Kidnapping in the Pacific; Or, The Adventures of Boas Ringdon
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would allow us to alter our course without being perceived.
"In a short time, as soon as we saw that the boat was hoisted up,another negro was hove overboard. He was a strong swimmer, and struckout boldly. He, too, was seen on board the man-of-war, and by anothercruiser of the deep also, a huge shark. The monster made towards him,he swam bravely on for his life, but it was of no avail. Before long hedisappeared, and I fancied I could hear the shriek he uttered, even atthe distance he already was from us.
"We should have sacrificed half our cargo rather than be taken as longas there appeared any probability of the man-of-war heaving-to to pickup the unfortunate wretches, but the breeze falling light, we had anadvantage over the heavier vessel, and darkness coming on, we at lengthlost sight of her. We immediately altered our course, knowing that shewould do her best to fall in with us in the morning. We escaped her,however, although we lost fifty or sixty blacks on the passage; that wasa matter of no consequence, considering that we landed the greaterportion and made a large profit by the venture. Our success was sosatisfactory that it was not long before we were again back on thecoast, and as our craft was a remarkably fast one we managed again toescape the British cruisers.
"We made altogether eight or ten trips, now and then we narrowly escapedcapture, but we were too clever for our enemy, and they were not up toour various dodges.
"I had by this time become well accustomed to the work, and, though atfirst it had gone somewhat against me to see the blacks dying by scoresduring the middle passage, yet now I saw them hove overboard with aslittle compunction as if they had been so many sheep.
"We had a precious rough crew, about as villainous a set of cut-throatsas well could be collected together. It does not do for tender-heartedfellows to sail aboard a slaver.
"I had meantime grown into a big stout lad, and could hold my ownagainst any of them.
"How it was I don't know, but I should not have liked at that time tohave done the things that some of them did. We had a black cook aboard,whether or not sitting before a hot fire had softened his heart, Icannot tell, but he was not as bad as the rest; he had consequently ahard life of it amongst them. One day he was detected by the matecarrying a mess below to some of the sick blacks, they were people ofhis own tribe, and I suspect relations. The mate swore that he intendedto raise a mutiny among them, it may be to let them loose to murder usall. Poor Sambo declared that he had no thoughts of doing anything ofthe sort, but that the people were ill, and that he hoped what he gavethem would do them good and save their lives. He was a sensible fellow,and must have known that from where we were, about mid-channel, theycould never have found their way back again to the coast of Africa, andthat if they had murdered the crew they themselves must also haveperished. The captain and mate would not hear his excuses, and beganbelabouring him with thick cudgels till they had nearly knocked thebreath out of his body. I felt very indignant, for black though he wasI had a liking for the man, and determined to speak out.
"`I tell you what, Ringdon, if you don't belay your jaw-tackles you willbe treated in the same way!' exclaimed the captain, turning on me.
"`Sambo had no bad intentions, I will answer for that,' I cried out.`If any of us were sick and dying we should expect one of ourcountrymen, if he had the means, to help us, and I don't see that Sambointended to do more than that.' Sambo gave me a glance, as much as tosay if I have the chance I'll render you a service some day; and,bobbing his head, as the mate made another blow at him, escaped forward.The two then turned on me, and I thought were going to try theircudgels on my head. I stood up boldly and faced them.
"`Now,' I asked, `what have you got to say to me?'
"`Look out for squalls, Master Boas, that's all,' growled the mate.
"`You will some day wish that you had kept your opinions to yourself,'said the captain, but neither he nor the mate ventured to strike me. Iturned round and walked forward, leaving the two talking together. Iwas sure by the glances they cast at me that they meant mischief, so Idetermined to be on my guard.
"Several days passed away, and things went on much as usual. Sambo gotmany a kick and cuff from the captain and mate when he could not helpcoming near them, but he kept out of their way as much as he couldwithin the caboose, and cooked our meals without uttering a complaint.
"I had heard say that the pitcher which often goes to the well getsbroken at last, and I could not help fancying, notwithstanding our longrun of success, that such would be the fate of the slaver.
