THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 ///
 
 THE CRUISE OF THE FROLIC.
 
 THE 
 
 CRUISE OF THE FROLIC. 
 
 A SEA STORY. 
 
 BT 
 
 WILLIAM H. G. KINGSTON, 
 
 At-THOB O "DICK ONSLOW AMONG THE REDSKINS," " ANTONT WATMOUTH," BTC. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 J. E. TILTON AND COMPANY. 
 
 1866.
 
 STEREOTYPED BY C. J. PETBUS <t SON, 
 NO. 13 Washington Street. 
 
 I'EESS OP OKO. C. BAKU <fe AVKRY.
 
 PREFACE, 
 
 BARNABY BRINE, ESQ., R.N. 
 
 THE " CRUISE OF THE ' FROLIC ' " has already met with 
 so many marks of favor, that it is hoped it will be 
 welcomed not the less warmly in its new and more 
 attractive form. The yachting world especially re- 
 ceived the narrative of my adventures in good part ; 
 two or three, however, among whom was the O'Wig- 
 gins, insisted that I had caricatured them, and talked 
 of demanding satisfaction at the point of the sword, 
 or the muzzle of a pistol. I assured them then, as I 
 do now, that on the word of an officer and a gentle- 
 man, I had not the slightest intention of wounding the 
 feelings of any human being ; and I entreated their 
 pardon, if in shooting at a venture I had hit an object 
 at which I had not taken aim. 
 
 I can only say, that I hope my readers may experi- 
 ence as much pleasure in perusing my adventures, as 
 
 5 
 
 809208
 
 Tl PREFACE. 
 
 I had in writing them, and, 1 may add, again feel, in 
 looking over the pages which recall so many of the 
 amusing scenes and incidents of my yachting days 
 a pleasure which will, I feel sure, be shared by my 
 companions in the adventures I have described. 
 
 No one with any yachting experience will venture 
 to say that the tale is improbable, although it may be 
 confessed that when an author takes pen in hand, he 
 is apt to throw an air of romance over events which, 
 if told in a matter-of-fact manner, would be received as 
 veracious history; and such. is the plea which I have 
 to offer for the truth of the following narrative of my 
 yachting experience many summers ago.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 A YACHTSMAN'S LAMENT THE "FROLIC "AND THE FROLICKERS . 13 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 TREATS OF THE REGATTA, AND DINNER ON BOARD THE " FROLIC" . 23 
 
 CHAPTER HI. 
 A VOYAGE THE MARINERS' RETURN ...... 29 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 A PIC-NIC, AND ITS CONSEQUENCES W 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 TRUE LOVE RUNS ANYTHING BUT SMOOTH BEING A MELANCHOLY 
 SUBJECT, I CUT IT SHORT .... '- -* . 54 
 
 vil
 
 Vlll CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 PA OB 
 
 How TO KILL TIME THE O' WIGGINS ENGLAND'S BULWARKS 
 JACK MIZEN AND THE " FUN" HER FAIR CREW NAVAL 
 HEROES AND NAUTICAL HEROINES 57 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 YACHT SQUADRONS ON A CRUISE O'WIGGINS'S "POPPLE" ARRI- 
 VAL IN CHERBOURG THE PEACE CONGRESS AND THE FRENCH 
 CHANNEL FLEET LIONIZING ON SHORE GROGGS LOST His 
 FIRST LOVE AN IRATE PARENT . 66 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 GAT SCENE IN CHERBOURG HARBOR THE O' WIGGINS AGAIN 
 AQUATIC VISITING A DISCIPLE OF ST. IMPUDENTIA How TO 
 BANQUET UNINVITED THE BALL VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT 
 TO THE FLEET A FEW REMARKS ON AFFAIRS IN GENERAL . 77 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 PREPARATIONS FOR A LONG CRUISE HEARTY CONFESSES TO A SOFT 
 IMPEACHMENT THE O'WIGGIHS AND HIS PASSENGERS How 
 
 WE GOT HID OF THEM . . 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 WHY A BACHELOR TOOK TO YACHTING THE RIVAL SUITORS A 
 DOUBTFUL CHARACTER 90 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 A LADY SPIRITED AWAY THE CHASE THE CONSEQUENCES. . 119
 
 CONTENTS. IX 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 MM 
 THE " FROLIC" IN A GALE, IN WHICH THE FROLICKERS SEE NO FUN 
 
 A SAIL IN SIGHT HEU FATE AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE 
 TO THE CREW BUBBLE SHOWS THAT HE CAN THINK AND FEEL 
 INTELLIGENCE OBTAINED . . 143 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 LIEUTENANT PORPOISE'S STORY THE BLACK SLAVER THE SPANISH 
 'MAIDEN THE DESERTER'S DREAM THE FLIGHT . . .158 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE BLACK SLAVER (continued) THE CHASE THE SLAVER THE 
 CAPTURE THE ESCAPE THE PURSUIT 188 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 CORUNNA OPORTO PULL UP THE DOURO NOTICE OF THE SIKOK 
 OF OPORTO LINE-OF- BATTLE SHIP 227 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 CINTRA THE TAGUS LISBON CADIZ GIBRALTAR SANDOATB 
 AGAIN OLD FRIENDS NEWS OF MY HEROINE . . . 238 
 
 CHAPTER XVH. 
 
 A Suspicious SAIL AN EXPECTED VISIT FROM AN UNINVITED 
 STB.ANGER WE PREPARE TO RECEIVE HIM . , . , 250
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIIL 
 
 PAO 
 
 THE STRANGER COMES ON BOARD THE GREEK CHIEF A WHITE 
 SQUALL WHAT HAS BECOME OF THE BRIG? THE SUSPICIOUS 
 STRANGER AGAIN PREPARATIONS FOR A FIGHT . . .254 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 THE ENGAGEMENT OUR DESPERATE CONDITION A FRIEND m 
 SIGHT OUR ENEMY FLIES MALTA 2fi7 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 VALETTA A GLIMPSE OF THE PIRATE 277 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 A BALL WHAT OCCURRED AT IT THE GREEK COUNT MRS. SKY- 
 
 SCRAPER 286 
 
 CHAPTER XXH. 
 
 OUR MALTA PIC-NIC THE CATACOMBS THE PIRATE IN SIGHT 
 SANDGATE AGAIN ESCAPES us OUR EXPEDITION WITH THE 
 MEN-OF-WAR RETURN FROM OUR FRUITLESS CRUISK . . 203 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 LADIES ABOARD OUR CREW'S DREAD OF THE CONSEQUENCES . au6 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 THE POLACCA-BRIG AGAIN THE "ZEBRA" IN CHASE REFLEC- 
 TIONS ON AFRICA AND THE SLAVE-TRADE 340
 
 CONTENTS. XI 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 Ma 
 THE BACHELORS AT SEA THE IONIAN ISLANDS RETURN TO MALTA 
 
 SAD NEWS HOMEWARD BOUND HORRIBLE SUSPICIONS 
 THE PIRATE'S HANDIWORK A BURNING SHIP TRACES OF OUR 
 FRIENDS THE RESCUE THE BACHELORS BECOME BENEDICTS, 
 AND THUS TERMINATES IN THE MOST SATISFACTORY MANNER 
 IMAGINABLE THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC " . . .370
 
 THE 
 
 CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 A YACHTSMAN'S LAMENT THE "FROLIC," AND THE 
 FROLIKERS. 
 
 WHAT yachtsman can ever forget the beautiful scene Cowes 
 Road presented on a regatta morning in the palmy days 
 of the club, when the broad pennant of its noble commo- 
 dore flew at the mast-head of his gallant little ship, the 
 " Falcon," and numberless beautiful craft, of all rigs and 
 sizes, with the white ensign of St. George at their peaks, 
 and the red cross and crown in their snowy burgees aloft, 
 willingly followed the orders of their honored leader ? Then, 
 from far and near, assembled yachts and pleasure-boats, of 
 all degrees, loaded with eager passengers to witness the 
 regatta ; and no puflfing, blowing, smoking, rattling steam- 
 ers came to create discord on the ocean, and to interfere 
 with the time-honored monopoly of the wind in propelling 
 vessels across the watery plain. Small thanks to the man 
 whose impertinently-inquisitive brain could not let the lid 
 of his tea-kettle move up and down at its pleasure without 
 wanting to know the cause of the phenomenon ! Smaller 
 
 13
 
 14 THE CRUISE OP THE " FROLIC." 
 
 to him who insisted on boiling salt-water on the realms of 
 Old Neptune ! Stern enemy to the romance and poetry of a 
 life on the ocean ! Could you not be content to make car- 
 riages go along at the rate of forty miles an hour over the 
 hard land, without sending your noisy, impudent dema- 
 gogues of machines to plough up the waves of the sea, 
 which have already quite enough to do when their lawful 
 agitator thinks fit to exert his influence ? It was a work of 
 no slight difficulty and risk to cruise in and out among the 
 innumerable craft at anchor, and dodging about under sail 
 just when the yachts were preparing to start. I doubt 
 whether many of your " turn-a-head and back her " mari- 
 ners, with their chimney-sweep faces, would possess sea- 
 manship enough to perform the feat without fouling each 
 other every instant. But I must not go on harping on the 
 smoke-jacks. Back, memory ! back, to those glorious yacht- 
 ing days. Of the regatta I am treating. While afloat, all 
 was movement, gayety, and excitement ; there was not less 
 animation on shore. The awning of the club-house shaded 
 crowds of gay visitors ; and on the broad esplanade in front 
 of it were drawn up the carriages-and-four of the noble 
 house of Holmes, and those of Barrington and Simeon, with 
 blood-red hands emblazoned on their crests ; while, in like 
 style, some might by chance come over from Appulder- 
 combe, and others of equal rank from the east and the west 
 end of the island ; and thus, what with booths of ginger- 
 bread and bands of music, scarcely standing-room was to be 
 found on the quays during the day, while every hotel and 
 lodging was overflowing at night. And then the ball ! 
 what lofty rank, what a galaxy of beauty, was to be seen 
 there ! And the fireworks ! what a splutter, what a galaxy 
 of bright stars they afforded ! Alas, alas ! how have they 
 faded ! how have they gone out ! The pride of Cowea has
 
 A YACHTMAN'S LAMENT. 15 
 
 departed, its monopoly is no more, its regattas and its balls 
 are both equalled, if not surpassed, by its younger rivals ! 
 " Tempora mutantur et uos mutamur in illis." I am now 
 about to speak of times when that change had already com- 
 menced, and the fleets of the Ryde, the Thames, the Western, 
 the Irish, and other clubs dotted the ocean. The first day 
 of a Cowes Regatta broke fair and lovely, then down came 
 the rain in torrents to disappoint the hopes of the pleasure- 
 seekers, like the clouds which at every turn beset our path 
 in life ; but again, as they do happily in our mortal course, 
 the clouds passed away, and the sun shone forth bright, 
 warm, and cheering ; a light air sprang up from the west- 
 ward, and the whole scene on shore and afloat looked ani- 
 mated, joyous, and beautiful. "While the rain-drops were 
 still hanging on the trees, a large party of ladies and gen- 
 tlemen collected on the Yacht Club slip, by the side of which 
 were two gigs, their fine, manly crews, with their oars in 
 the air, ready to receive them. Three or four servants 
 followed, laden with cloaks and plaids, to guard against a 
 repetition of the shower ; and several white baskets, of no 
 mean proportions, showed that delicacies were provided 
 from the shore which might not be found afloat. Never 
 was a merrier set of people collected together. Cheerful 
 voices and shouts of laughter emanated from them on all 
 sides. 
 
 "Who's for the first boat?" sung out Ned Hearty, the 
 owner of the "Frolic." Ned had tried shooting, hunting, 
 and every other amusement which the brain of man has 
 invented to kill time ; and he was now trying yachting, 
 which he seemed to enjoy amazingly, though practically he 
 knew very little about it ; but I never met a man, green 
 from the shore, so 'cute in taking in the details of marine 
 affairs. In a week he could box the compass, knew the
 
 16 THE CKUISE OF THE " FKOLIC." 
 
 names of all the sails and most of the ropes of his craft, 
 and had a slight notion of steering, though I'll wager he 
 never touched a tiller in his life before. " I say, old fellow," 
 he continued, turning to me I had joined him the day 
 before, and had taken up my quarters on board for a spell 
 "do you take charge of the first gig, and see some of the 
 ladies safe on board. Send her back, though, for the two 
 boats won't hold us all, and the Cardiffs and Lorimer have 
 not come down yet." 
 
 " Very well : I can stow four ladies and three gentlemen," 
 I answered, stepping into the boat, and offering my hand to 
 Miss Seaton, who was considered the belle of the party by 
 most of the men : at all events, she was the most sought 
 after, for she was that lovable thing, an heiress. She took 
 her seat, and looked up with her soft blue eyes to see who 
 was next coming. 
 
 " "We'll go in the first ! we'll go in the first ! " exclaimed 
 the two Miss Rattlers, in one breath ; and forthwith, without 
 ceremony, they jumped into the boat, disdaining my proffered 
 aid. Fanny Rattler, the eldest, was dark, with fine flashing 
 eyes and a petite figure ; but Susan was the girl for fun. 
 She had not the slightest pretension to beauty, of which she 
 was well aware ; but she did not seem to care a pin about 
 it : and such a tongue for going as she had in her head ! 
 and what funny things it said ! the wonder was it had not 
 worn out long ago. 
 
 "Who'll come next?" I asked. "Come, Miss May 
 Sandon, will you?" She nodded, and gave her delicate 
 little hand into my rough paw. She was one of three 
 sisters who were about to embark. They were all fair, 
 and very pretty, with elegant figures, and hair with a slight 
 touch of auburn, and yet they were not, wonderful as it may 
 seem, alike in feature. This made them more attractive,
 
 THE "FEOLIC" AXD THE FEOLICKERS." 17 
 
 and there was no mistaking one for the other. The three 
 gentlemen who presented themselves were Harry Loring* 
 a fine, good-looking fellow, a barrister by profession, but 
 briefless, and the younger son of Sir John and Lady Loring. 
 He was a devoted admirer of Miss Seaton. The next was 
 Sir Francis Futtock, a post-captain, and a right honest old 
 fellow. " Here, I must go, to act propriety among you 
 youngsters," he said, as he stepped into the boat. The 
 third, Will Bubble, the owner of a small yacht called the 
 " Froth," laid up that year for want, as he confessed, of 
 quicksilver to float her. Will, like many a man of less 
 wisdom, had been, I suspect, indulging in railway specula- 
 tions, and if he had not actually burnt his fingers, he had 
 ftmnd his capital safely locked up in lines which don't pay a 
 dividend. " Shove off! " was the word ; and I, seizing the 
 yoke lines, away we went towards the " Frolic." 
 
 " I say, Sir Francis, take car,e they behave properly, 
 don't discredit the craft," sung out her owner. " Xo flirta- 
 tions, remember, till we get on board all start fair." 
 
 " Hear that, young ladies," said Sir Francis, looking, 
 however, at Miss Seaton, whereat a soup f on of rosy tint 
 came into her fair cheek, and her bright eyes glanced at her 
 own delicate feet, while Henry Loring tried to look nohow, 
 and succeeded badly. 
 
 " I vote for a mutiny against such restrictions," cried 
 Miss Susan Rattler. " I've no idea of such a thing. Come, 
 Sir Francis, let you and me set the example." 
 
 The gallant officer, who had only seen the fair Susan 
 two or three times before, stared a little, and laughingly 
 reminded her that he, as a naval man, should be the last to 
 disobey the orders of the commander-in-chief. " Though 
 faith, madam," he added, "the temptation to do so is very 
 great." 
 
 2
 
 18 THE CRUISE OF THE " FBOLIC." 
 
 " There, you've begun already with a compliment, Sir 
 Francis," answered Miss Susan, laughing ; " I must think 
 of something to say to you in return." 
 
 She had not time, however, before the whole party were 
 put in terror of their lives by a large schooner-yacht, 
 which, without rhyme or reason, stood towards the mouth 
 of the harbor, merely for the sake of standing out again, 
 and very nearly ran us down, as she went about just at the 
 moment she should not. We did not particularly bless the 
 master, who stood at the helm with white kid gloves on his 
 hands, one of which touched the tiller, the other held a 
 cambric handkerchief to his nose, the scent of which 
 Bubble declared he could smell as we passed to leeward. 
 Two minutes more took us alongside the " Frolic." She 
 was a fine cutter of between ninety and a hundred tons ; in 
 every respect what a yacht should be, though not a racer ; 
 for Ned Hearty liked his ease and his fun too much to pull 
 his vessel to pieces at the very time he most wanted to use 
 her. She did not belong to the Cowes squadron ; but Ryde 
 owned her, and Ryde was proud of her, and the red burgee 
 of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club flew at her mast-head. 
 The water was perfectly smooth, so the ladies stepped on 
 board without any difficulty. The gentlemen were busily 
 engaged in arranging the cloaks and cushions for the ladies, 
 while the other boats were coming off. In the next came, 
 under charge of Captain Carstairs, who was yachting 
 regularly with Hearty, Mrs. Sandon, and two more of her 
 fair daughters. Mamma was a very amiable gentlewoman, 
 and had been a brunette in her youth, not wanting in pret- 
 tiness, probably. 
 
 Then came a Mrs. Skyscraper, a widow, pretty, youngish 
 that is to say, not much beyond thirty and with a good 
 jointure at her own disposal ; and a very tall young lady,
 
 THE "FROLIC" AND THE FROLICKEKS. 19 
 
 Miss Mary Masthead by name, a regular jolly girl, though, 
 who bid fair to rival the Rattlers. Then there was Master 
 Henry Flareup perched in the bows, a precocious young 
 gentleman, waiting for his commission, and addicted to 
 smoking ; not a bad boy in the main, however, and full of 
 good nature. Hearty himself came off last with what might 
 be considered the aristocracy of the party Lady and Miss 
 Cardiff, Lord Lorimer, and the Honorable Mrs. Topgallant ; 
 and "with them was young Sandon, an Oxonian, and going 
 into a cavalry regiment. Her ladyship was one of those 
 persons who look well and act well, and against whom no 
 one can say a word ; while Clara Cardiff was a general 
 favorite with all sensible men, and even the women liked 
 her ; she talked a great deal, but never said a silly thing, 
 and, what is more, never uttered an unkind one. She was 
 so incredulous, too, that she never believed a bit of scandal, 
 and (consequently, or rather, for such would not in all cases 
 be the sequitur) at aH events she never repeated one. She 
 was not exactly pretty, but she had a pair of eyes, regular 
 sparklers, which committed a great deal of mischief, though 
 she did not intend it ; her figure was petite and perfect 
 for her height, and she was full of life and animation. .Mrs. 
 Topgallant was proud of her high descent, and a despiser 
 of all those who had wealth, the advantages arising from 
 which they would not allow her to enjoy. It was whispered 
 that her liege lord was hard up in the world not a very 
 rare circumstance now-a-days. I almost forgot Lord 
 Lorimer. He was a young man a very good fellow 
 slightly afraid of being caught, perhaps, and consequently 
 very likely to be so. The Miss Sandons, in their quiet way, 
 set their caps at him ; Jane Seaton looked as if she wished 
 he would pay her more attention ; and Mrs. Skyscraper 
 thought his title very pretty ; but the Rattler girls knew
 
 20 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 that he was a cut above them ; and Clara Cardiff treated 
 him with the same indifference that she did the rest of 
 the men. Such was the party assembled on board the 
 " Frolic." 
 
 I have not yet described the " Frolic," which, as it 
 turned out, was to be my home and a very pleasant 
 home, too, for many a month on the ocean wave ; and yet 
 she was well worthy of a description. She had the first 
 requisite for a good sea-boat great breadth of beam, with 
 sharp bows, and a straightish stem. Her bulwarks were 
 of a comfortable height, and she was painted black outside ; 
 her copper, of its native hue, was varnished so as to shine 
 like a looking-glass. Some people would have thought her 
 deck rather too much encumbered with the skylights ; but 
 I am fond of air ; provided there are ample means of batten- 
 ing them down in case of a heavy sea breaking on board, 
 they are to be commended. A thorough draught can thus 
 always be obtained by having the foremost and aftermost 
 skylights open at the same time ; in a warm climate, an 
 absolute necessity. Besides her main cabin, she had five 
 good-sized sleeping-cabins, a cabin for the master and chief 
 mate, store-rooms, and pantries ; a large fore cuddy for the 
 men ; and Soyer himself would not have despised the kitchen 
 range. I might expatiate on the rosewood fittings of her 
 cabin, on the purity of her decks, on the whiteness of her 
 canvas and ropes, on the bright polish of the brass belayiug- 
 pins, stanchions, davits, and guns, and on the tiller with the 
 head of a sea-fowl exquisitely carved ; but, suffice it to say, 
 that, even to the most fastidious taste, she was perfect in all 
 her details. Before Hearty came down I had engaged a 
 crew for him, and as soon as he arrived on board, I mustered 
 them aft in naval fashion. They were, truly, a fine-looking 
 set of fellows, as they stood hat in hand, dressed in plain blue
 
 THE "FROLIC" AND THE FROLICKEBS. 21 
 
 frocks aud trousers, the ordinary costume of yachtsmen, with 
 the name of u Frolic" in gold letters on the black ribbon 
 which went round their low-crowned hats. The name of 
 the master was Snow. He was a thorough sea-dog, who 
 had spent the best part of his life in smuggling, but not 
 finding it answer of late, had grown virtuous, and given up 
 the trade. He Avas clean and neat in his person ; and as he 
 appeared in his gold-laced cap, and yacht-buttons on his 
 jacket, he looked every inch the officer. Odd enough, the 
 name of one of the other men was Sleet, so Carstairs chose 
 to dub the rest, Hail, Ice, Frost, Rain, Mist, Thaw, and so 
 on ; while one of the boys always went by the name of 
 Drizzle. Hearty had brought down his own man, but was 
 very soon obliged to send him on shore again ; for John, 
 though an excellent groom, proved a very bad sailor. 
 Among other disqualifications, he was invariably sick, and 
 could never learn to keep his legs. The first day we got 
 under weigh, he caught hold of the swing table, and sent all 
 the plates and dishes flying from it. After breakfast he hove 
 overboard half a dozen silver forks and spoons when shaking 
 the tablecloth ; and as he went to windward, of course all 
 the crumbs and egg-tops came flying over the deck. Indeed, 
 it were endless to mention all the inexcusable atrocities poor 
 John committed. On his retiring on" sick leave, we shipped 
 a sea-steward to serve in his stead, who, having been regu- 
 larly brought up on board yachts, proved himself admirable 
 in his department ; but a more impudent rascal to all 
 strangers whom he thought not likely to know his master, 
 I never met. 
 
 Who can fail to look with pleasure at the mouth of the 
 Medina on a fine summer's day, filled as the roadstead is 
 with numerous fine yachts, as well fitted to contend with 
 the waves and tempests in a voyage round the world as the
 
 22 THE CRUISE OP THE k ' FEOLIC." 
 
 largest ship afloat ! The scenery itself is beautiful a 
 charming combination of wood and water. On one side, 
 to the east, Norris Castle, with its ivy-crowned turrets and 
 waving forest ; on the other, the church-spire peeping amid 
 the trees ; and the pretty collection of villas climbing the 
 heights, and extending along the shore from the Club-house 
 and Castle to Egypt Point, with the fine wild downs beyond. 
 On the opposite coast, the wooded and fertile shores of 
 Hampshire ; the lordly tower of Eaglehurst, amid its ver- 
 dant groves ; and Calshot Castle on its sandy beach, at the 
 mouth of the Southampton Water ;. while far away to the 
 east are seen, rising from the ocean, the lofty masts and 
 spars of the ships-of-war at Spithead, and the buildings in 
 the higher parts of Ryde ; altogether fanning a picture per- 
 fect and unrivalled in its kind. Osborne fit abode of Her 
 Majesty of England has now sprung up, and added both 
 dignity and beauty to the scene.
 
 CHAPTER H. 
 
 TREATS OP THE REGATTA AND DINNER ON BOARD THE 
 " FROLIC." 
 
 "WHAT shall we do? Which way shall we go?" was 
 the cry from all hands. 
 
 " Accompany the yachts to the eastward, and haul our 
 wind in time to be back before the flood makes," was Will 
 Bubble's suggestion, and it was approved of and acted on. 
 
 We watched the yachts starting, and a very pretty sight 
 it was ; but I have not the slightest recollection of their 
 names, except that they are mostly those which have sailed 
 before at Ryde. It is the tout ensemble of a regatta which 
 makes up the interest ; the white sails moving about, the 
 number of craft dressed out with gay colors, the bands of 
 music, the cheers as the winners pass the starting vessel, 
 the eagerness of the men in the boats pulling about with 
 orders, the firing of guns, the crowd on shore, the noise 
 and bustle ; and yet no dust, nor heat, nor odors disagreea- 
 ble as at horse-races, where abominations innumerable take 
 away half the pleasure of the spectacle. A gun was fired 
 for the yachts to take their stations and prepare ; a quarter 
 of an hour flew by another was heard loud booming 
 along the water, and up went the white folds of canvas like 
 magic mainsail, gaff-topsail, foresail, and jib altogether. 
 A hand ran aloft to make fast the gaff-topsail-sheet the mo- 
 ment the throat was up, and while they were still swaying 
 away on the peak. 
 
 28
 
 24 TUB CEUISfi OF THE " FEOLIC." 
 
 Every man exerts himself to the utmost what muscu- 
 lar power and activity is displayed ! There is not oue on 
 board who is uot as eager for victory as the owner. What 
 a crowd of canvas each tiny hull supports. What a head 
 to the gaff-topsail, as long as that of the mainsail itself! 
 And then the jib, well may it be called a balloon ; it looks 
 as if it could lift the vessel out of the water and carry her 
 bodily along ; it can only be set when she is going free ; 
 another is stopped along the bowsprit ready to hoist as she 
 hauls close up to beat back. Huzza ! away glide the beau- 
 tiful beings they look as if they had life in them ; alto- 
 gether, not two seconds' difference in setting their sails a 
 magnificent start ! This beats the turf hollow : no slash- 
 ing and cutting the flanks of the unfortunate horses, no 
 training of the still more miserable jockeys ; after all of 
 which, you see a flash of yellow, or green, or blue jackets, 
 and in a few minutes every thing is over, and you hear that 
 some horse has won, and some thousands have slipped out 
 of the hands of one set of fools into those of another set, 
 who, if wiser, are perhaps not more respectable. Now, 
 consider what science is required to plan a fast yacht, what 
 knowledge to build her, to cut and fashion her canvas to 
 rig her. What skill and hardihood in master and crew to 
 sail her. What fine manly qualities are drawn out by the 
 life they lead. Again I say, Huzza for yachting ! 
 
 Away glided the " Frolic " from her moorings, as the 
 racing yachts, accompanied with a crowd of others, ran 
 dead before the wind to the eastward through Cowes Roads. 
 The whole Channel appeared covered with a wide spread of 
 canvas, as we saw them stem on with their mainsails over 
 on one side, and their immense square sails boomed out on 
 the other. Everybody on board was pleased, some uttered 
 loud exclamations of delight, even the Miss Sandona
 
 MAKING LOVE ON BOARD THE "FROLIC." 25 
 
 smiled. They never expressed their pleasure by any more 
 extravagant method ; in fact, they were not given to admi- 
 ration, however willing to receive it. 
 
 I wish two persons to be noted more particularly than 
 the rest our hero and heroine, at least for the present; 
 for what is a story, however true, without them? They 
 were to be seen at the after-part of the vessel the one, 
 the fair Jane Seaton, sitting on a pile of cushions, and 
 leaning against the side, while Harry Loring, the other, 
 reclined on a wrap-rascal at her feet, employed in looking 
 up into her bright blue eyes, as she unconsciously pulled to 
 pieces a flower he had taken out of his button-hole and 
 given her. 
 
 " Wouldn't it be delightful to take a cruise to the An- 
 tipodes?" he asked. 
 
 " Yes," she answered. 
 
 " Just as we are now," he added, " with such a heaven 
 above me." He looked meaningly into her blue eyes. 
 
 Sweet Jane blushed, as well she might. What more in 
 the same style he said I don't know, for as she bent her 
 head down, and he put his face into her blue hood, not a 
 word reached me. By the by, all the ladies wore blue silk 
 hoods, formed after the model of the front of a bathing-ma- 
 chine, and they were considered admirable contrivances to 
 help a quiet flirtation, as in the present instance, besides 
 aiding in preserving the complexion. 
 
 Hearty was rather bothered, I fancied. He liked to be 
 making love to somebody, he declared, and Jane Seaton 
 appeared to be a girl so much to his taste, that, as he con- 
 fessed, he felt rather spooney on her, and had almost 
 made up his mind to try his luck. Foolish Jane ! Here 
 was ten thousand a year ready to throw himself at your feet 
 instead of the penniless youth who had so easily placed
 
 26 THE CEUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 himself there. How you would have kicked had you 
 known the truth ! 
 
 " I say, Hearty, can't you find something for all these 
 young people to do to keep them out of mischief? " sung 
 out Sir Francis. " Kemember the proverb about idleness. 
 I tremble for the consequences." 
 
 " Fie, fie ! " said Mrs. Skyscraper. 
 
 " Fie, fie ! echoed Mrs. Topgallant ; " I'm ashamed of 
 you." 
 
 u We'll try what can be done, Sir Francis," answered 
 Hearty. " Can you, Bubble, devise something?" 
 
 " I have it," replied "Will. " Tablecloths, napkins, towels, 
 and all sorts of household linen came on board yesterday 
 at Portsmouth unhemmed, so I laid in a supply of needles 
 and thread this morning on purpose for the present emer- 
 gency." 
 
 The rogue had put Sir Francis up to making the observa- 
 tion he had done. In a few minutes a number of rolls of 
 various sorts of linen were brought on deck. Some of the 
 damsels protested .that they had no needles, and couldn't 
 work and wouldn't work, till Sir Francis slyly suggested 
 that it was a trial to see who would make the most notable 
 wife ; and without another objection being offered, all the 
 fair hands were employed in sewing away at a great rate, 
 the gentlemen, meantime, holding their parasols to shade 
 them from the sun. Carstairs was the only exception. He 
 slyly went forward, and, taking out pencil and paper, made 
 a capital sketch of the various groups, under which he 
 wrote, " All for Love," and headed, " Distressed Needle- 
 women ; " much to the scandal of those who saw it. 
 
 The ladies, old and young, soon got tired of doing any 
 thing, and the announcement that dinner would be ready as 
 soon as the company were, was received with evident signs
 
 MAKING LOVE ON BOAKD THE " FEOLIC." 27 
 
 of satisfaction. Hearty was a sensible fellow, and deter- 
 mined to get rid of all bad London habits, so we dined early 
 on board ; and then when we got back to port in the even- 
 ing, we used generally to repair to the house of one or other 
 of the guests, and enjoy a meal called by some a glorious 
 tea, by others a yachting tea in fact, it was something 
 like the supper of our ancestors, with tea and coffee. It 
 mattered, therefore, nothing to us whether we got back at 
 eight, nine, or ten ; no one waited dinner for us ; indeed, 
 Hearty never would undertake to get back in time. I 
 should advise all yachting people to follow the good example 
 thus set them. 
 
 By general acclamation it was determined that we should 
 dine on deck ; and Sir Francis, Bubble, and some of the 
 more nautical gentlemen, set to work to rig tables, which 
 we accomplished in a very satisfactory manner, and never 
 was a better feast set before a more hungry party of ladies 
 and gentlemen. Champagne was the favorite beverage ; 
 and certainly Hearty did not stint his friends in it, though 
 there was no lack of less refined liquors. Sir Francis, of 
 course, proposed the health of Ned Hearty ; " and may 
 there soon be a Mrs. Hearty to steady the helm of the 
 ' Frolic' !" were the last words of his speech. 
 
 Ned got up to return thanks. He looked at Jane Seaton, 
 but she had the front of her bathing-machine turned toward 
 Harry Loring, so did not see him. He made a long ora- 
 tion, and concluded by observing, 
 
 " How can there be any difficulty in following the advice 
 my gallant friend, Sir Francis Futtock, has given me, when 
 I see myself surrounded by so many angelic creatures, any 
 of whom a prince might be proud to make his bride ? " 
 
 Loud shouts of applause from the gentlemen odd looks 
 and doubtful smiles from the chaperones blushes deep
 
 28 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 from the young ladies each one of whom, who was not al- 
 ready in love, thought she should like to become Mrs. Hearty, 
 provided Lord Lorimer did not ask her to become Lady 
 Lorimer ; while Henry Flareup was discovered squeezing 
 the hand of Miss Mary Masthead. 
 
 " Oh that I were a prince, then ! " whispered Loring into 
 Miss Seaton's blue shade. 
 
 Thus passed on the day. If there was not much real 
 wit, there was a great deal of hearty laughter ; and stores 
 of health and good spirits were laid in for the future. 
 Loring sang some capital songs, Carstairs spouted, and 
 Bubble floated about, throwing in a word whenever he saw 
 any one silent, or looking as if about to become dull ; while 
 young Flareup, who was anxious to do his best, laughed 
 loudly, for want of any other talent to amuse the company. 
 As the vessels came to haul their wind in order to save the 
 tide back to Cowes, it was curious to observe how they 
 appeared to vanish. One could scarcely tell what had be- 
 come of the immense crowd we had just before seen astern 
 of us. Scattered far and wide in every direction, there 
 seemed not to be one-quarter of the number which were 
 before to be seen. We got back soon after eight o'clock, 
 every one assuring Hearty that they had spent a most de- 
 lightful day.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 A VOYAGE THE MARINERS' RETURN. 
 
 "I SAT, old fellows, don't you find this rather slow?" 
 exclaimed Hearty, as one morning Carstairs, Bubble, and I 
 sat at breakfast with him 6n board the " Frolic." " What 
 say you to a cruise to the westward, over to the coast of 
 France and the Channel Islands, just for ten days or a fort- 
 night or so ? " 
 
 " Agreed, agreed, agreed ! " we all answered. 
 
 "Well, then, to-morrow or next day we sail," said 
 Hearty. " But how can you, Carstairs, tear yourself 
 away from your pretty widow? Bubble, you don't mean 
 to say that you can leave sweet May Sandon without a 
 sigh?" 
 
 " A little absence will try the widow ; it will teach her to 
 miss me, and she will value me more when I return," was 
 Carstairs' answer. "But you, Bubble, what do you say?" 
 for lie did not answer. 
 
 Will was guilty of blushing, for I saw the rosy hue ap- 
 pearing even through his sunburnt countenance, though the 
 others did not. 
 
 " That is the best thing we can do," he answered, with a 
 loud laugh. " Hurrah for the broad seas, and a rover's free 
 life!" 
 
 " I thought so I thought there was nothing in it," said 
 Hearty. " Happy dog ! you never fall in love ; you never 
 care for any one.' 
 
 29
 
 30 THE CBTJISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 " Ah, no : I laugh, sing, and am merry ! " exclaimed 
 Bubble. " It's all very well for you fellows with your five 
 or ten thousand a year to fall in love ; you have hope to live 
 on, if nothing else no insurmountable obstacles ; but for 
 poverty-stricken wretches, like me and a dozen more I could 
 name, it can only bring misery : yet I don't complain of 
 poverty no cares, no responsibilities ; if one has only one's 
 self to look after, it matters little ; but should one unhappily 
 meet with some being who to one's eye is lovely, towards 
 whom one's heart yearns unconsciously, and one longs to 
 make her one's own, then one begins to feel what poverty 
 really is then the galling yoke presses on one's neck. 
 Can you then be surprised that I, and such as I, throw care 
 away, and become the light frivolous wretches we seem? 
 Hearty, my dear fellow, don't you squander your money, or 
 you will repent it ! " 
 
 Bubble spoke with a feeling for which few would have 
 given him credit. He directly afterwards, however, broke 
 into his usual loud laugh, adding, 
 
 " Don't say that I have been moralizing, or I may be 
 suspected of incipient insanity." 
 
 " Will Bubble has made out a clear case that he cannot 
 be in love, for no one accuses him of being overburdened 
 with the gifts of fortune," I observed ; for I saw that he was 
 more in earnest than he would have wished to be supposed. 
 " But do you, Hearty, wish to desert Miss Seaton, and leave 
 the stage clear for Loring ? " 
 
 " Oh, I never enter the lists with a man who can sing," 
 answered Hearty. " Those imitators of Orpheus have the 
 same winning way about them which their great master pos- 
 sessed. But, at the same time, I'll bet ten to one that the 
 fair Jane never becomes Mrs. Loring. I had a little confab 
 the other day with Madame la Mere, and faith, she's about
 
 A VOYAGE. 31 
 
 as fierce a she-dragon as ever guarded an enchanted princess 
 from the attempts of knights-errant to rescue her." 
 
 "I'll take your bet, and for once stake love against 
 lucre ! " exclaimed Bubble, and the bet was booked. 
 
 But enough of this. We bade our friends farewell ; and, 
 in spite of all their attempts to detain us, we laid in a stock 
 of provisions to last us for a month, and with a fine breeze 
 from the northward, actually found our way through the 
 Needles just as the sun was tinging the topmost pinnacles 
 of those weather-worn rocks. 
 
 As soon as we were through the passage, we kept away, 
 and shaped a course for Havre de Grace. The wind shifted 
 round soon afterwards to the westward, and I shall not for- 
 get the pure refreshing saltness of the breeze which filled our 
 nostrils, and added strength and vigor to our limbs. What 
 a breakfast we ate afterwards ! There seemed no end to it. 
 Our caterer had done well to lay in a store of comestibles. 
 Our perfect happiness lasted till nearly noon, and then the 
 wind increased and the sea got up in a not unusual manner. 
 We went below to take luncheon, and we set to in first-rate 
 style, as if there was no such thing as the centre of gravity 
 to be disturbed. ' Carstairs began to look a little queer. 
 
 " ' Thus far into the bowels of the earth have we marched 
 on without impediment,' Shakspeare, hum" he began. 
 He was going to give us the whole speech, but instead, he 
 exclaimed, " O ye gods and little fishes ! " and bolted up on 
 deck. 
 
 Hearty, the joyous and free, followed. They declared 
 that they felt as if the cook had mixed ipecacuanha in the 
 sausages they had eaten for breakfast. Bubble laughed, 
 lighted a cigar, and sat on the companion-hatch with one leg 
 resting on the deck, the other carelessly dangling down, with 
 the independence of a king on his throne, pitying them.
 
 32 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 Oh, how they envied him ; how they almost hated him, 
 as cigar after, cigar disappeared, and still there he sat 
 without a sign of discomposure ! At dark we made the 
 Havre light ; and an hour afterwards, the tide being high, 
 we ran in and dropped our anchor in smooth water. 
 Wonderful was the change which quietude worked on all 
 hands ! 
 
 " Supper, supper ! " was the cry. Even Will and I did 
 justice to it, though we had had a quiet little dinner by our- 
 selves in the midst of our friends' agony, off pickled salmon 
 and roast duck, with a gooseberry tart and a bottle of cham- 
 pagne. 
 
 Next morning we sailed with the wind back again to the 
 north-east, and, notwithstanding the little inconveniences we 
 had suffered on the passage across, we stood to the west- 
 ward, and heroically determined to run through the Race of 
 Alderney, to pay a visit to Jersey. There was a nice breeze, 
 and I must say we were glad there was no more of it, as we 
 ran through the passage between Alderney and the French 
 coast. The water seemed possessed ; it tumbled and leaped 
 and twisted and danced in a most extraordinary and unnatu- 
 ral manner ; and several seas toppled right down on our 
 decks, and we could not help fancying that some huge fish 
 had jumped on board. However, with a fair wind and a 
 strong tide we were soon through it, nor was there danger 
 of any sort ; but from the specimen we had we could judge 
 what it would be in a strongish gale. The wind had got 
 round to the southward of west, and before we had managed 
 to weather Cape Gronez the tide turned against us. Cape 
 Gronez is the north-west point of Jersey, and bears a strong 
 similarity to the nose of Louis Philippe, as his portrait used 
 to be represented in " Punch." We had an opportunity of 
 judging of it, for, for upwards of an hour did we beat be-
 
 A VOYAGE. 33 
 
 tween it and those enticing rocks called very properly the 
 Paternosters, for if a ship once strikes on them, it is to be 
 hoped that the crew, being Roman Catholics, will, if they 
 have time, say their Paternosters before they go to the 
 bottom. 
 
 At last it came on very thick, we ran back and anchored 
 in a most romantic little cove called Bouley Bay, where we 
 remained all night, hoping the wind would not shift to the 
 northward, and send us on shore. I should advise all timid 
 yachtsmen to keep clear of Jersey, for what with the rapid 
 tides, and rocks innumerable, it is a very ticklish locality. 
 The next morning we got under way at daybreak, and 
 brought up off Elizabeth Castle, which guards the entrance 
 of the harbor of St. Heliers. I have not time to describe 
 Jersey. I can only recommend all who have not seen it, 
 and wish to enjoy some very beautiful scenery, to go there. 
 Two days more saw us crossing to Torbay, which we reached 
 on the morning of the regatta. Had an artist been employed 
 to carve the cliffs on which Torbay is situated, he could 
 scarcely have made them more picturesque, or added tints 
 more suitable, except perhaps that they are a little more red 
 than one might wish. However, it is a very beautiful place, 
 and admirably adapted for a regatta. 
 
 The bay before the town was crowded with yachts, and I 
 counted no less than fourteen large schooners, among which 
 I remember the "Brilliant," which, however, should be 
 called a ship, " Gypsy Queen," " Dolphin," " Louisa," and 
 a vast number of cutters, a large proportion of which were 
 gayly dressed up with flags. The course is round the bay, 
 so that the yachts are in sight the whole time an advan- 
 tage possessed by few other places. The " Heroine," 
 " Cygnet," and " Cynthia," sailed, but the race was not a 
 good one, as the "Heroine," driven to windward by her 
 3
 
 34 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 antagonist, ran her bowsprit into one of the mark boats, and 
 another of them, the " Cynthia," making a mistake, did not 
 go round her at all. Notwithstanding this, the sight was as 
 beautiful of its kind as I ever saw. There was a ball at 
 night, to which we went, and we flattered ourselves that four 
 dancing bachelors were not unwelcome. We met a number 
 of acquaintances. Hearty lost his heart for the tenth time 
 since he left London. The Gentle Giant, as the Miss Rat- 
 tlers called Carstairs, looked out for a charmer, but could 
 find none to surpass Mrs. Skyscraper. Bubble laughed with 
 all but sighed with none, though Hearty accused him of 
 flirtations innumerable ; and I never chronicle my own 
 deeds, however fond I may be of noting those of my friends. 
 However, if we did not break hearts, we passed a very 
 pleasant evening. Hearty invited everybody he knew to 
 come on board the next morning, and we went as far as 
 Dartmouth, and a beautiful sail back we had by moonlight, 
 to the great delight of the romantic portion of the guests. 
 They were a very quiet set of ladies and gentlemen, and 
 more than one sigh was heaved when they had gone on 
 shore for our fast friends at Cowes. 
 
 We were present at the Plymouth Regatta, and were 
 going to several other places, when, one day after dinner, 
 Hearty thus gave utterance to his thoughts. We were about 
 a quarter of the way across channel on our passage to the 
 French coast, with a stiffish breeze from the westward, and 
 a chopping sea : 
 
 " It seems to me arrant folly that we four bachelors should 
 keep turning up the salt water all the summer, and boxing 
 about from place to place which we don't care to visit, when 
 there are a number of fair ladies at Cowes who are undoubt- 
 edly pining for our return." 
 
 " My own idea," exclaimed Carstairs.
 
 THE MARINERS' RETURN. 35 
 
 " Your argument is unanswerable," said Bubble. 
 
 I nodded. 
 
 "All agreed then we'll up stick for the Wight," said 
 Hearty joyfully. " The wind's fair. We shall be there 
 some time to-morrow. Hillo, Jack ! beg the master to step 
 below." 
 
 This was said to a lad who waited at table and assisted 
 the steward. 
 
 Old Snow, the master, soon made his appearance. He 
 had been a yachtsman for many years, and previously, if his 
 yarns were to be believed, a smuggler of no mean renown. 
 He was a short man, rather fat, for good living had not been 
 thrown away on him, and very neat and clean in his person, 
 as became the master of a yacht. 
 
 " We want to get back to Cowes, Snow," said Hearty. 
 
 " Yes, sir," answered the skipper, well accustomed to 
 sudden changes in the plans of his yachting masters. 
 
 " How soon can we get there?" asked Hearty. 
 
 "If we keeps away at once, and this here wind holds, 
 early to-morrow ; but, if it falls light, not till the afternoon, 
 maybe ; and, if it chops round to the eastward, not till next 
 morning," replied Snow. 
 
 " By all means keep away at once, and get there as fast 
 as you can," said Hearty ; and the master disappeared from 
 the cabin. 
 
 Directly afterwards we heard him call the hands aft to 
 ease off the main sheet, the square sail and gaff topsail were 
 set, and, by the comparatively easy motion, we felt that we 
 were running off before the wind. Not a little did it con- 
 tribute to our comfort in concluding our dinner. 
 
 The next day, at noon, saw us safely anchored in Cowes 
 Roads. 
 
 " There's Mr. Hearty and the Gentle Giant, I declare,"
 
 36 THE CRUISE OP THE " FROLIC." 
 
 exclaimed the melodious voice of Miss Susan Rattler, from 
 out of a shrubbery, as my two friends were pacing along on 
 the road towards Egypt, to call on Lady Cardiff. 
 
 " Oh, the dear men ! you don't say so, Susan ! " replied 
 her sister. 
 
 Bubble and I were close under them, a little in advance, 
 so they did not see us, though we could not avoid hearing 
 what was said. 
 
 " Yes, it's them, I vow ; we must attack them about the 
 picnic forthwith," said Susan. 
 
 " Don't mention Jane Seaton, or poor Ned will be too 
 much out of spirits to do any thing," observed her sister. 
 
 " Trust me to manage all descriptions of he-animals," re- 
 plied Rattler minima. " Ah, how d'ye do? how d'ye do? 
 Welcome, rovers, welcome ! " she exclaimed, waving her 
 handkerchief as they approached. 
 
