CHAPTER NINE.
One of the most valuable qualities which a person can possess, ispresence of mind. Our safety and our life, and the safety and the livesof others, frequently depend on it. Some people are endued with itnaturally--they never act without thought, and they in a moment perceivewhat is best to be said or done. Others act from impulse, withoutconsideration, and though they may now and then do what is right bychance, they are more likely to do what is wrong; like the Irish seaman,who, when ordered to cut a rope to which he was hanging, cut above hishead instead of below his feet, and came down by the run. I believethat it is very possible to attain a presence of mind which one does notnaturally possess, by constant practice and attention, though I suspectthe task would be found very difficult.
When Ada saw the paper drop from the hand of the young Italian mariner,her first impulse was to call out to him in order to restore it, but thelook he gave as he left the cabin, convinced her that he had done sopurposely, and feeling that if so, it was certainly of importance, asshe did possess the quality of which I was speaking, she sprang forwardto secure it. The paper she saw, as she returned to her seat, was theblank leaf of a book, torn hastily out, and folded up in the form of anote; but on opening it there appeared to be nothing written on it.
"Why, what is that you have got there, Ada?" said Colonel Gauntlett.
"Oh, I fancied that I had discovered an important document, and, lo andbehold, it turns out to be merely a blank paper," returned the younglady laughing. "One cannot help conjuring up some romantic incident inthese lovely seas, and forgetting that in these matter-of-fact daysnothing of the sort is likely to occur; but I believe after all thereare some pencil marks on the paper." She held it up closer to thelight, and as she did so, her countenance grew graver. There were a fewlines written in pencil, but so faint that it was not surprising sheshould, at first, not have remarked them. They were in Italian, and inthe peculiar handwriting of the people of that nation.
"Trust not to appearances," they said. "Avoid the polacca brig. Thestory told you is false." At the bottom were the words, "An unwillingactor," as if intended for a signature. There was nothing more to showby whom they were written, though there could be but little doubt thatthey were so by the young mariner, or by somebody who had employed him.Ada translated them to her uncle, who was at a loss to comprehend theirmeaning, further than that they contradicted the story they had justheard from the lips of the very man who dropped the paper. He thoughtover them for some time, and then summoned Mitchell, whom he directed torequest the captain's presence.
Ada was again called to translate them, when the captain appeared.
"And what do you think of them?" the colonel asked him.
"Why, sir, that they serve to confirm my suspicions, and those of mymate, that the felucca is not honest, and that there is a good deal ofmystification going on somewhere or other."
"Then you don't believe the story of the Austrian brig having sent thefelucca to us?" asked the colonel.
"Not a bit of it, sir; and my firm opinion is, that if the rascals hadfound us unprepared, she would have been alongside us before now. Shehad more people on board her than when she left Malta harbour thismorning, though where they came from I can't say; and I'm positive as tothe craft, though the young man denied having been there for many a day.I can't make it out."
"But what does this paper mean about the polacca brig, think you?" askedthe colonel.
Bowse thought for some time.
"I have it, sir!" he at length exclaimed, clapping his hand to his head."That's the brig those fellows wanted to make us suppose an Austrianman-of-war. If they had taken less trouble we might have been takenin."
"And what do you intend to do, Captain Bowse? Remember I am under yourorders, in the way of fighting on board here. If you ever come on shorewhen there's anything doing, I will show you how we manage thingsthere."
The colonel spoke in a good-natured lively tone, as he always did themoment there appeared a prospect of fighting.
"Keep our guns loaded, and trust to Providence, sir," replied thecaptain.
"Please, sir, Mr Timmins begs you will just step on deck for a moment,"said the steward, putting his head in at the door, and looking at themaster.
Bowse jumped up and hurried on deck, for he knew the mate would not havesent for him except on a matter of importance.
"Here, Sims, what's the matter now?" said the colonel, calling thesteward from the pantry; "any more visitors?"
"O Lord, no, sir, I hope not," answered Sims, coming forward and showingby the pallor of his countenance, and his trembling hand, that whateverthe matter was it had alarmed him.
"What is the matter, then?" exclaimed the colonel. "Out with it."
