CHAPTER XXX.
The Port Watch mingled about amongst the people and told them of all thewonderful things that had happened, and of the many more wonderfulthings that would be sure to happen if they did not at once combinetogether and get their master, the old Sea King, to change the watches.Of course the doings of the Port Watch could not be concealed from theStarboard Watch, who went about contradicting, and swearing there wasnot a word of truth in the whole thing.
The cook took under his especial care the Buccaneer's Upper Chamber, andit is tolerably certain that happiness would not come to Pepper on hisdeath-bed, unless that lumber room with all its antiquated furniture wascleared out of the old ship, and replaced by some assemblage of men asclever as what the cook was himself; but to get the modest number ofonly twelve such men, in a whole kingdom, would be almost impossible,and this is providential.
The butcher was not idle. He did not speak much; but when he did, it wasto the purpose, and no one could say more cutting things than couldBilly Cheeks. He also thought a good deal; he was driven to thisextremity because most people, and most things, were beneath his notice.The carpenter took under his care the family of Hodge; the members ofwhich were generally accredited with a full share of stupidity andignorance; but it is wonderful how the aspect of things changes when youwant to get anything out of people. Then we find virtues that were neverseen before, and that the individuals themselves never even dreamt of.Then in the distance was the large family of Sikes. No one as yet hadfound much virtue in them; but they were ready for anything that mightturn up, outside of it.
"Honest Hodge," cried the carpenter from the top of a barrel, "forgenerations you have been oppressed."
"'Ave I now?" exclaimed Hodge, scratching his honest head. "I thoughtsummut was wrong."
The boy Demos who had been playing pitch and toss with the cook, leftthe game to attend to what looked to him more like business.
"For generations," cried the carpenter, "you have been ignored anddefrauded by one whose rights are arbitrary, and almost absolute, forthey extend from the heavens above, to the earth beneath, and to thewaters under the earth." Demos became a most attentive listener and heliked the tack the carpenter was on.
Chips continued, "The minerals are his. The timber is his, and so arethe birds of the air, and the fish that swim in the streams, and Isuppose that the greater part of all that the industry and toil of manhas added to the original value of that property, is now practicallysubject to the land owner's sole consideration and good. Now I want tosee you, honest Hodge, replaced upon the old squire's land, at a faircompensation, of course."
Upon hearing this Demos winked at Hodge, but the latter being very slowof intellect, and moreover honest, did not take the wink in.
"But," said Hodge, "if the squire won't part, maister; what be we to dothen?"
"If the squire will not do his duty," replied the carpenter, "he must bemade to."
"And what be we to get out of it?" Hodge asked.
"The least you can expect, will be three acres and a cow," was thecarpenter's reply; or the reply of a friend of his.
Here one of the Sike's family pushed his way to the front, andaddressing himself to the carpenter, said, "Master, what are we to getout of this crib you're agoing to crack?"
The question being an extremely awkward one to answer, the carpenterpretended not to hear it. This is always a safe way out of such adifficulty if the questioner be not persevering.
The Port Watch struck a more popular, and at the same time, a morehonest chord. "Look!" they cried, "at our market places! They are fullof the cheap produce of our neighbours, who do a thriving business whileour own people are starving. They bring their goods here without let orhindrance; but they shut their own doors against us, or make us paytoll. Look at the river there! that used to be crowded with our owncraft. Now you see the flag of every nation floating upon its bosom,while our own ships are rotting for the want of something to do. Foreigncompetition is ousting you from your markets as the marten ousts thesquirrel from her nest. If you want a coat, or a pair of trousers made,in comes your foreign tailor who will sew and stitch for sixteen hours aday for what is barely sufficient to keep body and soul together. Ifyou, my lads, come down, he will come down lower."
At this speech loud cries of indignation rose up from a multitude oflisteners, and the spokesman of a crowd of sailors, jumping up on a tarbarrel, exclaimed, "Damme, my mates! (It is a bad habit, but sailorswill swear.) The gentlemen of the Port Watch says true. We are beingweathered by these lubberly furriners, who visit our shores in shoalslike mackerel; and thus take all the wind out of our sails. Damme,mates! they are that mean that a well worn quid won't escape them, canwe work against such varmint as these?"
"No!" came from a thousand hoarse throats.
"Is it right, my hearties," continued the speaker, "that the old manshould treat us like this?"
"It ain't right," came from all sides.
"Where would our master be now without us?" cried the sailor, "wherewill he be if he allows these furrin chaps to put us down below hatches?Who then will he have to trim and shorten his sails when the stormywinds do blow? Will these fellows club-haul him off a lee-shore in theteeth of a gale of difficulties; or fight for him his battles? Not they,I'll swear."
The old sailor's yarn met with very great approval, and as is the customwith all sailors they freely damned their own eyes, and hitched uptheir trousers and swore that things were not as they ought to be; butthe cheap-Jacks still went about amongst them and sold their goods, andpeople bought. Up too spoke many others, and there was scarcely a man tobe found, or woman either, that was contented.