 " Lovely ladies, we once more live in your presence," 
 began Hearty. 
 
 " ' Oh that I were a glove upon that hand ! ' " shouted 
 Carstairs. 
 
 " Oh, don't, you'll make us blush ! " screamed Susan, 
 from over the bushes. " But seriously, we're so glad you're 
 come, because now we can have the picnic to Netley you 
 promised us." 
 
 " I like frankness when shall it be?" said Hearty. 
 
 " To-morrow, by all means, never delay a good thing." 
 
 " ' If 'twere done, 'twere well 'twere done quickly,' " ob- 
 served the captain. 
 
 " That's what Shakspeare says about a beef-steak," cried 
 Susan. " But I say then, it's settled how nice ! " 
 
 " What? that we are to have beef-steaks? " asked Hearty. 
 " They are very nice when one's hungry."
 
 THE MARINERS' RETURN. 37 
 
 " No, I mean that we are to have a pic-nic to-morrow," 
 said the fair Rattler. 
 
 " That depends whether those we invite are willing to 
 join it," observed Hearty. 
 
 " ' I can summon spirits from the vasty deep ; but will 
 they come, cousin ? ' " exclaimed Carstairs. 
 
 "Oh, yes, in these parts, often," cried Rattler maxima ; 
 " the revenue officers constantly find them, I know." 
 
 " Capital capital ! " ejaculated Hearty. " You must 
 bring that out again on board the ' Frolic.' You deserve a 
 pic-nic for it ; it's so original. You must consider this only 
 as a rehearsal." 
 
 "How kind then it's all settled!" exclaimed both 
 young ladies in a breath. " There's Mary Masthead, I 
 know, is dying to go, and so is Mrs. Topgallant, and I dare 
 say, if Captain Carstairs presses Mrs. Skyscraper, she'll go, 
 and the Sandons and Cardiff's, and all our set ; I don't think 
 any will refuse." 
 
 " Well, then, we've no time to lose," we exclaimed, and 
 off we set to beat up for recruits. 
 
 "We were not, however, without our disappointments. 
 Lady Cardiff could not go, and without a correct chaperone 
 she could not let her daughter be of the party the thing 
 was utterly impossible, dreadfully incorrect, and altogether 
 unheard of. Mrs. Skyscraper was a great deal too young, 
 and being a widow had herself to look after. If Mrs. Top- 
 gallant would go, she would see about it ; so we tried next 
 to find the lady in question, but she had gone to Carisbrooke 
 Castle, and would not be back till late. Mrs. Sandon was 
 next visited, but she had a cold ; and if Lady Cardiff would 
 not let her daughter go without a chaperone, neither could 
 she. We by chance met Mrs. Seaton with the fair Jane, 
 looking very beautiful, but mamma never went on the water
 
 38 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 if she could help it. She could not come to the island 
 without doing so ; but once safe there, she would not set 
 her foot in a boat till she had to go away again. Sooth to 
 say, that was not surprising ; the good dame was unsuited 
 by her figure for locomotion. Every thing depended on 
 Mrs. Topgallant ; never was she in so much request. The 
 gentlemen being able to come without chaperones, more 
 readily promised to be present. We fell in with Sir Francis 
 Futtock, Lord Lorimer, Harry Loring, and young Flareup, 
 and a young Oxonian, who had lately taken orders, and 
 created a great sensation among the more sensitive portion 
 of his audience by his exquisite preaching, and the unction 
 by which he privately recommended auricular confession 
 and penance. 
 
 The Rev. Frederick Fairfax was a pink-faced young man, 
 and had naturally a round, good-natured countenance, but 
 by dint of shaving his whiskers, elongating his face, and 
 wearing a white cravat without gills, and a stand-up collar 
 to his coat, he contrived to present a no bad imitation of a 
 Jesuit priest. The Miss Rattlers called him the Paragon 
 Puseyite, or the P. P., which they said would stand as well 
 for parish priest. How Hearty came to invite him I don't 
 know, for he detested the silly clique to whom the youth 
 had attached himself. We had just left the young gentle- 
 man when we met the two merry little Miss Masons. At 
 first they could not possibly go, because they had no chape- 
 rone ; but when they heard that the Rev. Frederick was to 
 be of the party, all their scruples vanished. With such a 
 pastor they might go anywhere. They had ooly lately been 
 bitten, but had ever since diligently applied themselves to 
 the study of the " Tracts of the Times ; " and though not a 
 word did they understand of those works (which was not 
 surprising by the by), they perceived that the Rev. Fred's
 
 THE MARINERS' RETITRN. 39 
 
 voice was very melodious, that he chanted to admiration, 
 and looked so pious that they could not be wrong in follow- 
 ing his advice. At last the hearts of all were made glad 
 by the appearance of Mrs. Topgallant, who, without much 
 persuasion, undertook to chaperone as many young ladies as 
 were committed to her charge.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 A PIC-NIC, AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. 
 
 THE morning came at last, fine as the palpitating hearts 
 of expectant damsels could desire, and calm enough to 
 please the most timid chaperone ; so calm, indeed, that it 
 was a question whether any craft with canvas alone to de- 
 pend on could move from her moorings with a chance of 
 going anywhere except to Hurst or the' Nab ; but, as few 
 of our lady friends had any nautical knowledge, that in no 
 way disconcerted them, and they would not have believed 
 us had we assured them that there was too little wind for 
 the excursion. By noon, however, a few cats'-paws ap- 
 peared on the lake-like surface of the water, and soon after 
 the deck of the " Frolic" once more began to rejoice in the 
 presence of many of the former frolickers. They found it 
 easy enough to come on board, but to collect all hands and 
 get under way was a very different thing. The Miss San- 
 dons and Jane Seaton, who came escorted by Loring, on 
 finding no chaperone, thought they ought to go on shore 
 again, as neither Mrs. Topgallant nor Mrs. Skyscraper had 
 come ; but Sir Francis kept them discussing the point till 
 Carstairs had time to dive below, and presently returned 
 with a Norman cap on his head, a shawl over his shoulders, 
 and a boat-cloak as a petticoat. 
 
 " There," he exclaimed, crossing his arms before him, 
 and putting his head on one side, sentimentally, " I'm as 
 good a duenna as Mrs. Topgallant, or any other lady of 
 
 40
 
 A PIC-NIC, AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. 41 
 
 your acquaintance." All laughed and forgot to go. " Come, 
 my dear girls, sit down and behave yourselves ; no flirting 
 with that naval officer, if you please," he continued, imitat- 
 ing the honorable dame. " You, Mr. Loring, and you, 
 Mr. Henry Flareup, go forward and smoke your cigars. I 
 can't allow such nasty practices here." 
 
 Flareup had, as usual, lighted his weed, and was sending 
 the smoke into the face of May Sandon. The roars of 
 laughter were not few as the real Mrs. Topgallant, with 
 Miss Mary Masthead, approached, and the Norman cap with 
 the good-natured face of the wearer was seen looking over 
 the side affectionately down upon them. The Rev. Fred 
 and the Miss Masons next arrived, and lastly Mrs. Sky- 
 scraper, Miss Cardiff, Lord Lorimer, and Hearty. 
 
 " Now, remember, Mr. Hearty, we must get back before 
 dark ; it is on that condition alone that I have consented to 
 chaperone these young ladies," said Mrs. Topgallant, as we 
 were about to get under way. 
 
 " And I, also," exclaimed pretty Mrs. Skyscraper. 
 
 " Oh, we don't allow you to be a chaperone," said Car- 
 stairs ; " you are far too young and too engaging," he whis- 
 pered ; and the Gentle Giant actually blushed as he said so ; 
 luckily Miss Susan Rattler did not hear him. 
 
 " And mamma made me promise to be back at eight," 
 cried Jane Seaton. 
 
 " And so did ours ! " echoed the three Miss Sandons. 
 
 " You know we could not have come at all unless we 
 were certain of being at home in proper time ! " exclaimed 
 the two Miss Masons ; " could we, Mr. Fairfax ? " 
 
 The pet bowed and smiled. He was meditating on the 
 Life of St. Euphemia, of Rhodes, and did not hear the 
 question. 
 
 " Remember, ladies, that time and tide wait for no man,"
 
 42 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 answered Hearty. " Even such fair goddesses as honor 
 the ' Frolic ' by their presence this day cannot govern the 
 winds and waves, however much they rnay every thing else. 
 Therefore all I can promise is, to do my best to follow the 
 wishes of your amiable mammas, and of yourselves." 
 
 " And of mine, if you please, Mr. Hearty," put in Mrs. 
 Topgallant. 
 
 " Certainly, my dear madam, I considered you among 
 the goddesses of whom I was speaking," answered Hearty, 
 with a flourish of his broad-brimmed beaver, which, with 
 the compliment, completely won the honorable lady's heart. 
 
 The anchor was at last weighed, and it being fortunately 
 slack tide, with a light air from the south-east, we were 
 able to fetch Calshot Castle. 
 
 Most of my readers probably know the Southampton 
 Water, and may picture us to themselves as we floated up 
 the stream with the round, solid, Stilton-cheese-like-looking 
 Castle of Calshot, at the end of a sandy spit, and the lordly 
 Tower of Eaglehurst, rising among the trees visible over it 
 on the one hand, and the mouth of the Hamble River on 
 the other, while, as far as the eye can reach on either hand, 
 are seen verdant groves, with the roofs and chimneys of 
 numerous villas peeping from among them. About three- 
 quarters of the way up, on the right hand, at a short distance 
 only from the water, stand the picturesque ruins of Netley 
 Abbey. The jolly monks of old and I respect them for 
 it always selected the most beautiful sites in the neigh- 
 borhood for their habitations, and in fixing on that for Netley, 
 they did not depart from their rule. Several chambers re- 
 main ; and the walls which surround an inner court are en- 
 tire, with fine arched windows, the tracery work complete, 
 looking into it. We brought up off it, and the boats were 
 instantly lowered to convey the passengers on shore. In
 
 A PIC-NIC, AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. 43 
 
 getting into one of them, Loring nearly went overboard, and 
 a shriek of terror from Jane Seaton would have published 
 her secret, had not everybody known it before. At last 
 the hampers and the people reached the beach in safety ; 
 and now began the difficulties of the chaperone. She was 
 like a shepherd with a wild flock of sheep and no dog ; they 
 would stray in every direction out of her sight. Some had 
 brought sketch-books, and perched themselves about, far 
 apart, to take views of the ruins ; others preferred what they 
 called exploring; and Jane and Loring vanished no one 
 knew where. The Gentle Giant, who drew very well, was 
 called on by the Miss Rattlers and several other ladies to 
 fill up the pages of their books ; and Hearty was running 
 about talking to everybody and ordering every thing ; 
 while Bubble was exerting himself to do the same, and to 
 take sketches into the bargain, though all his friends ob- 
 served that there was a want of his usual vivacity. The 
 Rattler girls quizzed him unmercifully, till they brought 
 him back to the semblance, at all events, of his former self. 
 The servants had been employed in laying the cloth under 
 the shade of a tree which had sprung up in the courtyard, 
 and thither Hearty's voice . now summoned us. How can 
 pen of mine do justice to the cold collation which was spread 
 before our rejoicing eyes ! I can only say that the party 
 did it, and amply too. 
 
 " Are we all here ? " exclaimed the master of the revels. 
 " No, by Bacchus! two are wanting Miss Seatou and 
 Mr. Loring where are they ? " 
 
 "Good gracious! where can they be? "screamed the 
 Honorable Mrs. Topgallant. 
 
 "What can have become of them?" cried Mrs. Sky- 
 scraper. 
 
 " They probably did not hear you call, and I dare say
 
 44 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 they are not far off," suggested Miss Cardiff, always anxious 
 to find a good excuse for her acquaintance. 
 
 " I should not wonder but what they have eloped," ob- 
 served Miss Susan Rattler. 
 
 " What fun ! " said Miss Mary Masthead ; " we haven't 
 had such a thing for a long time." 
 
 " How shocking ! " ejaculated the Miss Masons in a 
 breath, and looked at the Rev. Frederick. 
 
 " I'll wager I find the truants," said Bubble, about to go ; 
 but he was saved the trouble, for at that moment they ap- 
 peared ; the fair Jane looking very confused Harry Lor- 
 ing remarkably happy. 
 
 " We've all been talking about you two," blurted out 
 Hearty. " No scandal though, so sit down and enable us 
 to recover our appetites, for our anxiety nearly took them 
 away. Now tell us, what have you been doing ? " 
 
 Poor Jane did not know which way to look, nor what to 
 say ; and it never occurred to Hearty that his question 
 might possibly confuse her. Loring, however, came to the 
 rescue. 
 
 " Admiring the architecture, exploring everywhei-e, and 
 examining every thing, which no one else appears to have 
 done, or the dinner-bell would not have been answered so 
 speedily. And now, old fellow, I'll drink a glass of cham- 
 pagne with you." 
 
 This would not blind us, however. Every one saw what 
 he had been about, and no small blame to him either. Of 
 course, no one further hinted at the subject. After dinner 
 we again wandered about the ruins, and the shades of eve- 
 ning surprised us while still there, to the great horror of 
 Mrs. Topgallant, and not a little to that of the Miss Masons, 
 who had been so earnestly listening to a discourse of the
 
 A PIC-NIC, AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. 45 
 
 Rev. Frederick on the importance of reviving monasteries, 
 that they did not observe the sun set. 
 
 " Hillo, ladies and gentlemen ! we ought to be on board 
 again," sung out Hearty, from the top of a high wall to 
 which he had climbed. " There is no time to be lost, if we 
 would not displease our mammas." 
 
 A good deal of time, however, was lost in collecting the 
 scattered sheep, and in carrying down the baskets to the 
 boats, which the servants had neglected to do. When we 
 did at length reach the spot at which we had landed, a bank 
 of mud was alone to be seen, and one of the men brought 
 us the pleasing intelligence that the nearest place at which 
 we could possibly embark was about a mile down the river. 
 
 " We here have a convincing proof that time and tide 
 wait for no one," cried Bubble ; u or the latter would cer- 
 tainly have remained up for the convenience of so . many 
 charming young ladies." 
 
 " Shocking ! " exclaimed Mrs. Topgallant. 
 
 " What will our mammas say?" ejaculated all the fair 
 damsels. 
 
 " That it's very improper," said the chaperone-general. 
 
 " It can't be helped now ; so if we do not intend to spend 
 the night on the beach, we had better keep moving," ob- 
 served one of the gentlemen. 
 
 Henry Flareup expressed his opinion that the dismay their 
 non-arrival would cause would be jolly fun, and the Miss 
 Rattlers were in ecstasies of delight at the contretemps. 
 
 However, no one grumbled very much, and at last we 
 reached the boats. A new difficulty then arose. They barely 
 floated with the crews in them, but with passengers on board 
 they would be aground. The men had to get out, and, as 
 it was, the only approach to them was over wet mud of a 
 soft nature, yet no persuasions would induce the ladies to be
 
 46 THE CRUISE OP THE "FROLIC." 
 
 carried to them. Mrs. Topgallant would not hear of such 
 a thing, and boldly led the van through the mud. The 
 young ladies followed, nearly losing their shoes, and most 
 effectually draggling (I believe it is a proper word) their 
 gowns. Hearty counted them off to sae, as he said, that 
 none were missing ; and then began the work of getting the 
 boats afloat, one or two of the ladies, not accustomed to 
 yachting, being dreadfully alarmed at seeing the men jump 
 overboard, to lift them along. Huzza ! off we went at last, 
 and pulled towards the " Frolic." 
 
 " Let's get back as fast as we can, Snow," exclaimed 
 Hearty, as soon as he stepped on deck. 
 
 "Beg pardon, sir, it won't be very fast, though," an- 
 swered the master. 
 
 "Why, how is that?" asked Hearty; "an hour and a 
 half will do it, won't it ? " 
 
 " Bless your heart, no, sir," said old Snow, almost laugh- 
 ing at the idea. " It's just dead low water, so the flood 
 will make up for the best part of the next six hours, and 
 after that, if there doesn't come more wind than we has 
 now, we shan't make no great way. 
 
 " But let us at all events get up our anchor and try to do 
 something," urged Hearty, whose ideas of navigation were 
 not especially distinct at the time. 
 
 " If we does, sir, we shall drive up to Southampton, or 
 maybe, to Redbridge, for there ain't an hair in all the 
 'eavens," was the encouraging answer given by the master. 
 
 I never saw a more perfect calm. A candle was lighted 
 on deck, and the flame went straight up as if in a room. 
 If we had been in a tropical climate we should have looked 
 out for a hurricane. Here nothing so exciting was to be 
 apprehended. The conversation with the master was not 
 overheard by any of the ladies, and Hearty thought it was
 
 A PIC-NIC, AND ITS CONSEQUKJSCliS. 47 
 
 as well to say nothing about it, but to leave them to sup- 
 pose that we were on our way back to Cowes. 
 
 " It is much too dark to distinguish the shore, and as none 
 of them ever think of looking at the sails, they will not dis- 
 cover that we are still at anchor," he observed ; and so it 
 proved, as we shall presently see. 
 
 The after-cabin had been devoted to the use of the fairer 
 portion of the guests, and when they got there and found 
 the muddy condition of their dresses, there was a general 
 cry for hot water to wash them. Luckily the cook's coppers 
 could supply a good quantity, and two tubs were sent aft, 
 in which, as was afterwards reported for we were not 
 allowed to be spectators of the process the Honorable 
 Mrs. Topgallant and her protegees were busily employed 
 in rinsing their skirts, though it was not quite so easy a 
 matter to dry them. Tea and coffee were next served up in 
 the main cabin, and cakes and muffins and toast in profusion 
 were produced, and as Carstairs .quietly observed, " Never 
 were washerwomen more happy." 
 
 There was only one thing wanting, we had not sufficient 
 milk ; and that there might be no scarcity in future, it was 
 proposed to send the steward on shore with Henry Flareup 
 to swap him for a cow to be kept on board instead. He 
 was fixed on as the victim, as it was considered that he had 
 been making too much love to one of the Miss Sandons, 
 conduct altogether unbecoming one of his tender years. 
 
 " "We have passed a very pleasant evening, Mr. Hearty, 
 I can assure you," said the chaperone ; " and as I suppose 
 we shall soon be there, we had better get ready to go on 
 shore." 
 
 " We shall have time for a dance first ; we have had the 
 deck cleared, and the musicians are ready," replied Hearty ;
 
 48 THE CRUISE OP THE " FROLIC." 
 
 " may I have the honor of opening the ball with you, Mrs. 
 Topgallant?" 
 
 " Oh, I don't know what to say to such a thing I'm 
 afraid it will be very incorrect ; and at all events you must 
 excuse me, Mr. Hearty, I shall have quite enough to do to 
 look after my charges. 
 
 And as Mrs. Topgallant said this, she glanced round at 
 the assembled young ladies. 
 
 " A dance, a dance, by all means ! " exclaimed the Miss 
 Rattlers ; " what capital fun." 
 
 A dance was therefore agreed on, and we went on deck, 
 which we found illuminated with all the lanterns and spare 
 lamps which could be found on board ; and even candles 
 without any shade were stuck on the taffrail, and the boom 
 was topped up, so as to be completely out of the way. We 
 owed the arrangements to Bubble, Carstairs, and the master, 
 who had been busily employed while the rest were below at 
 tea. An exclamation of delight burst from the lips of the 
 young ladies ; the musicians struck up a polka, and in 
 another minute all hands were footing it away as gayly as 
 in any ball-room, and with far more merriment and free- 
 dom. 
 
 Ye gentlemen and ladies who stay at home at ease, 
 Ah, little do ye think upon the fun there's on the seas ! 
 
 How we did dance ! No one tired. Even Mrs. Top- 
 gallant got up and took a turn with the Gentle Giant, and 
 very nearly went overboard, by the by. We had no hot 
 lamps, no suffocating perfumed atmosphere, to oppress us, 
 as in a London ball-room. The clear sky was our ceiling, 
 the cool water was around us. Every gentleman had 
 danced with every lady, except that Loring had taken 
 more than his share with Miss Seaton, before we thought 
 of giving in.
 
 A PIC-NIC, AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. 49 
 
 " Well, I wonder we don't get there ! " on a sudden 
 exclaimed Mrs. Topgallant, as if something new had struck 
 her. 
 
 There was a general laugh, set, I am sorry to say, by Sir 
 Francis Futtock. 
 
 " Why, my dear madam, we have not begun to go yet." 
 
 " Not begun to go ! " cried the Miss Masons. " What 
 will be said of us ? " 
 
 " Not begun to go ! " groaned the Rev. Fred. " What 
 will my flock do without me ? " 
 
 " Why, I thought we had been moving all the time. 
 We have passed a number of objects which I should have 
 taken, for ghosts, if I believed in such things," said Mrs. 
 Topgallant. 
 
 " Those were vessels going up with the tide, my dear 
 madam, to Southampton, where we should have gone also," 
 observed Sir Francis. 
 
 Just then a tall dark object came out of the gloom, and 
 glided by us at a little distance. It certainly had what one 
 might suppose the appearance of a spirit wandering over the 
 face of the waters. 
 
 "Cutter, ahoy! What cutter is that?" hailed a voice 
 from the stranger. 
 
 u It's one of them revenue chaps," said Snow. " The 
 ' Frolic ' yacht ; Edward Hearty, Esq., owner ! " answered 
 the old man ; " and be hanged to you," he muttered. 
 
 " Til call thee king father, royal Dane. Oh, answer 
 me ! '" continued Carstairs. 
 
 " He'll not answer you so avast spouting, and let's have 
 another turn at dancing ! " exclaimed Hearty, interrupting 
 the would-be actor, and dragging him, to the side of Mrs. 
 Skyscraper, who did not refuse his request to dance another 
 quadrille.
 
 50 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 Thus at it again we went, to the no small amusement of a 
 number of spectators, whose voices could be heard round us. 
 Their boats were just dimly visible, though, from the bright 
 lights on our deck, we could not see the human beings on 
 board them. At last the rippling sound against our bows 
 ceasing, gave notice that the tide had slackened, and that we 
 might venture on lifting anchor. A light air also sprang up 
 from the eastward, and slowly we began to move on our 
 right course. Some of the un-nauticals, however, forgot 
 that with an ebb tide and an easterly wind there was not 
 much chance of our reaching Cowes in a hurry. A thick 
 fog also began to rise from the calm water ; and after the 
 dancing, for fear of their catching cold, cloaks and .coats, 
 plaids and shawls, were in great requisition among the 
 young ladies. Mrs. Topgallant insisted that they would all 
 be laid up, and that they must go below till they got into 
 Cowes harbor. 
 
 " She was excessively angry," she said, " with Mr. Hearty 
 for keeping them out in this way ; and as for Sir Francis 
 Futtock, a captain in Her Majesty's navy, she was, indeed, 
 surprised that such a thing could happen while he was on 
 board." 
 
 " But, my dear madam," urged Sir Francis, in his de- 
 fence, " you know that accidents will happen in the best- 
 regulated families. Nobody asked my advice, and I could 
 not venture to volunteer it, or I might have foretold what 
 has happened. However, come down below, and I trust no 
 harm will ensue." 
 
 After some persuasion, the good lady was induced to go 
 below, and to rest herself on a sofa in one of the sleeping 
 cabins, the door of which Harry Flareup quietly locked, at 
 a hint from Hearty, who then told the young ladies that, as 
 Cerberus was chained, they might now do exactly what they
 
 A PIC-NIC, AKD ITS CONSEQUENCES. 51 
 
 liked. I must do them the justice to say that they behaved 
 very well. There was abundance of laughter, however, 
 especially when Miss Susan Rattler appeared habited in a 
 large box-coat belonging to Captain Carstairs. It had cer- 
 tainly nothing yachtish about it. It was of a whity-brown 
 hue, with great horn buttons and vast pockets. It was 
 thoroughly roadish, it smelt of the road, its appearance was 
 of the road. It reminded one of the days of four-in-hand 
 coaches ; and many a tale it could doubtless tell of New- 
 market ; of races run, of bets booked. Not content with 
 wearing the coat, Susan was persuaded to try a cigar. She 
 puffed away manfully for some time. 
 
 " You look a very jemmy young gent, indeed you do," 
 observed the Gentle Giant, looking up at her as he sat at 
 her feet. " What would your mamma say if she saw 
 you?" 
 
 " What an odious custom you men have of smoking," cried 
 Hearty, pretending not to see who was the culprit. 
 
 " In the presence of ladies, too," exclaimed Loring, really 
 ignorant of the state of the case. 
 
 Poor Susan saw that she was laughed at, and, beginning 
 probably at the same time to feel a little sick from the fumes 
 of the tobacco, she was not sorry of an excuse for throwing 
 Carstairs' best Havana into the water. 
 
 As the fog settled over us rather heavily, not only were 
 the more delicate part of the company wrapped up in cloaks 
 and shawls, but we got up the blankets and counterpanes 
 from the cabins, and swaddled them up completely in them, 
 while the gentlemen threw themselves along at their feet, 
 partly in a fit of romantic gallantry, and partly, it is just 
 possible, to assist in keeping themselves warm. Carstairs 
 recited Shakspeare all night long, and Loring sang some 
 capital songs.
 
 52 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 By this time we had got down to Calshot ; and, as the tide 
 was now setting down pretty strong, we appeared to be going 
 along at a good rate. 
 
 "How soon shall we be in, captain?" asked one of the 
 Miss Masons of the skipper, who was at the helm. 
 
 " That depends, miss, whether a breeze comes before we 
 get down to Yarmouth or Hurst ; because, if we keep on, we 
 shan't be far off either one or the other, before the tide turns," 
 was the unsatisfactory answer. 
 
 " Keep on, by all means, Snow," exclaimed Hearty, who 
 had not heard all that was said ; " I promised to do my best 
 to get in, and we must keep at it." 
 
 So tideward we went; the little wind there had been 
 dropping altogether. Presently we heard a hail. 
 
 "What cutter is that?" 
 
 " The ' Frolic.' " 
 
 " Please, sir, we were sent out to look for you, to bring 
 Mrs. Topgallant and Miss Masons, and some other ladies, 
 on shore." 
 
 There was a great deal of talk, but Hearty had determined 
 that no one should leave the yacht. Mrs. Topgallant was 
 below, and could not be disturbed ; besides, the other young 
 ladies could not be left without a chaperone. The Miss 
 Masons wanted to go in company with their pastor, but it 
 would not exactly do to be out in a boat alone with the Rev. 
 Fred. As that gentleman was afraid of catching cold, he 
 was at the time safe below, and knew nothing of what was 
 taking place, so the boat was sent off without a freight. 
 Hearty vowed that he would fire on any other boat which 
 came near us to carry off any of his guests. Thus the night 
 wore on. 
 
 It would be impossible to record all the witty things which 
 were said, all the funny things which were done, and all the
 
 A PIC-NIC, AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. 53 
 
 laughter which was laughed. All I can say is, that the 
 ladies and gentlemen were about as unlike as possible to 
 what they would have been in town during the season. 
 Hour after hour passed rapidly away, and not a little sur- 
 prised Avere they when the bright streaks of dawn appeared 
 in the eastern sky, and Egypt Point was seen a long way 
 off in the same direction, while the vessel was found to be 
 turning round and round without any steerage way. 
 
 Now it was very wrong and very improper, and I don't 
 mean for a moment to defend our conduct, though, by the by, 
 the fault was all Hearty's ; but it was not till half-past eleven 
 of the next day that the party set foot once more upon the 
 shore. Never was there a merrier pic-nic ; and, what is 
 more, in spite of wet feet and damp fogs, no one was a bit 
 the worse for it. 
 
 Looking in at the post-office, I found a letter summoning 
 me immediately to London. 
 
 Sending a note to Hearty, to tell him of my departure, I 
 set off forthwith, and reached the modern Babylon that same 
 night. How black and dull and dingy it looked ; how hot it 
 felt ; how smoky it smelt ! I was never celebrated for being 
 a good man of business ; but on the present occasion I worked 
 with a will, and it was wonderful with what rapidity I got 
 through the matter in hand, and once more turned my back 
 on the mighty metropolis.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 TRUE LOVE KUNS ANY THING BUT SMOOTH BEING A MEL- 
 ANCHOLY SUBJECT, I CUT IT SHORT. 
 
 THE day after my return I met Harry Loring. Alas, 
 how changed was the once joyous expression of his counte- 
 nance ! 
 
 " My dear fellow, what is the matter ? " I asked. 
 
 " What, don't you know ? " he exclaimed. " I thought all 
 the world did, and laughed at me. False, fickle, heartless 
 flirting ! " 
 
 "What is all this about?" I asked. "I deeply regret, 
 I feel" 
 
 " Oh, of course you do," he replied, interrupting me petu- 
 lantly. "I'll tell you how it -was. She had accepted me, 
 as you may have guessed, and I made sure that there would 
 be no difficulties, as she has plenty of money, though I have 
 little enough ; but when there is sufficient on one side, what 
 more can be required? At last one day she said, ' I wish, 
 Mr. Loring, you would speak to mamma ' (she had always 
 called me Harry before). ' Of course I will,' said I, think- 
 ing it was a hint to fix the day ; but after I left her, my 
 mind misgave me. Well, my dear fellow, as I dare say you 
 know, that same having to speak to papa or mamma is the 
 most confoundedly disagreeable thing of all the disagreeables 
 in life, when one hasn't got a good rent-roll to show. At 
 least, after all the billing and cooing, and the romance and 
 sentiment of love, it is such a worldly, matter-of-fact, pounds- 
 
 64
 
 TRUE LOVE BUNS ANYTHING BUT SMOOTH. 55 
 
 shillings-and-pence affair, that it is enough to disgust a fellow. 
 However, I nerved myself up for the encounter, and was 
 ushered into the presence of the old dragon." 
 
 " You shouldn't speak of your intended mother-in-law in 
 that way," I observed, interrupting him. 
 
 " My intended ; but you shall hear," he continued. 
 " ' Well, sir, I understand that you have favored my daughter 
 with an offer,' she began. I didn't like the tone of her 
 voice nor the look of her green eye, they meant mischief. 
 ' I have had the happiness of being accepted by ' ' Stay, 
 stay ! ' she exclaimed, interrupting me. ' My daughter 
 would not think of accepting you without asking my leave ; 
 and I, as a mother, must first know what fortune you can 
 settle on her.' ' Every thing she has got or ever will have,' 
 I replied, as fast as I could utter the words. ' My father 
 and mother are excellent people, and they have kindly offered 
 us a house, and' 'Is that it, Mr. Loring?' And you 
 have nothing absolutely nothing?' shrieked out the old 
 woman. Oh, how I hated her ! ' Then, sir, I beg you will 
 clearly understand, that from this moment all communication 
 between you and my daughter ceases for ever. I could not 
 have believed that any gentleman would have been guilty 
 of such impertinence. What ! a man without a penny to 
 think of marrying my daughter, with her beauty and her 
 fortune ! There, sir, you have got my answer ; I hope you 
 understand it. Go, sir ; go ! ' I did go, without uttering 
 another word, though I gave her a look which ought to have 
 confounded her ; and here you see me a miserable, heart- 
 broken man. I have been in vain trying to get a glimpse 
 of Jane, to ask her if it was by her will that I am thus dis- 
 carded, and if so, to whistle her down the wind ; but I have 
 dreadful suspicions that it was a plot between them to get 
 rid of me, and if so, I have had a happy escape."
 
 56 THE CBUISE OF THE " FBOLIC." 
 
 I have an idea that his last suspicion was right. Poor 
 fellow, I pitied him. It struck me as a piece of arrant folly 
 on the part of the mother, that a nice, gentlemanly, good- 
 looking fellow should be sent to the right-about simply be- 
 cause he was poor, when the young lady had ample fortune 
 for them both. . . 
 
 " Look here ! " exclaimed Loring, bitterly ; " is it not 
 enough to make a man turn sick with gi'ief and pain as he 
 looks round and sees those he once knew as blooming, nice 
 girls growing into crusty old maids, because their parents 
 chose to insist on an establishment and settlement for them 
 equal to what they themselves enjoy, instead of remembering 
 the altered circumstances of the times ? Not one man in ten 
 has a fortune ; and if the talents and energy of the rising 
 generation are not to be considered as such, Hymen may 
 blow out his torch and cut his stick, and the fair maidens 
 of England will have to sing for ever and a day, ' Nobody 
 coming to marry me, nobody coming to woo.' " 
 
 J laughed, though I felt the truth of what he said. " But 
 are you certain that you are disinterested? Were you in 
 no way biassed in your love by her supposed fortune ? " 
 I asked. 
 
 " On my word, I was not. I never thought of the tin," 
 was the answer. 
 
 " Then," I replied, " I must say that you are a very ill- 
 used gentleman."
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 HOW TO KILL TIME THE O'WIGGINS ENGLAND'S BUL- 
 WARKS JACK MIZEN AND THE "FUN" HER FAIR 
 
 CREW NAVAL HEROES AND NAUTICAL HEROINES. 
 
 I HAD promised to yacht during the summer with Hearty ; 
 and as he paid me the compliment of saying that he could 
 not do without me, notwithstanding several other invitations 
 I had received, I felt myself in honor bound to rejoin the 
 " Frolic." I had no disinclination to so doing, though I own 
 at times we led rather a more rollicking life than altogether 
 suited my taste. Accordingly, I once more took up my 
 berth aboard the " Frolic." Hearty was growing somewhat 
 tired of the style of life he was leading. He wanted more 
 variety, more excitement. Indeed, floating about inside the 
 Isle of Wight with parties of ladies on board is all very well 
 in its way to kill time, but unless one of the fair creatures 
 happens to be the only girl he ever loved, or, at all events, 
 the only girl he loves just then, or the girl he loves best, he 
 very soon wearies of the amusement, if he is worth any 
 thing, and longs for the wide ocean, and a mixture of storms 
 with sunshine and smooth water. I found the party on 
 board the " Frolic" increased by the addition of two. The 
 most worthy of note was Tom Porpoise, a thorough seaman, 
 and as good a fellow as ever stepped. He had entered into 
 an arrangement with Hearty to act as captain of the yacht ; 
 for though Snow was a very good sailing-master, he was 
 
 67
 
 58 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 nothing of a navigator, and Hearty was now contemplating 
 a trip to really distant lands. 
 
 Porpoise was a lieutenant in the navy of some years' 
 standing ; he had seen a great deal of service, and was con- 
 sidered a good officer. He sang a good song, told a good 
 story, and was ahvays in good spirits and good humor. He 
 had been in the Syrian war, in China, on the coast of Africa, 
 and in South America ; indeed, wherever there had been 
 any fighting, or work of any sort to be done, there has 
 dashing Tom Porpoise been found. He had a good appetite, 
 and, as old Snow used to say, his victuals did him good. 
 Porpoise was fat ; there was no denying the fact, nor was 
 he ashamed of it. His height was suited to the dimensions 
 of a small craft, and then, having stated that his face was 
 red, not from intemperance, but from sun and spray, I 
 think that I have sufficiently described our most excellent 
 chum. 
 
 The other addition of note was ycleped Gregory Groggs. 
 How Hearty came to ask him on board I do not know. It 
 could scarcely have been for his companionable qualities, 
 nor for his general knowledge and information ; for I had 
 seldom met a more simple-minded creature cJne who had 
 seen less of the world, or knew less of its wicked ways. It 
 was his first trip to sea, and he afforded us no little amuse- 
 ment by his surprise at every thing he beheld, and every 
 thing which occurred. He had a tolerably strong inside ; 
 so, as we had fine weather, he fortunately for us and for 
 himself, was seldom sea-sick. Our friend Groggs was a 
 native of an inland county, from which he had never before 
 stirred, when, having come into some little property, he was 
 seized with a strong desire to see the world. He had been 
 reading some book or other which had given him most ex- 
 traordinary principles ; and one of his ideas was, that people
 
 HOW TO KILL TIME. 59 
 
 should marry others of a different nation, as the only way 
 of securing peace throughout the world. He informed us 
 that he should early put his principles into practice, and 
 that, should he find some damsel to suit his taste in France, 
 he should without fail wed her. We bantered him unmer- 
 cifully on the subject ; but, as is the case with many other 
 people with one idea, that was not easily knocked out of his 
 head. 
 
 Hearty, having fallen in with him on a visit to his part 
 of the country, invited him, should he ever come to the sea- 
 side, to visit the " Frolic." By a wonderful chance, Groggs 
 did find his way on board the yacht, as she one day had 
 gone up to Southampton, and once on board, finding himself 
 very comfortable, he exhibited no inclination to leave her. 
 He therein showed his taste ; and Hearty, though at first 
 he would have dispensed with his company, at last got 
 accustomed to him, and would have been almost sorry to 
 part with him. 
 
 So much for Groggs. 
 
 "We lay at anchor off Cowes. Several other vessels lay 
 there also, mostly schooners a rig which has lately much 
 come into fashion. 
 
 " What shall we do next?" exclaimed Hearty, as we sat 
 at table after dinner over our biscuits and wine. 
 
 "What shall we do next?" said Carstairs, repeating 
 Hearty's question ; " why, I vote we go on deck and smoke 
 a cigar." 
 
 We had not time to execute the important proposal before 
 the steward put his head into the cabin and announced a 
 boat alongside. 
 
 " Who is it?" asked Hearty. 
 
 " Mr. O'Wiggins, of the ' Popple ' schooner, sir," an-
 
 60 THE CRUISE OF THE " FKOLIC." 
 
 swered the steward. " She brought up while you were at 
 dinner, sir." 
 
 " Oh, ask him down below," said our host, throwing him- 
 self back in his chair with a resigned look, which said, more 
 than words, " What a bore ! " 
 
 Before the steward could reach the deck, O'Wiggins was 
 heard descending the companion-ladder. He was a tall, 
 broadly-built man, with a strongly marked Hibernian counte- 
 nance. Hearty did not think it necessary to rise to receive 
 his guest, but O'Wiggins, no way disconcerted, threw himself 
 into a vacant chair. 
 
 " Ah, Hearty, my boy ! Faith, I'm glad to find any one 
 I know in this dull place," he exclaimed, stretching out his 
 legs, and glancing round at the rest of us, as he helped him- 
 self from a decanter towards which Hearty pointed. 
 
 " We are not likely to be here long, but we are undecided 
 what next to do," returned Hearty. 
 
 " Och, then, I'll tell you what to do, my boy," said 
 O'Wiggins. " Just look in at the regattas to the westward, 
 and then run over to Cherbourg. I've just come across 
 from there, and all the world of France is talking of the 
 grand naval review they are to have of a fleet, in comparison 
 to which that of perfidious Albion is as a collection of New- 
 castle colliers. There'll be rare fun of one sort or another, 
 depend on it ; and, for my part, I wouldn't miss it on any 
 account. What say your friends to the idea? I haven't 
 had the pleasure of meeting them before, I think?" 
 
 " I beg your pardon," said Hearty ; " I forgot to intro- 
 duce them." And he did so in due form ; at which O'Wig- 
 gins seemed mightily pleased, and directly afterwards began 
 addressing us familiarly by our patronymics, as if we were 
 old friends. In fact, in a wonderfully short space of time 
 he made himself perfectly at home. The proposal of the
 
 ENGLAND'S BULWARKS. 61 
 
 Cherbourg expedition pleased us all ; and it was finally 
 agreed that we would go there. We could not help being 
 amused with O'Wiggins, in spite of the cool impudence of 
 his manner. He told some capital stories, in which he al- 
 ways played a prominent part ; and though we might have 
 found some difficulty in believing them, they were not on 
 that account the less entertaining. Meantime coffee and 
 cigars made their appearance. O'Wiggins showed a deter- 
 mination to smoke below, and Hearty could not insist on his 
 going on deck : so we sat and sat on ; Porpoise enjoying the 
 fun, and Groggs listening with opening eyes to all the won- 
 ders related by our Irish visitor, for whom he had evidently 
 conceived a vast amount of admiration. At a late hour 
 O'Wiggins looked at his watch, and finding that his boat 
 was alongside, he at length took his departure. 
 
 We were present at most of the regattas to the westward, 
 but as they differed but little from their predecessors for many 
 years past, I need not describe them. No place equals Ply- 
 mouth for a regatta, either on account of the beauty of the 
 surrounding scenery, or in affording a good view of the course 
 from the shore. By the by, it was some little satisfaction to 
 look at the two new forts run up on either side of the en- 
 trance to the harbor, as well as at the one with tremendously 
 heavy metal between the citadel and Devonport, not to speak 
 of the screw guardships, which may steam out and take up 
 a position wherever required. I can never forget the superb 
 appearance of that mammoth of two-deckers, the "Albion," 
 with her ninety guns, and a tonnage greater than most three- 
 deckers. It is said that she could not fight her lower-deck 
 guns in a heavy sea ; but one is so accustomed to hear the 
 ignorant or unjust abuse and the falsehood levied at her 
 talented builder, that one may be excused from crediting 
 such an assertion. She is acknowledged to be fast ; and,
 
 62 THE CRUISE OP THE "FROLIC." 
 
 from looking at her, I should say that she has all the quali- 
 fications of a fighting ship, and a great power of stowage. 
 What more can be required?* If she is not perfect, it is 
 what must be said of all human fabrics. If Sir William 
 Symonds had never done more than get rid of those sea- 
 cofnns, the ten-gun brigs, and introduce a class of small craft 
 superior to any before known in the service, the navy would 
 have cause to be deeply indebted to him. He has enemies ; 
 but in the service I have generally found officers willing and 
 anxious to acknowledge his merits. 
 
 There is no little satisfaction in cruising about Plymouth 
 Sound. I suspect that now our neighbors would not be 
 so ready to attempt to surprise the place and to burn its 
 arsenal, as they one fine night thought of doing some few 
 years back. People in general are so accustomed to believe 
 our sacred coasts impregnable, that they could not compre- 
 hend that such an enterprise was possible. Yet I can as- 
 sure my readers that not only was it possible, practicable, 
 in contemplation, and that every preparation was made, but 
 that we were perfectly helpless, and that they would indu- 
 bitably have succeeded in doing all they intended. Neither 
 Plymouth nor Portsmouth were half fortified ; and such 
 fortifications as existed were not half garrisoned, while we 
 could not have collected a fleet sufficient to have defended 
 either one or the other. Providentially the differences 
 were adjusted in time, and the French had not the ex- 
 cuse of inflicting that long-enduring vengeance which they 
 have a not unnatural desire to gratify. When they have 
 thrashed us, and not till then, shall we be cordial friends ; 
 and, though electric wires and railroads keep up a constant 
 communication, may that day be long distant ! We had 
 
 * Well we may say Tempera mutantus. A pygmy ram would send her 
 tc the bottom in a few minutes. EDITOR.
 
 JACK MIZEN AND THE " FUN." 63 
 
 brought up just inside Drake's Island, which, as all who 
 know Plymouth are aware, is at the entrance of Hamoaze. 
 We were just getting under way, and were all on deck, 
 when a cutter-yacht passed us, standing out of the harbor. 
 Our glasses were levelled at her to see who she carried, for 
 bonnet-ribbons and shawls were fluttering in the breeze. 
 
 " What cutter is that?" asked Porpoise. " There's a re- 
 markably pretty girl on board of her." 
 
 " That must be yes, I'm certain of it that must be 
 the ' Fun ; ' and, by Jove, there's jolly Jack Mizen himself 
 at the helm ! " ejaculated Hearty, with for him unusual ani- 
 mation. 
 
 He waved his cap as the rest of us did, for Porpoise and 
 I knew Mizen. Mizen waved his in return, and shouted 
 out, 
 
 " Come and take a cruise with us. We'll expect you on 
 board to lunch." 
 
 " Ay, ay ! " shouted Hearty, for there was no time for a 
 longer answer before the yacht shot by us. 
 
 We had soon sail made on the " Frolic," and were stand- 
 ing after the " Fun " towards the westernmost and broadest 
 entrance to the Sound. It was a lovely day, without a 
 cloud in the sky, and a fine steady breeze ; such a day as, 
 from its rarity, one knows how to value in England. Yachts 
 of all sizes and many rigs were cruising about in the Sound. 
 Largest of all was the " Brilliant," a three-masted square- 
 topsail schooner, of nearly 400 tons, belonging to Mr. Ack- 
 ers, the highly-esteemed Commodore of the Royal Victoria 
 Yacht Club ; and as for the smallest, there were some with 
 the burgee of a club flying, of scarcely ten tons. We, mean- 
 time, were standing after the " Fun." Her owner, Jack 
 Mizen, had once been in the navy ; but before he had risen 
 above the exalted rank of a midshipman he had come into
 
 64 THE CRUISE OF THE " FBOLIC." 
 
 a moderate independence, and not being of an aspiring dis- 
 position, he had quitted the service, with the intention of 
 living on shore and enjoying himself. He, after a few 
 years, however, got tired of doing nothing, so he bought a 
 yacht and went afloat, and, as he used to say, 
 
 " Fool that I am ! I have to pay for sailing about in a 
 small craft, not knowing where to go or what to do, when, 
 if I had stuck to the service, I might have got paid for 
 sailing in a large ship, and have been told where to go and 
 what to do. Never leave a profession in a huff; you'll 
 repent it once, and that will be to the end of your days, if 
 you do." 
 
