CHAPTER VIII.CHEERING INFORMATION.
When we came near the captain both us lads halted, and neither dared make any effort at attracting his attention, save we might do so by silence.
We stood two or three feet away, much like culprits who had come to beg for pardon, and there waited until the commander of theAmericachanced to take the glass from his eyes.
Seeing us quite by accident, as it were, he looked wondrously surprised, as if it were difficult for him to realise that we could have so far transgressed sea customs as to venture unbidden on the quarter-deck.
Although Captain Joseph Ropes should have been the one to show respect when he and I met, because of the fact that he was my uncle’s employee, and I was a step above him in station when we were ashore, I dared not open my mouth, while he gazed at me curiously, with an expression of severe disapproval upon his face.
But for the fact that Simon was with me, and succeeded in plucking up heart at that moment, the interview which we had been waiting for so long would have come to naught, owing to my being tongue-tied.
My comrade, however, rendered desperate, as he afterward told me, by the thought that we might be forced to go forward again without having communicated our secret, stepped close by his father’s side, and said, in a low, yet emphatic tone:
“Nathan and I have discovered that which we believe you should know at once, sir.”
Captain Ropes glanced around quickly to learn if any other might have overheard his son’s words, and then said, in a low tone:
“Tell me quickly what you have learned, and do it in such manner that no one may suspect we are holding private converse.”
“There are but eighteen prisoners in the brig, sir, and yet by Nathan Crowninshield’s reckoning, as well as my own, there should be nineteen.”
“Nineteen were sent below,” the captain said, after a brief pause, during which I fancied he was running over in his mind the number of Britishers taken.
“There are but eighteen now, sir.”
“Are you two lads the only ones aboard ship who know that one of the men is missing?”
“So it would seem, sir. The cooks send nineteen pannikins when meals are served, and one of the prisoners comes forward twice for rations, in order to hide the absence of his companion.”
“So! And that’s the ghost, eh? You lads have done me a service which shall be rewarded later. Have you spoken with any of the crew on the subject?”
“No, sir; we thought it best to come first to you, and should have done so yesterday, had it been possible to get aft.”
“You have acted wisely; continue to hold your peace, and share guard duty with the sailors in order that he who has gained his liberty may not do a mischief. When the proper time comes, we’ll have a search for the missing man. Go forward now, and remember that this matter is not to be mentioned to the men.”
I was more than a little disappointed with the result of the interview, as Simon and I, obeying the captain’s command, took up our proper stations once more.
There had been in my mind the idea that some startling change would be the result of our communication, and yet I fancied Captain Ropes looked upon the matter as of but little importance, even though he declared we had rendered important service.
We lads might have conversed at greater length with the commander of the ship and yet failed of attracting the attention of our messmates, so intent were all upon watching theAmerica’sboats as they neared the prize.
Taking possession of theRalph Nickersondid not vary from previous work of this kind.
The commander of the ship, having surrendered when he hauled down his flag, received our men with due submission, and when the boats returned they brought with them thirty-three sailors, the first officer, and the captain, as prisoners.
The sea yet ran high, and it was no slight task to getthe Britishers aboard safely, for many of them were so disgruntled and stubborn over being captured as to take the chances of being drowned rather than help themselves in the slightest degree.
John Proctor, our fourth mate, and eleven men were sent on board theRalph Nickersonas a prize-crew, and such of the enemy’s men as had been left in their own craft already were agreed, in consideration of being set at liberty when port was made, to aid in working the ship.
No more than three hours were thus spent before the captured vessel was under way, steering westward, and theAmericalaid on such a course as it was believed would bring her in the track of the enemy’s merchantmen.
The wounds which the prize had received during the engagement would be attended to on her passage to the United States. While all the injuries might have been speedily repaired had we laid alongside of her so that our crew could aid in the work, Captain Ropes did not consider it wise to remain near at hand, lest a British cruiser should heave in sight, and, on seeing the two ships hove to, understand all that had occurred.
