CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.
ATTACKED WITH FEVER.--MAMMY GOBO, MY BLACK NURSE.--RECOVERY.--DEATH OFDELISLE.--SAIL FOR JAMAICA.--PROMOTED.--JOIN THE PORCUPINE.--CHASE.--AMISHAP.--BECALMED.--PROVISIONS RUN SHORT.--SUFFERINGS.--A FRESH BREEZEBRINGS US RELIEF.--JAMAICA AGAIN.
I had long held out against the attacks of that arch enemy, the yellowfever, to which so many of my companions in misfortune had succumbed.Several vacancies having occurred in the house, Manby had gone there andleft me to the society of Tom Rockets and my cocks and hens. I,however, had got so accustomed to the place that I had no wish to goelsewhere. Impunity had made me fancy that I was proof against thefever. It found me out, however. In an instant I was struck down. Ientreated that I might be left where I was. Tom made me up ascomfortable a bed as he could, and covered me with a boat-cloak and ablanket. Strange as it may seem, in that climate I felt excessivelycold, and thought that nothing would warm me. Hour after hour I layshivering as if nothing could ever make me warm again, and expecting allthe time that I was about to die, and thinking that those I loved moston earth would perhaps never gain tidings of my fate. Then I felt sohot that I had a longing to jump into the nearest stream to cool myfevered blood. Poor Tom sat by my side, often wringing his hands indespair, not knowing how to treat me, and yet anxious to do all in hispower to be of assistance. At length one day he jumped up as if abright thought had just struck him, and out he ran, leaving me alone. Iscarcely expected that I should be alive when he came back, so weak andwretched did I feel. An hour or more passed when he reappeared,accompanied by an old black woman with whom I had occasionally exchangeda joke in passing, and I believe bestowed on her some trifle or other,--Mammy Gobo I used to call her,--little thinking the service she would beto me. She felt me all over and looked at my tongue, and then off shetrotted. She soon, however, came back with some pots and herbs and somebricks. She first made Tom dig a hole, in which she lighted a fire andat it heated some bricks. These she applied at once to my feet, and,putting on her pots, formed some decoctions with the herbs, which shemade me swallow in large quantities. Had she not providentially come, Ibelieve that I should have died that very night. As it was, I wasevidently a subject requiring all her care and skill. She seemedanxious to bestow both on me. All night long she sat up by my side, andall day she watched over me. It appeared to me that she never slept.If I opened my eyes they were certain to fall on her jolly ugly visage,with her large eyes turned full upon me, seemingly to inquire what Iwanted. When at last she began to go away occasionally for half an hourat a time to collect more herbs, or for some other purpose, Rockets wasalways ready to take her place, and attended me with all the affectionof a true and warm friend. Strong as my constitution was, I am verysure that had I not been watched over by Mammy Gobo and Tom I should nothave recovered--that is to say, I felt then, and I feel more stronglynow, that they were the instruments, under a merciful Providence, bywhich I was preserved so long from destruction while hanging betweenlife and death, and ultimately of my recovery, though it was long beforethat took place. Probably in consequence of his constant attendance onme, before I had begun to recover, Tom himself was attacked with thefever, and there he lay in the stall next to me, moaning and groaning,and occasionally raging with delirium. I ought to have mentioned thatsome time before this our old horse had been removed to a place ofsuperior accommodation--I suspect to our tumble-down, rickety stable;but, as we wanted his room more than his company, we did not complain ofthis. Mammy Gobo was no respecter of persons, and I was glad to findthat she attended on Tom with as much care as she had done on me. Thepoor fellow was very grateful.
"Ah, sir," he said, "though that 'ere nigger woman has got a black skin,to my mind she has as good and red a heart in her body as anywhite-faced person. It's just the painting of the outside which ain'taltogether according to our notions; but after all, sir, beauty is, asyou know, sir, only skin deep."
