We waited only long enough to make certain our men were not opposed when they went over the rail, and then theEssexwas headed for the other ships, both of whom were clawing off at the best possible speed.
For two hours we cracked on every inch of canvas that could be spread, overhauling the strangers in fine style, and then, while we were yet fully eight miles distant, Phil's wish was granted. The wind died away so suddenly that, save for the general excitement of taking prizes, all hands would have been on the lookout for a squall, and Phil cried in my ear:—
"Now we shall see something of real business. Those craft won't submit tamely to our small boats, and we shall know what a sea-fight is like!"
I believed he spoke only the truth, and once more the cold shivers chased themselves up and down my backbone; for despite all the fine words with which I had regaled my cousin, I was not really hankering to put myself in the way of the smallest shot that might be fired. The mischief had been done, however, and by no one but myself; therefore the least I could do was to look pleasant, although I hoped most fervently that Mr. Downes would give no heed to my cousin's request.
In this last I was most wofully disappointed, for Phil had hardly more than ceased speaking when a marine came to summon me aft.
I went, knowing full well why the order had been sent, and blaming myself for a meddling fool, when by holding my tongue I might have remained safe and sound on board theEssexinstead of pulling a heavy oar two or three hours simply that the Britishers could have an opportunity to kill me.
Lieutenant Downes was on the quarter talking with Captain Porter when I came up, and not until his interview with the commander was come to an end did he turn toward me. Then it was to say:—
"So you and your comrade are eager for a taste of boat-work?"
I could do no less than agree with him after all the fine speeches I had made to my cousin; and he said, as if believing he was doing me a wonderful favor:—
"When the boat crews are called away, you two lads will take your places alongside me. I have promised Mr. McKnight to have an eye out on you bloodthirsty youngsters, and it won't be my fault if he doesn't hear exactly how you behaved under fire."
If I had not been on the quarter-deck I believeof a verity I should have groaned; as it was I said to my miserable self that if we caught it very hot, my cousin would wish I had never been born.
I thanked the lieutenant in a shaky voice, and, saluting, went forward to wreak my vengeance on Phil for having persuaded me into such a scrape when there was no sense in it.
I changed my mind very quickly after joining the lad; he, like me, had grown faint-hearted now the opportunity for hot work was close at hand, and I knew by the expression on his face that he regretted, as did I, having made any such foolish request.
"I suppose we've got to go," he said in a faint tone; and the contrast between his manner now and when I first told him what my cousin had promised, was so comical that I could not keep my face straight. "It's all very well for you who are really brave," he continued, believing from the smile on my face that there was no fear in my heart; "but I don't think I want to go."
Since he had given me the credit of being brave when, as a matter of fact, I was more cowardly even than he, I did not propose to undeceive him, but said as stoutly as possible:—
"You can't back out now, Phil, else every man onboard will set you down for the veriest kind of a coward."
"That's just what I am," he whispered, and again I laughed, this time because I had earned the reputation of being stout-hearted when any lamb would have outclassed me in that respect.
We were not given much time to mourn over the situation. Our conversation was hardly more than come to its sorrowful end when the word was given for the crews of the boats to stand ready, and we two lads ranged ourselves meekly beside Mr. Downes.
We embarked in proper fashion once the boats came alongside, and were stationed in the stern-sheets near the lieutenant, when it would have been more to my liking had we been forced to work the oars; for by so doing we might keep our thoughts from what seemed surely to be before us.
As I have said, it was about eleven o'clock when the wind died out, and theEssexwas fully eight miles from the nearest stranger.
I could see that the men were settling to the oars for a long pull, and the knowledge that whatsoever danger awaited us was an hour or more in the future enabled me to keep my cowardly fears in check. Phil also revived when he understood that some considerabletime must elapse before we had come within range of the enemy's guns, and looked quite cheerful as we answered the cheers of those on board theEssex.
Not until two o'clock, and by that time I was terribly cramped with sitting so long in one position, did we come near the strangers. Then we were about a mile distant when they hoisted the British colors and opened fire.
We were so far away, and their aim was so bad, that the shots failed to come within an hundred yards of us, whereat my courage increased once more; my heart came out of my boots where it had gone at the sound of the first gun, and I began to think the danger was not so great as had been represented.
Phil remained silent, clutching my belt, and I could feel his hand trembling violently.
"They can't send a shot anywhere near us," I whispered encouragingly.
"Ay, there's little danger while we're so far away; but we're going nearer each moment, and then of a surety they must strike us."
This was a very unpleasant suggestion, and I ceased my efforts at bolstering up his courage as I tried to stiffen my own.
The Britishers were lying about a quarter of a mileapart, and because the men were at the guns ready for action, I fancied we were very near a bloody engagement.
Lieutenant Downes gave a command for the boats to form in open order, and each craft shot out of line until she was heading a course of her own, the whole advancing after the fashion of the sticks of a fan.
It seemed strange to me that the enemy ceased firing at the moment we began the advance in proper fashion. We could see that on board the nearest ship they were training their guns on us, and expected each instant one of our craft would be struck, yet not a piece was discharged.
Nearer and nearer we approached, until it was possible to see distinctly every person on deck; but still the guns remained silent.
I hardly dared to breathe, nor would I look at Phil lest he should read in my eyes the fear that was in my heart.
We were come within fifty yards; every gun on the port side was trained upon us, and the officers on the quarter stood as if on the point of giving the order to open fire.
I shut my eyes, for it seemed certain that the battle could not longer be delayed, and to my mind there waslittle chance any of our boats would survive the first broadside.
The rousing cheers of the men startled me into opening my eyes again, and for an instant I could not understand the meaning of the shouts; but Phil soon enlightened me as he exclaimed in a tone of most intense relief:—
"They've struck their colors! They've struck their colors!"
