Mr. Midshipman Easy

by Frederick Marryat

  CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

  IN WHICH OUR HERO BECOMES EXCESSIVELY UNWELL, AND AGREES TO GO THROUGH ACOURSE OF MEDICINE.

  The hammocks were not piped down that night: some were takenindiscriminately for the wounded, but the rest remained in the nettings,for all hands were busy preparing jury-masts and jury-rigging, and MrPottyfar was so well employed that, for twelve hours, his hands were notin his pockets. It was indeed a dreadful night: the waves weremountains high, and chased the frigate in their fury, cresting,breaking, and roaring at her taffrail; but she flew before them with thewings of the wind; four men at the helm assisted by others at therelieving tackles below. Jack, having been thanked on and washed offthe quarter-deck, thought that he had done quite enough; he was as deepas he could swim before he had satisfied all the scruples of thechaplain, and stowing himself away on one of the lockers of themidshipmen's berth, was soon fast asleep, notwithstanding that thefrigate rolled gunwale under. Gascoigne had done much better; he hadtaken down a hammock, as he said, for a poor wounded man, hung it up,and turned in himself. The consequence was, that the next morning thesurgeon, who saw him lying in the hammock, had put him down in thereport; but as Gascoigne had got up as well as ever, he laughed, andscratched his name out of the list of wounded.

  Before morning, the ship had been pumped out dry, and all below made assecure and safe as circumstances would permit; but the gale stillcontinued its violence, and there was anything but comfort on board.

  "I say, Martin, you ought to be thrown overboard," said Gascoigne; "allthis comes from your croaking you're a Mother Carey's chicken."

  "I wish I had been any one's chicken," replied Martin; "but the devil athing to nestle under have I had since I can well remember."

  "What a bore to have no galley fire lighted," said one of theyoungsters, "no tea, and not allowed any grog."

  "The gale will last three days," replied Martin, "and by that time weshall not be far from the admiral; it won't blow home there."

  "Well, then, we shall be ordered in directly, and I shall go on shoreto-morrow," replied Easy.

  "Yes, if you're ill," replied Gascoigne.

  "Never fear, I shall be sick enough: we shall be there at least sixweeks, and then we'll forget all this."

  "Yes," replied Martin, "we may forget it, but will the poor fellowswhose limbs are shrivelled forget it? and will poor Miles, theboatswain, who is blind for ever?"

  "Very true, Martin, we are thinking about ourselves, not thankful forour escape, and not feeling for others," replied Gascoigne.

  "Give us your hand, Ned," said Jack Easy. "And, Martin, we ought tothank you for telling us the truth--we are a selfish set of fellows."

  "Still we took our share with the others," replied one of themidshipmen.

  "That's more reason for us to be grateful and to pity them," repliedJack; "suppose you had lost your arm or your eyesight--we should havepitied you; so now pity others."

  "Well, so I do, now I think of it."

  "Think oftener, youngster," observed Martin, going on deck.

  What a change from the morning of the day before!--but twenty-four hourshad passed away, and the sea had been smooth, the frigate dashed throughthe blue water, proud in all her canvas, graceful as a swan. Sincethat, there had been fire, tempest, lightning, disaster, danger, anddeath; her masts were tossed about on the snowy waves hundreds of milesaway from her--and she, a wreck, was rolling heavily, groaning andcomplaining in every timber as she urged her impetuous race with thefurious-running sea.

  How wrong are those on shore who assert that sailors are notreligious!--how is it possible, supposing them to be possessed offeeling, to be otherwise? On shore, where you have nothing but thechange of seasons, each in his own peculiar beauty--nothing but theblessings of the earth, its fruit, its flowers--nothing but the bounty,the comforts, the luxuries which have been invented, where you can risein the morning in peace, and lay down your head at night in security--God may be neglected and forgotten for a long time; but at sea, wheneach gale is a warning, each disaster acts as a check, each escape as ahomily upon the forbearance of Providence, that man must be indeedbrutalised who does not feel that God is there. On shore we seldom viewHim but in all His beauty and kindness; but at sea we are as oftenreminded how terrible He is in His wrath. Can it be supposed that theoccurrences of the last twenty-four hours were lost upon the mind of anyone man in that ship? No, no. In their courage and activity they mightappear reckless, but in their hearts they acknowledged and bowed untotheir God.

