Mr. Midshipman Easy

by Frederick Marryat

  CHAPTER THIRTY.

  MODERN PHILANTHROPY WHICH, AS USUAL, IS THE CAUSE OF MUCH TROUBLE ANDVEXATION.

  In three weeks the _Aurora_, with her prize in tow, arrived at Malta.The wounded were sent to the hospital, and the gallant Russian captainrecovered from his wounds about the same time as Mr Hawkins, thechaplain.

  Jack, who constantly called to see the chaplain, had a great deal to doto console him. He would shake his hands as he lay in his bed,exclaiming against himself. "Oh," Would he say, "the spirit is willing,but the flesh is weak. That I, a man of God, as they term me, who oughtto have been down with the surgeons, whispering comfort to thedesponding, should have gone on deck (but I could not help it), and havemixed in such a scene of slaughter! What will become of me?"

  Jack attempted to console him by pointing out that not only chaplainsbut bishops have been known to fight in armour from time immemorial.But Mr Hawkins's recovery was long doubtful, from the agitation of hismind. When he was able to walk, Jack introduced to him the Russiancaptain, who was also just out of his bed.

  "I am most happy to embrace so gallant an officer," said the Russian,who recognised his antagonist, throwing his arms round the chaplain, andgiving him a kiss on both cheeks. "What is his rank?" continued he,addressing himself to Jack, who replied, very quietly, "that he was theship's padre."

  "The padre!" replied the captain, with surprise, as Hawkins turned awaywith confusion. "The padre--par exemple! Well, I always had a greatrespect for the church. Pray sir," said he, turning to Easy, "do yourpadres always head your boarders?"

  "Always, sir," replied Jack; "it's a rule of the service--and the dutyof a padre to show the men the way to heaven. It's our ninety-nintharticle of war."

  "You are a fighting nation," replied the Russian, bowing to Hawkins, andcontinuing his walk, not exactly pleased that he had been floored by aparson.

  Mr Hawkins continued very disconsolate for some time; he then invalidedand applied himself to his duties on shore, where he would not beexposed to such temptations from his former habits.

  As the _Aurora_, when she was last at Malta, had nearly exhausted thedockyard for her repairs, she was even longer fitting out this time,during which Captain Wilson's despatches had been received by theadmiral, and had been acknowledged by a brig sent to Malta. Theadmiral, in reply, after complimenting him upon his gallantry andsuccess, desired that, as soon as he was ready, he should proceed toPalermo with communications of importance to the authorities, and havingremained there for an answer, was again to return to Malta to pick upsuch of his men as might be fit to leave the hospital, and then join theToulon fleet. This intelligence was soon known to our hero, who was inecstasies at the idea of again seeing Agnes and her brothers. Once morethe _Aurora_ sailed away from the high-crowned rocks of Valette, andwith a fine breeze dashed through the deep blue waves.

  But towards the evening the breeze increased, and they were underdouble-reefed topsails. On the second day they made the coast ofSicily, not far from where Easy and Gascoigne had been driven on shore;the weather was then more moderate, and the sea had, to a great degree,subsided. They therefore stood in close to the coast, as they had not aleading wind to Palermo. As they stood in, the glasses, as usual, weredirected to land; observing the villas with which the hills and valleyswere studded, with their white fronts embowered in orange groves.

  "What is that, Gascoigne," said Easy, "under that precipice?--it lookslike a vessel."

  Gascoigne turned his glass in the direction--"Yes, it is a vessel on therocks: by her prow she looks like a galley."

  "It is a galley, sir--one of the row galleys--I can make out her bank ofoars," observed the signal-man.

  This was reported to Captain Wilson, who also examined her.

  "She is on the rocks, certainly," observed he; "and I think I see peopleon board. Keep her away a point, quarter-master."

  The _Aurora_ was now steered right for the vessel, and in the course ofan hour was not more than a mile from her. Their suppositions werecorrect--it was one of the Sicilian government galleys bilged on therocks, and they now perceived that there were people on board of her,making signals with their shirts and pieces of linen.

  "They must be the galley-slaves; for I perceive that they do not one ofthem change their positions: the galley must have been abandoned by theofficers and seamen, and the slaves left to perish."

  "That's very hard," observed Jack to Gascoigne; "they were condemned tothe galleys, but not to death."

  "They will not have much mercy from the waves," replied Gascoigne; "theywill all be in kingdom come to-morrow morning, if the breeze comes moreon the land. We have already come up two points this forenoon."

