CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.
IN WHICH THE OLD PROVERB IS ILLUSTRATED, "THAT YOU MUST NOT COUNT YOURCHICKENS BEFORE THEY ARE HATCHED."
The first lieutenant of the _Aurora_ was a very good officer in manyrespects, but, as a midshipman, he had contracted the habit of puttinghis hands in his pockets, and could never keep them out, even when theship was in a gale of wind; and hands are of some use in a heavy lurch.He had more than once received serious injury from falling on theseoccasions, but habit was too powerful; and, although he had once brokenhis leg by falling down the hatchway, and had moreover a large scar onhis forehead, received from being thrown to leeward against one of theguns, he still continued the practice; indeed, it was said that once,when it was necessary for him to go aloft, he had actually taken the twofirst rounds of the Jacob's ladder without withdrawing them, until,losing his balance, he discovered that it was not quite so easy to goaloft with his hands in his pockets. In fact, there was no getting uphis hands, even when all hands were turned up. He had anotherpeculiarity, which was, that he had taken a peculiar fancy to a quackmedicine, called Enouy's Universal Medicine for all Mankind; and MrPottyfar was convinced in his own mind that the label was no libel,except from the greatness of its truth. In his opinion, it curedeverything, and he spent one of his quarterly bills every year inbottles of this stuff; which he not only took himself every time he wasunwell, but occasionally when quite well, to prevent his falling sick.He recommended it to everybody in the ship, and nothing pleased him somuch as to give a dose of it to every one who could be persuaded to takeit.
The officers laughed at him, but it was generally behind his back, forhe became very angry if contradicted upon this one point, upon which hecertainly might be considered to be a little cracked. He wasindefatigable in making proselytes to his creed, and expatiated upon thevirtues of the medicine for an hour running, proving the truth of hisassertion by a pamphlet, which, with his hands, he always carried in histrousers pocket.
Jack reported himself when he came on board, and Mr Pottyfar, who wason the quarter-deck at the time, expressed a hope that Mr Easy wouldtake his share of the duty, now that he had had such a spell on shore;to which Jack very graciously acceded, and then went down below, wherehe found Gascoigne and his new messmates, with most of whom he wasalready acquainted.
"Well, Easy," said Gascoigne, "have you had enough of the shore?"
"Quite," replied Jack, recollecting that after the events of the nightbefore he was just as well on board; "I don't intend to ask for any moreleave."
"Perhaps it's quite as well, for Mr Pottyfar is not very liberal onthat score, I can tell you; there is but one way of getting leave fromhim."
"Indeed," replied Jack; "and what is that?"
"You must pretend that you are not well, take some of his quackmedicine, and then he will allow you a run on shore to work it off."
"Oh! that's it, is it? well then, as soon as we anchor in Valette, I'llgo through a regular course, but not till then."
"It ought to suit you, Jack; it's an equality medicine; cures onedisorder just as well as the other."
"Or kills--which levels all the patients. You're right, Gascoigne, Imust patronise that stuff--for more reasons than one. Who was thatperson on deck in mufti?"
"The mufti, Jack? in other words, the chaplain of the ship; but he's aprime sailor, nevertheless."
"How's that?"
"Why, he was brought up on the quarter-deck, served his time, was actinglieutenant for two years, and then, somehow or other, he bore up for thechurch."
"Indeed--what were his reasons?"
"No one knows--but they say he has been unhappy ever since."
"Why so?"
"Because he did a very foolish thing, which cannot now be remedied. Hesupposed at the time that he would make a good parson, and now that hehas long got over his fit, he finds himself wholly unfit for it--he isstill the officer in heart, and is always struggling with his naturalbent, which is very contrary to what a parson should feel."
"Why don't they allow parsons to be broke by a court-martial, and turnedout of the service, or to resign their commissions, like other people?"
"It won't do, Jack--they serve Heaven--there's a difference between thatand serving his Majesty."
"Well, I don't understand these things. When do we sail?"
"The day after to-morrow."
"To join the fleet off Toulon?"
"Yes; but I suppose we shall be driven on the Spanish coast going there.I never knew a man-of-war that was not."
"No; wind always blows from the South going up the Mediterranean."
"Perhaps you'll take another prize, Jack--mind you don't go away withoutthe articles of war."
