CHAPTER XLII.
A LEAP FOR LIFE—THE BRAVERY OF A YOUNG MIDDY—THE TALE STARTLES ALL PRESENT—WHO IS HE?
A LEAP FOR LIFE—THE BRAVERY OF A YOUNG MIDDY—THE TALE STARTLES ALL PRESENT—WHO IS HE?
“The last cruise I made in the Channel was in search of the Skeleton Crew, in the ‘Diamond’ frigate, ‘Trumps,’ as we sometimes used to call our gallant ship.
“We had been tacking and filling for several weeks on the western coast in search of Death-wing’s phantom ship of smugglers, and, during that time, we had had some pretty heavy weather.
“When we reached Flamborough Head, there was a spanking wind blowing from west-south-west; so we squared away, and without coming to at the Head made straight for old Hull, the general rendezvous and place of refitting for our squadrons in the German Ocean, because smugglers are plentiful there.
“Immediately on arriving there, we warped in alongside the quay, where we stripped ship to a girt line, and gave her a regular-built overhauling from stem to stern.
“Many hands, however, make light work.
“In a very few days all was accomplished.
“The stays and shrouds were set up, and new rattled down; the yards crossed, the running rigging rose, and sails bent.
“And the old craft, fresh painted and all a-taunto looked as fine as a midshipman on liberty.
“In place of the storm stumps which had been stowed away among the booms and other spare spars amidships, we had sent up top-gallant masts and royal poles, with a sheave for sky-sails and houst enough for sky-scrapers among them.
“So you may judge the old frigate looked pretty taunt.
“There was a Dutch line ship in the harbour, but though we carried only thirty to her forty guns, her main-truck would hardly have reached to our royal mast-head.
“When we had got everything ship-shape and man-of-war fashion, we hauled out again, and took berth about half a mile from the quay.
“What little wind we had had in the fore part of the day, died away at noon, and though the first dog-watch was almost out, and the sun was near the horizon, not a breath of air had risen to disturb the deep serenity of the scene.
“Even on board our vessel a degree of stillness unusual for a man-of-war prevailed among the crew.
“It was the hour of the evening meal, and the low hum that came from the gun-deck had an indistinct and buzzing sound.
“On the top of the boom cover, and in the full glare of the sun, lay a tall negro, ‘Black Jake’ the jig-maker of the ship, and a striking specimen of African peculiarities, in whose single person they were all strongly developed.
“His flat nose was dilated to unusual width, and his ebony cheeks fairly glistened with delight, as he looked up at the gambols of a huge ape, which had been entrusted to our care to take to Plymouth, and which, clinging to the main-stay just above Jake’s, the big negro’s, woolly head, was chattering and grinning back at the ‘Darkie’ as if there existed some mutual intelligence between them.
“I was on watch on deck, and standing amusing myself by observing the antics of the black and his congenial playmate the ape, but at length tiring of the rude mirth, had turned towards the taffrail to gaze on the more agreeable features of that scene.
“Just at that moment, a shout and a curse burst upon my ear.
“Looking quickly round to ascertain the cause of the unusual sound on a frigate ship, I was horrified at what I saw.
“The commodore was on board that day with his wife, child and nurse.
“The nurse and child had just come out of the Captain’s state cabin, when Jacko the ape, being teazed by the negro, plunged wildly towards the nurse, broke his chain, seized the commodore’s infant boy, and with a terrific scream rushed up the rigging with it!
“This was a most horrible predicament, for the ape was only half tamed!
“A single glance to the main-yard explained the occasion of Jake the negro’s shout and curse.
“The nurse had been coming up from the cabin when Jacko perceiving her near him, broke his thin chain, dropped suddenly down from the main-mast and running along the boom cover seized the nurse’s cap from her head, frightened her into a fit, and seizing the child, immediately darted up the main-topsail sheet, and thence to the bunt of the main-yard, where he now sat grinning and screeching most horribly, tossing the child about and each moment threatening to kill it.
“But one of our young midshipmen, a great favourite on board, who was a sprightly active fellow, and called Ned, though he could not climb so nimbly as an ape, yet had no mind to let the child suffer or be strangled without an effort to regain it, and kill the monster.
