With Porter in the Essex

by Amanda M. Douglas

  CHAPTER XI.

  A NAVAL STATION.

  Next morning at sunrise Phil and I were routed out by the cry of "Allhands ahoy!" and if we had expected to be received with open arms and byour shipmates' congratulations on a narrow escape from death, we wouldhave been most wofully mistaken.

  Many of the crew, including those who had been forced to roam over themountains in search of us, believed we should be brought up forpunishment because of having left the encampment during hostilitieswithout orders or permission; and those who held to it that there was noreason, in the absence of orders to the contrary, why we were notallowed to move around at will, blamed us severely for being such foolsas to run blindly into the arms of an enemy.

  Thus it was that, in one way or another, we had earned a reproof fromall our comrades; and it was administered by their silence or severelooks when we made our appearance believing a warm reception awaited us.

  Even Master Hackett glanced at us reproachfully for a time; but he grewmore friendly as the forenoon wore on, and then we ventured to ask if heknew what Captain Porter had done in regard to Benson's appeal for aid.

  "The two natives stayed aboard all night, an' were set ashore less thanhalf an hour before you turned out. Of course I don't know what ordersour captain gave them; but I'll wager a doughnut against a dollar thatthey'll be here again, bringin' the Britisher with 'em, if it so be he'syet alive, before sunset."

  "What will the men say to being thus careful of a man who admits havingmade a business of trapping Yankee sailors in order that he may sellthem like so many slaves?" Phil asked indignantly.

  "I ain't overly certain as to what they'll say; but you can set it downas a fact that never a mother's son of 'em will so much as open hismouth where there's a chance his words may be repeated aft. CaptainPorter ain't the kind of a seaman that a crew can afford to monkey with.He'll do as he believes right, no matter what them as sail under him maysay."

  This conversation was interrupted by a command which surprised even theoldest shellbacks among us.

  Word was passed that a party of forty men were to take four 6-poundersfrom the _Greenwich_, and put them in position on a small hilloverlooking the harbor and our encampment ashore.

  Another force was called off to carry empty water-casks to the sameplace, and Master Hackett muttered sufficiently loud for me to hear thewords:--

  "I reckon we're to make a naval station of this 'ere island; an' if itso be we show our heels to the Britishers who've been sent out to sinkus, this will be a likely property to hold in the name of the UnitedStates."

  Phil and I knew full well that we had no right to linger on board the_Essex_, for we had been assigned to duty ashore; and, therefore, whilethe working parties I have spoken of were being made up, we clamberedinto the first boat that put off for the land.

  Then, as a matter of course, we took up our tasks as cooks' assistantsonce more, although it would have pleased us better had we been allowedto take part in the work of building the fort; for that, as we soon cameto understand, was the purpose for which our men had been called offfrom the labor of refitting.

  We two lads had ample time, however, in which to observe all that wasbeing done, for, as I have already set down, we were allowed many aspare hour between meals.

  The empty water-casks were filled with earth and sunk a couple of feetinto the summit of the hill in such manner as to form a circle. Thensand was shovelled against the outside of these, and an excavation madeinside, until we had a breastwork not to be despised even as aprotection against musket balls. The guns were mounted so that theywould cover the harbor and camp, and a flag-staff, on which was hoistedthe stars and stripes, set up in the middle of the enclosure, the wholepresenting the appearance of a regular fort.

  Before all this work had been completed, however, we saw two of theTypees coming down the mountain-side, escorting a third person whom weknew full well was none other than Benson, and the question as towhether our captain would take any trouble to save the life of aBritisher was answered.

  Phil and I were near the beach when this party came in, waving greenpalm-leaves, which answered the purpose of a white flag; and while theyhalted, awaiting some word from the ship as to where they should leavethe living peace-offering, we two lads had an opportunity of holdingconverse with our enemy.

  THE PARTY CAME IN, WAVING GREEN PALM-LEAVES.]

  He was as humble and friendly as possible, as well he might be,considering the fact that we had been the means of saving him from beingserved up as a Typee roast or stew.

  "If ever it comes my way, I'll do you boys a good turn," he said in atone of thankfulness, and I was disposed to let the promise pass withoutcomment; but Phil did not hold the same opinion.

  "That is to say, you count on being friendly to us until another chancecomes your way of selling us to the whalers, or of seeing us roasted andeaten," he said angrily; whereupon Benson replied with what I believedwas sincere regret for having attempted to do us bodily harm:--

  "If you'd been in my position since yesterday, you'd know full well thatI couldn't be other than thankful for what you have done."