"I won't go away without Mesty, if I can help it. Oh, dear, howabominable a midshipman's berth is after a long run on shore! Ipositively must go on deck and look at the shore, if I can do nothingelse."
"Why, ten minutes ago you had had enough of it."
"Yes, but ten minutes here has made me feel quite sick. I shall go tothe first lieutenant for a dose."
"I say, Easy, we must both be physicked on the same day."
"To be sure; but stop till we get to Malta."
Jack went on deck, made acquaintance with the chaplain and some of theofficers whom he had not known, then climbed up into the maintop, wherehe took a seat on the armolest, and, as he looked at the shore, thoughtover the events that had passed, until Agnes came to his memory, and hethought only of her. When a mid is in love, he always goes aloft tothink of the object of his affection; why, I don't know, except that hisreverie is not so likely to be disturbed by an order from a superiorofficer.
The _Aurora_ sailed on the second day, and with a fine breeze, stoodacross, making as much northing as easting; the consequence was, thatone fine morning they saw the Spanish coast before they saw the Toulonfleet. Mr Pottyfar took his hands out of his pockets, because he couldnot examine the coast through a telescope without so doing; but this, itis said, was the first time that he had done so on the quarter-deck fromthe day that the ship had sailed from Port Mahon. Captain Wilson wasalso occupied with his telescope, so were many of the officers andmidshipmen, and the men at the mast-heads used their eyes, but there wasnothing but a few small fishing-boats to be seen. So they all went downto breakfast, as the ship was hove-to close in with the land.
"What will Easy bet," said one of the midshipmen, "that we don't see aprize to-day?"
"I will not bet that we do not see a vessel--but I'll bet you what youplease, that we do not take one before twelve o'clock at night."
"No, no, that won't do--just let the teapot travel over this way, forit's my forenoon watch."
"It's a fine morning," observed one of the mates, of the name of Martin;"but I've a notion it won't be a fine evening."
"Why not?" inquired another.
"I've now been eight years in the Mediterranean, and know somethingabout the weather. There's a watery sky, and the wind is very steady.If we are not under double-reefed topsails to-night, say I'm noconjuror."
"That you will be, all the same, if we are under bare poles," saidanother.
"You're devilish free with your tongue, my youngster. Easy, pull hisears for me."
"Pull them easy, Jack, then," said the boy, laughing.
"All hands make sail!" now resounded at the hatchways.
"There they are, depend upon it," cried Gascoigne, catching up his hatand bolting out of the berth, followed by all the others except Martin,who had just been relieved, and thought that his presence in the waistmight be dispensed with for the short time, at least, which it took himto swallow a cup of tea.
It was very true; a galliot and four lateen vessels had just made theirappearance round the easternmost point, and, as soon as they observedthe frigate, had hauled their wind. In a minute the _Aurora_ was undera press of canvas, and the telescopes were all directed to the vessels.
"All deeply laden, sir," observed Mr Hawkins, the chaplain; "ho
w thetopsail of the galliot is scored!"
"They have a fresh breeze just now," observed Captain Wilson to thefirst lieutenant.
"Yes, sir, and it's coming down fast."
"Hands by the royal halyards, there."
The _Aurora_ careened with the canvas to the rapidly increasing breeze.
"Top-gallant sheet and halyards."
"Luff you may, quarter-master; luff, I tell you. A small pull of thatweather maintop-gallant brace--that will do," said the master.
"Top-men aloft there;--stand by to clew up the royals--and, CaptainWilson, shall we take them in?--I'm afraid of that pole--it bends nowlike a coach-whip," said Mr Pottyfar, looking up aloft, with his handsin both pockets.
"In royals--lower away."
"They are going about, sir," said the second lieutenant, Mr Haswell.
"Look out," observed the chaplain, "it's coming." Again the breezeincreased, and the frigate was borne down.
"Hands reef topsails in stays, Mr Pottyfar."
"Ay, ay, sir--'bout ship."
The helm was put down and the topsails lowered and reefed in stays.
"Very well, my lads, very well indeed," said Captain Wilson.
Again the topsails were hoisted and top-gallant sheets home. It was astrong breeze, although the water was smooth, and the _Aurora_ dashedthrough at the rate of eight miles an hour, with her weather leecheslifting.