“Perhaps he was the more strongly excited to make chase after Jacko and the child, from noticing how much the commodore had praised him for former acts of bravery, and by the loud curses of the nigger Jake, who seemed suddenly horror-stricken at what had happened, because it might have been thought that he had been the main cause of the sad occurrence by teasing Jacko.
“‘Ha, you rascal Jacko, hab you no more respect for de commodore den to steal his child? We bring you to de gangway, you black nigger, and get you a dozen on de bare back for a tief, and afterwards skin you alive.’
“The ape looked down from his perch, as if he understood the threat of the negro, and chattered a sort of defiance, showing his teeth, and each instant seemed as if he would bite the crying infant.
“‘Ha, ha! Massa Ned, he say you must ketch him ’fore you flog him, and it’s no so easy for a midshipman in boots to ketch a big ape barefoot.’
“A red spot mounted to the cheeks of Ned, as he cast a glance of offended pride and contempt at Jake, and then sprung across the deck to Jacob’s ladder.
“In an instant he was half-way up the rigging, running over the ratlines as lightly as if they were an easy flight of stairs.
“The shrouds scarcely quivered beneath his elastic motion.
“In a second more his hand was on the futtocks.
“‘Massa Ned,’ cried Jake, who sometimes, from being a favorite, ventured to take liberties with the younger officers.
“‘Massa Ned, you best crawl through the ‘lubber’s hole;’ it take a sailor-man to climb de futtock shroud.’
“But he had scarcely time to utter his pretended caution before Ned was in the top.
“The infuriated ape, in the meantime, had awaited the gallant middy’s approach, until perceiving he held a glittering dirk between his teeth, he began to chatter and scream, and toss and twirl the screaming infant about, until each moment seemed to be its last.
“The sight was sickening, for no one knew how to catch the ape.
“He might at any moment, in his fury, have dashed the infant’s brains out against the mast.
“No one dared to fire, for the same shot might have killed the child.
“Besides, if the ape had been wounded, he would then have surely killed the babe for revenge.
“Gallant Ned had nearly got up the rigging, when the ape clasped the baby more firmly, and, running along the yard to the opposite side of the top, sprang up a rope, and thence to the topmast back-stay.
“Up this it ran to the topmast cross-trees, where it again quietly seated itself and resumed its work of scratching the baby’s head, and pulling its clothes to pieces.
“The cries of the child were now ear-piercing and heartrending.
“For several minutes I stood watching the gallant young middy follow Jacko the ape from one piece of rigging to another, the ape all the while seeming only to exert such speed as was necessary to elude its pursuer, and pausing whenever the latter appeared to be weary of the exciting chase.
“All on deck were breathless with excitement.
“At last, by manœuvring thus, the mischievous animal, which looked now more ferocious than ever, succeeded in enticing the gallant young middy as high as the royal mast-head.
“Springing suddenly from place to place, the chattering ape climbed the sky-sail pole, and, to the horror of every one, was actually tying, and did tie, the child on the main truck, a small circular piece of wood on the loftiest mast, and at a height from the deck so great that it made one dizzy to think of it.
“A shout of horror ran through all the crew.
“The ape had succeeded in tying the child with its own clothes on to the highest point of the tallest mast, and there it was, swaying to and fro, and in danger each second of falling off and being crushed to atoms.
“The cries of the mother were heartrending.
“Having done this amount of mischief, Jacko ran nimbly down to the fore-top gallant mast-head, thence down the rigging to the fore-top, when, leaping on the fore-yard, it ran out to the yard-arm, and there began capering about, chattering, screeching, and making the most hideous noises.
“The young middy was completely tired out with chasing Jacko, to save the child; but, unwilling to return to the deck while the child was in such unearthly danger, he took deliberate aim at the ape, and shot it in the head.
“The infuriated monster was only wounded, but with a scream it rushed at the brave middy, and there, in the rigging, took place one of the most awful fights man ever witnessed!
“The excitement on board was now something awful and intense.
“Every moment it was thought that the gallant lad would be killed or crushed to death by the infuriated monster.
“Men on all sides rushed to his assistance.
