Hurricane Hurry Part 17

"Never mind," I answered, tickled by his impudence. "Man the pumps."

And I made him work away, as he deserved, as long as he could stand. I kept a look-out for the Lady Parker, and felt not a little anxious as to what had become of her. I should have liked to have pa.s.sed much more of my time than I did in the cabin, but I was afraid of intruding on my pa.s.sengers. I believe they fully appreciated my delicacy. Several times during the day Miss Carlyon ventured on deck, and seemed to enjoy gazing on the stormy, foam-crested seas. I stood by her side and supported her as the little vessel plunged into the troughs, and rose again buoyantly to their summits.

"This is very fine," she exclaimed enthusiastically. "I do think the life of a sailor must be very delightful, Mr Hurry. Had I my choice, I would select it above all others."

"You may be a sailor's wife, though you cannot be a sailor," came to the tip of my tongue, but I did not utter the words; instead of them I said, looking at her beautiful countenance, and admiring its animation, "I love it dearly, and would not change it for any other, Miss Carlyon, though it has its shadows as well as its suns.h.i.+ne."

"Ah, yes, but I always look at the _sunny_ side of every picture," she remarked, smiling sweetly.

"You cannot help that. The light you see shed over everything is but the reflection from yourself!" I blushed as I felt an expression so different from my usual matter-of-fact style drawn from my lips.

Miss Carlyon looked up with a bright glance, (not smiling exactly), as much as to say, "What is that about?" She was not, I thought, displeased, but I did not venture anything of the sort again. I found myself led by degrees to tell her all about myself, and my early life, and my adventures, and then I described the sea under its various aspects, and I went on to talk about s.h.i.+ps of different cla.s.ses, and how to rig them, and the names of the ropes and sails and spars. She told me, in return, a good deal about herself and her family, and her likes and dislikes and occupations. Her father had property, I found, between the Chesapeake and Potomac rivers in Virginia, where she had generally resided. Since his death she had remained chiefly with her aunt, Mrs Tarleton, though she hoped to return in a short time, if the state of the country would allow it, to Virginia.

"If you knew what a beautiful country it is, you would love it as I do, Mr Hurry!" she exclaimed with enthusiasm. "When this dreadful war is over, and the people have attained their rights, and returned to their allegiance, you must come and see us. I am sure that my family will one and all, whatever their politics, rejoice in the opportunity of thanking you for your kindness and courtesy to my aunt and me on the present occasion."

I of course said how delighted I should be, and fifty other very pretty things besides. All I can say is that I had never spent so enjoyable a time before at sea. Her aunt very seldom came on deck, so that Madeline and I were left very much to ourselves. I believe that Mrs Tarleton purposely did not interfere, hoping by means of her niece to gain me over to the cause to which she was so enthusiastically attached. From what I knew of her, I am certain that if such was the case, she fully believed that she was employing a lawful means for a good end. The more I saw, however, of Mrs Tarleton, the more I learned to admire her high-minded, n.o.ble, self-sacrificing disposition. The love of freedom was with her a pa.s.sion, and she held in utter scorn all who submitted to, what she considered, tyranny. She was indeed a person of the old heroic stamp, ready to dare and to do all things in a righteous cause.

The gale moderated sooner than I had expected, the sea went down, and we had moderate and pleasant weather. It was therefore with anything but satisfaction that I made out Sir Peter Parker's flag flying aboard the Chatham, off Rhode Island, which our squadron had been busily employed in blockading. I brought up with my prize close to him, and a.s.suring my pa.s.sengers that I would endeavour to carry out the plans they had suggested would be most for their convenience, I pulled on board to report myself. The admiral smiled when I told him all that had occurred.