I fully agreed with him on this point, and at that moment poor MammyGobo was more welcome to our sight than the most beautiful creature inexistence. What cooling drinks she concocted out of herbs and simples,and what delicious messes out of various sorts of vegetables and fruitsand roots, the productions of that fruitful climate! However, MammyGobo could not always attend on us, for she had several other patientsand had to look after her own affairs at home. During her absence ourpoor chickens fared but ill, for we could not go out to collect food forthem, and the supply we had before stored up was soon expended. They,in consequence, had to go forth to forage for themselves. At first theycame back regularly enough, but then we remarked that one was missing;then next day another did not make its appearance, and so on the thirdday two were missing. In a few days half our stock were lost. We toldMammy Gobo of what had occurred, and she said she would try and find outwho had robbed us. When, however, she was present, all the chickenscame back. We certainly did not suspect her of being the thief, but wefelt sure that the real thieves watched her movements and ran off withour fowls when she was out of the way. We were compelled also to killseveral of our stock of chickens for food, Mammy Gobo having especiallyprescribed chicken-broth when we became somewhat convalescent. Theywere now reduced to a very small number. One by one they alsodisappeared till none remained, and then we were indeed in a verymiserable and forlorn condition. We were still too ill, however, tothink much of the future, but we found it impossible to supply even ourpresent wants; and had not the kind-hearted black woman catered for us,assuring the hucksters that I was certain to recover and pay them, Ibelieve that we should have starved.
At last I was able to get about a little, though the fever was still onme, and I managed to crawl to the house to see some of mybrother-officers. The greater number of them were sick, or had been illand nearer death's door. I inquired for my old shipmate and friend,Delisle. "He is ill in that room," was the reply. I went forthwith tohim. A few short weeks of sickness had made a great change in hiscountenance. He took my hand when I approached the wretched pallet onwhich he was stretched.
"I am glad to see you recovering, my dear Hurry," he said in a low,feeble voice. "It is all up with me, though. I shall never be apost-captain--never command a ship--my last battle is fought. I mustyield to God's will. It seems hard, though. You know all about myfriends. If you ever reach home, go and tell them about me. I can'ttalk more. I am weak--very weak--couldn't hail the maintop if I was totry. Oh, it's hard, very hard, to be thus cut off by the arm of thisvile climate--very, very."
He was silent. I tried to console him, to raise his spirits, for I wascertain they had a good deal to do in enabling a person to recover. Invain were all my efforts. He sank slowly, and before morning one whohad long been my friend and the companion of my Orlopian days on boardthe Orpheus, and lately my messmate also in the Bristol, was no more.The blow prostrated me in body and spirits, and I felt inclined to givein, and lay my head down beside his. Soon after daylight we salliedforth with the body of our brother-officer, and took our way towards thedreary savannah. We were followed by some of our guards and otherindividuals, anxious, we concluded, to watch our proceedings. Our partywas but small, for alas! the greater number of the lieutenants wereunable from sickness to attend the funeral. We were a melancholyparty--pale, haggard, and squalid. We placed the body on the grass.What a fine, handsome young fellow he looked! We began to dig hisgrave. Without consideration, we began to dig it east and west. Whenwe had proceeded some way in our work, our French masters interfered andsaid that we ought to dig it north and south, that only Christian men,good Catholics, should be buried east and west, that they might be readyto rise when summoned by the sound of the last trump. We resolved,however, not to give in to so absurd a demand, and continued ourlabours. Again the Frenchmen interfered. On a further consultation oneof our party recollected that graves were usually placed east and westin England, and so we told our tyrants that we were only following oneof our own national customs, and to it we intended to adhere. From
ournot recollecting the custom, all our other countrymen had been buriednorth and south. After some further dispute about the matter we wereallowed to proceed, and thus poor Delisle rests in the position which isconsidered most orthodox, though I cannot say that I should be inclinedto attach much importance to the matter. Sad and sick, I went back toour stable. The exertion I had gone through almost finished me. Theother lieutenants wanted me to go to their house, but I had no spiritsfor society. I preferred my own wretched abode and the companionship ofTom Rockets and the old black woman. Never did one brother mourn foranother more sincerely than I did for Gerard Delisle. Thus the days andweeks and months drew slowly along till April arrived. That month waspassed much as the others till on the 28th, a day not likely to beforgotten by me. Several of my friends had come in to see me, and theywere all sitting about in the stable. We were bemoaning, as we oftendid, our hard fate.
"As for me," I exclaimed, "I fully expect to lay my bones in that dark,dreary savannah! What hope have I of ever getting away?"
Suddenly a voice was heard outside the door shouting lustily. Wethought it was one of our friends running about in the delirium offever, when in rushed Lieutenant Moriarty with an open letter in hishand of a very official appearance.
"It was directed to me, so I broke the seal. You and Manby and I arefree. Hurrah, boys, hurrah!" he exclaimed. "Hurrah, hurrah!"
