Roger Kyffin's Ward Part 18

Harry soon discovered that something was going forward among the men, but he was not trusted. Disaffection rapidly spread among the crews of the s.h.i.+ps. At length they began to speak openly of their grievances.

Harry, finding it impossible to get on sh.o.r.e, wrote two letters: one to Mabel, the other to Roger Kyffin. He told Mabel, that in all the dangers he had gone through, he was true to her as ever. He described the sinking of the s.h.i.+p, and his satisfaction at having been the means of saving her father's life. His chief disappointment was at not finding himself, as yet, on the quarter-deck, but still he trusted that an opportunity would occur to enable him to make his way there. To Mr.

Kyffin he wrote as before, a.s.suring him that he had heartily repented the follies he had committed, and that he trusted he might have the means of clearing his character from any imputation which his sudden flight might have cast on it. It must be remembered that Harry was not aware of the accusations brought against him, and that Sleech, instead of defending him, had done his utmost to confirm the idea of his guilt.

The letter addressed to Mabel reached Lynderton, but being addressed to Stanmore Park, was sent there by the postmaster, an especial ally of Mr.

Sleech. That gentleman received it, and he had an idea that it might contain some information: at all events, it might be worth perusal. His colour changed somewhat as he read on.

"The captain alive!" he exclaimed. "So ho! That may give trouble. I wish he was fathoms deep down in the ocean. And this young fellow, this Mistress Mabel loves him! Well, if she marries him, there will be a couple of beggars wedded. And she disdains my son Silas, the creature!

We will pull her proud heart down yet, in spite of her father. I don't like the captain coming to life again, though; I must consult Silas.

Tom's a fool: there is no use talking to him. I must send for Silas post haste. He has got more wits than all the family put together."

The result of the letter Mr. Kyffin received has already been seen at the commencement of the narrative. Before that he had begun to fear that his ward was really dead. The letter had rea.s.sured him, but left him very much in the dark as to where Harry was to be found.

Harry had another letter to write; it was, however, not on his own account, but on that of his friend Jacob, who was ignorant of an art not generally possessed by seamen in those days. It was addressed to Mary Tanner, Mabel's waiting-maid.

"Well, Jacob," said Harry, as he sat down on the maindeck alongside a gun with a piece of board as table, "I will write, gladly, but you must tell me what to say."

"Tell her I love her as much as ever, and that I am glad to come to life again, if it was only for the sake of seeking her. And now just write down, `I am glad to say that fine young chap, Harry Tu (you know who I mean, Mary), saved our captain's life when the s.h.i.+p went down, and we were on the raft; leaped overboard, swam ever so far, and brought him safe to it. The captain, however, does not know to this day who he is, and thinks he's one Andrew Brown.'"

"I don't think I can say so much: it's like sounding my own praises,"

observed Harry.

"No, I tell you; it isn't you sounding them; it's me writing the letter, and you just puts down what I say; so go ahead, Harry!"

Harry continued. The letter was almost as long as his own, but he did not grudge the trouble. It was at once despatched, but instead of being addressed to Stanmore Park, it was directed to Widow Tuttle's cottage, where, Jacob stated, it was his belief that Mary would frequently go, and she might then give his mother the first account of his safety.

Sailors' letters in those days often went astray. This, however, after considerable delay, reached its destination; and sure enough, on that very day, Mary was paying the widow a visit. Thus her sorrow was quickly turned into joy; although somewhat subdued, when she found that Jacob had no chance of leaving his s.h.i.+p to come and see her. After she had read the letter two or three times to the widow, she hastened back with it to rejoice the heart of poor Mabel.

Important events were at this time taking place on board the fleet.

