Peter Simple; and, The Three Cutters, Vol. 1-2

by Frederick Marryat

  Chapter XVIII

  I go away on service, am wounded and taken prisoner with O'Brien--Diamond cut diamond between the O'Briens--Get into comfortable quarters--My first interview with Celeste.

  And now I have to relate an event, which, young as I was at the time,will be found to have seriously affected me in after life. How little dowe know what to-morrow may bring forth! We had regained our station, andfor some days had been standing off and on the coast, when one morningat daybreak, we found ourselves about four miles from the town of Cette,and a large convoy of vessels coming round a point. We made all sail inchase, and they anchored close in shore, under a battery, which we didnot discover until it opened fire upon us. The shot struck the frigatetwo or three times, for the water was smooth, and the battery nearlylevel with it. The captain tacked the ship, and stood out again, untilthe boats were hoisted out, and all ready to pull on shore and storm thebattery. O'Brien, who was the officer commanding the first cutter onservice, was in his boat, and I again obtained permission from him tosmuggle myself into it.

  "Now, Peter, let's see what kind of a fish you'll bring on board thistime," said he, after we had shoved off: "or may be, the fish will notlet you off quite so easy." The men in the boat all laughed at this, andI replied, "That I must be more seriously wounded than I was last time,to be made a prisoner." We ran on shore, amidst the fire of thegunboats, who protected the convoy, by which we lost three men, and madefor the battery, which we took without opposition, the Frenchartillery-men running out as we ran in. The directions of the captainwere very positive, not to remain in the battery a minute after it wastaken, but to board the gunboats, leaving only one of the small boats,with the armourer to spike the guns, for the captain was aware thatthere were troops stationed along the coast, who might come down upon usand beat us off. The first lieutenant, who commanded, desired O'Brien toremain with the first cutter, and after the armourer had spiked theguns, as officer of the boat he was to shove off immediately. O'Brienand I remained in the battery with the armourer, the boat's crew beingordered down to the boat, to keep her afloat, and ready to shove off ata moment's warning. We had spiked all the guns but one, when all of asudden a volley of musketry was poured upon us, which killed thearmourer, and wounded me in the leg above the knee. I fell down byO'Brien, who cried out, "By the powers! here they are, and one gun notspiked." He jumped down, wrenched the hammer from the armourer's hand,and seizing a nail from the bag, in a few moments he had spiked the gun.At this time I heard the tramping of the French soldiers advancing, whenO'Brien threw away the hammer, and lifting me upon his shoulders, cried,"Come along, Peter, my boy," and made for the boat as fast as he could;but he was too late; he had not got half way to the boat, before he wascollared by two French soldiers, and dragged back into the battery. TheFrench troops then advanced, and kept up a smart fire: our cutterescaped, and joined the other boat, who had captured the gun-boats andconvoy with little opposition. Our large boats had carronades mounted intheir bows, and soon returned the fire with round and grape, which drovethe French troops back into the battery, where they remained, popping atour men under cover, until most of the vessels were taken out; thosewhich they could not man were burnt.

  In the meantime, O'Brien had been taken into the battery, with me on hisback; but as soon as he was there, he laid me gently down, saying,"Peter, my boy, as long as you were under my charge, I'd carry youthrough thick and thin; but now that you are under the charge of theseFrench beggars, why let them carry you. Every man his own bundle, Peter,that's fair play, so if they think you're worth the carrying, let thembear the weight of ye."

  "And suppose they do not, O'Brien, will you leave me here?"

  "Will I lave you, Peter! not if I can help it, my boy; but they won'tleave you, never fear them; prisoners are so scarce with them, that theywould not leave the captain's monkey, if he were taken."

  As soon as our boats were clear of their musketry, the commandingofficer of the French troops examined the guns in the battery, with thehope of reaching them, and was very much annoyed to find that every oneof them was spiked. "He'll look sharper than a magpie before he finds aclear touch-hole, I expect," said O'Brien, as he watched the officer.And here I must observe, that O'Brien showed great presence of mind inspiking the last gun; for had they had one gun to fire at our boatstowing out the prizes, they must have done a great deal of mischief tothem, and we should have lost a great many men; but in so doing, and inthe attempt to save me, he sacrificed himself, and was taken prisoner.When the troops ceased firing, the commanding officer came up toO'Brien, and looking at him, said, "Officer?" to which O'Brien noddedhis head. He then pointed to me--"Officer?" O'Brien nodded his headagain, at which the French troops laughed, as O'Brien told meafterwards, because I was what they called an _enfant_, which means aninfant. I was very stiff, and faint, and could not walk. The officer whocommanded the troops left a detachment in the battery, and prepared toreturn to Cette, from whence they came. O'Brien walked, and I wascarried on three muskets by six of the French soldiers--not a verypleasant conveyance at any time, but in my state excessively painful.However, I must say, that they were very kind to me, and put a greatcoat or something under my wounded leg, for I was in an agony, andfainted several times. At last they brought me some water to drink. Ohow delicious it was! I have often thought since, when I have been incompany, where people fond of good living have smacked their lips attheir claret, that if they could only be wounded, and taste a cup ofwater, they would then know what it was to feel a beverage grateful. Inabout an hour and a half, which appeared to me to be five days at theleast, we arrived at the town of Cette, and I was taken up to the houseof the officer who commanded the troops, and who had often looked at meas I was carried there from the battery, saying, "_Pauvre enfant_!" Iwas put on a bed, where I again fainted away. When I came to my senses,I found a surgeon had bandaged my leg, and that I had been undressed.O'Brien was standing by me, and I believe that he had been crying, forhe thought that I was dead. When I looked him in the face, he said,"Pater, you baste, how you frightened me: bad luck to me if ever I takecharge of another youngster. What did you sham dead for?"