"Didn't I tell you so?" said Martin to his mess-mates on the gangway;"but there's more yet, my boys."
"We must take the top-gallant sails off her," said Captain Wilson,looking aloft--for the frigate now careened to her bearings, and thewind was increasing and squally. "Try them a little longer;" butanother squall came suddenly--the halyards were lowered, and the sailsclewed up and furled.
In the meantime the frigate had rapidly gained upon the vessels, whichstill carried on every stitch of canvas, making short tacks in-shore.The _Aurora_ was again put about with her head towards them, and theywere not two points on her weather bow. The sky, which had been clearin the morning, was now overcast, the sun was obscured with opaque whiteclouds, and the sea was rising fast. Another ten minutes, and then theywere under double-reefed topsails, and the squalls were accompanied withheavy rain. The frigate now dashed through the waves, foaming in hercourse and straining under the press of sail. The horizon was so thickthat the vessels ahead were no longer to be seen.
"We shall have it, I expect," said Captain Wilson.
"Didn't I say so?" observed Martin to Gascoigne. "We take no prizesthis day, depend upon it."
"We must have another hand to the wheel, sir, if you please," said thequarter-master, who was assisting the helmsman.
Mr Pottyfar, with his hands concealed as usual, stood by the capstern."I fear, sir, we cannot carry the mainsail much longer."
"No," observed the chaplain, "I was thinking so."
"Captain Wilson, if you please, we are very close in," said the master:"don't you think we had better go about?"
"Yes, Mr Jones. Hands about ship--and--yes, by heavens, we must!--upmainsail."
The mainsail was taken off, and the frigate appeared to be immediatelyrelieved. She no longer jerked and plunged as before.
"We're very near the land, Captain Wilson; thick as it is, I think I canmake out the loom of it--shall we wear round, sir?" continued themaster.
"Yes--hands wear ship--put the helm up."
It was but just in time, for, as the frigate flew round, describing acircle, as she payed off before the wind, they could perceive thebreakers lashing the precipitous coast not two cables' length from them.
"I had no idea we were so near," observed the captain, compressing hislips--"can they see anything of those vessels?"
"I have not seen them this quarter of an hour, sir," replied thesignalman, protecting his glass from the rain under his jacket.
"How's her head now, quarter-master?"
"South south-east, sir."
The sky now assumed a different appearance--the white clouds had beenexchanged for others dark and murky, the wind roared at intervals, andthe rain came down in torrents. Captain Wilson went down into the cabinto examine the barometer.
"The barometer has risen," said he on his return on deck. "Is the windsteady?"
"No, sir, she's up and off three points."
"This will end in a south-wester."
The wet and heavy sails now flapped from the shifting of the wind.
"Up with the helm, quarter-master."
"Up it is--she's off to south-by-west."
The wind lulled, the rain came down in a deluge--for a minute it wasquite calm, and the frigate was on an even keel.
"Man the braces. We shall be taken aback directly, depend upon it."
The braces were hardly stretched along before this was the case. Thewind flew round to the south-west with a loud roar, and it was fortunatethat they were prepared--the yards were braced round, and the masterasked the captain what course they were to steer.
"We must give it up," observed Captain Wilson, holding on by thebelaying pin. "Shape our course for Cape Sicie, Mr Jones."
And the _Aurora_ flew before the gale, under her foresail and topsailsclose reefed. The weather was now so thick that nothing could beobserved twenty yards from the vessel; the thunder pealed, and thelightning darted in every direction over the dark expanse. The watchwas called as soon as the sails were trimmed, and all who could wentbelow, wet, uncomfortable, and disappointed.
"What an old Jonah you are, Martin," said Gascoigne.
"Yes, I am," replied he; "but we have the worst to come yet, in myopinion. I recollect, not two hundred miles from where we are now, wehad just such a gale in the _Favourite_, and we as nearly went down,when--"
At this moment a tremendous noise was heard above, a shock was feltthroughout the whole ship, which trembled fore and aft as if it wereabout to fall into pieces; loud shrieks were followed by plaintivecries, the lower deck was filled with smoke, and the frigate was down onher beam ends. Without exchanging a word, the whole of the occupants ofthe berth flew out, and were up the hatchway, not knowing what to think,but convinced that some dreadful accident had taken place.