Some time before, pet.i.tions had been sent up from all the line-of-battle s.h.i.+ps at Portsmouth to Lord Howe, making various not unreasonable requests. It had been observed, however, by one of the red-tape officials, that all the pet.i.tions were written by one person, and couched in the same language, and therefore it was believed that they were the productions of some factious or mad-brained individual, who was not worthy of notice. They were accordingly thrown on one side, and no answers were returned. After this the fleet put to sea. On its return, the seamen finding that their pet.i.tions had not been replied to, were much irritated, justly feeling that those who were fighting their country's battles were worthy of respect. Several violent and disaffected persons were found on board every s.h.i.+p, and these worked on the minds of the other seamen. A general correspondence was established throughout the whole fleet, and at length it was unanimously agreed by the respective crews, that no s.h.i.+p should lift an anchor till a redress of grievances was obtained.

The morning of the 13th of April arrived. Lord Bridport ordered the signal for weighing to be thrown out on board the flag-s.h.i.+p. Instead of obeying it, the seamen of the "Queen Charlotte" ran up the shrouds, and gave three cheers as the signal for mutiny. This was answered in the same manner by every s.h.i.+p in the fleet. The captains and their officers, although taken by surprise by this sudden act of disobedience, used every means in their power to persuade the men to return to their duty, but all their exertions were ineffectual. They were, however, treated with every respect, the seamen declaring that they were ready to obey their orders as soon as they had received ample a.s.surance from the Government that their grievances would immediately be redressed.

On the following day, two delegates were appointed from each s.h.i.+p, to represent the whole fleet, and the admiral's cabin on the "Queen Charlotte" was fixed as a place where they should meet to hold their deliberations. On the 15th every man in the fleet was sworn to support the cause in which he had embarked. They next proceeded to reeve ropes at the foreyard-arms, as a sign that they intended to run up any who disobeyed them, and after this they turned all officers out of the fleet who had by their behaviour in any way offended them. The day after this a committee of the Board of Admiralty arrived at Portsmouth, and made several propositions to the delegates, hoping to induce them to return to their duty. Nothing, however, would satisfy the seamen, unless the arrangements were sanctioned by the King and Parliament, and a general pardon guaranteed by proclamation. After this several admirals visited them with the same want of success. Lord Bridport, in consequence, struck his flag, declaring that he would not again hoist it. The s.h.i.+ps on this loaded all their guns, kept watch as at sea, and put everything in a state of defence, confining all the officers to their respective s.h.i.+ps. Happily wise counsels prevailed on sh.o.r.e. The King especially urged his Ministers to yield to the just demands of the seamen, and Lord Bridport was sent on board the fleet, informing the men that all their grievances were redressed, and that his Majesty had granted a pardon to all offenders. These events took place while the "Latona," on board which Harry and Jacob then were, was at Spithead. She was soon afterwards sent round to the Thames. On her pa.s.sage she encountered a heavy gale, and was run into by another s.h.i.+p, and reduced almost to a wreck. Being afterwards driven on sh.o.r.e, she received so much damage that she was towed up, not without difficulty, into Sheerness, to undergo a thorough repair. Her crew in the meantime were turned over to other s.h.i.+ps, Harry and Jacob being sent on board the "Sandwich," then one of the s.h.i.+ps forming the fleet at the Nore. Several of the most mutinously disposed of the frigate's crew were also sent on board the same s.h.i.+p.

Grievously had poor Harry's expectation of rising in the service been disappointed! Sent about from s.h.i.+p to s.h.i.+p, he had no means of becoming known to his superior officers, nor had any opportunity been afforded him for distinguis.h.i.+ng himself. The romance, too, which he expected to find in a life at sea had terribly worn off. He was among rough, uneducated men, and although many of them were kind-hearted, generous, and humane, there were not a few ruffians and villains of all sorts.

Some of these, when they discovered that he was a gentleman by birth, took especial pleasure in annoying him. He had not failed, however, in obtaining a certain amount of position among them, while he was respected by those who knew him best. One of the men on board especially took notice of him: his name was Richard Parker. He was a clever fellow; had been, Harry heard, a petty officer; but for disrespectful conduct to his superiors had been disrated. This seemed to rankle in his heart. He possessed, too, a certain amount of education, and he felt himself, and perhaps really was, equal in that respect to many officers.