 Such was Jack Mizen. He was a jolly, good-natured 
 fellow. He sang a good song, told a good story, and every- 
 body liked him. He had seven ladies on board, two of 
 whom we judged to be chaperones ; the other five were 
 young, and, if not pretty, were full of smiles and laughter. 
 The "Fun" was much smaller than the "Frolic," so we 
 easily kept way with her, and ran round the Eddystone and 
 hove-to, while the racing vessels came round also. We 
 four bachelors then went on board the " Fun," and were 
 welcomed not only by her owner, but by the many bright 
 eyes she contained. There were already four or five gen- 
 tlemen on board, but they had not done much to make them- 
 selves agreeable, so nearly all the work had fallen on Mizen. 
 We gladly came to his assistance : poor Groggs, also, af- 
 forded them much amusement, but it was at his own ex- 
 pense not the first person in a like position unknown 
 to himself. They were all talking about Cherbourg, and 
 had insisted on Mizen's taken them over there. He, of 
 course, was delighted. The main cabin was to be devoted 
 to them. Fortunately, however, one chaperone and two 
 damsels could not go, so the rest might continue to rough
 
 . NAVAL HEROES AND NAUTICAL HEROINES. 65 
 
 it for a few nights. We had a large luncheon and much 
 small talk. I mustn't describe the ladies, lest they should 
 be offended. If I was to say that one of the chaperones 
 was fat, and another tall, all the fat and tall elderly ladies 
 on the water that day would consider I intended to repre- 
 sent them. However, there can be no risk in saying that 
 the eldest dame was Mrs. Mizen, an aunt of the owner of 
 the " Fun," and chaperone-general to the party. The very 
 pretty girl was Laura Mizeu, her daughter, and the other 
 married lady was Mrs. Rullock, wife of Commander Rul- 
 lock, R. N., and who had also two unmarried daughters 
 under her wing. Of the other young ladies, one was Fanny 
 Farlie, a rival in beauty, certainly, of Laura Mizen it 
 was difficult to say which was the prettiest and another 
 was her cousin, Susan Simms, who read novels, played on 
 the piano, was devoted to the polka, and kept tame rabbits. 
 It was perceptible to us, before we had been long on board, 
 that Mizen affected Fanny, while Miss Mizen at once, with 
 some effect, set her cap at Hearty. She did not intend to 
 do so, but she could not help it. She was not thinking of 
 his fortune nor of his position, nor did she wish to become 
 mistress of the " Frolic." Of the gentlemen, one was in 
 the navy, Lieutenant Piper, an old messmate of Mizen's, 
 and Mr. Simon Simms, the brother of Susan, who had an 
 office in the dockyard, smoked cigars, and was very nauti- 
 cal in his propensities. There was a fat old gentleman and 
 a thin Major Clay, of a foot regiment ; but I have not 
 space to describe all the party. They will re-appear in their 
 proper places. We ate and drank, and were very merry, 
 and sailed about all day, most of us hoping to meet again 
 at Cherbourg. 
 
 6
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 YACHT SQUADRONS ON A CRUISE O'WIGGINS'S " POPPLE" 
 
 ARRIVAL IN CHERBOURG THE PEACE CONGRESS AND THE 
 
 FRENCH CHANNEL FLEET LIONIZING ON SHORE GROGGS 
 
 LOST HIS FIRST LOVE AN IRATE PARENT. 
 
 A CROWD of yachts might have been seen one fine morn- 
 ing becalmed outside the Needles. We were among them. 
 We had sailed from Cowes the previous evening, but had 
 been unable to get further, from the light winds and calms 
 which had prevailed. At last a breeze from the northward 
 sprang up, and we went gayly along. It was a beautiful 
 sight, and no one could fail to be in good spirits as we 
 spoke the various vessels on board which AVC had acquaint- 
 ances. The " Popple " was among them, but having started 
 first, was ahead till we came up with her, much to her 
 owner's disgust. O'Wiggins entertained the idea (very 
 common not only to yachtsmen, but to masters of vessels 
 and seaman in general, and a very happy one it is) that 
 his vessel was the fastest, the most beautiful, and the best 
 sea-boat going. 
 
 "Ah, Hearty, old fellow, how are you?" he hailed. 
 " You've brought a nice breeze with you. We haven't had 
 a breath of it till this minute ; we shall now stand on in 
 company." As he spoke, we observed his master trim- 
 ming sails with the greatest care, for he saw that we were 
 already shooting past him at a great rate. We laughed, for 
 we knew that the " Popple " was a regular slow coach, as 
 
 66
 
 ARRIVAL IN CHERBOURG. 67 
 
 ugly as she was slow. She had once, I believe, been a 
 cutter of the old build, with a high bow, and she was 
 then lengthened, and had a new stern stuck on to her, and 
 was rigged as a schooner. As a cutter she had been con- 
 sidered fast ; but her new canvas was too much for her, 
 and she could not manage to wag Avith it. Her copper was 
 painted of a bright red, and she had altogether a very pecu- 
 liar and unmistakable appearance. We saw O'Wiggins 
 walking his deck with very impatient gestures as we shot 
 past him. He could not make it out ; something must be 
 the matter with the " Popple ; " she was out of trim ; it 
 was the master's fault, but what was wrong was more than 
 he could discover. His philosophy, if he had any, was 
 sorely tried as yacht after yacht passed him, and more than 
 all, when every one on board laughed at him. The fact 
 was, that poor O'Wiggins had done so many things to make 
 himself ridiculous, that every one considered him a fair 
 subject to exercise their merriment on. It was night before 
 we made the lights on the French coast. First the Barfleur 
 lights and Cape La Hogue to the south were seen, then 
 those of Pilee and Querqueville, and lastly the breakwater 
 and harbor lights, and we soon after ran in by the south 
 entrance, and anchored among the crowd of vessels of all 
 sizes already in the harbor. One by one the yachts came, and 
 last, though not least, the " Popple " appeared, and brought 
 up near us. O'Wiggins instantly came on board to explain 
 why the " Popple " had not got in first ; but all we could 
 make out was, that she had not sailed as fast as she could 
 because she had not. We did not go on shore that night. 
 We had amusement enough, as we walked the deck with our 
 cigars in our mouths, in watching the lights on shore and 
 afloat, and the vessels as they came gliding noiselessly in, 
 like dark spirits, and took up their berths wherever they
 
 68 THE CRUISE OF THE u FROLIC." 
 
 could find room, and in listening to the hails from the ships- 
 of-war, and those from the yachts' boats, as they pulled 
 about trying to find their respective craft. We amused our- 
 selves by marking the contrasts between the voices of the 
 two nations the sharp shrill cry of the French, and the 
 deep bass of John Bull. 
 
 A good deal of sea tumbled into the bay during the 
 night, in consequence of the fresh northerly breeze, and 
 many an appetite was put hors de combat in consequence. 
 Poor Groggs, we heard him groaning as he lay in his berth, 
 "Oh, why was I tempted to cross the sea to come to this 
 outlandish place, for the sake of watching a few French 
 ships moving about, which, I dare say, after all don't differ 
 much from as many English ones?" He exclaimed, be- 
 tween the paroxysms of his agony, " Oh dear ! oh dear ! 
 it's the last time I'll come yachting, that it is ! " Poor 
 Gregory ! he was not the only one ill that night, I take 
 it ; and I am sure Hearty pardoned his not very grateful 
 observations. We were early on deck, to inhale the fresh 
 breeze, after the somewhat close air of the cabin ; then in- 
 deed a splendid sight met our view. In the first place, 
 floating in the bay were nine line-of-battle ships, in splendid 
 fighting order, their dark batteries frowning down upon us ; 
 and, drawn up in another line, were a number of large war- 
 steamers, besides many other steamers, both British and 
 French ; and lastly, and no unpleasing sight, there were 
 some seventy or eighty yachts ; it was impossible to count 
 them schooners, cutters, and yawls, besides some mer- 
 chantmen and innumerable small craft of every descrip- 
 tion, all so mingled together that it appeared as if they 
 would never get free of each other again. To the south 
 was the town, with its masses of houses and churches, 
 and its mercantile docks in front. On the west, the
 
 DESCRIPTION OF CHERBOURG. 69 
 
 naval arsenal and docks, the pride of France and French- 
 men, and which so many had come to see. On the 
 other side were the shores of the harbor, stretching out to 
 Pilee Island, and not far from the town a scarped hill 
 looking down on it, with a fine view obtainable from the 
 top, while to the north, outside all, was the famous digue, 
 or breakwater, which the French assert eclipses that of 
 Plymouth, as the big sea-serpent does a common conger-eel. 
 It was begun by Louis XIV., and almost completed during 
 the reign of Louis Philippe ; during which period it was one 
 night nearly washed away, while some hundred unfortunate 
 workmen engaged on it were in the morning not to be 
 found! but their place being supplied, the works were 
 continued. 
 
 The first day nothing of public importance took place. 
 Yachts came gliding in from all quarters, and steamers, if 
 with less grace, at all events with more noise, bustle, and 
 smoke, paddled up the harbor, with their cargoes of felicity- 
 hunting human beings, very sick and very full of regrets at 
 their folly at having left terra firma to cross the unstable 
 element. Among other English craft, the " Fun " came in 
 with Jack Mizen and a large party on board. We quickly 
 pulled alongside to welcome our friends. The ladies had 
 proved better sailors than most of the gentlemen ; and 
 though good Mrs. Mizen, the chaperone of the party, had 
 been a little put out, and still looked rather yellow about 
 the lower extremity of the face T the young ladies, who had 
 been cruising all the summer, and tumbling about in all 
 sorts of weather, had borne the passage remarkably well, 
 and were as frisky and full of laughter as their dear sex are 
 apt to be when they have every thing their own way. 
 
 We, of course, as in duty bound, undertook to escort 
 them on shore to show them the lions of the place. As the
 
 70 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 President was not expected till the evening, there was 
 nothing particular to be done, so we had full time to walk 
 about and to lionize to our heart's content. Hearty took 
 especial charge of Laura Mizen, while the owner of the 
 " Fun " kept Fanny Farlie under his arm, and looked 
 unutterable things into her bonnet every now and then, 
 while Susan Simms fell to iny share ; for Porpoise made it 
 a point of conscience, I believe, always to watch over the 
 welfare of the chaperone. It was one of his many good 
 points. 
 
 Remember, in forming a party of pleasure, never fail to 
 secure a man who likes to make himself agreeable to the 
 chaperone, or you will inevitably make some promising 
 youth miserable, and bore the old lady into the bargain. 
 Groggs was the only man not paired. It was a pity the 
 Miss Rullocks had not come ; no blame to them, but their 
 pa would not let them. Mizen had brought no other gentle- 
 men, as he had to give up all the after-part of his craft to 
 his fair passengers, in order to make them comfortable. 
 
 The two gigs carried the party properly apportioned be- 
 tween each, and in fine style we dashed up under the eyes 
 of thousands of admiring spectators to the landing-place at 
 the entrance of the inner basin, now filled with a number 
 of yachts, which had got in there for shelter. The hotel 
 was, of course, full ; so the ladies resolved to live on board 
 the yacht while they remained. 
 
 Our first visit was to the dockyard, through which we 
 were conducted by a gendarme. We were particularly 
 struck by the large proportion of anchors, of which, as 
 Mizen observed, he supposed there was a considerable ex- 
 penditure in the French fleet. The vast inner basins, yet 
 incomplete, look like huge pits, as if excavated to discover 
 some hidden city. There are lines of heavy batteries
 
 LIONIZING ON SHORE. 71 
 
 seaward, which would doubtlessly much inconvenience an 
 approaching fleet ; but as their shot would not reach a 
 blockading squadron, they could not prevent an enemy's 
 fleet from shutting up theirs inside the breakwater, while 
 it remained fine, supposing such a squadron ready to 
 convoy over a fleet of troop-ships to the opposite shore ; and 
 were it to come on to blow, they might be welcome to put 
 to sea as fast as they like, and a pleasant sail to them across 
 channel. 
 
 We went into- a church where mass was being performed, 
 and had to pay a sou each for our seats ; the faithful who 
 do not like paying must kneel on the ground, which is kept 
 in the most holy state of filth, in order not to tempt them to 
 economize. 
 
 Our next visit was to the Museum. Its attractions were 
 not great, with the exception of some large pictures of naval 
 combats, drawn by artists of merit, undoubted by the citizens 
 of Cherbourg, but who, nevertheless, had not read " James's 
 Naval History" to any good purpose ; for, by some extraor- 
 dinary oversight, the English were invariably getting tre- 
 mendously thrashed (without their knowing it), and the 
 French fleet were, with colors flying, proudly victorious. 
 Perhaps our histories differ ; for certain battles, which we 
 consider of importance, were not even in any way repre- 
 sented. Trafalgar, St. Vincent, the Nile, were totally 
 ignored. Porpoise said that, to show his gratitude for the 
 attention we received, he should present them with a correct 
 painting of the first-named battle. 
 
 " They'll alter the buntin', if you do, and hoist the French 
 over the English," observed Hearty. " Though they may 
 suspect that they cannot deceive the present generation, 
 they hope to give their descendants an idea that they were 
 everywhere victorious. They will boast of their glory,
 
 72 THE CEUISE OF THE " FROIIC." 
 
 even at the risk of being convicted of fibbing by their pos- 
 terity." 
 
 " They know pretty well that the easy credulity of their 
 countrymen will allow them to go any length, in direct 
 opposition to truth, without fear of contradiction," replied 
 Porpoise. " Why, the greater the scrape Nap. or any of 
 his generals got into, the more glowing and grandiloquent 
 was their despatch. Depend on it that humbug has vast 
 influence in the world, and the French knowing it small 
 blame to them they make use of it wherever it suits their 
 purpose." 
 
 After we had shown all the sights to be seen to our 
 fair companions, we were walking through the somewhat 
 crowded streets, on our return to the boats, when by some 
 chance we got separated from each other. We, however, 
 managed to find our way to the rendezvous, with the excep- 
 tion of Groggs, who was not forthcoming. As he was 
 guiltless of speaking a word of any other language than his 
 mother-tongue, we could not leave him to find his way by 
 himself on board, and accordingly Porpoise and I, handing 
 our charges into the boat, hurried off in search of him. 
 We agreed not to be absent more than a quarter of an hour, 
 and away we started, taking different routes among the 
 crowds of women with high butterfly muslin caps, and 
 bearded soldiers with worsted epaulettes, and sailors totally 
 unlike English, notwithstanding all the pains they had taken 
 to imitate them. We agreed that this dissimilarity arose 
 much from the different mould in which the men are cast, 
 and the utter impossibility of a French tailor cutting a sea- 
 man's jacket and trousers correctly. They all wore braces, 
 and though they tried to swagger a little in imitation of the 
 English seaman's roll, they had in appearance a very slight 
 similarity to their intended originals.
 
 GROGGS'S FIRST LOVE. 73 
 
 In despair of finding Groggs among such a collection of 
 idlers, I was wending my way back, when I was attracted 
 by a crowd in front of the shop of a marchand d'eau de 
 Cologne, and above the din of shrill voices I heard one 
 which, by its unmistakable accents, I recognized as that of 
 our lost companion. At the same time, Porpoise appearing 
 some way up the street, I beckoned him towards me, and 
 together we worked our way through the grinning crowd. 
 In the shop was a damsel with considerable pretensions 
 to beauty, before whom, on his knees, appeared Groggs, 
 fervently clasping her hand, while with no less fervor, 
 and much more gesticulation, his hair was grasped by a 
 little man, the father, we found, of the damsel, and whose 
 dress and highly-curled locks at once betrayed the peru- 
 quier, or the hair-artist, as he would probably have styled 
 himself. 
 
 " But I tell you, old gentleman, my intentions are most 
 honorable towards the lady ! " exclaimed Groggs, trying to 
 save his head from being scalped entirely. " I tell you, sir, 
 I have rarely seen so much beauty and excellence combined ; 
 and, if she is not displeased with my attentions, I don't see 
 why you or any other man should interfere." 
 
 " Je suis son pere, je vous dis, et je ne permets pas de 
 libertes avec ma fille ! " cried the irate Frenchman, giving 
 another tug at his unlucky locks. 
 
 Groggs now caught sight of us, and appealed to us to save 
 him. As we advanced, the young lady disengaged herself 
 from his hand and ran behind the counter, the peruquier 
 withdrew his clutches, and Groggs rushed forward to meet 
 us. The Frenchman gazed at us with a fierce look of 
 inquiry ; but the uniform Porpoise wore on the occasion, 
 and my yachting costume, gained us some respect, I sup- 
 pose.
 
 74 THE CEUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 "What in the name of wonder is all this about?" I 
 exclaimed, looking at Groggs ; and then turning to the 
 Frenchman I observed, in my best French and blandest 
 tone, " that our arrival was fortunate, as I hoped instantly 
 to appease his wrath, and put every thing on a pleasing 
 footing." 
 
 Groggs then, in a few words, gave us his eventful history 
 since he parted from us. He had been attracted by the 
 words " Eau de Cologne " in the affiche over the door, and 
 being anxious to show how well he could make a purchase 
 by himself, he had entered. Instantly struck all of a heap 
 (as he said) by the beauty and elegant costume of the lady, 
 forgetting all about the eau de Cologne, he endeavored to ad- 
 dress her. What was his delight to discover that she could 
 speak some English ! Forgetful of the quick passing of 
 time, he staid on, till the father, hearing a stranger talking 
 to his daughter in a tongue he could not understand, made 
 his appearance. It was at the moment that Groggs, grown 
 bold, had seized her hand to vow eternal constancy. The 
 lady was not unmoved, though somewhat amused, and not 
 offended. It was probably not the first time her hand had 
 been so taken, she nothing loath; of which fact her most 
 respectable sire was doubtlessly cognizant. To pacify the 
 irate barber, we interpreted the protestations of his honor- 
 able intentions which Groggs was pouring out. The 
 daughter, Mademoiselle Eulalie Sophie de Marabout, ably 
 seconded our endeavors, by assuring her papa that the 
 gentleman had behaved in the most respectful manner, nor 
 uttered a word to offend her modest ears. At length we 
 succeeded not only in appeasing the wrath of the artiste, 
 but in propitiating him to such a degree that, assuring us 
 that he fell convinced we were most honorable gentlemen, 
 he invited us all to a soiree in his rooms over the shop that
 
 MOVEMENTS OF THE YACHT SQUADRONS. 75 
 
 evening. Eulalie, with sweet smiles, seconded the invita- 
 tion. Groggs was delighted ; and we, provided we could 
 manage it, consented to avail ourselves of the respectable 
 gentleman's kindness. 
 
 We now hurried off Groggs, for the ladies were all this 
 time waiting in the boats ; not before, however, he had 
 whispered to Eulalie that nothing should prevent him, at 
 all events, from renewing the acquaintance thus somewhat 
 inauspiciously begun. It was impossible to refrain from 
 telling the story when we got on board ; and had Groggs's 
 admiration for Eulalie been proof against all the raillery 
 and banter with which he was assailed, it would have been 
 powerful indeed. The ladies did not openly allude to his 
 adventure, but they said enough to show him that they 
 knew all about it, as he could not help discovering from an 
 occasional reference made to international matrimonial alli- 
 ances, and the advantages to ie derived from them. 
 
 We returned on board just in time to get under way at 
 a signal from our respective commodores, when the yachts 
 of the various squadrons sailed in line outside the break- 
 water, under the command of the Earl of Wilton, who acted 
 as admiral of the fleet. We formed in two columns, and 
 performed a number of evolutions we flattered ourselves, 
 in the most creditable manner and then we re-entered the 
 harbor, and, running down the French line in gallant style, 
 took up our stations again accoidicg to signal. Our hearts 
 swelled with pride, and we felt very grand indeed, only 
 wishing that each of our little craft were seventy-four or 
 one hundred and twenty gun ships, and that the French fleet 
 were what they were. O'Wiggins's yacht was the only one 
 continually out of line, or somewhere where she ought not 
 to have been. This was owing partly to his imagining that 
 he knew more about the matter than the commodore or any 
 one else, and partly to the bad sailing of his craft.
 
 76 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 Mizen invited us four bachelors to spend the evening on 
 board the " Fun," and the attractions of our fair friends 
 proved stronger than those held out by Mademoiselle 
 Eulalie. There was an addition to our party in the person 
 of O'Wiggins, who invited himself on board, and served as 
 an assistant laughing-stock to poor Groggs. There was, 
 consequently, a bond of union between the two similar to 
 that of two donkeys in a cart, both being lashed with the 
 same whip. In the course of the evening O'Wiggins heard 
 of Groggs's adventure, and, clapping him on bis shoulder, 
 assured him that he would take care it should not be his 
 fault if he lost the lady. 
 
 We had all day been waiting in expectation of the arrival 
 of the President, every craft being decked out with flags, 
 and every gun loaded to do him honor. At the hour he 
 was expected, enthusiasm was at its height ; but as time 
 drew on, it waxed colder and colder. People had come 
 from far and wide to see a sight which was not to be seen ; 
 they had expended their time and money, and had a right to 
 complain. Complain, therefore, they did, ashore and afloat ; 
 and had it at that time been put to the vote whether he 
 should longer remain President, I fear he would instantly 
 have been shorn of his honors. 
 
 At last the bright luminary of day sank behind the dock- 
 yard, the commodores of the English craft fired the sunset 
 gun, the flags were hauled down, and night came on. We 
 had begun to fancy that the President's carriage must have 
 broken down or been upset, or that he was not coming at 
 all, when a gun was heard, and then another, followed by 
 such a flashing and blazing and banging of artillery and 
 muskets and crackers and rockets that we could have no 
 doubt that the great man had indeed arrived. 
 
 Thus ended our first day at Cherbourg.
 
 CHAPTER VIH. 
 
 GAT SCENE IN CHERBOURG HARBOR THE O* WIGGINS AGAIN 
 
 AQUATIC VISITING A DISCIPLE OF ST. IMPUDENTIA 
 
 HOW TO BANQUET UNINVITED THE BALL VISIT OP THE 
 
 PRESIDENT TO THE FLEET A FEW REMARKS ON AFFAIRS 
 
 IN GENERAL. 
 
 BY the time the world was up and had breakfasted, on 
 Friday, the harbor of Cherbourg presented a very gay ap- 
 pearance. The water was covered with hulls of vessels, 
 and on the decks of the vessels were crowds of gay people, 
 and above them a forest of tall masts, surmounted by flags 
 innumerable, showing all the hues of the rainbow, while in 
 every direction were dashing and splashing boats of every 
 description, men-of-war's boats and shore-boats ; and faster 
 moving than all, yachts' boats, which, like comets, seemed 
 to be flying about in eccentric orbits, without any particular 
 reason, and for no definite purpose. O'Wiggins made his 
 appearance on board the " Frolic," foaming with rage and 
 indignation at not having been invited to the grand banquet 
 to be given that day to the President. 
 
 " Neither have I, nor Mizen, nor any other of the 
 owners of yachts, except the commodores and a few noble- 
 men." 
 
 " Faith, but that's no reason at all, at all, why I 
 shouldn't ! " exclaimed our Hibernian friend, drawing him- 
 self up ; " and, what's more, I intend to go, in spite of their 
 neglect." 
 
 77
 
 78 THE CEUISE OP THE "FROLIC." 
 
 We laughed, as usual, at his unexampled conceit ; but 
 fancying that he was joking, we thought no more about the 
 matter. He soon took his departure, carrying off Groggs, 
 who had conceived a high respect for him. O'Wiggins had 
 promised to conduct him to the feet of the fair Eulalie, 
 which was an additional temptation to the poor man. 
 Never, perhaps, was there so much paying and receiving of 
 visits as there was in the course of the day. The yachtsmen 
 paid visits to each other, and then to the men-of-war ; and 
 to do the French officers justice, they treated us with the 
 very greatest attention. I must say that all the French 
 naval officers I have met are as gentlemanly a set of fellows 
 as I know : they are highly scientific, and as brave as any 
 men one could wish to meet. 
 
 It appeared as if all the inhabitants and visitors of Cher- 
 bourg were on the water also paying visits ; and a report 
 having got abroad that the owners of the English yachts 
 were happy to show their vessels to all comers, we were all 
 day long surrounded by visitors. The general joke was to 
 send them all off to O'Wiggins's craft, the " Popple." Her 
 cabins were, certainly, very gaudily and attractively furnished. 
 It was hinted to the townspeople that he was a very impor- 
 tant person, and that he would be highly offended if his ves- 
 sel was not the first honored by their presence. O'Wiggins 
 was at first highly flattered with the attention paid him, and 
 had actually prepared luncheon for the first-comers ; but he 
 soon discovered that he had more guests than he could ac- 
 commodate, and in a little time he was almost overwhelmed 
 with visitors, who, for hours after, crowded his cabins, with- 
 out a possibility of his getting free of them. Among others, 
 while Groggs was on board, came the fair Eulalie and her 
 respectable sire, habited in the costume of the National 
 Guard, and looking very military and dignified. Groggs
 
 A DISCIPLE OF ST. IMPUDENTIA. 79 
 
 hurriedly advanced to receive the lovely maid ; her surprise 
 equalled his delight ; when O'Wiggins stepped out from an 
 inner cabin. There was a mutual start and a look of recog- 
 nition, and Eulalie sank back, almost fainting, into the arms 
 paternal, open to receive her, while, with a look which 
 would have annihilated any man but O'Wiggins, she ex- 
 claimed the single word, " Perfide 1 " M. de Marabout, with 
 paternal solicitude, endeavored to remove his daughter to 
 the fresh air of the deck, but she recovered without that 
 assistance, and exhibited signs unmistakable of a wish to 
 abstract one or both of the eyes of the O'Wiggins from his 
 head. 
 
 "What means all this, my dear sir?" inquired Groggs, 
 with a somewhat faltering voice, for suspicions most un- 
 pleasant were beginning to take possession of his imagina- 
 tion. 
 
 " Ask the lady," replied O'Wiggins, looking out for a 
 mode to secure his retreat. 
 
 The lady saw that he was cowed, which, of course, gave 
 her courage ; so, releasing herself from her father, she 
 sprang towards him. The skylight hatchway was the only 
 available outlet ; so he sprang on the table, and from thence 
 was endeavoring to leap on deck, when she caught him by 
 the leg. He struggled hard, for expose himself to her fury 
 he dared not, and he did not like to summon his people to 
 his assistance. At last he was obliged to do so ; when as 
 the seamen, with shouts of laughter, were hauling him up, 
 off came his shoe and a piece of his trousers ; and he was 
 spirited away and stowed safely in the forepeak before the 
 irate damsel could gain the deck, where she instantly has- 
 tened in the hopes of catching him. Of the distracted and 
 astounded Groggs, Eulalie took no further notice, and having 
 in vain sought for the object of her fierce anger, whom she
 
 80 THE CRUISE OF THE " FEOLIC." 
 
 supposed to have escaped in a boat to the shore, she and her 
 father and friends took their departure, and Groggs saw his 
 beloved no more. How O'Wiggins had thus mortally 
 offended the damsel remains a secret ; for, communicative as 
 he was on most subjects, he took very good care on this 
 matter not to enlighten any of us. 
 
 When O'Wiggins discovered that Eulalie was in reality 
 gone, he retired to his cabin to compose himself, and to 
 change his tattered garments for a magnificent uniform of 
 some corps of fencibles, or militia, or yeomanry, of which 
 he professed to be colonel ; the said uniform being added to 
 and improved according to his own taste and design, till it 
 rivalled in magnificence that of a Hungarian field-marshal, 
 or a city lieutenant's." 
 
 We had been giving the ladies a pull about the harbor, 
 and were passing the " Popple," when her owner made his 
 appearance on deck. The previous account, it must be un- 
 derstood, we received afterwards from Groggs, who recounted 
 it with a simple pathos worthy of a despairing lover. On 
 his head O'Wiggins wore a huge cocked-hat, surmounted by 
 a magnificent plume of feathers, which, waving in the wind, 
 had a truly martial and imposing appearance, while the glit- 
 tering bullion which profusely covered his dress could not 
 fail of attracting the notice of all beholders. With the air 
 of a monarch he stepped into his gig, which was alongside, 
 manned by a grinning crew, and seizing the yoke-lines he 
 directed her head up the harbor. He was too much en- 
 grossed by his own new-fledged dignity to observe us, so 
 we followed him at a respectful distance, to watch his move- 
 ments. The boats of all descriptions made way for him as 
 he advanced, and the men-of-war's boats saluted, every one 
 taking him for a foreign prince, or an ambassador, or a field- 
 marshal, at least. At length he reached the quay, and with
 
 A DISCIPLE OF ST. IMPUDENTIA. 81 
 
 a truly princely air he stepped on shore, taking off his plumed 
 hat, and bowing to the admiring and wondering crowds who 
 stood there to welcome him. A space was instantly cleared 
 to allow full scope for the wave of his cocked-hat, and as 
 he advanced the crowd made way, bowing to him as he pro- 
 gressed. In execrable French he signified his wish to know 
 the way to the mayor's hotel, where the banquet was to be 
 held ; and an officious official instantly thereon, perceiving 
 the gestures of the great unknown, stepped forward, and pro- 
 foundly bowing, advanced before him. 
 
 " Some dreadful mistake has doubtlessly occurred, and by 
 an oversight which no one but I can remedy, no one has 
 been deputed to conduct the prince to the banquet. For the 
 honor of my country I'll tell a lie." So thought the patri- 
 otic official, as he observed, in an obsequious tone, " I 
 have been deputed, mon prince, by monsieur the mayor, who 
 deeply regrets that his multifarious duties prevent him from 
 coming in person to conduct you to the banqueting-hall, 
 where the great President of the great French republic will 
 have the satisfaction of meeting you." 
 
 " I am highly pleased at the mayor's attention," answered 
 O'Wiggins, with an additional flourish of his hat, and won- 
 dering all the time whom he could be taken for, that he 
 might the better act his part. " A prince, at all events, I 
 am, and that's something," he thought ; so he walked on, 
 smiling and bowing as before. 
 
 Of all nations in the world, the French are certainly the 
 greatest admirers of a uniform, and the most easily hum- 
 bugged by any one who will flatter their vanity ; and cer- 
 tainly republicans are the greatest worshippers of titles. On 
 walked the great O'Wiggins, admired equally by the vieux 
 moustache of the Imperial Guard, by the peasant-girl, with 
 her high balloon starched cap, by the dapper grisette, by real
 
 82 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 soldiers of the line, by shopkeeping national guards, by citizen 
 gentlemen and ladies in plain clothes, and the queer-shaped 
 seamen and boatmen, of whom I have before spoken. His 
 step was firm and confident as he approached the hall, and, 
 as he got near, he saw with dismay that the guests arriving 
 in crowds before him were admitted by tickets. This we 
 also observed, and fully expected to have seen him turned 
 back, shorn of his honors, amid the shouts of the populace. 
 But the knowing doorkeeper, equally knowing as the officious 
 official, who now, with a glance of pride, announced him, 
 could not dream of insulting a prince by asking him for his 
 ticket, and only bowed the lower as he advanced, he bestow- 
 ing on them in return some of his most gracious nods. 1*he 
 act was accomplished. He was safe in the banqueting-hall ; 
 but still there might be a turn in the tide of his affairs ; 
 some one who knew him might possibly ask how he had 
 managed to get there, and the mayor might request his ab- 
 sence. But O'Wiggins was too true a disciple of St. Impu- 
 dentia thus to lose the ground he had gained. Having 
 begun with blusters and bold confidence, he now called in 
 meek humility and modest basbfulness, with an abundant 
 supply of blarney. Stowing away his cocked-hat in a safe 
 corner, he retired among a crowd of betinselled officials, 
 and earnestly entered into conversation with them, expa- 
 tiating largely on his satisfaction at the sight he had that 
 day witnessed, assuring his hearers that in Turkey, Russia, 
 or America, or any other of the many countries he had 
 visited, he had never seen any thing to equal the magnifi- 
 cence he had beheld in this important part of la belle France. 
 He endeavored also to bend down, so as to hide his dimin- 
 ished head among the crowd, and thus, as he had calcu- 
 lated, more wisely than a well-known wise man we have 
 heard of, he passed undetected.
 
 A DISCIPLE OF ST. IMPUDENTIA. 83 
 
 Dinner being announced as served, he found himself, 
 much against his will, forced upwards close to the English 
 naval officers and yacht commodores ; but by a still further 
 exertion of humility he contrived to take a seat a few per- 
 sons off from those who knew him, and might put awkward 
 questions. The French, however, could not fail to admire 
 the admirable modesty of the foreign prince, and the liber- 
 als set it down to the score of his respect for republican in- 
 stitutions, while the royalists fancied that he was afraid of 
 presuming on his rank before his republican host. From 
 the information I could gain, and from his own account af- 
 terwards, his impudence carried him through the affair with 
 flying colors, for no one detected him, though many won- 
 dered who he was ; and even some who were acquainted 
 with him by sight, failed to recognize the O'Wiggins in 
 the gayly-decked militaire before them. 
 
 Having seen him enter the hall, we returned on board 
 the " Fun," to give an account of what had happened to 
 our fair friends ; and of course we did not fail of making 
 a good story of the affair, and surmising that O'Wiggins 
 would be discovered and compelled to strip off his feathers. 
 After dinner we prepared to go to the ball, to which the 
 ladies wisely would not venture. Poor Groggs was very 
 downcast at the events of the morning, and with the dis- 
 covery that he could never hope to make the fair Eula- 
 lie Mrs. Groggs. As we were going on shore we met 
 O'Wiggins pulling off in his gig with four highly-bedecked 
 officers of National Guards, whom he had invited to visit 
 the yacht. He had selected them for the gayness of their 
 uniforms, which he fancied betokened their exalted rank. 
 They had discovered that he was not a prince, but still were 
 under the impression that he was at least a Mi Lord Anglais,
 
 84 THE CEUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 imbued with liberal principles. He nodded condescendingly 
 to us as he passed. 
 
 " I'm going to show my craft to these officers whom I 
 brought from the banquet, and I'll be back soon at the ball," 
 he exclaimed, with a look of triumph. - 
 
 It is understood for I cannot vouch for the truth of the 
 statement that he made the officers very drunk, and then, 
 changing his gay uniform for his usual yacht dress-coat, he 
 made his appearance at the ball, where he boasted of the 
 polite manner in which the President had asked him to the 
 banquet, quoting all the speeches which had been made, and 
 many other particulars, so that no one doubted that he was 
 there. 
 
 The ball-room was crowded to suffocation, and dancing 
 was out of the question. I looked at the President with 
 interest. The last time I had seen him was in a London 
 ball-room, and at supper I had sat opposite to him and his 
 cousin, the very image of their uncle. At that time, neither 
 had more influence in the world than I or any other humble 
 person. They were little lions, because they had the blood 
 in their veins of the most extraordinary man our times has 
 known ; but any Indian from the East, with a jewelled tur- 
 ban, created more interest. Now I beheld the same man 
 the head of a nation the observed of all observers dis- 
 pensing his courtesies with a truly regal air. One could 
 not help feeling that there must be more of his uncle's spirit 
 in the man than one was before inclined to suppose. A 
 considerable number of ladies' dresses and men's coats were 
 torn, and purses and handkerchiefs abstracted from pockets, 
 and the ball terminated. I have not given a very lucid 
 description of it ; but a crush in England is so very like a 
 crush in France, that my readers who have endured one 
 may easily picture the other.
 
 PRESIDENT VISITS THE FLEET. 85 
 
 Mrs. Mizen and her charges were anxious to sail to get 
 back to Plymouth for Sunday, but we induced them to stop 
 till the afternoon, .by promising them to accompany them, 
 that they might see the President visit the fleet, which it was 
 understood he was to do on Saturday. The day was lovely, 
 and every craft afloat, from the big " Valmy " to the small- 
 est yacht, did her best to look gay, and to add to the 
 Brilliancy of the scene. The piers were crowded with peo- 
 ple, and so were the decks of the vessels and boats and 
 barges laden with passengers which were moving in every 
 direction. It was amusing to watch the numerous parties 
 on board the steamers at their meals : those forward indul- 
 ging in bread and cheese and sausages, and vin ordinaire or 
 beer ; the more aristocratic aft in chicken-pies, hams, cham- 
 pagne, and claret, in which beverages they drank prosperity 
 to the republic and long life to the President, though they 
 would as readily have toasted a king or an emperor. It 
 was a day of excitement. The first thing in the morning 
 there was a pulling-match, but who was the winner I am 
 unable to say. Then the President paid a visit to the 
 dockyard, and from that time every one was on the tiptoe 
 of expectation to catch a glimpse of him as he pulled off to 
 the ships-of-war he purposed visiting. 
 
 At length he appeared in a state-barge of blue and white 
 and gold, and prow and stern raised and carved richly, 
 which floated as proudly as that of any Lord Mayor of Lon- 
 don, from Whittington downward ; for not altogether dis- 
 similar was she in appearance. She pulled twenty-four 
 oars, and a captain stood by the coxswain to con her. Un- 
 der a canopy of purple cloth, the color reminding one of 
 imperial dignity, sat the President of the republic, a tricolor 
 flag waving in the bow from a lofty flagstaff, speaking, how- 
 ever, loudly of republicanism. As his galley shot out of the
 
 86 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 dockyard, there burst forth from the mouth of every cannon 
 on board the ships and in every fort on shore, roars most 
 tremendous, flashes of flame, and clouds of smoke. Never 
 had I before heard such a wild, terrific uproar ; crash fol- 
 lowed crash, till it appeared that every soul afloat or on 
 shore must be annihilated. 
 
 Thundering away went the guns, every ship firing every 
 gun she had as fast as she could, and every fort doing the 
 same. Bang crash, crash, crash. The ladies stopped 
 their ears, and looked as if they wished themselves well out 
 of it. It appeared as if a fierce battle were raging, while 
 the ships and the batteries and the shore were shrouded by 
 a dense mass of smoke. On a sudden the firing ceased, the 
 smoke blew away, revealing once more the masts and 
 rigging of the ships-of-war, now crowded with men in the 
 act of laying out on the yards. The crews cheered, and 
 the bands of all the ships struck up martial music, which 
 floated joyfully over the water, and one could not help 
 fancying that something very important was taking place. 
 In reality, it was only a coup d'etat Prince Napoleon was 
 trying to supplant Prince de Joinville in the affections of 
 the seamen of France. It is said that he made himself 
 very popular, and gained golden opinions from all classes 
 of men. 
 
 His first visit was to the " Friedland," the flag-ship of 
 Admiral Deschenes, then to the " Valmy," and next to 
 "Minerve," the gunnery-ship, on the same plan as our 
 " Excellent." Here some practice took place, but I cannot 
 say that the firing was any thing out of the way good. 
 Having inspected his own ships, he paid a visit to Lord 
 Wilton's beautiful schooner, the " Zarifa," and afterwards 
 to the " Enchantress," Lord Cardigan's yacht, both perfect 
 vessels of their kind. We yachtsmen had, indeed, reason
 
 THE FRENCH SHIPS. 87 
 
 to feel not a little proud of the display made by our peace- 
 able crafts on the occasion. 
 
 We went on board several of the French ships, and were 
 much struck with their beauty, cleanliness, and order, while 
 every improvement which science has suggested has been 
 introduced on board them. We were not particularly pre- 
 possessed in favor of the French seamen, either on shore or 
 on board. There was a roughness in their manner which 
 savored somewhat of national dislike, fostered for sinister 
 purposes, to be pleasant ; or, if it was put on in imitation 
 of the manners of our own honest Jack Tars, all I can say 
 is, that it was a very bad imitation indeed, and about as un- 
 like the truth as when they attempt to represent the English 
 national character on the stage. 
 
 From the French officers all who visited their ships 
 received the very greatest attention and courtesy. We 
 sailed that afternoon, as soon as the spectacle was over, in 
 company with the "Fun." I cannot, therefore, describe 
 the ball, with its overpowering heat and crush, which took 
 place that evening, nor the sham-fight, when the boats of 
 the squadron attacked the steamer " Descartes," nor the 
 evolutions of the fleet, nor the awful expenditure of gun- 
 powder from the ships, sufficient to make the economical 
 hearts of the men of Manchester sink dismayed within their 
 bosoms. O friends ! think you this expenditure of gun- 
 powder and noise breathes the spirit of peace? O mer- 
 chants, manufacturers, and calculators well versed in addi- 
 tion and subtraction, is it not worth while to employ some 
 portion of our own income, even a large portion maybe, to 
 insure Old England against any freak our volatile neigh- 
 bors may take into their heads? But I have done with 
 public aflairs. The " Frolic " and the " Fun " danced gayly 
 together over the starlit ocean towards Plymouth, wind
 
 88 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 and tide favoring us. The voices of our fair friends, as 
 they sang in concert some delicious airs, sounded across 
 the water most sweetly to our ears. What a contrast to 
 the loud roar of the cannon in the morning, and the glare 
 and bustle of Cherbourg harbor, did that quiet evening 
 present ! 
 
 We arrived safely in Plymouth at an early hour next day. 
 I am happy to say that, not long after, I received cards with 
 silver ties from my friends Mr. and Mrs. Jack Mizen ; but 
 I am somewhat anticipating events. I think it right, how- 
 ever, to announce to the spinster world that Groggs, Por- 
 poise, and Bubble are still bachelors.
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 PREPARATIONS FOR A LONG CRUISE HEARTY CONFESSES TO 
 A SOFT IMPEACHMENT THE O* WIGGINS AND HIS PASSEN- 
 GERS HOW WE GOT RID OF THEM. 
 
 HEARTY had long projected a voyage up the Mediterra- 
 nean, and invited Carstairs, and Bubble, and me to join him. 
 Groggs, as may be supposed, had become a bore, unbearable ; 
 and, as soon as we arrived at Plymouth, had been sent back 
 to cultivate his paternal acres and describe the wonders he 
 had seen during his nautical career. While Porpoise was 
 attending to the refitting of the yacht, Bubble and I were 
 busily engaged in laying in stores of comestibles, and drink- 
 ables, and burnables and smokables, of all sorts. Food for 
 the mind, as well as for the body, was not forgotten ; but 
 Hearty would not allow a pack of cards or dice on board. 
 It was a fancy of his, he said, that he did not much mind 
 being peculiar. " If a set of men with heads on their 
 shoulders and brains in their heads cannot amuse themselves, 
 unless by the aid of means invented for the use of idiots, 
 and fit only for the half-witted, I would rather dispense with 
 their society," he used to observe. We had, however, chess 
 and draughts, though he was no great admirer of either 
 game, especially of the. latter. "However," as he said, 
 " though those games kill time which I think it would be 
 wise of men if they tried to keep alive, as they, at all events, 
 won't let a fellow's mind go to sleep, we may as well have 
 them." 
 
 89
 
 90 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 We exerted all our ingenuity and thought in laying in 
 every thing which could possibly be required for a long 
 voyage ; and seldom has a yacht, I suspect, been better 
 found in this respect. Seldom, also, have five jolly bache- 
 lors been brought together more ready to enjoy themselves. 
 Three is generally considered the best number to form a 
 travelling party, and certainly on shore no party should 
 exceed that number, unless there is some stronger bond of 
 union than mere pleasure or convenience. Seldom when 
 more men unite do they fail to separate before the end of 
 the journey. For a yacht voyage, however, the case is 
 different. In the first place, there is more discipline. The 
 owner, if he is a man of judgment, assumes a certain 
 amount of mild authority ; acts as captain over every one 
 on board, and keeps order. -Should a dispute arise, he in- 
 stantly reconciles the disputants, and takes care himself 
 never to dispute with any one. 
 
 Hearty was just the man for the occasion. " Now, my 
 dear fellows," said he to all the party on giving us the 
 invitation, " the first thing we have to do is to sign articles 
 to preserve good fellowship, and to do our best to make 
 each other happy. I don't want to top the officer over my 
 guests ; but all I want you to promise me is, that if there 
 arises any difference, you will allow me at once to be 
 umpire. If I differ with any one, the rest must act the 
 part of judge and jury." We, of course, were all too happy 
 to agree to so reasonable a proposal, and so the matter was 
 settled. With respect also to the numbers on board, in 
 reality only Hearty and Carstairs were idlers ; Porpoise 
 was officially master ; Bubble had originally fitted out the 
 yacht, and acted as caterer ; while I had undertaken to 
 keep my watch, and aid Will in his duties. We had with 
 us guns and ammunition, and fishing-rods and nets, and
 
 HEARTY CONFESSES TO A SOFT IMPEACHMENT. 91 
 
 camera-lucidas, and sketch-books ; and musical instruments, 
 flutes, a violin, a guitar, and accordeon. We had even some 
 scientific apparatus ; nor had we forgotten a good supply of 
 writing materials. The truth was that Bubble and I had 
 some claim to be authors. Will had written a good deal : 
 indeed, his prolific pen had often supplied him with the 
 means of paying his tailor's bill ; while I had more than 
 once appeared in print. We agreed, therefore, not to inter- 
 fere with one another in our literary compositions. While 
 he took one department, I was to take the other. At last 
 we were all ready for sea. Mizen came out in the " Fun" 
 to see us off, with Fanny Farlie, Miss Mizen, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Rullock, and Susan Simms on board, as well as several of 
 our friends, and we struck up, as the yachts at length parted, 
 with our voices and all the musical instruments we could 
 bring into action, " The Girls we leave behind us." Hearty 
 heaved a sigh as he was looking through his glass at the 
 fast-receding " Fun." 
 
 "What's the matter?" I asked. 
 
 " Yes, she is a sweet girl ! "he ejaculated, not answering 
 me, however. I spoke again. 
 
 "Laura Mizen, to be sure," he replied. "Who else? 
 She's unlike all the rest of our yachting set away at Hyde 
 there. They are all young ladies, cast in the same mould, 
 differing only in paint, outside show ; one may be blue and 
 the other red, another yellow, though I don't think you often 
 find them of any primitive color ; generally they are of sec- 
 ondary, or mixed colors, as the artists say. One again 
 wishes to be thought fast, and another sentimental, another 
 philanthropic or religious, and another literary. I don't 
 know which of the pretenders I dislike the most. The fast 
 young ladies are the most difficult to deal with. They do 
 such impudent things, both to one and of one. If they knew
 
 92 THE CRUISE OP THE "FROLIC." 
 
 how some of the fast men speak of them in return, it would 
 make them wince not a little, I suspect, if they have not 
 rattled away from all delicacy themselves. Oh, give me a 
 right honest, good girl, who does not dream of being any 
 thing but herself ; who is a dutiful daughter, and is ready to 
 be a loving, obedient wife of an honest man, and the affec- 
 tionate mother of some fine hearty children, whom she may 
 bring up with a knowledge of the object for which they were 
 sent into the world." 
 
 " Well said, my dear fellow," I answered, warmly ; for I 
 seriously responded to his sentiments, though, it must be 
 confessed, they were very different to the style which had 
 been usual on board the " Frolic." " Why did you not ask 
 her, though ? " I continued. 
 
 "Because I was a fool," he answered. "Those Rattler 
 girls, Masons and Sandons, and that Miss Mary Masthead, 
 and others of her stamp, were running in my head, and I 
 couldn't believe that Laura Mizen was in reality superior to 
 them. I used to talk the same nonsense to her that I rattled 
 into their willing ears ; and it is only now that I have 
 thought over the replies she made, and many things she 
 lately said to me, and that I have discovered the vast differ- 
 ence there is between her and the rest." 
 
