The Privateersman

by Frederick Marryat

  CHAPTER FOUR.

  SAIL FOR LIVERPOOL IN THE SALLY AND KITTY--FALL IN WITH A GALE--BOYOVERBOARD--NEARLY DROWNED IN ATTEMPTING TO SAVE HIM--SEE THE OWNERS ATLIVERPOOL--EMBARK IN THE DALRYMPLE FOR THE COAST OF AFRICA--ARRIVE OFFSENEGAL.

  A great deal of prize-money being due to us, I called upon the agent atPort Royal to obtain an advance. I found him in a puzzle. Owing to thedeath of Captain Weatherall and so many of the officers, he hardly knewwhether those who applied to him were entitled to prize-money or not.Whether he thought I appeared more honest than the others, or from whatcause I know not, he requested me, as I knew everything that had passed,to remain with him for a short time: and, finding that I could read andwrite well, he obtained from me correct lists of the privateer's crew,with those who were killed, and on what occasion. All this informationI was able to give him, as well as the ratings of the parties; for onmore than one occasion the privateer's-men had come to him representingthemselves as petty officers when they were only common seamen on board,and had in consequence received from him a larger advance than they wereentitled to. As soon as his accounts were pretty well made up, he askedme whether I intended to go to England, as if so he would send me homewith all the papers and documents to the owner at Liverpool, who wouldrequire my assistance to arrange the accounts; and, as I had had quiteenough of privateering for a time, I consented to go. About two monthsafter leaving the hospital, during which I had passed a very pleasantlife, and quite recovered from my wounds and injuries, I sailed forLiverpool in the Sally and Kitty West-Indiaman, commanded by CaptainClarke, a very violent man.

  We had not sailed twelve hours before we fell in with a gale, whichlasted several days, and we kept under close-reef-topsails andstorm-staysails. The gale lasting a week raised a mountainous swell,but it was very long and regular. On the seventh day the wind abated,but the swell continued, and at evening there was very little wind, whena circumstance occurred which had nearly cost me my life, as you willacknowledge, Madam, when I relate the story to you. During thedog-watch, between six and eight, some hands being employed in theforetop, the other watch below at supper, and the captain and all theofficers in the cabin, I being at the helm heard a voice, apparentlyrising out of the sea, calling me by name. Surprised, I ran to the sideof the ship, and saw a youth named Richard Pallant in the water goingastern. He had fallen out of the forechains, and, knowing that I was atthe helm, had shouted to me for help. I immediately called all hands,crying, "A man overboard." The captain hastened on deck with all theothers, and ordered the helm a-lee. The ship went about, and then fellround off, driving fast before the swell, till at last we brought herto.

  The captain, although a resolute man, was much confused and perplexed atthe boy's danger--for his friends were people of property at Ipswich,and had confided the boy to his particular care. He ran backwards andforwards, crying out that the boy must perish, as the swell was so highthat he dared not send a boat, for the boat could not live in such asea, and if the boat were lost with the crew there would not be handsenow left on board to take the vessel home. As the youth was not ahundred yards from the vessel, I stated the possibility of swimming tohim with the deep-sea line, which would be strong enough to haul bothhim and the man who swam to him on board. Captain Clarke, in a greatrage, swore that it was impossible, and asked me who the devil would go.Piqued at his answer, and anxious to preserve the life of the youth, Ioffered to try it myself. I stripped, and, making the line fast roundmy body, plunged from the ship's side into the sea. It was a newdeep-sea line, and stiff in the coil, so that, not drawing close roundme, it slipped, and I swam through it, but catching it as it slippedover my feet, I made it secure by putting my head and one arm throughthe noose. I swam direct for the boy, and found that I swam with ease,owing to the strength and buoyant nature of the water in thoselatitudes. I had not swum more than half-way before the line got foulon the coil on board, and, checking me suddenly, it pulled me backwardsand under water. I recovered myself and struck out again. During thistime, to clear the line on board, they had cut some of the entangledparts, and in the confusion and hurry severed the wrong part, so thatthe end went overboard, and I had half the coil of line hanging to me,and at the same time was adrift from the ship. They immediately hailedme to return, but from the booming of the waves I could not hear whatthey said, and thought that they were encouraging me to proceed. Ishouted in return to show the confidence which I had in myself. Ieasily mounted the waves as they breasted me, but still I made my wayvery slowly against such a swell, and saw the boy only at intervals whenI was on the top of the wave. He could swim very little, and did notmake for the ship, but, with his eyes fixed upon the sky, paddled like adog to keep himself above water. I now began to feel the weight of theline upon me, and to fear that I should never hold out. I began torepent of my rashness, and thought I had only sacrificed myself withoutany chance of saving him. I persevered, nevertheless, and having, as Iguessed, come to the spot where the boy was, I looked round, and notseeing him was afraid that he had gone down, but on mounting the nextwave I saw him in the hollow, struggling hard to keep above water, andalmost spent with his long exertion.