I thought at first that he was mad, and could not believe him till helet me inspect the letter. It was from General D'Argue, informing usthat, in consequence of a request from Sir Peter Parker, we had leave toembark on board a cartel for Jamaica. I turned the document over andover again in my hand. There could be no doubt about its genuineness.Ill and weak as we all were, for we still had the fever on us, weresolved to set off the moment we were able. After the first ebullitionof our feelings was over, we recollected what must be the sensation ofthe friends we were leaving behind, and Moriarty did his best to soothethem by assuring them how rejoiced we should be if they were able to golikewise. Some of them, I thought, looked compassionately on me, for Iwas at that time confined to my bed, such as it was, and, as I thought,utterly unable to walk. The news of my liberty, however, worked morewonders towards my cure than all the physic the first of doctors couldhave given me, or the decoctions of good Mammy Gobo. The next day,however, when it was known that I had got my liberty, the hucksters,shoemakers, and washerwomen poured in their bills on me, which, thoughnot of any great amount, I found totally beyond my means to pay. Ipromised them that I would transmit the amounts the instant I got backto Jamaica; but they said that would not do, and that if I could not paythem they must appeal to the authorities, and that I must be detained.I was in despair. I was eager to be gone. I felt that I should notlive if I remained. In my dilemma Lieutenant Lawford, who had a letterof credit on a merchant at Cape Francois, came forward in the mostliberal and generous way, and supplied me with fifty dollars, which wasall I required to satisfy the demands of my creditors. My mind beingthus relieved, I felt myself strong enough to get up and assist inmaking the preparations for our journey. We engaged a carriage toconvey us to the coast, for none of us were in a fit state to ride onhorseback. I will not dwell on the sad countenances and the depressedspirits of our brother-officers whom we left behind.
On the morning of the 30th of April, with a buoyancy of spirits to whichI had long been a stranger, I with my companions got into the ricketyvehicle which was to convey us the first part of our journey, TomRockets being perched on a seat behind. We arrived at about eighto'clock at the village of Lemonade--an attractive name on a hot day--andnear there found a boat in readiness to carry us to Cape Francois. Howdelicious the sea-breeze smelt!--how refreshing to our parched skins andstagnant blood! It appeared to me to drive away at once all the remainsof the fever. I felt like a new being, strong and hearty, in a moment.I found, however, when I attempted to exert my strength, that I had verylittle of that left. Once more we found ourselves in thefar-from-delectable town of Cape Francois. As the cartel was not ready,we had to take up our abode at a tavern, where we were joined by twoother naval officers who had been imprisoned in another part of theisland. We had some difficulty in amusing ourselves during our stay,but every day we were picking up health and strength, and at length, onthe 8th, we all five embarked, with two masters of merchantmen who hadlost their vessels, and thirty seamen, on board the cartel, andcommenced our voyage to Jamaica. On the 10th we put into SaintGermains, another part of Saint Domingo, where we received some morereleased prisoners, and on the following day we bid what I hoped wouldprove an eternal adieu to the most inhospitable of islands. With theexception of the houses we had stopped at on our way to Ou Trou, we hadnot been received into the abodes of any of the white inhabitants of thecountry. Some of the coloured people would willingly have treated uskindly, but they were kept in awe by the authorities, and thus the onlyreal kindness we received was from the poor unsophisticated blacks. Formy own part, I have felt ever since deeply grateful to Mammy Gobo andher ebony-skinned countrymen and countrywomen, and have been mostanxious to do them all the good in my power. With regard to the Frenchresidents, all I can say is that I recognised among them none of thesupposed characteristics of the French nation. Instead of provinghospitable and polite, I should say that I never saw a greater set ofbears in my life.
Our voyage was short and merry, though one of the subjects whichafforded us most amusement was our own forlorn, half-starved, almostnaked condition. We were all much alike, so we could afford to laugh ateach other. The weather held fine and our voyage was speedy, and on theever-to-be-remembered 13th of May we sighted the entrance of Port Royalharbour, where we dropped anchor in the afternoon. I found that I hadbeen absent exactly nine months and three days. In spite of mytatter-demalion appearance and my consciousness that I was much like thewretched apothecary who supplied the love-lorn Romeo with the fatalpotion, as soon as I got on shore I hastened up to pay my respects toSir Peter Parker. He received me, as I knew he would, with the greatestkindness, and when I apologised for my ragged appearance he laughed andassured me that he would much rather see an officer in a threadbareuniform, worn out in active service, than in one shining and bright inconsequence of want of use.