  "I am better now, O'Brien," replied I, "how much I am indebted to you:you have been made prisoner in trying to save me."

  "I have been made prisoner in doing my duty, in one shape or another. Ifthat fool of an armourer hadn't held his hammer so tight, after he wasdead, and it was of no use to him, I should have been clear enough, andso would you have been! but, however, all this is nothing at all, Peter;as far as I can see, the life of a man consists in getting into scrapes,and getting out of them. By the blessing of God, we've managed thefirst, and by the blessing of God we'll manage the second also; so besmart, my honey, and get well, for although a man may escape by runningaway on two legs, I never heard of a boy who hopped out of a Frenchprison upon one."

  I squeezed the offered hand of O'Brien, and looked round me; the surgeonstood at one side of the bed, and the officer who commanded the troopsat the other. At the head of the bed was a little girl about twelveyears old, who held a cup in her hand, out of which something had beenpoured down my throat. I looked at her, and she had such pity in herface, which was remarkably handsome, that she appeared to me as anangel, and I turned round as well as I could, that I might look at heralone. She offered me the cup, which I should have refused from any onebut her, and I drank a little. Another person then came into the room,and a conversation took place in French.

  "I wonder what they mean to do with us," said I to O'Brien.

  "Whist, hold your tongue," replied he; and then he leaned over me, andsaid in a whisper, "I understand all they say; don't you recollect, Itold you that I learnt the language after I was kilt and buried in thesand, in South America?" After a little more conversation, the officerand the others retired, leaving nobody but the little girl and O'Brienin the room.

  "It's a message from the governor," said O'Brien, as soon as they weregone, "wishing the prisoners to be sent to the gaol in
the citadel, tobe examined; and the officer says (and he's a real gentleman, as far asI can judge) that you're but a baby, and badly wounded in the bargain,and that it would be a shame not to leave you to die in peace; so Ipresume that I'll part company from you very soon."

  "I hope not, O'Brien," replied I; "if you go to prison, I will go also,for I will not leave you, who are my best friend, to remain withstrangers; I should not be half so happy, although I might have morecomforts in my present situation."

  "Pater, my boy, I am glad to see that your heart is in the right place,as I always thought it was, or I wouldn't have taken you under myprotection. We'll go together to prison, my jewel, and I'll fish at thebars with a bag and a long string, just by way of recreation, and topick up a little money to buy you all manner of nice things; and whenyou get well, you shall do it yourself, mayhap you'll have better luck,as Peter your namesake had, who was a fisherman before you. There'stwice as much room in one of the cells as there is in a midshipman'sberth, my boy; and the prison yards, where you are allowed to walk, willmake a dozen quarter-decks, and no need of touching your hat out ofrespect when you go into it. When a man has been cramped up on board ofa man-of-war, where midshipmen are stowed away like pilchards in a cask,he finds himself quite at liberty in a prison, Peter. But somehow oranother, I think we mayn't be parted yet, for I heard the officer (whoappears to be a real gentleman, and worthy to have been an Irishmanborn) say to the other, that he'd ask the governor for me to stay withyou on parole, until you are well again." The little girl handed me thelemonade, of which I drank a little, and then I felt very faint again. Ilaid my head on the pillow, and O'Brien having left off talking, I wassoon in a comfortable sleep. In an hour I was awakened by the return ofthe officer, who was accompanied by the surgeon. The officer addressedO'Brien in French who shook his head as before.

  "Why don't you answer, O'Brien," said I, "since you understand him?"

  "Peter, recollect that I cannot speak a word of their lingo; then Ishall know what they say before us, and they won't mind what they say,supposing I do not understand them."

  "But is that honest, O'Brien?"

  "Is it honest you mean? If I had a five-pound note in my pocket, anddon't choose to show it to every fellow that I meet--is that dishonest?"

  "To be sure it's not."

  "And a'n't that what the lawyers call a case in pint?"

  "Well," replied I, "if you wish it, I shall of course say nothing; but Ithink that I should tell them, especially as they are so kind to us."

  During this conversation, the officer occasionally spoke to the surgeon,at the same time eyeing us, I thought, very hard. Two other persons thencame into the room; one of them addressed O'Brien in very bad English,saying, that he was interpreter, and would beg him to answer a fewquestions. He then inquired the name of our ship, number of guns, andhow long we had been cruising. After that, the force of the Englishfleet, and a great many other questions relative to them; all of whichwere put in French by the person who came with him, and the answertranslated, and taken down in a book. Some of the questions O'Brienanswered correctly, to others he pleaded ignorance; and to some, heasserted what was not true. But I did not blame him for that, as it washis duty not to give information to the enemy. At last they asked myname, and rank, which O'Brien told them. "Was I noble?"