Now that my mind was set at rest concerning what the seamen believed had been a ghostly visitor, I found new cause for alarm.
First, however, let me set down the conclusion which Simon and I arrived at concerning that which had so alarmed our crew.
The fact that one of the prisoners was missing from thebrig seemed to us—and from the expression on Captain Ropes’s face I fancied he looked at the matter much the same as we did—conclusive proof that he who was at liberty had played the part of ghost, although how it might have been contrived we did not attempt to explain.
Of course we knew full well that there were no such things as spirits, even though we had been seriously alarmed, and it was not necessary we should reason out the entire scheme in order to say with good certainty that it had been brought about by the Britisher who should at this moment have been in the brig.
It was to me as if the visit of the supposed ghost had never occurred, the new danger being so imminent as to drive all else from my mind.
This peril lay, so I believed, in the number of prisoners we had on board.
There were, or should be, fifty-two in the hold, and three aft. Our crew, which numbered, when we left port, one hundred and sixty-three all told, had been weakened considerably by the prize-crews thrown aboard the captured craft.
Twelve men in all were sent to theRalph Nickerson, eight took charge of theBenjamin, and seven were sent into theJames and Charlotte, making twenty-seven in all.
This reduced our number to one hundred and thirty-six, and although such a force should overwhelm fifty-five Britishers if they took it into their heads to rise, the enemy was sufficiently strong, more particularly if our people were taken by surprise, to cause serious trouble.
While thus casting about to find food for anxiety, I took well into account the fact that, should the prisoners succeed in releasing themselves, they would fight desperately, and not be blamed for so doing, since they could only look forward to imprisonment when we made the home port.
And they had good cause for venturing their lives in the effort to escape, if they knew how their countrymen treated such of the Americans as were captured, because they might reasonably conclude that we of the United States would be equally brutal with those who fell into our hands.
It must not be supposed that I remained idle in order to cast up all these accounts which might work to our disadvantage.
I have simply set down here that which came into my mind like flashes of light, as Simon Ropes and I walked forward to obey his father’s command.
As the captain had left the matter, we were responsible in a certain degree for the prisoners, and both of us were bent on showing, if possible, that we could be depended upon even for such a difficult task as this.
We went directly into the hold, and there found as lively a scene of confusion and tumult as can well be imagined.
The Britishers whom we had taken from the other prizes were noisily greeting the newcomers, and eagerly questioning them concerning the news of the world from a British standpoint.
The brig was so full as to make it appear that the men were packed like herrings in a box, and I wondered how it might be possible for them to lie down at night without being stowed two or three deep over the floor of the prison.
“How may it be possible to take so many out for exercise?” Simon asked, in dismay, and I understood from the question that there was in his mind somewhat of that which had been troubling me.
“They can go out in squads, I reckon, for it is not likely the captain would allow all these on deck at the same time. However, that need give us little concern, for it is our business to see that he who runs at liberty somewhere in the hold be prevented from doing a mischief.”
“I cannot understand why matters are allowed to remain in this condition,” Simon said, as if speaking to himself. “It would have been more seemly, according to my way of thinking, had an immediate search been made for the Britisher who has succeeded in getting out of the brig. While he is at liberty much mischief may be done, however well we perform our duty.”
“It appears that your father is not of the same mind, and we can set it down as a fact that he knows best what should be done.”
“But think of the chances for trouble, while one of the Britishers is free to move about the hold as he chooses!”
It was as if Simon’s fears gave me courage, for I replied, stoutly, as one might who never knew what it was to be timorous:
“We have no right to question the captain’s wisdom, and should think only of carrying out his wishes to the letter.”
Simon made no reply, for a lad cannot well grumble against his father’s commands, and we loitered around as if from no other motive than that of curiosity, while the prisoners were making a tumult with their greetings and questionings.
Before the day was come to an end Simon suggested to me that we take it upon ourselves to find the man who had escaped.
