Dick Cheveley Part 5

As the 'Minerve' could not now possibly escape, we threw out a signal to the 'Lowestoff' to chase the 'Artemise,' which instead of coming to the a.s.sistance of her consort was making off. She however had the heels of us, and we therefore, returning again, attacked the 'Minerve,' which, on her mizen-mast being shot away, hauled down her colours. We had our boatswain and five seamen killed, two officers and thirteen men wounded.

The 'Lowestoff' had no one hurt, and so, although she certainly contributed to the capture of the prize, we gained the chief credit for the action, which, considering the difference in size between our frigate and the Frenchman, we certainly deserved. But in those days we didn't count odds. We thought that we had only to see the enemy to thrash him. Even our best captains, however, sometimes made a mistake.

"I afterwards belonged to the 'Terpsich.o.r.e' frigate, Captain Richard Bowen, which formed one of a squadron under Lord Nelson, who was then Sir Horatio, to attack Santa Cruz, in the Island of Teneriffe. The squadron consisted of three seventy-fours and one fifty-gun s.h.i.+p--which afterwards joined us--three frigates, and the 'Fox' cutter. It was some time before we could get up to the place. At last we managed to embark nearly seven hundred seamen and Marines in the boats of the squadron, nearly two hundred on board the 'Fox' and others, including a detachment of Royal Artillery, in some captured boats. Sir Horatio himself took the command. Shoving off from the s.h.i.+p some time after midnight, we pulled in for the town. The plan was to make a dash for the mole, and then to fight our way forward along it, we fully believing that the enemy would run as soon as we appeared. When the leading boats, under the command of Captains Freemantle and Bowen, had got within half gunshot of the mole head, the enemy took the alarm, and immediately opened fire on us from forty heavy guns. A hot fire it was, I a.s.sure you. The 'Fox' cutter, crowded with men, was sunk by the heavy shot which struck her, and nearly a hundred of those on board perished. I was in the 'Terpsich.o.r.e's' barge with my brave captain, when, just before she reached the mole, a shot struck her, and down she went, drowning seven of my s.h.i.+pmates; but the captain, with the rest of us, managed to get on sh.o.r.e. In spite of the hot fire with which we were met from the mole head, we succeeded in effecting a landing, and drove the enemy before us. Having spiked the guns which had done us so much mischief, we advanced along the mole, led by Captain Bowen, and our first lieutenant, Mr Thorpe. Here we encountered a tremendous fire of musketry from the Citadel and houses, so that the greater number of our party were either killed or wounded. Our brave leader, Captain Bowen, was among the first who fell, and soon afterwards Lieutenant Thorpe was killed. Nearly all the rest of the officers were killed or wounded. It being found at last that there was no chance of success, we were ordered to fall back.

"We had neither seen nor heard anything of Sir Horatio who would have been certain, had not something happened to him, to have been ahead. We now learned that just as he was landing and about to draw his sword, he had been struck by a shot on the elbow, and that he had been carried on board his s.h.i.+p by the few men who remained in the boat, the rest having landed. One of them, John Lovell, who I knew well, as soon as he saw the Admiral wounded, took the s.h.i.+rt from his own back, and tore it into strips, to bandage up his shattered arm. In the meanwhile we were waiting for the arrival of Captains Trowbridge and Waller with another squadron of boats. They however missed the mole head, but though some landed to the southward of it, in consequence of the heavy surf breaking on the sh.o.r.e, others put back. Captain Trowbridge, not finding the Admiral and the other officers he expected to meet there, sent a sergeant to summon the Citadel to surrender. The poor fellow did not return, having probably been shot. The scaling-ladders had also been lost in the surf. When morning broke we altogether mustered only 340 men. Every street in the place was defended by artillery, and we heard that a large force of 8000 men was advancing. The enterprise had therefore to be abandoned. Captain Trowbridge proposed to the Governor that we should re-embark with our arms, and he engaged that the squadron should not further molest any of the places in the Canary Islands.

These terms were agreed to. We obtained also permission to purchase such provisions as we required. The affair was a disastrous one. We gained nothing, for besides 150 men killed or drowned, among whom were several brave officers, we had upwards of 100 wounded, and the Admiral lost his right arm.