There was a movement amongst the crowd and the old cox'sn came forward,and getting up on the place vacated by the sailor, cried out: "Heave to,my hearties, whilst you hear to a brother sailor spin you a yarn." Therewas a feeling now pretty prevalent that they were in for a good thing."No doubt," he said, "many of you here know me by name."
"Aye, aye, Jack, we know you," came from many; "you are as long-windedas a sky pilot, or as old Bill Dogvane, and any one knows he has windenough to fill the sails of a line o' battleship."
The old cox'sn, nothing daunted, continued: "Belay talking, my lads. Nodoubt many of you know me by name, but many of you have no otheracquaintance with me, more is the pity say I. Long-winded I may be; butI don't go about emptying myself like a wind-bag; but let that fly stickto the wall. Many a voyage I have taken with my old master, and when onthe Spanish main together, looking out for the Don, we learnt a thing ortwo. The Spaniards say, my lads, that it is always a good, and safething, to search well yourself when anything goes wrong with you, andthat is what old Jack Commonsense tells you now. You want our master todo this, and to do that, to protect this trade and that; but damme,shipmates, legislation never yet stopped a leak in a cask, nor made astale egg into a fresh one. My mates! you are all of you heading in thewrong direction. There are breakers ahead, so put your helm down and goabout as soon as you can. Don't you listen to those wiseacres who aregoing to put everybody and everything right. The cook, he is a cleverlad, and can spin a cheerful yarn, but let him stick to his trade, andthe same I say to the carpenter and the butcher. You can never put aninjury right by committing a wrong, and if the carpenter or anyone elsewants to put his hand into the squire's pocket, he is only inviting athief into his own house. Let the cook then keep to his galley and caterfor the general public. His dishes are spicy, and then when he treats usto a tune in his leisure hours upon his barrel organ, well, so much thebetter, for there is no harm done."
The crowd began to show signs of impatience, and old Jack was madepainfully aware that he was not a popular orator, for the lovers offreedom hooted him; but he was not easily put down. "Here, lads!" hecried, "is where my Spanish proverb comes in. Search well yourselves,and see if any fault lies at home. It is no use anchoring yourselves byyour starns, and crying out that trade is going, and that thecheap-Jacks are taking the wind out of your sails.
You ain't obliged tobuy from them, and who brought them over, pray? If trade is gone fromamongst you; it is yourselves that you have to blame. In years gone byyou combined against your employers; I don't say you were at all timeswrong, but evil counsel sat at your boards, and with your bushel of goodcame a sackful of bad, you drove your trade out of doors and now you cryout: 'Help us or we starve!' If your platter and your pewter pot beempty, you have yourselves to thank. No song, no supper, is a good oldsaying. If you, my hearties, won't work your fair time for your fairwage, there are others who will. When you combined against capital,mess-mates, you frightened, if you did not kill, the goose that waslaying your golden eggs. She is a timid bird and will only lay where shegets peace and quiet. Having done all this, you are now crying out to beprotected, and think that all will be well again if this thing and thatthing are only legislated for; but legislation, my lads, as I've saidbefore, never yet bolstered up either a rotten state or a decayingtrade. You may stop for a time the footstep of the one or the other, butthe fall will surely come again unless you tap the part affected andstop the hole with good, sound, solid material. Look at you servants!Why, you are always on the move; some of you even are idle and insolent.Do you not see the gaunt form of Poverty in front of you? Away then willgo your airs and graces, your flaunting ribbons and your finery Bewarehow you listen to the teaching of Demos. He is a dangerous companion andgenerally turns and rends those who have housed and fed him. A bridlefor the mouth of an ass, and a rod for the back of a spoilt child."
There was here some good-natured bandying of words, and old Jack wasrecommended to try the bridle himself, just to see, as they said, how itfelt and how it fitted. Jack being a good-tempered fellow, continued hisharangue: "My advice, my hearties, to you is this. Turn to and livethrifty lives. Take your hands out of your pockets. Do away with thequart pot and you will increase the amount of stuff upon your platter.If you cannot do away with the pewter altogether--and I am noteetotaller myself--then reduce its size to at least a half. By a strictregard to economy, and by practising self-denial and by cultivating yourunderstanding in a proper direction, try to turn out a better and acheaper article than your neighbours and so beat them on their ownground. Do this, my hearties, and you will win back trade and regainyour place in the markets of the world."