It was indeed a fact, and our boat's crew scrambled on board, we two lads following in silent amazement, hardly conscious of what we were doing until Lieutenant Downes began calling off the names of those who would remain on board as prize crew.
We had captured theGeorgiana, a British whaler which had originally been built for the East India Company's service, and was credited with being a fast sailer. She was pierced for eighteen guns, but had only six mounted when we took possession of her.
After the crew had been sent below, the hatches closed, and the officers were imprisoned in the cabin, Lieutenant Downes called away such of our men as had been selected to man the prize, and off we went to try conclusions with the second craft.
By this time Phil and I were quite brave; we hadcome to understand that danger cannot be lessened by fear, and were disposed to believe that the British whalers were not such fighters as had been supposed.
Our small fleet dashed on toward the second ship in the same order as when we came upon theGeorgiana, and the same peaceful capture was ours. All the ship's crew were at the guns, yet they hauled down their colors when we were close upon them, and the Essex had taken three prizes in one day.
This last ship proved to be thePolicy, a whaler, pierced for eighteen guns and having ten mounted.
How our men cheered when we were on board the third prize without so much as a scratch! It was something to boast of, this taking three fine ships in one day, and again did it appear as if the "luck of theEssex" was an established fact.
Lieutenant Downes did not think it necessary to pull back to the frigate now that the work was finished and there did not appear to be anything of importance on hand. The crews were set about this trifling duty or that, and we waited until sunset for a wind, when the prizes were sailed down to where the flagship lay close alongside theBarclayand theMontezuma.
It was a veritable fleet which Captain Porter now had under his command, and the only drawback was thenumber of prisoners we were forced to look after; but that was a trifling matter when one considered it as the only cost of four fine ships.
Master Hackett thought it proper to compliment Phil and me on our manliness in applying for permission to go with Lieutenant Downes at a time when it seemed positive there was hot work ahead, and I felt much as though I was acting a lie when I remained silent while the old man was bestowing so much praise upon us.
If he had known all that was in our hearts as we were pulling toward the whalers, I question if he would so much as have spoken to us again.
Now we two, Phil and I, began to ask ourselves if we were regularly drafted to Mr. Downes's fleet, or whether we had been taken for that one cruise only; and, ashamed though I should be to confess it, there was a great hope in my heart that in the future we would be forced to remain on board theEssexwhen there was any more cutting out to be done.
Before another day had come to an end we of the gun-deck learned, through one of the marines, as a matter of course, that Captain Porter had decided to equip theGeorgianaas a cruiser, with Lieutenant Downes as commander. By so doing he would have an able assistant in searching for the enemy, and also aconsort on which the crew of theEssexmight find refuge in case of any serious injury to the frigate.
And now it was that, remaining at sea as if we were in dock, the work of making the fleet ready for service was begun; and the old shellbacks insisted that by so doing we were adding to the marvellous achievements of our ship. She had sailed halfway around the world, depending upon the enemy for supplies, going where there could be no possibility of receiving assistance in case she was overtaken by disaster,—which was something that had never been attempted before,—and now we were to eclipse even that feat by remodelling the enemy's merchantmen into war vessels while in mid-ocean, using for the purpose supplies we had just captured.
If ever there was a case of living on the enemy, ours surely was this situation.
From this day until the difficult task had been performed every man and boy was kept busy from early dawn until darkness rendered it difficult to see what we were about; and in this general furbishing our own ship was not neglected. The rigging of theEssexwas overhauled and tarred; strained spars were replaced by new ones, and the frigate was given a complete coat of paint.
TheGeorgianawas transformed by the taking down of her try-work, which had been used for getting oil from the blubber of whales, and all the small arms from the other prizes were sent on board. She was given her full complement of guns, those from thePolicybeing transshipped, and on the 18th day of May Lieutenant Commandant Downes hoisted the American pennant on board theGeorgiana, 16, firing a salute of seventeen guns, all of which were answered by theEssex, while the remaining prizes made as much noise as was possible.
We had a great celebration that day when a new ship was added to the United States Navy, and the cooks did their share toward it by filling our duff so full of plums that one could almost believe he was eating a regular, home-made pudding.
The manning of our prizes cost us so many of our crew that after all the ships were in sailing trim we had on board theEssexonly two hundred and sixty-four, including officers, a small number, as Master Hackett declared, to handle the frigate in case we found ourselves in action,—an event which seemed only too probable when it should be known in England what mischief we were working among the whalers.
Our new man-of-war was given a fair trial to provewhether she was as good a sailer as had been believed, and we soon learned that the Britishers were decidedly at fault regarding her. She could not hold her own with theEssexeven under the most favorable circumstances; but yet she was by no means a tub, and might be of great service before falling in with an enemy sufficiently heavy to send her to the bottom.
Four days after being put into commission theGeorgianaset off on an independent cruise, and we hung around Charles's Island until the 28th of May before sighting another sail.
Then one hove in sight dead ahead, and, success having made us confident, we piled on the canvas, believing she was the same as ours already.
Our three prizes, with good working crews, were close aboard us at the moment the stranger was sighted, and away we dashed in the finest style, ready to meet anything from a line-of-battle ship to a couple of frigates.
The chase was begun late in the afternoon, and we held on all night, keeping her well in sight, and heaving in view another sail of which we took no notice, save to send a couple of boats after her, for the bird which we had almost in our hand was worth any two well down on the horizon.
The stranger was a big ship, and sailed well; but she could not hold her own with theEssex, and by nine o'clock next morning we were alongside with the crew at quarters.
