The Privateersman

by Frederick Marryat

  CHAPTER TEN.

  CAPTAIN LEVEE AND I ENGAGE WITH THE FRENCH PRIVATEER--WE COME OFFVICTORIOUS--MY REVENGE AGAINST THE FRENCH LADY--WE TAKE OUR PRIZE TOLIVERPOOL.

  The wind was light, and we did not gain the mouth of the river till nearsun-down, when the pilot left us; and as soon as we were three miles inthe offing, I hauled down the flag of truce in the sight of the Frenchprivateer, who was following us close, and was not more than four milesfrom us. To avoid mistake, I had agreed with Captain Levee that shouldI be coming out after dark, I would carry a light at the peak, and thislight I now hoisted. It enabled the French privateer to follow me, andappeared only as a mark of contempt towards him. I stood on in thedirection where I was to find Captain Levee, and could make out theFrenchman following me, and gradually nearing me. As it became dark, Imade more sail to keep him further off till I had joined the Arrow, butthe light at my peak pointed out to him where I was. All this seemed amystery to my officers and men, until, having run out about fourleagues, I desired them to keep a sharp look-out for the Arrow.

  About half-past eight o'clock we perceived her lying-to; she had furledher sails after dark, as usual. The light I bore told her who I was,and I ran close to her, and, hailing Captain Levee, desired him toprepare for action, and that I would come on board to speak to him.This, of course, created a great bustle on board of the Arrow, and Ihastened on board that they might not show any lights. I then informedCaptain Levee of all that had passed, and that the Frenchman was notmore than five miles from us. We agreed that I should still keep up thelight, and bear away a little to draw the Frenchman to leeward of theport, and also to leeward of the Arrow;--that the Arrow should lower hersails again, so as not to be perceived until I had drawn the Frenchmanpast him, and that then I should commence the action under sail, andfight till the Arrow came up to my assistance. This being arranged, Ihastened on board of my schooner, and, keeping away four points, Iwaited for the coming up of my antagonist. In half an hour we couldperceive him through the gloom, not more than a mile from us, under allsail, standing steadily for the light which we carried at our peak.

  As I had already discovered that my little schooner sailed faster thanmy opponent, I allowed her to come up within a quarter of a mile of me,when I rounded-to; and, desiring my men to aim at his rigging, so as todismantle him, poured in my broadside of grape and langridge, and thenshifted my helm and resumed my course, putting more sail on, so as toincrease my distance to what it was before. This manoeuvre I executedthree times with success, and I had the satisfaction of perceiving thathis foretop-mast was shot away; but when I rounded-to the fourth time,he did the same, and we exchanged broadsides. The effect of hissuperior artillery was evident, for my rigging and sails were muchdamaged; happily nothing so serious as to impede our speed, and I againput before the breeze as before, and increased my distance previous toagain rounding-to; for, as the water was very smooth, I knew that if Iwas crippled she would lay me by the board immediately, and I might betaken and hanged before the Arrow could come up to my assistance. Itherefore continued a running fight at such a distance as rendered meless liable to suffer from his guns.

  It is true that this distance made my guns even more ineffective, but Iwas decoying my Frenchman off from the land, and placing the Arrowbetween him and his port, so that his return would be intercepted. Thiscontinued for about an hour, when I perceived that the Frenchman had gotup a new foretop-mast, and had set the sail upon it. He now ran out hisbow-chasers, and continued to fire upon me with them alone, not choosingto lose ground by rounding-to, to give me a broadside; and as hiscanvass was all out, and I was occasionally rounding-to to dismantlehim, we retained much the same distance from one another. At last ashot from his bow-chaser struck off the head of my mainmast, and my gaffcame down.