"People call this sort of thing 'Glory,' but for my part I could not make out what advantage we expected to gain, or what business we had to go there at all."

"I say, Mr Riddle, were you ever s.h.i.+pwrecked?" sang out one of the old sailor's auditors, who was getting rather tired of the long yarn about his battles with which he had been indulging us.

"Bless you, young gentlemen, that I have, well-nigh a score of times I might say. Some time after this I belonged to the 'Nautilus' sloop of war, commanded by Captain Farmer. We belonged to the squadron of Admiral Lewis, then cruising in the h.e.l.lespont, when we were ordered to England with despatches of the utmost importance. We had a fresh breeze from the north-east as we threaded our way through the numerous islands of that sea. When at length we got off the island of Anti Milo, the Greek pilot we had with us declared he knew nothing of the coast to the westward. As, however, our captain was anxious to make a quick pa.s.sage for the sake of the despatches, he determined to try and pilot her himself. Though the weather looked threatening, we sailed at sunset from Anti Milo, and shaped a course for Cerigotto. As the night grew on the wind increased to a heavy gale, torrents of rain fell, the thunder roared and rattled, the flashes of lightning were as vivid as I ever saw in my life. Sometimes it was almost brighter than day, then pitchy dark. The captain had just given orders to close reef the topsails, intending to bring the s.h.i.+p to till daylight, when a bright flash of lightning showed us the Island of Cerigotto right ahead, about the distance of a mile or so. Now, knowing his position, the captain resolved to run on, believing all danger past. The watch below was ordered to turn in. Those who remained on deck stowed themselves away under shelter of the hammock nettings.

"We of course kept a bright look-out, though it was not supposed that we had anything to fear. Except the officer of the watch, the rest had gone below--the captain and master probably to examine the chart--when the look-out on the forecastle shouted out 'Breakers ahead!' 'Put the helm a lee!' cried the officer of the watch. Almost before the order could be obeyed we felt a shock which lifted us off our feet, and sent those below out of their hammocks. We knew too well that the s.h.i.+p was ash.o.r.e. In one instant the sea struck the s.h.i.+p, now lifting her up and then das.h.i.+ng her down upon the rocks with tremendous force. It seemed like a fearful dream. Almost in a moment the main-deck was burst in, and soon afterwards the lee bulwarks were carried away. The captain and officers did their best to maintain discipline. The first thing to be done was to lower the boats, but before they could be got into the water they were all either stove or washed away, and knocked to pieces on the rocks. Only a whale-boat of no great use was launched by the boatswain and nine other hands. As soon as they got clear of the rocks they lay on their oars, but it would have been madness in them to come back, as the boat already contained as many people as she could carry with safety. The captain accordingly ordered her to pull towards the Island of Pauri, in the hope that a.s.sistance might there be obtained for us.

The s.h.i.+p continued to strike heavily. Every instant I expected that she would go to pieces, when one and all of us would have been lost. About twenty minutes after she struck the mainmast fell over the side towards a rock, which we could distinguish rising above the water, followed by the foremast and mizen-mast. Hoping that the rock would afford us more security than the s.h.i.+p herself, I, with others, made my way towards it, though at no little risk of being carried off by the seas. On reaching it we shouted to the rest to come on, as at any moment the s.h.i.+p might go to pieces. The whole crew followed our example. Many parts of the rock itself were scarcely above water. It seemed, as far as we could judge, to be about 400 yards long, and half as many wide. Here all hands collected, for as yet none had been washed away or lost, but many of the people had no clothing on, or only just their s.h.i.+rts, in which they had turned out of their hammocks. We had not a sc.r.a.p of food, and we knew that it might be some hours before the whale-boat could bring us a.s.sistance. Scarcely had we reached the rock when we knew by the cras.h.i.+ng, rending sounds, and the loud thundering noise, as the planks and timbers were dashed against it, that our stout little s.h.i.+p had gone to pieces. When day dawned we saw the foaming sea covered on all sides with fragments of the wreck, while several of our s.h.i.+pmates were discovered clinging to spars and planks, they having returned to the s.h.i.+p in the hopes of obtaining either food or clothing. It was known to the captain and officers that we were about twelve miles from the nearest island. There was but little chance of the boat getting back to us during the day. We secured a flag which had been washed up. This we hoisted to the end of a spar, and fixed it in the highest part of the rock. The day was bitterly cold, many of the men were almost perished for want of clothing. The officers made inquiries if any man had a flint. At last one was found. At the same time a small keg of powder which had been floating about was thrown up. The powder, though damp, served instead of tinder. We were able to get a fire alight. It gave us some occupation to collect fuel, though at the risk of being carried away by the seas, as they rolled up on the rock. We got also a quant.i.ty of canvas, and with this, and the help of some planks, we put up a tent, which afforded us some shelter. Though we had no food to cook, the fire warmed us, and enabled us to dry our clothes. We kept it burning all night in the hope that it would serve as a beacon. Another night pa.s.sed away. In the morning we saw to our joy a boat pulling towards us. She was our own whale-boat, with the boatswain and four hands; but they brought no food nor water, as they found neither one nor the other on the Island of Pauri. The boatswain tried to persuade our captain to leave the rock, but he refused to desert us; so he ordered the boatswain to take ten men and make the best of his way to Cerigotto, and to return as soon as possible with a.s.sistance.