  Before the day was over a jury-foremast had been got up, and sail havingbeen put upon it, the ship was steered with greater ease and safety--themain brace had been spliced to cheer up the exhausted crew, and thehammocks were piped down.

  As Gascoigne had observed, some of the men were not very much pleased tofind that they were minus their blankets, but Captain Wilson orderedtheir losses to be supplied by the purser and expended by the master;this quite altered the case, as they obtained new blankets in most casesfor old ones; but still it was impossible to light the galley fire, andthe men sat on their chests and nibbled biscuit. By twelve o'clock thatnight the gale broke, and more sail was necessarily put on the scuddingvessel, for the sea still ran fast and mountains high. At daylight thesun burst out and shone brightly on them, the sea went gradually down,the fire was lighted, and Mr Pottyfar, whose hands were again in hispockets, at twelve o'clock gave the welcome order to pipe to dinner. Assoon as the men had eaten their dinner, the frigate was once morebrought to the wind, her jury-mast forward improved upon, and more sailmade upon it. The next morning there was nothing of the gale leftexcept the dire effects which it had produced, the black and riven stumpof the foremost still holding up a terrific warning of the power andfury of the elements.

  Three days more, and the _Aurora_ joined the Toulon fleet. When she wasfirst seen it was imagined by those on board of the other ships that shehad been in action; but they soon learned that the conflict had beenagainst more direful weapons than any yet invented by mortal hands.Captain Wilson waited upon the admiral, and of course received immediateorders to repair to port and refit. In a few hours the _Aurora_ hadshaped her course for Malta, and by sunset the Toulon fleet were nolonger in sight.

  "By de holy poker, Massa Easy, but that terrible sort of gale the otherday anyhow--I tink one time we all go to Davy Joney's lacker."

  "Very true, Mesty; I hope never to meet with such another."

  "Den, Massa Easy, why you go to sea? When man ab no money, noting toeat, den he go to sea, but everybody say you ab plenty money--why youcome to sea?"

  "I'm sure I don't know," replied Jack thoughtfully; "I came to sea onaccount of equality and the rights of man."

  "Eh, Massa Easy, you come to wrong place anyhow; now I tink a good deallately, and by all de power, I tink equality all stuff."

  "All stuff, Mesty, why? you used to think otherwise."

  "Yes, Massa Easy, but den I boil de kettle for all young gentleman. Nowdat I ship's corporal and hab cane, I tink so no longer."

  Jack made no reply, but he thought the more. The reader must haveperceived that Jack's notions of equality were rapidly disappearing; hedefended them more from habit, and perhaps a wilfulness which would notallow him to acknowledge himself wrong; to which may be added his loveof argument. Already he had accustomed himself to obedience to hissuperiors, and, notwithstanding his arguments, he would admit of noresistance from those below him; not that it was hardly ever attempted,for Jack was anything but a tyrant, and was much beloved by all in theship. Every day brought its lesson, and Captain Wilson was nowsatisfied that Jack had been almost cured of the effects of his father'sridiculous philosophy.

  After a few minutes, Mesty tapped his cane on the funnel, andrecommenced.

  "Then why you stay at sea, Massa Easy?"

  "I don't know, Mesty; I don't dislike it."

  "But, Massa Easy, why you stay in midshipman berth--eat hard biscuit,salt pig, salt horse, when you can go
shore, and live like gentleman?Dat very foolish! Why not be your own master? By all power! suppose Ihad money, catch me board ship. Little sea very good, Massa Easy--openone eyes; but tink of the lightning t'other night: poor massa boatswain,he shut um eyes for ebber!"

  "Very true, Mesty."

  "Me hope you tink of this, sar, and when you go on shore, you take Mestywid you: he sarve you well, Massa Easy, long as he live, by de holy St.Patrick. And den, Massa Easy, you marry wife--hab pickaninny--lib likegentleman. You tink of this, Massa Easy."

  The mention of the word marriage turned the thoughts of our hero to hisAgnes, and he made no reply. Mesty walked away, leaving our hero indeep thought.