Parker had made it his business to discover all the most mutinously disposed men in his own s.h.i.+p, as also by degrees on board the other s.h.i.+ps of the fleet--thus, in course of time, there were several hundred men scattered about the fleet ready to obey any commands he might issue.

What his ultimate aims were Harry could not discover. Parker soon saw that he must proceed carefully with Harry, if he wished to secure his a.s.sistance. To Harry, indeed, his plans appeared very moderate, and all calculated really to forward the best interests of the seamen.

"I must trust to you, Brown, then to help me," said Parker. "You are just the fellow I want for a right-hand man, on whom I may thoroughly rely. If men like you and I, and others of sense and education, don't watch over the welfare of our poor fellow-seamen, depend upon it they will soon again be treated as they were before. To my mind, although we have gained something by the little outbreak of the fleet at Spithead, we have not gained enough, and more must be done. Brown, I know you will help me. I want to send letters round to each s.h.i.+p in the fleet, and advise the men to select delegates, as was done at Spithead."

Harry saw no reason for refusing, and wrote letters, which Parker sighed. His advice was implicitly followed, and in a short time delegates from all the s.h.i.+ps arrived on board the "Sandwich," which at that time carried the flag of Vice-Admiral Buckner. A council of delegates was formed, and Richard Parker was appointed president.

Certain pet.i.tions were drawn up, which were sent to the Admiralty. The princ.i.p.al part of them were refused, but the men were promised forgiveness if they would at once return to their duty. Admiral Buckner, who delivered this message, was laughed at in return, and the boats of the fleet being instantly manned, the crews went into the harbour, and brought out all the gunboats, and proceeded to the Great Nore. As they pa.s.sed the fort at Sheerness, they fired at it in defiance, though without doing any damage. On their return they struck the flag of Vice-Admiral Buckner, and hoisted the red flag for mutiny in its stead. All the s.h.i.+ps also which lay near Sheerness were compelled to drop down to the Great Nore, in order to concentrate the scene of their operations. Among them was the "Saint Fiorenzo," which had just been fitted up to carry one of the royal princesses, just married to the Prince of Wurtemburg, over to Germany. Harry and Jacob talked over the proceedings of their s.h.i.+pmates. They could not but perceive that they were very dangerous, and, indeed, more serious grievances having been so speedily redressed, utterly unjustifiable. Still Harry was unfortunately committed to the cause of the mutineers, especially from having written the letters, and otherwise aided Parker.

Parker doubted him, but still treated him with considerable attention.

Vain were all the efforts made by the Commissioners of the Admiralty to bring the crews back to obedience. So bold, indeed, did the delegates become, that they landed in various places, and supplied themselves with the provisions they required. It was their constant custom to land at Sheerness, where they held conferences with the greatest publicity, and afterwards paraded the streets, with flags flying and music playing, Parker, as the admiral of the rebel fleet, marching at the head of the procession. They went on board, also, all the s.h.i.+ps they could visit, persuading the crews to join them. In spite of Harry's objections to go on sh.o.r.e, Parker insisted on several occasions that he should accompany him.

"I tell you, my lad, I am your friend, and will bear you harmless,"

answered the rebel chief; "and go you must. I want you."

Harry knew that it would be dangerous to disobey, but he did not consider the still greater danger of being seen in company with the most desperate of the mutineers.

On one occasion, when he was on sh.o.r.e with Parker, after the delegates, as usual, had paraded the streets, they entered the dockyard, where Lord Keith, Sir Charles Grey, Admiral Buckner, and several other naval officers, who had just come down from London, were a.s.sembled.

The seamen were proceeding in their usual swaggering style across the dockyard, when they came face to face with the venerable Admiral. He fixed his stern gaze on them, asking them how mutineers and enemies of their king and country thus dared to enter one of the royal dockyards?