"Why, sir, they say on deck, that the _Flying Dutchman_ is following us,and that we shall be sure to drive ashore or go to the bottom," answeredthe steward, almost crying with alarm.
"Fiddle-de-dee, with the _Flying Dutchman_. What arrant fools the menmust be to think of such nonsense," exclaimed the colonel, in acontemptuous tone. "Come, Ada, let us go on deck before you return toyour cabin, and we will have a look at the phantom."
Bowse found his mate standing on the poop, looking intently over theweather quarter. He was so absorbed in what he saw, that he was notaware of his commander's presence till the latter touched his arm.
"I thought it was better to send for you, Captain Bowse, for as I'm aliving man there is that cursed felucca, instead of going to Malta,following at our heels, and coming up with us hand over hand."
As the mate spoke, he pointed in the direction towards which he had beenlooking. Bowse, having just left the bright light of the cabin, couldnot at first discern anything; but gradually he perceived the darkshadowy outline of the speronara's sails brought into one, and like aphantom gliding over the waves. There could be no manner of doubt thatit was she, but the question in his mind was how to treat her. Thoughhe might be almost certain that her intentions were evil, he could notfire into her, till there was no doubt of the matter, and she might bealongside, when the advantage he possessed in having heavy guns, wouldbe much diminished, if not altogether lost. He might, possibly, bymaking more sail, get away from the speronara; but that he doubted, andthe brig was already under as much canvas, as on ordinary occasions, itwas considered prudent to carry at night. He remembered that he was noton board a man-of-war, when sail could be shortened, without calling thewatch below. Yet sail must be made, as it would never do to have thatlittle speronara buzzing about them all night without being allowed topunish her, or trying to get away from her.
"We must see if we can't walk away from that fellow, Mr Timmins. Turnthe hands up," he at length exclaimed, after taking a turn on the poop."Set the royals. Get the fore topmast, and lower studding-sails onher."
"Ay, ay, sir," replied the mate, going somewhat slowly to obey theorder. "Little good I'm afraid it will do us, though."
The crew, though expecting to be roused up, for the watch on deck hadlet those below know of the reappearance of the suspicious stranger,went about their duty without their usual alacrity.
"One might just as well try to run clear of a hurricane as to beat thatchap out there either on wind or off it," muttered Jem Marlin, as hewent aloft to rig out the studding-sail booms. "All the canvas in storein Portsmouth Dockyard wouldn't carry us away from him, if he wanted tocatch us."
The additional sail, however, was set, and as the wind had fallen light,it was only what was required to urge her at her previous speed throughthe water. While sail was being made the master was joined on the poopby his passengers.
"Well," said the colonel, laughing. "I hear we have the honour of thecompany of the _Flying Dutchman_ again."
"Dutchman or not, sir," replied the master, "that little speronara hastaken it into her head to dodge us; and, shame on the brig, which oughtto do better, she seems likely to come up with us."
"Well let her--we are a match for her, I should t
hink; and my littlegirl here seems rather anxious for a brush. She puts to shame thatsteward of yours, who came skulking into the cabin just now as white asa sheet, declaring we were going to be boarded by ghosts or hobgoblinsof some sort."
"You must humour seamen, or you can never manage them, sir," replied themaster. "They as firmly believe in the _Flying Dutchman_ as they do inthe Gospel; and you can't persuade them that he is not to be met with.It would never do for me to go and tell them that they are cowards andcredulous fools; and I well know that the same men would face threetimes their number with cutlasses in their hands."
"And I am sure, uncle, any one might be excused for mistaking that darkobject astern of us for a phantom wandering over the face of the deep,"said Ada. "Even now, as I look at it, I can scarcely persuade myselfthat it is the light, graceful speronara we saw during daylight; and amfar more inclined to believe it a being from another world--the ghost ofone of the old sea-kings one reads of--or, perhaps, a malign spiritstalking over the deep in search of prey.
"Well, miss, the same sort of idea occurs to the mind of the uneducatedseaman as he keeps his silent watch at night on the mast-head orforecastle; and when he sees through the darkness tall ships slowlygliding noiselessly over the waters, and when no sign or signal isexchanged, there is nothing to show him to the contrary. I don't meanto say that there are many seamen that would mistake a ship for a ghost,because they would not be worth their salt if they did; but a few mayhave done so, and have told stories about them which have found plentyof people to believe them, and tell them again."