  This was serious. We hastened to reef the mainsail and hoist it upagain upon the remainder of the mast, but having no gaff-topsail ourspeed was necessarily decreased, and the enemy appeared to be graduallyclosing with us. I looked out for the Arrow, but could perceive nosigns of her; indeed it was too dark to see farther than half a mile.Finding that on the point of sailing we were on I had no chance, Idetermined to alter my course, and put my schooner right before the windso that I might set the square mainsail, which would give time for theArrow to arrive; indeed at this time I was in a state of great anxiety.However, I had made up my mind not to be taken alive, and to sell mylife as dearly as I could.

  When the enemy perceived that we had put before the wind, he did thesame, and, as we were about half a mile from each other, we continued toexchange broadsides as we ran, she gradually nearing us so as to makeher heavy artillery more effective. This portion of the contestcontinued for an hour, during which my little schooner had received muchinjury, and we were constantly repairing damages. At last, much to mydelight, the day began to dawn, and I then discovered the Arrow about amile and a half from us, right astern, under a press of sail.

  I pointed her out to my officers and men, who were inspired with freshcourage at the sight. The enemy also perceived her, and appeareddetermined to bring the combat to an issue previous to her coming up,and I feared that, at all events, I might swing at the yard-arm, let theissue of the coming combat be what it might. She neared, steering acourse so as to cut me off, and I continued to pour in my broadsides tocripple her if possible, as she did not now fire, but ran steadily forme, and my chances were bad.

  Anxious that the Arrow should close as soon as possible, I hauled downmy square mainsail, that we might not run from her, and prepared for anobstinate resistance if boarded. At last the Frenchman was within acable's length, and at this critical moment the Arrow was about a mileto windward. We poured in our last broadside, and hastened to seize ourpikes and cutlasses to repel the boarders, when to my satisfaction Ifound that one of our shot had cut his gaff in two. I immediatelyrounded to the wind; and as my antagonist was within pistol-shot of me,with her men all ready for the leap on board, I put my helm down, wentround in stays, and crossed her so near to windward that you might havethrown a biscuit on board.

  This manoeuvre prevented his boarding, and I may say saved my life, forhis gaff being shot away he could not heave in stays to follow me, butwas obliged to wear round after me, which increased his distance atleast a cable's length to leeward. A furious broadside, however, whichhe poured in, crippled me altogether. Everything came running down uponthe decks, and I was left a complete wreck; but I was to windward ofhim, and although he might sink me, he could not board or takepossession until he had refitted his after-sail.

  But now his time was come. A fresh antagonist, with equal weight ofmetal, was close to him, and he had to decide whether he would fight orrun. Whether he conceived that running was useless, which it certainlywas, or was determined to take us both or die, I know not; certain it isthat he did not put his vessel before the wind, but waited withdetermination the coming up of the Arrow. Captain Levee passed underthe Frenchman's stern, raking him with a broadside that almost unriggedhim, and then engaged him to leeward, so as to cut off all chance of hisescape.

  The Frenchman returned the fire with spirit, and I took my men from myguns that we might set some sail upon the vessel, for after the Arrowcommenced her fire no further notice was taken of me by the Frenchman.After a contest well maintained for half an hour, the mainmast of theFrenchman went by the board, and this almost settled the question, as hecould not keep his vessel to the wind, and consequently she fell off;and received a raking fire from the Arrow. At last her bowsprit wasbetween the main and fore rigging of the Arrow, and her decks were sweptby the Arrow's raking fire. I had got some sail up forward, and wasanxious to be at the close of the action. I perceived that theFrenchman was attempting to board the lugger, and was pouring all hispeople on the forecastle, and I therefore edged down to him that Imight, with my people, board him on the quarter, which would place him,as we say, between two fires. The conflict was at its highest, theFrench attempting and the Arrow's
crew repelling them, when I laid myschooner on her quarter, and leaped on board of her with my fewremaining men. The Frenchmen turned to repel my attack, and thusweakened their party opposed to the Arrow's men; the consequence was,that they were first beaten back, and then boarded by Captain Levee andhis crew.