"You'll stay to dinner with me, Mr Hurry," said the admiral. "We musttry to put some more flesh on those bones of yours."
I looked at my tattered garments.
"Oh, never mind those; they are honourable, like a flag well riddled,"he observed. "I want you, besides, to tell me all that happened to youduring your captivity."
Dinner was soon afterwards announced, and during it I gave the admiralan account of the chief events which had happened while I was at OuTrou. He was very indignant when he heard of the way we had beentreated, and especially of the mode in which Captains Williams and Stotthad been buried. I made him laugh at some of our contrivances, andparticularly at my having turned hen keeper. I described also to himour residence in the stable with the old horse. I declared that I hadtried to teach the horse my language, and, not succeeding, hadendeavoured to learn his, and that I was in a fair way of succeedingwhen he was removed from our habitation. This really was the case; Ihad made great friends with the old animal, and I was beginning to knowexactly the meaning of all the noises he made. The admiral was highlyamused with all I told him. He put me, in return, in high spirits byinforming me that, on hearing I was captured, he had directed that Ishould be rated as a mate of the Bristol, and kept on her books, andthat, in consequence, I was entitled to a share of prize-money, which,as she had been very successful, would be of some amount. Severalofficers, post-captains and others, were present, as were three or fourcivilians, planters and merchants. The latter invited me to theirhouses, and one of them, Mr Martin, insisted that I should drive backwith him, and make his house my home till I got a ship.
"That he has got already," said the admiral, presenting me with a paper,which I found was my commission as lieutenant, and that I
was appointedto the Porcupine sloop-of-war of fourteen guns, commanded by CaptainJohn Packenham. I could not find words to express my thanks to theadmiral, but he said, "Pooh, pooh; we want active, intelligent, gallantyoung men not afraid of a gale of wind, or of an enemy ashore orafloat," he answered. "You have fairly won your promotion, and Icongratulate you on obtaining it."
With these kind words I parted from the admiral, and took my seat in mynew friend's carriage.
"We have time to see old Stukely this evening, and ascertain the amountyou have got to your credit. It won't make you sleep the worse," saidhe, as we drove along.
"Forty or fifty pounds, probably," I remarked. "It would make me feelas rich as a king."
"We will see, we will see," he replied.
To the agent's we went. He was a friend of Mr Martin's, so withoutmore ado he turned to his books.
"Hurry? Hurry of the Bristol?" he muttered. "A trifle, I know."
I bethought me, "It won't be ten pounds after all, perhaps."
"Oh, yes, here I have it. Three hundred pounds, Mr Hurry! You candraw it whenever you like: our friend here will assure me of youridentity."
I couldn't help throwing up my cap for joy.
"Well, I am rich," I exclaimed; "like that old fellow Croesus I onceread of at school. Thank you, sir--thank you. Hurrah, hurrah!" Iburst out into a loud fit of laughter.
At first Mr Martin smiled at my joy, but he soon began to look grave,as did the agent, for they perceived that I was over-excited--that, intruth, the admiral's good wine and my unexpected good fortune, acting ona frame shattered by sickness, had upset me, and they seemed to thinkthat there was every probability of a return of my fever.
"I am very glad to hear that you have got this little sum. It will helpto supply you with an outfit," observed Mr Martin, wishing to calm medown a little.
"Enough for an outfit!--enough to fit out a prince or found a kingdom,"I exclaimed vehemently. "Ha, ha, ha!"
"Well, never mind that just now," said my kind friend; "just get into mybarouche, and come along to my house in the meantime. To-morrow we willtalk about these matters."
I made no resistance, and, getting into his carriage, we soon reachedhis cool and comfortable mansion in the neighbourhood of Kingston. Iwas immediately put to bed, and off I went into a sleep so sound that anearthquake or an hurricane would scarcely have awoke me.
It was late in the day when I at length opened my eyes, feeling quite anew being. A thorough sound sleep, with my mind at ease as to myprospects, was all I required to restore me to health. This I had notgot since I left Ou Trou. As soon as I had dressed and breakfasted Iset off for Port Royal harbour, and joined my ship, as happy a fellow, Imay truly say, as ever crossed salt water. I was most kindly receivedby my new shipmates, who seemed to vie with each other in trying to makeamends to me for the sufferings I had undergone. I had very little timeto be idle, or to amuse myself on shore. That I suspect was the betterfor me. The ship was all ready for sea, and on the 18th of the month,just four days after I got back to Jamaica, we sailed on a cruise, incompany with his Majesty's frigate Hinchinbrook, commanded by CaptainParker, the admiral's son, off Cape Saint Antonio. I found that theCamel, which had been sent to accompany a fleet through the gulf, had onher return, when off Cape Saint Antonio, seen a considerable number ofSaint Domingo ships. One she had taken which was very valuable, but,being a slow sailer, the others had escaped her. Her captain informedSir Peter that he was certain if a couple of ships would sailimmediately the fortunes of all on board would be made. In consequenceof this the admiral despatched the Hinchinbrook and my ship thePorcupine, directing us not to wait to fill up with provisions or water,but to proceed at once to the locality where these rich prizes were tobe found.