  This conversation had more effect upon Jack than would have beenimagined, and he very often found he was putting to himself the questionof Mesty--"Why do you stay at sea?" He had not entered the service withany particular view, except to find equality; and he could not butacknowledge to himself that, as Mesty observed, he had come to the wrongplace. He had never even thought of staying to serve his time, nor hadhe looked forward to promotion, and one day commanding a ship. He hadonly cared for the present, without indulging in a future anticipationof any reward, except in a union with Agnes. Mesty's observationsoccasioned Jack to reflect upon the future for the first time in hislife; and he was always perplexed when he put the question of Mesty, andtried to answer to himself as to what were his intentions in remainingin the service.

  Nevertheless, Jack did his duty very much to the satisfaction of MrPottyfar; and after a tedious passage, from baffling and light winds,the _Aurora_ arrived at Malta. Our hero had had some conversation withhis friend Gascoigne, in which he canvassed his future plans; all ofwhich, however, ended in one settled point, which was that he was tomarry Agnes. As for the rest, Gascoigne was of opinion that Jack oughtto follow up the service, and become a captain, but there was plenty oftime to think about that, as he observed, now all they had to considerwas how to get on shore; for the refitting of the ship was an excuse fordetaining them on board, which they knew Mr Pottyfar would availhimself of. Jack dined in the gun-room on the day of their arrival, andhe resolved that he would ask that very evening. Captain Wilson wasalready on shore at the Governor's. Now, there had been a littledifference of opinion between Mr Pottyfar and Mr Hawkins, thechaplain, on a point of seamanship; and most of the officers sided withthe chaplain, who, as we have before observed, was a first-rate seaman.It had ended in high words, for Mr Hawkins had forgotten himself so faras to tell the first lieutenant that he had a great deal to learn, nothaving even got over the midshipman's trick of keeping his hands in hispockets; and Mr Pottyfar had replied that it was very well for him aschaplain to insult others, knowing that his cassock protected him. Thiswas a bitter reply to Mr Hawkins, who at the very time that theinsinuation made his blood boil, was also reminded that his professionforbade a retort: he rushed into his cabin, poor fellow, having no othermethod left, vented his indignation in tears, and then consoled himselfby degrees with prayer. In the meantime, Mr Pottyfar had gone on deck,wroth with Hawkins and his messmates, as well as displeased withhimself. He was, indeed, in a humour to be pleased with nobody, and ina most unfortunate humour to be asked leave by a midshipman.Nevertheless, Jack politely took off his hat, and requested leave to goon shore and see his friend the Governor. Upon which Mr Pottyfarturned round to him, with his feet spread wide open, and thrusting hishands to the very bottom of his pockets, as if in determination, said,"Mr Easy, you know the state of the ship; we have everything to do--newmasts, new rigging, everything almost to refit--and yet you ask to go onshore! Now, sir, you may take this answer for yourself and all theother midshipmen in the ship, that not one soul of you puts his foot onshore until we are all a-taunto."

  "Allow me to observe, sir," said our hero, "that it is very true thatall our services may be required when the duty commences, but this beingSaturday night, and to-morrow Sunday, the frigate will not be even movedtill Monday morning; and as the work cannot begin before that, I trustyou will permit leave until that time."

  "My opinion is different, sir," replied the first lieutenant.

  "Perhaps, sir, you will allow me to argue the point," replied Jack.

  "No, sir, I never allow argument; walk over to the other side of thedeck, if you please."

  "Oh, certainly, sir," said Jack, "if you wish it."

  Jack's first idea was to go on shore without leave, but from this he waspersuaded by Gascoigne, who told him that it would displease CaptainWilson, and that old Tom, the Governor, would not receive him. Jackagreed to this, and then, after a flourish about the rights of man,tyranny, oppression, and so forth, he walked forward to the forecastle,where he found his friend Mesty, who had heard all that had passed, andwho insidiously said to him in a low tone:

  "Why you stay at sea, Massa Easy?"

  "Why, indeed," thought Jack, boiling with indignation, "to be cooped uphere at the will of another? I am a fool--Mesty is right--I'll ask formy discharge to-morrow." Jack went down below and told Gascoigne whathe had determined to do.