  "I allow we were in much the same situation when you had us in yourkeeping, and was determined we should be roasted!" the lad said hotly."But for the fact that the Typees got the worst of the battle, we'd beready for cooking this very minute."

  Benson could make no reply to what was neither more nor less than thetruth, and he hung his head, as seemed to me most proper.

  After a few moments of silence he asked:--

  "Do you know what your captain counts on doing with me?"

  "He isn't in the custom of telling the crew what he proposes to do,"Phil said curtly; "but this you can set down for a fact, that if heturns you loose around the bay, you'd better be mighty careful, forthere are those among the men who wouldn't count it a crime to kill youas they would a mad dog."

  By this time a boat had come ashore from the _Essex_; Benson and theTypees who had brought him in were taken on board, and we did not get aglimpse of the Britisher until many days afterward. The natives,however, came ashore half an hour later and were conducted by our men ashort distance up the mountain, lest the Happars, disregarding the flagof truce, should set upon them.

  Three days later Captain Porter took possession of the fort and islandin a formal manner. He and his officers went into the fortificationwhere the flag, which had been lowered a few moments previous, washoisted while the ships saluted it in fine style, and then it wasannounced that the island had become a portion of the United States.From that hour, so the captain declared, Nukuheva should be known asMadison Island, in honor of the President, and the fort was given thesame name. The bay had already been christened Massachusetts, and at thetime it seemed to me that my country had come into possession of avaluable territory; but those at home thought differently, for in afteryears no effort was made to hold what the gallant old _Essex_ had fairlywon.

  The remainder of this day when we took possession was spent in sport,all hands having full liberty until one hour before sunset; and a grandjollification we had, visiting the most respectable Happar families.

  Next morning twenty-one men were told off as the force to man the fort,and command of the same was bestowed upon Lieutenant Gamble of theMarines. The duty of this little party was to guard the remainder of thecompany while at work on the fleet, and otherwise keep peace between theHappars and the Typees. Then the task of putting the ships into sailingtrim was continued, and Phil and I sincerely regretted having beenassigned to the cook's department, otherwise we might have been numberedamong the defenders of the fort,--a position which would have pleased memightily, for it seemed certain that the Typees were more than willingto let us severely alone.

  As I stop writing at this point for an instant, I come to realize thatmy yarn is being spun out too long. It would please me greatly to beable to set down here all we did while on Madison Island, for we spentmany a happy hour there, despite the hard work; but by so do
ing I mightnever come to an end of that which I hope will pass for what landsmencall a "story," although every word is no more than the truth, as allour ship's company can testify.

  In order, therefore, that nothing of importance concerning the cruise ofthe _Essex_ may be omitted through lack of time and space, I will copyhere what was afterward written by a great historian[2] concerning whatcost us three days of fighting, and to relate which in detail wouldforce me to write over many pages.

  "After their first fears had been allayed, or they came to understandhow small was our force, the powerful Typees remained hostile, andbecame more and more defiant, to the great discomfort of the Happars andthe annoyance of the Americans. At length Porter resolved to make warupon them.

  "An expedition of thirty-five Americans, including Captain Porter, andfive thousand Taeehs and Happars, moved against the incorrigibles. TheTypees, armed with slings and spears, met them with such overwhelmingnumbers and fierce determination, that at the end of the first day theywere compelled to fall back to the beach, numbering among theircasualties a shattered leg belonging to Lieutenant Downes, caused by asling-man's stone. That night the valley of the Typees resounded withshouts of victory, and the sonorous reverberations of many beaten drums.

  "Porter renewed the attempt the next day, and led his motley army boldlyover the rugged hills into the Typee valley, in the midst of greatexposure to hostile missiles from concealed foes, and many privations.

  "Village after village was destroyed until they came to the principaltown, in which were fine buildings, a large public square, temples andgods, huge war-canoes, and other exhibitions of half-savage life. Thesewere all reduced to ashes, and by the broom of desolation that beautifulvalley, four miles in width and nine in length, was made a blackeneddesert. The Typees, utterly ruined and humbled, now submissively paidtribute."

  It seems almost cruel to tell so brave a yarn in such few words; but forthe fact that there are yet more important adventures of our cruise tobe set down, it should not thus be hurried over.

  Neither Phil nor I was of the party which Captain Porter himself ledover the mountains. I am not prepared to say that we would have gonewith the army if permission had been given; we knew what fate awaitedthose who might be made prisoners, and would have shrunk from thustaking the chances of being the principal dish at a Typee feast.