"That's the way all the wonderful nonsense one hears spoken of has gotcirculated," said the colonel. "But as I do not see much to interest usin looking at that vessel astern--and there is nothing else visible--Ishall go to bed; and you, Miss Ada, must go to your cabin, so takeMarianna off with you."
Ada begged to remain a little longer; and, for a short time more, shewas allowed to enjoy the fresh air on deck. The night was very fine.The sky was perfectly clear, and the stars shone brightly forth--butthere was no moon; and, consequently, her range of vision was muchcircumscribed. The sea was covered with light waves, which, as theyrose and fell, scarcely had any effect in giving motion to the vessel.The hue of the ocean was, in some places, almost of an inky blackness;in others it was lighted up with phosphorescent flashes, which, seenamid the surrounding darkness, seemed as brilliant as if composed ofreal fire--their reflection being caught by the light foam which curledon the summits of the dancing waves--while, on either side of thevessel, a mass of scintillating sparks flew off as if her stern wereploughing up a vast field with a sub-layer of gold-dust; and asternappeared a line of yet brighter lights composed of thousands of whirlingeddies, which grew smaller and smaller, and less distinct, till lost inthe distance. After watching the sea for some time, as Ada looked up atthe rigging, and at the masts and wide-spread sails above her head, theyno longer looked as in the day-time, like white wings extended to urgeon the vessel in her course; but, increased to many times their formersize, they seemed like a black pyramid to tower upwards to the sky tilllost in the distance.
Ada was not long permitted to enjoy this, to her, unusual scene, beforeher uncle again summoned her below; and this time she was obliged toobey. He, however, had given strict orders to be called should anythingoccur.
The wind, as the night drew on, grew considerably lighter, and this gavea decided advantage to the speronara, which rapidly came up abeam.Neither Bowse nor his mates had turned in, and even the crew remained ondeck, watching the stranger with jealous eyes. It appeared, as theywatched her, that she was steering a course a point more to windwardthan they were, for, as she came up, her distance from them was fargreater than they had expected, and it was soon evident that she had nointention of boarding them. Bowse breathed more freely, and looked atthe studding-sails. He knew that all hands were weary as he washimself.
"Take in the studding-sails, Timmins, and furl top-gallant sails. The_Zodiac_ can walk along fast enough without them, and we must not havethe people roused out again, if we can help it."
The order was obeyed with alacrity, and the brig was soon brought underthe snug canvas she usually carried at night.
"I told ye, Bill, there was no manner nor use setting them studsails norto'gallant sails neither," said Jem Marlin, as, his watch on deck beingover, he turned into his hammock at midnight. "Lord bless ye, nothingcould have made us run away from her if we'd tried ever so much. But tomy mind, it's having that young lady aboard kept him off. Depend on'tthere's nothing like having a beautiful, virtuous young woman on yourside, to keep Davy Jones and all his devils at long range. The fact is,they're afraid of her, she's so different to theirselves. While we,Bill, you knows, is sarcumstantially too much--"
What Jem might have said further, I know not, for his head touched theend of his hammock, and he was fast asleep.
The grey light of the early dawn was just stealing across the sea, and afew faint streaks of reddish tinge showed the eastern part of the sky,when the master of the _Zodiac_ came on deck. His ship was stillproudly holding her course unharmed, amid the waste of waters, and withthat fresh reviving hour when all the events of the new-born day are yetto occur, the indistinct causes of the alarm of the previous nightappeared to have vanished, and even the superstitious seamen couldventure to smile at their previous terrors. The wind had fallenconsiderably, and there was no longer sufficient to crest the tops ofthe sluggish leaden-like waves which had not yet lost the hue thrownover them by the mantle of night. Gradually, however, the eastern skyassumed a warmer, and yet a warmer tinge, increasing till an orange glowwas cast across their surface, the sombre colour gave place to abrighter purple, and as the sun bursting from his ocean confines, tookhis rapid course upwards, they caught the intense blue of the sky abovethem, on their changeful bosoms.