On their gaining the deck it was at once explained; the foremast of thefrigate had been struck by lightning, had been riven into severalpieces, and had fallen over the larboard bow, carrying with it the maintopmast and jib-boom. The jagged stump of the foremast was in flames,and burned brightly, notwithstanding the rain fell in torrents. Theship, as soon as the foremast and main topmast had gone overboard,broached-to furiously, throwing the men over the wheel and dashing themsenseless against the carronades; the forecastle, the fore part of themain deck, and even the lower deck, were spread with men, either killedor seriously wounded or insensible from the electric shock. The frigatewas on her beam ends, and the sea broke furiously over her; all was darkas pitch, except the light from the blazing stump of the foremast,appearing like a torch, held up by the wild demons of the storm, or whenoccasionally the gleaming lightning cast a momentary glare, threateningevery moment to repeat its attack upon the vessel, while the deafeningthunder burst almost on their devoted heads. All was dismay andconfusion for a minute or two: at last Captain Wilson, who had himselflost his sight for a short time, called for the carpenter and axes--theyclimbed up, that is, two or three of them, and he pointed to themizzen-mast; the master was also there, and he cut loose the axes forthe seamen to use; in a few minutes the mizzen-mast fell over thequarter, and the helm being put hard up, the frigate payed off andslowly righted. But the horror of the scene was not yet over. Theboatswain, who had been on the forecastle, had been led below, for hisvision was gone for ever. The men who lay scattered about had beenexamined, and they were assisting them down to the care of the surgeon,when the cry of "Fire!" issued from the lower deck. The ship had takenfire at the coal-hole and carpenter's storeroom, and the smoke that nowascended was intense.
"Call the drummer," said Captain Wilson, "
and let him beat to quarters--all hands to their stations--let the pumps be rigged and the bucketspassed along. Mr Martin, see that the wounded men are taken downbelow. Where's Mr Haswell? Mr Pottyfar, station the men to pass thewater on by hand on the lower deck. I will go there myself. Mr Jones,take charge of the ship."
Pottyfar, who actually had taken his hands out of his pockets, hasteneddown to comply with the captain's orders on the main deck, as CaptainWilson descended to the deck below.
"I say, Jack, this is very different from this morning," observedGascoigne.
"Yes," replied Jack, "so it is; but I say, Gascoigne, what's the bestthing to do?--when the chimney's on fire on shore, they put a wetblanket over it."
"Yes," replied Gascoigne; "but when the coal-hole's on fire on board,they will not find that sufficient."
"At all events, wet blankets must be a good thing, Ned, so let us pullout the hammocks; cut the lanyards and get some out--we can but offerthem, you know, and if they do no good, at least it will show our zeal."
"Yes, Jack, and I think when they turn in again, those whose blanketsyou take will agree with you that zeal makes the service veryuncomfortable. However, I think you are right."
The two midshipmen collected three or four hands, and in a very shorttime they had more blankets than they could carry--there was no troublein wetting them, for the main deck was afloat--and followed by the menthey had collected, Easy and Gascoigne went down with large bundles intheir arms to where Captain Wilson was giving directions to the men.
"Excellent, Mr Easy! excellent, Mr Gascoigne;" said Captain Wilson."Come, my lads, throw them over now, and stamp upon them well;" themen's jackets and the captain's coat had already been sacrificed to thesame object.
Easy called the other midshipmen, and they went up for a further supply;but there was no occasion, the fire had been smothered: still the dangerhad been so great that the fore magazine had been floated. During allthis, which lasted perhaps a quarter of an hour, the frigate had rolledgunwale under, and many were the accidents which occurred. At last alldanger from fire had ceased, and the men were ordered to return to theirquarters, when three officers and forty-seven men were found absent--seven of them were dead--most of them were already under the care of thesurgeon, but some were still lying in the scuppers.
No one had been more active or more brave during this time of dangerthan Mr Hawkins the chaplain. He was everywhere, and when CaptainWilson went down to put out the fire he was there, encouraging the menand exerting himself most gallantly. He and Mesty came aft when all wasover, one just as black as the other. The chaplain sat down and wrunghis hands--"God forgive me!" said he, "God forgive me!"