Since the last batch of prisoners had arrived the guard was strengthened, and now, as I understood from Mr. Fernald, no less than three of the crew would be on duty constantly, even during an engagement, therefore might Simon and I make search for this solitary Britisher if it so pleased us.
But I was not minded to act upon his suggestion, believing Captain Ropes would have ordered an immediate search, unless it was his purpose to so conduct the matter that theAmerica’screw should understand beyond a peradventure who had played the part of ghost.
If we two lads took the matter in our own hands, we might upset the commander’s plans most seriously.
Therefore it was that we hung about the brig, regardless of the fact that the men detailed as guard expressed no little surprise because of our willingness to remain below while we might be on deck; and one day after another passed, while theAmericacruised to and fro inthe track of merchantmen, as if her commander had forgotten equally his son and those whom the latter had been set to watch.
Each day the prisoners were taken on deck, twelve or fourteen at a time, and the fellow who had succeeded in freeing himself from the brig must have come to the conclusion that his was an unwise move, since he had thus deprived himself of the privilege of fresh air.
We were seldom on the gun-deck, Simon and I, and therefore had little idea of how our men were behaving, save as we overheard the conversation between the sailors on duty in the hold.
Through this slight source of information we gathered that the majority of the crew were quite willing to forget their previous belief in the ghostly visitor; but the elder men, among them Master Josh, held to the idea as strongly as if their happiness depended upon its being proven a fact.
Our success had lessened the fears of the superstitious, and none of the men had overmuch to say concerning the significance of our carrying away a spar on the first Friday after leaving port.
That portion of our troubles had been cast aside once and for all, as a lying omen.
Each morning I expected that Simon and I would be summoned aft by the captain, and each day was I grievously disappointed in my expectations.
The prisoners, now so formidable in number, knowing that there was one on the outside who, at the first favourableopportunity, would aid them, grew insolent, jeering at the guard until it seemed positive our men would so far forget themselves as to raise their hands against apparently helpless captives.
Then came that morning when, judging from the confident bearing and outspoken threats of the Britishers, I made certain they were prepared to strike a blow of some kind, and I had called Simon Ropes aside with the intention of suggesting to him that we go aft once more to tell his father how much mischief was brewing, when we heard a great commotion on deck.
The guard, who had been ordered not to leave their posts of duty under any circumstances, except by express orders, urged that we lads ascertain what had caused the seeming disturbance.
I was the more willing to comply with such request because in the performance we might get an opportunity of speaking privately to Simon’s father, and with all speed the lad and I went on to the spar-deck, finding there both watches in the highest state of excitement, as well they might be, for off to leeward, not more than four or five miles away, could be seen a full-rigged ship.
“Is she a Britisher?” I asked of the man nearest me, and he replied, confidently:
“Ay, lad, there’s no mistaking her build and rigging. She hails from England, or I’m a Dutchman, and so heavily loaded with whatsoever may be the cargo that we’ll find in her a prize worth taking.”
“Providing her captain isn’t in a condition to object,”I replied, with a smile, whereat the man said, cheerily, as if he found in the fact no little pleasure:
“She’s armed, lad, so I’ve heard the officers say, an’ shows six ports on a side, therefore it stands to reason she carries no less than twelve guns.”
“And probably can put up as severe a fight as did theNickerson,” Simon added, grimly.
“Well, I am allowin’ we need exercise of that kind, lad. What with omens, an’ ghosts, an’ near to downright mutiny, this ’ere crew is gettin’ so rusty that a little blood-lettin’ will work to their advantage. I hold to it a privateersman gets into a bad condition if he ain’t knocked around just about so much, an’ our prizes thus far have come too easy. If we could suddenly find ourselves within range of a British sloop-of-war it would do us a world of good.”
“I’m thinkin’ you’d change your song if anything like that should happen,” Simon said, with a laugh, whereat the sailor, who was an exceeding sensible man, gave us a long lecture upon the necessity of running a privateersman into serious danger now and then for the sake of holding him in proper discipline.
