CHAPTER XXIV.
“At this time the French fleet was ready for sea, and I experienced the most painful thoughts; here I was, an Englishman by birth and feelings, about to be forced to fight against my countrymen, though determined in my own mind when the moment arrived I would refuse to do so, and take the consequences. As long as my duty consisted in aiding to work the ship, or any seaman’s duty, I would do it willingly. At times I felt sanguine of being able to escape onboard an English ship. Some days after leaving Brest, it was my extreme good fortune to save the life of Captain Renaudin’s son. This fine young boy was full of life and spirit; his father was a widower, who doted on him; and Alfred was his only child.
“He used frequently to play about the quarter-deck, and would manage to climb up the mizen rigging, though his father usually prevented him. One day the ship going through the water at the rate of seven knots, and a cross swell, Captain Renaudin was writing in his cabin, when the young boy came on deck, and shortly after began climbing up the mizen rigging. I was then employed doing some trifling job to the ratlines, when the boy passed me, laughing. I begged him earnestly to come back, and even called to the officer on the quarter-deck. He heard me, and looking up, beheld young Renaudin.
“‘My dear boy, come down,’ exclaimed the lieutenant, ‘it’s naughty of you to go there. Your papa will be angry.’
“At that moment the ship rolled to port; somehow the child lost his footing, and fell; I grasped his garments, but lost my footing; and striking my feet forcibly against the rigging, we both fell into the sea. I did this to avoid touching the side, which would have killed us both. I had been a good swimmer from a very early period, so I kept the child’s head up. Oh, what a brave child that was—he was all alive, and without fear, notwithstanding the terrible shock with which we came against the water, going under several feet. A scene of indescribable confusion ensued on board the ship. The father wanted to plunge into the sea, though he was incapable of swimming; but the first lieutenant held him, saying—
“‘There is no fear; that brave youth swims like a duck; the cutter is out, and will reach them in a few minutes.’
“This little dialogue, whilst the ship was hove in stays, was related to me afterwards by the first lieutenant. In a few minutes the boat was lowered and manned, and in less than ten minutes we were lifted into her. Young Renaudin put his arms round my neck, and kissing me, said—
“‘Papa will always love you, and make you rich; and I will love you dearly. I was a very naughty boy.’
“Oh, how the father pressed the child to his heart, the tears streaming down his cheeks! he shook my hand with fervour, merely saying—
“‘Go, change your clothes; I owe you my boy’s life.’
“The next day I was sent for to the quarter-deck; the first lieutenant came up to me, saying I was to follow him to the captain’s state-room. Alfred Renaudin, nothing the worse for his dip, rushed to me, and threw his arms round my neck, saying—
“‘Mind, papa, what you promised me, and I’ll never be naughty again.’
“‘I owe you my child’s life,’ said Captain Renaudin, looking at me with great attention, and, I thought, some surprise.‘I find you are entered on the ship’s books as Julian Coulancourt—is that your name?’
“‘No, Monsieur; Coulancourt is my mother’s name. Mine is Julian Arden. I am an Englishman by birth.’
“‘How is that?’ exclaimed the Captain; ‘there is but one family in France of the name of Coulancourt, and a high family it is. If your mother was a Coulancourt, how do you bear the name of Arden?’
“I explained as briefly as possible, to the great surprise of the Captain and his first officer.
“‘Yours, and your unfortunate mother’s and sister’s fate,’ said Captain Renaudin, with emotion, ‘is a sad specimen of the mad acts committed by monsters, for I will not call them men. I believe every word you have told me. I regret you are of English birth, for I will not insult you by even supposing you would fight against your countrymen. My intention was to place you on the quarter-deck. Now I cannot do so; but I will remove you from your present position, till I have an opportunity of restoring you to your country. As you are entered on the ship’s books, I must continue you on them, but you shall remain with my son, nominally his tutor; thus in any engagement with your countrymen, you will have nothing to reproach yourself with. To me you will always be dear, for you have saved that which is dearer to me than life.’