  When our men came back to the beach whipped, at the close of the firstday's fight, and we saw Lieutenant Downes brought in by four Happars,looking as if death sat on the litter with him, it began to appear as ifMassachusetts Bay was not a desirable naval station.

  Nor were Phil and I the only ones among the company who grewfaint-hearted when the reverses were made known. The old shellbacks whohad previously grumbled because we were to take part in a native war,now came out strong with their predictions of evil; and to have heardthem scold and mutter, one would have said that already were wehopelessly overcome.

  Next day, when our men set out leading the entire army, we watched untilthey were lost to view in the distance, firmly believing we would neversee them again. During the time we spent anxiously waiting for news fromthe battle-field, all hands were in the fort or on board the ships,ready to open fire if the Typees should chase our people to the shore ofthe bay; but at nightfall our anxiety was changed to rejoicing.

  A Happar messenger came in with the information that Captain Porter hadwhipped the Typees thoroughly, and would remain absent from the bayanother day in order to destroy the villages belonging to the enemy.

  It was my good fortune to have the opportunity of carrying this news toLieutenant Downes, who lay in his cabin on board the _Essex_, and to mygreat surprise I discovered that he had never been in doubt as to theresult of the expedition.

  "It couldn't have been otherwise," he said, when I had emptied my budgetof news. "Thirty-five white men with ample supply of ammunition couldbeat off all the natives of the island, providing they were notambushed. It went without saying that Captain Porter would flog theminto submission."

  Because he spoke to me so familiarly, I ventured to ask him concerningBenson, for up to this time neither Phil nor I had been able to learnanything regarding him.

  "He is below, in such snug quarters that I promise you there is nochance of his escaping."

  "Will he be taken back to Valparaiso?" I ventured to ask.

  "I think not, my lad. It is my opinion that he will remain on boarduntil we arrive at the home port, and then be delivered over to theproper authorities. So long as Captain Porter holds command of the_Essex_, there's little chance the young scoundrel will play any moretricks on honest seamen."

  As a matter of course, Phil and I knew full well that Benson was onboard the frigate; but we were not just certain what the captainproposed to do with him when we made Valparaiso again, and thisassurance of Lieutenant Downes's caused me to feel decidedly bettermentally, for we were not minded he should escape his just deserts.

  When our people came back, escorted by the triumphant Happars andfollowed by the chief men of the Typees, who were eager that peace bemade between us, we gave them a grand reception, which was notprolonged, for on the following morning the work of refitting the shipsof the fleet was continued as if our commander was impatient to be atsea once more, as really was the case if the statements made by MasterHackett the evening following the return of the army were true.

  I had asked him why Captain Porter was bent on pushing the work forwardto the utmost limit of speed, and the old man said gravely, as if heconsidered it an exceedingly serious matter:--

  "It is near time for the arrival in the Pacific of one or more of thefrigates sent out from England to destroy us. From all I've gathered,an' by puttin' this an' that together when I've overheard the officerstalkin' it amounts to considerable, it's our commander's idee to meetthe Britishers one by one as fast as they arrive, instead of givin' thema chance to come at us with a squadron after due preparation. We've gotto fight our way home, if we ever get there; an' accordin' to my way ofthinkin' Captain Porter couldn't do a wiser thing than to meet the enemyas soon as possible after they round the Horn."

  "Why then, Master Hackett?"

  "Because after such a voyage every ship is bound to be at her worst, an'it's our best chance; if we give them time to overhaul an' lay plans, westand a show to get beaten."

  "And are we to give up the island after having so much trouble to subduethe Typees?"

  "Not a bit of it, if all I've heard be true. Lieutenant Gamble, withmidshipmen Feltus an' Clapp, are to remain behind in command of theforce detailed for the fort."

  "And they are to stay here to keep peace among the natives," Philexclaimed in a tone of surprise, whereupon Master Hackett corrected himby saying:--

  "It goes without sayin' that they will keep peace on the island; butthat ain't the reason for leavin' 'em here, by a long shot. We'll need aharbor for repairs while we stay in the Pacific, especially after two orthree battles at sea, which I reckon will fall to our share. Them asremain behind will see to it that the Britishers don't take possessionby some of their whalin' vessels or otherwise, an' we'll have a port torun to if the odds are too great against us."

  I failed to figure out what was to become of those left behind in casethe _Essex_ was destroyed, or if she was forced to flee around the Horn;and Master Hackett could not help me to a solution. He seemed to treatit as one of the chances of war which the defenders of the fort musttake, and as such, not worthy of discussion.

  Well, the refitting was pushed forward with all speed, and near aboutthe first of December we were so far ready for sea that it was onlynecessary to take in a quantity of water and fresh provisions.