Even Parker, bold and daring as he was, for an instant was staggered, and found no words to reply. Just then, drums and fifes were heard, and an infantry militia regiment marched into the dockyard. The delegates, nothing daunted, drew up, facing them.

Parker had taken the precaution to leave orders on board the s.h.i.+ps that should he and his companions be seized, two officers on board every s.h.i.+p should instantly be taken hold of, and ropes rove at the end of the foreyard-arm be made fast round their necks.

Harry, who was among the delegates, found himself placed near several of the officers of the militia regiment. Among them he saw a face he knew.

It was that of young Gilby, he was certain. The recognition appeared mutual. Gilby nodded to him.

"I heard that you were at sea, old fellow, but didn't quite expect to find you in such company," he cried out.

Harry made no answer, and endeavoured to avoid his gaze. Never had he felt so humbled and annoyed.

Among the group of naval officers were the captains of some of the s.h.i.+ps who had come on sh.o.r.e. One of them was the captain of the "Saint Fiorenzo." A young mids.h.i.+pman of the same s.h.i.+p, standing near Lord Keith, on seeing all the princ.i.p.al leaders of the mutineers together, exclaimed--

"Why not make one bold cast, and catch them all in the same net? It would quickly put a stop to the mutiny."

The admiral turned round as he heard the voice:

"You don't know what you are talking about youngster," he observed, recollecting that the mutineers had their officers in their power on the s.h.i.+ps.

In consequence of this they behaved with the greatest boldness and audacity in the presence of the Lords of the Admiralty, and in spite of the troops arrayed against them. A board was held by their lords.h.i.+ps at the Commissioner's house, when the delegates were invited to attend.

All expostulations, however, proved ineffectual. The mutineers increased their demands, and grew more insolent in their behaviour. At length their lords.h.i.+ps, signifying to the seamen that no further concessions would be granted, returned to town.

On this, further meetings were held on board the s.h.i.+ps, at which Harry was compelled by Parker to attend as his secretary. One day, in the presence of Tuttle and several other seamen, Harry expostulated, telling Parker that he did not approve of holding out after so many concessions had been made.

"The first man who disobeys my orders will have a bullet sent through his head," exclaimed Parker, drawing a pistol. "Disobey me at your peril, Andrew Brown," he continued, levelling the weapon.

Harry stood firm. A murmur of disapprobation broke out among the men.

"I don't care whether you agree or disagree, but I ask you again, Brown, whether you will attend me as I order you or not?"

"I will attend you if you force me, but again protest against your proceedings."

"Come into the cabin then," exclaimed Parker, fiercely, "and do as I order you."

Harry was compelled to obey.

The delegates having a.s.sembled, a fierce discussion took place as to their future proceedings. Some were for yielding: others, led by Parker, determined to hold out; while a considerable number proposed, in case their demands were still refused, to carry the fleet over to a French port. This traitorous proposition was happily over-ruled by the majority--indeed, many thought that if it was proposed to the men, they themselves would refuse to obey. Finally it was determined to hold out, in the hope of compelling the Government to yield. One of the means taken by the mutineers was to blockade the Thames, and several s.h.i.+ps were moored across the river, to prevent a free pa.s.sage up to London or down. In order to concentrate their force also, the fleet which lay at Sheerness was compelled to drop down to the Great Nore. The line-of-battle s.h.i.+ps were then drawn up in a line, about half a mile from each other, with their broadsides abreast. In the s.p.a.ce between the line-of-battle s.h.i.+ps, the merchantmen and other vessels which had been detained were moored. As all communication was stopped with the sh.o.r.e, the mutineers supplied themselves with water and provisions from these vessels.

All this time, strange as it may seem, the behaviour of the seamen towards their officers, with a few exceptions, was perfectly respectful.

One, however, was tarred and feathered. Two mids.h.i.+pmen were ducked, and some few officers who were especially obnoxious to the mutineers were sent on sh.o.r.e. Four seamen also were severely flogged for speaking disrespectfully of the delegates.