On the 25th we arrived off our station. The next day a stranger wasreported in sight--a schooner. We made all sail in chase. Howdelightful it was to feel myself once more on board ship, bowling awaywith a fine breeze through the free sparkling waters, with England'stime-honoured flag above my head. I could scarcely refrain fromshouting with pleasure, and I do not think that anybody would have beenmuch astonished had I done so, for I should have replied, "Let me tellyou, old fellows, if any of you had been shut up in a dull village in anabominable climate, half-starved, ill-treated and insulted, hearingconstantly that old England was conquered, that her fleets weredestroyed, and her people led into captivity, with your companions andfriends dying about you, and, when dead, buried like dogs, you wouldshout when you found yourselves at liberty, and able once more to dobattle with the enemies of your country."
Whether the schooner was American or French we could not at firstdetermine, but that she was an enemy there could be no doubt. Theprospect of prize-money is always pleasant, though when obtained, in toomany cases, it is spent in folly and extravagance. All hands were inhigh spirits; a good beginning to a successful cruise we thought itwould prove. Cape Antonio bore at the time south-east. We had almostgot the chase within range of our guns, when a grating sound was heard,and a shock was felt which sent most of the ship's company toppling downon their noses; the water surged up alongside, and we found that we wereon shore. Here might be a speedy conclusion to all our hopes ofprize-money--not that we cared for the paltry sum the vessel in sightmight have given us, but for what we might obtain by our cruisealtogether. Not a moment was lost in clewing-up everything, loweringboats, and in laying out anchors; but, notwithstanding, we stuck hardand fast. British seamen, however, do not give way to despair in ahurry. Fresh anchors and warps were laid out. We sounded round theship to see where most water was to be found. Then we worked away withour purchases. We had no wish to start our water or to heave our gunsand provisions overboard till the last extremity. Fortunately the windfell. We hove away with a will. "Hurrah, hurrah?" was the cry fore andaft; "she moves, she moves!" Our success encouraged us. TheHinchinbrook, before we got on shore, was out of sight; so was the chaseby this time. At length our efforts were rewarded with success, andonce more we had deep water under our keel. What was satisfactory,also, we had suffered little or no damage.
For the next fortnight we were employed chiefly in chasing and speakinga vast number of Spanish merchantmen bound to the Havannah, and as welittle suspected all the time that war had been declared between Englandand Spain, we allowed them to proceed. This was provoking enough, for,they would have proved very rich prizes. We spoke also his Majesty'sships Winchelsea, Camel, Lynne, and Druid, with a convoy from Englandfor Jamaica, and on the 15th of June, the period of our cruise being up,and our provisions, moreover, growing short, we left our station andmade sail for Port Royal.
