Tales of terror
to take an active lead. Yet, in the midst of all this disorder, a few
of the crew kept themselves separate, taking no share in the general
consultation, but from the anxiety expressed in their countenances,
as well as in that of the mate, I foresaw some storm was brewing, and
about to burst on our heads.
Since Montaldo’s death Isabella had been in the habit of leaving her
cabin after sunset to enjoy the coolness of the evening breeze, and
in this she was sometimes joined by the priest, but more frequently
was only attended by her woman. One evening she came up as usual, and
after walking backward and forward on deck with me till the dews
began to fall, she turned to go below, but just as she approached
the companion-way one of the sailors, whom we had rescued from the
felucca, who now, in the absence of all discipline, lounged about the
quarter-deck without rebuke, shut down the head, and throwing himself
on it, declared that none should make him rise without the reward of a
kiss. This piece of insolence was received with an encouraging laugh by
his fellows, and several slang expressions of wit were uttered, which
were loudly applauded by those around. Without a word of remonstrance,
Isabella timidly stooped, and would have attempted getting down the
ladder without disturbing the men, when, burning with indignation,
I seized the rascal by the collar, and pitched him head foremost
along the deck. In an instant he got on his legs, and pulling a long
clasp-knife out of his pocket, with a loud imprecation made towards
me. All the other sailors likewise made a motion to assist him, and I
expected to be assailed on all hands, when the mate interfered, and
laying hold of the marline-spike which I had caught up wherewith to
defend myself, pushed me back as he whispered:
‘Are you mad that you interfere? For heaven’s sake keep quiet, for I
have no authority over the crew now!’ And he spoke the truth, for the
negro, brandishing his knife, and supported by his comrades, was again
advancing, when the hoarse voice of the boatswain, as he ran to the
scene of the action, arrested his progress.
‘Hollo! you there; what’s the squall for? Avast! avast! Mingo. Off
hands is fair play. Ship that blade of yours, or I’ll send my fist
through your ribs, and make daylight shine through them in a minute.’
I related the behaviour of the fellow, and was requesting him to order
the others forward, when I was cut short by his exclaiming, to my
astonishment:
‘We shall do as we like here, young man! We are all alike free in a
British ship. But damn his eyes for an insolent son of a sea cook. He
wants to kiss this pretty lady! I’ll let him know she belongs to his
betters! The black wench is good enough for him any day. Come, my
dear!’ he continued, turning to Isabella; ‘give me the same fee, and
I’ll undertake to clear the way for you myself.’
He made as if he meant to approach her, when, careless of what the
consequences might be to myself, I hastily stepped forward, and,
lifting up the head of the companion, allowed Isabella to run below.
‘This lady is no fit subject for either wit or insolence,’ said I,
shutting the doors, ‘and he is less than man who would insult an
unprotected female.’
For a little while he stood eyeing me, as if hesitating whether he
should resent my interference or remain passive. At length he turned
slowly and doggedly away, as he uttered:
‘You ruffle big, and crow with a brisk note, sir. But I’ve seen me do
as wonderful a thing as twist your windpipe, and send you over the side
to cool yourself a bit; and so I would serve you in the turning of a
wave, if it wasn’t that we may have use for you yet! I see in what
quarter the wind sets; but mind your eye! for sink me if I don’t keep a
sharp look-out ahead over you.’
I now saw that things had come to a crisis--that the crew meant to turn
pirates, and I was going to be detained among them for the sake of my
professional services. I could not without a shudder reflect on what
must be the fate of Isabella among such a gang of reckless villains;
but I firmly resolved that, come what might, my protection and care
over her should cease but with my life.
To be prepared for the worst, I immediately went below, loaded two
pistols which I had brought on board with me, and concealed them in
my breast, securing at the same time all my money and papers about my
person. While thus employed, one of the cabin boys came down for a
telescope, saying that a sail had hove in sight to windward. Upon this
I followed him up, and found the crew collected together in a clamorous
consultation as to the course they should follow. Some were for laying
to till she came near enough, and seizing her if a merchantman; and
if not, they could easily sheer off. But this motion was overruled by
the majority, who judged it best to keep clear for fear of accidents.
Accordingly, all the spare canvas was set, and we were soon gaining
large before the wind. But the ‘Ariadne,’ though reckoned the fastest
vessel that ever left the Clyde when close hauled on a wind, was by no
means so fleet when squared and going free. She had now met with her
match, for the stranger was evidently gaining rapidly on us, and in two
hours we saw it was impossible for us to escape. The priest and I were
ordered down, with a threat of instant death if we offered to come on
deck, or made any attempt to attract observation.
I now communicated to Isabella my apprehensions with respect to the
crew, along with my resolution to leave the vessel if the other proved
a man-of-war, and earnestly advised both her and the priest to take
advantage of it also. She thanked me with a look and a smile that told
me how sensible she was of the interest I took in her welfare, and
expressed her willingness to be guided by me in whatever way I thought
best.