The first thing which a sailor does on coming on deck, is to cast hiseye aloft, to see what sails are set, and how they stand, and then tosweep it round the horizon; his next is to go aft to the binnacle, andto take a look at the compass.
Bowse quickly satisfied himself that the sails were properly trimmed,and that the ship was steering on her right course; but the survey hetook of the horizon did not so well please him. There was in the firstplace, some odd-shaped clouds floating along to the south andsouth-east, just above the sea, which he did not like, and rather to thenorthward of east, just on the horizon, were two sails, the appearanceof which he liked still less. He looked at them attentively, then herubbed his eyes, and looked at them again; but neither operationsatisfied him. He then went to the companion, and taking his spyglass,surveyed the two objects for some time. A landsman would not haveremarked them; indeed, he would scarcely have perceived the faint,irregularly shaped dots they appeared, just suspended, as it were, abovethe horizon; but the well-practised eye of the old sailor could not onlydiscover what were their peculiar rigs, but even which way they weresteering. He soon determined, to the satisfaction of his own mind, thatthe northern-most of the two, and the nearest, was a lateen-riggedcraft, standing, close hauled, to the northward, across his course, andthat the other was a square-rigged vessel, probably a brig, under easysail, standing in the same direction that he was. Now, although underordinary circumstances, he would not have given the two vessels a secondthought; yet coupling the events of the previous day, and the mysteriouswarning they had received, he could not help thinking that one was thesperonara; the other the brig with which she was in communication, andwhich she wished to persuade them was an Austrian man-of-war. Bowsetook two or three turns on deck, every now and then casting a glanceeastward, expressive of no very amiable feelings.
"Oh! confound the rascals," he muttered, stamping his foot on the deck."If it wasn't for that sweet young lady below, who should not have hereyes shocked with scenes of blood and fighting, I wish they would bothof them come on at once, and have it out, if they want to rob us,instead of sneaking round, and bothering us in this way. If I do g
etalongside them, I will give it them; but we shall have something else todo before that, I suspect."
He took another turn or so, and then stopped, looking to the northward.He had, at first, intended again setting all the sail the ship wouldcarry before the wind; but on more critically examining the clouds inthat quarter, he determined, for the present, to make no change. Theclouds, he observed, were increasing in number, and banking up thicklytogether, and the first freshness of the morning had given way to anoppressive and heavy air, which seemed to weigh down their spirits. Thewind, which had hitherto been so steady, though varying in strength, nowdropped considerably, and began to veer about, so as to require thehands constantly at the braces. Bowse fully felt the responsibility ofthe command intrusted to him, and that the safety and lives of his crewand passengers would depend very much on his forethought, judgment, andcoolness. He was glad to be alone, to think over what was best to bedone under the circumstances; that a gale was brewing, he felt prettysure, and that it would come from the southward and east; but whether itwould be of long duration, or whether one of those sudden gusts, thoseshort-lived tempests, which occur frequently during summer in theMediterranean, he could not determine, though he was inclined to thinkit would be the latter; then, that some vessel, with no good motive, waslooking out for the brig, he felt almost certain; though his pride wouldnot allow him to suppose that any one, knowing the armament of the_Zodiac_, would attempt to attack her openly. At the same time this wasan additional object of anxiety, and would require caution.
The watch, with bare feet, and trousers tucked up to their knees, withbuckets in their hands, were employed in washing decks, and as theysplashed the water along the planks, and up the inner sides of thebulwarks, they laughed and jested in very buoyancy of spirits; andplayed off on each other various little practical jokes, which thepresence of the second mate, who superintended and aided in theoperation, alone prevented from being of a more boisterous character.
The poop deck, where the captain was walking, had already been washed,and the people were now in the waist, and were giving a few morevehement splashes before moving further forward, when Colonel Gauntlett,in his forage cap, a richly flowered dressing-gown, and Turkishslippers, made his appearance at the companion hatch, very nearlyreceiving a copious shower-bath from the contents of a bucket dashedacross the deck at that moment.
"Hillo, my men," he exclaimed, in no very amiable tone. "I thought theship was wrecked, with all that splashing and scrubbing. One wouldsuppose that the vessel was as dirty as those Augean stables that fellowHercules had to clean, by all the water you use."