“But before they climbed half-way up, the gallant middy stabbed the ape and ran it through and through with his sword.
GIVEN AWAY!!
SCENES,
SHEETS OF CHARACTERS,
AND A
LARGE STAGE FRONT FOR A NEW PLAY,
CALLED
“ALONE IN THE PIRATES’ LAIR.”
READ THE “BOYS OF ENGLAND,”
AND
SECURE THE ABOVE MAGNIFICENT GIFTS.
ONE PENNY WEEKLY.
WILDFIRE NED’S ATTACK ON THE SKELETON CREW.—See Next Number.
WILDFIRE NED’S ATTACK ON THE SKELETON CREW.—See Next Number.
WILDFIRE NED’S ATTACK ON THE SKELETON CREW.—See Next Number.
“Dark gore stained the snow-white decks.
“The next moment, with a loud scream, Jacko fell a lifeless, mangled mass upon the deck.
“Loud shouts recognised the middy’s victory.
“But his most dangerous task was yet before him.
“None of us expected he had the strength to reach the main truck and rescue the child, but while I turned my head in sickened horror, I was suddenly startled by a cry from Black Jake—
“‘Oh! massa, massa! Massa Ned, the middy, is on de main truck!’
“A cold shudder ran through my veins as the words reached me.
“I cast my eyes upwards to the dizzy height.
“It was too true.
“There, up aloft, and looking like a speck, the gallant lad climbed and held on to the main truck.
“There was nothing above nor around him but the empty air.
“But still he climbed.
“One moment more, and he has saved the child!
“A loud cheer greets him as he unties the little thing, and he waves his cap.
“But why doesn’t he come down with the baby?
“He cannot!
“He is too weak to attempt it!
“What must he do?
“He climbs on to the top of the main truck.
“He sits on the round piece of wood, which, from the deck, looks no bigger than a button.
“Dreadful daring!
“If he should attempt to stoop, he has nothing to take hold on.
“Nothing was within reach beneath him but a long, smooth, naked spar, which even then bent with his weight.
“Any attempt to get down with the child would be almost certain death.
“He would lose his balance and be dashed to pieces!
“Such was the nature of the thoughts of everyone on board, as they gazed at the adventurous youth up aloft.
“The parents of the child were now almost frantic.
“They had to be led into the cabin, for they were well-nigh crazed with fear.
“What was to be done?
“No one dared to go up after him, for the spar even now bent under his weight.
“I looked up, and half thought I could see the brave lad’s limbs tremble and his cheeks all red with excitement.
“Each second I thought would be his last.
“I could not bear to look at him, and yet could not withdraw my gaze.
“I myself had the sensation of one about to fall from a great height.
“Making a strong effort to recover myself, like a dreamer who fancies he is shoved from a precipice, I staggered up against the bulwarks.
“When my eyes turned from the dizzy height to which they had been riveted, sense and consciousness came back.
“I looked around: the deck was crowded with every man and boy in the ship.
“All the officers had now heard of the young midshipman, and hurried from their berths below to witness the appalling sight.
“Every one, as he looked up and beheld the perilous, hopeless condition of the gallant midshipman and child, turned pale.
“Once a lieutenant seized a trumpet, as if to hail the middy up in the clouds, but, he had scarcely raised it to his lips, when his arm dropped again, and sank beside him, as if from sad consciousness of the perfect uselessness of what he had been going to say.
“Every eye was now turned upward.
“All was dead silence.
“‘What is he doing?’ said one.
“‘He is tying the child firmly on his back.’
“‘He is strapping it tightly with his belt.’
“‘Well done.’
“‘Gallant lad.’
“‘See how he rocks.’
“‘What will he do next?’
“‘Death is certain for both, or it is a miracle.’
“Thus whispered one to another, as they watched the brave youth now more intently than ever.
“At this moment there was a stir among the crew about the decks.
“Directly after another face was added to those on the quarter-deck, it was that of the infant’s father, the appalled commodore.
“He had come from the cabin in great haste, and without having been noticed by a single one of the crew, so intense and universal was the interest that had fastened every gaze upon the spot where the intrepid Ned now stood, trembling on the awful verge of fate!