"So these very charming ladies would like to continue their voyage, and you pledged your word that I would not detain them?" said he in a kind way. "Well, you were safe there; we do not war against women, and we must not be behindhand in courtesy after the treatment which some of our English ladies have received at the hands of the rebels. They are anxious to proceed to the neighbourhood of Philadelphia. You shall go there in the 'Pigot,' and you will have no objection to keep them as your pa.s.sengers. Probably the city itself is by this time occupied by the British forces; but I will give you a letter to General Howe, and will beg him to afford them a pa.s.s through the country occupied by our troops, and to allow you to escort them till they are placed in safety among their own people. No; do not thank me. I am glad to afford you what I have no doubt you will find an interesting occupation, but I also have great satisfaction in finding an opportunity of treating the ladies of the opposite party in the way I feel they should be treated."

Never had I heard more satisfactory words. I could scarcely refrain from rubbing my hands with delight.

"Then am I to sail at once, sir?" I asked.

"Certainly, let there be no delay. You can supply yourself with provisions and water from the s.h.i.+p, and send the master and crew of the prize aboard here. I'll have them put on sh.o.r.e. From what you say you will be glad to be rid of them."

Promising Sir Peter to carry out his instructions to the best of my power, after seeing the purser about the provisions, and getting as many extra luxuries as I could out of him, I jumped into my boat and returned on board the tender. On my way I caught sight of two vessels standing in towards the roads. I made out one of them to be the Lady Parker, and the other looked very like a prize she had made. So it proved. Before I sailed, O'Driscoll came on board me, and explained how he had missed me. He was as much pleased to see me safe as I was that no harm had befallen him. In the squall during which the Crab had broken adrift he had been hove on his beam-ends, and on getting to rights he could nowhere see me. After some time he caught sight of a craft, which he took for me, and made sail after her. When morning broke she proved to be a stranger and on over-hauling her he found that she was a rebel merchantman, so he took her and brought her into Newport. He declared that he was very jealous when he heard of what he called my good fortune.

"Will you change places now?" said he coolly. "You shall have the 'Lady Parker' and all the prizes you are certain to take in her, and let me run down in charge of the 'Pigot' and the ladies."

"You are joking now," said I. "But stay a moment and you shall pay your respects to my pa.s.sengers. They made many inquiries about you when they found that your craft was missing."

The ladies were most grateful to Sir Peter when they heard of his courtesy, and begged O'Driscoll to bear their thanks to him. My friend remained till the stores came on board, and when he took his departure he vowed that he had irretrievably lost his heart to the beautiful widow. I at the same time made sail and stood to the southward. For the first day we had a fair breeze and fine weather, and I was in hopes, for the sake of my pa.s.sengers, that we should make a good run of it to the Delaware. I need not describe the various incidents which occurred, interesting as they were to me, and important in their results. I entirely won my way to the good opinion of Mrs Tarleton, and I could not help being conscious that her niece no longer regarded me as a common stranger. Still, how could I venture ever to indulge any hopes of making her mine? I depended entirely on my profession for my support, and that profession compelled me to appear as an enemy of her relations and friends. Before I was aware of the tendency of her reasonings, I found that she had taught me to look on the fratricidal war we were waging in a very different light to that in which I had at first regarded it. She, however, I must insist, in no way weakened my patriotism. I loved old England as much as ever, but she taught me to feel the warmest sympathy for her countrymen and mine truly, who were fighting in the n.o.ble cause of liberty. I describe my feelings as they then existed. I leave to others to judge whether they were right or wrong. A fierce war began to rage within me between principle and feeling, interest and duty, and all the tender sentiments of my nature.

A less high-minded person would have thrown all her weight into the scale, and might have made me false to the sovereign in whose service I was engaged; but then I flattered myself that a girl of her exalted principles would not have so speedily won my affections. [See Note 1.]

Now the murder is out; in plain English, I was head over ears in love, and it was a toss up whether I should, for the sake of Madeline Carlyon, desert my colours, go over and join the Americans, and get a captain's commission, or remain true to my king and run the chance of losing her.