On the 1st of July, judging by our reckoning that we were within a fewleagues of Jamaica, our surprise was very considerable when we strucksoundings on the Misteriosa bank, about a hundred leagues to thewestward of where we supposed ourselves to be. Captain Packenham sentforthwith for the purser, and in consequence of the report he gave wewere immediately put on half allowance, having, even at that rate,provisions to last us only for fourteen days. There we were, dead toleeward, while light winds and frequent calms occasioned our progress tobe very slow. We kept at it, however, making every inch of ground wecould. Still by the 12th, being at a considerable distance from land,we were of necessity put on yet further reduced allowance of a biscuit aday, an ounce of pork and half a pint of water. I, who just thenrequired sustenance more than most of my companions, felt the want ofsubstantial food very much. The Hinchinbrook, with which we were stillin company, was also short of provisions, and could ill spare any tosupply our wants. We now both of us felt the inconvenience of havingsailed in so great a hurry. It had been calculated that we should takea week to get to our station; that we should cruise there a couple ofweeks, and take a week to return. Things were now growing extremelyserious, though the men bore their want of food very well, but we couldnot help seeing clearly that the time might shortly come when we shouldreally have nothing whatever on
board. On the 15th, believing that wecould not possibly reach a port, we stood to the northward and kept inthe latitude of Jamaica, hoping thus to fall in with a fleet ofmerchantmen under convoy of some ships of war, which we knew were tosail from Jamaica about that time. We had look-outs stationed at eachmast-head, eagerly on the watch for any strange sail, friend or foe,from which we might have obtained relief. We should certainly haveattacked any foe, even twice our force, for the sake of obtaining foodfrom them. I believe that, so desperately we should have fought, weshould have conquered. Men are like wild beasts when hungry. There isnothing they will not dare and do. Still we were doomed todisappointment. On the 30th of July, all our bread and water beingexpended, we were reduced to an allowance of one ounce of pork for eachman daily. It did just to keep body and soul together. We werecompelled to send each day on board the Hinchinbrook for a small cask ofwater, which was all they could spare us. Even of this small allowancewe felt that we might any day be deprived, should we, as was veryprobable, be separated from our consort by a gale of wind. On the 2ndof August the faces of the purser and his clerks were longer than usual.The ounce of pork was diminished to half an ounce, and then some of themessmen found that they were getting only a quarter of an ounce, Iguessed, by the countenances of the men as they went forward, but theysaid nothing. They very well knew that the present state of thingscould not be helped. Very soon the purser came aft to the captain whowas on the quarter-deck--
"Sir, I have to report that there is not a pint of water or an ounce ofbread or biscuit, or anything eatable on board," was his veryunsatisfactory announcement.
The captain stood as cool and unmoved as if he was hearing an account ofany ordinary occurrence.
"You have some tallow candles and oil, and some raisins, and a few otherlittle things of that sort?" he remarked.
The purser said there was a small supply on board.
"Very well, they will serve to keep all hands alive for a day or two,and by that time we may hope to fall in with assistance," he answered.
He then called us all round him, and officially announced what thepurser had told him.
"I'll let the people know the state of things," he added, and directedthat they should be summoned aft.
Their pale, thin faces, and the slow way in which many of them walked,showed that the want of sufficient food was already telling on theirstrength.
"My lads," said Captain Packenham, "we put to sea in a hurry, and weexpected to be back before our provisions were expended, but we aremistaken. We are short of food, but many ships have been in a worsecase. We have done our best to get back to Jamaica, and as we cannotget there, I hope we may fall in with some vessels or other from whichwe may get a supply of provisions, either friends to give them to us, orenemies from which we may take them, and, hungry as we are, I would notfear to lay you alongside an enemy's ship, for I am very certain youwould take care to provide yourselves with a good supper at the end ofthe fight."
The crew warmly cheered this speech, though the voices of many of thepoor fellows sounded hollow and faint. They knew, however, that, badlyoff as they might be, not an officer would touch a mouthful of foodwhile they were without it. How eagerly we all looked out for a sailwhich might bring us relief! There was no necessity to hail themast-heads to ascertain that the men stationed there were doing theirduty. I certainly did not wish myself back at Ou Trou, but I neversuffered such pangs of hunger there as I was now doing. We had two orthree prophets of disaster on board, and they were continually citinginstances where the whole crew of a ship had died from starvation, orperhaps where only one or two had survived to tell the tale of theirmisfortunes. Water was our greatest want. The wind was light, almost acalm, and the sun shone forth on the calm shining sea with intense fury,the very pitch in the teams of our decks bubbled up, and if we had abeef steak we might have cooked it on the capstan-head. We put on oursword-belts, and drew them tighter and tighter round our waists. Themen used their handkerchiefs for the same object. But all would not do.Tight as we drew them we could not stop the gnawing pangs whichattacked us. Those on watch had, of course, to keep the deck. The restof the officers lay down in their cabins, but I could not remain inmine. I was soon again out of it, and climbing up aloft eagerly to scanthe horizon, in the hopes of finding a sail in sight. In vain I lookedround; not a speck was to be seen above the horizon. At length the sunwent down, and darkness came on, and there the ship lay becalmed, withher crew of starving men. Anxiously all that night passed away--thecalm continued. We had indeed practical experience of how hard hungerand thirst is to bear. We could see the Hinchinbrook at a littledistance from us, rolling her polished sides in the water, over whichthe moonbeams were now playing. She was now in as bad a condition as wewere, and could no longer render us any assistance. The sun again rose,and then the two ships lay with their sails idly flapping against themasts. A hurricane would at that time have been welcomed--anything tomove us on. There was no piping to breakfast that day. The boatswainput his whistle to his mouth, but instantly let it fall again. The men,however, were mustered at divisions, and then they were set on to do allsorts of work, to keep their minds employed if possible, although theirjaws were to be idle. At dinner-time as much of the oil and tallowcandles as could be spared was served out, but some of the men could nottouch the greasy compound, even though about a thimbleful of rum wasoffered at the same time to wash it down.