 " Well, 'bout ship, and propose," said I ; " though sorry 
 to lose the cruise, your happiness shall be the first consid- 
 eration." 
 
 " Oh, no, no ! that will never do," he answered. " I doubt 
 if she will have me now. When we come back next summer 
 I will find her out, and if she appears to receive me favor- 
 ably, I will propose. Now she thinks me only a harum- 
 scarum rattler. It would never do." 
 
 I could say nothing to this. I truly believed that though 
 Hearty's fortune would weigh with most girls, it would but
 
 O'WIGGINS AND HIS PASSENGERS. 93 
 
 little with her ; and I could only hope that in the mean time 
 she Avould not bestow her affections on any one else. 
 
 Just as we got outside the breakwater we sighted a 
 schooner, standing in for the Sound, which we had no diffi- 
 culty in making out to be the " Popple." As soon as she 
 discovered us, she bore down on us, signalizing away as 
 rapidly as possible. 
 
 "What are they saying?" asked Hearty, as he saw the 
 bunting run up to her mast-head. 
 
 " Heave-to, I want to speak to you," I answered, turning 
 over the leaves of the signal-book. 
 
 " Shall we? " asked Porpoise. 
 
 " Oh, by all means," replied Hearty. " O' Wiggins may 
 have something of importance to communicate." 
 
 " Down with the helm ; let fly the jib-sheet ; haul the fore- 
 sail to windward," sung out Porpoise, and the cutter lay 
 bobbing her head gracefully to the sea, while the schooner 
 approached her. 
 
 Still they continued running up and down the bunting on 
 board the " Popple." I had some difficulty in making out 
 what they intended to say. " Ladies aboard trust to gal- 
 lantry," I continued to interpret, as I made out the words 
 by reference to the book. 
 
 " What can they wish to say?" exclaimed Hearty. 
 
 " They wish to lay an embargo on us of some sort, and 
 begin by complimenting us oa our gallantry," observed 
 Bubble. 
 
 " By the pricking of my thumbs, something evil this way 
 comes," exclaimed Carstairs. " As I am a living gentle- 
 man, there are petticoats on board. Who has been acting 
 the part of a perfidious wretch, and breaking tender vows ? 
 An avenging Nemesis is in his wake in the person of Mrs.
 
 94 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 Skyscraper, or the Rattler girls, or Mary Masthead. Even 
 at this distance I can make them out." 
 
 So it was, as the schooner approached, the very dames 
 Carstairs had named were seen on board. 
 
 We had observed, as we went down the Sound, a large 
 .schooner beating up from the westward. There had been 
 discussions as to what she was. Our glasses had now once 
 more been turned towards her, when we discovered her to 
 be the " Sea Eagle." Seeing our bunting going up and 
 down so rapidly, Sir Charles Drummore, her owner, curious 
 to. know what we were talking about, stood towards us. 
 
 The "Popple" hove-to to windward of us, and a boat 
 being lowered, O'Wiggins pulled on board. " My dear 
 fellow, I'm so glad we've overtaken you," he began. "Your 
 friend, Mrs. Skyscraper, and those young ladies with 
 her, were so anxious to have another cruise on board the 
 ' Frolic ' before the summer is over, that I consented to 
 bring them down here, as I made sure that you would be 
 delighted to see them ! " Never did Hearty's face assume a 
 more puzzled and vexed expression. " Heaven defend me 
 from them ! " he exclaimed. "Tell them that we've got the 
 yellow fever or the plague, or the cholera, or the measles, 
 or the hooping-cough, or any thing dreadful you can think 
 of; make every excuse or no excuse ; the thing is impos- 
 sible, not to be thought of for a moment : they can't come. 
 We are bound foreign, say to the North Pole, or the West 
 Indies, or the coast of Africa, or the South Pacific, or to 
 the Antipodes. They don't want to go there, at all events, 
 I suppose." 
 
 " But if you don't take them, what am I to do with 
 them?" exclaimed O'Wiggins. "I'm bound down Chan- 
 nel, and if they don't worry me out of house and home,
 
 oVlGGINS AND HIS PASSENGEB8. 95 
 
 they'll drive me overboard with the very clatter of their 
 tongues." 
 
 A bright thought struck Hearty. Just then the " Sea 
 Eagle " came up, and hove-to on our quarter. 
 
 " Much obliged to you for your kind intentions towards 
 us, but, instead, just hand them over to Drummore," said 
 he, rubbing his hands. " If any man can manage so deli- 
 cate an affair, you can, O'Wiggins, without wishing to pay 
 you an undue compliment." 
 
 Sir Charles Drummore was a baronet, one of our yacht- 
 ing acquaintances, and had lately purchased the " Sea 
 Eagle." A worthy old fellow, though he had the character 
 of being somewhat of a busybody. He certainly looked 
 more in his place in his club than on board his yacht. 
 " Well, I'll try it," answered the O'Wiggins, who wag him- 
 self easily won by the very bait he offered so liberally to 
 others. " Trust me, I'll do it if mortal man can. I'll 
 weave a piteous tale of peerless damsels in distress, and all 
 that sort of thing. Thank you for the hint ; it will take, 
 depend on it." 
 
 " Well, be quick about it," we exclaimed, " or Drum- 
 more will be topping his boom, and you will miss your 
 chance." Thereon O'Wiggins tumbled into his boat, and 
 pulled aboard the "Sea Eagle." What story he told 
 what arguments he used we never heard ; but very shortly 
 we had the satisfaction of seeing the Misses Rattler and 
 Mary Masthead, with their skittish chaperone, Mrs. Sky- 
 scraper, transferred to the deck of the " Sea Eagle." 
 
 We strongly suspected that the prim baronet had not the 
 slightest conception as to who formed the component parts 
 of the company with whom he was to be favored. He 
 bowed rather stiffly as he received them and their band- 
 boxes on deck ; but he was in for it ; his gallantry would
 
 96 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 not allow him to send them back to the " Popple," and he 
 had, therefore, only to wish sincerely for a fair breeze, that 
 he might land them as speedily as possible at Eyde. The 
 O'Wiggins waved his cap with an extra amount of vehe- 
 mence, and putting up his helm, and easing off his sheets, 
 stood away for Falmouth. We, at the same time, shaped a 
 course down Channel, mightily glad that we were free of all 
 fast young ladies and flirting widows. 
 
 " O'er the glad waters of the dark blue sea, 
 Our thoughts as boundless, and our souls as free, 
 Far as the breeze can bear, the billows foam, 
 Survey our empire, and behold our home ! " 
 
 spouted Carstairs, pointing to the wide Atlantic which rolled 
 before us. 
 
 " The sea, the sea, the open sea ! 
 The wide, the blue, the ever free ; 
 Without a mark, without a bound, 
 It runneth the earth's wide region round ! 
 I'm on the sea 
 I am where I would ever be : 
 With the blue above, and the blue below, 
 And silence wheresoe'er I go," 
 
 chimed in Hearty, whose quotations and sketches were 
 always from authors of more modern date. 
 
 "You'll sing different songs to those, gentlemen, if it 
 comes on to blow a gale of wind while we are crossing the 
 Bay," said Porpoise, laughing. " The sea always puts me 
 in mind of a woman, very delightful when she's calm and 
 smiling, but very much the contrary when a gale is blow- 
 ing. I've knocked about all my life at sea, and have got 
 pretty tired of storms, which I don't like a bit better than 
 when I first went afloat." 
 
 " Never fear for us," answered Hearty. " I never was in
 
 BOMANCE OP SEA LIFE. 97 
 
 a storm in my life, and I want to see how the ' Frolic ' will 
 behave." 
 
 "As to that, I dare say she will behave well enough," 
 said Porpoise. " There's no craft like a cutter for lying-to, 
 or for beating off a lee shore ; or working through a nar- 
 row channel, for that matter, though a man-of-war's man 
 says it. We have the credit of preferring our own square- 
 rigged vessels to all others, and not knowing how to handle 
 a fore-and-after." 
 
 " Come what may, we'll trust to you to do the best which 
 can be done under any chances which may occur," said 
 Hearty. "And now here comes Ladle to summon us to 
 dinner." To dinner we went, and a good one we ate, and 
 many a good one after it. Many a joke was uttered, many 
 a story told, and many a song Avas sung. In truth, the days 
 slipped away more rapidly even than on shore. 
 
 " Well, after all, I can't say that there is much romance 
 in a sea-life," .exclaimed Carstairs, stretching out his legs, 
 as he leaned back in an arm-chair on deck, and allowed the 
 smoke of his fragrant Havana to rise curling over his 
 upturned countenance, for there was very little wind at 
 the time, and from what there was we were running away. 
 
 *' I can't quite agree with you on that point : there is 
 romance enough at sea, as well as everywhere else, if people 
 only know how to look for it," observed Will Bubble, who 
 had been scribbling away most assiduously all the morning 
 in a large note-book which he kept carefully closed from 
 vulgar eyes ! 
 
 " Oh, I know, of course, ' Books in the running brooks, 
 sermons in stones, and good in every thing,' " answered 
 Carstairs, who was seldom at a loss for a quotation from 
 Shakspeare. " But I mean, who ever meets a good, exciting, 
 romantic adventure with pirate-smugglers, savages, or some 
 
 7
 
 98 THE CRUISE OP THE "FROLIC." 
 
 thing of that sort? Perhaps you, Bubble, have got some- 
 thing of that sort in your book there which you will give 
 us, but then it will be only fiction : I want a stern reality. 
 The world has grown too matter-of-fact to keep a fellow 
 awake." 
 
 " I'll own to the soft impeachment," answered Bubble, 
 laughing. " But my story's real ; I've been merely putting 
 some notes into form for our amusement, and I hope all 
 hands will be duly grateful." "We all thanked Bubble for 
 his promise. 
 
 " I cannot agree with you, in any way, as to there being 
 no romance in a sea-life," said I. " Only last year I took 
 part in a very pretty little bit of romance, which would 
 have made the fortune of any paper into which it had been 
 allowed to find its way ; but for the sake of the actors we 
 kept the affair a profound secret, or you would certainly 
 have heard of it." 
 
 "Let's have it all out now," exclaimed Hearty; "we 
 won't peach : we'll be as tight as the ' Frolic ' herself." 
 
 " I wouldn't trust you in the club," said I. " But, out 
 here, I don't think it will go beyond the bulwarks, so you 
 shall hear my story." While the rest of our party sat 
 round, and drew, or netted, or smoked, I gave an account 
 of the incident to which I alluded. As it is an important 
 introduction to our subsequent adventures, it is, I feel, well 
 worthy of a chapter to itself.
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 WHY A BACHELOR TOOK TO YACHTING THE RIVAL SUITORS 
 A DOUBTFUL CHARACTER. 
 
 AWAKENED one morning towards the close of the last 
 London season by the postman's rap, my friend Harcourt 
 found, on reading his letters, that he had become the owner 
 of the "Amethyst" cutter, and a member of the Royal 
 
 Yacht Club. Possessing an independent fortune, a 
 
 large circle of acquaintance, several stanch friends, and few 
 enemies, he ought to have been a happy man but he was 
 not. The fact is, he did not know what to do with himself. 
 He had travelled not only over the Continent, but had 
 visited the three other quarters of the globe. He had gone 
 .through several London seasons, and run the rounds of in- 
 numerable country-houses where there were marriageable 
 daughters, but had neither fallen in love, nor been drawn 
 into a proposal. In truth, he believed with his friends that 
 he was not a marrying man. He had become heartily sick 
 of dusty roads, passage-steamers, hot rooms, dissipation, 
 and manoeuvring mammas, when I, who had of old been 
 his messmate, recommended him to try yachting for the 
 summer. 
 
 "What, go to sea for pleasure?" he exclaimed, in a tone 
 of contempt. " You surely cannot suggest such a folly. I 
 had enough of it when I was a poor young middy, and 
 
 obliged to buffet the rude winds and waves ; but " 
 
 99
 
 100 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 " Well ; think about it," were the last words I uttered as 
 I left him. 
 
 He did think about it, and thought, too, perhaps, he might 
 like it. He was not a novice, for he had for some years of 
 his existence served his country in the exalted capacity of a 
 midshipman ; but on succeeding, by the death of an elder 
 brother and an uncle, to some few thousands a year, he 
 magnanimously determined, by the advice of his lady mother, 
 not to stand in the way of the promotion of any of his 
 brother officers, and retired from the career of glory he was 
 following. I cannot say that the thoughts of leaving his 
 profession gave him much regret, particularly as being too 
 old to return to school, and too ignorant of Latin and Greek 
 to think of the university, he was henceforth to be his own 
 master. If now and then he acknowledged to himself that 
 be might have been a happier man with a pursuit in life, I 
 cannot say I am not moralizing. So much for his past 
 life. 
 
 After I left him he meditated on the subject I had sug- 
 gested, he told me ; and the next time we met, we talked 
 it over, and as I was going down to Portsmouth, he gave 
 me carte blanche to buy a vessel for him, there not being 
 time to build one. This letter communicated the result of 
 my search. Having made himself master of this and a few 
 other bits of information, he turned round, as was his cus- 
 tom after reading his letters, to sleep off the weariness of 
 body and mind with which he had lately been afflicted, but 
 as he lay dozing on his luxurious couch, visions of the 
 "Amethyst," flitted across his brain. A light, graceful 
 craft, as she probably was, with a broad spread of white 
 canvas, gliding like some lovely spirit over the blue ocean. 
 " "Who shall sail with me," he thought. " Brine, of course. 
 Where shall we go ? When shall we start ? What adven-
 
 WHY A BACHELOR TOOK TO YACHTING. 101 
 
 tures shall we probably encounter? How shall I again 
 like to find myself on the surface of the fickle sea?" The 
 case, however, from the Then and the Now was widely 
 different. Then he was a midshipman in a cockpit, at the 
 beck and order of a dozen or twenty masters. Now he was 
 to enjoy a command independent of the admiralty and 
 their sealed orders, admirals, or senior captains. His own 
 will, and the winds and tides, the only powers he was to 
 obey. 
 
 " By Jove ! there is something worth living for," he 
 exclaimed, as he jumped out of bed. " I'll forswear Lon- 
 don forthwith. I'll hurry off" from its scheming and heart- 
 lessness, its emptiness and frivolity. I'll go afloat at once. 
 Brine is right. He's a capital fellow. It was a bright 
 idea. I'll try first how I like channel cruising. I can al- 
 ways come on shore if it bores me. If I find it pleasant, 
 I'll buy a larger craft next year. I'll go up the Straits, per- 
 haps out to visit my friend Brooke at Borneo, and round 
 the world." 
 
 He bathed, breakfasted, drove to his tailor's, Ifloked in at 
 the Carlton and the Conservative, fulfilled a dinner engage- 
 ment, and in the evening went to three parties, at all of 
 which places he astonished his acquaintances by the exube- 
 rance of his spirits. 
 
 " The fact is," he answered to their inquiries as by what 
 wonderful means the sudden change had been wrought, 
 " I've broken my trammels. I'm off. A few days hence 
 and London shall know me no more. To be plain, I'm 
 going to turn marine monster, don a monkey-jacket, culti- 
 vate a beard, wear a tarpaulin-hat, smoke cigars, and put 
 my hands in my pockets. We shall meet again at Cowes, 
 Torquay, Plymouth, or one of the other salt-water places. 
 Till then, au revoir."
 
 102 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 As he was entering Lady L 's door, who should he 
 
 meet coming out but his old friend O'Malley, whom he had 
 not seen for ages ! He knew that his regiment had just 
 come back from India, so he was not very much surprised. 
 He took his arm and returned into the rooms with him. 
 Now, O'Malley was an excellent fellow, agreeable, accom- 
 plished, and possessed of a fund of good spirits, which 
 nothing could ruffle. He was, indeed, a good specimen of an 
 Irish gentleman. He sang a good song, told a good story, 
 and made friends wherever he went. Such was just the 
 man under every circumstance for a compagnon de voyage. 
 He hesitated not a moment in inviting him, and, to his infi- 
 nite satisfaction, he at once accepted the offer. 
 
 A week after he had become the owner of the "Amethyst," 
 O'Malley and he were seated in a Southampton railroad car- 
 riage, on their way to Cowes, where she was fitting out 
 under my inspection. In the division opposite to them sat 
 a little man whom they at once perceived to belong to the 
 genus snob. He had a comical little face of his own, 
 lighted by a pair of round eyes, with a meaningless ex- 
 pression, fat cheeks, a somewhat large open mouth, and a 
 pug nose with large nostrils. 
 
 " Beg pardon, sir," he observed to O'Malley, on whose 
 countenance he saw a smile playing, which encouraged him. 
 " Hope I don't interrupt the perusal of your paper? Ah, 
 no concluded topped off with births, deaths, marriages, 
 and advertisements. See mine there soon. Don't mean an 
 advertisement, nor my birth, ha, ha ! too old a bird for 
 that; nor death, you may suppose ; I mean t'other eh, 
 you twig ? coming the tender, wooing, and wedding hope 
 soon to fix the day : " suddenly he turned round to Har- 
 
 court " Reading the ' Daily ' ? Ah, no, the ' Times,' 
 
 I see. Any news, sir ? "
 
 WHY A BACHELOR TOOK TO YACHTING. 103 
 
 They did look at him with astonishment, but, at the same 
 time, were so amused that, of course, they humored the lit- 
 tle man. Harcourt, therefore, unfroze, and smiling, offered 
 him the paper. 
 
 " Oh dear ! many thanks, didn't want it," he answered ; 
 " can't read in a railroad, afraid to interrupt you before 
 you'd finished. Going down to the sea, I suppose ? So 
 am I. Abroad, perhaps? I'm not. Got a yacht? 
 national amusement. Sail about the Wight ? pretty scen- 
 ery, smooth water, I'm told. Young lady, fond of boating 
 sure way to win her heart. Come it strong squeeze 
 her hand, can't get away. Eh, see I'm up to a trick or 
 two." 
 
 In this absurdly vulgar style he ran on, while they stared, 
 wondering who he could be. Finding that, they said noth- 
 ing, he began again. 
 
 " Fond of yachting, gentlemen?" 
 
 " I believe so," answered Harcourt. 
 
 " So am I. Got a yacht ? " he asked. 
 
 Harcourt nodded. 
 
 "What's her name?" 
 
 Harcourt told him. 
 
 "Mine's the 'Dido.' Pretty name, isn't it? short and 
 sweet. Dido was Queen of Sheba, you know ran away 
 with Ulysses, the Trojan hero, and then killed herself with 
 an adder because he wouldn't marry her. Learned all that 
 when I was at school. She's at Southampton, but I belong 
 to the club. Only twenty-five tons little, but good. Not 
 a clipper I own stanch and steady, that's my motto. 
 Warwick Ribbons has always a welcome for his friends. 
 That's me, at your service. Christened Warwick from the 
 great Guy. Rough it now and then. You won't mind that. 
 Eggs and bacon, and a plain chop, but weeds and liquor ad
 
 104 THE CBUISE OF THE "FBOLIC." 
 
 lib. Brother yachtsmen, you know. Bond of union." They 
 winced a little. " Shall meet often, I hope, as my father 
 used to say each time he passed the bottle. David Ribbons 
 was his name. Good man. Merchant in the city. Cut 
 up well. Left me and brother Barnabas a mint of money. 
 Barnabas sticks to trade. I've cut it. Made a lucky spec, 
 in railroads, and am flaring up a bit. Here we are at the 
 end of our journey," he exclaimed, as the train stopped at 
 Southampton. "We shall meet again on board the ' Dido.' 
 Remember me. Warwick Ribbons, you know good-by 
 good-by." And before they were aware of his friendly 
 intentions, he had grasped them both warmly by the hand. 
 "I must see after my goods my trunks, I mean." So 
 saying, he set off to overtake the porter, who was wheeling 
 away his traps. 
 
 Harcourt never felt more inclined to give way to a hearty 
 fit of laughter, and O'Malley indulged himself to his heart's 
 content. 
 
 In an hour after this they were steaming down the South- 
 ampton Water on their way to Cowes. Just as they got 
 clear of the pier they again beheld their friend, Warwick 
 Ribbons, on the deck of a remarkably ugly little red-bottomed 
 cutter, which they had no doubt was the " Dido." He re- 
 cognized them, apparently, for, holding on by the rigging, 
 he jumped on the gunwale, waving his hat vehemently to 
 draw their attention and that of the other passengers to him- 
 self and his craft, but of course they did not consider it 
 necessary to acknowledge his salute. This vexed him, for 
 he turned round and kicked a dirty-looking boy, which also 
 served to let everybody know that he was master of the 
 " Dido." The boy uttered a howl and ran forward, little 
 Ribbons followed him round and round the deck, repeating 
 the dose as long as they could see him.
 
 WHY A BACHELOR TOOK TO YACHTING. 105 
 
 I was the first person they met on landing at Cowes, and 
 Harcourt, having introduced O'Malley to me, we repaired 
 to the " Amethyst," lying off White's Yard. We pulled 
 round her twice, to examine her thoroughly before we went 
 on board. He was not disappointed in her, for though 
 smaller than he could have wished she measured sixty 
 tons she was a perfect model of symmetry and beauty. 
 She was also so well fitted within that she had accommoda- 
 dation equal to many vessels of nearly twice her size. 
 
 Three days more passed, and the " Amethyst" was stored, 
 provisioned, and reported ready for sea. Harcourt's spirits 
 rose to an elevation he had not experienced for years, as, on 
 one of the most beautiful mornings of that beautiful season, 
 his craft, with a light wind from the southward, glided out 
 of Cowes Harbor. 
 
 " What a wonderful effect has the pure fresh air, after the 
 smoke and heat of London ! " exclaimed Q'Malley. " Let 
 me once inhale the real salt breeze, and I shall commit a 
 thousand unthought-of vagaries, and so will you, let me tell 
 you ; you'll be no more like yourself, the man about town, 
 than the ' Amethyst ' to a coal-barge, or choose any other 
 simile you may prefer." 
 
 We had now got clear of the harbor, so I ordered the 
 vessel to be hove-to, that, consulting the winds and tides, 
 we might determine the best course to take. 
 
 "Where shall we go, then?" asked Harcourt. "The 
 flood has just done. See, that American ship has begun 
 to swing, so we have the whole ebb to get to the west- 
 ward." 
 
 " We'll take a short trip to spread our wings and try their 
 strength," I answered. " What say you to a run through 
 the Needles down to Weymouth ? We shall be back in time 
 for dinner' to-morrow."
 
 106 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 We all three had an engagement for the next day to dine 
 with Harcourt's friends, the Granvilles, one of the few fami- 
 lies of his acquaintance who had yet come down. 
 
 " As you like it ; but hang these dinner engagements in 
 the yachting season," exclaimed O'Malley. " I hope you 
 put in a proviso that, should the winds drive us, we were at 
 liberty to run over to Cherbourg, or down to Plymouth, or 
 do as we pleased." 
 
 " No," he answered ; " the fact is, I scarcely thought the 
 vessel would be ready so soon, and we are bound to do our 
 best to return." 
 
 " And I see no great hardship in being obliged to eat a 
 good dinner in the company of such nice girls as the Miss 
 Granvilles seem to be," I put in. 
 
 " Well, then, that's settled," Harcourt exclaimed. " We've 
 no time to lose, however, though we have a soldier's wind. 
 Up with the helm let draw the foresail keep her away, 
 Griffiths." And the sails of the little craft filling, she glided 
 gracefully through the water, shooting past Egypt Point, 
 notwithstanding the light air, at the rate of some six knots 
 an hour. Gradually as the sun rose the breeze freshened. 
 Gracefully she heeled over to it. The water bubbled and 
 hissed round her bows, and faster and faster she walked 
 along. 
 
 " She's got it in her, sir, depend on't," said Griffiths, as 
 he eyed the gaff-topsail with a knowing look. " There won't 
 be many who can catch her, I'll answer. I was speaking 
 yesterday to my brother-in-law, whose cousin was her master 
 last summer, from the time she was launched, and he gave 
 her a first-rate character such a sea-boat, sir, as weatherly 
 and dry as a duck. They were one whole day hove-to in 
 the Chops of the Channel without shipping a drop of water,
 
 WHY A BACHELOR TOOK TO YACHTING. 107 
 
 while a big ship, beating up past them, had her decks washed 
 fore and aft." 
 
 Griffiths' satisfactory praise of the craft was cut short by 
 the announcement of breakfast, and, with keen appetites, we 
 descended to discuss as luxurious a meal as three bachelors 
 ever sat down to. Tea, coffee, chocolate, hot rolls, eggs, 
 pickled salmon, lamb chops, kaplines, and orange marma- 
 lade, were some of the ingredients. Then came some capital 
 cigars, on which Harcourt and O'Malley had chosen a com- 
 mittee of connoisseurs at the Garrick to sit before they selected 
 them. 
 
 " We bachelors lead a merry life, and few that are mar- 
 ried lead better," sang O'Malley, as he lighted his first 
 Havana. 
 
 " On my word you're right," chimed in Harcourt. " Now 
 I should like any one to point me out three more hrippy fel- 
 lows than we are and ought to be. What folly it would be 
 for either of us to think of turning Benedict ! " 
 
 " Faith, an officer in a marching regiment, with only his 
 pay to live on had better not bring his thoughts into practice, 
 at all events," observed O'Malley. " Such has been the 
 conclusion to which I have always arrived after having fallen 
 in love with half the lovely girls I have met in my life ; and, 
 as ill luck would have it, somehow or other if they have 
 been heiresses, I could not help thinking that it might be 
 their money which attracted me more than their pretty 
 selves, and I have invariably run off without proposing. 
 I once actually went down to marry a girl with a large for- 
 tune, whose friends said she was dying for me, but unfor- 
 tunately she had a pretty little cousin staying with her, a 
 perfect Hebe in form and face, and, on my life, I could not 
 help making love to her instead of the right lady, who, of 
 course, discarded me, as I deserved, on the spot."
 
 108 THE CRUISE OF THE " FEOLIC." 
 
 As we opened Scratchell's Bay to the south of the Needles, 
 O'Malley, who had never been there before, was delighted 
 with the view. 
 
 " The pointed chalk rocks of the Needles running like a 
 broken wall into the sea, the lofty white cliff presenting a 
 daring front to the storms of the west, the protector, as it 
 were, of the soft and fertile lands within ; the smooth downs 
 above, with their watchful lighthouse, the party-colored cliffs 
 of Alum Bay, and Hurst Castle and its attendant towers, 
 invading the waters at the end of the yellow sand-bank. 
 Come, that description will do for the next tourist who 
 wanders this way," he exclaimed. " Ah, now we are really 
 at sea," he continued ; " don't you discover the difference 
 of the land wind and the cool, salt, exhilarating breeze which 
 has just filled our sails, both by feel, taste, smell ? At last 
 I begin to get rid of the fogs of London which have hitherto 
 been hanging about me." 
 
 As the sun rose the wind freshened, and we had a beau- 
 tiful run to Weyrnouth. We brought up in the bay near a 
 fine cutter, which we remarked particularly, as there were 
 very few other yachts there at the time. Manning the gig, 
 we pulled on shore to pass away the time till dinner, and as 
 none of us had ever been there before, we took a turn to the 
 end of the esplanade to view that once favorite residence of 
 royalty. 
 
 As we were walking back we met a man in yachting cos- 
 tume, who, looking hard at O'Malley, came up and shook 
 him warmly by the hand. I also knew his face, but could 
 not recollect where I had seen him, and so it appeared had 
 Harcourt. Slipping his arm through that of O'Malley, who 
 introduced him as Mr. Miles Sandgate, he turned back with 
 us. He seemed a jovial, hail-fellow-well-met sort of char- 
 acter, not refined, but very amusing ; so, without further
 
 A DOUBTFUL CHARACTER. 109 
 
 thought, as we were about to embark, Harcourt asked him 
 on board to dine with us. He at once accepted the invita- 
 tion, and as we passed the yacht we had admired, we found 
 that she belonged to him. I remarked that she had no yacht 
 burgee flying, and he did not speak of belonging to any club. 
 He might, to be sure, have lately bought her, and not had 
 time to be elected. But then, again, he had evidently been 
 constantly at sea, and was, as far as I had an opportunity 
 of judging, a very good seaman. 
 
 The dinner passed off very pleasantly. Harcourt's cook 
 proved that he was a first-rate nautical chef. Our new 
 acquaintance made himself highly amusing by his anecdotes 
 of various people, and his adventures by sea and land in 
 every part of the globe. There was, however, a reckless- 
 ness in his manner, and at times a certain assumption and 
 bravado, which I did not altogether like. After we had 
 despatched our coffee, and a number of cigars, he took his 
 leave, inviting us on board the " Rover," the name of his 
 yacht ; but we declined, on the plea of wishing to get 
 under way again that evening. In fact, we had agreed to 
 return at once to Cowes to be in time for our dinner at the 
 Granvilles'. 
 
 " Oh, then you must breakfast with me to-morrow morn- 
 ing, for I am bound for the same place, and shall keep you 
 company," he observed, with a laugh ; " though I have no 
 doubt that the ' Amethyst ' is a fast craft, yet I am so much 
 larger that you must not be offended at my considering it 
 probable that I shall be able to keep up with you." 
 
 On this Harcourt could not, in compliment to O'Malley, 
 help asking him to remain longer with us, and he sending 
 a message on board his vessel, both yachts got under way 
 together. Perhaps he perceived a certain want of cordiality 
 in Harcourt's manner towards him, as he was evidently a
 
 110 THE CRUISE OF THE " PEOLIC." 
 
 keen observer of other men ; for at all events he did his 
 utmost to ingratiate himself with him, and during the 
 second half of his stay on board he had entirely got rid of 
 the manner which annoyed him, appearing completely a man 
 of the world, well read, and conversant with good society. 
 At the same time he did not hint to what profession he had 
 belonged, nor what had taken him to the different places of 
 which he spoke. In fact, we could not help feeling that 
 there was a certain mystery about him which he did not 
 choose to disclose. At a late hour he hailed his own vessel, 
 and his boat took him on board her. The wind was so light, 
 that, till the tide turned to the eastward, we made but little 
 progress ; but the moon was up, and the air soft and balmy, 
 and most unwillingly we turned in before we got through 
 the Needles. 
 
 "As soon as our visitor had left us, O'Malley told us "that 
 he had met him many years before in India, at the house of 
 a relation, he believed, of Saudgate's ; that this relation 
 had nursed him most kindly through a severe illness with 
 which he had been attacked, and that he had, on his 
 recovery, travelled with Sandgate through the country. 
 He met him once or twice after that, and he then dis- 
 appeared from India, nor had he seen him again, till he en- 
 countered him in London soon after his return. He believed 
 that he had been connected with the opium trade, and sus- 
 pected that he had actually commanded an opium clipper in 
 his more youthful days, though he fancied he had engaged 
 in the pursuit for the sake of the excitement and danger it 
 afforded, as he appeared. superior to the general run of men 
 employed in it. 
 
 The next morning, the tide having made against us, we 
 brought up off Yarmouth, when we went on board the 
 " Rover," to breakfast, and a very sumptuous entertain-
 
 THE MISS GRANVILLES. Ill 
 
 ment Mr. Sandgate gave us, with some cigars, which beat 
 any thing I had ever tasted. The cabin we went into was 
 handsomely fitted up ; but he did not go through the usual 
 ceremony of showing us over the vessel. It was late in 
 the afternoon when the two vessels anchored in Cowes 
 Harbor. 
 
 Soon after we brought up we saw the " Dido" come into 
 the harbor, and just as we were going on shore, Mr. Ribbons 
 himself, in full nautical costume, pulled alongside. He in- 
 sisted on coming on board, and taxed Harcourt's hospitality 
 considerably before we could get rid of him. Hearing me 
 mention the Granvilles, he very coolly asked us to introduce 
 him. " Why, you see," he added, " there's an acquaintance 
 of mine, I find, staying with them whom I should like to 
 meet." We all, of course, positively declined the honor he 
 intended us. 
 
 " Probably if you send a note to your friend he may do as 
 you wish," I observed. " I am not on sufficiently intimate 
 terms with the family." 
 
 "Oh! why you see it's a lady a young lady, you 
 know and I can't exactly ask her." 
 
 " I regret, but it is impossible, my dear sir," I answered. 
 " You must excuse us, or we shall be late for dinner ; " and 
 leaving him biting his thumbs with doubt and vexation, we 
 pulled on shore. 
 
 The party at the Granvilles' was excessively pleasant. 
 The Miss Granvilles were pretty, nice girls, and they had a 
 friend staying with them, who struck me as being one of 
 the most lovely creatures I had ever seen. She had dark 
 hair and eyes, with an alabaster complexion, a figure slight 
 and elegant, and features purely classical ; the expression of 
 her countenance was intelligent and sweet in the extreme, 
 but a shade of melancholy occasionally passed over it, which
 
 112 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 she in vain endeavored to conceal. Harcourt at once be- 
 came deeply interested in her, though he could learn little 
 more about her than that her name was Emily Manners, 
 and that she was staying with some friends at Ryde, the 
 Bosleys, he understood. Who they were he could not tell, 
 for he had never heard their names before. She sang very 
 delightfully ; and some more people coming in, we even 
 accomplished a polka. During the evening, while he was 
 speaking to her, he overheard O'Malley, in his usually 
 amusing way, describing our rencontre with Mr. Warwick 
 Ribbons, and he was surprised, when she heard his name, 
 to see her start and look evidently annoyed, though she 
 afterwards could not help smiling as he continued drawing 
 his picture. 
 
 "And, do you know, Miss Granville," he added, "he 
 wanted us to bring him here, declaring that some mutual 
 and very dear friend of his and yours was staying, with 
 you." 
 
 "Absurd! Who can the man be ?" said Miss Granville. 
 " Miss Manners is the only friend staying with us, and I am 
 sure she cannot know such a person, if your description of 
 him is correct. Do you, Emily, dear?" 
 
 To my astonishment, Miss Manners blushed, and an- 
 swered, " I am acquainted with a Mr. Ribbons ; that is to 
 say, he is a friend of Mr. Bosley's ; but I must disclaim 
 any intimacy with him, and I trust that he did not assume 
 otherwise." 
 
 O'Malley saw that he had made a mistake, and with good 
 tact took pains to show that he fully believed little Ribbons 
 had imposed on us, before he quietly dropped the subject, 
 and branched off into some other amusing story. 
 
 The Granvilles and their fair friend promised to take a 
 cruise in the " Amethyst" on the following day, but as the
 
 THE MISS GBANVILLES. 113 
 
 weather proved not very favorable, Harcourt put off their 
 visit till the day after. He thus also gained an excuse for 
 passing a greater part of it in their society. 
 
 As we walked down to the esplanade in front of the club- 
 house to look at the yacht, which they had expressed a wish 
 to see, we encountered no less a person than Warwick Rib- 
 bons himself. He passed us several times without venturing 
 to speak ; but at last, mustering courage, he walked up to 
 Miss Manners and addressed her 
 
 " Good morning, Miss Emily. Happy to see you here. 
 Couldn't tell where you'd run to, till old Bosley told me. 
 Been looking for you in every place along the coast. Ven- 
 ture back to Ryde in the 'Dido'? Come, now, you never 
 yet have been on board, and I got her on purpose" he 
 was, I verily believe, going to say " for you," but he lost 
 confidence, and finished with a smirking giggle "to take 
 young ladies out, you know." 
 
 Harcourt felt inclined to throw the little abomination into 
 the water. 
 
 " Thank you," said Miss Manners ; " I prefer returning 
 by the steamer." 
 
 "Oh, dear, now that is but I'm going to see your 
 guardian, Miss, and may I take a letter to him just to say 
 you're well? " asked Mr. Ribbons ; " he'll not be pleased if 
 I don't." 
 
 " I prefer writing by the post," answered Emily, now 
 really becoming annoyed at his pertinacity. 
 
 "You won't come and take a sail with me, then?" he 
 continued ; " you and your friends, I mean." 
 
 She shook her head and bowed. 
 
 "Well, then, if you won't, I'm off," he exclaimed, with 
 a look of reproach, and, striking his forehead, he turned 
 round and tumbled into his boat.
 
 114 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 We watched him on board his vessel, and the first thing 
 he did was to set to and beat his boy ; he then dived down 
 below and returned with a swimming belt, or rather jacket, 
 on, which he immediately began to fill with air, till he 
 looked like a balloon or a Chinese tumbler. The " Dido," 
 then got under way ; but her crew were apparently drunk, 
 for she first very nearly ran right on to the quay, and then 
 foul of a boat which was conveying a band of musicians 
 across the river. 
 
 A most amusing scene ensued, Ribbons abused the 
 musicians, who had nothing at all to do with it, and they 
 retorted on him, trying to fend off the vessel with their 
 trombones, trumpets, and cornopeans. At one time they 
 seemed inclined to jump on board and take forcible posses- 
 sion of the " Dido," but they thought better of it, and 
 when they got clear they put forth such a discordant blast 
 of derision, finishing like a peal of laughter, that all the 
 spectators on shore could not help joining them, and I 
 wonder the little man ever had courage again to set his foot 
 in Cowes. 
 
 We were still on the quay when Sandgate came on shore 
 and passed us ; as he did so, he nodded to us, and I observed 
 him looking very hard at Miss Manners. He soon after, 
 without much ceremony, joined us, and managed quietly to 
 enter into conversation with all the ladies. After some time, 
 however, I perceived that he devoted his attention almost 
 exclusively to Emily. He was just the sort of fellow to 
 attract many women, and I suspect that Harcourt felt a 
 twinge of jealousy attacking him, and regretted that 
 O'Malley had ever introduced him ; at the same time I 
 'trusted that Emily would perceive that want^ of innate 
 refinement which I had discovered at once ; but then, I 
 thought, women have have not the same means of judging
 
 THE RIVAL SUITORS. 115 
 
 of men which men have of each other. He did not, how- 
 ever, speak of his vessel, nor offer to take out any of the 
 party. 
 
 I shall pass over the next two or three days which we 
 spent in the neighborhood, each day taking the Granvilles 
 and their friends on the water ; and so agreeable did we find 
 that way of passing our time that none of us felt any in- 
 clination to go further. It was, if I remember rightly, on 
 the 24th of July that we went to Spithead to see those four 
 magnificent ships, the " Queen," " Vengeance," St. Vin- 
 cent," and " Howe," riding at anchor there. Though the 
 morning was calm, a light breeze sprung up just as we got 
 under way, and we arrived in time to see her Majesty and 
 Prince Albert come out of Portsmouth Harbor in their yacht 
 steamer, and cruise round the ships. We hove-to just to 
 the southward of the " Howe," so as to have a good view of 
 all the ships in line, and it was a beautiful and enlivening 
 sight, as they all manned yards and saluted one after the 
 other. From every ship, also, gay flags floated, in long 
 lines from each masthead to the bowsprit and boom-ends, 
 the bands played joyous tunes, and then arose those heart- 
 stirring cheers such as British seamen alone can give. The 
 ladies were delighted indeed, who could not be so at the 
 proud spectacle? 
 
 On our way back to Cowes we were to land Miss Man- 
 ners, who, most unwillingly on her part, I believe, was 
 obliged to return to her guardian. We accordingly hove-to 
 off the pier, and all the party landed to conduct her to Mr. 
 Bosley's house. After taking a turn to the end of the pier, 
 as we were beginning our journey along its almost inter- 
 minable length, we on a sudden found ourselves confronted 
 by two most incongruous personages walking arm-in-arm 
 Warwick Ribbons and Miles Sandgate. The latter, the
 
 116 THE CRUISE OF THE " FKOLIC." 
 
 instant he saw us, withdrew his arm from that of his com- 
 panion, and in his usual unembarrassed manner, advanced 
 towards us, putting out his hand to O'Malley and me, and 
 boAving to the ladies. He, as usual, placed himself at the 
 side of Emily, who had Harcourt's arm, and certainly did 
 his best to draw off her attention from him. Little Ribbons 
 tried, also, to come up and speak to her, but either his 
 courage or his impudence could not overcome the cold, low 
 bow she gave him. By the by, she had bestowed one of a 
 similar nature on Sandgate. After some time, however, he 
 ranged up outside of Harcourt, for he had no shadow of 
 excuse to speak to either Mrs. Granville or her daughters. 
 
 "Ah, Miss Emily," he exclaimed in a smirking way, 
 " you said you would prefer returning here in a steamer to 
 a yacht, and now you've come in one after all." 
 
 Emily did not know what to answer to his impudence, so 
 Harcourt relieved her by answering 
 
 " Miss Manners selected a larger vessel, and had, also, 
 the society of her friends." 
 
 " In that case, I might have claimed the honor for my 
 vessel, which is larger than either," observed Mr. Sandgate, 
 with a tone in which I detected a sneer lurking under a pre- 
 tended laugh. 
 
 " Ah, but then I'm an old friend," interposed the little 
 man; "ain't I, Miss Emily? known you ever since you 
 was a little girl, though you do now and then pretend not to 
 remember it." 
 
 " Hang the fellow's impudence ! " Harcourt was on the 
 point of exclaiming, and perhaps might have said something 
 of the sort, when his attention Avas called off by another 
 actor in the drama. He was a corpulent, consequential- 
 looking gentleman, with a vulgar expression of countenance, 
 dressed in a broad-brimmed straw hat and shooting-coat,
 
 THE GUABDIAN AND HIS WARD. 117 
 
 with trousers of a huge plaid pattern, and he had an umbrella 
 under his arm though there was not a cloud in the sky. He 
 was, in fact, just the person I might have supposed as the 
 friend of little Ribbons, who, as soon as he espied him, with 
 great glee ran on to meet him. Poor Emily, at the same 
 time, pronounced the words, " My guardian, Mr. Bosley," 
 in a tone which showed little pleasure at the rencontre, and 
 instantly withdrew her arm from Harcourt's. She was 
 evidently anxious to prevent a meeting between the parties, 
 for she turned round to the Miss Granvilles and begged 
 them not to come any further, and then holding out her 
 hand to Harcourt, thanked him for the pleasant excursions 
 he had afforded her. She was too late, however, for Mr. 
 Bosley advancing, bowed awkwardly to the Miss Gran- 
 villes, and then addressing Emily, said, 
 
 "Ay, little missie, a long holiday you've been taking with 
 your friends ; but I shan't let you play truant again, I can 
 tell you. I've heard all about your doings from my friend 
 Warwick here so come along, come along ;" and seizing 
 her arm, without more ceremony he walked her off, while 
 Mr. Ribbons smirked and chuckled at the thoughts of having 
 her now in his power, as he fancied. Miles Sandgate, at 
 the same time, bowing to the ladies, and nodding to us in a 
 familiar way which verged upon cool impudence, followed 
 their steps. We all felt excessively annoyed at the scene ; 
 but far more regretted that so charming a girl should 
 be in the power of such a coarse barbarian as Mr. Bosley 
 appeared. 
 
 On our passage back to Cowes, Miss Granville told me 
 all she knew of Miss Manners. She was the daughter of a 
 Colonel Manners, who had gone out on some mining specu- 
 lation or other, to one of the South American States, but it
 
 118 THE CRUISE OP THE " FROLIC." 
 
 was believed that the ship which was conveying him to Eng- 
 land had foundered, with all hands, at sea. 
 
 He had left his daughter Emily under the charge of a 
 Mr. Eastway, a merchant of high standing, and a very gen- 
 tlemanly man. Mr. Eastway, who was the only person 
 cognizant of Colonel Manners' plans, died suddenly, and 
 Mr. Bosley, his partner, took charge of her and the little 
 property invested in his house for her support. She had 
 been at the same school with the Miss Granvilles, who there 
 formed a friendship for her which had rather increased than 
 abated after they grew up. This was the amount of the 
 information I could extract from them. She never com- 
 plained of her guardian to them ; but she was as well able 
 as they were to observe his excessive vulgarity, though 
 there was probably under it a kindliness of feeling which 
 in some degree compensated for it. Harcourt certainly did 
 his best to conceal the feelings with which he could not help 
 acknowledging to himself she had inspired him, and was 
 much pleased at hearing the Granvilles say that they in- 
 tended writing to her to propose joining her at Ryde on the 
 day of the regatta.
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 A LADY SPIRITED AWAY THE CHASE THE CONSEQUENCES. 
 
 IN the mean time Harcourt made daily trips to Hyde, and 
 promenaded the pier from one end to the other, and through 
 every street of the town, in the hope of meeting Miss Man- 
 ners, but in vain. He met Ribbons frequently, but of course 
 he could not inquire after her from him, and consequently 
 avoided him. Sandgate he encountered several times ; but 
 he had conceived such an antipathy to the man, as well as 
 a suspicion of his character, that, as O'Malley was not with 
 us, he did not think it necessary to recognize him. Har- 
 court felt all the time that he was not treating O'Malley and 
 me fairly in keeping about the island, and therefore prom- 
 ised to start on a long cruise directly after the regatta. The 
 first day of the regatta was cold, and blowing fresh, so none 
 of the ladies went. It was the schooner-match round the 
 island, when the little " Bianca " carried off the cup from 
 her huge competitors, though she came in last, so much 
 time being allowed for the difference of tonnage. The next 
 day of the regatta the weather was most propitious, and we 
 had the pleasure of meeting Miss Manners on the end of 
 the pier with Mr. Bosley, who saved Harcourt from inviting 
 him, by telling us that " if we would give him a hundred 
 pounds for every minute he was in that gimcrack-looking 
 boat, he wouldn't come. Let him have a steady-going 
 steamer, which didn't care for winds and tides." He made 
 no objection to Emily's accompanying us ; though little 
 
 119
 
 120 THE CRUISE OF THE " FKOLIC." 
 
 Ribbons coming up just as she was stepping into the boat, 
 reproached her for not visjting the " Dido " instead. 
 
