CHAPTER XVIII. THE "BLACK MOLL"
I have no intention, my dears, of dwelling upon that part of myadventures which must be as painful to you as to me, the veryrecollection of which, after all these years, suffices to cause theblood within me to run cold. In my youth men whose natures shrank notfrom encounter with their enemies lacked not, I warrant you, a checkeredexperience. Those of us who are wound the tightest go the farthest andstrike the hardest. Nor is it difficult for one, the last of whose lifeis being recorded, to review the outspread roll of it, and trace theunerring forces which have drawn for themselves.
Some, indeed, traverse this world weighing, before they partake,pleasure and business alike. But I am not sure, my children, that theybetter themselves; or that God, in His all-wise judgment, prefers themto such as are guided by the divine impulse with which He has endowedthem. Far be it from me to advise rashness or imprudence, as such; nordo I believe you will take me so. But I say unto you: do that which isright, and let God, not man, be your interpreter.
My narrative awaits me.
I came to my wits with an immoderate feeling of faintness and sickness,with no more remembrance of things past than has a man bereft ofreason. And for some time I swung between sense and oblivion before anoverpowering stench forced itself upon my nostrils, accompanied by acreaking, straining sound and sweeping motion. I could see nothing forthe pitchy blackness. Then I recalled what had befallen me, and criedaloud to God in my anguish, for I well knew I had been carried aboardship, and was at sea. I had oftentimes heard of the notorious press-gangwhich supplied the need of the King's navy, and my first thought wasthat I had fallen in their clutches. But I wondered that they had daredattack a person of my consequence.
I had no pain. I lay in a bunk that felt gritty and greasy to the touch,and my hair was matted behind by a clot of blood. I had been stripped ofmy clothes, and put into some coarse and rough material, the colour andcondition of which I could not see for want of light. I began to castabout me, to examine the size of the bunk, which I found to be narrow,and plainly at some distance from the deck, for I laid hold upon one ofthe rough beams above me. By its curvature I knew it to be a knee, andthus I came to the caulked sides of the vessel, and for the first timeheard the rattling thud and swish of water on the far side of it. I hadno sooner made this discovery, which drew from me an involuntary groan,when a ship's lanthorn was of a sudden thrust over me, and I perceivedbehind it a head covered with shaggy hair and beard, and beetling brows.Never had I been in such a terrifying presence.
"Damn my blood and bones, life signals at last! Another three bellsgone, my silks and laces, and we had given you to the sharks."
The man hung his lanthorn to a hook on the beam, and thrust acase-bottle of rum toward me, at the same time biting off a great quidof tobacco. For all my alarm I saw that his manner was not unkindly, andas I was conscious of a consuming thirst I seized and tipped it eagerly.
"'Tis no fine Madeira, my blood," said he, "such as I fancy your palateis acquainted with. Yet 'tis as fair a Jamaica as ever Griggs put ashorei' the dark."
"Griggs!" I cried, the whole affair coming to me: Griggs, UpperMarlboro', South River, Grafton and the rector plotting in the stalls,and Mr. Silas Ridgeway the accomplice.
"Ay, Griggs," replied he; "ye may well repeat it, the-------, I'll lay apuncheon he'll be hailing you shortly. Guinea Griggs, Gold-Coast Griggs,Smuggler Griggs, Skull-and-Bones Griggs. Damn his soul and eyes, he hathsent to damnation many a ship's company."
He drained what remained of the bottle, took down the lanthorn, and leftme sufficiently terrified to reflect upon my situation, which I founddesperate enough, my dears. I have no words to describe what I wentthrough in that vile, foul-smelling place. My tears flowed fast when Ithought of my grandfather and of the dear friends I had left behind, andof Dorothy, whom I never hoped to see again. And then, perchance 'twasthe rum put heart into me, I vowed I would face the matter show thiscut-throat of a Griggs a bold front. Had he meant to murder me, Ireflected, he had done the business long since. Then I fell asleep.
I awoke, I know not how soon, to discover the same shaggy countenance,and the lanthorn.
"Canst walk, Mechlin?" says he.
"I can try, at least," I answered.
He seemed pleased at this.