We believed of a verity that this fellow would fight, since he had ten ports on a side, and once more did I feel too nervous for comfort; but no sooner were we in a position to open the battle than she surrendered, and we were in possession of the British whalerAtlantic, of three hundred and fifty-five tons burden, carrying twenty-four men. She had eight eighteen-pounders mounted, and might have held us in check long enough to show that English sailors are the gluttons at fighting which they claim to be.
No sooner had we thrown a prize crew on board, and seen to it that the Britishers were secured where they couldn't make any trouble for our men, than theEssexwas put about in chase of the sail we had sighted during the night, our consorts following a long distance in our wake, unable to keep the pace we were setting.
We came up with the chase about noon, and then were becalmed within two miles of her.
She appeared to be heavily armed, and we were short-handed in consequence of having distributed somany men among the prizes taken thus far, as well as sending out the two boats, which had probably been picked up by some of our fleet before this time.
To equip the fleet of small boats would require nearly every man and boy on board, leaving no one to handle the frigate in case the wind sprang up, and as we noted this fact—I mean as the old shellbacks discussed it—Master Hackett said to me with a long-drawn sigh of relief:—
"It's the luck of theEssexto find Britishers so plentiful; but this time she's got more'n a mouthful, an' that fellow yonder is like to give us the slip unless our slow-movin' prizes work up this way before the wind rises."
"Do you mean, Master Hackett, that we can't make any effort at capturing her?" I asked in surprise.
"Look about an' see if that ain't the size of it. Do you reckon Captain Porter would strip his own ship, leavin' her helpless in case this 'ere calm ended with a squall?"
It surely did not seem possible our commander would do anything of the kind, and my heart was heavy as I gazed at the Britisher lying so near at hand and we unable to so much as come up with her.
Before our crew had much time for discussion wewere startled, and some of the oldest hands almost frightened, by being called to man the boats; and our surprise may be imagined when we learned that every craft was to be sent off.
I saw the old shellbacks looking at each other furtively, exchanging odd glances and shrugging their shoulders as much as to say that Captain Porter must have taken leave of his senses; but into the boats they went, and all hands followed until there were none left aboard the frigate except the captain himself, the chaplain, the captain's clerk, and the boatswain.
Four men only to look after theEssexin case of sudden danger, or in event of our being forced to surrender! It surely seemed as if we were gazing upon the frigate for the last time, when the boats were pulled away, and I heard Master Hackett mutter to the man nearest him:—
"Take your good-by squint at the old hooker, matey, for I'm reckonin' there's many a chance you'll never see her again. I'm willin' to admit that a man-o'-warsman is bound to run many a risk; but this 'ere beats anything I ever saw or heard of before."
And from the expression on the faces of all I understood that to a man the crew believed we were going far beyond our duty,—which fact, as may well beimagined, was not calculated to make me very comfortable in mind. There were an hundred things likely to happen that would leave us without a ship, and it was by no means even chances that we could gain a foothold on the deck of the stranger. Surely, the day must come when we should find a Britisher who would fight, even though he was no more than a whaler, and this might be the day.
Looking back I could see Captain Porter pacing the quarter-deck, and I wondered if he believed himself fully justified in thus leaving the frigate to the mercy of the sea and weather when we might not succeed in our errand.
However, it was not for a lad like me to speculate as to whether the captain was going beyond duty and reason. I was a member of the boat's crew, and as such must do my utmost to make of the expedition a success, regardless of what threatened theEssex.
Our fears as to what fate might overtake theEssexwhile we were away and she had only four men to care for her, were forgotten in a great measure as we neared the Britisher.
Probably the question in the minds of all was as to whether the stranger would show fight. I know it fully occupied my thoughts; but, greatly to my surprise, I was not very much afraid of what might happen. Perhaps because there were so many things to think about, I gave less heed to the enemy than I would have done under other circumstances.
There is no good reason why I should spin out this portion of the yarn any longer than is absolutely necessary, more especially since there is so much of later happening and greater importance to be set down.
It is enough to say that we approached the enemy in proper fashion, ready for any kind of a scrimmage, and instead of firing a gun he hauled downhis colors as the others had done. Cowardly though I was, it disappointed me because these Britishers submitted so tamely.
We now had, as the second prize of the day, the letter of marque shipGreenwich, three hundred and thirty-eight tons burden, carrying ten guns and a crew of twenty-five men.
Captain Porter had taken many chances in sending us all away at the same time, yet by doing so he had gained another prize which, had she been left at liberty, might have worked serious mischief to our merchantmen.
It can readily be supposed that we did not lose any time in getting back to the frigate. Men enough to take care of the prisoners and work the prize were left on board, and the remainder of us pulled to theEssexat full speed, feeling, when we went on deck once more, as if the old ship had escaped some deadly peril.
By the time the remainder of our fleet came up, bringing with them the two boats we had sent out during the night, theEssexwas lying alongside two fine prizes which had not cost us a single charge of powder.
We now had four prizes, in addition to theBarclay, and I was arguing with Phil as to how it would be possible to care for them all, and at the same time take any more, when Master Hackett joined us.
"I reckon you lads think the oldEssexhas got about as much as she can stagger under, eh?" he began; and I repeated to him what Phil and I had been saying.
"I allow we've got a good big job on our hands, lads," the old man said, speaking thoughtfully, as if weighing well every word, "an' now's come the time when Captain Porter is bound to make port. We're feedin' a crowd of men, an' can't do any great amount of work with so many craft to look after."
"Will we go to Valparaiso?" Phil asked, thinking of Benson.
"It's beyond an old shellback like me to say, lad; but if I was the captain of this 'ere frigate, I'd think twice before I poked my nose into that port the second time."