“From this noble, excellent man I received every kindness and attention. I was supplied with proper garments by one of the midshipmen, and allotted a berth in the Captain’s cabin for young Renaudin and myself, and had all my meals at the Captain’s table. Some of my old associates in the forecastle viewed my transition from the galley to the Captain’s cabin with envy and sneers; they imputed my exaltation to the simple act of saving the Captain’s son; but such was not the case; had I been of low birth, and one of the crew, he would have amply rewarded me, but never have admitted me to an intercourse with himself and his officers; who, hearing my story, considered me their equal, and were exceedingly kind.
“Monsieur Renaudin was a man of high birth and refined mind. We often spoke of the horrors enacted in France during the Reign of Terror, and shuddered to think of Frenchmen having degenerated into demons. He knew my mother’s husband, the Duke de Coulancourt, and had heard of my beloved parent’s cruel misfortunes, but had no knowledge of her fate. He thought it too probable she and my little sister had perished under the monstrous rule of Collet d’Herbois.
“I became attached to Alfred Renaudin, and did all in my power to instruct him; fortunately, before my family becamevictims to the Revolution, every pains had been taken with my education, so, though scarcely seventeen, I may, without vanity, say that I had profited by the masters I had. I will pass over a period of sixteen months, and come to the eventful morning when the French fleet, of which the Vengeance was one, was attacked by the British fleet under Lord Howe. Of this tremendous and glorious action, ending in victory to the English, I can only speak as it affected the Vengeance. I requested Captain Renaudin’s permission to remain on the quarter-deck. He hesitated, saying, ‘My dear young friend, you will be risking life uselessly;’ but I prevailed. I need not say my heart beat quicker as I gazed out over the broad ocean, and beheld it covered with noble vessels, all preparing for a deadly strife. I counted five-and-twenty stately ships; but no doubt you know all about that memorable fight, Captain O’Loughlin, better than I can relate it to you.”
“Yes,” returned O’Loughlin, “but never from an eye-witness; moreover, there are some doubts thrown upon the exact cause of the foundering of the Vengeance. I pray you, therefore, to omit no particular that you witnessed.”
Julian Arden then continued—
“I said I counted five-and-twenty stately ships, all under full canvas, for the weather was very moderate, and the sea smooth. The ships, shortly after sighting each other distinctly, reduced their canvas to single-reefed topsails. The French ships kept signalling, and presently, as they read the signals, they all drew up in line, east and west. On our starboard quarter was the Achille, on the other the Patriote, or the Jeannapes, at this moment I forget which; but as I gazed in breathless anxiety, the breeze rapidly freshened, and then the English ships filled, and stood right for our line, and, as it appeared to me, each ship singling out its antagonist. I do not know the name of the ship, but she was by far the largest in the British fleet——”
“That was the Queen Charlotte,” said Captain O’Loughlin, “Lord Howe’s ship of one hundred guns.”
“Ah, now I remember, so it was,” said Julian. “She appeared to be bearing down right upon us; but suddenly she broke off from her course, and the Vengeance opened fire upon her, which she did not return; but immediately setting her top-gallant sails, shot past us, and ranged up abreast of the Achille, who at once commenced a fierce fire upon her, and immediately after, the action became general, and to my unpractised eye, a scene of intense confusion. What with the thundering of the cannon, the flapping of the monstrous sails, as the several ships tacked or hove-to, the cheers from some of the British ships, and the thunder of the huge blocks, as the sheets and tacks, cut by the balls, allowed them to dash wildly about, knocking againstyards and masts, altogether created an astounding din. Still there was an intense excitement in the scene, that left no thought of danger to intrude itself. Thus the action continued: the Vengeance, most admirably handled, her captain as cool and as calm as at his dinner-table. Two of his officers were struck down by his side, and splinters were knocked about like chips, when I suddenly observed a ship—the first lieutenant told me was the Brunswick—steer directly between us and the Achille. I then heard Captain Renaudin give his orders to close; the Vengeance shot ahead, there no longer remained an opening, and thus the Brunswick ran foul of us, with a great shock. My first idea was to run up the rigging and get into the rigging of the English ship, but I should, at such a moment, no doubt have lost my life.
“In this state our yards and rigging were entangled. We bore along through the water, the men of the Vengeance keeping up an incessant fire of musketry, and from her thirty-six pounders, loaded with old nails, and jagged pieces of iron, a terrible fire was poured into the Brunswick. I had just mounted upon a large case near the flag-staff, and from thence I could see on the deck of the Brunswick where the shot told with terrible effect. It made my heart throb painfully. The next instant I saw the Achille bearing down also to the Brunswick, but the Achille had only her fore and mizen-mast standing, and a terrible and well-directed broadside from the Brunswick totally dismasted her. Strange to say, all this time we were locked together.
