A True Hero Part 7

"Hast ever crossed the ocean before, young sir?" said honest Richard Dinan, captain of the _Amity_, addressing Wenlock. "You seem to have a pair of sea legs of your own."

"Yea, verily, friend. I served on board a man-of-war, and saw no little service," answered Wenlock.

"Then how didst thou quit it? It is an honest calling, to my mind,"

observed the captain.

"Why, by being blown up and left floating alone on the water. Verily I thought that was a sufficient sign to me no longer to engage in carnal warfare."

"Oh, ay, I see. You have joined friend Penn. Well, well, each man to his taste. However, I guessed you had served at sea directly I saw you walking the deck."

After this, Captain Dinan paid considerable attention to Wenlock,--much more so, indeed, than he did to Jonas Ford. Altogether there were about twenty pa.s.sengers on board the _Amity_, with a crew of forty men. She also carried guns, to be able to defend herself against Algerine rovers, or West Indian pirates, of whom there were not a few roving those seas at that time. Prince Rupert and his brother had made piracy somewhat fas.h.i.+onable during the days of the Commonwealth, and there were not wanting a few lawless spirits to follow their example.

For some time the voyage continued prosperous, though, as the wind was light, the progress of the two emigrant s.h.i.+ps was but slow. One day Wenlock had gone forward, when a seaman, whose furrowed countenance, thickly covered with scars and grey locks, showing the hard service he had gone through during a long life, addressed him.

"I know your name, Master Christison," he said, "for I served under a man who I think was your father. It was many years ago; but yet I remember his looks and tone of voice, as you remind me of him. He saved my life, and did more than save my life, for he prevented me from becoming a hardened ruffian like many of my companions." On this the old seaman ran on, and gave him many accounts of his father, to which Wenlock listened with deep interest. "Well, sir," said the old man, "whenever you have time to listen to a yarn, if I happen to be below, just send for old Bill Rullock." Wenlock promised the old man that he would not fail to come and talk to him, hoping indeed, as in duty bound, to put the truth before him.

The two s.h.i.+ps were now about ten days' sail from the American continent.

Wenlock was walking the deck with Captain Dinan, most of the other pa.s.sengers having gone to their cabins, for the sea was somewhat high, and the wind had increased. Dark clouds also were rising in the north-west, and driving rapidly across the sky.

"I do not altogether like the look of the weather," observed the captain. "I see Captain Smith is shortening sail; we must do the same:"

and he forthwith summoned the crew to perform that operation.

Scarcely were the men off the yards, when the wind, as if suddenly let loose, struck the s.h.i.+p with terrific fury, throwing her on her beam ends. Many of the pa.s.sengers cried out for fear, thinking that she was going down. Among those who exhibited the greatest terror was Jonas Ford, who wrung his hands, bitterly repenting that he had ever come to sea. The captain issued his orders in a clear voice, which the crew readily obeyed, Wenlock giving his a.s.sistance.

"Cut away the mizen mast," cried the captain.

A glittering axe soon descended on the stout mast, while the active crew cleared the shrouds and all the other ropes, the mast falling clear of the s.h.i.+p into the foaming ocean. Still she lay helpless in the trough of the sea.

"The mainmast must go," cried the captain.

That too was cut away. The s.h.i.+p instantly felt the relief, and now rising to an even keel, she flew before the furious gale. Those on board had been so taken up with their own dangerous condition, that no one thought of looking out for their consort.

When, however, the most imminent danger was over, Wenlock cast his eye in the direction in which she had last been seen. In vain he looked out on either side; no sail was visible. Others also now began to make inquiries for the _John Sarah_. Many had friends on board. Too probably, struck by the furious blast, she had gone down. Sad were the forebodings of all as to her fate. Such might have been theirs. Human nature is sadly selfish, and many were rather inclined to congratulate themselves on their escape, than to mourn for the supposed fate of their countrymen.

On, on flew the _Amity_ towards the south, far away from the Delaware, from the land to which she was bound. The dark foam-crested seas rose up on every side, hissing and roaring, and threatening to overwhelm her.

Still the brave captain kept up his courage, and endeavoured to keep up that of those on board.

"We must get jury-masts up," he said, "when the storm abates; and plying to the north, endeavour to regain the ground we have lost."

"Verily we had a fierce gale, friend Christison," said Ford, coming up to Wenlock when the weather once more moderated. "Didst not thou fear greatly?"

"No," answered Wenlock; "though it seemed to me that the s.h.i.+p might probably go down."

"Ah! truly, I felt very brave too," said Ford.

"You took an odd way of showing it," answered Wenlock, who had observed the abject fear into which his companion had been thrown.

"Ah! yea, I might have somewhat trembled, but that was more for the thought of others than for myself," said Ford. "And now tell me, when dost thou think we shall arrive at our destination?"

"That is more than any one on board can say," said Wenlock; "but we must do all that men can do, and leave the rest to Him who rules the sea!"

All hands were now engaged in getting the s.h.i.+p to rights. Scarcely however had jury-masts been set up, than signs of another storm appeared in the sky.