It puts me into a fever even now, to think of all the feelings which came bubbling up in my bosom, and all the ideas which came rus.h.i.+ng into my brain, and the pulling and hauling and tugging at my heart. Never had I been so racked and tormented, tossed to and fro, kicked here and there, up and down. At length my good angel came to my a.s.sistance. "Do your duty like a man," he whispered. "Don't think of consequences, what you would like or what you wouldn't like. Find out what is right, and do that."

I had turned in, and, with a mind much calmed, fell asleep.

"There is a strange sail on our weather-quarter, sir," said Tom Rockets, rousing me up. "Grampus don't like her looks."

Nor did I, when a moment afterwards I stood on deck and made her out through the pale light of a grey cold November morning. "Make all sail!" I sung out. "If she is an enemy, the sooner we are out of the way the better." It was blowing fresh, but I cracked on the little schooner as much as she could carry, and away we went staggering under it with the wind on our larboard quarter. The stranger, apparently, had not made us out, and I was in hopes that we might escape observation.

The increased motion, I suppose, awoke the ladies, and to my surprise before long they came on deck.

"What is the matter, Mr Hurry?" asked Mrs Tarleton. "It appeared in the cabin as if there was a fearful gale blowing."

"You see that the weather is not so very bad," I answered evasively, "and I am naturally anxious on your account to reach port."

I never could act the hypocrite, and the lady was not satisfied. As her quick-sighted eye ranged round the horizon she caught sight of the stranger.

"What is that vessel out there?" she asked.

"That I cannot exactly say, madam," I answered. "She may be a friend or she may be a foe. Under present circ.u.mstances I think it best to avoid her."

"If she is an American vessel her captain would never think of detaining you; and if she is English, you at all events need not fear her," she replied quickly.

"I would rather not run the risk of detention," said I. "It is possible, should she be an American vessel, that her people may not believe our story."

"Well, sir, I have no doubt that you act for the best," answered the lady, evidently not satisfied as she saw the vessel tearing furiously through the water.

Her niece had said nothing, but seemed rather to enjoy the rapid motion and the fresh air.

While they were still on deck, the stranger caught sight of us and bore up in chase. Mrs Tarleton soon discovered what had occurred, and was constantly watching the stranger.

I kept away a little, and, trusting to the Pigot's superior sailing qualities, I had little fear of continuing ahead of her during the day, and of escaping her observation in the night. The state of the weather, however, gave me most concern. I saw Grampus looking up anxiously at our spars, and ever and anon at the heavy seas which came up hissing and foaming astern. One of our best hands was at the helm, but he came aft and stood by him. I caught his eye as he was glancing over his shoulder.

"Beg pardon, sir; the more haste the worst speed, Mr Hurry, you know,"

said he in a low voice, thinking the ladies would not hear him.

Thick heavy clouds were rus.h.i.+ng up, one past the other, rapidly astern of us. I saw that the time had indeed come to shorten sail if I would not run the risk of losing my masts, or, perhaps, of broaching-to and capsizing. I entreated my pa.s.sengers in a few hurried words to go below to be out of the way of danger. Mrs Tarleton seemed inclined to stay.

I was obliged to be somewhat peremptory, and I did not lose her good opinion by being so.

"Indeed, madam, there is considerable danger for you on deck. I cannot allow you to run it. You must go."

She gave me a look of surprise, and, without another word, allowed me to conduct her and her niece to the companion.

In the meantime the crew had come aft to take in the mainsail and gaff-topsail. I next had the fore-topgallant-sail and foresail off her.

This was done only just in time, before the squall came down on us and I had to lower away and close-reef the foresail. The wind had at the same time caught the s.h.i.+p. I took her to be a flush-decked vessel, a corvette probably. She had been looking at us and not thinking of herself probably, for I soon discovered that several of her sails had been blown away, and I suspected that she had received further damage.