"Why? They treated us well before."
"Ay, an' that's why I'd keep my weather-eye liftin' while we're in these waters. England is a strong nation, an' these 'ere young republics won't dare hold out against her commands very long. There'll be a big lot of kickin' in Great Britain whenword is sent there of what we've been doin', an' you'll find that she'll shut every port on the Pacific against us."
I did not fully understand all Master Hackett said; but no particular harm was done because of my ignorance, since it matters little whether a boy aboard ship knows the whys and wherefores of everything.
However, there must have been good reasoning in the old man's words, since Captain Porter did exactly that which Master Hackett would have advised.
When prize crews were on board all our captured ships we were so short of hands that Lieutenant Gamble of the marines was given charge of theGreenwich, because we had no naval officer to put in command, and the entire fleet was gotten under way without unnecessary delay.
None of us on the gun-deck knew for what port we were bound, until the 19th of June, when we ran into the harbor of Tumbez, and came to anchor.
Why it was, none of our old sea lawyers could determine satisfactorily; but not one of the crew was given shore liberty. There was no unusual amount of work to be done on the ships, yet we were kept aboard as close as if there was danger some of us might desert.
The captain went on shore every day to bargain forprovisions to be paid for with the money we captured from theNocton, and boatloads of stores were put aboard this ship or that; therefore it was certain the inhabitants were friendly, or would be so long as our cash lasted.
There was no little amount of grumbling because we were kept so snug; but as a matter of course none of the hard words were spoken where they might be overheard by the officers, therefore nothing came of it.
Five days after we let go our ground tackle three sail were seen standing into the bay, and we were summoned to get the frigate under way, but the order was countermanded when those on the foremost ship lowered a boat as if to come ashore.
Captain Porter waited to learn who the visitors were, and soon we had the great satisfaction of seeing Lieutenant Downes in the stern-sheets of the boat, although it puzzled us not a little as to why he had returned thus soon.
Of course the lieutenant came on board theEssex, as did those who had manned his boat, and we of the gun-deck heard the whole story of theGeorgiana'sadventures while Mr. Downes was having his confab in the cabin.
And what a story it was! We cheered and yelled asour old shipmates spun it off, and nearly went wild with rejoicing.
Here is the yarn boiled down, and that it was true we knew full well, for yonder were the prizes coming to close under theGeorgianastern.
It seems that after leaving us Lieutenant Downes cruised off James's Island, where he fell in with two Britishers. Hoisting the English colors, he soon had the captains of the whalers sitting comfortably in his cabin, and then he told them who he was. Well, the prizes were taken without resistance, as a matter of course, and the United States entered into possession, less what prize money would be coming to us, of the shipCatherineof two hundred and seventy tons burden, carrying eight guns and twenty-nine men, and theRose, two hundred and twenty tons, eight guns and twenty-one men.
After manning these prizes, Lieutenant Downes had only twenty as a crew all told, and yet that fact did not prevent him from giving chase next day to the whalerHector, a ship of two hundred and seventy tons, twenty-five men, and carrying eleven guns, although she was pierced for twenty.
This last craft was a Britisher who stood ready to fight, and when Mr. Downes understood that he had anaction on his hands, with hardly men enough to work his ship, he put the prisoners in irons so that they might not be able to lend a hand to their countrymen.
When theHectorwas ordered to surrender she refused, and Mr. Downes let her have a broadside which brought down her main-topmast. The crew had good pluck, however, and fought their ship until nearly all her standing and running rigging was shot away, when they could do no less than haul down their colors. The Britishers had two men killed and six wounded.
After putting a prize crew on board this last capture, Lieutenant Downes had but ten men left in theGeorgiana, and, including the wounded, he held seventy-three prisoners. Now it seems that theRosewas an old tub of a ship which it wouldn't pay to bring into port under the circumstances; therefore he threw her guns overboard, and filled her with the prisoners, on condition that they head direct for St. Helena.
When that had been done he steered for Tumbez, for it appears that he and Captain Porter had agreed to go there when it was necessary to make a port.
Now our fleet consisted of nine sail, and it began to look as if we might take possession of every port in the Pacific Ocean, if we were so minded. The beauty of it was that all our ships and ammunitionhad come from the Britishers, which was surely an economical way of carrying on a war.
Even Phil and I were puffed up with pride because of what had been accomplished, and we crowed as loud as any man on the gun-deck when we went over and over again the "luck of theEssex."
We soon learned that the fleet was not yet to the captain's liking, and on the morning after the arrival of Mr. Downes our people set about making a change.
TheAtlantic, which, as you will remember, we captured just before running for Tumbez, was an hundred tons larger than theGeorgiana, and had shown herself to be a better sailer, as well as possessing superior qualifications for a cruiser; therefore Mr. Downes and his crew were transferred to her. Twenty guns were mounted in this new sloop of war, and she was manned by sixty men. Her name was changed toEssex Junior, and a right trim little ship she was, I can assure you.
TheGreenwichwe made over into a store-ship, and all the spare stores of the other vessels were put into her. She was armed with twenty guns, but had no more of a crew than was absolutely necessary to work her; therefore we could not count that she would do much in the way of making prizes.
The carpenters were yet busily at work on theEssex Juniorwhen we left port; but we had become accustomed to fitting at sea, therefore a little thing like that did not disturb the most nervous.
A brave show we made as we passed out of the harbor with the stars and stripes floating in the breeze, and I would have given half my share of prize money if the people at home could have seen us, and known how this squadron had been gotten together.
We were yet at sea on the Fourth of July, and then was held a Yankee celebration which must have astonished the mermaids. Every ship fired a salute, and, what pleased us most, did it with powder we had taken from the Britishers. We had plum duff till we could eat no more, to say nothing of roast pig, vegetables, and other such cabin stores as tickle the appetite.