Shortly after this we heard a gun fired to bring us to, and the
‘Ariadne’ hailed and questioned as to her port and destination. The
answers, it appeared, were thought evasive and unsatisfactory, for
we were ordered to come close under the lee quarter of her Majesty’s
sloop-of-war ‘Tartar,’ while an officer was sent to examine our papers,
for it appeared the ‘Tartar’ had been specially detailed to keep a
look-out in those waters for a notorious pirate, who had committed
some extraordinary deeds of daring while flying the English flag, and
pretending to be a peaceful trader. This was now our only chance, and
I resolved that if the officer did not come below I would force the
companion door, and claim his protection. But I was not put to this
alternative. As soon as he arrived, I heard him desire the hatches to
be taken off, so that he could examine the hold. The inspection did
not satisfy him, for he hailed the sloop, and reported that there were
Spanish goods on board, which did not appear in the manifest.
‘Then remain on board, and keep stern lights burning all night, and
take charge of the ship,’ was the reply. In a state of irksome suspense
we remained nearly two hours, expecting every moment to hear the
officer descending. At length, to our relief, the companion doors were
unlocked, and a young man, attended by our captain, entered the cabin.
He looked surprised on seeing us, and, bowing to Isabella, apologised
for intruding at such an unseasonable hour.
‘But I was not given to understand,’ he added, ‘that there were
passengers in the ship--prisoners I should rather pronounce it, Captain
Mahone, for you seem to have had them under lock and key, which is
rather an unusual mode of treating ladies, at least in a vessel
supposed to be bound on a trading voyage. No wine, sir,’ he continued,
motioning away the bottle which the captain was hastily placing on the
table, ‘no wine, but be pleased to show me your register and bill of
lading.’
He had not been long seated to inspect them when a shuffling and
hurried sound of feet was heard overhead, and a voice calling on ‘Mr.
Wright’ for assistance showed that some scuffle had taken place above.
Instantaneously we all started to our feet, and the lieutenant was
in the act of drawing his sword, when, accidentally looking round, I
observed Mahone presenting a pistol behind. With a cry of warning, I
threw myself forward, and had just time to strike the weapon slightly
aside, when it went off. The ball narrowly missed the head of Wright,
for whom it had been aimed, but struck the priest over the right eye,
and the unfortunate man, making one desperate and convulsive leap as
high as the ceiling, sunk down dead, and before the captain could fire
again I discharged the contents of my pistol into his breast. We then
rushed up on deck, but it was only to find that the boat’s crew had
been mastered, and to behold the last of the men tumbled overboard. The
pirates then dispersed, and exerted themselves to get the ship speedily
under way, while the boatswain sang out to extinguish the stern lights
that the ‘Tartar’ might not be guided by them.
‘It is all over with us!’ exclaimed my companion, ‘but follow me; we
have one chance for our lives yet. Our boat is still towing astern.
You throw yourself overboard and swim till I slide down the painter,
and cut her adrift. Come, bear a hand, and jump. Don’t you see them
hastening aft?’ and in an instant he pitched himself off the taffrail,
slid down the rope which held the boat, and cast her loose. But this
advice, however judicious, it was impossible for me to follow, for at
that moment repeated shrieks from Isabella put to flight all thoughts
for my own individual safety. I, therefore, hurried back to the cabin,
determined that if I could not rescue her along with myself, to remain
and protect her with my life. And in the nick of time I arrived. The
candles were still burning on the table, and through the smoke of the
pistols, which still filled the cabin, I beheld her struggling in the
arms of a Spanish sailor--the identical fellow who had displayed such
insolence in the early part of the evening. With one stroke of the
butt end of my pistol I fractured the cursed villain’s skull, caught
up Isabella in my arms, ran up the ladder, and had nearly gained the
side when the boatswain, attracted by her white garments, left the helm
to intercept me, and I saw the gleam of a dagger or knife of some sort
on the point of descending, when he was suddenly struck down by some
person from behind. I did not stop to discover who had done me this
good office, but hailing Wright, and clasping Isabella firmly in my
arms, I plunged into the water, followed by, at that moment, an unknown
ally. With the aid of my companion, whom I now found to be John Wyllie,
the mate, we easily managed to support our charge till the boat reached
us, when we found that the greater part of the ‘Tartar’s’ men, who also
jumped overboard, had been rescued in a similar manner.
When the morning dawned we perceived the ‘Ariadne,’ like a speck in the
horizon, and the sloop-of-war in close chase. Our attention was next
turned to our own situation, which was by no means enviable. We had
escaped, it is true, with our lives, for the present, but without a
morsel of food, or a single drop of fresh water with us in the boat.
We could at best only expect to protract existence for a few days
longer, and then yield them up ultimately in horror and misery. By an
observation taken the day before, on board the ‘Tartar,’ Mr. Wright
informed us we were to the north-east of the Bahamas, and distant about
one hundred and seventy miles from Walling’s Island, which was the
nearest land. This was a long distance, but as despair never enters the
breast of a British sailor, even in situations of the utmost extremity,
we cheered up each other, and, as no other resource was left us, we