, what do ye mane by that?” exclaimed Paddy, in a voice which made Master Spider spring back as far as his chain would allow to the top of a saddle, where he sat vehemently jabbering away, as if offering a full explanation of his conduct, amid the laughter of the rest of the party. Norris proposed hiring a sitting-room for him at an inn; but a somewhat high price being asked for the accommodation, it was at length determined to take him with them now that he could not escape, each one agreeing to carry him by turns.
”But you fellows are not going to walk about all day, I hope. I vote we have a ride,” exclaimed Norris.
The proposal was agreed to. Six procured steeds--rather sorry jades; for the sagacious owners, having some experience of the way naval officers are apt to ride, would not bring out their best horses, but the mids.h.i.+pmen did not care about that. They tossed up who was first to have charge of Spider. Paddy Desmond won, and away they started.
”Look out that you don't run foul of any of the great Dons of the island, or lose your way,” shouted their messmates.
”No fear,” answered Tom; ”we've got Spider as a pilot.”
Spider did show the way in a vengeance, for Desmond's horse finding a strange creature clinging to its mane, dashed off at headlong speed through the streets and round the Savannah, followed by the rest, shouting and laughing, till the foot of the mountains was reached. Then up they went, not by the high road, but by a rough pathway, which led they did not know where. That, however, was of small consequence; it must take them to some place or other, and they had little doubt of finding their way back. On they pushed, scrambling along regardless of the hot sun, the dust, the flies, and other stinging creatures, laughing and shouting, and belabouring each other's steeds, Gerald, as at first, with Spider before him, bravely keeping the lead. They had not been un.o.bserved, for Lieutenants Rogers and Adair were riding leisurely along the road round the Savannah as they pa.s.sed at some distance.
”There goes my young hopeful of a nephew,” exclaimed Adair. ”I must look sharper after the lad than _I_ have done when he gets on sh.o.r.e, or he'll come to grief, and my good sister, his mother, who doats on him, will break her heart.”
”I must keep a taut hand on Tom, too, for whom I feel myself responsible,” observed Jack. ”I was glad to have him on board the frigate, but I did not reflect on the anxiety he would cause me.”
”Mercifully Providence watches over mids.h.i.+pmen, or the race would soon become extinct, and there would be no such promising young officers as you and I to be found,” said Adair. ”There go a number more of them.
Happy fellows! Well, it was not so long since we were like them, Jack.”
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