"You have courage a-plenty, and, by G--, you will have need of it allwith that of a Griggs!" He gave me his bottle again, and assisted medown, and I found that my legs, save for the rocking of the ship, weresteady enough. I followed him out of the hole in which I had lain on toa deck, which, in the half light, I saw covered with slush and filth.It was small, and but dimly illuminated by a hatchway, up the which Ipushed after him, and then another. And so we came to the light of day,which near blinded me: so that I was fain to clap my hand to mine eyes,and stood for a space looking about me like a man dazed. The wind, tho'blowing stiff, was mild, and league after league of the green sea dancedand foamed in the morning sunlight, and I perceived that I was on alarge schooner under full sail, the crew of which were littered aboutat different occupations. Some gaming and some drinking, while on theforecastle two men were settling a dispute at fisticuffs. And they gaveme no more notice, nor as much, than I had been a baboon thrust amongthem. From this indifference to a captive I augured no good. Then myconductor, whom I rightly judged to be the mate of this devil's crew,took me roughly by the shoulder and bade me accompany him to the cabin.
As we drew near the topgallant poop there sounded in my ears a noiselike a tempest, which I soon became aware was a man swearing with aprodigious vehemence in a fog-horn of a voice. "Sdeath and wounds! Whereis that dog-fish of a Cockle? Damn his entrails, and he is not comesoon, I'll mast-head him naked, by the seven holy spritsails!" Andmuch more and worse to the same tune until we passed the door and stoodbefore him, when he let out an oath like the death-cry of a monster.
He was a short, lean man with a leathery face and long, black ropy hair,and beady black eyes that caught the light like a cat's. His looks,indeed, would have scared a timid person into a fit; but I resolved Iwould die rather than show the fear with which he inspired me. He wasdressed in an old navy uniform with dirty lace. His cabin was bareenough, being scattered about with pistols and muskets and cutlasses,with a ragged pallet in one corner, and he sat behind an oaken tablecovered with greasy charts and spilled liquor and tobacco.
"So ho, you are risen from the dead, are you, my fine buck? Mr.What-do-they-call-you?" cried the captain, with a word as foul as anyhe had yet uttered. "By the Lord, you shall pay for running my bosunthrough!"
"And by the Lord, Captain What's-your-name," I cried back, for the rum Ihad taken had heated me, "you and your fellow-rascals shall pay in bloodfor this villanous injury!"
Griggs got to his feet and seized his hanger, his face like livid marbleseamed with blue. And from force of habit I made motion for my sword,to make the shameful discovery that I was clothed from head to foot inlinsey-woolsey.
"G-d---my soul," he roared, "if I don't slit you like a herring! Thedevil burn me to a cinder if I don't give your guts to the sharks!" Andhe made at me in such a fury that I would certainly have been cut topieces had I not grasped a cutlass and parried his blow, Cockle lookingon with his jaw dropped like a peak without haulyards. With a stroke ofmy weapon I disarmed Captain Griggs, his sword flying through the cabinwindow. For I made up my mind I would better die fighting than expire ata hideous torture, which I doubted not he would inflict, and so I tookup a posture of defence, with one eye on the mate; despite the kindoffices of the latter below I knew not whether he were disposed tobefriend me before the captain. What was my astonishment, therefore, tobehold Griggs's truculent manner change.
"Avast, my man-o-war," he cried; "blood and wounds! I had more than aneye when they brought thee aboard, else I would have killed thee likea sucking-pig under the forecastle, as I have given oath to do. By theGhost, you are worth seven of that Roger Spratt whom you sent to hell inhis boots."
Wherewith Co
ckle, who for all his terrible appearance stood in a mightyawe of his captain, set up a loud laugh, and vowed that Griggs knew aman when he spared me, and was cursed for his pains.
"So you were contracted to murder me, Captain Griggs?" said I.
"Ay," he replied, a devilish gleam coming into his eye, "but I have nowgot you and the money to boot. But harkye, I'll stand by my half of thebargain, by G--. If ever you reach Maryland alive, they may hang me tothe yardarm of a ship-of-the-line."
And I live long enough, my dears, I hope some day to write for you theaccount of all that befell me on this slaver, Black Moll, for so she wascalled. 'Twould but delay my story now. Suffice it to say that we sailedfor a fortnight or so in the West India seas. From some observationsthat fell from the mouth of Griggs I gathered that he was searching foran island which evaded him; and each day added to his vexation at notfinding it. At times he was drunk for forty hours at a stretch, whenhe would shut himself in his cabin and leave his ship to the care ofCockle, who navigated with the sober portion of the crew. And such alousy, brawling lot of convicts I had never clapped eyes upon. As forme, I was treated indifferently well, though 'twas in truth punishmentenough to live in that filthy ship, to eat their shins of beef and brinypork and wormy biscuit, to wear rough clothes that chafed my skin. Ishared Cockle's cabin, in every way as dirty a place as the den I hadleft, but with the advantage of air, for which I fervently thanked God.