  "Yes," replied O'Brien.

  "Don't say so, O'Brien," interrupted I.

  "Peter, you know nothing about it, you are grandson to a lord."

  "I know that, but still I am not noble myself, although descended fromhim; therefore pray don't say so."

  "Bother! Pater, I have said it, and I won't unsay it; besides, Pater,recollect it's a French question, and in France you would be considerednoble. At all events, it can do no harm."

  "I feel too ill to talk, O'Brien; but I wish you had not said so."

  They then inquired O'Brien's name, which he told them; his rank in theservice, and also, whether he was noble.

  "I am an O'Brien," replied he; "and pray what's the meaning of the Obefore my name, if I'm not noble? However, Mr Interpreter, you may add,that we have dropped our title because it's not convanient." The Frenchofficer burst out into a loud laugh, which surprised us very much. Theinterpreter had great difficulty in explaining what O'Brien said; but asO'Brien told me afterwards, the answer was put down _doubtful_.

  They all left the room except the officer, who then, to ourastonishment, addressed us in good English. "Gentlemen, I have obtainedpermission from the governor for you to remain in my house, until MrSimple is recovered. Mr O'Brien, it is necessary that I should receiveyour parole of honour that you will not attempt to escape. Are youwilling to give it?"

  O'Brien was quite amazed; "Murder an' Irish," cried he; "so you speakEnglish, colonel. It was not very genteel of you not to say so,considering how we've been talking our little secrets together."

  "Certainly, Mr O'Brien, not more necessary," replied the officer,smiling, "than for you to tell me that you understood French."

  "O, bother!" cried O'Brien, "how nicely I'm caught in my own trap!You're an Irishman, sure?"

  "I'm of Irish descent," replied the officer, "and my name, as well asyours, is O'Brien. I was brought up in this country, not being permittedto serve my own, and retain the religion of my forefathers. I may now beconsidered as a Frenchman, retaining nothing of my original country,except the language, which my mother taught me, and a warm feelingtowards the English wherever I meet them. But to the question, MrO'Brien, will you give your parole?"

  "The word of an Irishman, and the hand to boot," replied O'Brien,shaking the colonel by the hand; "and you're more than doubly sure, forI'll never go away and leave little Peter here; and as for carrying himon my back, I've had enough of that already."

  "It is sufficient," replied the colonel. "Mr O'Brien, I will make you ascomfortable as I can; and when you are tired of attending your friend,my little daughter shall take your place. You'll find her a kind littlenurse, Mr Simple."

  I could not refrain from tears at the colonel's kindness: he shook me bythe hand; and telling O'Brien that dinner was ready, he called up hisdaughter, the little girl who had attended me before; and desired her toremain in the room. "Celeste," said he, "you understand a littleEnglish; quite enough to find out what he is in want of. Go and fetchyour work, to amuse yourself when he is asleep." Celeste went out, andreturning with her embroidery, sat down by the head of the bed: thecolonel and O'Brien then quitted the room. Celeste then commenced herembroidery, and as her eyes were cast down upon her work, I was able tolook at her without her observing it. As I said before, she was a verybeautiful little girl; her hair was light brown, eyes very large, andeyebrows drawn as with a pair of compasses; her nose and mouth were alsovery pretty; but it was not so much her features as the expression ofher countenance, which was so beautiful, so modest, so sweet, and sointelligent. When she smiled, which she almost always did when shespoke, her teeth were like two rows of little pearls.

  I had not looked at her long, before she raised her eyes from her work,and perceiving that I was looking at her, said, "You want--something--want drink--I speak very little English."

  "Nothing, I thank ye," replied I; "I only want to go to sleep."

  "Then--shut--your--eye," replied she smiling; and she went to thewindow, and drew down the blinds to darken the room. But I could notsleep; the remembrance of what had occurred--in a few hours wounded, anda prisoner--the thought of my father and mother's anxiety; with theprospect of going to a prison and close confinement, as soon as I wasrecovered, passed in succession in my mind, and, together with theactual pain of my wound, prevented me from obtaining any rest. Thelittle girl several times opened the curtain to ascertain whether Islept or wanted anything, and then as softly retired. In the evening,the surgeon called again; he felt my pulse, and directing coldapplications to my leg, which had swelled considerably, and was becomingvery painful, told Colonel O'Brien, that, although I had considerablefever, I was doing as well as could be expec
ted under the circumstances.

  But I shall not dwell upon my severe sufferings for a fortnight, afterwhich the ball was extracted; nor upon how carefully I was watched byO'Brien, the colonel, and little Celeste, during my peevishness andirritation, arising from pain and fever. I feel grateful to them, butpartiqularly [sic] to Celeste, who seldom quitted me for more thanhalf-an-hour, and, as I gradually recovered, tried all she could toamuse me.