“The crew of the Brunswick taking advantage of the rolling of the Vengeance, depressed the muzzles of their guns, and fired into us most destructive broadsides, ripping and tearing our sides terribly; but the Vengeance kept up so incessant a fire from the tops, and from our decks, that it was utterly impossible for me to get on board the Brunswick. A violent squall striking both ships, they tore asunder, snapping ropes, rigging, and yards, like packthread. For nearly two hours those two great ships had been locked together, the whole time keeping up a terrible fire. It was now that we received what I may call the mortal wound that caused the Vengeance to founder. Attacked by the Brunswick, and another seventy-four-gun ship at the same time, our gallant commander exerted all his skill, assisted by the courage of his crew, to contend against these odds, but the British ships were also worked with consummate skill; a shot struck our rudder, another shot knocked a huge hole under our counter, through which the water rushed in with great violence. As I was gazing intently on the scene, a ball struck the case on which I stood, breaking it to atoms, and throwing me violentlyagainst the starboard bulwarks, but I was quite sensible, and very little hurt. The state of the Vengeance was now terrible, numbers of her crew were now lying dead and dying, from the fire of three ships. I caught a glimpse of Captain Renaudin standing on a carronade vehemently cheering on his crew. Just then, as I was getting on my feet, young Alfred Renaudin rushed out of the cabin, and seeing me just rising, rushed with a cry to my side, saying—
“‘Oh! Julian, where ismon cherpapa? Are you wounded?’
“‘No, not wounded, only a little stunned; but you must not stay here,’ seeing his gaze fixed upon the body of a man lying dead within a yard or two of us. ‘Come below.’
“‘No, no,’ cried the child, ‘I’m no coward, but I am too little to fight.’ As I was leading him to the cabin, Captain Renaudin and his first lieutenant came up, followed by two of the crew; they unfurled a flag as a signal that the Vengeance surrendered. Captain Renaudin looked serious, if not distressed.
“‘We are sinking fast,’ he said, as he embraced his boy. ‘Mon Dieu, we have lost the ship, but we have done our duty;’ and in truth they had. The Vengeance had fought three line-of-battle ships. The firing had ceased on board the Brunswick. She had lost her mizen-mast and all her boats; so had the Vengeance, all but one small one. There was great excitement on board, for all knew they were sinking.
“Into the small boat Captain Renaudin desired me to get, and take his son with me and four men, and pull on board the nearest frigate that could afford assistance to save the crew. I slid down a rope first into the boat ready to receive young Alfred, but six or seven men slung down the rope, and one with his knife cut the warp.
“‘Rascal!’ I exclaimed, ‘what did you do that for? there are neither oars nor sail in the boat,’ and she drifted away from the Vengeance.
“‘Hold your jaw,’ said one of the men, ‘you skulking rascal, or I’ll stick my knife in you.’ I knocked the man over the side and shouted to the Vengeance, but the next moment a chance shot struck the boat, and cut her nearly in two, plunging us all into the water. As I scrambled up on the bottom of the boat, I beheld the main and fore-mast of the Vengeance fall, carrying away the mizen, but I had scarcely gained a firm hold on the boat’s bottom, when a wild and never-to-be-forgotten cheer startled me, and attracted my attention, despite my awkward situation. I looked in the direction of the sound. The cheer came from the lion-hearted crew of the poor Vengeance. She was going down; one moment she surged upwards; again another cheer. A tricolour was waved in triumph as she disappearedwith her living freight of brave, devoted men beneath the waves.
“I was horror-struck; I looked at those clinging to the broken boat; three were there, the others had been killed by the shot; but the savage culotte, who had threatened to stick me with his knife was one, and he glared at me savagely.