  As soon as I had gained the deck of the Frenchman, I thought of nothingbut to single out the French captain. At first I could not see him, butas his crew retreated from Captain Levee and his men, I perceived him,pale and exhausted, but still attempting to rally them. As my objectwas to take him alive, I rushed in advance at him, wrestled, and threwhim on his back on the deck. There I held him, while the combatants,fighting and retreating, tumbled over us one after another, and bruisedus severely with their weight. At last the French were beaten below,and I had time to breathe; calling to two of my men, I desired them totake charge of the French captain, and, as they valued their lives, notto let him escape, or destroy himself but to take him into our vesseland guard him carefully in my cabin. Having done this, I went toCaptain Levee, and we embraced.

  "You did not come a minute too soon," I said, wiping the blood from myface.

  "No, indeed; and, but for your clever manoeuvre you would have beenbeaten. Your vessel is a mere nutshell compared to this;--you did well,more than well, to maintain the combat so long. Have you lost manymen?"

  "We had ten sent below before we boarded; what may have followed since Ido not know: I have the French captain safe in my cabin."

  "I saw the men hand him over:--well, now to repair damages, and then Iwill tell you what you shall do. I must send on board and help you; theArrow has not suffered much considering, and I can spare the men. Assoon as we have cleared up the decks a little, we will breakfasttogether, and talk the matter over."

  It required two hours before we could clear the decks of our vessels,for we had separated, and the Arrow had taken charge of the prize.Before I took the boat to go on board the Arrow, I went down into mycabin, where the French captain lay bound and watched by two of the men.

  "You are prepared to pay the penalty agreed upon, Monsieur?" said I.

  "I am, Sir," he replied. "I now understand what you meant when you saidthat I should meet with my match. I have no one to blame but myself. Iurge you to the conditions, expecting an easy and certain conquest withmy superior vessel. I have fallen into my own net, and there's an endof the matter--except that when things go wrong, a woman is certain tobe at the bottom of it."

  "I am aware, Sir," I replied, "that your wife instigated you to act asyou did, or you would never have so behaved. In attempting to revengethe death of one husband she has lost two."

  "_C'est vrai_," replied the Frenchman, composedly, and I then quittedthe cabin, and went on board of the Arrow.

  "Well, Elrington," said Captain Levee, "what do you intend to do withthe French captain? Is he to pay the forfeit, and awing at theyard-arm?"

  "I don't like hanging a man, especially a brave man, in cold blood," Ireplied. "It was all his wife's doing, and he has confessed as much."

  "He would certainly have hanged you," replied Levee.

  "Yes, that I believe; but it would have been that he might have a quietlife at home--not from any resentment against me. Now I have no feelingof that kind to actuate me."

  "What will you do, then?"

  "Not hang him, certainly; and yet I should like to punish her."

  "She deserves it," replied Captain Levee. "Now, Elrington, will youapprove of my suggestion?"

  "Let me hear it."

  "It is this: they do not know that I have assisted in taking theprivateer, as they have no idea that I am here. As soon as we haverefitted her and your vessel, I will remain where I am. You shall runinto the mouth of the Garonne, with your colours flying, and the EnglishJack over the French flag on board of the prize. This will lead them tosuppose that you have taken the vessel without assistance. When justout of gun-shot, heave-to, fire a gun, and then swing an effigy to theyard-arm, and remain there, to make them suppose that you have hung theFrench captain. At nightfall you can make sail and rejoin me. Thatwill punish her, and annoy them generally."

  "I will do so; it is an excellent device, and she will never know thetruth for a long time to come."

  We remained all that day refitting; in the evening I made sail, incompany with the French schooner, which was manned by Captain Levee, andstood in shore. At break of the following day I ran in, standing forthe harbour, without my colours being hoisted, and then it occurred tome that I would make their disappointment greater, by allowing themfirst to imagine that the victory was theirs; so, when about six milesoff, I hoisted French colours on the French schooner, and French coloursover English on board of my own.