"I like not the look of the weather," observed the captain.

"Christison, your eyes are sharp; is that a sail away to the north-east?"

"Yes, verily," answered Wenlock.

"Can it be our consort?"

"No; she would not appear in that quarter. She is a stranger, and seems to be coming rapidly on towards us," observed Wenlock, after watching her for little time. "A tall s.h.i.+p too, I suspect."

Captain Dinan had hoped before this to haul up to the wind, but the increasing gale made this impossible. As, however, he was going out of his course, he only carried as much sail as necessity required. The stranger therefore came quickly up with the _Amity_. The captain now began to eye her very narrowly.

"I like not her looks," he observed. "She is a war s.h.i.+p, and yet shows no colours."

The captain asked his officers their opinion. They agreed with him.

Bill Rullock, who was a man of experience, was called aft.

"I have little doubt about it," he observed. "That craft's a pirate, and we must keep clear of her if we would escape having to walk the plank or getting our throats cut." Nearer and nearer drew the stranger.

"Rather than surrender we must fight to the last," observed the st.u.r.dy captain. "Christison, Ford, which will you all do, gentlemen?" he asked, addressing the pa.s.sengers.

"Verily, I will go below and hide myself," said Ford. "It becometh not one of my creed to engage in mortal combat."

"If you order me to work a gun, I will do so," answered Wenlock.

"Albeit peace is excellent and blessed, and warfare is accursed, yet I cannot see that it would be my duty to allow others to fight for the defence of my life which I will not defend myself; or, for lack of fighting, to allow myself or those who look to men to protect them,--the women and children on board,--to be destroyed by outlawed ruffians such as are probably those on board yonder s.h.i.+p."

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

As soon as the captain of the _Amity_ was convinced of the character of the stranger, he set all the sail the s.h.i.+p would carry, yet hoping to escape from her. Looking to windward however, he saw that they had an enemy to contend with, as much to be dreaded, in their crippled condition, as the pirate s.h.i.+p. His experienced eye told him that another hurricane was about to break. Part of the crew, and most of the pa.s.sengers also, were standing at the guns, the remainder of the crew being required to work the sails. The courage showed by all on board gave the captain hopes of being able to beat off the enemy. On came the tall s.h.i.+p. As Wenlock watched her, he could not help perceiving that she was of overpowering force.

"Stand by to shorten sail," cried the captain. His eye had been fixed on a dark cloud, which came flying like some messenger of destruction across the sky.

"You must be smart, lads," cried old Bill Rullock, "if you have no fancy for being sent to Davy Jones's locker before you are many minutes older." The old man set an example by his activity.

Nearer and nearer drew the pirate, for such, there was no doubt, was the character of the stranger. A bright flash issued from her bows, and a shot came bounding over the water towards the _Amity_. On this Captain Dinan ordered the English flag to be hoisted. Scarcely had it flown out when another shot followed. Still, neither hit the s.h.i.+p. As the first flash was seen, Jonas Ford was observed to dive below.

"Our friend is as good as his word," observed the captain, laughing.

"If any others wish to follow his example, let them go at once, for we may have warm work ere long. To my mind, though I am a plain man, a person should so live as not to fear the lightning's flash, nor the foeman's shot, nor the raging ocean either; and then, whether in tempest or battle, he will be able to do his duty like a man, knowing that there is One above who will look after him, and, if He thinks fit, carry him through all dangers."

Shot after shot followed. Now one went through the s.h.i.+p's sails; now one pa.s.sed on one side, now on the other; but none did any material harm. Still, Captain Dinan gave no order to fire in return. Thus for some time the s.h.i.+ps continued to sail on, the pirate gradually drawing nearer. At length she yawed and let fly her whole broadside. Several shots struck the _Amity_, two poor fellows being killed, and a third wounded. The faces of many of the pa.s.sengers, on this grew pale, yet they stood firmly at their quarters. And now, once more, the pirate kept on her coa.r.s.e. Still Captain Dinan would not fire.

"Christison," said the captain, "we have someone who knows better how to fight for us than we do ourselves. See! if the pirate attempts that manoeuvre again, he will pay dearly for it."

So eagerly, it seemed, were the pirates watching their expected prize, that they had not observed the rapid approach of the dark cloud. Once more the pirate yawed. At that instant a loud roar was heard, and the hurricane broke over the two s.h.i.+ps. The flashes of the guns were seen, but none of the shots struck the _Amity_; all were buried in the ocean.

Over went the tall s.h.i.+p, her masts level with the ocean. The crew of the _Amity_, at a signal from their captain, had lowered most of their sails; and now away she flew, leaving the pirate s.h.i.+p apparently on the point of sinking beneath the waves. They were seen leaping and roaring round her; but even had those on board the _Amity_ desired to render their fellow-creatures a.s.sistance, they would have had no power to do so. The hurricane increased in fury, and often it seemed as if the _Amity_ herself would go down. Tossed and buffeted by the seas, the water poured in through many a leak. The pumps were manned, and all the pa.s.sengers were summoned to work them. Some, however, complained of sickness, and retired to their berths. Among them was Jonas Ford.