  "You'll do no such thing, Jack," replied Gascoigne "depend upon it,you'll have plenty of leave in a day or two. Pottyfar was in a pet withthe chaplain, who was too much for him. Captain Wilson will be on boardby nine o'clock."

  Nevertheless, Jack walked his first watch in the _magnificents_, as allmiddies do when they cannot go on shore, and turned in at twelveo'clock, with the resolution of sticking to his purpose, and quittinghis Majesty's service; in fact, of presenting his Majesty with hisbetween two and three years' time, served as midshipman, all free,gratis, and for nothing, except his provisions and his pay, which somecaptains are bold enough to assert that they not only are not worth, butnot even the salt that accompanies it; forgetting that they were oncemidshipmen themselves, and at the period were, of course, about the samevalue.

  The next morning Captain Wilson came off; the ship's company weremustered, the service read by Mr Hawkins, and Jack, as soon as all theofficial duties were over, was about to go up to the captain, when thecaptain said to him:

  "Mr Easy, the Governor desired me to bring you on shore to dine withhim, and he has a bed at your service."

  Jack touched his hat, and ran down below, to make his few preparations.

  By the time that Mesty, who had taken charge of his chest, etcetera, hadput his necessaries in the boat, Jack had almost made up his mind thathis Majesty should not be deprived yet awhile of so valuable an officer.Jack returned on deck, and found that the captain was not yet ready; hewent up to Mr Pottyfar, and told him that the captain had ordered himto go on shore with him; and Mr Pottyfar, who had quite got over hisspleen, said:

  "Very well, Mr Easy--I wish you a great deal of pleasure."

  "This is very different from yesterday," thought Jack; "suppose I trythe medicine?"

  "I am not very well, Mr Pottyfar, and those pills of the doctor's don'tagree with me--I always am ill if I am long without air and exercise."

  "Very true," said the first lieutenant, "people require air andexercise. I've no opinion of the doctor's remedies; the only thing thatis worth a farthing is the universal medicine."

  "I should so long to try it, sir," replied Jack; "I read the book oneday, and it said that if you took it daily for a fortnight or threeweeks, and with plenty of air and exercise, it would do wonders."

  "And it's very true," replied Mr Pottyfar, "and if you'd like to try ityou shall--I have plenty--shall I give you a dose now?"

  "If you please, sir," replied Jack; "and tell me how often I am to takeit, for my head aches all day."

  Mr Pottyfar took Jack down, and putting into his hand three or fourbottles of the preparation, told him that he was to take thirty drops atnight, when he went to bed, not to drink more than two glasses of wine,and to avoid the heat of the sun.

  "But, sir," replied Jack, who had put the bottles in his pocket, "I amafraid that I cannot take it for long; for as the ship is ready forfitting, I shall be exposed
to the sun all day."

  "Yes, if you are wanted, Mr Easy; but we have plenty here without you;and when you are unwell you cannot be expected to work. Take care ofyour health; and I trust, indeed I am sure, that you will find thismedicine wonderfully efficacious."

  "I will begin to-night, sir, if you please," replied Jack, "and I amvery much obliged to you. I sleep at the Governor's--shall I come onboard to-morrow morning?"

  "No, no; take care of yourself, and get well; I shall be glad to hearthat you get better. Send me word how it acts."

  "I will, sir, send you word by the boat every day," replied Jack,delighted; "I am very much obliged to you, sir. Gascoigne and I werethinking of asking you, but did not like to do so: he, poor fellow,suffers from headaches almost as bad as I do, and the doctor's pills areof no use to him."

  "He shall have some, too, Mr Easy. I thought he looked pale. I'll seeto it this afternoon. Recollect, moderate exercise, Mr Easy, and avoidthe sun at midday."

  "Yes, sir," replied Jack, "I'll not forget;" and off went Jack,delighted. He ordered Mesty to put up his whole portmanteau instead ofthe small bundle he put into the boat, and telling Gascoigne what aspoke he had put into his wheel, was soon in the boat with the captain,and went on shore, where he was cordially greeted by the Governor.