"Perhaps the owners thought the same, for we had received orders toproceed round the Cape to the East Coast of Africa, where the Portugueseslave dealers had agreed to supply us with a cargo--that coast at thetime being less watched by the English cruisers.
"We were some way off the Cape, on our passage eastward, when, while itwas blowing hard and a pretty heavy sea was running, I fell from aloft.I had been a good swimmer from my boyhood, and when I came to thesurface I struck out for my life, expecting to see the schooner heave toand lower a boat to pick me up. Instead of her doing so, what was myhorror and dismay to observe that she was standing away from me. Icaught sight of the captain and mate on the poop, and by the looks theycast at me I felt sure that they intended to leave me to my fate. Ishouted loudly to them, asking if they were going to allow afellow-creature to perish. Again and again I cried out, doing my utmostto keep my head above the foaming seas.
"A number of huge albatrosses had been following the vessel, sweepinground and round her, now soaring upwards, now plunging down into thewaters to pick up anything which had fallen overboard. You may fancy mydismay when I found that instead of chasing the vessel as before, theywere gathering round my head. Every moment I expected to see themdarting down towards me, and I knew that a blow from one of their sharpbeaks would have easily pierced my skull and struck me lifeless in amoment. Nearer and nearer they drew. I could distinguish their keeneyes watching me, and had I remained quiet for a moment I felt convincedthat they would have dashed at me. I continued, therefore, striking outwith my feet and beating the water with my hands, which I lifted up asoften as they came near to keep them at bay. Still I knew full wellthat the struggle must soon cease, for I could not possibly much longerexert myself as I was then doing. I had had very little enjoyment inlife, but yet I had no wish to go out of it; my hopes of escape,however, were small indeed; the only chance I could see was that thecrew, indignant that one of their number should be left to perish, wouldinsist on the captain heaving-to, and would lower a boat to come to myrescue.
"Further and further the vessel sailed away from me. I was beginning atlast to think that I should be left to perish, when a hail reached myears, and I saw about midway between myself and the vessel, a black headrising above the foaming seas. I shouted in return, and redoubled myefforts to keep the albatrosses at a distance, while I struck out tomeet my friend, whom I recognised as Sambo the black cook. I found thathe was towing after him a spar, which, though it had impeded hisprogress, would support us both. I was soon up to him.
"`Neber fear, Boas, my son!' he cried out as he assisted me on the spar,`we better here dan in slave ship.' I could not see that exactly,though I thanked him for risking his life to save mine. `Risk not sogreat as you tink,' he answered, `I make out big ship, she steering disway when I was aloft, and she soon come and pick us up.'
"I hoped that he was right, but still it was very likely that we shouldnot be seen; if so he would lose his life as I should mine. I told himI was very sorry that he should do that.
"`Neber fear, Boas,' he answered. `Nothing bery sweet in life for me.You saved my head from de blows of the captain and mate, I save yourlife or die wid you.'
"We could not talk much however. On his way he had picked up a coupleof pieces of wood, and armed with these we were able to drive thealbatrosses off. They are cowardly birds, and when they found that wewere living men and not pieces of offal, they left us alone and flewafter the schooner.
"The time went slowly
by, but at last I could distinguish the sail of aship rising above the horizon. She was standing towards us; of that Ifelt certain, so did Sambo. This enabled us to keep up our spirits. Wewatched her narrowly, her topsails, then her courses appeared, at lengthher hull itself came in sight, and we made out that she was a frigate,probably English. I was inclined to curse my fate, for one of thethings I dreaded most was having to serve on board a man-of-war. Onceor twice I felt almost inclined to let go, but Sambo laughed at myfears.
"`Can't be worse off dan on board slaver, and you better live, and denwhen we have a chance we may run from de ship.'
"His arguments prevailed, and once when it seemed to me she was alteringher course, I began to fear that after all we might not be seen.However, as it was, she stood directly for us, and passed within a halfa cable's