  I continued to stand on till within two miles and a half of thebatteries, and could see crowds flocking down to witness the supposedtriumphant arrival of their privateer into port; when of a sudden Ihauled my wind, hove-to, brailed up my sails, and changed the colours,firing a gun in bravado. Allowing them half an hour to comment uponthis disappointment, I then fired another gun, and hoisted up to theyard-arm the figure of a man, composed of clothes stuffed with hay, madeto represent the French captain; and having so done, I remained duringthe whole forenoon, with my sails brailed up, that they might have aclear view of the hanging figure. At last we perceived a large boat,with a flag of truce, coming out of the river. I remained where I was,and, allowing it to come alongside, I perceived in it the French officerwho had pledged himself to give the conditions of the combat to thelady; and seated by him was the French captain's wife, with her headsunk down on her knees, and her face buried in her handkerchief.

  I saluted the officer as he came on deck. He returned my bow, and thensaid, "Sir, the fortune of war has proved in your favour, and I perceivethat the conditions of the issue of the combat have been adhered to onyour side. Against that I have not a word to say, as my friend wouldhave as rigidly adhered to them. But, Sir, we war not with the dead,and I have come off at the request of his miserable wife, to beg thatyou will, now that your revenge is satisfied, deliver up to her herhusband's body, that it may receive the rites of the Church, andChristian burial. You surely, as a brave man, will not deny this smallfavour to a woman whom you have twice deprived of her husband?"

  "Sir," I replied, "on condition that his lady will step on board andmake the request herself, I will comply with it, but on no other terms."

  "It will be most painful, and her feelings might well have been sparedsuch a trial as to meet your face again, and make the request in person;but, as you insist upon it, I will make known your terms."

  As he went into his boat I ran down into the cabin, and desired them tocast loose the French captain, saying to him, "Sir, your wife is hererequesting your body, which she believes to be swinging at the yard-arm,for I have put that trick into execution to punish her. I neverintended to take your life, and I shall now do more, I shall give younot only life but liberty--such shall be my revenge."

  The French captain stared as if confounded, but made no reply. I thenwent on deck, where I found the lady had been lifted up the side. Theyled her to me, and she fell on her knees, but the effort was too muchfor her, and she fainted away. I ordered her to be taken down into thecabin, and, without any explanation, desired the French officer toaccompany her, not wishing to be present at the unexpected meeting. Itherefore remained on deck, and ordering the men to lower down theeffigy they did so, laughing at the French seamen in the boat, who forthe first time perceived, for they had not looked up before, that it wasonly a sham captain. I looked over the side, and told them that thecaptain was alive and well, and would be in the boat very soon, at whichthey were greatly rejoiced. In the mean time the explanation took placein the cabin, and after a few minutes the French officer came up, andexpressed his satisfaction at what I had done.

  "You have given a lesson, Sir, without being guilty of barbarity. Yourconduct has been noble."

  He was soon fo
llowed by the French captain and his lady, who was now allgratitude, and would have kissed my hands, but I prevented her, andsaid, "Madam, at least now you have no occasion to hate me. If I was sounfortunate, in self-defence, as to slay your first husband, I haverestored to you your second. Let us, then, part in amity."

  The French captain squeezed my hand, but said nothing. I begged theywould take some refreshment, but they were too anxious to return andundeceive their friends, and requested permission to go into the boat.Of course I consented, and as the boat pulled away the crew gave threehuzzas, as a compliment to us. When they were a mile in shore, I hauleddown the colours of both vessels, and made sail out to rejoin CaptainLevee, which I did in the evening, and then related all that had passed.

  He was much pleased with the result of the affair, and we then, havingconsulted, considered it advisable to run back to Liverpool with theprize, for she required so many hands to man her as to render us by nomeans efficient vessels. Moreover, I have omitted to state that, whileI was in the Garonne, the Arrow had taken two good prizes, which she hadmanned and sent to Liverpool. We therefore made sail to the northward,and in a week were again in port, with our prize. We found that theother vessels had arrived safe, and the owner was much pleased with theresult of this short and eventful cruise.