  The prizes were warped in close under the fort, and moored there insuch manner that nothing short of a most violent tempest could disturbthem.

  The encampment ashore was broken up, and all the men ordered on boardthe ships which were to venture out.

  When this last order was given, we had signs of serious trouble.


  The natives, who had become fast friends with our men, set up a terriblehowl, and from morning until night we could see them on the beach cryingand begging that the crew be sent ashore again, while on board thefrigate and the _Essex Junior_ the sailormen themselves were bewailing afate which seemed unnecessarily hard.

  There was little mutinous talk on our ship; but we heard again and againthat the crew of the _Essex Junior_ was nearly in a mutinous frame ofmind because the pleasant stay ashore had come to an end.

  As a matter of course the old shellbacks were not concerned in thisinsubordination. They recognized the fact that we must put to sea asspeedily as possible, and were even eager to be gone; but many of theyounger fellows would have deserted except for the strong guard whichwas kept both night and day.

  Only those who could best be trusted were sent on shore for the stores,and among these was Master Hackett, therefore we lads heard much of whatwas happening aboard of our consort.

  It was the evening of the second day after we had been ordered aboardship that Master Hackett told Phil and me, while he was smokingcomfortably near No. I gun, the following startling news:--

  "Bob White of the _Essex Junior_ has been blowin' his gaff so loud thatit has come to the ears of our officers, an' all hands will be called upfor a wiggin' from the commander before another day goes by, or I'm aDutchman, which I ain't."

  "What has he been saying?" Phil asked curiously.

  "That we of the frigate have come to a solemn agreement not to get underway when the order comes; or, if we're forced to do that, we're to seizethe ship in three days after leavin' port, an' them on the _EssexJunior_ are to stand by us."

  "But all that is a lie!" I cried hotly. "If there had been a mutiny onboard this ship, surely it would have come to the ears of Phil and me!"

  "I allow that some of our youngsters have been makin' foolish talkagainst puttin' to sea when there's so much fun to be had ashore; but asfor downright mutiny, why it's all in your eye, Biddy Martin. I countthat the worst insubordination has been argufied in my hearin', an' thatonly went so far as to swimmin' ashore for a night's frolic. Bob Whitewill find himself in trouble, or I'm mistaken."

  Master Hackett's prediction was verified early next morning, when thecrew of the _Essex Junior_ was ordered aboard the frigate, and, incompany with all our men, summoned to the break of the quarter, wherewas standing Captain Porter and his officers, decked out in their newestuniforms.

  The captain did not show any sign of anger when we stood before him, butbegan like a preacher, by telling what he had heard was talked of amongthe men.

  It goes without saying that this was the same yarn Master Hackett hadspun for us the night before, and the commander said flatly that hedidn't allow there was any truth in it.

  "I can't believe any of you who have braved so many dangers during thismost glorious cruise would turn mutineers simply because life on theisland is so pleasing. If it should be, however, that you came to such apass, rather than allow the shame put upon us, I will without hesitationhold a match to the magazine and blow all hands into eternity, for itis better that the ship and every man in her perish, than have it toldat home that we were ready to sacrifice the interests of our country topersonal desires. While I don't believe it possible such an agreementcould have been made, there may be some hot heads among you who do notcare for the disgrace which would come upon all this ship's company,therefore I wish to see who will agree to obey my commands in the futureas you have in the past. Let those who are ready to do their duty likemen, by remaining on board when we go to meet the enemy, step over onthe starboard side--I mean those who are not only willing, but eager, toget the good ship _Essex_ under way when the order may be given to doso."

  In a twinkling every man jack of us was lining the starboard rail,looking curiously behind to see who would dare show himself mutinouslyinclined.

  No one remained on the port side, and Captain Porter looked pleased; butthe end of the matter was not yet, as he then proved by saying:--

  "Let Bob White come forward!"

  The mutinous sailor obeyed sheepishly; and when he stood out from therest of us, a mark for every eye, the captain said sternly:--

  "This is the man who has reported that you had not only agreed todisobey orders, but were ready to turn pirates for the sake of spendingyour lives on the island. He who will spin such yarns about honestsailormen is not fit to associate with them. Mr. McKnight," he added,turning to my cousin Stephen, "see to it that this scoundrel is droppedinto one of the canoes which are hanging around, and let it beunderstood that the sentries are to fire at him if he makes any effortto come aboard again."

  My cousin had hardly more than stepped off the quarter to give thenecessary order, when Master Hackett and a couple of his cronies seizedBob White, and before one could have counted ten the mutineer waskicking and splashing in the water alongside. They had not taken thetrouble to see whether a canoe was close at hand.