“‘Knock that spy and lubber off,’ said he to the two men near me; ‘she won’t bear up us four long.’ The ruffian himself edged towards me, and struck at me with his clenched fist; he had lost his knife; but I was strong and active, and not easily frightened, and in the struggle I knocked him off, and somehow he got under the boat, for we saw no more of him. The other two cursed me frightfully, but they could not swim, and they were afraid to move, as the boat was anything but a steady support. I looked around, hoping to have a chance of being picked up by some English vessel. The engagement still continued, and several shots tore up the water close beside us, and one stray ball struck the water, and then bounded right over us. At no great distance lay a French ship totally dismasted, but a shout from the two men in the boat caused me to turn round, and then I perceived a frigate, with the tricolour flying, coming right down for us. She perceived us in time, and backing her topsails under our lee, we dropped down to her. She hailed to know who we were, and the men replied, ‘We belong to the Vengeance.’ Ropes were thrown to us, and after a struggle we were hauled upon the deck. The two rascals were no sooner on the deck of the frigate, than they accused me of drowning their comrade by striking him down, when he was trying to save himself by clinging to the shattered boat. I soon found I had got amongst a crew of regularsans culotte, most violent, out-and-out Republicans. The frigate was the Volentier, which had taken no part in the fight. She was proceeding to Brest, with the news of the result of the engagement between the two fleets. Her captain, formerly the skipper of a merchant craft, was the greatest brute I ever encountered. He ordered me, without asking a single question, to be put in irons; this was done, and I lay in my wet garments the whole of the night. To attempt to disclose my being an Englishman would have insured my condemnation. Fortunately, not one of the officers on board the Vengeance had betrayed my not being a Frenchman, therefore I was so far safe.
“The next day I was hauled up and brought before the Captain, who was pacing the quarter-deck half-drunk. Fortunately for me, his first lieutenant was a humane man, and a gentleman, and as I afterwards found, had served with great disgust under Captain Baudet, and was resolved, whenthe frigate reached Brest, to get an exchange into another ship.
“‘So,’ said the Captain, stepping close to me, and staring into my face, his eyes bloodshot and his face purple with repeated potations; ‘so, you young rascal, you murdered your comrade; instead of helping a drowning man, you finished him.’
“‘Begging your pardon, monsieur——’
“‘Sacre tonnerre! you villain, how dare you, you scum of the gaols, how dare you beg my pardon? I’ll commence by giving you a couple of dozen, that will teach you to speak respectfully to your superior. Take him away, and——’
“‘Stay,’ said Lieutenant Veillot, calmly and quietly; and, turning to his commander—who seemed somewhat in awe of his lieutenant, and for a good reason, he could not work his ship without him, and had no more notion of bringing her into action than a school-boy—he said some few words to the captain, who looked sulky, but at length said, ‘Eh, bien, you can do so.’ Lieutenant Veillot then said, ‘Send those two men aft belonging to the Vengeance.’ The two rascals came swaggering up, and then stood eyeing me with looks of malice and triumph.
“‘Now, harkee, my men,’ said the Lieutenant; ‘if you do not give me a true statement, and answer the questions I ask you honestly, you will pay for it, and get your backs well scratched; for I strongly suspect you are telling a lie when you say this young stripling murdered your comrade. Now answer me; what is the name of this youth?’
“‘He was entered in the ship’s books, Julian Coulancourt.’
“‘Well, what was he—was he before the mast?’
“‘Yes,’ returned the men, ‘he was before the mast, rated second class.’
“‘Then how comes he to be attired in plain clothes and garments only worn by gentlemen? He did not dress in that manner working as a common sailor.’
“‘He jumped overboard—any one of us would have done the same—to save Captain Renaudin’s son; and the captain, to reward him, gave him those clothes, and kept him to attend on his son.’
“‘Is this a correct statement, young man?’ aid the Lieutenant, turning to me.
“‘Very nearly so, monsieur,’ I returned. ‘Captain Renaudin, finding I was connected with the Duke de Coulancourt’s family——’
“‘Why, curse your impudence!’ burst out Captain Baudet, ‘there are no dukes now; the guillotine has weeded our poor country of all those gentry. There, I have had quite enoughof this examination; I don’t care a sous whether you murdered your comrade or not—it won’t bring him to life again. You were entered on the books of the Vengeance as seaman, second class; go forward and do your duty; and, harkee ye, if I catch you skulking, or playing the gentleman, I’ll make your back a curiosity to look at. Go,’ and the brute walked off.