"We had been badly enough off before. Matters now grew worse, the wind again increasing to a heavy gale, which sent the seas was.h.i.+ng nearly over the rock. We should have all of us been carried away, if we had not secured ropes round a point which rose higher than the rest. I don't like, even now, to think of that night. The cries and groans of my poor s.h.i.+pmates still ring in my ears. Now one man sank down, now another. The cold was terrible, even to those who, having been on watch, were well clothed. In the morning, several of our number were missing, and others lay dead on the rock. We were looking out for the whale-boat, when a sail was seen standing directly down for us. In our eagerness to get off, we began to form rafts of the spars and planks we had collected. As the s.h.i.+p approached, she hove-to and lowered a boat, which came towards us till almost within pistol-shot, when her crew rested on their oars, and looked at us earnestly. Who they were we could not tell. The man at the helm waved his hat, and then, seeming suspicious of our character, steered back to the s.h.i.+p. In vain we waved and shouted, the fellows paid no attention to us. To our bitter disappointment, we saw the boat hoisted up, when the s.h.i.+p again made sail. We were now in despair. I'd before felt somewhat hungry and thirsty, but till now never knew what real thirst was. Some of the men drank salt water, but that only made them worse.

"Another day came to an end. Fortunately the weather had moderated, and we tried to keep ourselves warm by huddling close together. Death was now making rapid progress amongst us. Those who had drunk salt water went raving mad, and threw themselves into the sea; others died of exhaustion, among them our captain, and first lieutenant. I never expected to see another day, when, the voice of the boatswain hailed us.

The cry was at once raised for 'water! Water!' but to our bitter disappointment, he told us he had brought none, as he could only get some earthen jars, in which it was impossible to bring it through the surf. He said, however, that a large vessel would arrive the next morning, with provisions and water. The thought of this kept up our spirits. When daylight returned, we eagerly looked out for the expected vessel, but she didn't appear, and all that day we had to wait in vain.

More of our people died. It seemed a wonder that any of us should have survived, suffering so terribly from hunger and thirst as we were. Some attempted to satisfy their hunger in a way too horrible to describe.