We at all events benefited by her misfortune, and kept well ahead of her. Still she continued the chase. I felt the truth of the saying that it is much pleasanter chasing than being chased. All day long we ran on, plunging into the seas, and wet from the foam which blew off them over our counter. More than once I thought we should have been p.o.o.ped. The vessel also began again to leak. Night came on; the leak increased. We lost sight of our pursuer, but our condition became very trying. I endeavoured to make the best of matters, but my anxiety increased. We were off the northern coast of New Jersey. The wind was veering round more to the eastward, and we were getting a rock-bound sh.o.r.e under our lee. There were harbours I might run into, but the thick weather had prevented me from taking any observations, and though by my log I could tell pretty well how far we had run, yet I could not be certain, and, unless from dire necessity, I was unwilling to attempt to make any port short of the Delaware. At times the wind hauled a little more round to the northward, and as it did so my hopes proportionally rose of being able to keep off sh.o.r.e.

Only for a moment did I at times leave the deck to speak a word of comfort to my pa.s.sengers. Mrs Tarleton was, I saw, fully aware of our danger. I think her niece suspected it, but if she did she completely concealed all signs of fear. On one occasion, when I entered the cabin, they rose from their knees. Together they had been offering up prayers to Him who alone can quell the tempest, for our safety. Their last words reached my ears. I stood at the door and humbly joined in their pet.i.tion. I quickly had to return on deck. I had been obliged, when the wind s.h.i.+fted, to get some after-sail on the vessel. She heeled over fearfully, yet I knew must be making great lee-way. I could not venture to take any canvas off her.

"What do you think of it, Grampus?" said I, after some time.

"Why, sir, I don't like it," was his unsatisfactory reply.

I did not again ask him his opinion. The sea kept flying over us, the night grew darker and darker, and the gale blew stronger and stronger.

The leak was increasing. Two hands were kept constantly at the pumps.

I wished for Mr Saul Cobb and his companions. Nothing could be well worse. Still I never for a moment lost courage. I felt sure that the prayers of those below would not be uttered in vain. The hours wore away. I kept a bright look-out on the starboard bow to discover breakers, should they be near, while my ears were constantly awake to detect their terror-inspiring sound. How I longed for daylight! I dared not lay-to: I dared not shorten sail. I could only stand on with any prospect of safety. The gale increased: the sea was constantly making a clean breach over the deck. All hands had to hold on fast, or we should have been washed overboard. At the same time the water was gaining terribly on us. A new danger threatened the schooner; she might founder before we could gain a harbour, even if she escaped s.h.i.+pwreck.

A considerable part of the New Jersey sh.o.r.e consists of long, low, sandy beaches, which in thick weather can scarcely be seen till a vessel is nearly on them. I judged by my calculations that we were by this time close in with Squan Beach, or Island Beach or Long Beach. My chart told me that there was a pa.s.sage between the two latter, and several inlets to the south of the last, up which I could run and be safe; but to find them in the dark was impossible.

"Grampus! listen! what is that sound?" said I.

"Breakers, sir!" he answered in a slow way; "there's no doubt about it.

But we shall have daylight soon. Ah, look-out, there sir, there it is!"

I looked seaward, and a pale streak was just appearing in the eastern sky. It grew wider and wider, and at length darkness gave way to the rays of the yet hidden sun. The prospect revealed to us was not cheering. The sea broke as heavily as ever, and not a mile to leeward of us a terrific surf rolled over a long white sandy beach. As I watched the foaming broken ma.s.s of waters as they rolled furiously up to it, I felt convinced that, should the schooner once get within their power, not a human being on board would escape. Not a break was to be seen. The wind was dead on-sh.o.r.e, blowing with a determined heavy pressure; and the little vessel, though she made fair headway, was surely drifting nearer and nearer to destruction. Oh, what agony of mind I suffered! I cared not for myself, but I thought of that fair girl and her lovely relative doomed to so hard a fate. I called Grampus to me and asked him if he could advise anything. He shook his head--

"You've done all that a man can do, Mr Hurry," was his answer.