“The commodore was a dark, austere man; and it was thought by some of the midshipmen that he entertained but little affection for the gallant Ned.
“However that might have been, it was certain he treated him with precisely the same courtesy and discipline that he would any other of the young officers.
“If there was any difference at all, it was not the least in favour of Ned, for young Warbeck, if anything, was ‘too fast.’
“Some who studied his character closely, affirmed that he admired young Ned as he might have done his own son, but not too well to spoil him. For Ned intending himself for the arduous profession in which the commodore had himself risen to fame and eminence, the old sailor thought it would be of service to him to experience some of its privations and hardships at the very outset.
“The arrival of the commodore upon the scene now changed the direction of several eyes, which now turned on him to trace what emotions the danger of his infant son would occasion.
“But there scrutiny was foiled.
“By no outward sign did he show what passed within.
“Immediately on reaching the deck, he had ordered a marine to hand him a musket.
“With this, stepping aft, and getting on the look-out block, he raised it to his shoulder, and took a deliberate aim at his infant son and Ned, at the same time hailing him without a trumpet, in a voice of thunder.
“‘Ned,’ cried he, ‘jump! jump overboard! or I’ll fire at you!’
“The gallant lad did not hear what was said, and seemed to hesitate!
“It was plain that he was tottering from intense weakness, for his arms were thrown out like one scarcely able to retain his balance.
“The old commodore raised his voice again, and, in a quicker and more emphatic tone, cried out,
“‘Jump! ’tis your only chance for life!’
“The words were scarcely out of his mouth before the gallant boy seemed to leave the truck and spring out into the air!
“A sound between a shriek and a groan burst from many lips.
“The father spoke not—sighed not.
“Indeed he did not seem to breathe.
“With a rush like that of a cannon-ball, the middy and his precious burden descended to the water.
“Before the waves closed over them, twenty stout fellows, among them several officers, had dived from the bulwarks.
“Another short period of bitter suspense ensued.
“He rose.
“He was alive!
“His arms are seen to move!
“He struck out towards the ship!
“And despite of the discipline of a man-of-war three loud huzzas, an outburst of unfeigned and unrestrainable joy from the hearts of our numerous crew, pealed through the air and made the welkin ring.
“Till this moment the old commodore stood unmoved.
“The gallant middy and the child were safe!
“The eyes that, glistening with pleasure, now sought his face, saw that it was ashy pale.
“He attempted to descend the horse-block, but his knees bent under him.
“He seemed to gasp for breath, and put up his hand, as if to tear open his vest, but, before he could accomplish his object, he staggered forward, and would have fallen on deck had he not been caught by old Black Jake.
“He was borne into his cabin, where the surgeon attended him, whose utmost skill was required to restore his mind to its usual equability and self-command, in which he at last happily succeeded.
“As soon as he had recovered from the dreadful shock, he sent for the gallant Ned and had a long confidential chat, but so overpowered was he, that he could only grasp Ned’s hand, as he said in a faint voice,
“‘Heaven bless you, my lad; you have proved yourself a hero, and worthy of the profession you have chosen. I shall write to the Admiralty directly and inform them of your grand feat, and I have no doubt promotion will attend it. At all events, Ned, accept my heartfelt thanks.’”
“‘You have made an old man happy and young again.’”
“A most gallant deed,” said the old dame.
“Yes, worthy of the Spartans,” chuckled Sir Andrew.
“You said the name of the ship was—”
“The ‘Diamond.’”
“Why, that was the vessel in which young Warbeck sailed with Lieutenant Garnet.”
“I know it was,” said the stranger. “She has had a most successful cruise against the Skeleton Crew and the smugglers, and chief among those who distinguished themselves, both afloat and ashore, was the same gallant young middy I have been speaking to you about.”
“He must be an heroic boy, whoever he is, and he is called Ned, too, eh?”
“We used to call him Wildfire Ned,” said the stranger, laughing; “he is a lieutenant now, and on his way to London.”
“Itmustbe Ned Warbeck, then,” said several.
“It was none other,” said the stranger, laughing; “and I commanded the ship; my name is—
“Captain, late Lieutenant, Garnet.”