All day long we were on the look-out, expecting the boats to appear which the boatswain said would come, but hour after hour pa.s.sed. I can tell you they were the most dreadful hours I ever remember. To remain longer on the rock seemed impossible. It was agreed therefore next day to build a raft on which we might reach some sh.o.r.e or other. It would be better, we thought, to die afloat than on that horrible spot. As soon as daylight broke we set to work, las.h.i.+ng together all the larger spars we could find, but our strength was not equal to the task. Still we contrived to make a raft. At length we launched it, but scarcely was it in the water, when the sea knocked it to pieces. Many of our poor fellows rushed in to try and secure the spars, and several of them were swept away by the current. Unable to render help, we saw them perish before our eyes. In the afternoon the whale-boat again came to us, but the boatswain told us that he had been unable to get the Greek fishermen to put to sea while the gale continued. He brought us neither food nor water, though many of us thought he might have managed to bring off some of the goats and sheep from the island. Even if we had eaten them raw, they would have a.s.sisted to keep body and soul together. I had hitherto kept up, but at last I lay down, unable to move hands or feet, or to raise my head from the rock. During the night many more of my unhappy s.h.i.+pmates died. I was lying on the rock, just conscious enough to know that the day had returned, when, I heard some one sing out, 'The boats are coming! The boats are coming!' I raised my head and tried to get up on my knees. Looking out, I saw four fis.h.i.+ng vessels with the whale-boat pulling towards us. I can't tell you the joy we felt. Many of us who had before been unable to move, sat up, some few even were able to stand on their feet, while we made an attempt to cheer, as the boats drew near. They brought us water and food. Our second lieutenant, now commanding officer, would allow only a small portion to be given to each man at a time, and thus saved us from much suffering.

When our strength was a little restored, we were carried on board the boats, which at once made sail for Cerigotto, where we were landed in the evening. Of our complement of one hundred and twenty-two people, only sixty-four remained. When I think of all we went through, it seems surprising that any of us should have lived to reach the sh.o.r.e. We were treated in the kindest way by the people of the island. After staying with them for eleven days, at the end of which time most of us had somewhat recovered our strength, we proceeded to Cerigo, and thence sailed for Malta. There have, I'll allow, been more terrible s.h.i.+pwrecks. Few people, however, have suffered as much as we did during the six days we were on the rock, without food or water. As soon as I was recovered, I was drafted on board the 'Ajax,' seventy-four, commanded by Captain Sir Henry Blackwood. We lay off the mouth of the Dardanelles, forming one of the squadron of Vice-Admiral Sir John Duckworth. I'm fond of old England, as I hope all of you young gentlemen are, but I must own that the spot where we lay is a very beautiful one.

"It had just gone four bells in the first watch, and all hands except those on duty were asleep, when we were roused up by the cry of fire!

Directly afterwards the drum beat to quarters, and the guns were fired, as signals of distress. A boat was also sent off with one of the lieutenants and a mids.h.i.+pman, to summon a.s.sistance from the other s.h.i.+ps.

We all stood ready to obey the orders we might receive. The captain and one of the officers at once went down to the c.o.c.kpit, from which clouds of smoke were bursting out. They quickly had to beat a retreat.

We then, forming a line, pa.s.sed the buckets along full of water, to pour down upon the seat of the fire, as far as it could be discovered. So dense was the smoke, that several of the men who were closest and whose duty it was to heave the water, were nearly suffocated. It was soon evident that the flames had the mastery of the s.h.i.+p. The carpenter endeavoured to scuttle the after part, but had to abandon the attempt.

In less than fifteen minutes after the alarm had been given, the flames raged with such fury, that it was impossible to hoist out the boats.

"The jolly-boat alone had been lowered by the captain's orders, directly he came on deck. The fire was now bursting up through the main hatchway, dividing the fore from the after part of the s.h.i.+p. The captain accordingly ordered all hands forward. There we were nearly six hundred human beings huddled together on the forecastle, bowsprit, and sprit-sail yard, while the after part, from the mainmast to the taffrail, was one ma.s.s of fire. Smoke in thick columns was now rising from all parts of the s.h.i.+p, while the flames crackled and hissed, then they caught some of the poor fellows who had taken refuge in the tops.

Some kept silent, but others shrieked aloud for mercy. Above the roar of the flames, and the cries of the men, the sound of the guns could be heard when they went off as the fire reached them. Captain Blackwood retained his composure and cheered us up by reminding us, that the boats of the squadron would soon arrive. They came at last. It was no easy matter to get on board. Many of the men jumped into the sea, in their eagerness to reach them. Others stood, shouting and shrieking to them to come nearer. I, at last seeing a boat which had not as yet taken many men aboard her, and thinking it was time to save myself, leapt overboard, and was soon picked up. Many who had imitated my example were of necessity left swimming or floating, and would have perished had not other boats arrived and saved them. The s.h.i.+p's cable had some time before this been burnt through. All this while she was drifting towards the island of Tenedos--now her stern, now her broadside alternately presented to the wind. One of the men in the boat had been hurt. I took his oar. I found that the boat I was aboard of belonged to the 'Saint George,' and was under the command of Lieutenant Willoughby. As soon as we fell in with another boat, we put the rest of the people on board her, and rowed back again, to try and save some more. This we succeeded in doing. The third time we returned to our burning s.h.i.+p.