“Lieutenant Veillot bit his lip. ‘Go, my lad,’ said he kindly to me; ‘do your duty, and you need not be afraid. When we get to Brest things may turn out differently; you shall not be punished for nothing, at all events.’
“Here was a miserable prospect for me; obliged to herd with the very worst class of seamen, the very refuse of the prisons, whereas the Vengeance, excepting in a very few cases indeed, were thorough good seamen. However, there was no help for it. I consoled myself with the reflection that, on arriving at Brest, through the kindness of the first lieutenant, I might get exchanged into another ship, or manage to get away, and trust to my thorough knowledge of French to escape detection, and get to Paris. The day before we reached Brest, in a violent squall, one of the sailors saved from the Vengeance fell from the foreyards and fractured his skull. Before he died he stated to the surgeon that his accusation against me was false; that it was his comrade intended killing me, and that, in my defence, I struck him into the water.
“This confession did me no good with our brutal captain. He only swore he’d watch me the sharper, as I was an accursed spawn of an aristocrat. Nevertheless, it was satisfactory to me, this confession, as many of the crew of the Volentier treated me less unkindly.
“Misfortune still persecuted me. For some days the first lieutenant complained of illness, but struggled against it. The day we entered Brest he was seized with fever, and became slightly delirious, and was taken ashore to the naval hospital. Captain Baudet, with a mocking laugh, said to me the next day, as I happened to pass near him on some duty I was put to do—
“‘So, you young aristocrat, you have lost your friend. Never mind, sacre Dieu! I’ll take care of you. You don’t quit this ship; I’ll have you closely watched. I have not seen your delicate back yet, but don’t despair.’
“It was with difficulty I could keep my temper, but I made no reply. I was watched with a vengeance. This low-bred ruffian seemed to have a vast delight in inflicting indignities and insults upon any one he conceived an aristocrat by birth. He thought I was one of the Coulancourt family, and the most degrading duties were given me to perform. I could have no redress. No matter how degrading the tasks, I performed them,because I knew the wretch would inflict an indignity I could scarcely survive. However, all attempts at escape were put an end to by our being sent to the coast of Africa, with the fifty gun frigate Experiment, two other ships, and two brig corvettes. We sailed on an expedition against the town of Sierra Leone. Fortunately for me, our brutal and half-mad commander drank himself into a fit ofdelirium tremens, and remained confined to his cabin, under the care of the surgeon, till we arrived, after a boisterous voyage, off the coast, and shortly after the ships commenced a heavy fire upon the town, which offered no resistance whatever. The second day the British ensign was hauled down as a token of surrender; nevertheless, the two frigates kept up an incessant fire into the streets of the town, as we afterwards heard, killing and wounding many. At length it was resolved to land. I was rejoiced to hear this, for come what would, I resolved to escape, and take my chance of fortune. Our little squadron was commanded by a Monsieur Theodore Allemand. Each ship told off a certain number, and as luck would have it, I formed one from our ship. We had already lost many men by the pestiferous climate, and had many sick; amongst the sick was our captain, or I do not think I should have formed one of the landing party. Our surgeon was of opinion that the captain would not live, and the first lieutenant, who would take the command if he died, felt rather anxious that he should not; the crew would not, however, have gained much by the exchange. Everything being prepared, the men told off into the boats. We pulled in for the town, and a miserable-looking place it appeared. Before the boat’s keels touched the beach the town was totally abandoned by its inhabitants; so that when we entered, the officers were not able to restrain the men, and, with a loud shout, away they went, breaking into the houses, plundering and destroying everything, even setting fire to the houses. Watching my opportunity, I dashed out through the back window of a large house, threw away my musket, and made directly for the woods. When I reached cover, regardless of reptiles or wild beasts, I threw myself into a thicket, and then fell, somewhat exhausted by the run I had had. From where I was I could see the smoke of the burning town, for they wantonly set fire to the church, the company’s warehouses, and all the buildings belonging to the English residents. As I lay hid in this kind of jungle, I began to think what I should do; where had the inhabitants fled to, where procure food. It was the month of September. As I lay, perfectly still, I suddenly caught the sound of voices not very far from me. I listened, and became convinced I heard females speaking. The jungle was extremely thick and entangled. As I cautiously moved on towards the sounds, I distinctlyheard a man’s voice, and even distinguished the words, ‘Don’t be alarmed; it’s nothing.’ ‘Ah!’ said I, joyfully, ‘here are some of the English inhabitants of the town, hiding.’ So I sprang up, and, without hesitation, pushed my way through the bushes, and, thrusting aside a dense mass of vegetation, a man started up, presented a pistol, and fired without a word of warning.