"Stay a bit," observed the surgeon, "in two or three days they will takeit eagerly enough."
It was not from hunger we suffered so much as from thirst. That wasterrible. Hour after hour passed by. No relief appeared. I beganalmost to wish that I had laid my head down alongside my poor friend andold shipmate, Delisle, in the desolate savannah near Ou Trou. Thethought was wrong--rank ingratitude to the merciful providence which hadpreserved me--but it was human, I fear. How admirably our gallantfellows behaved! Scarcely a murmur or a grumble was heard. Again thesun went down. That night was one of great suffering among many of thecrew. Some tried to keep up their own spirits and those of theirmessmates by singing and cutting jokes and telling stories. Still itwould not do. They soon broke down. The surgeons kept going about,administering stimulants to those who appeared sinking, but their storeof medicine was soon exhausted, and they could do no more. Day cameagain, but no relief was brought us. I with others climbed aloft. Nota sail was in sight. In vain--in vain we scanned the horizon, the calmcontinued, and the ships floated idly on the smooth, sullen, treacherouswater. Yet who that could by any possibility have seen those two fine,well-appointed men-of-war would have supposed that so much suffering,alarm, and dread existed on board them! Death had not yet visited us,but we could not tell when he would commence his work of destruction.Any moment he might begin to strike, and we knew that he would not ceasetill he had made an end of all. The men were piped to divisions, butscarcely an attempt was made to find employment for them. They laylistlessly along the decks, some could scarcely walk. The voices of theofficers, as they issued their orders, sounded hollow and strange. Ifelt sure that many would not last out another day. The hours stilldrew slowly on, without bringing us any relief. Captain Packenham hadretired to his cabin to conceal the pain he was suffering. The firstlieutenant and I still kept the deck, but I began to feel that I mustsoon go below, or I should fall where I stood. The greater part of thecrew were completely prostrate. Some few of the stronger men continuedevery now and then to go aloft to take a look-out round the horizon, tolearn if any sail were in sight. I turned to my brother-officer--
"What think you, Staunton, of our prospects?" said I.
"The Jamaica fleet ought to be here by this time," he answered.
"But if they have been delayed, or have already passed or steeredanother course, what are we to do?" I urged.
"Starve to death," he answered, in a hollow voice. "A day--a fewhours--will settle the point."
We neither of us spoke again for long after tha
t. The ship's head keptgoing round and round the compass. Some of the people were too weakeven to endeavour to crawl into the shade. We supported ourselves aslong as we could against the bulwarks, but at length had to sit down ona gun-carriage, our knees refusing any longer to hold us up. The daywas drawing on. I felt with Staunton that another day would settle thequestion of life or death for most of us. One by one the men had comedown from aloft, giving up all hope of seeing a sail approaching to ourrelief. Weak as they were, we could not insist on any of the poorfellows remaining up there, except as volunteers.
I was thinking over all I had gone through at different parts of mylife, and how often I had been mercifully preserved. "I'll not give ineven now," I said to myself. "I'll go aloft, and have anotherlook-out." Suddenly I felt my strength returning. I got up, and,slinging my glass over my shoulder, went up the fore rigging. Itappeared to me that I was as strong and active as ever. I gained theforetop mast-head. I unslung my glass and looked out. There, rightaway to the westward, was a long, dark line in the horizon, which couldbe caused I knew alone by a fresh breeze, and even as I looked andhailed the welcome sign of deliverance, several dots appeared above it,the loftier sails, as I well knew, of approaching ships. I rubbed myeyes. Again I looked to assure myself of the reality of what I fanciedI saw, and that I might not be deceived by some phantom of the brain.No, I was certain that I was right; there were the approaching sails.With a strong breeze they came on quickly towards us.
"Several sail in sight!" I shouted out, and my voice was scarcelyweaker than usual. I waved my hand and pointed in the direction I sawthem.