Just then she rounded-to, and we saw several men hanging by ropes under her head. The brave Lieutenant resolved to rescue these poor fellows before she again fell off. Straining at our oars, we dashed up to her, and succeeded in taking all of them on board, but before we could get clear of the s.h.i.+p she again fell off, carrying us with her, and as she surged through the water nearly swamping us. At the same time flames reached the shank and stopper, when her remaining bower anchor fell over her sides, very nearly right down upon us. Just then, the cable caught our outer gunwale, over which it ran, apparently one sheet of fire. The flames were at the same time raging above our heads, and rus.h.i.+ng out from her bow-ports. Our destruction seemed certain; we might have left the boat to try and save ourselves by swimming, but we were too much exhausted to try and reach any of the other boats; all we could do was to try and keep the flames from off our own. Just as we had given up all expectation of escape, the anchor took the ground, and though the cable was nearly burnt through, it had strength sufficient to check the s.h.i.+p's head, which enabled us to clear ourselves; though we were somewhat scorched, no one was otherwise much hurt. In a short time the wreck drifted on sh.o.r.e on the north side of the island of Tenedos, where she blew up with a tremendous explosion, which must have been heard miles away. We who were saved had reason to be thankful, but of the s.h.i.+p's company two hundred and fifty perished that night by fire or water, including several of the officers, together with the greater number of the mids.h.i.+pmen, who, being unable to swim, were drowned before they could reach the boats. There were three women on board, one of whom was saved by following her husband down a rope from the jibboom.

The boatswain had two sons on board. When the alarm of fire was given, he had rushed down, and bringing up one of them, had thrown him into the sea, where he was picked up by the jolly-boat. He then descended for the other, but never returned, being, as several of the mids.h.i.+pmen probably were, suffocated by the dense smoke rising from that part of the s.h.i.+p. I could go on into the middle of next year, as the saying is, telling you of my s.h.i.+pwrecks and adventures, but I have a notion that you would get tired of listening before I had brought my yarn to an end."

"Oh, no! No! Go on, Mr Riddle, go on, go on!" we shouted out.

"Well, then, young gentlemen, I'll just tell you the way we once took a Spanish sloop-of-war.

"I belonged at the time to the 'Niobe' frigate out in the West Indies.

We had been cruising for some weeks without taking a prize, when we captured a Spanish merchant schooner, after a long chase. From some of her crew our captain learnt that a Spanish corvette, of twenty guns, lay up a harbour in Cuba. He determined to cut her out. He had intended sending the boats away for that service, when our second lieutenant, as gallant an officer as ever stepped, proposed to take in our prize under Spanish colours, and running alongside the corvette, to capture her by boarding. Having s.h.i.+fted the prisoners to the frigate, the second lieutenant, with three mids.h.i.+pmen and thirty volunteers, I being one of them, went on board the schooner. There were batteries on either side, with heavy guns which would have opened fire upon us had it for a moment been suspected what we really were. The lieutenant and one of the mids.h.i.+pmen blackened their faces, and rigged themselves out in check s.h.i.+rts and handkerchiefs bound round their heads. The rest of the crew wanted to do the same, but the lieutenant would only allow me and another man to rig up as he had done, and regular blackamoors we made of ourselves. We laughed, I can tell you, as we looked at each other and talked the n.i.g.g.e.r lingo, so that even if a boat had come alongside they would not have discovered who we were. We had besides a real black and mulatto on board belonging to our crew. The rest of the people were sent below, with their cutla.s.ses and pistols ready for the moment they were wanted. Everything was prepared by the time we got near the mouth of the harbour. The mids.h.i.+pman, a fine young fellow, taking the helm, the lieutenant sat on the companion-hatch smoking a cigarette, and Sutton, the other man, and I, with the mulatto and negro, lolled about the deck with our arms folded. On we stood close under the batteries, which, if we had been discovered, would have sunk us in pretty quick time, but as the schooner was very well-known in the harbour, her real character was not suspected. As soon as we got inside the harbour, we saw the corvette anch.o.r.ed right in the centre. The breeze headed us.