“This was rather an uncourteous mode of salutation, but as it only knocked my hat off, and raised the skin of my head, I was well satisfied; but, thinking I might be favoured with a second, I called out, ‘I am English—a fugitive from the French ships.’
“‘Why the deuce didn’t you say so?’ said the man; ‘I might have killed you.’
“I now, to my surprise, found myself face to face with the party hiding; besides the man there were two females, Europeans, and two black girls. The man was attired in a light European dress made of cotton; he advanced towards me with a drawn sword in his hand, whilst the females, two young and lovely girls, stood half-frightened, half-bewildered. The Englishman said—
“‘It was very foolish, young man, for you to burst in upon us so rashly. Knowing the rascally Frenchmen were plundering and firing the town, I mistook you, as well I might, seeing your dress, for one of them. If I had mortally wounded you, and then found out my mistake, it would have made me miserable.’
“I easily perceived by his manner and tone that the stranger was decidedly a gentleman. I begged to apologise, stating that my family had suffered in France during the worst days of the revolution; that I had been imprisoned, and afterwards forced to serve on board a man-of-war, but was determined not to fight against my countrymen, and that the moment I landed with the party attacking the town, I fled.
“‘Cursed set of cowardly buccaneers!’ said the stranger. ‘Come, I am rejoiced, since you are an Englishman, and no harm has happened, that I can give you shelter. Come here, Cherry, my girl,’ turning to the two timid but really lovely girls, that stood gazing at me with surprise. One of the girls came timidly forward, and then her father, for such the stranger was, said—‘Do you think we may trust this young man, and let him share our shelter? he’s an Englishman, though somewhat like one of those buccaneering Frenchmen in attire.’
“The young girl blushed, saying—‘Oh, yes, father, I should surely do so. What else but to seek safety could bring him here?’
“‘Thank you, miss,’ said I, ‘for your good opinion; I assure you, you shall never repent any kindness shown me. I have hitherto suffered from tyranny and oppression, but kindness I have rarely experienced.’
‘Well, girls, he shall have my protection, though those cursed Frenchmen have knocked down our house, and left us only the canopy of heaven for a roof; besides, we must get out of this place before night, or some hungry lion may possibly intrude. So come, sit down; I do not think there is the slightest chance of the enemy penetrating further than the town, so you are safe enough. I see clearly you are, or were, in a better station of life than your dress denotes. You will have time enough to tell me all about yourself. I have an intelligent negro watching the movements of the French; when he comes back and reports that they have returned on board their ship, we will think of moving.’ So we all seated ourselves on the dried grass in heaps, gathered by the two black attendants. These two natives were far from ugly, though certainly not provided with a superfluity of garments.
“‘Now girls,’ said the stranger, ‘let us have some refreshment and wine,’ and at once a large hamper was unpacked. The stranger’s two daughters, losing their timidity, laughingly displayed their stores, and most kindly invited me to share their repast. We were in a nice cool, shady place, well protected from the sun’s rays, otherwise the heat would have been oppressive. Some roast fowls and bread, and fruit, and good wine, made an excellent repast, and, before it was finished, I had become quite friendly and familiar with the two charming sisters and their kind-hearted father. The young ladies were attired in loose cotton dresses, simply drawn in at the waist, and wore rice straw hats. Their father was a man rather above the middle size, broad-shouldered and deep-chested, with very handsome, pleasing features, dark hair and beard, and in years about forty-five. His two daughters were, as he afterwards told me, seventeen and fifteen. The eldest was a lovely girl, and so fair, I judged she could not have been long exposed to a southern sun. The negro girls were very young, with slender, fine forms, and dazzling white teeth; of their dress, the less said the better—it was the attire of the country, and no one thought anything about it.”
A summons on deck, a large ship being in sight, put an end to Julian Arden’s story for that night, and all went upon deck.