The effect was electrical. Men who seemed before almost at their lastgasp rose to their feet. The officers came hurrying on deck. CaptainPackenham himself appeared. Many mounted the rigging and joined mealoft to assure themselves that I was not deceived. There could be nodoubt about the matter. All saw the approaching ships. Royals,topgallant sails, topsails appeared one after the other above thehorizon. They might be the ships of the expected Jamaica fleet, or theymight be enemies. By that time the sea was swarming with them. In thatcase we should have to fight for what we wanted.
"No matter," was the cry of all on board, "we are ready and able as everto meet a foe."
The prospect of relief roused everyone, and though our cheeks were thinand our strength was feeble, our spirits rose and we felt that we couldfight as well as ever. Anxiously we watched the approaching strangers.As we rose their courses out of the water we felt pretty certain fromtheir appearance that some of them were men-of-war. At length we madeout their colours. They were English. They might, however, have beenhoisted to deceive us. Not to be taken by surprise we went to quarters.We now clearly ascertained that the two headmost ships were frigatesand the rest merchantmen. They soon showed the private signals. Theywere the Aeolus and Prudente frigates with the long-expected convoy forEngland. We hoisted signals of distress, and, lowering our boats, theywere alongside them by the time they hove-to near us.
The different way in which we were treated by the officers of the twofrigates was very remarkable. Captain Waldegrave of the Prudente aidedus in the most kind and compassionate way, and he was warmly seconded bytwo of his lieutenants, Campbell and Ferris, who exerted themselves tothe utmost to bring provisions on board without an instant's delay.They sent us their own dinners which had just been dressed, and also allthe cooked meat on board, so that we were able at once to satisfy thecravings of hunger. They despatched also all the delicacies they couldthink of, likely to be of use to us from their own private stores. Theofficers of the other frigate, on the contrary, treated our sufferingswith heartless indifference, and seemed much vexed at having to give upsome of their provisions towards supplying our wants, and at the delaywhich we caused them.
The masters of the merchantmen seemed to vie with each other whichshould afford us most voluntary assistance, and among others we wereespecially indebted to Captain Louis of the Augustus Caesar, a largeLondon ship, who sent us wine, tea, sugar, sheep, fowls--indeed,everything we could possibly require. Altogether from them and themen-of-war we were supplied with provisions for three weeks. Delightfulindeed was the change from actual starvation to the abundance we nowenjoyed. With right good-will did we cheer the fleet which had so amplyrelieved our distress as we parted from them and made sail once more forJamaica.
The following day, the 6th of August, we saw the Island of the GrandCaymayne. Here we anchored for a few hours and were then ordered byCaptain Parker to proceed direct for Jamaica with despatches for hisfather. One of the ship's company was destined never to reach it. Thecaptain of the maintop, a fine active fellow, fell from aloft, and,striking part of the rigging, bounded overboard. The ship was instantlyhove-to, a boat was lowered and pulled towards the spot where he fell.Some thought they saw his head floating above the waves. In vain welooked about for him. Either stunned by his fall he sank at once, or ashark, one of those ravenous monsters of the deep, had made him hisprey. Poor John Nettlethorp! There were mourning hearts in your quiethome in Devonshire when the ship returned and your fate was told thosewho had long-expected to see you once again.
On the 19th we reached Port Royal. We found everybody in the greatestexcitement making preparations to receive Count D'Estaign, who, with apowerful fleet and army, was hourly expected to make an attack on theisland. None of England's colonies can boast of more loyal and devotedinhabitants than does Jamaica, as they have given abundant proof of onnumberless occasions.
"Yes, gentlemen of England, who stay at home at ease, Ah! little do you think upon the dangers of the seas."
Little also, say I, do you dream of all the racketing and knocking aboutyour naval defenders have to go through in time of war that you may stayat home at ease!
My journal will give you some idea of what seamen have to endure. Inharbour one day, at sea for weeks, then to encounter storms andship-wrecks, battles and wounds, famine and sickness, extremes of heatand cold, pain and suffering, defeat sometimes and imprisonment, withthe many ills which make the heart sick, and when at length we returninto port, instead of obtaining rest we have to refit ship, take instores and provisions, and seldom enjoy a moment of leisure till we areonce more ready for sea. I was very far, even in the days of which Ispeak, of complaining of this. I chose my profession. I loved it. Idelighted in action, and all I wish to impress on my readers is thenature and duties of a sailor's life. Still, had I again to begin myexistence in this sublunary world and once more to choose my profession,above all others I would select that of an officer in the glorious navyof old England.
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