Well, it was destined that we should not receive any very painful lesson on this day, despite the fact that the stranger was reasonably well armed.
Before two hours had passed we threw a shot across the Britisher’s bow, and sent another into her mizzen rigging which did no little damage.
Then her captain showed that he must have had moremilk than blood in his veins, for without discharging a single piece,—and we were now come so near as to see that she did indeed carry twelve guns,—he hove to quietly as any lamb.
Some of our people fancied there was a trick in all this; that when we came to board her we would find ourselves in hot water; but Captain Ropes was not the man to take any chances of this kind.
TheAmericahauled around under the stranger’s stern, where she could rake her fore and aft with a broadside, and then the boats were lowered away,—four of them, under command of Mr. Fernald.
It was the quietest capture one can imagine.
The Britisher did not make even a protest as our people swarmed over the rail, and when Mr. Fernald returned, leaving on board twenty men to hold possession, we knew that we had as a prize the British twelve-gun shipHope, from St. Thomas for Glasgow, with a cargo of sugar, rum, and cotton.
What a cheer went up from our menwhen Captain Ropes, after a brief conversation with the first officer, stepped forward to the break of the quarter-deck and announced the fact in much the same words I have just set down!
“WHAT A CHEER WENT UP FROM OUR MEN.”
“WHAT A CHEER WENT UP FROM OUR MEN.”
The men yelled themselves hoarse, for this ship would prove by all odds the most valuable prize we had taken, and if theAmericaturned about on the home run now, without adding further to her captures, we had indeed made a most successful cruise of what at one time threatened to end in disaster.
But good fortune was not to desert us with the capture of theHope, for Mr. Fernald had brought with him such news as caused the blood of every member of the crew, including Simon and me, to tingle, and thus did the captain impart it to his men:
“You lads who have been arguin’ an’ speechifyin’ ever since we left port, tryin’ to prove that theAmericawas doomed because a rotten spar chanced to carry away on a Friday, have thus far been disappointed in all your doleful predictions. Not even the appearance of your so-called ghost, and that sepulchral voice which you claimed to have heard, could spoil our luck. We have already made a paying cruise of it, such a one as will tassel well our neckerchiefs with dollars, and yet there is more to come. Mr. Fernald brings the information, gathered from the master of the prize, that yonder ship left St. Thomas three days ago, one of a fleet of forty-five merchantmen under convoy of the sloops-of-warRingdoveandScorpion. We are in the vicinity of that rich fleet, my lads, and if we fail to pick up two or three good prizes out of it, it will be only through our own neglect.”
Then the men fell to shouting once more, jumping and dancing around the deck like a pack of savages, and one of them cried out, in a tone so loud that it could be heard distinctly by all hands:
“Three cheers for the bloomin’ ghost what has brought us into such luck!”
The men laughed, and then cheered until the Britisherson board theHopemust have believed we had entirely lost our heads over their capture.
When the excitement had died away somewhat, Captain Ropes, still facing us near the break of the quarter, said:
“I allow, my lads, that we are a fairly good match for any British sloop-of-war afloat, and while I’m not hankerin’ for a fight which would bring in no dollars on the tail of it, we can afford to take the chances of meeting one of the king’s vessels while we pick up a stray merchantman. We’ll get rid of this prize as soon as may be, an’ then turn our attention to what should, within the next eight an’ forty hours, put us in fair shape to swing theAmerica’snose toward home. Bo’sun Valpey will choose twelve men as a prize-crew, an’ take charge of theHope, making for the nearest port north of New York. Stir yourselves lively, my boys, for there’s no time to be lost!”
I question if at that moment a single member of the crew, not excepting Master Joshua, remembered any of the alleged omens which had seemingly threatened disaster to us all.
Every man Jack of them fluttered about with a will, and before another hour was passed a prize-crew had been thrown aboard the captured ship. We had thirty-one additional prisoners in the hold, making eighty-three in all, and theHopewas crowding on all sail with her nose pointing northward.