The old coxswain had been listened to for some time with a respectfulattention; but the doctrine he preached was not at all in keeping withthe general sentiments of the disaffected, who were stirred up andincited to violence by Demos and his disciples, and very shortly therewas a disturbance of a serious nature. It was commenced by Demos, whohaving gathered a crowd of followers round him, began to speak to themin language peculiarly his own. The consequence of this was that someone from amongst the crowd, aimed a brickbat, with too true an aim, atthe Buccaneer's old coxswain, who amidst the delighted yells of the mobwas knocked over. The excitement now was intense, for though old Jackwas not killed, he was severely bruised, and shaken, and taken very muchby surprise. Those who have never heard the angry howl of an infuriatedmob of Buccaneers can have no conception of the savageness of its sound.The war whoop of the wildest Indians is soft compared to it, and theroar of hungry wild beasts is less terrifying. Demos with what he called"the people" now rushed to an open space, beautifully situated, butcalled the Place of Discord, where four grim lions watch night and day,but they never interfere, and nobody minds them. Here Demos haranguedthe multitude; told them they were being starved and trodden under foot,by the drones of the island. His language was violent in the extreme. Hecalled upon them to break their chain of slavery and to elect as theirruler King Mob. This was but natural, so up on their shoulders theyhoisted the bloody tyrant and cried out: "Havoc and robbery; now shallthe gilded thieves disgorge their ill-gotten wealth." Away they made forthe rich quarters of the Buccaneer's fair city, intent upon plunder ifnot murder; but they were met by the guardians of the peace, behind whomcame the old coxswain with a chosen band, cutlass in hand. He calledupon his men to rally round him. Now commenced a battle between the twofactions. The partisans of King Mob nerved on and excited by the hope ofplunder fell upon the champions of law and order. Heads were broken andthe combatants fell struggling to the ground, and the crowd swayedbackwards and forwards in fierce strife. At first the old coxswain andhis side seemed to be getting the worst of it, but he fought like averitable demon, laying about him in a fashion well worthy of theBuccaneer's best fighting days.
What seemed most strange was, that the watchword was the same on bothsides, namely Liberty. Step by step, the old Coxswain was beaten backthrough a narrow gorge which opened on to a small square in the centreof which was a statue representing Victory in her idle hours, playing atquoits. This open space was flanked on one side by a museum of Naval andMilitary antiquities, glorious relics of a glorious past. On the otherside of the square and away from the narrow gorge was another museum,which was filled with a most valuable collection of ancient fossils, andother scientific remains. Back into this open space the old coxswain andhis men were forced. Inch by inch they disputed the narrow way. Old Jackevery now and again let fly a quaint oath or two; but as he afterwardssaid, the occasion justified the deed. In a voice of thunder he keptcheering his men on, crying out, "Rally, men! Rally!" Just as King Mobwas pushing old Jack extremely hard, assistance came from an unexpectedquarter.
The uncrowned queen had shut herself up indoors; but Madam Liberty uponwhom both sides had called, came now to the front and allied herselfwith the coxswain. Knowing full well that if she allowed the ugly facedmonarch to gain the day, she herself would, in all probability, be boundhand and foot, and cast into prison, with a gag in her mouth, she threwall her weight on the side of the coxswain, and brought up just in timeher numerous followers to the rescue. Demos when he saw his motheragainst him, made use of most disrespectful language, calling her allkinds of bad names, which will not bear repeating. Just as Libertyreinforced the coxswain in front, the Beggar Woman who was now mountedon horseback, attacked King Mob with a strong force on his flank. Thusassailed, and without either drill or discipline the would-be monarchwavered, then turned and fled through the Place of Discord. The retreatwas disastrous, and his followers were driven back well within their ownquarters. As they went they did what damage they could; smashed windowsand laid their hands upon everything of value that came in their way.
Thus was Demos and his father for the time at least defeated, and theold coxswain and his allies were hailed as the saviours of the people.In olden days, no doubt, he would have been accorded by universalacclamation a triumph, when he would have made a public entry into theBuccaneer's great city, mounted on a magnificent horse richlycaparisoned; with his two lieutenants, Liberty and Patriotism, ridingone on either side of him. Such things, however, have long ceased to be,and now we can only read of them in the pages of history.
The Buccaneer's people celebrated the victory in a manner more inkeeping with their character and disposition. When the noise and turmoilof the battle were over and the fighting men had left off swearing; whentheir passions had cooled down a little, the bells upon the old ChurchHulk rang out a summons to prayers. The joyful sound was taken up byevery belfry on shore, and soon the clang of the iron tongues vibratedall over the island. The many idlers took their last sip at the cup ofpleasure. The churches filled; the people prayed, the priests allpreached and the great Hat was sent round. That was never forgotten, nomatter what was going on. Many consciences were eased and all werestrengthened and made more ready for the wear and tear of everyday life;while the cheap-Jacks took advantage of the pious moments of theBuccaneer's people to push their trade.
It is not to be supposed that the Buccaneer's Press gang were idle onsuch an occasion. But to their credit it must be said that they all,with about one exception, forgot their little differences and took theside of law and order against the followers of King Mob.
But now the big mouthed cannon belched forth the joyful tidings of theBuccaneer's return. Loud cries of welcome
greeted his ears as he steppedashore. "Hail! all hail! to the old sea king; to the mighty trader! Hailto the Defender of the Faith, the ruler of the sea; to him on whose vastdominions the sun never sets! Hail! all hail," so cried the people.
The Life of a Celebrated Buccaneer Page 30