 The sight was beautiful in the extreme ; for, independent 
 of the racing-vessels, hundreds of other yachts were sailing 
 about in every direction. The course also being round the 
 Nab light, and a similar light-vessel moored at the mouth 
 of the Southampton Water, the racing-yachts were the 
 whole time in sight of Ryde. The Royal Victoria Yacht 
 Club-house was decorated with banners, and from a battery 
 in front of it were fired the necessary signals and salutes, 
 while several yachts anchored off the pier-head were also 
 gayly decked with flags. In the afternoon the Queen came 
 from Osborne on board the " Fairy," amid the animated 
 scene, and made several wide circles; passing close to the 
 pier, and as she glided by, each vessel saluted with their 
 guns or lowered their flags. The whole day the " Dido " 
 had most perseveringly endeavored to follow us, and several 
 times we saw her nearly run foul of other vessels. At last, 
 as she passed the " Fairy," Ribbons, in a fit of enthusiastic 
 loyalty, I suppose, loaded his gun to the muzzle, and dis- 
 charged it directly at the steamer, the lighted wadding al- 
 most falling on board, while the recoil of the gun upset the 
 little man, who was looking with dismay at the effect of his 
 achievement. He was not hurt, however, for he picked 
 himself up, and managed to fire another wadding on board 
 the " Amethyst." The last we saw of him that day, he 
 was hard and fast on a mud-bank half-way between Ryde 
 and Cowes. Sandgate's vessel was also cruising about, and 
 passed us several times, though at a respectful distance ; but 
 I saw that his telescope was directed each time towards 
 Miss Manners. On a sudden it struck me that Griffiths 
 might possibly know something of the man, and I accord-
 
 A LADY SPIBITED AWAY. 121 
 
 ingly asked him, in a mere casual way, if he had ever seen 
 him before he came on board us? 
 
 " Why, yes, sir, I have seen him more than once," he 
 answered. " Maybe he don't recollect me, though we've 
 gone through some wild scenes together." 
 
 " How is that?" I asked, with surprise. 
 
 " Why, you see, sir, I've done something in the free-trade 
 line myself, I own, and he's lent me a hand at it." 
 
 " What ! you don't mean to say that Mr. Sandgate is a 
 smuggler ? " I asked. 
 
 " Yes, I do, sir, though, and many's the rich crop he's 
 run in that ere craft of his." 
 
 " Impossible ! why she's a yacht," I replied. 
 
 " No, sir, she's only a private vessel at the best, and if 
 
 she was a yacht, she's not the only one as . Howsom- 
 
 dever, I won't say any thing again yachts. It's the lookout 
 of the other members of the club that they don't smuggle, 
 and more's the shame of them who does." 
 
 " But I thought that smugglers were so bound together 
 that they would never speak against each other," I ob- 
 served. 
 
 " So they are, sir ; and though that Mr. Sandgate has no 
 reason to expect any favor from me, for reasons he well 
 knows, I wouldn't speak to anybody else of him as I do but 
 to you, or my master, because I don't think he's fit company 
 for such as you, sir, and that's the truth." 
 
 Thinking over what Griffiths had told me, I determined 
 in future to be on my guard against Sandgate. I, however, 
 did not repeat what I had heard to any one except Har- 
 court. In the afternoon we returned to Cowes, leaving Miss 
 Manners with the Granvilles. 
 
 Harcourt having promised to pay some friends a visit at 
 Torquay, the next morning we got under way, and, though
 
 122 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 the winds were light, we got there on the following day. 
 Taking all points into consideration, I think Torquay and 
 its surrounding scenery is the most beautiful part of Eng- 
 land. Our stay was short, for Harcourt was anxious to get 
 back to Cowes, as he had found metal more attractive than 
 even Devonshire could afford. 
 
 We reached Cowes late in the day, and after dinner went 
 to the Granvilles', for we were now on sufficiently intimate 
 terms to do so.. I missed Emily from their circle, and in- 
 quired if she was still staying with them. 
 
 " I am sorry to say that she left us suddenly yesterday 
 evening," answered Miss Granville. " It was almost dark 
 when a letter arrived from her guardian. It stated that he 
 had gone over to Portsmouth on business connected with 
 her affairs, and that when there he was taken dangerously 
 ill ; that something had transpired which he could alone 
 communicate to her, and he entreated her to come to him 
 without a moment's delay. The bearer of the letter was 
 Mr. Miles Sandgate, who, it appeared, had met Mr. Bosley 
 at Portsmouth, and volunteered to carry it, and to escort 
 Miss Manners back. Emily immediately prepared for her 
 departure, though she hesitated about accepting Mr. Sand- 
 gate's offer. "We also sent down to the quay to learn if 
 there was any steamer going to Portsmouth that evening, 
 but the last for the day had already left. Mr. Sandgate on 
 this requested Emily would allow his vessel to convey her, 
 observing, in the most courteous way, that he saw the diffi- 
 culties of the case, and would himself remain at Cowes till 
 his vessel returned, saying, at the same time, that he thought 
 he might be of service in escorting her to the hotel where 
 Mr. Bosley was lying ill. Mamma herself would have gone 
 with her, but she was unwell, and we girls should not much 
 have mended the matter. Mr. Sandgate all the time stood
 
 A LADY SPIRITED AWAY. 123 
 
 by, acknowledging that he himself was perplexed, and would 
 do any thing she wished ; till at last I bethought me of 
 sending our housekeeper, who was very ready to do her best 
 to serve Emily, and to this plan, as Mr. Sandgate is a friend 
 of yours as well as of Mr. Bosley's, Emily had no further 
 hesitation in agreeing. We walked with her down to the 
 quay, and saw her safely on board." 
 
 " And have you heard to-day from her?" I asked in a 
 tone of anxiety I could not conceal. 
 
 " No," answered Miss Granville ; "we though't she would 
 have written." 
 
 " Good heavens ! and has she trusted herself with that 
 man?" exclaimed Harcotirt. 
 
 Miss Granville stared. 
 
 " What do you mean?" she asked. 
 
 " That I have very serious suspicions of his character," 
 answered Harcourt. " I wish that she had taken any other 
 means of getting to Portsmouth : not that I for a moment 
 suspect he would not safely convey her there, but I am un- 
 willing that she should that any lady, a friend of yours, 
 should have even been on board that vessel." 
 
 " You surprise me ! " exclaimed Miss Granville, now be- 
 ginning to be really alarmed ; and I volunteered to run over 
 to Portsmouth at once, to inquire for Mr. Bosley, but she 
 had not heard the name of the hotel where he was staying. 
 
 " That shall not stop me," replied Harcourt. " I will 
 inquire at all of them till I learn." 
 
 She smiled at his eagerness, though, when he told her all 
 he had heard of Sandgate, she saw that he had reason for 
 his annoyance at what had occurred. We were engaged in 
 paying our adieus, when the house-bell rang, and directly 
 afterwards Mr. Warwick Ribbons was announced. Aston- 
 ishment was depicted on the countenances of all present, at
 
 124 THE CBUISE OP THE " FROLIC." 
 
 the appearance of this most unexpected visitor, and all won- 
 dered what could have brought him there again. He had, 
 by the by, already called in the morning to beg Miss Man- 
 ners and her friends would take a sail in the " Dido," but 
 hearing that she was no longer there, had gone away. He 
 gazed about the room, his round eyes blinking with the 
 bright light after having come out of darkness, and, with a 
 flourish of his hat, he bowed to the ladies. 
 
 "Beg pardon," he said, in a nervous tone; "but I've 
 come to ask where Miss Manners is." 
 
 " She has gone to see her guardian, Mr. Bosley, who 
 has been taken seriously ill at Portsmouth," answered Mrs. 
 Granville. 
 
 " No, she ain't, ma'am," he exclaimed, throwing his hat 
 down on the ground with vehemence ; " Mr. Bosley isn't ill, 
 and isn't at Portsmouth, and Miss Manners isn't with him, 
 for I'm just come from Ryde, and there I saw him as well 
 as ever he was in his life, and he begged that I would come 
 and ask what has become of her. Your servants this 
 morning told me that she wasn't here, so I made sure 
 that she'd gone back to Ryde, and started off to look after 
 her." 
 
 We were now seriously alarmed at what we had heard, 
 as were the rest of the party in a less degree. Nothing 
 more could we elicit from Mr. Ribbons, though Miss 
 Granville convinced him that the account she gave of Miss 
 Manners's departure was true, and it appeared too certain 
 that she had been carried off for some reason or other by 
 Miles Sandgate. I could have staked my existence that she 
 had been as much deceived by him as were her friends. 
 I need not attempt to describe what were Harcourt's feelings 
 pn finding that his worst suspicions were more than realized. 
 She was in Sandgate's power, and his vessel was large
 
 A LADY SPIRITED AWAY. 125 
 
 enough for him to carry her to any distant part of the world. 
 A bold and accomplished seaman as he was, he would not 
 hesitate, of course, to run across the Atlantic, and with the 
 start of upwards of twenty-four hours which he had, it would 
 be impossible to hope to overtake him, even if we could sail 
 at once ; but without a good supply of water and provisions, 
 it would be madness to attempt to follow him. This, how- 
 ever, as soon as by possibility we could, we determined to 
 do. Ribbons wanted to come also, but we recommended 
 him to employ his vessel in a different direction to ours ; 
 and while I was busy in collecting provisions and stores, 
 Harcourt made inquiries among all the boatmen and revenue 
 people to learn any thing about the " Rover," and what 
 course she had steered on leaving Cowes. The wind, it ap- 
 peared, had been from the eastward, and as the tide was 
 ebbing, she must have gone to the westward, and could not 
 have got round by the Nab. At first he could learn nothing 
 about her ; but after some time he met a man who had 
 watched her getting under way, and, after she had stood 
 across as if turning up towards Portsmouth, had seen her, 
 or a vessel exactly like her, keep away and run past Cowes, 
 in the direction he supposed. One of the revenue-men, who 
 had been on duty in the guard-boat, had boarded her, and 
 her people said they were bound for Cherbourg. Harcourt 
 found, also, that her character was suspected, and that a 
 revenue-cutter was on the watch for her. This circum- 
 stance, he conjectured, if he could fall in with the cutter, 
 would give him the best chance of learning the course she 
 had steered. I believe that he ought to have called in the 
 aid of the law, but of that he did not think ; as soon as he 
 found that he could gain no further information about the 
 " Rover," he came to assist us in getting the " Amethyst" 
 ready for sea. We also shipped six additional hands, and
 
 126 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 some cutlasses and pistols, for we felt certain that, should 
 we fall in with Sandgatc at sea, he would resist an attempt 
 to rescue Emily from his power. By twelve 'o'clock at night 
 our preparations were completed, and we determined, in the 
 first place, to run across to Cherbourg, on the bare possi- 
 bility of his having gone there, to complete his own supplies 
 for a long voyage. At the same time, we dispatched little 
 Ribbons in the " Dido," to look into every port, along the 
 coast, and to wait for us at Penzance. Miss Granville, with 
 much judgment, undertook to send to every place to the 
 eastward, and to let Mr. Bosley know, that he might take 
 the proper measures to search for the daring scoundrel. I 
 need not say that Harcourt was in a perfect fever of excite- 
 ment, and we were little less calm, particularly O'Malley, 
 whose indignation at Sandgate's conduct knew no bounds, 
 especially as he had acknowledged him as an acquaintance, 
 and introduced him to Harcourt. 
 
 Little Ribbons showed that there was something good 
 beneath the mass of absurdity, vanity, and vulgarity which 
 enveloped him, by the eagerness with which he undertook 
 the task we had assigned him ; although he must have been 
 pretty well convinced that he had no chance of winning the 
 hand of the young lady, and we verily believed that, should 
 he fall in with Sandgate, he would attack him, even with 
 the fearful odds he would have against him. The weather 
 was clear, and the stars and moon shone bright from the 
 sky, as, with a fine fresh breeze from the eastward, and an 
 ebb tide, we got under way and ran through the Needles. 
 We then hauled up, and shaped a course for Cherbourg, for 
 we had no other clew by which to steer than the vague 
 report that the " Rover" had gone there. We thought also 
 that Sandgate would very probably have selected that place, 
 as being the nearest French port to the English coast, and
 
 THE CHASE. 127 
 
 one into which he might at all times run, and from which 
 he might as easily escape. For the sake of his victim he 
 would probably go there, in the hopes that she might agree 
 to the object, whatever it might be, which had induced him 
 to venture on the atrocious exploit of carrying her off. We 
 had understood that she was an almost portionless girl, so 
 that her fortune could not have been the temptation : in fact, 
 we were completely in the dark, and it was a subject too 
 delicate and painful to discuss. 
 
 The wind held fair, and at daybreak we were running 
 across the Channel at the rate of eight knots an hour. 
 Just before sunrise, when the horizon is often the clearest, 
 I went aloft to discover if any vessels coming from the 
 direction we were steering for were in sight, to give me any 
 information for the chase, but not a sail' was visible any- 
 where ahead of us, though several were seen off u.j island. 
 For the next three or four hours not a cutter was seen, 
 though many square-rigged vessels were standing down 
 Channel. Almost worn out with mental and physical exer- 
 tion, Harcourt threw himself into his berth, while I took 
 charge of the deck, and promised to have him called should 
 there be any vessel in sight either like the chase or from 
 which we might gain any information about her. He had 
 not been asleep an hour, when he heard a hail, and jumping 
 on deck, just as O'Malley was coming to call him, he found 
 that we were hove-to close to a revenue cutter, and that I 
 had ordered a boat to be lowered ready to go on board her. 
 He jumped in with me, and in another minute we were on 
 the deck of the cutter. Her commander was excessively 
 courteous, and ready to do every thing we might propose to 
 overhaul the " Rover." From him I found that the infor- 
 mation I had gained about Sandgate was correct ; and he 
 told us that, according to his orders, he had followed the
 
 128 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 "Rover" at a distance, so as not to excite suspicion, and 
 that he had seen her yesterday afternoon enter Cherbourg 
 Harbor, where, supposing she would remain for some time, 
 he had again stood off during the night. 
 
 " Then to a certainty she is still there ! " exclaimed 
 Hai'court, in a tone which somewhat surprised the officer. 
 
 The plan he instantly formed was to run in directly it was 
 dusk, while the cutter remained in the offing, and to get 
 alongside the " Rover " before Sandgate could have time to 
 carry Miss Manners on shore. We thus should not lose 
 much time, for the wind had fallen considerably, and we 
 could scarcely expect to reach the mouth of the harbor be- 
 fore dark. The best formed plans are, however, liable to 
 failure, particularly at sea ; and as we got well in with the 
 land, just put off Point Querqueville, it fell almost calm. 
 There was still, however, a light air at times, which sent 
 the cutter through the water, so that by degrees we drew in 
 with the shore. We must have been for some time visible 
 from the heights before it grew dark. The flood-tide was 
 now sweeping us up to the eastward, and before we could get 
 through the western passage we were carried past the break- 
 water. The large fires lighted by the workmen engaged on 
 that stupendous work dazzled our eyes so much, that we 
 were almost prevented from seeing the entrance, and they 
 totally disabled us from watching the western passage. At 
 last, however, the wind freshened up, and we ran inside the 
 breakwater. The moon had by this time risen, and we 
 could see across that fine sheet of water, which, in extent 
 and the shelter it affords to a fleet, rivals Plymouth Sound. 
 Harcourt's impatience was excessive. We did not anchor ; 
 but as there was a light wind we kept cruising about among 
 the men-of-war and large steamers lying there, in the hopes 
 of finding the " Rover" brought up among them. In vain,
 
 THE CHASE. 129 
 
 howover, did we search ; she was nowhere to be seen. At 
 last we determined to go on shore, and endeavor to learn 
 whether the " Rover " had been there at all. Pulling up 
 between two fine stone piers, we landed at the end of the 
 inner harbor, and repaired at once to the house of Monsieur 
 
 M , who obligingly assisted us in making the inquiries 
 
 I desired. After some time we met a person who asserted 
 that he had observed the " Rover " at anchor that very 
 evening. 
 
 " Even with this light you can see her from the end of 
 the pier," he observed ; " come, I will show you where 
 she is." 
 
 We hurried to the spot, but the space where she had been 
 was vacant. That she had not entered the inner harbor, 
 
 Monsieur M was certain, as she could not have come 
 
 without his knowledge. Baffled, but still determined to 
 continue the pursuit, we returned on board ; and I was con- 
 vinced that we had been seen from the shore before dark, 
 and that Sandgate, suspecting we had come in quest of him, 
 had slipped out by the western entrance while we were still 
 outside the breakwater. 
 
 On making inquiries among other vessels anchored near 
 where the " Rover" had lain, we found that, as we suspected, 
 a vessel answering her description had got under way at the 
 very time we supposed, and had stood off to the westward. 
 After holding another consultation, we came to the conclu- 
 sion that Sandgate would certainly avoid the open sea, and 
 keep along the French coast, and we thought it probable 
 would make for Jersey or Guernsey. At all events, thither 
 we determined to run. Again we were under sail, and by 
 the time we got clear of the harbor the wind had shifted 
 round to the westward of north, and as the ebb had then 
 made, we suspected Sandgate would take advantage of the 
 
 9
 
 130 THE CKUISE OF THE "FKOLIC.' 
 
 . tide, and run through the Race of Alderney. We calcu- 
 lated, however, that by the time we could reach it, we should 
 have the full force of that rapid current in our favor, whereas 
 he would only have the commencement of it. No one on 
 board turned in, for the weather was too threatening, the 
 passage we were about to attempt too dangerous, and the 
 time too exciting, to allow us to think of sleep. 
 
 As we brought the bright light of Cape La Hogue a little 
 before the larboard beam, the wind increased considerably, 
 and we began to feel the short, broken sea of the Race. 
 Every moment it increased ; rapidly the water rose and fell 
 in white-topped pyramids, leaping high above our bulwarks, 
 and threatening to tumble on board and overwhelm us with 
 its weight. The hatches were battened down and every 
 thing well secured on deck ; and well it was so, for sea after 
 sea came leaping over the side, now on the quarter, then 
 over the bows, and now again amidships. It was impossi- 
 ble to say where it would strike the vessel, for not the best 
 steering could avoid it ; yet on we flew with the fast rising 
 breeze, rolling and pitching and tumbling, the water foam- 
 ing and roaring, and literally drenching us with spray even 
 when we avoided the heavier seas. The moon, too, which 
 shone forth on the wild tumult of waters, rather increased 
 the awfulness of the scene, by exhibiting to us the dangers 
 which surrounded us on every side ; yet so clear were the 
 lights, both of La Hogue on the left and the Casketts on 
 the right, that we had no difficulty in steering our course. 
 The dark outline of the small island of Sark at last appeared 
 in sight on the starboard beam, and in order to avoid the 
 wild shoal of the Dirouilles Rocks, towards which the early 
 flood sets, we hauled up more to the westward. 
 
 Still urged onward by the terrific force of the tide, we 
 continued plunging through the mad waters, till daybreak
 
 THE CHASE. 131 
 
 showed us the Island of Jersey right ahead, and Guernsey 
 on our weather beam. So strong was the current, however, 
 that we had drifted considerably to the east, and in the gray 
 light of the morning, not a cable's length from us, appeared 
 the dark heads of the Dirouilles, while on the starboard 
 hand the sea, in masses of foam, was breaking over the 
 equally terrific rocks of the Paternosters. The wind had now 
 got so far to the westward, and the tide set so strong against 
 us, that finding we were drifting bodily to leeward, we 
 ran close in shore, and dropped our anchor in a romantic 
 little cove called Bouley Bay, on the north-east coast of 
 Jersey. There was a narrow sandy beach, on which a few 
 boats were drawn up, and a narrow ravine leading down to 
 it, while on either side lofty cliffs towered high above our 
 heads. On the side of the ravine was situated a small 
 hotel, the master of which came off to us as soon as he saw 
 us standing into the bay. 
 
 To the first question I put to him, as to whether he had 
 seen any vessel off the coast that morning, he told us that 
 at break of day he had been to the top of the cliffs, and 
 had observed a cutter standing between the Paternosters 
 and the land, and that he thought it probable she would be 
 able to double Cape Grosnez before the tide made against 
 her, in which case she would have little difficulty in getting 
 round to St. Helier's, if she happened to be bound there. 
 
 " If she is, we shall catch her to a certainty," exclaimed 
 O'Malley ; and he forthwith volunteered to go across the 
 island to try what he could do ; and I proposed accompany- 
 ing him, as I thought I might be of assistance in getting 
 hold of Sandgate. Of course Harcourt gladly assented to 
 our offer, although he determined himself to remain in the 
 vessel. 
 
 I have not described Harcourt's feelings all this time
 
 132 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 his hopes and fears, his eager excitement, as he thought the 
 " Rover " was within his reach his dread lest his Emily 
 should have suffered injury or alarm they were too in- 
 tense for utterance. 
 
 As soon as the " Amethyst " had made sail, O'Malley and 
 I started away across the little island as fast as our legs 
 could carry us. We should have hired horses or a carriage, 
 but none were to be procured at the quiet little spot where 
 we landed, so we resolved to trust to our own feet, of which 
 we had by no means lost the use, as the way we made them 
 move over the ground gave full evidence. As soon as we 
 reached St. Helier's, we hurried down to the pier, when, to our 
 infinite satisfaction, we beheld the " Rover " at anchor in the 
 outer roads. We immediately hurried off to the authorities 
 to give information, and to procure assistance to rescue Miss 
 Manners. On our way we suddenly came upon the villain 
 of whom we were in search, Sandgate himself. Some- 
 thing made him turn round, and he caught sight of us. 
 Without a moment's hesitation he darted off towards the 
 quay, where a boat was in waiting, and jumping into her, 
 pulled towards the cutter. He had every reason to fear, we 
 learned ; for on his appearance in the morning he had been 
 narrowly watched by the revenue officers, who suspected 
 that some smuggling business had attracted him to the island. 
 Such in fact was the case, as he had gone there to settle with 
 his agents, and to procure certain stores before he commenced 
 the long voyage he contemplated, little thinking that we 
 should so soon have been able to track him thither. Before 
 we had been able to engage a boat he had got on board, and 
 the " Rover " was under way for the westward. I have an 
 idea that some of the boatmen were in league with him. At 
 all events, they seemed to think that it was their business to 
 impede us as much as possible, and to do their best to help
 
 THE CHASE 133 
 
 the hunted fox to escape. Such a feeling is very general 
 among that class. The more eagerness and impatience we 
 exhibited, the more difficulties they threw in our way ; and 
 it was not till the " Rover" was well clear of the harbor, 
 and pursuit hopeless, that we could obtain a boat. We got 
 one at last, and jumping into it, asked the men to pull away 
 out of the harbor. Much to their vexation and to our satis- 
 faction, we in a short time caught sight of our friend's cutter. 
 She had just got off Elizabeth Castle, which stands on a 
 rocky point, isolated at high water from the mainland. She 
 hove-to, and in a few minutes we jumped on board, and gave 
 Harcourt the information we had obtained on shore, and 
 pointed out in the distance a sail which we had little doubt 
 was the " Rover." 
 
 Harcourt then told us that after we had started overland, 
 he had remained two hours at anchor, and then shipping an 
 old pilot, in a Welsh wig, who only spoke Jersey French 
 the oddist patois he ever heard he got under way for St. 
 Helier's. The " Amethyst" beat along that rocky and lofty 
 coast, inside the Paternosters, till she rounded Cape Grosnez 
 which, as she had had a fresh breeze, she had done with- 
 out much difficulty. She was then kept away, passing the 
 rugged and threatening rocks of the Corbiere, rounding 
 which with a flowing sheet, she was headed in among an 
 archipelago of hidden dangers towards the town of St. He- 
 lier's. As they were passing the Corbiere, Harcourt ob- 
 served a cutter standing away to the westward, as if she 
 had come out of St. Aubin's Bay. He pointed her out to 
 Griffiths, but she was too far off to distinguish what she 
 was, and he was unwilling to make chase till we had as- 
 certained whether Sandgate had been there. He accordingly 
 stood on, eager to receive our report. 
 
 Our first act was to tumble the pilot into the shore-boat,
 
 134 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 and make chase after the cutter Harcourt had before ob- 
 served. She had a very long start, but we trusted to the 
 chances the winds and tides might afford us to come up with 
 her yet we could not but see that she had many more in 
 her favor to aid her escape. There were, however, still 
 some hours of daylight, and as long as we could keep her in 
 sight, we need not despair. From the course she was steer- 
 ing, as much to the westward as she could lay up with the 
 wind as it then stood, we felt certain that our worst sus- 
 picions would be realized, and that Sandgate fully intended 
 to run across to America, or to some other distant land. 
 
 Never had the "Amethyst" before carried such a press 
 of sail as she now staggered under ; but little would it have 
 availed us had the wind, which came in uncertain currents, 
 not shifted round to the northward, while the " Rover" still 
 had the breeze as before. It continued, however, increas- 
 ing till we could no longer bear our gaff-topsail, and so 
 much had we overhauled the chase, that, at sundown, we 
 were within two miles of her. Now came the most critical 
 time ; as before the moon rose it would scarcely be possible 
 to keep her in sight, and Sandgate would not fail to profit 
 by the darkness if he could, to effect his escape he, also, 
 having the wind exactly as we had it, now sailed as fast as 
 we did. So exciting had become the chase, even to those 
 least interested in it, that every man kept the deck, and with 
 so many well-practised eyes, Argus-like, fixed on her, any 
 movement she made would scarcely escape us. The sky was 
 clear, and the stars shone bright, but the wind whistled 
 shrilly, and the foam flew over us, as the little craft, heel- 
 ing over on her gunwale, plunged and tore through the foam- 
 ing and tumbling waves. Thus passed hour after hour. If 
 the " Rover" hauled up, so did we ; if she kept away, the 
 movement was instantly seen and followed by us, though all
 
 THE CHASE. 135 
 
 the time, as O'Malley observed, he could not, for the life of 
 him, make out any thing but a dark shadow with a scarcely 
 defined form stalking like an uneasy ghost before us ; as to 
 know what she was about, it passed his comprehension how 
 we discovered it. That she was, however, increasing her 
 distance we became at length aware, by the difficulty we ex- 
 perienced in seeing her, and at last the shadowy form faded 
 into air. 
 
 Every one on board uttered an exclamation of disappoint- 
 ment, and some swore deeply, if not loudly. 
 
 " Can no one make her out?" Harcourt asked. 
 
 The seamen peered through the darkness. 
 
 " There she is on the weather-bow," sung out one. 
 
 " I think I see her right ahead still," said another. 
 
 " No : I'm blowed if that ain't her on the lee-bow there," 
 was the exclamation of a third. 
 
 One thing only was certain, she was not to be seen. We 
 determined, however, to keep the same course we had been 
 before steering, and as the moon would rise shortly, we 
 trusted again to sight her. The intervening hour was one 
 of great anxiety ; and when, at last, the crescent moon, 
 rising from her watery bed, shed her light upon the ocean, 
 we looked eagerly for the chase. Right ahead there ap- 
 peared a sail, but what she was it was impossible to say ; 
 she might be the " Rover," or she might be a perfect 
 stranger. On still we steered due west, for, although we 
 felt that our chance of overtaking Sandgate was slight in- 
 deed, yet our only hope remained in keeping a steady 
 course. Thus we continued all night ; and the moment the 
 first streaks of light appeared in the sky, Harcourt was at 
 the mast-head eagerly looking out for the chase. Far as 
 the eye could reach, not a sail was to be seen ; there was no 
 sign of land, nothing was visible but the gray sky and the
 
 136 THE CRUISE OF THE " FEOLIC." 
 
 leadcolored water. Still Harcourt remained at his post, for 
 he dared not acknowledge to himself that Emily was lost to 
 him for ever. In vain he strained his eyes, till the sun rose 
 and cast his beams along the ocean. A white object 
 glistened for a moment ahead ; it might have been the wing 
 of a sea-fowl, but as he watched, there it remained, and he 
 felt certain that it was the head of a cutter's mainsail. 
 Taking the bearings of the sail, he descended on deck, and, 
 as a last hope, steered towards it, sending a hand on the 
 cross-trees to watch her movements. The wind fortunately, 
 as it proved to us, was variable, and thus we again neared 
 the chase. As we rose her hull, Griffiths pronounced her to 
 be of the size of the "Rover," if not the "Rover" herself. 
 
 " Well, we'll do our best to overhaul her," I exclaimed ; 
 " set the gaff-topsail. The craft must bear it." 
 
 And, pressed to her utmost, the little " Amethyst " tore 
 through the foaming waves. Thus we went on the whole 
 day, till towards the evening the chase again ran us com- 
 pletely out of sight. The wind, also, was falling away, 
 and at sundown there was almost a complete calm. Still 
 the vessel had steerage-way, so we kept the same course as 
 before. At length I threw myself on a sofa in the cabin. 
 I know not how long I had slept, when I was awoke by 
 feeling the yacht once more springing livelily through the 
 water. I jumped on deck without awaking O'Malley, who 
 was on the opposite sofa. The morning was just breaking, 
 and, by the faint light of the early dawn, I perceived a large 
 dark object floating at some distance ahead of us. 
 
 "What is that?" I exclaimed to Griffiths, who had 
 charge of the deck. 
 
 "A dismasted ship, sir," was the answer. "I have 
 seen her for some time, and as she lay almost in our course,
 
 THE CHASE. 137 
 
 I steered for her, as I thought as how you'd like to overhaul 
 her, sir." 
 
 " You did well," I answered. " Rouse all hands, and see 
 a boat clear for boarding her. But what is that away there 
 just beyond the wreck? By heavens, it's the ' Rover/ and 
 becalmed too. Grant the wind may not reach her ! " 
 
 Awoke by hearing the people called, Harcourt and 
 O'Malley were by my side. I pointed out the wreck and 
 the cutter to them. 
 
 " "Well," exclaimed O'Malley, " the big ship there may 
 still float, but the breeze which has been sending us along, 
 may at last reach the sails of the ' Rover ; ' so T propose 
 we make sure of her first." 
 
 . To our joy, however, we found that the wind, instead of 
 reaching her, was gradually falling away, and by the time 
 we were up with the wreck, the sea was as calm as a sheet 
 of glass. We were in hopes also that keeping, as we 
 had done, the wreck between us and the " Rover," we 
 might have escaped observation, and in the gray light of 
 morning we might come upon her unawares. There were 
 several people on board the ship, who cheered as they saw 
 assistance at hand ; and reason they had to be glad, for from 
 the clear streams of water which gushed from her sides, 
 they had evidently great labor to keep her afloat. No time 
 was to be lost, the gig was soon in the water, and Harcourt, 
 O'Malley, and I, with eight men fully armed, pulled towards 
 the " Rover," while old Griffiths, the master, boarded the 
 ship in the other boat. My friend's heart beat quick as we 
 neared the cutter. She was the " Rover," there was no 
 doubt, but whether Sandgate would attempt to defend his 
 vessel was the question. A moment more would solve it. 
 We dashed alongside ; the men, stowed away in the bottom 
 of the boat, sprang up, and before the crew of the " Rover"
 
 138 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 had time to defend themselves, we were on board. Except 
 the man at the helm and the look-out forward, the watch on 
 deck were all asleep, and those two, as it afterwards ap- 
 peared, were glad to see us approach. The noise awoke 
 Sandgate, who, springing on deck, found himself confronted 
 by O'Malley and me, while half his crew were in the power 
 of my people, and the fore-hatch was battened over the rest. 
 A pistol he had seized in his hurry was in his hand ; he 
 pointed it at my breast, but it missed fire ; on finding which, 
 he dashed it down on the deck, and before we could seize 
 him, retreated forward, where some of his crew rallied 
 round him. With fear and hope alternately racking his 
 bosom, Harcourt hurried below. He pronounced his own. 
 name ; the old nurse opened the door of the main cabin a 
 fair girl was on her knees at prayer. She sprang up, and. 
 seeing him, forgetful of all else, fell weeping in his arms. I 
 shall pass over all she told him, except that Sandgate had be- 
 haved most respectfully to her, informing her, however, that 
 he should take her to the United States, where she must con- 
 sent to marry him, and that, on their return to England, he 
 would put her in possession of a large fortune, to which by 
 some means he had discovered she was heiress, and which 
 had induced him to run off with her. It was, I afterwards 
 learned, his last stake, as the reduction of duties no longer 
 enabled him to make a profit by smuggling ; and as he had 
 no other means of supporting his extravagant habits, he was 
 a ruined man. 
 
 Sandgate's people seemed resolved to stand by him, but 
 not to proceed to extremities, or to offer any opposition to 
 our carrying off Miss Manners and her attendant. He 
 evidently was doing all he could to induce them to support 
 him ; and I believe, had he possessed the power, he would, 
 without the slightest compunction, have hove us all over-
 
 THE RESULT OF THE CHASE. 139 
 
 board, and carried off his prize in spite of us. As it was, 
 he could do nothing but gnash his teeth and scowl at us with 
 unutterable hatred. Handing the young lady and the old 
 nurse into the boat, we pulled away from the " Rover." Of 
 course, we should have wished to have secured Sandgate ; 
 but as we had come away without any legal authority to at- 
 tempt so doing, we saw that it would be wiser to allow him 
 to escape. We should probably have overpowered him and 
 his lawless crew, but then the females might have been hurt 
 in the scuffle, and we were too glad to recover them unin- 
 jured to think at the moment of the calls of justice. 
 
 What was our surprise, as Harcourt handed her on to the 
 deck of the yacht, to see her rush forward into the arms of 
 an old gentleman who stood by the companion-hatch. 
 
 " My own Emily ! " he exclaimed, as he held her to his 
 heart. 
 
 It was Colonel Manners. 
 
 " My father ! " burst from her lips. 
 
 A young lady was reclining on the hatch near him ; she 
 rose as she saw Emily, and they threw themselves on each 
 other's neck. 
 
 " My sister ! " they both exclaimed, and tears of joy 
 started to their eyes. 
 
 There were several other strangers on board, who, by 
 Griffiths' exertions, had been removed from the wreck. 
 Our boats were busily employed in removing the others, for 
 there was no time to lose, as the ship was settling fast in 
 the water. All the people being placed in safety, we pro- 
 ceeded to remove the articles of greatest value and smallest 
 bulk on board the two vessels, which became then very 
 much loaded, when, a breeze springing up, another sail 
 hove in sight : she bore down towards us, and, in a short 
 time, the little fat figure of Mr. Warwick Ribbons graced
 
 140 THE CKUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 the deck of the " Amethyst." His delight at seeing Emily 
 in safety was excessive, but, though he looked sentimental, 
 he said nothing ; and, when he heard that the colonel was 
 alive, and that there was another sister in the case, his face 
 elongated considerably. From motives of charity, I hurried 
 him, with several of the passengers and part of the cargo, 
 on board the " Dido," and the three vessels made sail 
 together for Falmouth. Just as we were leaving the ship, 
 a deep groan issued from her hold, and, her head inclin- 
 ing towards the water, she slowly glided down into the 
 depths of the ocean. Landing all our passengers at Fal- 
 mouth, except the colonel and his daughters, we had a 
 quick run to Cowes. Colonel Manners established his 
 claim to his property. O'Malley had made such good use 
 of his time during the voyage, that he won the heart and 
 hand of Julia Manners ; while, as may be suspected, Emily 
 owned, that if Harcourt loved her, their affection was re- 
 ciprocal ; and the same day saw them joined respectively 
 together in holy matrimony. 
 
 Such was the result of my friend Harcourt's summer 
 cruise, and I think you will all agree that the narrative is 
 not altogether unworthy of the name of a romance. The last 
 time I saw little Ribbons he was on board the " Dido," which 
 lay high and dry on the mud off Eyde, and I afterwards heard 
 that he married a Miss Bosley, who, I conclude, was a 
 daughter of old Bosley's. 
 
 " And what became of the rascal Sandgate?" exclaimed 
 Hearty ; "by Neptune ! I should like to come up with the 
 fellow, and to lay my craft alongside his till I had blown her 
 out of the water. Fancy a scoundrel in the nineteenth cen- 
 tury venturing to run off with a young lady ! " We laughed 
 at his vehemence. Hearty always spoke under a generous 
 impulse.
 
 SEAMEN'S YAKNS. 141 
 
 " Oh, it's not the first case of the sort I have heard of," 
 said Carstairs ; " more than one has occurred within the 
 last few years in Ireland ; but I agree with Hearty, that I 
 should like to catch Mr. Sandgate, for the sake of giving 
 him a good thrashing. Though I hadn't the pleasure of 
 knowing Miss Manners, every man of honor should take a 
 satisfaction in punishing such a scoundrel." Bubble and 
 Porpoise responded heartily to the sentiment, and so strong 
 a hold did the account take of the minds of all the party, 
 that we talked ourselves into the idea that it would be our 
 lot to fall in with Sandgate, and to inflict the punishment he 
 had before escaped. "Will Bubble had taken an active part 
 in fitting out the yacht, and in selecting most of the crew ; 
 he consequently was on rather more intimate terms with 
 them than the rest of us ; not that it was the intimacy which 
 breeds contempt, but he took' a kindly interest in their wel- 
 fare, and used to talk to them about their families, and the 
 past incidents of their lives. Indeed, under a superficial 
 coating of frivolity and egotism, I discovered that Bubble 
 possessed a warm and generous heart, fully alive to the 
 calls of humanity. I do not mean to say that the coating 
 was not objectionable ; he would have been by far a supe- 
 rior character without it. Indeed, perhaps all I ought to say 
 is, that he was capable of better things than those in which 
 he too generally employed his time. He returned aft one 
 day from a visit forward, and told us he had discovered that 
 several of the men were first-rate yarn-spinners. *' The 
 master," said he, " seems a capital hand ; but old Sleet 
 beats all the others hollow. If it would not be subversive 
 of all discipline, I wish you would come forward and hear 
 them in the forecastle as one caps the other's tale with some- 
 thing more wonderful still." 
 
 " I don't think that would quite do," said Hearty ; " if we
 
 142 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 could catch them on deck spinning their yarns, it would be 
 very well. But, at all events, I will invite Snow, into the 
 cabin and consult him." 
 
 "According to Hearty's proposal, he invited Snow down. 
 " Mr. Snow," said Hearty, " we hear that some of the peo- 
 ple forward are not bad hands at spinning yarns, and, if you 
 could manage it, we should be glad to hear them, but it 
 would never do to send for them aft for the purpose." 
 
 " You are right, sir, they would become tongue-tied to a 
 certainty," answered Snow ; "just let me alone, and I will 
 manage to catch some of them in the humor. Several of 
 them have been engaged, one time or another, in the free- 
 trade, and have some curious things to tell about it." 
 
 " But I thought smuggling had been knocked on the head 
 long ago," observed Hearty. 
 
 " Oh, no, sir ! of late years a very considerable blow has 
 been struck against it ; but even now some people find 
 inducements to follow it," answered the master. " I found 
 it out to be a bad trade many years ago, and very few of 
 those I know who still carry it on do more than live, and 
 live very badly too ; some of them spending many a month 
 out of the year in prison, and that is not where an honest 
 man would wish to be." 
 
 However, I have undertaken to chronicle the adventures 
 of the " Frolic," and of those who dwelt on board her, so 
 that I must not devote too much of our time to the yarns, 
 funs, witticisms, and anecdotes and good sayings with which 
 we banished any thing like tedium during our voyage. No 
 blue devils could stand for an instant such powerful exor- 
 cisms. 
 
 It was not, however, till some time after this that we 
 benefited by Snow's inquiries among the crew.
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE " FROLIC " IN A GALE, IN WHICH THE FROLICKERS SEE 
 
 NO FUN A SAIL IN SIGHT HER FATE AN UNEXPECTED 
 
 INCREASE TO THE CREW BUBBLE SHOWS THAT HE CAN 
 
 THINK AND FEEL INTELLIGENCE OBTAINED. 
 
 " WHAT sort of weather are we going to have, Snow ? " 
 asked Hearty, as we came on deck after dinner one after- 
 noon, when the cutter was somewhere about the middle of 
 the Bay of Biscay. 
 
 " Dirty, sir, dirty ! " was the unenlivening answer, as the 
 old master looked with one eye to windward, which just then 
 was the south-west. In that direction thick clouds were 
 gathering rapidly together, and hurrying headlong towards 
 us, like, as Carstairs observed, "a band of fierce barbarians, 
 rushing like a torrent down upon the plain." The sea grew 
 darker and darker in hue, and then flakes of foam, white as 
 the driven snow, blew off from the hitherto smooth surface 
 of the ocean. The sea rose higher and higher, and the cut- 
 ter, close hauled, began to pitch into, them with an uneasy 
 motion, subversive of the entire internal economy of lands- 
 men. 
 
 "The sooner we get the canvas off her the better, now, 
 sir," said Snow to Porpoise, who had come on deck after 
 calculating our exact position on the charts. 
 
 "As soon as you like," was the answer. "We shall have 
 to heave-to, I suspect ; but that little matters, as we have 
 plenty of sea-room out here, and she may dance away for a 
 fortnight with the helm a-lee, and come to no harm." 
 
 143
 
 144 THE CRUISE OF THE " FKOLIC." 
 
 The topmast was struck ; the jib was taken in, and a 
 storm-jib set ; the foresail was handed, and the mainsail 
 meantime was closely reefed. Relieved for a time, she 
 breasted the seas more easily ; but the wind had not yet 
 reached its strength. Before nightfall down came the gale 
 upon us with all its fury ; the cutter heeled over to it as she 
 dashed wildly through the waves. 
 
 " The sooner we get the mainsail altogether off her the 
 better, sir," said Snow. This was accordingly done, and 
 the trysail was set instead, and the helm lashed a-lee. 
 
 " There ; we are as snug and comfortable as possible," 
 exclaimed Porpoise, as the operation was completed. 
 " Now all hands may turn in and go to sleep till the gale is 
 over." 
 
 The landsmen looked rather blue. 
 
 " Very funny notion this of comfort ! " exclaimed Car- 
 stairs, who had the worst seagoing inside of any of the party. 
 " Oh, oh, oh ! is it far from the shore ? " 
 
 " Couldn't get there, sir, if any one was to offer ten thou- 
 sand guineas," said Snow. "We are better as we are, sir, 
 out here by very far." 
 
 The cutter, which in Cowes Harbor people spoke of as 
 a fine large craft, now looked and felt very like a mere 
 cockle-shell, as she pitched and tumbled about amid the 
 mighty waves of the Atlantic. 
 
 "Don't you feel very small, Carstairs?" exclaimed 
 Hearty, as he sat convulsively grasping the sides of the sofa 
 in the cabin. 
 
 " Yes, faith, I do," answered the gentle giant, who lay 
 stretched out opposite to him. " Never felt so very little 
 since I was a baby in long-clothes. I say, Porpoise, I 
 thought you told me that the Bay of Biscay was always 
 smooth at this time of the year."
 
 HEAVE-TO IN THE BAY OP BISCAY. 145 
 
 " So it should be," replied our fat captain. " No rule 
 without an exception though ; but never mind, it will soon 
 roll itself quiet ; and then the cutter will do her best to make 
 up for lost time." 
 
 The person evidently most at his ease was Will Bubble. 
 Blow high or blow low, it seemed all the same to him ; he 
 sang and whistled away as happily as ever. 
 
 " Oh, oh, oh ! you jolly dog, don't mock us in our mis- 
 ery ! " exclaimed Carstairs with a groan. 
 
 " On no account," answered Will, with a demure look. 
 " I'll betake myself to the deck, and smoke my weed in 
 quiet." 
 
 On deck lie went, and seated himself on the companion- 
 hatch, where he held on by a becket secured for the purpose ; 
 but as to smoking a cigar, that was next to an impossibility, 
 for the wind almost blew the leaves into a flame. I was 
 glad to go on deck, also ; for the skylights being battened 
 down made the cabin somewhat close. The cutter rode like 
 a wild fowl over the heavy seas, which, like dark walls 
 crested with 'foam, came rolling up as if they would ingulf 
 her. Just as one with threatening aspect approached her, 
 she would lift her bows with a spring, and anon it would be 
 found that she had sidled up to the top of it. 
 
 It was a Avild scene to a landsman it must have ap- 
 peared particularly so. The dark, heavy clouds close over- 
 head ; the leaden seas, not jumping and leaping as in shal- 
 low waters, but rising and falling, Avith majestic deliberation, 
 in mountain masses, forming deep valleys and lofty ridges, 
 from the summits of which, high above our heads, the foam 
 was blown off in sheets of snowy whiteness with a hissing 
 sound, interrupted by the loud flop of the seas as they 
 dashed together. 
 
 We were not the only floating thing within the compass 
 10
 
 146 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 of vision. Far away I could see to windward, as the cutter 
 rose to the top of a sea, the canvas of a craft as we were 
 hove-to. She was a small schooner, and though we un- 
 doubtedly were as unsteady as she was, it seemed impossi- 
 ble, from the way she was tumbling about, that any thing 
 could hold together on board her. 
 
 I had rejoined the party in the cabin, when an exclama- 
 tion from Bubble called us all on deck. 
 
 " The schooner has bore up, and is running down directly 
 for us ! " he exclaimed. 
 
 So it was ; and in hot haste she seemed indeed. 
 
 " Something'is the matter on board that craft," said Por- 
 poise, who had been looking at her through his glass. " Yes, 
 she has a signal of distress flying." 
 
 " The Lord have mercy on the hapless people on board, 
 then ! " said I. " Small is the help we or any one else can 
 afford them." 
 
 " If we don't look out, she'll be aboard us, sir," sung out 
 Snow. " To my mind, she's sprung a leak, and the people 
 aboard are afraid she'll go down." 
 
 " Stand by to make sail on the cutter ; and put the helm 
 up," cried Porpoise. " We must not let her play us that 
 trick, at all events." 
 
 On came the little schooner, directly down for us, stagger- 
 ing away under- a close-reefed fore-topsail, the seas rolling 
 up astern, and threatening every instant to wash completely 
 over her. How could her crew expect that we could aid 
 them ? still it was evidently their only hope of being saved 
 remote as was the prospect. They might expect to be 
 able to heave-to again under our lee, and to send a boat 
 aboard us. The danger was that in their terror they might 
 run us down, when the destruction of both of us was cer- 
 tain. We stood all ready to keep the cutter away, dangerous
 
 SCHOONER FOUNDERED IN THE BAY. 147 
 
 as was the operation still it was the least perilous of two 
 alternatives. We were, as may be supposed, attentively 
 watching every movement of the schooner ; so close had she 
 come that we could see the hapless people on board stretch- 
 ing out their arms, as if imploring that aid which we had 
 no power to afford them. On a sudden they threw up their 
 hands ; a huge sea came roaring up astern of them ; they 
 looked round at it we could fancy that we almost saw their 
 terror-stricken countenances, and heard their cry of despair. 
 Down it came, thundering on her deck ; the schooner made 
 one plunge into the yawning gulf before her. Will she rise 
 to the next sea? 
 