That would be all in our favour, we knew, when we had to come out again.

We made four or five tacks, taking care not to do things too smartly.

The lieutenant turned his eye every now and again on the batteries. I think he expected, as I can tell you I did, that the Spaniards would before long smell a rat, and begin blazing away at us. They seemed, however, to have no suspicion, and we were allowed to beat up the harbour without being interfered with. We had got nearly up to the corvette, when we saw two or three boats coming off from the sh.o.r.e towards us. We well knew that if they got alongside they would soon find out that the schooner had changed hands. We could see only a few people on the deck of the corvette, and the rest of her crew we guessed were either below or gone ash.o.r.e. In the latter case we hoped soon to master her. As the boats drew near us the breeze freshened, and the lieutenant ordering the helm to be put down, we luffed up alongside the corvette, before those on board suspected what we were about to do. No sooner did they discover what we were up to, than they began shouting and shrieking, some running to the guns, others to get hold of muskets and cutla.s.ses, while numbers of the crew came swarming up from below.

Several officers made their appearance. We didn't give them much time, you may be sure, to defend themselves, before, led by our brave lieutenant, we threw ourselves upon their deck, and were soon slas.h.i.+ng away with our cutla.s.ses. But few of them stopped to meet us, so completely did we surprise them, but leaped below faster than they had come up. The officers for a few seconds held out, but they were quickly disarmed and placed under a couple of sentries in the after part of the p.o.o.p. Three or four hands only had been left on board the schooner, and the lieutenant at once ordered her to lead the way down the harbour, while the corvette's cable was cut and the topsails loosed. We had made such quick work of it, that the soldiers in the fort didn't discover what had happened until the corvette was under way, with her topsails and courses set, following the schooner. They then began to open a hot fire on us and the schooner, but the breeze freshening, we made such good way, that they could not get a proper range; their shot, however, came pretty thickly on board, pa.s.sing through the sails, cutting away a rope now and then, and several times hulling us, but not a man was hurt.

As soon as we could get some powder and shot from below, we fired in return, though there was but little use in doing that, you may be sure.

We gave three hearty cheers when we at last got clear of the harbour, and sailed away with our prize for Jamaica, accompanied by our frigate.

Our lieutenant and all engaged gained great credit for the way the enterprise had been accomplished.

"Had I been a wise man, I should have stuck to the navy; but soon after this, I had the misfortune to belong to a s.h.i.+p commanded by a very different sort of officer to any I had before served under. If ever there was a h.e.l.l afloat she was one. Well-nigh a quarter of the crew at a time were on the black list. Not a day pa.s.sed that one or more were not flogged. At last, two other men and I, when off the coast of America, leaped into a boat alongside and made for the sh.o.r.e. If we had been caught, we should have been well-nigh flayed alive. So we took good care to keep in hiding till the s.h.i.+p had sailed. I afterwards s.h.i.+pped on board an American merchantman, but I would not join Uncle Sam's navy on any account. I can't say that I found myself in a perfect paradise, and I was not sorry, after two or three years, to get on board an English merchant vessel. I became mate of her, and in one way or another saved money enough to buy my cottage here, with a boat and nets, and to settle down with my wife and family. I mustn't keep you any longer, young gentlemen, listening to what befell me in the meantime; but if you'll pleasure me by coming here another day, I'll go on with my yarn."

"Thank you, my friend," said Mr Reynell, getting up, "it's time for all of us to be returning home, but I am very sure these young gentlemen will be very much obliged to you, if we can manage to make another excursion here, to listen to some more of your adventures."

While some of us gathered round the old sailor, asking him questions, the rest were employed carrying the baskets of provisions to the carriage, which set off on its return, we soon afterwards following on foot. Although many of the party declared that they had no wish to go to sea, the accounts I had heard only strengthened my desire to become a sailor, and I determined more resolutely than ever to use every means to accomplish my object.