  Although Captain Wilson did not join in this conversation, which heoverheard as he stood on the forecastle gun, with his glass over thehammocks, it appears he was of the same opinion; but he demurred: he hadto choose between allowing so many of his fellow-creatures to perishmiserably, or to let loose upon society a set of miscreants, who wouldagain enter a course of crime until they were recaptured, and by sodoing probably displease the Sicilian authorities. After some littlereflection he resolved that he would take his chance of the latter. The_Aurora_ was hove-to in stays, and the two cutters ordered to be lowereddown, and the boat's crew to be armed.

  "Mr Easy, do you take one cutter and the armourers; pull on board ofthe galley, release those people, and land them in small divisions. MrGascoigne, you will take the other to assist Mr Easy, and when he landsthem in his boat, you will pull by his side ready to act, in case of anyhostile attempt on the part of the scoundrels; for we must not expectgratitude: of course, land them at the nearest safe spot fordebarkation."

  In pursuance of these orders, our two midshipmen pulled away to thevessel. They found her fixed hard upon the rocks, which had pierced herslight timbers, and, as they had supposed, the respectable part of hercrew, with the commander, had taken to the boats, leaving thegalley-slaves to their fate. She pulled fifty oars, but had onlythirty-six manned. These oars were forty feet long, and ran in from thethole-pin with a loom six feet long, each manned by four slaves, whowere chained to their seat before it, by a running chain made fast by apadlock in amidships. A plank, of two feet wide, ran fore and aft thevessel between the two banks of oars, for the boatswain to apply thelash to those who did not sufficiently exert themselves.

  "Viva los Inglesos," cried the galley-slaves, as Easy climbed up overthe quarter of the vessel.

  "I say, Ned, did you ever see such a precious set of villains?" observedEasy, as he surveyed the faces of the men who were chained.

  "No," replied Gascoigne; "and I think if the captain had seen them as wehave, that he would have left them where they were."

  "I don't know--but however, our orders are positive. Armourer, knockoff all the padlocks, beginning aft; when we have a cargo we will landthem. How many are there?--twelve dozen; twelve dozen villains to letloose upon society. I have a great mind to go on board again and reportmy opinion to the captain--one hundred and forty-four villains, who alldeserve hanging--for drowning is too good for them."

  "Our orders are to liberate them, Jack."

  "Yes; but I should like to argue this point with Captain Wilson."

  "They'll send after them fast enough, Jack, and they'll all be in limboagain before long," replied Gascoigne.

  "Well, I suppose we must obey orders; but it goes against my conscienceto save such villainous-looking rascals. Armourer, hammer away."

  The armourer, who, with the seamen, appeared very much of Jack'sopinion, and had not commenced his work, now struck off the padlocks,one by one, with his sledge-hammer. As soon as they were released theslaves were ordered into the cutter, and when it was sufficiently loadedJack shoved off, followed by Gascoigne as guard, and landed them at thepoint about a cable's length distant. It required six trips before theywere all landed: the last cargo were on shore, and Easy was desiring themen to shove off, when one of the galleriens turned r
ound, and cried outto Jack in a mocking tone, "Addio signor, a reveder la." Jack started,stared, and in the squalid, naked wretch who addressed him, herecognised Don Silvio!

  "I will acquaint Don Rebiera of your arrival, signor," said themiscreant, springing up the rocks, and mixing with the rest, who nowcommenced hooting and laughing at their preservers.

  "Ned," observed Easy to Gascoigne, "we have let that rascal loose."

  "More's the pity," replied Gascoigne; "but we have only obeyed orders."

  "It can't be helped, but I've a notion there will be some mischief outof this."

  "We obeyed orders," replied Gascoigne.

  "We've let the rascals loose not ten miles from Don Rebiera's."

  "Obeyed orders, Jack."

  "With a whole gang to back him, if he goes there."

  "Orders, Jack."

  "Agnes at his mercy."

  "Captain's orders, Jack."

  "I shall argue this point when I go on board," replied Jack.

  "Too late, Jack."

  "Yes," replied Easy, sinking down on the stern sheets with a look ofdespair.

  "Give way, my lads, give way."

  Jack returned on board and reported what he had done; also that DonSilvio was among those liberated; and he ventured to mention his fearsof what might take place from their contiguity to the house of DonRebiera. Captain Wilson bit his lips: he felt that his philanthropy hadinduced him to act without his usual prudence.

  "I have done a rash thing, Mr Easy, I am afraid. I should have takenthem all on board and delivered them up to the authorities. I wish Ihad thought of that before. We must get to Palermo as fast as we can,and have the troops sent after these miscreants. Hands 'bout ship, fillthe main-yard."