 "Where is she?" escaped us all. With a groan of hor- 
 ror we replied to our own question " She's gone ! " 
 
 Down, down she went before our very eyes her signal 
 of distress fluttering amid the seething foam, the last of her 
 we saw. Perhaps her sudden destruction was the means of 
 our preservation. Some dark objects were still left floating 
 amid the foam ; they were human beings struggling for life ; 
 the sea tossed them madly about now they were together, 
 now they were separated wide asunder. Two were washed 
 close to us ; we could see the despairing countenance of one 
 poor fellow ; his staring eye-balls ; his arms outstretched 
 as he strove to reach us. In vain ; his strength was unequal 
 to the struggle ; the sea again washed him away, and he 
 sunk before our sight. His companion still strove on ; a 
 sea dashed towards us ; down it came on our deck. " Hold 
 on, hold on, my lads ! " sung out Porpoise. 
 
 It was well that all followed the warning, or had we not, 
 most certainly we should have been washed overboard. The 
 lively cutter, however, soon rose again to the top of the sea, 
 shaking herself like a duck after a dive beneath the surface. 
 As I looked around to ascertain that all hands were safe, I
 
 148 THE CEUISE OF THE " FKOLIC." 
 
 saw a stranger clinging to the shrouds. I with others rushed 
 to haul him in, and it was with no little satisfaction that we 
 found that we had been the means of rescuing one of the 
 crew of the foundered schooner from a watery grave. The 
 poor fellow was so exhausted that he could neither speak 
 nor stand, so we carried him below, and stripping off his 
 wet clothes, put him between a couple of warm blankets. 
 By rubbing his body gently, and pouring down a few drops 
 of hot brandy and water, he was soon recovered. He 
 seemed very grateful for what had been done for him, and 
 his sorrow was intensely severe when he heard that no one 
 else of the schooner's crew had been saved. 
 
 " Ay, it's more than such a fellow as I deserve ! " he 
 remarked. 
 
 I was much struck by his frank and intelligent manners, 
 when having got on a suit of dry clothes, he was asked by 
 Hearty into the cabin, to give an account of the catastrophe 
 which had just occurred. 
 
 "You see, gentlemen," said he, "the schooner was a 
 Levant trader. Her homeward-bound cargoes Avere chiefly 
 figs, currants, raisins, and such-like fruit. A better sea- 
 boat never swam. I shipped aboard her at Smyrna last 
 year, and had made two voyages in her before this here 
 event occurred. We were again homeward-bound, and had 
 made fine weather of it till we were somewhere abreast of 
 Cape Finisterre, when we fell in with some baddish weather, 
 in which our boats and caboose were washed away ; and 
 besides this, we received other damage to hull and rigging. 
 We were too much knocked about to hope to cross the Bay 
 in safety, so we put into Corunna to refit. The schooner 
 leaked a little, though we thought nothing of it, and as we 
 could not get at the leak, as soon as we had got the craft 
 somewhat to rights, we again put to sea. We had been out
 
 SCHOONER FOUNDERED IN THE BAT. 149 
 
 three days when this gale sprang up, and the master thought 
 it better to heave the vessel to, that she might ride it out. 
 The working of the craft very soon made the leak increase ; 
 all hands went to the pumps, but the water gained on us, 
 and as a last chance the master determined to run down to 
 you, in the hopes that before the schooner went down, some 
 of us might be able to get aboard you. You saw what hap- 
 pened. Oh, gentlemen ! may you never witness the scene 
 on board that vessel, as we all looked into each other's 
 faces, and felt that every hope was gone ! It was sad to see 
 the poor master, as he stood there on the deck of the sinking 
 craft, thinking of his wife and seven or eight little ones at 
 home whom he was never to see again, and whom he knew 
 would have to struggle in poverty with the hard Avorld ! He 
 was a good, kind man ; and to think of me being saved, 
 a wild, careless chap, without any one to care for him, who 
 cares for nobody, and who has done many a wild, lawless 
 deed in his life, and Avho, maybe, will do many another ! I 
 can't make it out ; it passes my notion of things." 
 
 Will Bubble had been listening attentively to the latter 
 part of the young seaman's account of himself. He walked 
 up to him with an expression of feeling I did not expect to 
 see, seemingly forgetful that any one else was present, and 
 took his hand : " God in his mercy preserved you for better 
 things, that you might repent of your follies and vices, and 
 serve him in future. Oh, on your knees offer up your heart- 
 felt thanks to him for all he has done for you ! " 
 
 Hearty and Carstairs opened their eyes with astonishment 
 as they heard Will speaking. 
 
 " Why, Bubble, what have? " began Hearty. 
 
 " I have been thinking," was the answer ; "I had time 
 while you fellows lay sick ; and I bethought me how very 
 easily this little cockle-shell might go down and take up its
 
 150 THE CRUISE OP THE " FROLIC." 
 
 abode among the deposits of this Adamite age," Will was 
 somewhat of a geologist, " and how very little we alt 
 were prepared to enter a pure state of existence." 
 
 " That's true, sir," said the seaman, not quite understand- 
 ing, however, Bubble's remarks ; " that's just what I thought 
 before the schooner sank. I am grateful to God, sir ; but, 
 howsomdever, I feel that I am a very bad, good-for-nothing 
 chap." 
 
 " Try to be better, my friend ; you'll have help from 
 above if you ask for it," said Bubble, resuming his seat. 
 
 "Why, where did you get all that from?" asked Car- 
 stairs, languidly ; " I didn't expect to hear you preach, old 
 fellow." 
 
 " I got it from my Bible," ansAvered Bubble. " I'm very 
 sure that's the only book of sailing directions likely to put a 
 fellow on a right course, and to keep him there," so I hope 
 in future to steer mine by it ; but I don't wish to be preach- 
 ing. It's not my vocation, and a harum-scarum, careless 
 fellow as I am is not fitted for it ; only all I ask of those 
 present is to think to think of their past lives ; how they 
 have employed their time whether in the way for which 
 they were sent into the world to employ it, in doing all the 
 good to their fellow-creatures they can ; or in selfish grati- 
 fication ; and to think of the future, that future without an 
 end to think if they are fitted for it for its pure joys 
 its never-ending study of God's works ; to think whether 
 they have any claim to enter into realms of glory of hap- 
 piness." 
 
 Will sprang on deck as he ceased speaking. He had evi- 
 dently worked himself up to utter these sentiments, so differ- 
 ent to any we should have conceived him to have possessed. 
 I never saw a party of gentlemen more astonished, if not 
 disconcerted. Had not Tom Martin, the young seaman just
 
 INTELLIGENCE OBTAINED. 151 
 
 saved, been present, I do not know what might have been 
 said. Still the truth, the justice, the importance of what 
 Bubble had said, struck us all, though perhaps we thought 
 him just a little touched in the upper story, to venture on 
 thus giving expression to his feelings. While Tom Martin 
 had been giving an account of himself, I had been watching 
 his countenance, and it struck me that I had seen him some- 
 where before. 
 
 " You've been a yachtsman, I think," I observed ; " I 
 have known your face, I am sure." 
 
 " Yes, sir," said he, frankly ; " and, if I mistake not, I 
 know yours. I used to meet you at Cowes last year ; but 
 the craft I belonged to I can't say was a yacht, though its 
 owner called her one. I'm sure you gentlemen won't take 
 advantage of any thing I say against me, and so I'll tell you 
 all about the matter. The craft I speak of was the 'Rover* 
 cutter, belonging to Mr. Miles Sandgate. I first shipped 
 aboard her about three years ago ; he gave high pay, and 
 let us carry on aboard pretty much as we liked, when not 
 engaged in his business. An old chum of mine, a man 
 called Ned Holden, who was, I may say, born and bred a 
 smuggler, first got me to join ; there wasn't a dodge to do 
 the revenue which Ned wasn't up to, and he thought no more 
 harm of smuggling than of eating his dinner. I didn't in- 
 quire how the ' Rover ' was employed ; she belonged to a 
 gentleman who paid well, and that's all I asked, though I 
 might have suspected something. She had just come from 
 foreign parts, and the people who had then been in her 
 talked of all sorts of curious things they had done. Smug- 
 gling was just nothing to what she'd been about. Mr. Sand- 
 gate seemed to have tried his hand at every thing. He had 
 been out in the China seas, running opium among the long 
 pigged-tailed gentlemen of that country. More than once he
 
 152 THE CRUISE OF THE " FKOLIC." 
 
 had some hot fighting with the Government revenue-vessels, 
 and several times he was engaged with the pirates, who 
 swarm, they say, in those seas. I did not hear whether he 
 made money out there, but after a time he got tired of the 
 work, and shaped a course for England. On his way, after 
 leaving the Cape of Good Hope, he fell in with a craft, 
 which he attacked and took. She was laden with goods of 
 all sorts fitted for the markets in Africa, and intended to be 
 exchanged for slaves. Besides them she had the irons, and 
 all the other fittings for a slaver. Such vessels sail without a 
 protection from any government. After he had taken every 
 thing he wanted, he hove the rest overboard, and then told 
 the crew that he gave them their liberty, and that they might 
 make the best of their way back to the parts from whence 
 they came. With the goods he had thus obtained he stood 
 for the slave-coast ; he had acquaintance there, as every- 
 where else ; indeed it would be difficult to say in what part 
 of the world he would not find himself at home. He was 
 not long in fitting the 'Rover' inside into a regular slave- 
 vessel, but outside she looked as honest and harmless as any 
 yacht. He ran up the Gaboon, or one of those rivers on 
 the slave-coast I forget which exactly where lived a 
 certain Don Lopez Mendoza, the greatest slave-dealer in 
 those parts ; besides which, as I heard say, it would be dif- 
 ficult to find anywhere a bigger villain. Well, he and Mr. 
 Sandgate were hand-in-glove, and one would have done any 
 thing for each other. They were fairly matched, you may 
 depend on it ; however that might be, the Don took all the 
 goods Mr. Sandgate brought him, and asked no questions, 
 and filled his vessel in return with a lot of prime slaves and 
 water, and farina enough to carry them across to Havana. 
 As soon as he got them on board he was out of the river 
 again, and, loosening his jib, away he went with some two
 
 INTELLIGENCE OBTAINED. 153 
 
 hundred human souls stowed under hatches, in a craft fit to 
 carry only thirty or forty in comfort. She had a quick run 
 across, and escaped all the ships-of-war looking after slavers. 
 Mr. Sandgate there sold the blacks for a good round sum, 
 and thought he had done a very clever thing. However, he 
 does not seem to be a man to keep money, though he is 
 ready enough to do many an odd thing to get it. He gave 
 his crew a handsome share of the profits ; he and they went 
 ashore at the Havana, and spent it as fast as they had 
 made it, just in the old buccaneering style I've heard tell of, 
 in all sorts of wild games and devilry, till I rather fancy the 
 Dons were glad to be rid of them. When their money was 
 nearly all gone, they went aboard again and made sail. I 
 don't mean to say but what I suppose Mr. Sandgate had 
 some left. He had also armed the cutter, and stored and 
 provisioned her completely for a voyage round the world. 
 
 " Once more he stood across for the African coast. He 
 had heard, it appears, that one of those store-ships I was 
 speaking of, which supply slavers with goods and provisions, 
 and irons and stores, was to be met with in a certain lati- 
 tude. He fell in with her, and, without asking her leave or 
 saying a word, he ran her alongside, and, before her people 
 had time to stand to their arms, he had mastered every one 
 of them. He never ill-treated any one, but he just clapped 
 them in irons till he had rifled the vessel, and then, leaving 
 them a somewhat scant supply of provisions and water, he, 
 as before, told them that they were at liberty to make the 
 best of their way home again. 
 
 " Some men would, perhaps, have gone back to the coast, 
 taken in a cargo of slaves, and returned to the Havana or 
 the Brazils, but our gentleman was rather too cautious to 
 run any such risk. He knew that he had made enemies, 
 who would try to prove him a pirate, with or without law ;
 
 154 THE CRUISE OF THE " FKOLIC." 
 
 so he just goes off the Gaboon, and sends in a note to his 
 friend Don Lopez, to say that he had got a rich cargo for 
 him, which he should have for so many dollars, two thou- 
 sand or more below its value. The Don, in return, de- 
 spatched two or three small craft with the sum agreed on 
 aboard, and all being found right and fair, the exchange 
 was quickly made, and Mr. Sandgate once more shaped a 
 course for England. As you may suppose, every one was 
 sworn to secrecy aboard ; but, bless you, the sort of chaps 
 he had got for a crew didn't much care for an oath ; and 
 besides, as it was that they mightn't say any thing out of 
 the ship, they didn't mind talking about it to me and others 
 who afterwards joined her. He brought home a good round 
 sum of money ; but he took it into his head to go up to 
 London, aud what with gambling and such-like ways, he 
 soon managed to get rid of most of it. He had got tired, 
 it seems, of having his neck constantly in a noose, so he 
 took to the quieter occupation of smuggling. He didn't do 
 it in the common way like the people along the coast, but 
 in a first-rate style, like a gentleman. Pie had some rela- 
 tives or other, rich silk merchants in London, and he under- 
 took to supply them with goods to any amount, free of duty. 
 There was nothing new in the plan, for it was an old dodge 
 of this house, by which they had made most of their money. 
 You would be surprised, gentlemen, to hear of the number 
 of people employed in the business, and who well knew it 
 was against the laws. First, there were the agents in 
 France to buy the goods, and to have them packed in small 
 bales fit for running ; then they had to ship them ; next 
 there were the cutters and other craft to bring them over, 
 and the people to assist at their landing ; and the carters 
 with their light carts to bring them up to London ; and the 
 clerks in the warehouse in London, many of whom knew
 
 INTELLIGENCE OBTAINED. 155 
 
 full well that not a penny of duty had ever been paid on the 
 goods ; and the shop people too, who knew full well the 
 same thing, as they could not otherwise have got their 
 articles so cheap. It's a true saying, that one rascal makes 
 many ; and so it was in this case." 
 
 Much to the same effect Tom told us about Sandgate ; 
 but as with several of the points the readers are already 
 acquainted, I need not repeat them. Tom frankly acknowl- 
 edged that he was on board the "Rover" when Sandgate 
 attempted to carry off Miss Manners ; but he seemed to be 
 little aware of the enormity of the offence. He said that 
 he fancied the young lady had come of her own free will, 
 as Sandgate had made the crew believe a tale to that 
 effect. 
 
 "But what became of him after that?" I asked, eagerly. 
 " Did he return to the coast of Africa, and turn pirate 
 again ? " 
 
 " No, sir," answered Martin. " He had several plans of 
 the sort though, I believe ; but at last we stood for the 
 Rock of Gibraltar, and ran through the Straits into the 
 Mediterranean. We could not make out what Mr. Sand- 
 gate was about. We touched at two or three places on the 
 African coast, and he had some communication with the 
 Moors. To my mind, he scarcely knew himself what he 
 would be at. He spoke and acted very often like a person 
 out of his wits. Sometimes we would be steering for a 
 place, and our course would be suddenly altered, and we 
 would go back to the port from whence we came, However, 
 by degrees we got higher and higher up the Mediterranean. 
 We did not touch at Malta, but stood on till we got among 
 the Greek islands : there he seemed quite at home, and was 
 constantly having people aboard whom he treated as old 
 friends. Still we did nothing to make the vessel pay her
 
 156 THE CBUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 way, and that was very unlike Mr. Sandgate's custom. 
 After a time we ran on to Smyrna : we thought that we 
 were going to take in a cargo of figs and raisins, and to 
 return home. One day, however, a fine Greek polacca brig 
 stood into the harbor, and Mr. Sandgate, after examining 
 her narrowly, went on board her. On his return, calling us 
 together, he said that as he was going to sell the cutter, he 
 should no longer have any need of our services ; and that 
 as he was very well pleased with the way we had more than 
 once stuck by him, he would therefore add five pounds to 
 the wages of each man. We all cheered him, and thought 
 him a very fine fellow ; and so I believe he would have 
 been had he known what common honesty means. The 
 ' Rover ' was sold ngxt day, and we all had to bundle on 
 shore and look out for fresh berths. When we were there 
 I heard some curious stories about that polacca brig ; and 
 all I can say is, that if I had been aboard a merchantman 
 and sighted her, I shouldn't have been comfortable till we 
 got clear of her again. Whether Mr. Sandgate went away 
 in her or not I cannot say for certain ; all I know is, that 
 the polacca brig left Smyrna in a few days. The crew of 
 the ' Rover ' joined different vessels, and though I was very 
 often on shore, I saw no more of him. The rest of my story 
 you know, gentlemen. I shipped on board the schooner 
 which you lately saw go down." 
 
 " Very extraordinary story altogether," exclaimed Hearty, 
 as soon as Tom Martin had left the cabin, highly pleased 
 with his treatment. " If you had not been able to corrobo- 
 rate some of it, Brine, I certainly should not have felt in- 
 clined to believe it." 
 
 " I know the circumstance of one quite as extraordi- 
 nary," said Porpoise. " Some day I will tell it you if you 
 wish it. I should not be surprised when we get up the
 
 INTELLIGENCE OBTAINED. 157 
 
 Straits if we hear more of Mr. Sandgate and his doings. 
 He is evidently a gentleman not addicted to be idle, though, 
 clever as he is, he will some day be getting his neck into a 
 halter." 
 
 " I should think it was well fitted for one by this time," 
 added Carstairs ; " but I say, Porpoise, let us have your 
 story at once ; there's nothing like the present time for a 
 good thing when it can be got, and we want something 
 amusing to drive away all the bitter blue-devilish feelings 
 which this confounded tumblefication of a sea has kicked up 
 in our insides." 
 
 " You shall have it, with all my heart, and without de- 
 lay," added Porpoise. " All I have first to say is, that as 
 I was present during many of the scenes, and as descrip- 
 tions of the others were given me, strange as the account 
 may appear, it is as true as every thing we have just heard 
 about that fellow Sandgate. I could almost have fancied 
 that he and the hero of my story were one and the same 
 person." 
 
 Our curiosity being not a little excited by this prelude, in 
 spite of the rolling and pitching of the vessel, seldom has a 
 more attentive audience been collected, as our jovial com- 
 panion began his story.
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 LIEUTENANT PORPOISE'S STORY - THE BLACK SLAVER - 
 THE SPANISH MAIDEN - THE DESERTER'S DREAM - THE 
 FLIGHT. 
 
 THE BRITISH CRUISER. 
 
 "KEEP a bright look-out, Collins, and let me be called 
 if any thing like a sail appears in sight," said Captain 
 Staunton, as he was quitting the quarter-deck of His Maj- 
 esty's brig " Sylph," which he had the honor to command. 
 She was then stationed on the coast of Africa. Some years 
 have passed by, it must be remembered, since the time to 
 which I now allude. 
 
 " Ay, ay, sir," answered the first lieutenant, who was the 
 officer addressed. " With so many sharp eyes on board it 
 shall be hard if we miss seeing him, should he venture to 
 approach the coast, and if we see him, harder still if he 
 escape us." 
 
 Captain Staunton descended to his cabin, and feverish and 
 ill from long watching and the effects of the pestiferous 
 climate, he threw himself into his cot, and endeavored to 
 snatch a few hours' repose, to better prepare himself for the 
 fresh exertions he expected to be called on to make. But 
 sleep, which kindly so seldom neglects to visit the seaman's 
 eyelids, when wooed even amid the raging tempest, refused 
 for some time to come at his call. 
 
 " I would sacrifice many a year's pay to catch that fellow," 
 he continued, as he soliloquized half aloud. " The monstrous 
 villain ! while he lives I feel that the stain yet remains on 
 
 158
 
 THE BRITISH CRUISER. 159 
 
 the cloth he once disgraced. We will yet show him that 
 the honor of the service cannot be insulted with impunity, 
 although he dares our vengeance by venturing among us 
 when he knows every vessel on the station is on the watch 
 for him. And yet I once regarded that man as a friend ; 
 I loved him almost as a brother, for I thought his heart 
 beat with the most noble sentiments. I thought him capable 
 of the like deeds ; but all the time he must have been a 
 most accomplished hypocrite, though still he has one good 
 quality, he is brave, or perhaps, it may be, he possesses 
 rather physical insensibility to danger and utter recklessness 
 of all consequences. He started fairly in life, and at one 
 time gave good promise of rising in his profession. I knew 
 him to be wild and irreligious ; but I fancied his faults 
 arose from thoughtlessness and high spirit, and I hoped 
 that experience of their ill effects and a good example would 
 cure them ; but I now see that vice, from an ill-regulated 
 education, was deeply rooted in him, and, alas ! has that 
 good example which might have saved him always been set 
 him? I fear not. Ah ! if those in command could foresee 
 the dreadful results of their own acts, of their careless ex- 
 pressions, they would keep a better watch over themselves, 
 and often shudder with horror at the crime and misery they 
 have caused." 
 
 "With a prayer to Heaven to enable him to avoid the 
 faults of which he felt with pain that he had himself too 
 often been guilty, the commander of the brig fell asleep. 
 
 The officer of the watch, meantime, continued his walk 
 on the quarter-deck, his thoughts taking a turn very similar 
 to those of his chief, for they had often together discussed 
 the subject, and the same train of ideas were naturally 
 suggested by the same circumstance, as he also had known 
 the person of whom the captain was thinking.
 
 160 THE CBUISE OF THE " FEOLIC." 
 
 The " Sylph" was at this time some miles off the African 
 coast, which, although not seen from the deck, was faintly 
 distinguishable from the mast-head ; it appeared like a long 
 blue line drawn on the ocean with a slight haze hanging over 
 it, scarcely to be perceived by unpractised eyes. The part 
 visible was about the mouth of the Pongos River, a well- 
 known slave depot, the favorite resort of the Spanish South- 
 American slavers. 
 
 The surface of the ocean was smooth, although occasion- 
 ally ruffled by a light breeze, which, coming from seaward, 
 served to cool the brows of the crew, and restore some vigor 
 to their exhausted limbs ; yet there was the usual swell, 
 which seldom leaves the bosom of the Atlantic to perfect 
 tranquillity. It came in from the west, slowly and silently, 
 making the vessel roll from side to side like a drunken man. 
 Though she was not, it must be understood, at anchor, she 
 had not a stitch of canvas spread which would have con- 
 tributed, had there been any wind, to steady her. All her 
 sails were closely furled, but her studding-sail booms were at 
 their yard-arms, their gear was rove, and the studding-sails 
 themselves were on deck, ready to set in a moment. The 
 boats, too, were clear to hoist out in an instant, and there, 
 was every sign on deck that the now apparently listless crew 
 would, at first sound of the boatswain's whistle, spring 
 into life and activity, and that the now bare tracery of spars 
 and rigging would, the second after, be covered with a broad 
 sheet of snowy canvas. 
 
 The " Sylph" had been about a year on the coast. When 
 she left England, her officers and crew were a particularly 
 fine, healthy set of men, and the whole of them could 
 scarcely, in the course of their lives, have mustered a 
 month's illness among them. Since they came to their 
 present station, the second lieutenant and second master had
 
 THE BRITISH CRUISER. 161 
 
 died, as had two midshipmen and thirteen of the crew, and 
 nearly all the remainder had, more or less, suffered, few 
 retaining any traces of their former ruddy and healthy 
 appearance. 
 
 They had, however, to be sure, before being well accli- 
 mated, or having learned the necessary precautions to take 
 against illness, been exposed to a good deal of hard service 
 in boats up the rivers, where were sown the seeds of the dis- 
 ease which afterwards proved so fatal among them. Fresh 
 officers and men had been appointed to fill the places of 
 those who had died, and the brig was now again the same 
 model of discipline and beauty which she had before been. 
 When Captain Staunton joined the brig, he is reported to 
 have called the men aft, and to have made them a speech 
 much to this effect : 
 
 " Now, my men, that you may not have any long discus- 
 sions as to the character of your new commander, I wish to 
 let you clearly understand that I never overlook drunken- 
 ness, or any other crime whatever, either in my officers or 
 men. I shall not say whether I like flogging or not, but 
 while it is awarded by the articles of war, I shall inflict it. 
 Remember, hoAvever, I would much rather reward than 
 punish. The men who do their duty well and cheerfully, 
 I will advance as far as I have the power. I wish this 
 to be a happy ship, and it will be your own faults if you 
 do not make it so. Now pipe down." 
 
 The men agreed, as they sat in knots together after they 
 had knocked off work for the day, that they liked the cut of 
 their new skipper's jib, and that his speech, though short, 
 was good, and had no rigmarole in it. 
 
 He afterwards invited his officers to dine with him, and in 
 the course of conversation impressed on their minds that he 
 considered gross language and swearing not only ungentle- 
 11
 
 162 THE CKUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 manly, but wicked, and that he was certain the men did not 
 obey at all the more readily for having it applied to them ; 
 that the men would follow the example they set them ; that 
 their influence depended on their doing their duty, and that 
 if they did it the men would do theirs. " Drunkenness," 
 he observed, "is by some considered a very venial offence, 
 but as the lives of all on board, as the discipline of the ship 
 depends on the judgment of those in command, however 
 much I shall regret the necessity, I shall break any officer 
 who is guilty of it." As Captain Staunton himself practised 
 what he preached, and set an example of all the high quali- 
 ties which adorn his noble profession, the necessity he would 
 have deplored never occurred ; punishment was very rare, 
 and the " Sylph" was a happy ship. 
 
 Having made this digression, we will return to the time 
 when the " Sylph" lay on the waste of waters, rolling her 
 polished sides in the shining ocean, while the drops of spray 
 which they threw off sparkled like diamonds in the rays of 
 the burning sun. Had it not been for the light breeze we 
 spoke of, the heat would have been intolerable on deck, for 
 there was not the usual shade from the sails to shelter the 
 seamen from the fury of the burning orb ; but all were far 
 too eager for the appearance of a vessel they were looking 
 for to think of the inconvenience. 
 
 Three days before, an English homeward-bound mer- 
 chantman had spoken them, and brought them the informa- 
 tion that a large slaver was every moment expected in the 
 river ; a very fast-sailing schooner, which had already once 
 before escaped them by the daring and good seamanship of 
 her commander, who was supposed to be an Englishman. 
 Thus much the crew knew, and they added their own com- 
 ments, believing him to be a character similar to the famed
 
 THE BRITISH CEUISER. 163 
 
 Vanderdecken, or, at all events, in league with the prince 
 of terror, Davy Jones. 
 
 They had already been two days thus watching, after 
 having ascertained, by sending the boats up the river, that 
 the slaver was not there. Captain Staunton, knowing the 
 man with whom he had to deal, was aware that his only 
 chance of capturing him was by extreme caution. He had 
 therefore furled all the sails of the brig in the way we have 
 described, that she might not be discovered by the slaver till 
 the fellow had got close up to her, and he then hoped to be 
 able, without a long chase, to bring her to action. Each 
 night, as soon as it grew dusk, the " Sylph" made sail and 
 stood in shore, in order better to watch the coast, and before 
 daylight she was again at her former post. It has been as- 
 serted that the African cruisers have allowed the slavers to 
 get into port, and have not attempted to capture them till 
 they have got their slaves on board, in order either to gain 
 the head-money, or to make more sure of their condem- 
 nation ; but if this was ever done, Captain Staunton was 
 not the person to do so ; he knew, moreover, that the man 
 who commanded the slaver he was in search of would not 
 yield her up without a struggle, and, for the sake of saving 
 many lives which must otherwise inevitably be sacrificed, he 
 was anxious to bring her to action before she got her slaves 
 on board. The officer of the watch continued pacing the 
 deck with his spy-glass under his arm, every now and then 
 hailing the masthead to keep the look-outs on the alert, but 
 the same answer was each time given. 
 
 " Nothing in sight, sir." 
 
 Thus the day wore on. Towards the evening the breeze, 
 which had since the morning been sluggish, increased con- 
 siderably ; but as the current which is to be found in nearly 
 every part of the ocean set in an opposite direction to it,
 
 164 THE CRUISE OP THE "FROLIC." 
 
 the brig did not materially alter her position. A fresh hand 
 had just relieved the look-out at the masthead at eight bells 
 in the afternoon watch. His eyes, from not being fatigued, 
 were sharper than his predecessor's, and he had scarcely 
 glanced round the horizon, when he hailed the deck with 
 words which roused everybody up 
 
 " A sail in sight ! " 
 
 "Where away?" asked the officer of the watch. The 
 brig's head Avas now tending on shore. 
 
 " Right over the starboard quarter, sir," was the answer. 
 
 " Call the captain, Mr. Wildgrave," said the second lieu- 
 tenant, who had charge of the deck, to the midshipman of 
 the watch. 
 
 "Which way is she standing?" asked the officer. 
 
 " Directly down for us, sir," was the answer. 
 
 In five seconds the captain himself was on deck, and the 
 remainder of the officers soon after appeared. The first 
 lieutenant went aloft with his glass, and on his return pro- 
 nounced the stranger to be a large square-rigged vessel, but 
 whether a man-of-war, a slaver, or an honest trader, it was 
 difficult to say, though he was inclined to suppose her belong- 
 ing to either of the two former classes, from the broad 
 spread of canvas she showed. On she came towards them, 
 probably ignorant of their vicinity, as, stripped as they 
 were, they would not be perceived by her till long after she 
 was seen by them. 
 
 " What do you now make her out to be, Mr. Collins?" in- 
 quired the commander of the first lieutenant, who had again 
 returned, after a second trip to the masthead. 
 
 " A large schooner, at all events, sir ; and if I mistake 
 not, she is the ' Espanto.' " 
 
 "Pipe all hands on deck, then, for we shall soon be dis- 
 covered, and must make sail in chase."
 
 THE SPANISH MAIDEN. 165 
 
 The men were in a moment at their stations, and in silence 
 waited the orders of their commander. Still the stranger 
 came on, her sails slowly rising, as it were, from out of the 
 ocean. She was now clearly seen from the deck of the 
 " Sylph." Apparently there was a very bad look-out kept 
 on board her, or else she was not the vessel they supposed, 
 as otherwise the British cruiser must before this have been 
 perceived by her. 
 
 Captain Sfaunton and his officers stood watching her with 
 almost breathless anxiety, with their glasses constantly at 
 their eyes, ready to observe the first indication of any alter- 
 ation in her course. Nearer and nearer she approached, 
 with studding-sails alow and aloft, on either side. Suddenly 
 they were observed to be taken in, and the vessel's course 
 was altered to the southward. 
 
 " Aloft there, and make sail ! " shouted the commander, 
 in a quick tone. The men, with alacrity, sprang up the rig- 
 ging ; the sails were let fall, the tacks were sheeted home, 
 and in a minute the " Sylph," under a spread of canvas, 
 was standing on a bowline in chase of the stranger. 
 
 THE SPANISH MAIDEN. 
 
 We must now shift our scene to a different part of the 
 world, and to a period much antecedent to that of which we 
 have hitherto been speaking. The spot to which we allude 
 is on the eastern coast of South America, in the northern 
 part of that vast territory colonized by the inhabitants of 
 Spain. There is a beautiful bay, or rather gulf, surrounded 
 by lofty and picturesque cliffs, with deep ravines running up 
 between them and several haciendas, or large farm-houses, 
 on the surrounding ground, generally picturesquely situated, 
 with a view of the sea in the distance. Several vessels lay
 
 166 THE CEtTlSE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 at anchor, proudly pre-eminent among which was a frigate, 
 from whose peak the ensign of Great Britain floated in the 
 breeze. 
 
 Some way inland was a mansion of considerable size, 
 though only one story, surrounded with deep verandas 
 the style of architecture general in the country. It stood at 
 the head of a ravine, towards which the windows of its 
 principal rooms opened, so that the inhabitants enjoyed a 
 fine view of cliffs and rocks, and trees of every form and 
 hue, between which a sparkling torrent found its way to the 
 ocean, which was seen beyond the shipping in the harbor. 
 In a room within the house, a beautiful girl was seated close 
 to the window, but she looked not on the scene without. 
 Her eyes were turned downwards, for at her feet knelt a 
 youth ; his glance met hers ; and there was a wildness in his 
 look, an expression of pain on his broAv, which seemed to 
 demand her pity. He was dressed in the British uniform, 
 the single epaulet on his shoulder betokening that he held the 
 rank of lieutenant ; but his complexion was swarthy in the 
 extreme, and his tongue spoke with facility the language of 
 Spain. 
 
 " Hear me, beloved one ! " he exclaimed, passionately 
 pressing her hand to his lips. " My ship sails hence in a 
 few days, but I cannot tear myself from you. For your sake 
 I will quit my profession, my country, and the thing men 
 call honor, and will run the risk of death, if I am retaken, 
 all all for your sake. Do you love me, dearest one ? " 
 
 The girl smiled faintly, and her eyes filled with tears. 
 He again pressed her hand to his lips. 
 
 " Yes, yes ; I feel that I am blessed, indeed," he con- 
 tinued in the same tone. " But you must conceal me, be- 
 loved one. My life is in your hands. There will be a strict 
 search made for me in every direction when I am missed.
 
 THE SPANISH MAIDEN. 167 
 
 You will hear vile tales invented to induce those who might 
 be sheltering me to give me up, but believe them not. Will 
 you promise to be my preserver, my guardian angel, my 
 idol, and I will live but to show my gratitude?" 
 
 Where is the woman's heart which could resist such an 
 appeal? The maiden's doubts and hesitations were gradu- 
 ally disappearing. 
 
 " But we have seen little of each other, senor. Your 
 love for a poor girl like me cannot be so strong as for my 
 sake to make you give up all men hold most dear. The 
 sacrifice is surely not worth the price. I do not even know 
 your name." 
 
 " Call me Juan, then," he answered. " But if my fiery, 
 ardent love meets no return, I will quit you ; though, per- 
 chance, to suffer death. On board yonder accursed ship I 
 cannot live. I am hated there ; and hate in return." 
 
 " Oh, no, senor ! I will not expose you to such danger," 
 answered the maiden. " I have heard sad stories of that 
 ship. Even yesterday, it is said, one of the officers mur- 
 dered another, and that the murderer has fled into the 
 country." 
 
 The young man started and turned pale, but instantly re- 
 covering himself, he looked up affectionately into her coun- 
 tenance. 
 
 " But do you believe the tale?" he asked. 
 
 " I cannot but believe, senor," she answered ; " one of 
 our slaves saw the murdered man on the beach where he 
 fell, and the dagger sticking in his bosom." 
 
 " But how can you suppose from that circumstance that 
 an Englishman did the deed." 
 
 " Because the dagger was such as the young officers 
 wear," answered the girl ; " and they were seen walking 
 together."
 
 168 THE CKUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 "Know you the name, then, of the supposed murderer?" 
 he asked. 
 
 " I could not pronounce it if I did," she said. 
 
 " It matters not but believe not the tale at all events, 
 you would not believe me guilty of such a deed ? " 
 
 " Oh, heavens, certainly not ! " she replied, casting a 
 glance which told plainly the secret of her heart. 
 
 He saw that the victory was gained, and clasping her to 
 his bosom, he urged her to form a plan for his conceal- 
 ment. 
 
 " No one saw me approach the house," he observed, " so 
 you will not be suspected ; yet hasten, for should I now be 
 observed, our difficulties would be increased." 
 
 Where woman's wit is sharpened by love, she finds no 
 difficulties in serving him she loves. In a short time the 
 stranger was concealed within the roof of the mansion, 
 where she might, without exciting suspicion, constantly com- 
 municate with him. 
 
 Juanetta, having thus obeyed the impulse of her heart, 
 returned to her seat near the window to meditate on the 
 act she had performed, and the responsible office she had 
 undertaken. 
 
 " Yet who is the stranger to whom I have given my 
 heart?" she thought; "he loves me, surely, or he would 
 not tell me so; and I love him he is so handsome, so 
 eloquent he narrates adventures so surprising he has 
 done such daring deeds. It is strange, too, that he should 
 seek to leave the ship, and that another officer should have 
 committed a murder oh, horrible ! what fierce, bad men 
 those on board must be, except my Juan ! " 
 
 Poor girl ! she was young, loving, and ignorant of the 
 wickedness in the world, or she would have suspected even 
 him. Her meditations were interrupted by the appearance
 
 THE SPANISH MAIDEN. 169 
 
 of her father, accompanied by the alcalde, and two officers 
 in British uniforms. They were conversing earnestly as 
 they passed the widow, and they thus did not observe her. 
 
 " There can be no doubt of it, sefior," observed the al- 
 calde to one of the English officers : " the murder must have 
 been committed by him his flight proves it." 
 
 " Where can he have concealed himself? " said the officer. 
 " I would give a high reward to whoever discovers him, for 
 such a crime must not go unpunished." 
 
 " He must still be wandering about near the coast, for 
 without a horse and I cannot learn that any person has 
 supplied him with one he cannot have escaped into the 
 interior. The scouts also I sent out bring no intelligence 
 of him." 
 
 On hearing these words Juanetta turned pale, for dread- 
 ful suspicions crossed her mind ; but she had vowed to pro- 
 tect the stranger, and she felt the necessity of appearing 
 calm. She had scarcely time to compose herself before 
 her father and his guests entered the apartment. Refresh- 
 ments were ordered, and as she was obliged to busy herself 
 in performing the duties of a hostess, her agitation was 
 not observed. During the repast she listened eagerly to 
 gain further information, but what she heard only served 
 to increase her doubts and fears. At length her father, tell- 
 ing her that he would soon return, took his departure with 
 his guests. 
 
 Unhappy Juanetta ! she dared not believe what yet her 
 reason told her was too true. Left alone, she burst into 
 tears. They afforded some relief to her aching heart, and 
 when calmness had again re turned, she hastened to the place 
 where she had concealed her dangerous guest. As she 
 went, she resolved to tell him that she would see him no 
 more, yet to assure him that her promise given, he was safe
 
 170 THE CRUISE OP THE " FROLIC." 
 
 while under her father's roof. She thought she would con- 
 fess all that had passed to her father, and trusting to his gene- 
 rosity, entreat him to aid her in favoring the escape of the 
 suspected criminal. 
 
 Fortunate for her had she been firm in her resolve. 
 Alas ! that passion should too often triumph over the dic- 
 tates of reason ! yet who can fathom the deep well of a 
 woman's heart? Surely not she herself, while it remains 
 free from the rubbish, the wickedness, the knowledge of 
 the world, those things which choke it up and foul its pure 
 waters. Juan lay sleeping on the hard floor, yet so lightly, 
 that he started the moment she slowly raised the trap-door 
 which opened into the chamber, and grasping a pistol on 
 which his hand had rested, he sprang to his feet. When he 
 saw who was his visitor, his glance became less fierce, but 
 still he did not quit his hold of his weapon. He was about 
 to speak, but she, placing her finger to her mouth, signified 
 to him to be silent till she had carefully closed the place of 
 ingress. 
 
 " I have come, senor, to bid you prepare for instant 
 flight." She spoke in a low tone, and her voice faltered. 
 " You cannot remain here in safety, for I have heard dread- 
 ful stories, and I feel sure you will be sought for here. 
 They cannot be true ; I know they cannot ; but yet I wish 
 they had not been spoken." 
 
 " Should all the world desert me, my Juanetta will still 
 believe me true," exclaimed the young man as he approached 
 her and knelt at her feet. " Do not credit those tales, dear- 
 est ; they are told by my foes and tyrants to destroy me ; but 
 my vengeance will yet alight on their heads. Yet what 
 care I what they they say or do while you, sweet angel, are 
 my protector ? " 
 
 He took the maiden's hand, and she did not withdraw it.
 
 THE DESERTER'S DREAM. 171 
 
 He pressed her hand to his lips, and his imploring glance 
 met her eyes, already suffused with tears. She smiled, for 
 she could not believe him false ; that youth with his gallant 
 air and bold look ; crime cannot be an inhabitant of a figure 
 so noble, she thought. 
 
 An arch-traitor was within the garrison, and the deceiver 
 was victorious over the simple maiden. She dared not 
 remain long in his company, lest her absence might betray 
 her guest. To one person alone did she confide her secret, 
 a black slave who had attended her from a child, and loved 
 her faithfully. Her word was his law, and Mauro promised 
 that no harm should befall the stranger. His own concep- 
 tions of right and wrong were not very clear, nor did he 
 make very minute inquiries as to the truth of the story his 
 mistress told him. He believed that the Englishman had 
 been ill-treated, and had avenged himself, and he was acute 
 enough to discover that his young mistress loved the hand- 
 some stranger. He therefore considered it his duty to please 
 her to the utmost of his power. 
 
 THE DESERTER'S DREAM. 
 
 Left again alone, Juan's weary limbs sank once more be- 
 neath the power of sleep ; but though the frame was still, 
 the mind refused to be at rest. He dreamed that he was 
 again a boy, young, innocent, and happy ; but yet all the 
 time a consciousness of the bitter truth mocked the vain 
 illusion, like some dark phantom hovering over him ; he felt 
 and knew that the dream was false, still it seemed vivid and 
 clear like the reality. 
 
 He thought that he lay at the feet of his fond and gentle 
 mother, while his proud father smiled at his youthful gam- 
 bols. It was in a princely hall, decked with all the luxury
 
 172 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 wealth can supply ; other children were there, but he was 
 the eldest and best beloved, the inheritor of almost boundless 
 riches of title and power. He had eai-ly learned his own 
 importance ; foolish nurses had not been slow to give him 
 the baneful lesson ; and while his parents believed him to be 
 all their hearts could wish, the noxious seeds were already 
 taking root. Years rolled on ; he had gained knowledge at 
 school, and beneath the care of his tutor, but, as regards self- 
 government or religious feelings, he was still less educated 
 than the poorest peasant on his father's broad domains. At 
 last the truth had burst on his father's mind. His son was 
 passionate, headstrong, self-willed, and, worse, deceitful. 
 Every means of reclaiming him had been tried in vain, and 
 he had determined to send him to sea under a strict captain, 
 who promised to curb, if not to break, his spirit, if severity 
 could influence him. 
 
 Young Hernan stood before his father, while his mother 
 sat overpowered with grief. The carriage was waiting 
 which Avas to convey him to Portsmouth. He was unmoved, 
 for filial affection had been swallowed up by selfishness, and 
 he fancied that he was about to lead a life of freedom and 
 independence. He had yet to learn what a man-of-war was 
 like. His mother pressed him to her heart, and his father 
 strove to bless him as he turned to quit the room, for he was 
 still his son. 
 
 The carriage rolled off, and in a few hours he was on 
 board the ship which was to be his home and school for 
 three long years. He learned many a lesson, it is true, but 
 the great one came too late for him to profit by it. The first 
 three years of his naval career passed by, and many a wild 
 act had he committed, such as had often brought him under 
 the censure of his superiors. That he was unreformed his
 
 THE DESERTER'S DREAM. 173 
 
 father felt too surely convinced, and he was accordingly again 
 sent to sea. 
 
 He was no longer a boy, and the irregularities of that age 
 had grown into the vices of manhood. Yet among his 
 equals he had friends, and, knowing their value, he took 
 care to cultivate them. The most intimate was Edward 
 Staunton, his superior in age by two years one whose 
 generous spirit, believing that he had discovered noble 
 qualities in his companion, longed to win him back to 
 virtue. Together they paced the deck in the midnight 
 watch, and spoke of their future prospects, till even Hernan 
 believed that he had resolved to amend. There are calm 
 and often happy moments in a sailor's life, when all the 
 dangers of their floating home, except the watch on deck, 
 are wrapped in sleep ; and then many a youth pours into his 
 attentive shipmate's ears the tale of his love, his hopes and 
 fears, and pictures the beauty of the girl he has left behind 
 the lady of his heart, with whom he fondly fancies he 
 shall some day wed. Such a tale did Staunton tell ; and 
 Hernan listened carelessly at first, but afterwards with 
 interest, as the ardent lover, delighting in the picture he 
 was conjuring up, described the surpassing beauty of his 
 mistress. 
 
 " Then you must introduce me to your lovely Blanche, 
 and let me judge whether she is as fair as you paint her," 
 said Hernan to his companion ; and Staunton, guileless him- 
 self, promised to gratify his wish. 
 
 " I shall not, allow you to break your word, remember," 
 added Hernan. 
 
 " Never fear," answered Staunton, laughing. " But see 
 what a sudden change has come over the sky while we have 
 been speaking ! We shall have a reef in the topsails before 
 many minutes are out."
 
 174 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 It was true. When they began their watch the sky was 
 studded with a million stars, the dark sea was calm, arid a 
 gentle breeze filled the sails of the noble frigate. Now wild 
 clouds were coursing each other across the arch of heaven, 
 the light foam flew over the ocean, and the ship heeled over 
 to the rising blast. 
 
 Scarcely had he spoken, when the voice of the officer of 
 the watch roused his sleeping men with the order to furl the 
 topgallant-sails quickly, followed by that to take a reef in 
 the topsails. Hernan's duty had led him aloft. He was 
 careless in keeping a firm hold. The ship gave a sudden 
 lurch, and he found himself struggling in the wild AvaterSc 
 He could swim, but the fall had numbed his limbs, and the 
 ship flew past him. Despair was seizing him, when he 
 heard the cry which arose from the deck of " a man over- 
 board ! " echoed by a hundred voices. He was sinking be- 
 neath the waves, when he felt a friendly hand grasping his 
 arm, and once more he rose to the surface of the water, and 
 the voice of Edward Staunton cheered him to fresh exertions. 
 He saw, too, the bright light of the life-buoy, which floated 
 at a short distance only from them. It was a fearful thing, 
 though, to be left thus alone on that stormy sea, for the dim 
 outline of the frigate was scarcely visible, and she might be 
 unable to fetch again, while the light continued burning, the 
 spot where they were. For his sake, Staunton had thus 
 risked his life. With great exertions Staunton dragged him 
 to the life-buoy, and hanging on to it, they anxiously watched 
 the approach of the frigate. 
 