CHAPTER FIVE.

I form plans against the smugglers--Ned's brotherly advice--I continue to visit old Riddle--He presents me with a cutter--My first lessons in sailing--Reception of my present at home--Aunt Deb again gives her opinion--A present in return--Sudden disappearance of Mark, which leads to a further expression of sentiments on the part of Aunt Deb--I visit Leighton Hall--My interview with the Squire--I obtain permission to visit Mark in prison--"Better than doing nothing"--I console Old Roger--"A prison's a bad place for a boy"--Returning homewards, I unexpectedly gain some important information--The barn--The smuggler's conference--Rather too near to be pleasant--I contrive to escape--Am pursued and captured by the smugglers, but finally released--Aunt Deb's disapproval of my friends.h.i.+p for Mark Riddle.

I have taken up so much s.p.a.ce in describing the adventures of old Riddle, that I must be as brief as I can with my own. Although I had been inclined to think smugglers very fine fellows, I had lately heard so much against them that I began to consider it would be a very meritorious act if I could gain information which might lead to the capture of some of them; besides which, I flattered myself Sir Reginald would be so highly pleased at my conduct that he would exert himself more than he at present seemed inclined to do, to obtain me an appointment as mids.h.i.+pman on board a man-of-war. I kept my ideas to myself; I didn't venture to mention them even to the old sailor, as I suspected that if not actually in league with the smugglers, he was friendly to them. I thought it better also to say nothing about it to my father, for although I knew that he would be pleased should I succeed, he might very naturally dread the danger I should have to run in my undertaking. How to set about the matter was the difficulty. I had no intention of acting a treacherous part, or to try to become friendly with the smugglers, for the purpose of betraying them. My plan was to hunt about to try and find out their hiding-places, and where any cargoes were to be run; then to give information to the baronet. The only person to whom I confided my plan was Ned, under a promise of secrecy. He tried to dissuade me, pointing out that it was a very doubtful proceeding at the best, and that, should I succeed, the smugglers would be sure to take vengeance on me.

"They will either shoot you or carry you off to sea, and drown you, or put you on board some outward-bound s.h.i.+p going to the coast of Africa, or round Cape Horn; and it may be years before you get back, if you ever return at all," said Ned.

Still his arguments didn't prevail with me, and I only undertook to be cautious. Had he not given his promise to keep my intentions secret, he would, I suspect, have told our father or Aunt Deb, and effectual means would have been taken to prevent me from carrying out my plan. A considerable time pa.s.sed by, and although I was on the watch, I could gain no information regarding the proceedings of the smugglers. During this period I paid several visits to old Riddle, who always seemed glad to see me. I was highly delighted one day when he presented me with a cutter, which he had carved out and rigged expressly for me. It was about two feet long and of a proportionable width, fitted with blocks, so that I could lower or hoist up the sails, and set such canvas as the wind would allow. The inside was of a dark salmon colour, the bottom was painted and burnished to look like copper, while the rest was of a jet black. Altogether I was highly delighted with the craft--the first I had ever possessed--and I only wished she was large enough to enable me to go aboard her, so that I might sail in her.

Near old Rogers' house was a lagoon of considerable length and breadth, filled by the sea at high tide. It was open to all winds, and was thus a capital place for sailing a model. He and Mark at once accompanied me to it, and they having trimmed the sails, and placed the rudder in the proper position, the model vessel went as steadily as if the s.h.i.+p had had a crew on board. When she had finished her voyage across the lagoon, the old sailor, taking her out, showed me how to trim the sails.

I then, carrying her back to the place whence she started, set her off myself. I had fancied that I could make her sail directly before the wind; but he explained the impossibility of doing this without a person on board to steer, as she would have a tendency to luff up to the wind.