Phil and I had by this time come to believe we were quite brave, and counted on the moment when in action we should do that which would cause Captain Porter to praise us from the quarter-deck in the presence of all the ship's company.
On the 9th of July theEssex Juniorwas in good sailing trim, and the fleet was hove to in order to part company with the new sloop of war. Ourcommander had decided to send the prizes,Hector,Catherine,Policy, andMontezuma, as well as the recaptured shipBarclay, into Valparaiso, and Commandant Downes was to take charge of the matter.
We parted company about noon, the frigate, with theGreenwichandGeorgiana, remaining hove to until theEssex Juniorand her convoy were hull down in the distance, after which we squared away for a cruise among the Gallipagos, so the marines who had stood guard in the cabin reported; but we knew that between where we then were and the islands in question was a good chance of taking more prizes, and, because of the "luck of theEssex," reckoned on adding to our list of captures before arriving at this new cruising ground.
We counted on having our average good fortune; but never dreamed, confident though we were, of the success which was so soon to be ours.
Four days after we parted company with our prizes and theEssex Junior, that is to say, on the 13th day of July, the lookouts sighted three sail off Banks's Bay, all on a wind, but a good deal separated.
Phil and I were no longer excited by such information. Both of us felt elated; but we had thus far captured everything which had been sighted, andwhen a sail was reported, we of the gun-deck at once reckoned her as a prize. Had we failed to take two or three craft during our cruise, then we would have been in suspense until the chase was ended; but so good had been our fortune that the worst grumblers among the crew began to find fault because the Britishers fell into our hands like over-ripe apples.
Our little fleet was in a bunch, hardly more than a quarter of a mile separating each craft, when the word was given that more ships had come up to be captured; and on this day we had an opportunity of learning how well the squadron could manœuvre.
Captain Porter signalled that he would give chase to the ship in the middle of the line, which was farthest down to leeward, while theGreenwichand theGeorgianaendeavored to cut off one of the others.
This race was different from others which had fallen to our lot, inasmuch as we were eager to know what was going on astern as well as ahead; and every man jack of us off duty gathered on the forecastle-deck, confident that all three of the strangers would be taken, but curious as to how it might be done.
We of the frigate overhauled our portion of the chase rapidly; but the stranger was so far to leeward that we were forced to run a long distance from ourconsorts, and when theEssexwas a couple of leagues off, those who were watching astern could see that one of the strangers which we had left for theGeorgianaand theGreenwichto look after, had tacked, and was evidently manœuvring to cut theGeorgianaout.
Now had matters become interesting for a verity. Short-handed as our consorts were, there was a good chance that one would be captured while we were running to leeward, and I literally held my breath in suspense, expecting each moment to see the tiny wisp of red and white which we knew to be the stars and stripes, hauled down in response to the stranger's threats.
If any proof had been needed that Yankees were not inclined to surrender without a fight, we had it then, when we saw theGreenwichheave to, take a portion of the crew from theGeorgiana, and bear boldly down on the enemy.
What a cheer went up from our men when this had been done! I was proud of my countrymen then, and could have hugged every old shellback on board theGreenwichwith a good zest, had it been possible to get at them.
"I'll answer for it that our comrades hold those two Britishers in check until we can get back," MasterHackett said in a tone of satisfaction, and again we cheered until those on the ship we were overhauling so rapidly must have heard and wondered why we were making such a fuss about the capture of a whaler.
Well, we bore down on the chase hand over hand, and when we were so near that a shot might have been pitched into any part of her, the ship hove to without the slightest show of resistance.
Captain Porter hailed as the British colors were hauled down, and then we learned that this last prize was the English whalerCharlton, two hundred and seventy-four tons, with ten guns and twenty-one men.
Her officers were transferred to theEssex, a prize crew was thrown on board in a twinkling, and the frigate hauled her wind to take care of the others.
Captain Porter was so eager for information that he questioned the captain of theCharltonon the quarter-deck, and many of the gun-deck inquisitives heard the whole story.
By this means our commander learned that the largest of the ships we now counted on taking was theSeringapatam, three hundred and fifty-seven tons, carrying fourteen guns and forty men. It was this craft which had been manœuvring to cut out theGeorgiana, and unless we had been near at hand to lend assistance the job might have been done.
The other Britisher was theNew Zealander, of two hundred and fifty-nine tons, eight guns, and twenty-three men.
TheSeringapatamhad been built for a cruiser, so our prisoners said, and was the most dangerous ship, so far as the American trade was concerned, of any craft west of Cape Horn.
There was not one of us who did not feel the most intense desire to capture this craft, and particularly to do so before she could work any serious damage to our consorts.
We could see that theGreenwichhad already gone into action with the Britisher, and we cheered ourselves hoarse by way of encouragement to the brave fellows who had tackled a craft heavier than themselves, although there was not the slightest chance they would hear our cries.
Our ship, meaning theGreenwich, was manœuvred beautifully; she poured in three broadsides before the enemy could get into position to fire one, and we were yet more than a league distant when the Britisher showed that she had had enough. As her colors came down we cheered and shouted like wild men, some ofthe old shellbacks dancing around the deck like apes who have suddenly gone mad; but before many minutes passed we saw that we had begun our rejoicings a trifle too early.
After giving token of surrender the captain of theSeringapatamevidently thought he yet had an opportunity to escape, for he slipped off to windward before a prize crew could be thrown on board.
We gazed in breathless suspense as theGreenwich, never stopping to pick up the crew in the two boats which had been lowered to take possession of the prize, crept up on the enemy's quarter and poured in such a fire as was most surprising, considering the number of men which were left on board.