"It's cheaper than pipe-clay, and cleaner, for it's to be had for thetaking, and don't leave any dust," muttered Jem Marlin, who was theoffender.
"It may be cheap, but it makes a confounded noise, and we have enough ofit outside, as it is," answered the colonel, not hearing the referenceto pipe-clay. "So I beg in future you won't let quite so much of itplay round my head in a morning."
This was said, as he was standing with his body half-way down thecompanion ladder.
He then observed the master on the poop.
"Well, Mr Bowse, anything more of our friend, the _Flying Dutchman_?"he asked in a jocose tone.
"If you will step up here, I will tell you more about her, sir,"answered the master; and, thus summoned, the colonel picked his way overthe wet deck to where he was standing. "I think it right, ColonelGauntlett, to tell you, that you may be prepared, that we are going tohave a blow of it, shortly; and I want you to look at that brig outthere. What do you make of her?"
"Bless me, nothing--I can't even see her," said the colonel. "Do youmean to tell me that you can distinguish what that little black mark isout there?"
"Yes, Colonel Gauntlett, I am certain that yonder object is either abrig or a ship, under her tops'ils, standing to the eastward, and thatthe other, you see, to the north of her, is a felucca or speronara.Now, sir, if there is any credit to be placed in the letter we got lastnight, and in the account the two Sicilians who came on board gave us,and in the warnings we got at Malta, we are likely to fall in with abrig which is no better than she should be, and which is in connection,some way or other, with that same speronara. Now, there is a brig onthe same course that we are; yet, for some reason or other, in no hurryto make a passage: perhaps, she is waiting for us to come up with her.Then there floats just such another craft as the speronara, supposing itis not she herself: so, if we are to fall in with a pirate, I cannothelp thinking that brig ahead is the vessel. That is one thing I haveto mention to you, sir; and please to look to the south'ard andeast'ard. The black bank gathering there shows that we shall have avery different time of it to what we had yesterday."
"Well, Mr Bowse, what would you have us do?" exclaimed the colonel,with rather a puzzled look. "Do you wish us to put back?"
"No, Colonel Gauntlett, I have been brought up in a school where it isnot the custom to run from any danger men can meet with, when there is achance of overcoming it," replied the master, with not a little dignityin his tone. "But I thought it my duty to inform you, sir, of what, inmy opinion, is likely to occur; and, please Providence, we'll do ourbest to meet and overcome any dangers which may appear."
"I like your spirit, Bowse, and cordially agree with you," exclaimed thecolonel, taking his hand. "Those black clouds may, after all, onlyindicate a squall; and, as for the pirate, if one falls foul of us Ithink we snail have no difficulty in handling him."
"I won't deceive you, sir; if you had been as much at sea as I have youwould know that those clouds foretell a gale; but such a gale as I hopethe _Zodiac_ will weather without straining a timber; and, for thepirate, we must keep our weather eye open, that he does not take usunawares. Perhaps, Providence tends the storm to keep us clear of thepirate. My advice to you, sir, is to warn the young lady and her maidof what is going to happen, and to get everything stowed in your cabin.I'm just going to turn the hands up to shorten sail."
"I wish I could be of as much use there as I hope to be alongside anenemy; but as I cannot, I will go where I can do some good." Sayingwhich, the colonel returned to the cabin.
"All hands on deck to shorten sail," sang out the master; and ere aminute had passed, the senior mate and the watch below were on deck.
The fore-clue-garnets were manned, and the foresail was quickly clewedup, and the men flying aloft, it was securely furled. The topsails werenext lowered on the caps, whence they bulged out like big balloons,about to fly away with the masts.
"Man the fore and main tops'il clew-lines and bunt-lines," sung outBowse, laying his hand on the main. "Away with it, my lads."
The topsails were clewed up, the reef tackles hauled out, and the handsaloft lying in, in as short a time almost as it has taken to describe.Both sails were close reefed, and again sheeted home. The fore and aftmainsail was then close reefed, the jib hauled down, and fore-topmaststaysail hoisted; the royal yards were also sent down, and the brigthen, under her smallest working canvas, was prepared to meet thetempest, in whatever way, or from whatever quarter it might come.