He evidently took a pleasure in teaching me, and I didn't grow weary of learning, so that at the end of the first day I fancied I could manage my little craft to perfection. I called her "The Hope." He promised to have the name painted on her stern by the next day I came. I went almost day after day for a week or more. At last old Roger declared I could sail "The Hope" as well as he could. Sometimes Mark came with me, but he didn't take as much interest in the amus.e.m.e.nt as I did, he being more accustomed to practical sailing; besides which he had other employments into which he didn't think fit to initiate me. As I before said, he frequently went fis.h.i.+ng on the Squire's ponds, and from a light fowling-piece which I saw in his room, together with several nets and other contrivances for catching game, I suspected that he also spent some of his time in the Squire's preserves. I didn't like to hint to him that I had any suspicion on the subject. When he saw my eyes directed towards a gun, he observed--

"I sometimes go out wild-duck shooting in the winter. My gun is not large enough for the purpose, so when I can contrive to get up close enough I now and then kill a bird or two."

"I should think your gun was more suitable for killing partridges or hares or pheasants," I remarked.

"Ah, yes, so it may be; but then pheasants and partridges and hares are game, and I should run the risk of being hauled up before the Squire if I were to bag any."

He laughed in a peculiar way as he spoke. I tried to get information from him about the smugglers; but if he knew anything he held his tongue, evidently considering it wiser not to trust me. At last, as I wanted to show my cutter to Ned, my sister, and the rest, I told old Roger that I should like to carry it home. To this he raised no objection.

"You'll find her rather a heavy load, Master d.i.c.k," he said. "However, you can rest on your way. I advise you to stow the sails first, so that if you meet a breeze they will not press against you."

I did as he advised me, lowered the mainsail and stowed it as he had shown me how to do, and lowered the foresail and jib. Mark had gone out that morning and had not returned, or he would have helped me, I had no doubt. Wis.h.i.+ng old Roger, Mrs Roger, and Nancy good-bye, I set out.

Sometimes I carried the cutter on one shoulder, sometimes on the other, and then under my arm; but before I got half way I began to wish that there was a ca.n.a.l between old Roger's cottage and the vicarage. My arms and shoulders ached with the load. After resting some time, I once again started and managed at last to get home. "The Hope" just as I had expected, met with general admiration from my brothers and sisters.

They were much astonished to see me unfurl the sails, and all wished to come and see her sail. I promised to give them that pleasure, provided they would undertake to carry the cutter between them. Aunt Deb was the only person who turned up her nose at seeing my model.

"Mr Riddle might have thought of some other present to give the boy,"

she observed; "there was no necessity indeed for his giving a present at all. d.i.c.k's head is already too much turned towards sea matters, and this will only make him think of them more than ever. I shall advise your father to return the vessel to the old sailor, with the request that he will dispose of it to some one else. In my opinion, it was very wrong of him to make such a present without first asking leave."

I thought it better to say nothing, and Aunt Deb didn't carry out her intentions. My mother, who was always generously inclined, gave me leave to take a few pots of jam in return. A few days afterwards Ned and I, and two of my sisters, set out to carry our present. They had been interested in what I had told them about the old sailor and his pretty daughter, and wanted to see them. On our arrival they received us in a friendly way, and Mrs Riddle and Mary hurried to place chairs for my sisters. They thanked us much for the present we had brought. I observed that they all looked graver than usual. I inquired for Mark.

"He hasn't come home since yesterday evening," answered his father. "I don't fancy that any harm has befallen him; but still I can't help thinking all sorts of things. If he doesn't come back soon, I must set out to look for him."

I found that Mark had taken his gun, and said that he was going along the sh.o.r.e to get a shot at a gull, but it was not as yet the season for wild fowl to visit the coast. Still I could not help fancying that old Roger knew more about Mark's intended proceedings than he thought fit to tell me. It struck me that perhaps the smugglers had something to do with the matter. Had I been alone I should have offered to have accompanied him; but he didn't ask me, and indeed seemed to wish that we should take our departure. Telling my sisters, therefore, that it was time to go home, we wished the family good-bye, and set out on our return. At tea that evening my sisters mentioned the disappearance of Mark.

"Depend upon it that boy has got into mischief of some sort," observed Aunt Deb; "though I never saw him that I know of, I am very sure from the remarks d.i.c.k has made that he is a wild monkey, and a very unfit companion for a young gentleman."

I defended Mark, and a.s.serted that it was just as likely that he had met with some accident.