The Britisher soon came to understand that we Yankees were too much for him, even though he outclassed us both as to metal and men, for he wore around and came down to us as meekly as any lamb.
Captain Porter lost no time in throwing a prize crew on board, after transshipping the officers, and away we went for theNew Zealander, who was doing her feeble best to crawl out of the way; but succeeding very badly.
When we passed within half a mile of theGreenwichour crew lined the yards and gave her the heartiest ofsalutes, while Captain Porter winked at the performance when he should have reprimanded us severely for daring to do so without permission or orders.
TheNew Zealanderwas taken without opposition, and again we found ourselves with more prizes and prisoners than could conveniently be managed.
Before nightfall Captain Porter learned that the commander of theSeringapatamhad taken one prize illegally, he having no letter of marque; and since this was neither more nor less than piracy, the venturesome Britisher was put in irons to be sent home for trial.
Next morning theCharlton'sguns, ammunition, small arms, and spare sails were taken out; all the prisoners were put on board, and she was allowed to make sail for Rio de Janeiro, every man jack being under parole to go to that port and none other.
Hardly had she filled away on her course than we set to work putting theSeringapataminto shape for our own use. The guns of theNew Zealanderwere mounted in her, which brought up the number to twenty-two, but we could leave on board no more than a sufficient crew to work her.
Then orders were given that the oil which we had taken, and which was stored on theEssex, theGreenwich, and theGeorgiana, should be put on board the latter ship, and she sent home.
Loading a ship in mid ocean with such heavy articles as casks of oil, is a slow and laborious task, as we soon learned. It was necessary to sling each hogshead into a boat, pull to the craft which was being loaded, and there hoist it inboard, working disadvantageously all the while because of the heavy swell.
It was not until the 24th day of July that theGeorgianawas ready for the voyage to the United States, and then the captain of theSeringapatamhad been sent on board as a prisoner to be closely guarded; but no crew selected to take charge of her.
On this evening our men, greasy and stained with their work of handling oil, were called amidships while Captain Porter stood on the break of the quarter.
All hands knew that we were now to learn who would sail in theGeorgiana, and each man looked at his neighbor to know how he felt about going home while the most dangerous portion of the work yet remained to be done, which would be when the British men-of-war came around the Horn to wind up our career.
The captain began by reminding us that our term of service had nearly expired, and that a certain number must be sent home to work theGeorgiana.
"I will give you all the same show," he said; "and if too many volunteer to make up the crew, we will take those whose time of enlistment is nearest at an end. You are to think it over this evening; try to settle the matter among yourselves; but if that can't be done, I will take a hand at it to-morrow morning."
With this we were dismissed, and once all hands were on the gun-deck, with the exception of those who remained above on watch, a most tremendous jawing was begun. Every man tried to speak at the same time, and the uproar was so great that no single word could be distinguished. I could not make out whether the men were excited lest they should not be able to go, or if there was a desire to remain.
Phil and I went into a corner by ourselves, where we could hear each other speak, and there I asked him what he thought about volunteering for theGeorgiana.
"I count on staying here, if Captain Porter don't drive me out," he said emphatically, thus showing that his decision had been made before we came below. "You know, Ezra, that I don't amount to much when it comes to a show of bravery; but I'm not such a coward as to turn now, when the greatest danger is yet to be met."
I flung my arms around the dear fellow and kissedhim on both cheeks. He had spoken that which was in my own heart, although I could not have put it in such proper words; and then it was decided between us that we would remain by theEssexso long as should be permitted us.
By the time we two had settled the question, Master Hackett had succeeded in quieting the wranglers sufficiently to make himself heard, and the old man proved to be quite a dandy at handling a meeting.
"Hold your jaw, you lubbers!" he shouted with such a volume of sound that he must have been heard distinctly by those on the quarter-deck. "The captain wants to know how many of us is achin' to get home before the Britishers send half a dozen frigates down here to blow us out of the water, an' he'll never get the information unless you settle down into peaceable sailormen. There's no use waggin' your chins over this thing; every man has a right to do what pleases him best, an' now he's got a fair chance. What I say is this: Let them as want to go aboard theGeorgianatoddle to the port side, and them who count on holdin' by the old hooker, step over to starboard."
The men looked around curiously for an instant, and then every one of them moved to starboard, Phil and I among the rest.
There was a broad grin on Master Hackett's face when he cried with a semblance of anger:—
"This 'ere won't do at all. Some of us are bound to go, seein's how we can't let that cargo of oil run to waste. Of courseI'llhold to the frigate; but them as have got wives an' children ashore ought 'er get over to port, an' we'll feel no shame for 'em, knowin' as we do that a crew must be made up for theGeorgiana."
"It's none of your business how many wives or children we've got, Hiram Hackett!" one of the throng shouted. "It's as much our right as yours to stick to the frigate, an' we count on doin' it. Why not send the boys? They can do the work of sailormen aboard theGeorgiana! Then you'll have two towards a crew."
"Come here, you skulkers!" Master Hackett roared, looking at Phil and me, and there was nothing for it but to step out from among the crew.
"Act as spokesman, Phil," I whispered. "You can go ahead of me when it comes to jawing; but remember that they can't drive us off unless the captain gives the word, and I'm thinking that my cousin Stephen will stand up for our rights."
"Are you two infants ready to obey orders an' go aboard theGeorgiana?" Master Hackett asked, looking as fierce as if he counted on eating us.
"No, sir!" Phil shouted at the full strength of his lungs. "We've got as much right to stay as you have, an' we won't volunteer!"