  The wind had veered round, and the _Aurora_ was now able to lay up clearof the island of Maritimo. The next morning she anchored in PalermoRoads--gave immediate notice to the authorities, who, wishing CaptainWilson's philanthropy at the devil, immediately dispatched a large bodyof troops in quest of the liberated malefactors. Captain Wilson,feeling for Jack's anxiety about his friends, called him over to him ondeck, and gave him and Gascoigne permission to go on shore.

  "Will you allow me to take Mesty with me, sir, if you please?" saidJack.

  "Yes, Mr Easy: but recollect that, even with Mesty, you are no matchfor one hundred and fifty men, so be prudent. I send, you to relieveyour anxiety, not to run into danger."

  "Of course, sir," replied Jack, touching his hat, and walking awayquietly till he came to the hatch-way, when he darted down like a shot,and was immediately occupied with his preparations.

  In half an hour our two midshipmen, with Mesty, had landed, andproceeded to the inn where they had put up before: they were armed up tothe teeth. Their first inquiries were for Don Philip and his brother.

  "Both on leave of absence," replied the landlord, "and staying with DonRebiera."

  "That's some comfort," thought Jack. "Now we must get horses as fast aswe can.--Mesty, can you ride?"

  "By all de power can I ride, Massa Easy; suppose you ride Kentuckyhorse, you ride anyting."

  In half an hour four horses and a guide were procured, and at eighto'clock in the morning the party set off in the direction of DonRebiera's country-seat.

  They had not ridden more than six miles when they came up with one ofthe detachments sent out in pursuit of the liberated criminals. Ourhero recognised the commanding officer as an old acquaintance, andimparting to him the release of Don Silvio, and his fears upon DonRebiera's account, begged him to direct his attention that way.

  "Corpo di Bacco--you are right, Signor Mid," replied the officer, "butDon Philip is there, and his brother too, I believe. I will be there byten o'clock to-morrow morning; we will march almost the whole night."

  "They have no arms," observed Easy.

  "No, but they will soon get them: they will go to some small town in abody, plunder it, and then seek the protection of the mountains. Yourcaptain has given us a pretty job."

  Jack exchanged a few more words, and then, excusing himself on accountof his haste, put the spurs to his horse and regained his own party, whonow proceeded at a rapid pace.

  "O Signor!" said the guide, "we shall kill the horses."

  "I'll pay for them," said Jack.

  "Yes, but we shall kill them before we get there, Jack," repliedGascoigne, "and have to walk the rest of the way."

  "Very true, Ned; let's pull up, and give them their wind."

  "By de holy poker, Massa Easy, but my shirt stick to my ribs," criedMesty, whose black face was hung with dewdrops from their rapid course.

  "Never mind, Mesty."

  It was about five o'clock in the afternoon when they arrived at the seatof Don Rebiera. Jack threw himself off his jaded steed, and hastenedinto the house, followed by Gascoigne. They found the whole familycollected in the large sitting-room, quite ignorant of any dangerthreatening them, and equally astonished and pleased at the arrival oftheir old friends. Jack flew to Agnes, who screamed when she saw him,and felt so giddy afterwards that he was obliged to support her. Havingseated her again, he was kindly greeted by the old people and the twoyoung officers. After a few minutes dedicated to mutual inquiries, ourhero stated the cause of their expeditious arrival.

  "Don Silvio with one hundred and fifty galleriens, let loose on thecoast yesterday afternoon!" exclaimed Don Rebiera; "you are right, Ionly wonder they were not here last night. But I expect Pedro from thetown; he has gone down with a load of wine: he will bring usintelligence."

  "At all events, we must be prepared," said Don Philip, "the troops yousay will be here to-morrow morning."

  "Holy Virgin!" exclaimed the ladies in a breath.

  "How many can we muster?" said Gascoigne.

  "We will have five men here, or we shall have by the evening," repliedDon Philip--"all, I think, good men--my father, my brother and myself."

  "We are three--four with the guide, whom I know nothing about."

  "Twelve in all--not one too many; but I think that now we are prepared,if they attack, we can hold out till the morning."

  "Had we not better send the ladies away?" said Jack.

  "Who is to escort them?" replied Don Philip; "we shall only weaken ourforce: besides, they may fall into the miscreants' hands."

  "Shall we all leave the house together? they can but plunder it,"observed Don Rebiera.

  "Still we may be intercepted by them, and our whole force will benothing against so many," observed Don Philip, "if we are withoutdefence, whereas in the house we shall have an advantage."

  "E vero," replied Don Rebiera, thoughtfully; "then let us prepare, fordepend upon it Don Silvio will not lose such an opportunity to wreak hisvengeance. He will be here to-night: I only wonder he has not been herewith his companions before. However, Pedro will arrive in two hours."

  "We must now see what means we have of defence," said Philip. "Come,brother--will you come, sir?"