  I swam down to him, and, hailing him, found he was still sensible, bututterly exhausted. I desired him to hold on by my hand but not to touchmy body, as we should both sink. He promised to obey me, and I held outmy right hand to him, and made a signal for them to haul in on board,for I had no idea that the line had been cut. I was frightened when Iperceived the distance that the ship was from me--at least a quarter ofa mile. I knew that the deep-sea line was but a hundred fathoms inlength, and therefore that I must be adrift, and my heart sunk withinme. All the horrors of my situation came upon me, and I felt that I waslost; but although death appeared inevitable, I still struggled forlife--but the rope now weighed me down more and more. While swimmingforward it trailed behind, and although it impeded my way, I did notfeel half its weight. Now, however, that I was stationary, it sankdeep, and pulled me down with it. The waves, too, which, while Ibreasted them and saw them approach, I easily rose over, being nowbehind us, broke over our heads, burying us under them, or rolling usover by their force.

  I tried to disengage myself from the line, but the noose being jammed,and having the boy in one hand, I could not possibly effect it. Butwhat gave me courage in my difficulties was, that I perceived that thepeople on board were getting out the boat; for although the captainwould not run the risk for one person, now that two were overboard, andone of them risking his life for the other, the men insisted that theboat should be hoisted out. It was an anxious time to me, but at last Ihad the satisfaction of seeing her clear of the ship, and pulling roundher bow. The danger was, however, considered so great, that when theycame to man the boat only three men could be found who would go in her,and in the confusion they came away with but two oars and no rudder.Under these disadvantages they of course pulled very slowly against amountainous sea, as they were obliged to steer with the oars to meet it,that the boat might not be swamped. But the sight of the boat wassufficient to keep me up. My exertions were certainly incredible; butwhat will not a man do when in fear of death! As it approached--slowlyand slowly did my powers decrease. I was now often under water with theboy, and rose again to fresh exertion, when at last a crested wave brokeover us, and down we went several feet under the water. The force ofthe sea drove the boy against me, and he seized me by the loins with myhead downwards. I struggled to disengage myself! It was impossible. Igave myself up for lost--and what a crowd of thoughts and memoriespassed through my brain in a few moments, for it could not have beenlonger! At last, being head downwards, I dived deeper, although I wasbursting from so long holding my breath under water.

  This had the desired effect. Finding me sinking instead of rising withhim, the boy let go his hold that he might gain the surface. I turnedand followed him, and drew breath once more. Another moment had sealedour fates. I no longer thought of saving the boy, but struck out
forthe boat which was now near me. Perceiving this, the boy cried out tome for pity's sake not to leave him. I felt myself so far recoveredfrom my exhaustion, that I thought I could save him as well as myself,and compassion induced me to turn back. I again gave him my hand,charging him on his life not to attempt to grapple with me, and againresumed the arduous struggle of keeping him as well as myself abovewater. My strength was nearly gone, the boat approached but slowly, andwe now sunk constantly under the water, rising every few seconds to drawbreath. Merciful God! How slow appeared the approach of the boat.Struggle after struggle--fainter and fainter still--still I floated. Atlast my senses almost left me, I took in water in quantities. I felt Iwas in green fields, when I was seized by the men and thrown into thebottom of the boat, where I lay senseless alongside of the boy. Therewas great danger and difficulty in getting again to the ship. More thanonce the boat was half filled by the following seas, and when theygained the ship it was impossible to get us out, as, had they approachedthe side, the boat would have been dashed to atoms. They lowered thetackles from the yard-arms. The three men clambered up them, leaving usto take our chance of the boat being got in, or her being stove topieces, in which latter case we should have been lost. They did get usin, with great damage to the boat, but we were saved. The line wasstill round me, and it was found that I had been supporting the weightof seventy yards. So sore was I with such exertion, that I kept myhammock for many days, during which I reviewed my past life, and vowedamendment.

  We arrived at Liverpool without any further adventure worth recording,and I immediately called upon the owner with the papers intrusted to me.I gave him all the information he required, and he asked me whether Ishould like to return to privateering, or to go as mate of a vesselbound to the coast of Africa. I inquired what her destination was tobe, and, as I found that she was to go to Senegal for ivory, wax,gold-dust, and other articles, in exchange for English prints andcutlery, I consented. I mention this, as, had she been employed in theslave-trade, as were most of the vessels from Liverpool to the Coast, Iwould not have joined her. A few days afterwards I went on board of theDalrymple, Captain Jones, as mate; we had a very quick passage toSenegal, and brought our vessel to an anchor off the bar.