"Three cheers for the infants!" some one shouted, and the men yelled until their throats were like to split.
Then the crew crowded around Master Hackett, each man trying to make himself heard, and I understood that there was little chance of finding a crew for theGeorgianaif every one was to do as he pleased.
By this time the noise was so great that Lieutenant McKnight was sent below to learn whether or no a riot was in progress, and, luckily, I succeeded in gaining speech with him before the men knew he was on the gun-deck.
"Surely you will stand our friend in this matter, Cousin Stephen," I said, clutching him by the coat-sleeve without regard to the proprieties; for it is looked upon as insubordination for a common sailor to lay hold of an officer.
"In what way, Ezra? Are so many eager to see home again that you fear there'll be no room for you?"
"It's just the other way, sir," Phil broke in. "Not a man will volunteer, and some of them have said that we two lads must go whether we like it or not."
"It isn't right to force us because we are lads!" Icried. "We've done our duty so far as we knew, and our age shouldn't give license for injustice!"
"See here, my lads, you're not looking at this matter in the proper light. We shall soon be turning and twisting to get out of a British frigate's way, and many of us will lose the number of his mess before theEssexdoubles Cape Horn again. You can go now without being called a coward, and it's far better to get out of the scrape while affairs are flourishing as they are at present."
"Are you going in theGeorgiana, Cousin Stephen?" I asked.
"What? Me? Never, unless the captain gives a positive order to that effect."
"If you are allowed to remain, why should we be forced to go?"
He turned from me quickly, and, without making any attempt to restore order, went on deck.
The men jawed and argued more violently than ever after my cousin disappeared, and very soon the master-at-arms came below with an order for every man jack of us to show himself abaft the mainmast.
We found the captain waiting for us as before; and although there was very good reason why he should read the riot act because of the uproar, I understood bythe expression on his face that he was well pleased the men had not shown a willingness to leave the frigate.
When all hands had quieted down once more he made a little speech in which he thanked us for being so eager to stay by theEssex, and declared that he felt proud of every old barnacle there; but at the same time it was absolutely necessary a crew be sent on board theGeorgiana.
"Those men who have families must go," he said finally, after declaring that it had become necessary for him to settle the matter, since the crew themselves could not. "A list shall be made out of such as have others depending upon them, and it will then be posted on the gun-deck. Abide by my decision as you ever have, and I will make it my solemn duty to let the people of the United States know that those who returned in theGeorgianadid not do so of their own free will."
We were sent below once more, and Phil and I felt well content, for by the captain's ruling we could not be sent home in the oil-laden craft.
TheGeorgianaleft us next morning, carrying a sorrowful-looking crew, as can well be imagined, for every man jack of them felt as if he might be accused of cowardice in leaving theEssexat a time when there was good reason to expect she would meet with a superior force.
I fail to understand yet why it had come into the minds of all that we would never double Cape Horn in the old frigate. No one put such a belief into words, and yet I knew full well it was looked upon as a fact, because of certain remarks let drop now and then when was being discussed the question of seeing the friends at home.
It had really come to be the belief of us all, although carefully kept in the background, that the time must come when we would meet with such a force of Britishers as could put an end to the "luck of theEssex."
And it is little wonder that our crew, even counting the boys, should have considered it as inevitable thatthe dear old frigate would come to an end of her cruising before many months had passed, for we knew full well the English people must soon demand that we who had done so much mischief be put out of the way of working yet further damage.
Consider well what had been done, and then it may be seen that the British navy would speedily come after us with a heavy force. Here is the situation as it was defined by a member of the United States Navy, he looking at the matter a few weeks after theGeorgianahad sailed, and we were in an island port refitting and overhauling the fleet:—
"The situation of theEssexwas sufficiently remarkable, at this moment, to merit a brief notice. She had been the first American to carry the pennant of a man-of-war round the Cape of Good Hope, and now she had been the first to bring it into the distant ocean. More than ten thousand miles from home, without colonies, stations, or even a friendly port to repair to, short of stores, without a consort, and otherwise in possession of none of the required means of subsistence and efficiency, she had boldly steered into this distant region, where she had found all that she required, through her own activity; and having swept the seas of her enemies, she had now retired to these little-frequentedislands to refit, with the security of a ship at home. It is due to the officer who so promptly adopted and so successfully executed this plan, to add, that his enterprise, self-reliance, and skill indicated a man of bold and masculine courage; qualities that are indispensable in forming a naval captain.
"In the way of service to the public, perhaps the greatest performed by theEssexwas protecting American ships in the Pacific, nearly all of which would probably have fallen into the hands of the enemy but for her appearance in that ocean. But the positive injury done the English commerce was far from trifling. TheEssexhad now captured about four thousand tons of its shipping, made near four hundred prisoners, and for the moment had literally destroyed its fisheries in this part of the world. In October, 1812, she had sailed from America alone, with six months' provisions and the usual stores in her; and in October, 1813, she was lying, in perfect security, at an island in the Pacific, with a respectable consort, surrounded by prizes, and in possession of all the means that were necessary to render a frigate of her class efficient. Throughout the whole of these movements we see a constant tendency to distress the enemy, and to maintain the character of the ship as an active, well-organized, and high-toned man-of-war."
All this was written concerning us after we had made that island port which I shall describe later; but before entering it we were to see some service, and experience our first disappointment in the way of capturing every sail we sighted.
It was on the 25th day of July when theGeorgianaleft us, only to be recaptured, as we afterward learned to our sorrow, before gaining an American port.
We remained hove to until the oil-laden prize was hull down on the horizon, and then, with theEssexleading, our little squadron, consisting of the frigate, theGreenwich,Seringapatam, andNew Zealander, trailing along in fine style, cruised here and there in search of another Britisher.