 " The boat has been swamped, and we shall be left to 
 perish miserably here," exclaimed Hernan. " Curses on 
 my fate ! " 
 
 " No," cried Staunton ; " hark, I hear the shouts of the 
 people in the boat pulling towards us. The frigate must
 
 THE DESERTER'S DREAM. 175 
 
 have gone far to leeward before she could be hove-to to 
 lower one. 
 
 Again the shouts were heard, and a dark object emerged 
 from the obscurity which surrounded them. In a few 
 minutes they were on board, and scarcely was the boat 
 hoisted in than down came the tempest with tenfold fury, 
 and vain would then have been any attempt to save him had 
 he still been struggling in the waves. He was profuse in 
 his professions of gratitude to Staunton, and he thought him- 
 self sincere. 
 
 The frigate returned home, her crew were paid off, and 
 Staunton and his friend received their promotion. 
 
 " And now, Staunton, you must keep to your word, 
 and introduce me to your beautiful friend, Miss Blanche 
 D'Aubigne," said Hernan, after they had been some time 
 on shore, and had met by chance in London. 
 
 " Gladly," answered Edward ; " I have told her all about 
 you, and she will be most glad to see you." 
 
 So they went together to the village where the fair girl 
 resided ; it was at no great distance from the country-seat 
 of Sir Hernan Daggerfeldt, the father of Edward's friend. 
 Staunton had won his promotion by his own exertions ; and 
 another step, his commander's rank, was to be gained before 
 he could hope to make Blanche his bride. Such was the 
 decree of her father, who had given an unwilling consent to 
 their union, and he felt that he had no right to murmur at 
 the decision. A short stay on shore was all he could hope 
 to enjoy, before he must again go afloat for two or three 
 more weary years ; but she was still very young, and he con- 
 fided in her truth and love. 
 
 This Hernan knew ; he was surprised and delighted when 
 first introduced to Miss D'Aubigne, for her beauty far sur- 
 passed bis expectations. He thought her far more lovely
 
 176 THE CRUISE OF THE " FKOLIC." 
 
 than any one he had ever met, when, with artless simplicity, 
 she received him as the friend of her betrothed. Edward 
 went to sea, and Hernan took up his abode at his father's 
 seat. Every week his visits to the village of Darlington 
 grew more frequent, and Blanche unsuspectingly received 
 him with pleasure, while her father, who knew his prospects, 
 welcomed him cordially. 
 
 Hernan knew that Blanche looked on him as a friend of 
 her intended husband, and he at first thought not of inquir- 
 ing into his own feelings regarding her. Soon, however, a 
 fierce passion sprang up in addition to the simple admiration 
 he at first had felt. Indeed, he scarcely attempted to conceal 
 it ; but she was too pure-minded and unsuspecting to per- 
 ceive the existence of the feelings she had inspired. 
 
 Thus matters went on till even she could no longer 
 deceive herself as to Hernan's real feelings. Horrified at 
 the discovery, she refused to see him more, and Hernan saw 
 that he must make a bold stroke or lose her forever. He 
 called falsehood and treachery to his aid. He went to her 
 father ; he spoke of his own ardent love, of his future 
 wealth, of the position he could offer ; then he continued to 
 express his regret that Edward, his friend, was unworthy of 
 her, that he had expressed his anxiety to break off the con- 
 nection, but was unwilling to wound her feelings by doing so 
 abruptly, and therefore intended to write, when he had 
 reached his station, to free her from her engagement. Mr. 
 D'Aubigne listened, and believed what he wished to b6 true ; 
 but Blanche was long incredulous, and refused to credit the 
 tale of her intended's disloyalty. At last, however, the cruel 
 letter came ; it was enclosed in one to Hernan. It spoke of 
 the impolicy of early engagements, of the misery of mar- 
 ried poverty, of the difficulty of governing the affections,
 
 THE DESERTER'S DREAM. 177 
 
 i 
 
 and of the danger of wedding when love has begun to 
 decay. 
 
 Hernan watched the effect of the letter, and congratulated 
 himself on its success ; still Blanche disbelieved her senses, 
 but dared not utter her suspicions. Hernan knew, too, that 
 it was so, yet he trusted in the versatility of his talents to 
 bring his schemes to a successful issue. 
 
 Her father's influence was exerted in his favor, and 
 Blanche was told that she must discard her former lover 
 from her heart. She had loved too truly, however, to obey 
 the command, and she determined not to wed another till 
 she had heard from his own lips that he was indeed 
 changed. 
 
 Hernan Daggerfeldt knelt at the feet of Blanche D'Au- 
 bigne. He had seized her hand, and was pressing it with 
 rapture to his lips, while she in vain endeavored to with- 
 draw it. 
 
 " Rise, sir, rise," she said ; " you wrong me you wrong 
 him who is away your friend, the preserver of your life. 
 While he lives, I am his, and his alone ! " 
 
 " I do not wrong him," he answered. " His nature is 
 fickle, and if he no longer loves you, will not woman's pride 
 teach you to forget him ? " 
 
 " I know not that he no longer loves me," she replied. 
 
 "Did not his letter convince you?" he asked. 
 
 " That letter ! No, sir," she replied, rising proudly from 
 her seat, and a smile of unwonted bitterness curling her lip. 
 " That letter was a forgery." 
 
 " On my sacred word, on my soul, it was not ! " he cried, 
 vehemently. "It is you who wrong me and my devoted 
 love. Be mine, and let me enjoy the only heaven I seek. 
 If I speak not the truth, may the Powers above strike me 
 this moment dead at your feet ! " 
 
 12
 
 178 THE CRUISE OF THE " FEOLIC." 
 
 Blanche shuddered at his words. At that instant a dark 
 form seemed to rise up between them, and to gaze with 
 threatening aspect at Hernan, while it shielded Blanche from 
 him. Soon it assumed the form of Edward Staunton, and 
 beckoning Hernan to follow, slowly receded from the room. 
 Even the deceiver trembled, and daring not to disobey, fol- 
 lowed the phantom. 
 
 It led him through dark chambers, beneath roaring water- 
 falls, along dizzy heights, whence the sea-birds could scarce 
 be seen in the depths below, on the wild shore, where the 
 fierce waves dashed with terrific fury, while the tempest 
 raged, and the lightnings flashed around his head, and then 
 with a derisive shriek which sounded high above the furious 
 turmoil, disappeared amid the boiling ocean. 
 
 " Such, traitor, shall be thy fate ! " were the words it 
 spoke. 
 
 Again Hernan dreamed that Blanche had promised to be 
 his, a prize bought at the cost of further perjury. Ed- 
 ward for long had been unheard of ; he was still a rover in 
 far-off climes. Mr. D'Aubigne* was satisfied and rejoiced at 
 the thoughts of finding a wealthy husband for his daughter. 
 Hernan was with his intended bride when a messenger 
 arrived, breathless with haste, to summon him to the death- 
 bed of his parent. 
 
 He hurried thither to listen to a tale the old man falter- 
 ingly whispered into his ear ; it was enough to freeze up, the 
 current in his veins. A stigma was on his birth, and 
 instant precautions were necessary, or the fatal secret 
 would be discovered which would consign him to poverty 
 and disgrace. 
 
 " You are my child," said the proud baronet, " yet for 
 long my wife had borne me none ; at length one came into 
 the world and died. You took its place, and my wife
 
 THE DESERTEE'S DKEAM. 179 
 
 believed you to be her own offspring. The change was ill- 
 managed, and the deceit is discovered by one who is my 
 enemy, and will be yours. I fancied that no one knew it, 
 till some years ago he came and convinced me that he was 
 aware of the truth. He then told me that should you be 
 worthy to succeed to my rank and fortune, the secret should 
 die with him ; but if not, my first lawful child, whom he 
 insisted on educating under his own inspection, should be 
 declared to have his rights. Though the terms seemed hard, 
 I was obliged to yield to his demands, and have ever since 
 been his slave. By his orders you were sent to sea, and will 
 be compelled shortly again to go ; and by his orders I have 
 made you acquainted with the dreadful tale I have now told 
 you. I know him well, and you too must become his slave. 
 He will probably insist on your again going to sea, and you 
 must obey him, or rue the consequences." 
 
 Scarcely stopping to close his father's eyes, who died 
 shortly after this disclosure, Hernan hurried off to endeavor 
 to propitiate the arbitrator of his destiny. The old man was 
 inflexible. He insisted on his forthwith returning to sea, 
 and refused to sanction his marriage with Blanche. Hernan 
 had good cause to suspect that his character was seen 
 through ; he dared not disobey. His appointment to the 
 
 frigate soon arrived, and framing an excuse to Blanche, 
 
 he prepared for his departure. Blanche received the account 
 without any regret, for though she was prepared to obey her 
 father, she did not love Hernan, as he well. knew. Her 
 heart was still with one whom she had been told was false 
 to her. The frigate on board which Hernan Daggerfeldt 
 was the junior lieutenant sailed for the coast of South Amer- 
 ica. Hernan felt that he was no favorite with his brother- 
 officers ; his fierce temper and overbearing manner was one 
 cause, while his constant scoffs at religion and honor was
 
 180 THE CRUISE OP THE " FROLIC." 
 
 another. When off Rio, they fell in Avith a frigate carrying 
 despatches to England. It was a dead calm, and a boat 
 from her was sent on board them to learn intelligence from 
 home. Two officers were in the boat ; one was Staunton. 
 Hernan in vain endeavored to avoid him. Staunton had a 
 thousand questions to ask, which Hernan might be able to 
 answer respecting his beloved Blanche. Was she well? 
 Had she received his letters? none of hers had reached 
 him. Hernan made the most plausible answers he could 
 invent. They spoke in the presence of two of his brother- 
 officers, and one of them, an old friend of Staunton's, knew 
 the truth. Accordingly, drawing him aside, he told him at 
 once that he believed Hernan had been speaking falsehoods. 
 Staunton's indignation knew no bounds, and he taxed Her- 
 nan with his duplicity and falsehood, though the sanctity of 
 the quarter-deck prevented him from proceeding to extremi- 
 ties. Hernan defended himself from the accusation, though 
 he felt that he was discovered, and he determined to revenge 
 himself on the man who had unmasked him to Staunton. 
 He, however, bided his time ; but he suspected that by some 
 means or other more of his secrets might be known to his 
 shipmate. 
 
 The frigate had been for some time on the coast of 
 America, when, receiving some damage in a heavy gale, 
 
 she put into the harbor of to refit. She lay there 
 
 for some time, and the officers were constantly, when duty 
 allowed, on shore. It was a dark night, when Hernan, 
 accompanied by young Selwyn, the friend of Staunton, 
 was returning, after an excursion into the country, on 
 board. They had left their horses at the town, and were 
 walking along the beach on foot ; young Selwyn thought- 
 lessly alluded to Staunton and Blanche D'Aubigne, and 
 while he spoke the spirit of a demon entered into Hernan
 
 THE FLIGHT. 181 
 
 Daggerfaldt's heart. A sharp cry awoke the stillness of 
 night a deed had been done no poAver on earth could 
 recall. He fled he knew not whither ; vipers seemed 
 twining round his heart ; burning coals were raining on 
 his head, and while heavy weights were clogging his limbs, 
 a thousand fierce bloodhounds urged him to fly. He awoke, 
 the perspiration standing in large drops on his brow, while 
 he gasped for breath ; yet there he still lay in the loft 
 where Juanetta had concealed him. Was all that had oc- 
 curred an empty dream, or was it the re-acting of a dreadful 
 reali ty ? 
 
 THE FLIGHT. 
 
 The following morning Juan, or rather Hernan Dagger- 
 feldt, was awoke by the entrance of Sefior Ribiera's black 
 slave, with a basket of provisions. 
 
 "Why does not your mistress come to me herself?" in- 
 quired Hernan, who dreaded being abandoned by the only 
 human being in whom he could trust. 
 
 " Donna Juauetta is with her father, and till he goes out 
 she cannot come to see you," answered the slave. " He is 
 a stern man, and were he to discover that you are here 
 without his leave, and that his daughter loved you, he would 
 kill you without ceremony. Ah, seiior ! you do not know 
 what these Spanish gentlemen are capable of." 
 
 " Well, you must take care that he does not discover I 
 am here till that cursed ship in the harbor has sailed 
 away ; and now listen to me what is your name, 
 though?" 
 
 " Mauro, at your service, senor," said the slave. 
 
 "There, Mauro there is a piece of gold. You shall 
 have a larger piece by and by. It will go towards buying 
 your freedom."
 
 182 THE CRUISE OF THE "PEOLIC." 
 
 " My freedom ! " muttered the African. " What does 
 that mean? Ah, yes, I know. It would be of no value to 
 me now. Had it come when I was yet young, and could 
 have returned to those I loved across the ocean, I 
 should have prized it. Now they are all dead, and those 
 I love best are in this house. My mistress told me 
 to do your bidding. What is it you require of me, 
 senor ? " 
 
 " First, I wish you to procure me a suit of Spanish 
 clothes, fit for a gentleman to appear in, and then you must 
 take this uniform, coat, and hat, and as soon as it is dark, 
 carry them down to the sea-shore, and place them as if the 
 waves had thrown them there. They will certainly be dis- 
 covered, and it will appear that I have been drowned, and 
 then no further search will be made after me." 
 
 "A very good idea, senor," said Mauro, rubbing his 
 hands with pleasure, for he was delighted to be employed 
 in a scheme by which those in authority, whom he looked 
 upon as oppressors, might be deceived. Such is the feeling 
 of slaves in general. 
 
 While her father took his siesta, Juanetta visited her 
 prisoner, and Hernan employed the time in endeavoring to 
 convince her of his love for her, and his innocence of the 
 crime of which he was suspected. In both he succeeded 
 too well. 
 
 In the evening Mauro returned with the suit of clothes he 
 had purchased ; and Hernan having exchanged them for his 
 own, pierced the latter with his sword, and deliberately 
 drawing blood from his arm, soaked them in it. 
 
 Mauro, who well understood what he was to do, wrapped 
 them up in a bundle, and as soon as it was dark carried 
 them off. 
 
 We will pass over several days, during which Daggerfeldt
 
 THE FLIGHT. 183 
 
 remained concealed without any one in the house suspecting 
 that he was in the garret. 
 
 At last one morning Mauro came in rubbing his hands 
 with delight. " You are free, sefior, you are free ! " he 
 exclaimed ; " the big ship with the many guns is even now 
 sailing out of the harbor, and all you have got to do now 
 is to come down to beg Senor Ribiera's pardon for living 
 so long in his house without his leave, and to marry his 
 daughter." 
 
 " Curses go with her ! " ejaculated Hernan, fiercely. " I 
 will still wreak my vengeance on some of those who sail on 
 board her. But tell me, Mauro, did your lady say I might 
 venture into her father's presence ? " 
 
 " Not exactly, sefior, and perhaps it might be as well to 
 prepare the old gentleman for your appearance, as he yet 
 believes, like the rest of the world, that you are food for the 
 sharks." 
 
 " Then, my good Mauro, go and urge her to come here 
 to concert the best way to release me. I pant once more to 
 stretch my limbs on the open shore, and to breathe the pure 
 air of heaven." 
 
 Some time elapsed after the slave had gone to fulfil his 
 mission before Juanetta appeared. She then came with a 
 sad countenance and tears in her eyes. 
 
 " Oh, senor ! " she said, " the ship has sailed, and I hoped 
 that the news would have made us both happy ; but, alas ! 
 when I told my father what I had done, and how I had 
 preserved your life from those tyrants, he stormed and raved, 
 and declared that I had behaved very wickedly, and that he 
 would deliver you up to the authorities. Fortunately I did 
 not tell him that you were still here ; but, as Mauro had 
 cautioned me, I led him to suppose that you had made your 
 escape up the country."
 
 184 THE CBTJISB OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 " That was a happy idea of yours, my Juanetta," said 
 Daggerfeldt. " Your father must in some way be gained to 
 our wishes. You are his only child, and he is enormously 
 rich, you say plenty of gold stored up in bars in his house. 
 Stay, I must think over the subject. Sit down by me, and 
 I will unfold my plans." 
 
 He was silent for some time, and then he continued, while 
 Juanetta, who was incapable of fathoming the depths of his 
 deceit, listened to him without suspicion. 
 
 " Now, Juanetta, dear, you must not be startled by the 
 plan I am going to propose. From what you tell me, your 
 father is prejudiced against me, and will not willingly give 
 his consent to our marriage, so we must marry first, and ask 
 his forgiveness afterwards. He will then, I have no doubt, 
 pardon us, and give us as much gold as we may require. 
 Now, as I have no money, and no priest will marry us 
 without, we must contrive to borrow some of his. We can 
 return it afterwards, you know. I propose, therefore, that 
 you show me some night where he keeps his gold, and then 
 I will take a little of it, as much as we may require, and 
 then we will fly together to the nearest place where we can 
 find a priest to unite us. Shall we not do so, dearest ? The 
 plan may seem to you dangerous and wrong, but let no fears 
 alarm you. We will afterwards explain our motives, and 
 the old man will forgive you." 
 
 Poor Juanetta, had she known this world and the wick- 
 edness in it, would have flown with horror from the betrayer ; 
 but she was ignorant of its evil ways she listened and 
 hesitated. No arguments which sophistry could invent were 
 left untried. The deceiver was victorious. 
 
 That night the keys of the old man's money-chests were 
 stolen from beneath his pillow. The following morning he
 
 THE FLIGHT. 185 
 
 found them where he had placed them, and, unsuspecting, 
 did not think of counting his hoarded gold. 
 
 His daughter dared not again speak to him of the stranger 
 she had preserved. He believed that he had long ago 
 escaped into the interior, and forbore to make further in- 
 quiries about him. Daggerfeldt was no longer an inhab- 
 itant of his house. 
 
 A foreign merchant, of considerable wealth at command, 
 had arrived, it was said, from the interior, and had taken 
 up his abode in the town. He had become the purchaser 
 of a large schooner, which was taking in a cargo of goods 
 for the African coast. Don Manuel Ribiera, on hearing 
 this, invited the stranger to his house, for he himself was a 
 dealer in slaves, and wished to make some arrangements 
 respecting the return cargo. 
 
 On the unexpected appearance of the stranger, Donna 
 Juanetta started ; but her presence of mind quickly returned, 
 for she felt the importance of discretion. Her father ob- 
 served her momentary confusion, and apologized to his 
 guest, attributing it to her being unaccustomed to receive 
 strangers. 
 
 Soon afterwards, some business called Senor Ribiera 
 from the room, and Juanetta was left alone with their 
 guest. 
 
 " Oh, Juan, how could you venture here?" she exclaimed 
 to the pretended merchant, who was no other than Dagger- 
 feldt. " My father will discover you, and your ruin and 
 mine must follow." 
 
 " No fear, dearest. He is blinded by the prospect of 
 profit," answered Hernan. " He has, too, scarcely seen me 
 before, and then only in uniform. It was also necessary to 
 run some risks to gain our ends. I have made all the 
 necessary arrangements, and this night you are to be mine.
 
 186 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 The cost, however, has been considerable, and we must 
 borrow a little more from your father's money-chests to pay 
 the priest who is to unite us." 
 
 Daggerfeldt had scarcely arranged his plans with his 
 credulous dupe when Senor Ribiera returned. As may be 
 supposed, he was induced to arrange a plan to dispose of his 
 slaves on his return on terms highly advantageous to the old 
 slave-dealer ; and after being entertained magnificently, he 
 was conducted to his sleeping apartment. Instead of retir- 
 ing to rest, Daggerfelt employed himself in loading his 
 pistols and listening attentively for the arrival of some one 
 apparently, but not a sound disturbed the silence of the 
 night. At last, losing patience, he opened his door, 
 and was met by Juanetta. The poor girl was pale and 
 trembling. 
 
 " Here are the keys," she said ; " but, oh, senor, I do not 
 like this work surely it is very wicked ! " 
 
 " Pretty fool," he answered, abruptly, " it is too late to 
 recede now. There is nothing to alarm you. Wait in this 
 room till I return." Saying this, he was about to leave 
 her, when footsteps were heard approaching the house. He 
 listened attentively. 
 
 " It is right," he observed ; " those are some people I 
 have engaged to assist us in our flight." 
 
 Just then some men sprang into the room through the 
 open window. Poor Juanetta uttered a cry of terror, but it 
 was instantly silenced by Daggerfeldt, who ordered two of 
 the men to take charge of her while the rest followed him 
 to the chamber of Don Ribiera. The unhappy girl listened, 
 horror-struck and bewildered. There was a cry and a 
 groan, and soon afterwards Daggerfeldt returned, accom- 
 panied by the men carrying several heavy chests between 
 them.
 
 THE FLIGHT. 187 
 
 " Onward," said the traitor, " and you, my fair lady, must 
 accompany us. The ship is waiting to bear us to far-off 
 lands, where you may become my bride." 
 
 The next morning, the new slave schooner was seen in 
 the offing, and when people went to the house of Don 
 Ribiera, he was found dead in his bed, his money-chests 
 were gone, and his daughter had fled, while his slaves were 
 only just awaking from a heavy sleep, for which none of 
 them could account. Mauro, too, had disappeared, and all 
 the watch-dogs were dead.
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE BLACK SLAVER (CONTINUED) THE CHASE THE SLAVER 
 THE CAPTURE THE ESCAPE THE PURSUIT. 
 
 THE CHASE. 
 
 WE left her Britannic Majesty's brig " Sylph" in chase 
 of a strange sail on the coast of Africa. The wind was 
 from the Avestward, and she was standing on a bowline to 
 the southward, with the coast clearly seen broad on the lee- 
 beam. Captain Staunton ordered every expedient he could 
 think of to be tried to increase the speed of his vessel, for 
 the stranger was evidently a very fast sailer, though it was 
 at first difficult to say whether or not she was increasing 
 her distance from them. At all events, the British crew 
 soon saw that it would be hopeless to expect to come up 
 with the stranger before dark, for the sun was just sinking 
 below the horizon, and the thick mists were already rising 
 over the wooded shore, and yet they appeared to be no 
 nearer to her than they were when they first made sail in 
 chase. It was a magnificent sailing breeze, just sufficient 
 for both vessels to carry their topgallant-sails and royals 
 without fear of springing their spars, and the sea was per- 
 fectly smooth, merely rippled over by the playful wind. In- 
 deed, as the two vessels glided proudly along over the calm 
 waters, they appeared rather to be engaged in some friendly 
 race than anxious to lead each other to destruction. All 
 the officers of the " Sylph " were on deck with their glasses 
 constantly at their eyes, as the last rays of the sun tinged 
 
 188
 
 THE CHASE. 189 
 
 the royals of the chase, and so clearly was every spar and 
 rope defined through that pure atmosphere, that it was diffi- 
 cult to believe that she was not within range of their guns. 
 Captain Staunton and his first lieutenant walked together 
 on the weather side of the deck. 
 
 "Do you think she is the ' Espanto,' Mr. Collins?" 
 asked the captain. 
 
 " I have no doubt about it, sir," answered the officer ad- 
 dressed. " I watched her narrowly when we chased her 
 off Loanda the last time she was on the coast, and I pulled 
 round her several times when she lay in the harbor of St. 
 Jago da Cuba, just a year and a half ago." 
 
 " She has had a long run of iniquity," said the captain ; 
 " two years our cruisers have been on the look-out for her, 
 and have never yet been able to overhaul her." 
 
 " That Daggerfeldt must be a desperate villain, if re- 
 port speaks true," observed the lieutenant ; " I think, sir, 
 you seemed to say you once knew him." 
 
 " I did, to my cost," answered Captain Staunton ; " that 
 man's life has been a tissue of treachery and deceit from his 
 earliest days. He once disgraced our noble service. He 
 murdered a shipmate and ran from his ship on the coast of 
 America. It was reported for some time that he was dead, 
 by his clothes having been found torn and bloody on the 
 shore, and his family, fortunately for them, believed the 
 story. It was, however, afterwards discovered that he had 
 been sheltered by a Spanish girl, and, in gratitude for his 
 preservation, he carried her off, robbed her father of all his 
 wealth, and either frightened him to death or smothered 
 him. The unhappy girl has, it is said, ever since sailed 
 with him, and it is to be hoped she is not aware of the eno'r- 
 mity of his guilt. Pirate and slaver, he has committed 
 every atrocity human nature is capable of."
 
 190 THE CRUISE OF THE " FEOLIC." 
 
 " A very perfect scoundrel, in truth, sir," answered Mr. 
 Collins. " It was said, too, I remember, that he was going 
 to marry a very beautiful girl in England. What an escape 
 for her ! " 
 
 " No, he was not going to marry her ! " exclaimed the 
 captain, with unusual vehemence. " Her father, perhaps, 
 wished it, but she would never have consented. Collins, 
 you are my friend, and I will tell you the truth. That lady, 
 Blanche D'Aubigne", was engaged to me, and never would 
 have broken her faith to me while she believed me alive. 
 By a series of forgeries, Daggerfeldt endeavored to per- 
 suade her that I was false to her, though she would not be- 
 lieve him. On my return home she is to become my wife. 
 We were to have married directly I got my promotion, 
 but I was so immediately sent out here that I was able to 
 spend but one day in her society. I wished to have secured 
 her a pension in case this delightful climate should knock 
 me on the head, but she would not hear of it. Poor girl, 
 I have left her what little fortune I possess, Collins ; I could 
 not do less. Those who live on shore at ease can't say we 
 enjoy too much of the pleasures of home, or don't earn the 
 Queen's biscuit. Bless her Majesty ! " 
 
 " I don't know that, sir. There are, I hear, though I 
 never fell in with any of them, a set of lying traitors at 
 home, who say we are no better than pirates, and want to do 
 away with the navy altogether. If they were to succeed in 
 their roguish projects, there would be an end of Old England 
 altogether, say I." 
 
 " They never will succeed, Collins, depend upon that. 
 There is still too much sense left in the country ; but if 
 her Majesty's government were to employ her cruisers in 
 any other part of the world than on this pestiferous coast, 
 the cause of humanity would benefit by the change. For
 
 THE CHASE. 191 
 
 every prize we capture, ten escape, and our being here 
 scarcely raises the price of slaves in the Cuban and Bra- 
 zilian markets five dollars a head ; while the Spaniards and 
 Portuguese, notwithstanding their treaties, do all they can 
 to favor the traffic. Do we gain on the chase, do you think, 
 Collins?" 
 
 " Not a foot, I fear, sir," answered the lieutenant. 
 " That brig is a fast craft, and though I don't believe, as 
 some of the people do, that the skipper has signed a con- 
 tract with Davy Jones, she is rightly called by them the 
 ' Black Slaver.' " 
 
 " If the breeze freshens, we may overhaul her, but if not, 
 she may double on us in the dark, and again get away," 
 observed the captain. " Take care a bright look-out is 
 kept for'ard." 
 
 " Ay, ay, sir," answered the lieutenant, repeating the 
 order and adjusting his night-glass ; " she hasn't altered her 
 course, at all events." 
 
 By this time daylight had totally disappeared, although a 
 pale crescent moon in the clear sky afforded light sufficient 
 for objects to be distinguished at some distance. Few of 
 the officers turned in, but the watch below were ordered to 
 their hammocks to recruit their strength for the services 
 they might be required to perform on the morrow, as Cap- 
 tain Staunton had determined, should the wind fail, to attack 
 the chase in his boats. When the enemy is well armed and 
 determined, this a very dangerous operation, and in the 
 present instance there could be no doubt that he who com- 
 manded the " Black Slaver " would not yield without a des- 
 perate resistance. Look-outs were stationed at the mast- 
 heads as well as forward, and every eye was employed in 
 endeavoring to keep her in sight no easy task with the 
 increasing darkness for a light mist was gradually filling
 
 192 THE CKUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 the atmosphere, and the moon itself was sinking into the 
 ocean. The breeze, however, appeared to be increasing ; 
 the brig felt its force, and heeled gracefully over to it as the 
 water bubbled and frothed against her bows. 
 
 "What are the odds we don't catch her after all?" said 
 young Wildgrave to his messmate ; "I hate these long 
 chases, when one never comes up with the enemy." 
 
 "So do I," answered his companion. " But to tell you 
 the truth, I have a presentiment that we shall come up with 
 her this time, and bring her to action too. She has escaped 
 us twice before, and the third time will, I think, be fatal to 
 her. By-the-by , where is she though ? " 
 
 "Fore-yard, there!" sang out the first lieutenant, "can 
 you see the chase ? " 
 
 " I did a moment ago, sir ; no, sir, I can see her no- 
 where." 
 
 A similar answer was returned from the other look-outs. 
 She was nowhere visible. 
 
 THE SLAVER. 
 
 The "Black Slaver" well deserved her name. Pier hull 
 was"t>lack, without the usual relief of a colored ribbon ; her 
 masts and spars were of the same ebon hue, her cargo was 
 black, and surely her decks were dark as the darkest night. 
 She was a very large vessel, certainly upwards of three 
 hundred tons, and also heavily armed with a long brass gun 
 amidships, and ten long nines in battery, besides small brass 
 swivel-guns mounted on her quarter, to aid in defending her 
 against an attack in boats. 
 
 Her crew was composed of every nation under the sun, 
 for crime makes all men brothers, but brothers who, Cain- 
 like, were ready any moment to imbrue their hands in 
 each other's blood ; and their costume was as varied as their
 
 THE SLAVER. 193 
 
 language a mixture of that of many nations. A mongrel 
 Spanish, however, was the language in which all orders 
 were issued, as being that spoken by the greater number of 
 the people. She was a very beautiful and powerful vessel, 
 and all the arrangements on board betokened strict attention 
 to nautical discipline. For more than two years she had 
 run her evil career with undeserved success, and her captain 
 and owner was reputed to be a wealthy man, already in pos- 
 session of several estates in Cuba. Slaving was his most 
 profitable and safe occupation, mixed up with a little piracy, 
 as occasion offered, without fear of detection. Several 
 slavers had unaccountably disappeared, which had certainly 
 not been taken by English cruisers, and others had returned 
 to the coast complaining that they had been robbed of their 
 slaves by a large armed schooner, which had put on board a 
 few bales of colored cottons, with an order to them to go 
 back and take in a fresh cargo of human beings. The 
 " Espanto " was more than suspected of being the culprit ; 
 but she was always so disguised that it was difficult to bring 
 the accusation home to her, while they themselves being ille- 
 gally employed, could obtain no redress in a court of law. 
 
 She had for some time been cruising, as .usual, in the 
 hopes of picking up a cargo without taking the trouble of 
 looking into the coast for it, when, weary of waiting, and 
 being short of water and provisions, the captain determined 
 to run the risk of procuring one by the usual method. 
 
 From the ruse practised by the " Sylph," she was not seen 
 by his look-outs till he was nearly close up to her. He was 
 in no way alarmed, however, for he recognized the British 
 man-of-war, and knowing the respective rate of sailing of 
 the two vessels, felt certain, if the wind held, to be able to 
 walk away from her. To make certain what she was, he 
 had stood on some time after he had first seen her, a circum- 
 
 18
 
 194 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 stance which had, as we mentioned, somewhat surprised 
 Captain Staunton and his officers. Having ascertained that 
 the sail inside of him was the " Sylph," he hauled his wind, 
 and making all sail, before an hour of the first watch had 
 passed, aided by the darkness, he had completely run her 
 out of sight. When he stood in he had been making for 
 the Pongos River ; but being prevented from getting in there, 
 he determined to run for the Coanza River, some forty miles 
 further to the south, before day-break, and as the mouth is 
 narrow, and entirely concealed by trees, he had many 
 chances in his favor of remaining concealed there while the 
 British man-of-war passed by. A slave-agent, also, of his 
 resided in the neighborhood, who would be able to supply 
 him at the shortest notice, and at moderate prices, with a 
 cargo of his fellow-beings. At this rendezvous he knew 
 there would be a look-out for him, and that there were pilots 
 ready to assist him in entering the river. 
 
 " Square the yards and keep her away, Antonio," he sung 
 out to his first mate, a ferocious-looking mulatto, who was 
 
 conning the vessel. " We are just abreast of Point, 
 
 and Diogo, if he has his eyes open, ought to see us." 
 
 The helm, was kept up, the yards were squared, and the 
 vessel stood stem on towards the shore. 
 
 Before long the dark line of a tree-fringed coast was visi- 
 ble, when she was again brought to the wind ; her lower 
 sails were furled, and she was hove-to under her topsails. 
 
 " We must make a signal, or the lazy blacks will never 
 find us out, senor captain," observed Antonio to his chief. 
 
 " Yes, we must run the risk : we shall not be in before 
 daylight if we do not, and the enemy will scarcely distin- 
 guish from what direction the report of the gun comes. Be 
 smart about it though." 
 
 A gun from the lee quarter was accordingly discharged,
 
 THE 6LAVEB. 195 
 
 the dull echoes from which were heard rebounding along 
 the shore, and directly afterwards a blue-light was fired, the 
 bright flame giving a spectre-like appearance to the slaver 
 and her evil-doing crew. They might well have been taken 
 for one of those phantom barks said to cruise about the 
 ocean either to warn mariners of coming danger or to lure 
 them to destruction. 
 
 Soon afterwards a small light was seen to burst out, as it 
 seemed, from the dark line, and to glide slowly over the 
 water towards them. Gradually it increased, and as it ap- 
 proached nearer, it was seen to proceed from a fire burning 
 in the bow of a large canoe pulled by a dozen black fellows. 
 When it came alongside, two of them scrambled on board, 
 and recognizing the captain, welcomed him to the coast. 
 Their language was a curious mixture of Spanish, Portu- 
 guese, English, and African. 
 
 " Ah, senor captain, berry glad you et Espanto, come esta 
 nocha, viento es favoravel, for run up de river Diogo 
 me vos on the look-out you, sabe." 
 
 Having thus delivered- himself, the chief pilot went aft to 
 the helm with much the same air as one of his European 
 brethren, habited in Flushing coat and tarpaulin hat, 
 although the only garment he boasted was a blue shirt, 
 secured at the waist by a piece of spun-yarn, and a red 
 handkerchief bound round his head. 
 
 " Up with the helm, then square away the yards ! " sung 
 out the captain, and the vessel, under the direction of the 
 negro, was standing dead on to the apparently unbroken 
 line of dark shore. 
 
 It required great confidence in the honesty and knowledge 
 of the pilot for the crew not to believe that he was running 
 the schooner on shore, for such a thing had been more than 
 once before done.
 
 196 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 " Remember," whispered Antonio, as he passed him, 
 " if the vessel touches, my pistol sends a ball through your 
 head." 
 
 " No tien duvida, senor, contremestre," answered Quacko, 
 quite unmoved by the threat, as being one to which he was 
 well accustomed. 
 
 " Viento favoravel, rio fundo. Have de anchor pronto to 
 let go." 
 
 The bowsprit of the schooner was now almost among the 
 mangrove bushes. 
 
 " Stivordo ! " sung out the pilot. 
 
 A yellow line of sand was seen over her quarter. This 
 seemed to spring up from the sea on either side, like dark, 
 shapeless phantoms, eager to destroy the slaver's crew, the 
 spirits of those their cruelty had sent from this world. 
 Taller and taller they grew, for so calmly did the vessel 
 glide on, that she appeared not to move, yet the broad open 
 sea was completely shut out from the view of those on board ; 
 a narrow dark line, in which the reflection of a star was 
 here and there visible, was the only water seen as still, on 
 the schooner moved. 
 
 " Bombordo ! " sung out the pilot. 
 
 The helm was put to port, and the schooner glided into 
 another passage, her yards, as they were squared away or 
 braced up to meet the alterations in her course, almost 
 brushing the branches of the lofty trees. For some minutes 
 more she ran on, till the stream grew suddenly wider, and 
 a little bay, formed by a bend of the shore, appeared on the 
 starboard hand, into which she glided. The anchor was let 
 go, the topsails were furled, and so entirely was she con- 
 cealed by the overhanging boughs, that a boat might have 
 passed down the centre of the stream without seeing her. 
 
 At dawn the next morning a busy scene was going on on
 
 THE SLAVBK. 197 
 
 board and round the slaver. Her crew, aided by a number 
 of negroes, were employed in setting up her rigging and 
 fitting slave-decks, while several canoes were assisting her 
 boats in bringing water and provisions alongside. Thus 
 they were employed" without cessation for two days. There 
 was no play, it was all hard, earnest work. It is a pity 
 they were not laboring in a good cause instead of a bad 
 one. 
 
 In the mean time the King of , as he was called, in 
 
 reality the principal slave-dealer and greatest rogue in the 
 district, was collecting the negroes who had been kidnapped 
 by him or his allies, from whom he had bought them in the 
 neighboring provinces some as they were quietly fishing 
 in their canoes on the coast, others as they were seated be- 
 neath the shade of the palm-tree in their native forest, or 
 were coming from the far interior with a load of oil or ivory, 
 to sell to the nearest trader untutored savages, who per- 
 haps had never before seen the face of a white man, or the 
 blue dancing ocean. It is no wonder that they paint the 
 Devil white, and believe the sea is the passage to his realms. 
 Eight hundred human beings were thus collected to be con- 
 veyed in that fell bark to the Far West, there to wear out 
 their lives in hopeless slavery. 
 
 The greater part of the fourth day was spent in receiving 
 half the number on board, and stowing them below. This 
 operation was performed by men whose especial trade it is. 
 The unhappy wretches are compelled to sit down with their 
 legs bent under them, so closely packed that they cover 
 but little more space than the length of their feet, between 
 decks, little more than a yard high ; and thus they remain, 
 bolted down to the decks, the whole voyage, a few only 
 being allowed to come up at a time to be aired, while the 
 smallest quantity of water possible is afforded them to 
 quench their burning thirst.
 
 198 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 THE CAPTURE. 
 
 The work for the day was nearly concluded, and the 
 captain of the slaver was walking by himself beneath the 
 awning spread over the after-part of the deck, when he 
 observed a canoe suddenly dart out of the main stream into 
 the bay where the schooner lay concealed. It was soon 
 alongside, when a black jumped on board. 
 
 " Sefior capitan, you must be pronto," he said. " Big man- 
 of-war come, big canoe, mucho hombres, come up river." 
 
 "Ah, have they found me out?" muttered the captain to 
 himself. " I'll give them a warm reception if they do come. 
 Very Avell, Queebo," he said aloud, " now pull back and 
 watch them narrowly. Take care they don't see you, and 
 come and report their movements to me." 
 
 At a signal all the crew were summoned on board, the 
 awning was handed, boarding-nettings were triced up. the 
 guns were double-shotted and run out, and a thick screen of 
 boughs was carried across the part of the bay so as still 
 further to conceal the schooner from the eye of any stranger. 
 Two guns were also sent on shore and planted in battery, so 
 as to command the entrance of the bay. Every other pre- 
 caution was likewise taken to avoid discovery ; all fires were 
 extinguished, and the blacks were ordered to remove from 
 the neighborhood. 
 
 By the time these arrangements had been made, the scout 
 returned to give notice that two boats had entered the river, 
 and were exploring one of the numerous passages of the 
 stream. The captain on this ordered the scout to remain on 
 board, lest he might betray their whereabouts to the enemy. 
 He had no wish to destroy the boats, as so doing would not 
 benefit him ; concealment, not fighting, was his object. 
 When night, however, came on, he sent out the scout to
 
 THE CAPTUEB. 199 
 
 gain further intelligence. Scarcely had the man gone, when 
 he returned, and noiselessly stepped on deck. 
 
 " Hist, senor, hist ! " he whispered. " They are close at 
 hand, little dreaming we are near them." 
 
 " Whereabouts? " inquired the captain. 
 
 " On the other side of the long island which divides the 
 middle from the southern stream," was the substance of 
 the reply. 
 
 " We'll attack them then, and either kill or make them all 
 prisoners. They may be useful as hostages," muttered the 
 captain, and calling Antonio to him, he ordered him to man 
 two boats with the most trustworthy of their people, and 
 carefully to muffle the oars. This done, both boats left the 
 schooner, under his command, in the direction indicated by 
 the scout. 
 
 They pulled across the channel to a thickly-wooded island 
 indicated by the scout. The negro landed, and in a few 
 minutes came back. 
 
 " Dere dey are, senor," he whispered ; " you may kill all 
 fast asleep ; berry good time now ; no make noise." 
 
 On hearing this, the slavers, all of whom were armed to 
 the teeth, advanced cautiously across the island, by a path 
 with which Queebo seemed well acquainted. The black 
 pointed between the trees, and there was seen the head of 
 a man, fast asleep in the stern-sheets of a boat. Just then a 
 light rustling noise was heard, and a figure was seen ad- 
 vancing close up to where the slavers were crouching down, 
 ready for the command of their officer to fire. 
 
 He advanced slowly, looking out for the very path ap- 
 parently by which they had gained the spot. He reached 
 within almost an arm's length of the captain. The impulse 
 was irresistible ; and before the stranger was aware any one 
 was near him, he was felled to the ground, and a handker-.
 
 200 THE CRUISE OP THE " FEOLIC." 
 
 chief was passed over his mouth, so that he could not utter 
 a cry for help. Two other men, who were doing duty as 
 sentinels on shore, were in like manner surprised and 
 gagged, without uttering a sound to alarm the rest. The 
 slavers then advanced close up to the nearest boat, and 
 pouring a volley from their deadly trabucos into her, killed 
 or wounded nearly all her crew. A larger boat was moored 
 at some little distance farther on, and her people being 
 aroused by the firing, they at once shoved off into the stream, 
 which the survivors of the other also succeeded in doing. 
 They then opened a fire on the slavers, but sheltered as they 
 were among the trees, it was ineffectual. 
 
 The contest was kept up for some time ; but reduced in 
 strength as the crews of the boats were, they were at last 
 obliged to retreat, while the slavers returned with their 
 prisoners to the schooner. As the slavers' boats were left 
 on the other side of the island, which extended for more 
 than a mile towards the sea, they were unable to follow 
 their retreating enemy had they been so inclined ; but in 
 fact they did not relish the thought of coming in actual con- 
 tact with British seamen, as they had good reason in be- 
 lieving the enemy to be, although weakened and dispirited 
 by defeat. 
 
 When the prisoners, who had not uttered a word, were 
 handed up on deck, the captain ordered lights to be brought, 
 for he had no longer any fear of being discovered. One 
 evidently, by his uniform, was an officer ; the other two 
 were seamen. The captain paced the deck in the interval 
 before lights were brought, grinding his teeth and clinching 
 his fists with rage, as he muttered to himself, 
 
 " He shall die he wears that hated uniform : it reminds 
 me of what I once was. Oh, this hell within me ! blood 
 must quench its fire."
 
 THE CAPTURE. 201 
 
 A seaman now brought aft a lantern ; its glare fell as well 
 on the features of the prisoner as on that of the slave cap- 
 tain. Both started. 
 
 " Staunton ! " ejaculated the latter. 
 
 " Daggerfeldt ! " exclaimed the prisoner. 
 
 " You know me, then ? " said the captain of the slaver, 
 bitterly ; " it will avail you little, though. I had wished it 
 had been another man ; but no matter you must take 
 your chance." 
 
 The slaver's crew were now thronging aft. 
 
 " Well, meos amigos," he continued, in a fierce tone, 
 " what is to be done with these spies? You are the judges, 
 and must decide the case." 
 
 " Enforca-los hang them, hang them at least the 
 officer. The other two may possibly enter, and they may 
 be of service : we want good seamen to work the vessel, 
 and these English generally are so." 
 
 " You hear what your fate is to be," said Daggerfeldt, 
 turning to Captain Staunton. " You had better prepare 
 for it. You may have some at home to regret your loss. 
 If you have any messages, I will take care to transmit them. 
 It is the only favor I can do you." 
 
 While he spoke, a bitter sneer curled his lip, and his voice 
 assumed a taunting tone, which he could not repress. 
 
 The gallant officer, proud in his consciousness of virtue, 
 confronted the villain boldly. 
 
 " I would receive no favor, even my life, from one whose 
 very name is a disgrace to humanity. Even if the message 
 I were to send was conveyed correctly, it would be polluted 
 by the bearer. It would be little satisfaction for my friends 
 to know that I was murdered in an African creek by the 
 hands of a rascally slaver." 
 
 While Staunton was uttering these words, which he did
 
 202 THE CRUISE OP THE " FROLIC." 
 
 in very bitterness of spirit, for, knowing the character of 
 the wretch with whom he had to deal, he had not the. re- 
 motest hope of saving either his own life or that of his 
 people, the rage of Daggerfeldt was rising till it surpassed 
 his control. 
 
 " Silence ! " he thundered, " or I will brain you on the 
 spot ! " 
 
 But Staunton stood unmoved. 
 
 " Madman, would you thus repay me for the life I saved? " 
 he asked, calmly. 
 
 " A curse on you for having saved it," answered the 
 pirate, fiercely, returning his sword, which he had half 
 drawn from its scabbard. " My hand," however, shall not 
 do the deed. Here, Antonio Diogo, here are the spies who 
 wish to interfere in our trade, and would send us all to 
 prison, or to the gallows, if they could catch us." 
 
 " The end of a rope and a dance on nothing for the 
 officer, say I," answered the mulatto mate. " See what his 
 followers will do ; speak to them in their own lingo, captain, 
 and ask them whether they choose to walk overboard or 
 join us." 
 
 While he was speaking, some of the crew brought aft the 
 two British seamen, with their hands lashed behind them. 
 Others, headed by Antonio, immediately seized Captain 
 Staunton, and led him to the gangway, one of the men 
 running aloft to reeve a rope through the studding-sail-sheet- 
 block on the main-yard. Staunton well knew what the 
 preparations meant, but he trembled not ; his whole anxiety 
 was for the boats' crews he had led in the expedition which 
 had ended so unfortunately, and for the two poor fellows 
 whose lives, he feared, were about also to be sacrificed by 
 the miscreants. 
 
 The British seamen watched what was going forward,
 
 THE CAPTURE. 203 
 
 and by the convulsive workings of their features, and the 
 exertions they were making to free their arms, were evi- 
 dently longing to strike a blow to rescue him. Daggerfeldt 
 was better able to confront them than he had been to face 
 Staunton. 
 
 " You are seamen belonging to a man-of-war outside 
 this river, and you came here to interfere with our 
 affairs?" 
 