  There were so many islanders near about, however, that White wasspeedily picked up, and from that time he was never seen again, unless,perchance, it may have been by those who garrisoned the fort.

  Then, after thanking us for what we had already done while under hiscommand, and for what he expected we would do in the future, the captaindismissed us that we might get about the work of the day.

  It was only natural that while engaged in this task or the other mymind should be filled with thoughts of the insubordination, and thepossible result if the crew had been able to remain on the island.

  The seamen among us who had had the most experience in such matters,believed that we stood but little show against those ships which hadbeen sent from England in search of us; that the _Essex_ would neverround Cape Horn with the stars and stripes flying. In such case we hadonly death or imprisonment to look forward to, and it is not so verysurprising that some of the men should desire to remain among theislanders.

  As for myself, and I can also speak for Phil in the same words, cowardlyat heart though I was, it seemed far wiser to make a brave fight for itthan go into voluntary exile among cannibals. Yet, while I thus decided,there was a great fear in my heart concerning our fate, and I would havegiven up anything I possessed, with a mortgage on everything which mightcome to me in the future, had it been possible to step at that momentinto my own quiet home. I had seen enough of war, although having viewedit only from the brightest side, and I quaked at the prospect of whatlay before us, even though we might, in the end, succeed in giving ourenemies the slip.

  It was the morning of December 12, 1813, when we got under way, amidthe booming of the guns from Fort Madison, and I venture to say therewas not a man in either ship, whether officer, ordinary seaman, ormarine, who did not wish we might have remained there a few weekslonger, providing it could be done safely and honorably.

  The prizes were left under the guns of the fort, for now we were goingout to meet the foe in battle, and could not be bothered with such asthey. The _Essex Junior_ and the frigate were to perform the hard work,receive the British fire, and then, if we were successful, which hardlyseemed probable, would return to take our captured craft to a home port.

  By nightfall the island was lost to view in the distance, and on thevast expanse of the ocean nothing could be seen by us save the goodfrigate _Essex_ and her namesake and consort, _Essex Junior_.

  Now let me set down something which I have copied from a yarn spun by anold sea-dog[3] who can jockey a spar or make a book with equal ease:--

  "Up to this time not a dollar had been drawn to meet the expenses of thefrigate. The enemy had furnished provisions, sails, cordage, medicines,guns, anchors, cables, and slops. A considerable amount of pay even,had been given to the officers and men, by means of the money taken inthe _Nocton_. Thus far the cruise had been singularly useful andfortunate, affording an instance of the perfection of naval warfare inall that relates to distressing an enemy, with the least possible chargeto the assailants; and it remained only to terminate it with a victoryover
a ship of equal force, to render it brilliant. It is, perhaps, ahigher eulogium on the officers and crew of this memorable littlefrigate to add, that while her good fortune appeared at last to deserther, they gave this character to their enterprise by the manner in whichthey struggled with adversity."

  On this our first evening at sea, after so long a stay in port, MasterHackett was unusually agreeable and friendly with us lads who had doneour best toward saving his life, whether that best was ill-advised oropportune. Instead of smoking in the company of the other old sea-dogs,he joined us near No. 1 gun, and there began to hold forth on the "luckof the _Essex_" as if believing we needed heartening now that we werepressing forward to meet an enemy of equal or greater strength than ourown.

  "You lads haven't made quite as bad a fist of sailorin' as I counted onwhen you first came aboard," he began. "You've given good attention toyour duties, an' when next you ship, I reckon it should be as ordinaryseamen--"

  "Providing we ever get a chance to ship again," Phil interrupted. "Itseems to be the opinion among all hands that we're on our last cruise."

  "Pay no attention to what those old croakers are sayin'," Master Hackettreplied quickly. "Sailormen always borrow trouble when there's littleshow for it, an' don't take the pains to work out the traverse that canbe made. I hold that the 'luck of the _Essex_' is still with her, an'will be when we meet the Britishers yard-arm to yard-arm, or at whateverrange our commander believes to be best. No man can go into anengagement an' do his full duty if he counts on bein' knocked out beforeit's over. Believe that you've _got_ to lick the other fellow, an' thenyou'll have an advantage."

  Master Hackett could not have said anything which would have caused meto believe more firmly that he, like many another on board the _Essex_,was convinced we had come to an end of our "luck," and I turned awayabruptly rather than listen further.

  FOOTNOTES:

  [2] Benson J. Lossing.

  [3] J. Fenimore Cooper.