"Why so, sir?" said Easy, who stood near, "I am sure you need not beashamed of what you have done."
"No, no, not ashamed of what I've done; but, Mr Easy--I have sworn so,sworn such oaths at the men in my haste--I, the chaplain! God forgiveme!--I meant nothing." It was very true that Mr Hawkins had sworn agreat deal during his exertions, but he was at that time thequarter-deck officer and not the chaplain; the example to the men andhis gallantry had been most serviceable.
"Indeed, sir," said Easy, who saw that the chaplain was in greattribulation, and hoped to pacify him, "I was certainly not there all thetime, but I only heard you say, `God bless you, my men! be smart,' andso on; surely, that is not swearing."
"Was it _that_ I said, Mr Easy, are you sure? I really had an ideathat I had damned them all in heaps, as some of them deserved--no, no,not deserved. Did I really bless them--nothing but bless them?"
"Yes, sir," said Mesty, who perceived what Jack wanted; "it was nothing,I assure you, but `God bless you, Captain Wilson!--Bless your heart, mygood men!--Bless the king!' and so on. You do noting but shower downblessing and wet blanket."
"I told you so," said Jack.
"Well, Mr Easy, you've made me very happy," replied the chaplain; "Iwas afraid it was otherwise."
So indeed it was, for the chaplain had sworn like a boatswain; but, asJack and Mesty had turned all his curses into blessings, the poor mangave himself absolution, and shaking hands with Jack, hoped he wouldcome down into the gun-room and take a glass of grog; nor did he forgetMesty, who received a good allowance at the gun-room door, to which Jackgladly consented, as the rum in the middy's berth had all been exhaustedafter the rainy morning--but Jack was interrupted in his third glass, bysomebody telling him the captain wanted to speak with Mr Hawkins andwith him.
Jack went up and found the captain on the quarter-deck with theofficers.
"Mr Easy," said Captain Wilson, "I have sent for you, Mr Hawkins, andMr Gascoigne, to thank you on the quarter-deck, for your exertions andpresence of mind on this trying occasion." Mr Hawkins made a bow.Gascoigne said nothing, but he thought of having extra leave when theyarrived at Malta. Jack felt inclined to make a speech, and begansomething about when there was danger that it levelled every one to anequality even on board of a man-of-war.
"By no means, Mr Easy," replied Captain Wilson, "it does the verycontrary, for it proves which is the best man, and those who are thebest raise themselves at once above the rest."
Jack was very much inclined to argue the point, but he took thecompliment and held his tongue, which was the wisest thing he could havedone; so he made his bow, and was about to go down into the midshipmen'sberth when the frigate was pooped by a tremendous sea, which washed allthose who did not hold on down into the waist. Jack was among thenumber, and naturally catching at the first object which touched him, hecaught hold of the chaplain by the leg, who commenced swearing mostterribly, but before he could finish the oath, the water, which hadburst into the cabin through the windows--for the dead-lights, in theconfusion, had not yet been shipped--burst out the cross bulkheads,sweeping like a torrent the marine, the cabin-door, and everything elsein its force, and floating Jack and the chaplain with several othersdown the main hatchway on to the lower deck. The lower deck being alsofull of water, men and chests were rolling and tossing about, and Jackwas sometimes in company with the chaplain, and at other timesseparated; at last they both recovered their legs, and gained themidshipmen's berth, which, although afloat, was still a haven ofsecurity. Mr Hawkins spluttered and spit, and so did Jack, until hebegan to laugh.
"This is very trying, Mr Easy," said the chaplain: "very trying indeedto the temper. I hope I have not sworn--I hope not."
"Not a word," said Jack--"I was close to you all the time--you onlysaid, `God preserve us!'"
"Only that? I was afraid that I said `God damn it!'"
"Quite a mistake, Mr Hawkins. Let's go into the gun-room, and try towash this salt water out of our mouths, and then I will tell you all yousaid, as far as I could hear it, word for word."
So Jack by this means got another glass of grog, which was veryacceptable in his wet condition, and made himself very comfortable,while those on deck were putting on the dead-lights, and very busysetting the goose-wings of the mainsail, to prevent the frigate frombeing pooped a second time.