I think the mate had some little friendship for me, though he was toohardened by the life he had led to care a deal what became of me. Heencouraged me secretly to continue to beard Griggs as I had begun,saying that it was my sole chance of a whole skin, and vowing that if hehad had the courage to pursue the same course his own back had not beencheckered like a grating. He told me stories of the captain's crueltywhich I dare not repeat for their very horror, and indeed I lacked notfor instances to substantiate what he said; men with their backs beatento a pulp, and others with ears cut off, and mouths slit, and toesmissing. So that I lived in hourly fear lest in some drunken fitGriggs might command me to be tortured. But, fortunately, he held smallconverse with me, and when sober busied himself in trying to find theisland and in cursing the fate by which it eluded him.
So I existed, and prayed daily for deliverance. I plied Cockle withquestions as to what they purposed doing with me, but he was wont toturn sulky, and would answer me not a word. But once, when he was deeperin his cups than common, he let me know that Griggs was to sell me to acertain planter. You may well believe that this did not serve to livenmy spirits.
At length, one morning, Captain Griggs came out of his cabin and climbedupon the poop, calling all hands aft to the quarterdeck. Whereupon heproceeded to make them a speech that for vileness exceeded aught I haveever heard before or since. He finished by reminding them that this wasthe anniversary of the scuttling of the sloop Jane, which had made themall rich a year before, off the Canaries; the day that he had sent threeand twenty men over the plank to hell. Wherefore he decreed a holiday,as the weather was bright and the trades light, and would servequadruple portions of rum to every man jack aboard; and they set up acheer that started the Mother Careys astern.
I have no language to depict the bestiality of that day; and if I had Iwould think it sin to write of it. The helm was lashed on the port tack,the haulyards set taut, and all hands down to the lad who was the cook'sscullion proceeded to get drunk. I took the precaution to have a hangerat my side and to slip one of Cockle's pistols within the band of mybreeches. I was in an exquisite' agony of indecision as to what mannerto act and how to defend myself from their drunken brutality, for I wellknew that if I refused to imbibe with them I should probably be murderedfor my abstemiousness; and, if I drank, the stuff was so near to alcoholthat I could not hope to keep my senses. While in this predicament Ireceived a polite invitation to partake in the captain's company,which I did not see my way clear to refuse, and repaired to the cabinaccordingly.
There I found Griggs and Cockle seated, and a fair-sized barrel of rumbetween them that the captain had just moved thither. By way of welcomehe shot at me a volley of curses and bade me to fill up, and throughfear of offending him I took down my first mug with a fair good grace.Then, in his own particular language, he began the account of thecapture of the Jane, taking care in the pauses to see that my mug wasfull. But, as luck would have it, he got no farther than the boarding bythe Black Moll's crew, when he fell to squabbling with Cockle as to whohad been the first man over the side; and while they were settling thisdifference I grasped the opportunity to escape.
The maudlin scene that met my eyes on deck defies description; somewere fighting, others grinning with a hideous laughter, and still othersshouting tavern jokes unspeakable. And suddenly, whilst I was observingthese things from a niche behind the cabin door, I heard the captaincry from within, "The ensign, the ensign!" Forgetting his dispute withCockle, he bumped past me and made his way with some trouble to thepoop. I climbed the ladder after him, and to my horror beheld him ina drunken frenzy drag a black flag with a rudely painted skull andcross-bones from the signal-chest, and with uncertain fingers toggle itto the ensign haulyards and hoist to the peak, where it fluttered grimlyin the light wind like an evil augur on a fair day. At sight of it thewretches on deck fell to shouting and huzzaing, Griggs standing leeringup at it. Then he gravely pulled off his hat and made it a bow, andturned upon me.
"Salute it, ye lubberly! Ye are no first-rate here," he thundered."Salute the flag!"
Unless fear had kept me sober, 'tis past my understanding why I was notas drunk as he. Be that as it may, I was near as quarrelsome, and wouldas soon have worshipped the golden calf as saluted that rag. I flungback some reply, and he lugged out and came at me with a spring like awild beast; and his men below, seeing us fall out, made a rush for thepoop with knives and cutlasses drawn. Betwixt them all I should soonhave been in slivers had not the main shrouds offered themselves handy.And up them I sprung, the captain cutting at my legs as I leftthe sheer-pole, and I stopped not until I reached the schooner'scross-trees, where I drew my cutlass. They pranced around the mast andshowered me with oaths, for all the world like a lot of howling dogswhich had treed a cat.