On the morning of the third day thereafter, while we lay becalmed, a strange sail was sighted carrying with her a fine breeze.
As a matter of course she soon ran out of our range of vision, but Captain Porter was not the kind of a commander to give up the hope of catching an enemy, once having clapped his eyes on her; and at sunset, when the wind sprang up again, signals were set for every ship to crowd on sail in pursuit of the Britisher, although by this time she had many leagues the start.
The "luck of theEssex" was with us yet, for nextmorning at sunrise the lookouts at the masthead sighted the stranger standing across our bow on a bowline.
By this time the breeze fined down again, and the dullest among us knew that unless we could get the frigate through the water at a better pace, our hope of taking another prize that day was at an end.
Captain Porter had a scheme of his own, however, and at once set about executing it, to the surprise and admiration of all our old shellbacks, even though it cost us considerable labor.
A three-cornered frame was knocked together by the carpenters, covered with canvas, and weighted by four-pound shot on one side. This was rigged to run from the spritsail-yard to an outrigger aft. It was dropped into the water forward, and then half the crew, trailing on to a small hawser made fast to the triangle as boys tie the string of a kite, hauled it quickly astern.
This, acting as a paddle, sent us ahead in fine style, and as soon as the contrivance was well aft, it would be hoisted out of the water, run forward, and dropped again.
The labor required to work such a machine was very great; but we made light of it on seeing that we were forging ahead faster than the stranger could sail, and,with the perspiration running in great streams down our bodies, we pulled and hauled with a will until, having come within about four miles of the ship, we counted on making a prize.
By this time it could be seen that she was a British whaler, and an uncommonly fine craft. What was more, we began to understand that she, unlike many we had already overhauled, did not intend that we should capture her without paying the piper for our dancing.
Her boats were got out to tow, and we could not work the canvas-paddle fast enough to hold our own in the way of speed.
The remainder of our fleet were hull down astern, therefore it was useless to expect assistance from them,—a fact which caused Master Hackett to say despairingly:—
"I allow, lads, that we've come to an end of the 'luck' for the time bein'. That 'ere craft will muster more men accordin' to her size than we can."
"Gettin' afraid, eh?" some one shouted scornfully; whereat Master Hackett replied with considerable show of spirit:—
"Not a bit of it, you lubber; but men count in the kind of a breeze we're tryin' to work up, an' towin'that ship with boats is child's play compared with what it would be to drag theEssexthrough the water."
I believed our men would begin squabbling among themselves, because of their disappointment in being thus prevented from taking a prize; but one of the lieutenants quickly put an end to the words by bawling out an order which showed us that the Britisher might not find towing a very profitable job.
The word was passed to lower the gig and one of the whale-boats, and our men cheered lustily while this was being done, for they had a fairly good idea of what the captain was counting on doing.
Lieutenant McKnight, my cousin Stephen, was announced as commander of the small expedition, and he began calling off the names of those whom he counted on taking with him, after word had been passed that each man, as he was thus chosen, should arm himself with a musket and plenty of powder and bullets.
Master Hackett was the first selected, and then followed name after name so rapidly that I soon understood Phil and I would be left out of the business unless something was done quickly.
Without waiting to consult my comrade, I walkedacross the deck, coughing loudly, and passing within a few feet of where the lieutenant was standing.
He looked up, smiled oddly, and then, after a show of hesitation called:—
"Ezra McKnight! Philip Robbins!"
"You're a beauty!" Phil whispered, as he ran past me on his way below to get the musket and ammunition, and my only regret at that moment was because I could not thank my cousin for the favor he had done us.
We two lads tumbled into the gig alongside Master Hackett, who asked gruffly:—
"What is the lieutenant thinkin' of to send a couple of infants out on a job like this?"
"Perhaps it would be a good idea for you to ask him; I don't care to take the chances of so doing, even though your curiosity is not satisfied," I said pertly. "If shooting is to be done, which seems reasonable after we've been ordered to arm ourselves, I reckon the 'infants' can do as much as some others who are older."
Master Hackett did not reply; but by the movements of his mouth I knew he was not so displeased but that he was trying to hide a smile.
Just then Stephen McKnight stepped aboard the gig, and as he did so Captain Porter cried over the rail:—
"Remember, McKnight, that you are not to makeany effort at boarding, however tempting may be the opportunity. Get ahead of the chase and drive in her boats, after which you will return as soon as possible."
"I understand, sir," Stephen replied, and then came the order to "give way with a will."
Phil and I were not counted among the oarsmen, as I saw when the work was begun; but we did a trifle toward helping the good work along by pushing on Master Hackett's oar, and he made no effort to prevent us, even though we were "infants."
It would not have been good seamanship to go any nearer the enemy than was necessary, in the effort to get ahead of her, therefore we made a wide sweep around to port; and when we were opposite, not more than three hundred yards distant, her gunners let fly a couple of pieces which had been loaded with grape.
The whistling of the shot, which struck everywhere around us, sent the cold shivers up and down my back; but I pushed on Master Hackett's oar all the harder, keeping my eyes fixed straight ahead lest the old man should read in them more than I cared to have him know.
Phil started ever so slightly; but managed to hold himself firm after that, and each of us knew that the other was sorely afraid, although it is certain neitherwould have gone back had the opportunity presented itself.
We were treated to more grape, the biggest portion of which passed over our heads, and after that second volley I somehow forgot that I was frightened; but loaded my musket carefully, hoping the time would soon come when I could do a little to help balance the account.
Soon we were out of range of the grape, and then we ran across the ship's bow, every man loading and discharging his musket at the crew of the towing-boats as rapidly as possible.