I began to feel somewhat easier, and cried aloud that the first ofthem who came up after me would go down again in two pieces. Despite mywarning a brace essayed to climb the ratlines, as pitiable an attempt asever I witnessed, and fell to the deck again. 'Twas a miracle that theymissed falling into the sea. And after a while, becoming convincedthat they could not get at me, and being too far gone to shoot with anyaccuracy, they tumbled off the poop swearing to serve me in a hundredhorrible ways when they caught me, and fell again to drinking andquarrelling amongst themselves. I was indeed in an unenviable plight,by no means sure that I would not be slain out of hand when they becamesufficiently sober to capture me. As I marked the progress of theirdamnable orgy I cast about for some plan to take advantage of theircondition. I observed that a stupor was already beginning to overcome afew of them. Then suddenly an incident happened to drive all else frommy mind.
Nothing less, my dears, than a white speck of sail gleaming on thesouthern horizon!
For an hour I watched it, now in a shiver of apprehension lest it passus by, now weeping in an ecstasy of joy over a possible deliverance. Butit grew steadily larger, and when about three miles on our port bow Isaw that the ship was a brigantine. Though she had long been in sightfrom our deck, 'twas not until now that she was made out by a man on theforecastle, who set up a cry that brought about him all who could reelthither, Griggs staggering out of his cabin and to the nettings. Thesight sobered him somewhat, for he immediately shouted orders to castloose the guns, himself tearing the breeching from the nine-pounder nexthim and taking out the tompion. About half the crew were in a liquorishstupor from which the trump itself could scarce have aroused them;the rest responded with savage oaths, swore that they would boil theirsuppers in the blood of the brigantine's men and give their corpses tothe sea.
They fell to work on the port battery in so ludicrous a mannerthat I was fain to laugh despite the gravity of the situation. But whenthey came to rig the powderhoist and a couple of them descended intothe magazine with pipes lighted, I was in imminent expectation of beingblown as high as a kite.
So absorbed had I been in these preparations that I neglected to watchthe brigantine, which I discovered to be standing on and off in a veryundecided manner, as though hesitating to attack. My spirits fell againat this, for with all my inexperience I knew her to be a better sailerthan the Black Moll. Her master, as Griggs remarked, "was no d--dslouching lubber, and knew a yardarm from a rattan cane."
Finally, about six bells of the watch, the stranger wore ship and boredown across our bows, hoisting English colours, at sight of which Icould scarce forbear a cheer. At this instant, Captain Griggs woke tothe fact that his helm was still lashed, and bestowing a hearty kick onhis prostrate quartermaster stuck fast to the pitchy seams of the deck,took the wheel himself, and easing off before the wind to bring thevessels broadside to broadside, commanded that the guns be shooed tothe muzzle, an order that was barely executed before the brigantine camewithin close range. Aboard her was all order and readiness; the men ather guns fuse in hand, an erect and pompous figure of a man, in a cockedhat, on the break of her poop. He raised his hand, two puffs of whitesmoke darted out, and I heard first the shrieking of shot, the broadsidecame crashing round us, one tearing through the mainsail below me,another mangling two men in the waist of our schooner, and Griggs gavethe order to touch off. But two of his guns answered, one of which hadbeen so gorged with shot that it burst in a hundred pieces and sentthe fellow with the swab to perdition, and such a hell of blood andconfusion as resulted is indescribable. I saw Griggs in a wild fit ofrage force the helm down, the schooner flying into the wind. And by thistime, the brigantine having got round and presented her port battery,raked us at a bare hundred yards, and I was the first to guess by thetilting forward of the mast that our hull was hit between wind andwater, and was fast settling by the bow.
The schooner was sinking like a gallipot.
That day, with the sea flashing blue and white in the sun, I saw men goto death with a curse upon their lips and a fever in their eyes, withmurder and defiance of God's holy will in their hearts. Overtaken inbestiality, like the judgment of Nineveh, five and twenty disappearedfrom beneath me, and I had scarce the time to throw off my cutlassbefore I, too, was engulfed. So expired the Black Moll.
Volume 4.