 " You've hit it to an affigraphy, my bo'," answered one 
 of the men, glad, at all events, to get the use of his tongue. 
 " We belongs to her Majesty's brig ' Sylph,' and we came 
 into this here cursed hole to take you or any other slaver 
 we could fall in with ; and now you knows what I am, I'll 
 just tell you what you are a runaway scoundrel of a picca- 
 rooning villain, whom no honest man would consort with, 
 or even speak to, for that matter, except to give him a bit 
 of his mind ; and if you're not drowned, or blown up sky 
 high, you'll be hung, as you deserve, as sure as you're as 
 big a rascal as ever breathed. Now, put that in your pipe, 
 my bo', and smoke it." 
 
 While he was thus running on, to the evident satisfaction 
 of his shipmate, who, indifferent to their danger, seemed 
 mightily to enjoy the joke, Daggerfeldt in vain endeavored 
 to stop him. 
 
 " Silence ! " he shouted, " or you go overboard this mo- 
 ment ! " 
 
 " You must bawl louder than that, my bo', if you wants 
 to frighten Jack Hopkins, let me tell you," answered the 
 undaunted seaman. "What is it you want of us ? Come, 
 out Avith it ; some villany, I'll warrant." 
 
 The captain of the slaver ground his teeth with fury, 
 but he dared not kill the man who was bearding him, for 
 he could not explain to his crew the nature of the offen.ce,
 
 204 THE CBUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 a very venial one in their eyes, and he wanted some good 
 seamen. 
 
 " I overlook your insolence," he answered, restraining his 
 passion. " My crew are your judges. You have been con- 
 victed of endeavoring to capture us, and they give you your 
 choice of joining us, or of going overboard ; the dark stream 
 alongside swarms with alligators. That fate is too good for 
 your captain : he is to be hung." 
 
 " Why, what a cursed idiot you must be to suppose we'd 
 ship with" such a pretty set of scoundrels as you and your 
 men are," answered Jack Hopkins, with a laugh. " I speak 
 for myself and for Bob Short, too. It's all right, Bob, I 
 suppose?" he said, turning to his companion. " There's no 
 use shilly-shallying with these blackguards." 
 
 " Ay, ay ; I'm ready for what you are," replied Bob 
 Short, who had gained his name from the succinctness of 
 his observations apparently, rather than from his stature, 
 for he was six feet high, while the name by which Jack 
 Hopkins was generally known on board was Peter Palaver, 
 from his inveterate habits of loquacity. 
 
 " Well, then, look ye here, Mr. Daggerfeldt, I knowed 
 you many years ago for an ill-begotten spawn of you knows 
 what, and I knows you now for the biggest scoundrel un- 
 hung, so you must just take the compliments I've got to give 
 you. Now for the matter of dying, I'd rather die with a 
 brave, noble fellow like our skipper than live in company 
 with a man who has murdered his messmate, has seduced 
 the girl who sheltered him from justice, and would now 
 hang the man who saved his life. Your favors ! I'll have 
 none on 'em." 
 
 The fierce pirate and slaver stood abashed before the 
 wild outbreak of the bold sailor, but quickly recovering 
 himself, livid and trembling with rage, he shouted out to, 
 his creWj
 
 THE CAPTUBE. 205 
 
 " Heave these fools of Englishmen overboard ; they know 
 more of our secrets than they ought, and will not join us. 
 Send this talking fellow first." 
 
 " If it comes to that, I can find my tongue too, let me tell 
 you," exclaimed Bob Short ; " you're a murderous, rascally, 
 thieving " 
 
 " Heave them both together," shouted Daggerfeldt. 
 
 ' ; Stay," said Antonio, who was refined in his cruelty ; 
 " let them have the pleasure of seeing their captain hang 
 first, since they are so fond of him. He well knows what 
 their fate will be, and perhaps he would rather they went 
 overboard than joined us." 
 
 " Do as you like, but let it be done quickly," answered 
 Daggerfeldt. " I'm sick of this work, and we must be pre- 
 paring to get out of the river, or their friends will be send- 
 ing in here to look for us." 
 
 Hopkins and Short did not understand a word of this con- 
 versation, and finding themselves brought close up to where 
 their captain stood engaged in his devotions, and preparing 
 like a brave man for inevitable death, they believed that 
 they were to share his fate. 
 
 " Well, I'm bio wed if that ain't more than I expected of 
 the beggars," whispered Jack Hopkins to his companion ; 
 " they're going to do the thing that's right after all, and 
 launch us in our last cruise in the same way as the captain." 
 
 "Jack, can you pray?" asked Bob Short. 
 
 " Why, for the matter of that I was never much of a 
 hand at it," answered Jack ; " but when I was a youngster 
 I was taught to thank God for all his mercies, and I do so 
 still. Why do you ask?" 
 
 " I was thinking as how as the skipper is taking a spell at 
 it, whether we might ask him just to put in a word for us. 
 He knows more about it, and a captain of a man-of-war
 
 206 THE CRUISE OP THE "FROLIC." 
 
 must have a greater chance of being attended to than one 
 of us, you see, Jack." 
 
 Poor Bob could never thus have exerted himself had he 
 not felt that he should only have a few words more to speak 
 in this life. Jack looked at him in surprise. 
 
 " I'll ask him, Bob, I'll ask him ; but you know as how 
 the parson says, in the country we are going to all men 
 are equal, and so I suppose we ought to pray for ourselves." 
 
 " But we are still in this world, Jack," argued the other ; 
 " Captain Staunton is still our captain, and we are before 
 the mast." 
 
 He spoke loud, and Captain Staunton had apparently 
 overheard the conversation, for he smiled and looked towards 
 them. He had been offering up a prayer to the throne on 
 high for mercy for the failings of the two honest fellows, 
 whose ignorance it was now too late to enlighten. Antonio 
 was a pious Catholic, and, villain as he was, he was unwill- 
 ing not to give the chance of a quiet passage into the other 
 world to his victims. 
 
 " What are you about there ? " shouted Daggerfeldt ; " is 
 this work never to end ? " 
 
 " The men are praying, senior, before they slip their cables 
 for eternity," answered Antonio. 
 
 "Is there an eternity?" muttered the pirate, and shud- 
 dered. 
 
 On Captain Staunton's turning his head, on which the 
 light from the lantern fell strongly, Antonio believed it was 
 the signal that he was prepared, "Hoist away!" he 
 shouted, in Spanish ; but at that instant a light female form 
 rushed forth from the cabin, and seizing the whip, held 
 it forcibly down with one hand while she disengaged the 
 noose from the captain's neck. 
 
 " Oh, Juan ! have you not murders enough on your head
 
 THE CAPTURE. 207 
 
 already that you must commit another in cold blood ? " she 
 exclaimed, turning to Daggerfeldt, " and that other on one 
 who saved your life at the risk of his own. I knew him 
 before all my misery began, and recognized him at once. 
 If you persist, I leave you ; you know me well, I fear not 
 to die ; Antonio, you dare not disobey me. Unreeve that 
 rope, and leave me to settle with our captain regarding 
 these men." 
 
 The slaver's crew stood sulky and with frowning aspect 
 around her, yet they in no way interrupted her proceedings, 
 while Daggerfeldt stood a silent spectator in the after-part 
 of the vessel. 
 
 " Unreeve that rope ! again I say," she exclaimed, stamp- 
 ing on the deck with her foot. The order was obeyed with- 
 out the captain's interference. " Your lives are safe for the 
 present," she said, addressing the Englishmen. " I know 
 that man's humor, and he dares not now contradict me. I 
 am the only thing who yet clings to him, the only one he 
 thinks who loves him, the only being in whom he can place 
 his trust ; that explains my power." She spoke hurriedly and 
 low, so that Staunton alone could hear her, and there was 
 scorn in her tone. " Cast those men loose," she continued, 
 turning to the crew, while with her own hands she undid 
 the cords which lashed Staunton's arms, and as she did 
 so she whispered, " Keep together, and edge towards the 
 arms-chest. There are those on board who will aid me if 
 any attempt is made to injure you." 
 
 Saying this she approached the captain of the slaver ; she 
 touched his arm : " Juan," she said, in a softened tone, 
 totally different from that in which she had hitherto spoken ; 
 " I am wayward, and have my fancies. I felt certain that 
 your death would immediately follow that of those men. I 
 was asleep in my cabin, and dreamed that you were Strug-
 
 208 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 gling in the waves, and they, seizing hold of you, were about 
 to drag you down with them." 
 
 Daggerfeldt looked down at her as she stood in a suppli- 
 cating attitude before him. " You are fanciful, Juanetta ; 
 but you love me, girl." 
 
 " Have I not proved it? " she answered in a tone of sad- 
 ness ; " you will save the lives of these men? " 
 
 " I tell you I will. "We will carry them in chains to 
 Cuba, and there sell them as slaves." 
 
 " You must let them go free here," she answered. 
 
 " Impossible, Juanetta ; do you wish to betray me?" he 
 asked, fiercely. " Go to your cabin. The men shall not be 
 hurt, and they will be better off than the blacks on board." 
 
 She was silent, and then retired to her cabin, speaking on 
 her way a word to a negro who stood near the entrance. 
 " Mauro," she said, " watch those men, and if you observe 
 any signs of treachery, let me know." 
 
 The black signified that he comprehended her wishes, and 
 would obey them. 
 
 THE ESCAPE. 
 
 Captain Staunton and his companions were not allowed to 
 remain long at liberty ; for as soon as the lady had retired, 
 at a sign from Daggerfeldt, the slaver's crew again attempted 
 to lash their arms behind them, not, however, without some 
 resistance on the part of Hopkins and Short. The most 
 zealous in this work was the negro Mauro, who contrived, 
 as he was passing a rope round Captain Staunton's arm, to 
 whisper in his ear, " Make no resistance, senor, it is use- 
 less. You have friends near you. Tell your followers to 
 keep quiet. They can do themselves no good." 
 
 Staunton accordingly told his men to follow his example, 
 when they quietly submitted to their fate. Before this, he
 
 THE ESCAPE. 209 
 
 had contemplated the possibility of their being able to suc- 
 ceed in getting arms from the arms-chest, and either selling 
 their lives dearly, or jumping overboard and attempting to 
 reach the shore. In most slavers the lower deck is devoted 
 entirely to the slaves and the provisions, the men sleeping 
 under a topgallant-forecastle, or sometimes on the open 
 deck, and the captain and mates under the poop deck. 
 There was, therefore, no spare place in which to confine 
 the prisoners, and they were accordingly told to take up 
 their quarters under an awning stretched between two guns 
 in the waist. This was better accommodation than they 
 could have expected, for not only were they sheltered par- 
 tially from the dew, but were screened from the observation 
 of the crew, and were not subject to the suffocating heat of 
 the between-decks. 
 
 A night may, however, be more agreeably spent than on 
 a hard plank, up an African river, with a prospect of being 
 sent to feed the alligators in the morning, and the certainty 
 of a long separation from one's friends and country, not to 
 speak of the nine hundred and ninety-nine chances out of a 
 thousand of one's losing one's health, if not one's life, by 
 the insatiable yellow-fever. 
 
 The reflections of Captain Staunton were most bitter. 
 He thought not of himself, but of her he had loved so long 
 and faithfully ; she would believe him dead, and he knew 
 how poignant would be her grief. He felt sure that she 
 would not be faithless to his memory, but months, even 
 years, might pass before he might escape, or have the means 
 of informing her of his existence. While these ideas 
 were passing through his mind, it was impossible to sleep. 
 There were, too, the- midnight noises of the African clime : 
 the croaking of frogs, the chirrup of birds, the howl of wild 
 beasts, the cries, if not of fish, of innumerable amphibious 
 14
 
 210 THE CRUISE OP THE "FROLIC." 
 
 animals of flesh and fowl, and, more than all, the groans 
 and moans of the unhappy beings confined in their noisome 
 sepulchre below ; all combined to make a concert sounding 
 as might the distant echoes of Pandemonium. At length, 
 however, towards the morning, nature gave way, and he 
 forgot himself and his unfortunates in slumber. It had not 
 lasted many minutes when he was aroused by a hand placed 
 on his shoulder, while a soft hush was whispered in his ear. 
 At the same time he felt that there was a knife employed 
 in cutting the ropes which bound his arms. Something 
 told him that the person performing this office was a friend, 
 so he did not attempt to speak, but quietly waited to learn 
 what, he was next expected to do. Again the voice whis- 
 pered in his ear, 
 
 " Arouse your companions, if possible, but beware that 
 they do not speak aloud ; caution them in their ear as I did 
 you their heads are near where yours lies." 
 
 The voice which spoke, from its silvery tones, Staunton 
 felt certain was that of a female, as was the hand which 
 loosened his bonds. Without hesitation, therefore, he did 
 as he was desired, and putting his mouth down to Hopkins's 
 ear, he ordered him on his life not to utter a word. Jack was 
 awake in a moment, and alive to the state of affairs. They 
 had more difficulty in arousing Bob Short, who uttered sev- 
 eral very treacherous groans and grunts before he was quite 
 awake, though he fortunately did not speak. Had Captain 
 Staunton been aware that a sentry was actually posted out- 
 side the screen, he would have trembled for their safety. 
 Fortunately the man was fast asleep, reclining against the 
 bulwarks a fact ascertained by Jack Hopkins, who poked 
 his head from under the screen to ascertain how the coast 
 lay. Not a sound was heard to give notice that any of the 
 crew were stirring on deck. Staunton, feeling that his best
 
 THE PURSUIT. 211 
 
 course was to trust implicitly to his unseen guide, waited 
 till he received directions how to proceed. He soon felt 
 himself pulled gently by the arm towards the nearest port, 
 which was sufficiently raised to enable him to pass through 
 it. On putting his head out, he perceived through the ob- 
 scurity a canoe with a single person in it, hanging on along- 
 side the schooner. His guide dropped noiselessly into it, 
 and took her place in the stern ; Staunton cautiously fol- 
 lowed, and seating himself in the afterthwart, found a pad- 
 dle put into his hands ; Jack and Bob required no one to 
 tell them what to do, but quickly also took their places in 
 the boat. As soon as they were seated, the man who was 
 first in the canoe shoved her off gently from the side of the 
 schooner ; and while the guide directed their course, began 
 to paddle off rapidly towards the centre of the stream. So 
 dexterously did he apply his oar, that not a splash was 
 heard, though the canoe darted quickly along through the 
 ink-like current without leaving even a ripple in her wake. 
 Not a word was uttered by any of the party ; every one 
 seemed to be aware of the importance of silence, and even 
 Peter Palaver forebore to cut a joke, which he felt very 
 much inclined to do, as he found himself increasing his dis- 
 tance from the black slaver. 
 
 THE PURSUIT. 
 
 The canoe held her silent course down the dark and mir- 
 ror-like stream towards the sea. Not a breath of wind 
 moved the leaves of the lofty palm-trees which towered 
 above their heads, casting their tall shadows on the calm 
 waters below, while here and there a star was seen piercing 
 as it were through the thick canopy of branches ; the air 
 was hot and oppressive, and a noxious exhalation rose from 
 the muddy banks, whence the tide had run off. Now and
 
 212 THE CBtJISE OF THE " FBOLIC." 
 
 then a lazy alligator would run his long snout above the 
 surface of the stream, like some water demon, and again 
 glide noiselessly back into his slimy couch. 
 
 u Tell your people to take to their paddles and ply them 
 well," said the guide, in a louder tone than had hitherto 
 been used. 
 
 Staunton was now certain that it was Juanetta's voice 
 that of the lady who had preserved his life. 
 
 " We are still some distance from the sea, in reaching 
 which is our only chance of safety ; for if we are over- 
 taken and the moment our flight is discovered, we shall 
 be pursued our death is certain." 
 
 The instant Bob and Jack had leave to use their paddles 
 they plied them most vigorously, and the canoe, which had 
 hitherto glided, now sprang, as it were, through the water, 
 throwing up sparkling bubbles on either side of her sharp 
 bows. 
 
 " Pull on, my brave men," she exclaimed to herself, more 
 than to the seamen, " every thing depends on our speed. 
 The tide is still making out, and if we can clear the mouth 
 of the river before the flood sets in all will be well." 
 
 She spoke in Spanish, a language Staunton understood 
 well. Her eye was meantime turning in every direction as 
 her hand skilfully guided the boat. 
 
 " There are scouts about who might attempt to stop us 
 if they suspected we were fugitives. I have, however, the 
 pass-word, and can without difficulty mislead them if we 
 encounter any. Your own people, too, may be in the river 
 looking out for the schooner." 
 
 " I think not," answered Staunton. " We had lost one 
 of our boats, and as I am believed dead, my successor 
 (poor fellow, how he will be disappointed !) will, if he acts 
 wisely, not attempt to capture the ' Espanto ' except with 
 the 'Sylph' herself."
 
 THE PUKSFIT. 213 
 
 " The greater necessity, then, for our getting out to sea. 
 It is already dawn. Observe the red glare bursting through 
 the mist in the eastern sky, just through the vista of palm- 
 trees up that long reach. We shall soon have no longer 
 the friendly darkness to conceal us." 
 
 As she was speaking a large canoe was seen gliding 
 calmly up the stream, close in with the bank. The people 
 in her hailed in the negro language, and the man who was 
 first in the canoe promptly answered in the same. 
 
 " Ask them if they have seen the English man-of-war," 
 said Juanetta. 
 
 The negroes answered that she was still riding at anchor 
 off the mouth of the river. 
 
 " We shall thus be safe if we can reach the open sea," 
 she observed ; " but we have still some miles to row before 
 we can get clear of the treacherous woods which surround 
 us ; and perhaps Avhen our flight is discovered, our pursuers 
 may take one of the other channels, and we may find our 
 egress stopped at the very mouth of the stream. This sus- 
 pense is dreadful." 
 
 " We may yet strike a blow for you, and for our own lib- 
 erty, senora," answered Staunton. " It was fortunate the 
 obscurity prevented the people in the canoe from discovering 
 us." 
 
 " That matters little. No one would venture to stop me 
 but that man, that demon rather in human disguise, Dagger- 
 feldt, as you call him," she replied, bitterly, pronouncing the 
 name as one to which she was unaccustomed. " Ah, senor ; 
 love ardent, blind, mad love can be turned to the most 
 deadly hatred. Criminal, lost as I have been, I feel that 
 there is a step further into iniquity, and that step I have re- 
 fused to take. The scales have fallen from my eyes, and I 
 have seen the enormity of my wickedness, and have discov-
 
 214 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 ered the foulness of my wrongs. From his own lips the 
 dreadful information came. In the same breath he acknowl- 
 edged that he had murdered my father and deceived me. 
 As he slept he told the dreadful tale ; the sight of you con- 
 jured up the past to his memory ; other murders he talked 
 of, and treachery of all sorts attempted. He mocked, too, 
 at me, and at my credulity. I learned also that he still con- 
 templated your destruction as well as mine. I who had pre- 
 served his life, who had sacrificed my happiness here and 
 hereafter for his sake, was to be cast off for another lady 
 fairer and younger, so it seemed to me, but I could not un- 
 derstand all his words, for sometimes he spoke in his native 
 language, sometimes in Spanish. Enough was heard to de- 
 cide me. I had long contemplated quitting him. I knew 
 that it was wrong remaining, but had not strength before to 
 tear asunder my bonds, till the feeling that I might rescue 
 you, and make some slight reparation to heaven for my 
 wickedness, gave me strength to undertake the enterprise. 
 There, senor, you know the reason of your liberation ; 
 my trusty Mauro, who has ever been faithful, provided the 
 means." 
 
 She spoke in a hurried tone, and her sentences were 
 broken, as if she hesitated to speak of her disgrace and 
 misery, but yet was urged on by an irresistible impulse. 
 Even while she was speaking her eye was on the alert, and 
 her hand continued skilfully to guide the canoe. The stars 
 had gradually disappeared, sinking as it were into a bed of 
 thick leaden-colored mist, which overspread the narrow 
 arch overhead, while in the east a red glow appeared which 
 melted away as the pale daylight slowly filled the air. It 
 was day, but there was no joyousness in animated nature, 
 or elasticity in the atmosphere, as at that time in other 
 regions. A sombre hue tinted the trees, the water, and the
 
 THE PURSUIT. 215 
 
 sky ; even the chattering of innumerable parrots, and the 
 cries of those caricatures of men, many thousands of obscene 
 monkeys, appeared rather to mock at than to welcome the 
 return of the world to life. 
 
 The canoe flew rapidly on. Suddenly Juanetta lifted 
 her paddle from the water ; her ears were keenly em- 
 ployed. 
 
 " Hark ! " she said, " cease rowing ; there is the sotind 
 of oars in the water. Ah ! it is as I thought. There is a 
 boat endeavoring to cut us off by taking another channel ; 
 she- is still astern of us though, but we must not slack our 
 exertions." 
 
 Captain Staunton redoubled his efforts, as did his men on 
 his telling them they were pursued. After the story he had 
 heard, he was now doubly anxious to rescue the unfortunate 
 girl from the power of the miscreant Daggerfeldt. They 
 now entered a broader reach of the river below the fork, 
 where the channel which Juanetta supposed their pursuers 
 had taken united with the one they were following. They 
 had got some way down it when Staunton observed a 
 large boat emerging from behind the woody screen. Juan- 
 etta judged from his eye that he had caught sight of the 
 boat. 
 
 " Is it as I thought?" she asked, calmly. 
 
 Staunton told her that he could distinguish a boat, evi- 
 dently pursuing them, but whether she belonged to his ship 
 or to the slaver, he could not judge. 
 
 " We must not stay to examine ; if we were mistaken we 
 should be lost," she observed ; " but we have the means of 
 defending ourselves see, I had fire-arms placed in the bot- 
 tom of the canoe, aud here are powder-horns under the seat. 
 Mauro has carefully loaded them, and if they attempt to 
 stop us we must use them."
 
 216 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 On they pulled, straining every nerve to the utmost, but 
 the canoe was heavily laden, and the boat gained on them. 
 Staunton trusted that their pursuers might be his own 
 people, but his hope vanished when one of them rose ; there 
 was a wreath of smoke, a sharp report, and a bullet flew 
 over their heads and splintered the branch of a tree which 
 grew at the end of a point they were just then doubling. 
 
 " Aim lower next time, my bo', if you wish to wing us," 
 shouted Jack Hopkins, who saw no use in longer keeping 
 silence. 
 
 "Ah!" exclaimed Juanetta, "the blue sea we may 
 yet escape." 
 
 As she spoke, another shot better aimed took effect on the 
 quarter of the canoe, but did no further injury. It showed, 
 however, that there were good marksmen in the boat intent 
 on mischief, and that they were perilously near already. 
 For some time they were again shut out from their pursuers, 
 but as the latter doubled the last point, they had, too evi- 
 dently, gained on them. 
 
 " If any one again rises to fire, you must take also to 
 your arms, senor," said Juanetta, a shudder passing through 
 her frame; "and if it is he, kill him kill him without 
 remorse. He has shown none. That rifle at your feet was 
 his it was always true to its aim." 
 
 She had scarcely ceased speaking, when a figure stood up 
 in the boat. It seemed to have the likeness of Daggerfeldt. 
 Staunton seized the rifle to fire he was too late. Ere he 
 had drawn the trigger, a flash was seen, and Juanetta, with 
 a wild shriek, fell forward into the canoe. Staunton fired ; 
 the man who had sent the fatal shot stood unharmed, but 
 the oar of one fell from his grasp, and got entangled with 
 those of the others. This would have enabled the canoe to 
 recover her lost ground, had not Mauro, on seeing his
 
 THE PURSUIT. 217 
 
 beloved mistress fall, thrown up his paddle, exclaiming 
 that he wished to die with her. 
 
 " She may yet be saved if you exert yourself," cried 
 Staunton, in Spanish ; " row for your life row ; I will at- 
 tend to you mistress." 
 
 Urged by the officer's commanding tone, the negro again 
 resumed his paddle. Staunton, still guiding the canoe, 
 raised Juanetta, and placed her back in the stern-sheets 
 she scarcely breathed. The ball had apparently entered 
 her neck, though no blood was to be seen. He suspected 
 the worst, but dared not utter his fears lest Mauro should 
 again give way to his grief. Several other shots were fired 
 at them from the boat, which was rapidly gaining on them. 
 They were close on the bar, in another moment they would 
 be in clear water. 
 
 The slaver crew shouted fiercely ; again a volley was 
 fired, the balls from which went through and through the 
 sides of the slight canoe, without wounding any one, but 
 making holes for the water to rush in. One more volley 
 would sink them, when a loud cheerful shout rung in their 
 ears, and two boats with the British ensign trailing from 
 the stern were seen pulling rapidly towards them. 
 
 Jack Hopkins and Bob Short answered the hail ; the pi- 
 rates, too, saw (he boats, they ceased rowing, and then pull- 
 ing round, retraced their course up the river. The canoe, 
 with the rapid current, flew over the bar, and had barely 
 time to get alongside the barge of the " Sylph," when she 
 was full up to the thwarts. We need not say that his crew 
 welcomed Captain Staunton's return in safety with shouts 
 of joy, after they had believed him dead. 
 
 With the strong current then setting out of the river it 
 was found hopeless to follow the slaver's boat. They were 
 soon alongside the brig.
 
 218 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 Poor Juanetta was carried carefully to the captain's 
 cabin, watched earnestly by Mauro. The surgeon exam- 
 ined, her wound. 
 
 " Her hours are numbered," he said. " No art of mine 
 can save her." 
 
 THE ACTION. 
 
 Calm and treacherously beautiful as was the morning on 
 which Captain Staunton regained his ship, scarcely had she 
 got under way to stand in closer to the mouth of the river, 
 in order to watch more narrowly for the schooner, should 
 she attempt to run out, than a dark cloud was seen rising 
 over the land. It appeared on a sudden, and extended rap- 
 idly, till it spread over the whole eastern sky. 
 
 " I fear that it will not do with the weather we have in 
 prospect to send the boats up the river again to retrieve our 
 defeat, Mr. Collins," said Captain Staunton, pointing to the 
 threatening sky. 
 
 " I think not, sir, with you," answered the lieutenant ; " in 
 fact, if I may advise, the sooner we shorten sail the better, 
 or we may have it down upon us before we are prepared." 
 
 " You are right, Mr. Collins ; shorten sail as soon as you 
 please," said the captain. 
 
 " All hands shorten sail," was sung along the decks. 
 
 " Aloft there " " Lay out " "Be smart about it " 
 "In with every thing" "Let fly" "Haul down" 
 " Brail up " " Be smart, it will be down upon us thick and 
 strong, in a moment" "Up with the helm" "Look 
 out there aloft " " Be smart, my lads." 
 
 Such were the different orders issued, and exclamations 
 uttered in succession by the officers. 
 
 A moment before, the sea was smooth as glass, and the 
 brig had scarcely steerage-way. Now the loud roaring of
 
 THE ACTION. 219 
 
 the angry blast was heard, and the flapping of the yet un- 
 folded canvas against the masts ; the ocean was a sheet of 
 white foam, and the sky a canopy of inky hue. Away the 
 brig flew before it, leaving the land astern, her sails were 
 closely furled, and she remained unharmed, not a spar was 
 sprung, not a rope carried away, not a sail injured. Thus 
 she flew on under bare poles till the squall subsided as 
 quickly as it had arisen, and sail was again made to re- 
 cover the ground they had lost. 
 
 Land was still visible, blue and indistinct, but many fears 
 were naturally entertained lest the slaver, which had already 
 given them so much trouble, should have got out of the 
 river with her living cargo, and by keeping either way along 
 shore, have escaped them. For some minutes the wind en- 
 tirely failed, and curses loud and deep were uttered at their 
 ill luck, when, as if to rebuke them for their discontent, the 
 fine fresh sea-breeze set in, and, with a flowing sheet, car- 
 ried them gayly along. 
 
 Every eye was employed in looking out for the slaver, 
 for they could not suppose she would have lost the opportu- 
 nity of getting out during their absence. They were not 
 kept long in suspense. 
 
 " A sail on the starboard bow," cried the look-out from 
 the mast-head. 
 
 " What is she like?" asked the first lieutenant. 
 
 " A schooner, sir. The slaver, sir, as we chased afore," 
 answered the seaman, his anxiety that she should be so 
 making him fancy he could not be mistaken. 
 
 " The fellow must have sharp eyes indeed to know her 
 at this distance," muttered the lieutenant to himself with 
 a smile ; "however, I suppose he's right. We must not, 
 though, be chasing the wrong craft while the enemy is es- 
 caping. Which way is she standing ? " he asked.
 
 220 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 " To the southward, sir, with every stitch of canvas she 
 can carry," was the answer. 
 
 The officer made the proper official report to the captain. 
 
 " We must be after her at all events," said Captain 
 Staunton. " Haul up, Mr. Collins, in chase. Send Mr. Ste- 
 venson away in the barge to watch the mouth of the river." 
 
 The brig was forthwith brought to the wind, the barge 
 in a very short space of time was launched and manned 
 with a stout crew well armed and provisioned, and she 
 shoved off to perform her duty, while the " Sylph " fol- 
 lowed the strange sail. The man-of-war had evidently an 
 advantage over the stranger, for while the sea-breeze in the 
 offing blew fresh and steady, in shore it was light and 
 variable. 
 
 On perceiving this, Captain Staunton kept his brig still 
 nearer to the wind, and ran down, close-hauled, along the 
 coast, thus keeping the strength of the wind, and coming 
 up hand over hand with the stranger, who lay at times al- 
 most becalmed under the land. The breeze, however, before 
 they came abreast of her reached her also, and away she 
 flew like a startled hare just aroused from sleep. 
 
 " Fire a gun to bring her to," exclaimed the captain ; 
 " she shall have no reason to mistake our intentions." 
 
 The British ensign was run up, and a gun was dis- 
 charged, but to no effect. Two others followed, which only 
 caused her to make more sail ; and by her luffing closer up 
 to the wind, she apparently hoped to weather on them, and 
 cross their bows. She was a large schooner, and by the 
 way sail was made on her, probably strongly-handed, so 
 that there could be little doubt that she was the vessel for 
 which they were in search. 
 
 " Send a shot into the fellow," exclaimed the captain ; 
 " that will prove we are in earnest, and make him show his 
 colors."
 
 THE ACTION. 221 
 
 The shot clearly hit the schooner, although the range 
 was somewhat long, but it did slight damage. It had 
 the effect though of making him show his ensign, and the 
 stripes and stars of the United States streamed out to the 
 breeze. 
 
 " Those are not the fellow's colors, I'll swear," said Mr. 
 Collins, as he looked through his glass. " Another shot 
 will teach him we are not to be. humbugged." 
 
 u Give it him, Collins, and see if you can knock away 
 any of his spars," said the captain. " We must follow that 
 fellow round the world till we bring him to action, and 
 take or sink him. He'll not heave-to for us, depend upon 
 that." 
 
 " Not if Daggerfelclt is the captain," answered the first 
 lieutenant. 
 
 " I think she is his schooner ; but he is so continually 
 altering her appearance that it is difficult to be quite cer- 
 tain." 
 
 " Though I was some hours on board of her, as I 
 reached her in the dark, and left her before it was light, 
 I cannot be certain," observed Captain Staunton, as he took 
 a turn on the quarter-deck with his officer. " By the by, 
 there is that poor girl's black attendant ; he will know the 
 vessel at all events. Tell him to come up and give us his 
 opinion." 
 
 The lieutenant went into the captain's cabin, and soon 
 after returned, observing, 
 
 " He will not quit his mistress, sir ; and the surgeon 
 tells me he has sat by her side without stirring, watching 
 every movement of her lips as a mother does her only 
 child. As no one on board can speak his language but 
 you, sir, we cannot make him understand why he is wanted 
 on deck."
 
 222 THE CEUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 "Oh, I forgot that: I will speak to him myself," an- 
 swered the captain. " Keep firing at the chase till shfc 
 heaves-to, and then see that she does not play us any trick. 
 Daggerfeldt is up to every thing." 
 
 ^Captain Staunton descended to his cabin. Juanetta lay 
 on the sofa, a sheet thrown over her limbs, her countenance 
 of a corpse-like hue, but by the slight movements of her lips 
 she still breathed. The black hung over her, applying a 
 handkerchief to her brow to wipe away the cold damps 
 gathering there. Her features, though slightly sunk, as 
 seen in the subdued light of the cabin, seemed like those 
 of some beautiful statue rather than of a living being. The 
 surgeon stood at the head of the couch, endeavoring to stop 
 the hemorrhage from the wound. 
 
 " I dare not probe for the ball," he whispered, as if the 
 dying girl could understand him ; "it would only add to 
 her torture, and I cannot prolong her life." 
 
 "And this is thy handiwork, Daggerfeldt another 
 victim of thy unholy passions," muttered the captain, as he 
 gazed at her for a moment. " Poor girl, we will avenge 
 thee ! " 
 
 He had considerable difficulty in persuading Mauro to 
 quit his mistress ; but at length the faithful black allowed 
 himself to be led on deck. He looked round, at first be- 
 wildered, as if unconscious where he was ; but when his eye 
 fell on the schooner, it brightened up, as if meeting an object 
 with which it was familiar, and a fierce expression took 
 possession of his countenance. 
 
 " Es ella, es ella, senor!" he exclaimed, vehemently. 
 "It is she, it is she fire, fire kill him, kill him, he has 
 slain my mistress ! " 
 
 A gun was just then discharged, the shot struck the 
 quarter of the schooner, and the white splinters were seen
 
 THE ACTION. 223 
 
 flying from it. On seeing this he shouted with savage joy, 
 clapped his hands, and spat in the direction of the slaver, 
 exhibiting every other sign he could think of, of hatred and 
 rage. Having thus given way to his feelings, the recollec- 
 tion of his mistress returned, and with a groan of anguish 
 he rushed down below. 
 
 The two vessels had been gradually drawing closer to 
 each other, in consequence of the schooner luffing up to en- 
 deavor to cross the bows of the brig, and if she could, to get 
 to windward of her, the only chance she had of escaping. 
 The eyes of the officers were fixed on her to watch her 
 movements. 
 
 " She's about all right ! " shouted the captain. " Give 
 her a broadside while she is in stays, and knock away some 
 of her spars. Fire high, my lads, so as not to hurt her 
 hull." 
 
 The brig discharged her whole larboard battery, and the 
 fore-topmast of the schooner was seen tumbling below. 
 
 " By Jingo, we've dished him ! " exclaimed Jack Hopkins, 
 to his chum, Bob Short ; " and I'm bio wed, Bob, if it wasn't 
 my shot did that ere for him. I never lost sight of it till it 
 struck." 
 
 " Maybe," answered Bob ; " hard to prove, though." 
 
 The schooner had sufficient way on her to bring her 
 round before the topmast fell, and she was now brought 
 into a position partially to rake the brig, though at the dis- 
 tance the two vessels were from each other, the aim was 
 very uncertain. 
 
 That Daggerfeldt had determined to fight his vessel 
 was now evident, for the flag of the United States being 
 hauled down, that of Spain was run up in its stead, and at 
 the same moment a broadside was let fly from the schooner. 
 The shot came whizzing over and about the brig, but one
 
 224 THE CKUISE OF THE " FEOLIC." 
 
 only struck her, carrying away the side of a port, a 
 splinter from which slightly wounded Bob Short in the 
 leg. 
 
 " Ough ! " exclaimed Bob, quietly binding his handker- 
 chief round the limb without quitting his post, " they're 
 uncivil blackguards." 
 
 " Never mind, Bob," said Jack Hopkins, " we'll soon 
 have an opportunity of giving them something in return. 
 See, by Jingo, we've shot away his forestay ! we'll have his 
 foremast down in a jiffy. Huzza, my boys, let's try what 
 we can do ! " 
 
 "Whether Jack's gun was well aimed it is difficult to say, 
 but at all events the shot from the brig told with consider- 
 able effect on the rigging of the schooner. The brig did not 
 altogether escape from the fire of the enemy, who worked 
 his guns rapidly ; but whenever a brace was shot away it 
 was quickly again rove, so that she was always kept well 
 under command. The loss of her fore-topmast made the 
 escape of the schooner hopeless, unless she could equally 
 cripple her pursuer ; but that she had not contrived to do, 
 and accordingly, as the two vessels drew closer together, 
 the fire from each took more effect. Daggerfeldt, to do him 
 justice, did all a seaman could do, and in a very short space 
 of time the wreck of his topmast was cleared away, and he 
 was preparing to get up a new one in its place. The sea 
 was perfectly smooth, and the wind gradually fell till there 
 was scarcely enough to blow away the smoke from the guns 
 of the combatants, which in thick curling wreaths surrounded 
 them, till at intervals only could the adjacent land and the 
 ocean be seen. 
 
 Although Daggerfeldt could scarcely have hoped to 
 succeed either in escaping or coming off the victor, he still 
 refused to haul down his colors, even when the " Sylph,"
 
 THE ACTION. 225 
 
 shooting past ahead of him, poured in her whole broadside, 
 sweeping his decks, and killing and wounding several of his 
 people. Dreadful were the shrieks which arose from the 
 poor affrighted wretches confined below, although none of 
 them were injured. The "Sylph" then wore round, and, 
 passing under her stern, gave her another broadside, and 
 then luffing up, ran her alongside the grappling-irons 
 were hove ou board, and she was secured in a deadly em- 
 brace. The miserable blacks, believing that every moment 
 was to be their last, again uttered loud cries of horror ; but 
 the slaver's crew, some of whom fought with halters round 
 their necks, still refused to yield, and, with cutlass in hand, 
 seemed prepared to defend their vessel to the last, as the 
 British seamen, led on by their captain, leaped upon the 
 decks. Staunton endeavored to single out Daggerfeldt, but 
 he could nowhere distinguish him ; and after a severe 
 struggle, in which several of the Spaniards were killed, he 
 fought his way aft, and hauled down the colors. 
 
 At that instant a female form, with a white robe thrown 
 around her, was seen standing on the deck of the brig ; the 
 crew of the slaver also saw her, and, believing her to be a 
 spirit of another world, fancied she had come to warn them 
 of their fate. The energies of many were paralyzed, and 
 some threw down their arms and begged for quarter. A 
 loud, piercing shriek was heard. 
 
 " I am avenged, I am avenged ! " she cried, and sank 
 upon the deck. 
 
 It was Juanetta. Mauro, who had followed her from the 
 cabin, threw himself by her side, and wrung his hands in 
 despair. They raised up her head, and the surgeon felt her 
 pulse. She had ceased to breathe. 
 
 No further resistance was offered by the crew of the slaver. 
 Eight hundred human beings men, women, and children 
 15
 
 226 THE CBTTISE OF THE " FEOLIC." 
 
 were found stowed below, wedged so closely together, 
 that none could move without disturbing his neighbor. 
 Some had actually died from sheer fright at the noise of the 
 cannonading. 
 
 Instant search was made for Daggerfeldt ; he was no- 
 where to be found, and the crew either could not or would 
 not give any information respecting him. The prize was 
 carried sa.fely to Sierra Leone, where she was condemned ; 
 the slaves were liberated, and became colonists ; and Cap- 
 tain Staunton, and his officers and crew, got a handsome 
 share of prize-money. 
 
 The " Sylph " was in the following month recalled 
 home, and a few weeks afterward the papers announced 
 the marriage of Captain Staunton, R.N., to Miss Blanche 
 D 'Aubigne*.
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 CORUNNA OPORTO PULL UP THE DOURO NOTICE OF 
 THE SIEGE OF OPORTO LINE-OF-BATTLE SHIP. 
 
 PORPOISE'S story lasted out the gale. We were not sorry 
 to see the conclusion of the latter, though it left old ocean 
 in a very uncomfortable state for some time. A downright 
 heavy gale is undoubtedly a very fine thing to witness at 
 least the effects are and every man would wish to see one 
 once in his life ; but having experienced what it can do, and 
 how it makes the ocean look and human beings feel, a wise 
 man will be satisfied, at all events if he is to fall in with it 
 in a small cutter in the Bay of Biscay when that once is 
 over. I've had to go through a good many in the course of 
 my nautical career ; and though I've often heard sung with 
 much gusto 
 
 " One night it blew a hurricane, 
 
 The sea was mountains rolling, 
 When Barney Buntline turned his quid, 
 And cried to Billy Bowline : 
 
 " ' Here's a south-wester coming, Billy; 
 
 Don't you hear it roar now? 
 
 Lord help 'em, how I pities those 
 
 Unhappy folks ashore now ! 
 
 " ' While you and I upon the deck 
 
 Are comfortably lying, 
 My eyes ! what tiles and chimney-tops 
 About their heads are flying ! ' " 
 
 227
 
 228 THE CRUISE OP THE " FEOLIC." 
 
 I mustn't quote more of the old song ; for my own part I 
 like a steady breeze and a smooth sea, when plates and 
 dishes will stay quietly on the table, and a person may walk 
 the deck without any undue exertion of the muscles of the 
 leg. 
 
 The gale had driven us somewhat into the bay, and find- 
 ing it would cause us little delay to look into Corunna, we 
 determined to go there. The entrance to the harbor is very 
 easy a fine tall lighthouse on the south clearly making it. 
 We brought up off the town, which is situated along the cir- 
 cular shore of a bay something like Weymouth. After pay- 
 ing our respects to the consul, we mounted a troop of steeds 
 offered us for hire, and galloped off to inspect the chief 
 scenes of the engagement between the English and the 
 French, wjhen the former retreated under Sir John Moore. 
 On our return we visited his tomb, situated on the ramparts 
 on the sea side of the town ; the tomb is surrounded with 
 cannon, with their muzzles downward a fit monument to 
 the hero who sleeps beneath. Carstairs did not fail to 
 repeat with due effect 
 
 " Not a sound was heard; not a funeral note." 
 
 They are truly magnificent lines, rarely equalled. Some, 
 however, of a like character appeared lately on Havelock, 
 which are very much to my taste. 
 
 But where am I driving to with my poetry and criticism ? 
 We got on board the same night, and made sail by daybreak 
 the next morning. We looked into the deep and picturesque 
 Gulf of Vigo, and thought the town a very nasty one, in 
 spite of its imposing castle on the top of a hill. Had we 
 come from the south we might have formed a different opin- 
 ion pf the place. We hqverto off Oporto, and should have
 
 A PULL UP THE DOUKO. 229 
 
 gone in, but though exempt from harbor-dues, we found that 
 the pilotage would be heavy, and that we might have some 
 difficulty in getting out again over the bar which has formed 
 across the mouth of the Douro. The city stands on a gran- 
 ite hill on the north side of the river, and about three miles 
 from the sea. Fortunately for us, while we were hove-to 
 there, the steamer from England came in sight, and we were 
 able to obtain a passage on shore in the boats which brought 
 off the mail bags. Hearty, Bubble, and I formed the party ; 
 Carstairs and Porpoise remained to take care of the ship. 
 Away we pulled with the glee of schoolboys on a holiday 
 excursion ; the boat was large, but of the roughest descrip- 
 tion with the stem and stern alike probably not changed 
 since the earliest days of the Portuguese monarchy ; she was 
 double-banked, pulling twelve oars at least. The men 
 mostly wore red caps, with a colored sash round their 
 waists, and had shoeless feet ; some had huge wooden slip- 
 pers, almost big enough to go to sea in. Many of them 
 were fine-looking fellows, but they were very unlike English 
 sailors, and oh ! how they did jabber. To those who under- 
 stood them their observations might have been very sensible, 
 but to our ears their voices sounded like the chattering of a 
 huge family of monkeys in their native woods. The view 
 before us consisted of the blue shining sea, a large white- 
 washed and yellow-washed village to the north, called St. 
 Joao da Foz, with a lighthouse on a hill at one end of it, a 
 line of black rocks and white breakers before us, and to the 
 south a yellow beach Avith cliffs and pine-trees beyond, and 
 a convent, and a few of the higher standing houses and 
 churches of Oporto in the distance. When we got near the 
 white foam-topped rollers, all the jabbering ceased, our 
 crew bent to their oars like men worthy of descendants of 
 Albuquerque's gallant crew ; and the boat now backed for
 
 230 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 an instant, now dashing on, we were in smooth water close 
 under the walls of a no very formidable-looking fortress. A 
 little farther on we landed at a stone slip, at the before-men- 
 tioned village, among fishwomen, and porters, and boat- 
 men, and soldiers, and custom-house guards, and boys, all 
 talking away most vociferously. As we had no luggage to 
 carry, we were allowed to look about us. What we should 
 have done I scarcely know, had not Bubble, who never failed 
 to find acquaintance in every place, recognized an English 
 gentleman who had come down to the river to embark for the 
 city. Bubble's friend was invaluable to us ; he first invited 
 us to go up the river in his boat, and pointed out numerous 
 spots of interest on the way. The boat was a curious affair ; 
 it had a flat bottom and sides, and narrowed to a rising 
 point forward. The greater part was covered with a 
 wooden awning painted green, and supported by wooden 
 stanchions ; and the seats run fore and aft round the sides ; 
 it had yellow curtains to keep out the sun or rain ; the 
 crew, three in number, stood up with their faces to the bow, 
 pressing against the oars ; two stood on a deck forward, and 
 one, who occasionally brought his oar in a line with the 
 keel, rowed aft. Dressed in red caps with red sashes, and 
 mostly in white or blue-striped garments, they had a 
 picturesque appearance. 
 
 Although the civil war which overthrew despotism, and 
 planted the present line on the throne, had occurred so long 
 before, our new friend spoke of it with as much interest as 
 if it had but lately been concluded. Such an occurrence, 
 indeed, was the great event in the lives of a generation. 
 
 On the south side of the entrance of the river is a long 
 sandbank ; on the north side is the castle of Foz, or the 
 mouth. This castle was built by the Pedroites, and it was 
 literally the key on which depended the success of the enter-
 
 A PULL UP THE DOUKO. 231 
 
 prise. Had it been taken, the communication with the sea 
 and Oporto would have been cut off, and the Liberals would 
 have been starved out. For the greater portion of the time 
 occupied by the struggle, Dom Pedro's followers held little 
 more than the city of Oporto and a line of country on the 
 north bank of the Douro scarcely a mile wide, leading from 
 the city to the sea. They held the lighthouse at the north 
 point of the village ; but a few hundred yards beyond was a 
 mound on which the Miguelites erected a strong battery. 
 Not a spot along the whole line but what was the scene of 
 some desperate encounter ; and most certainly the Portuguese 
 Constitutionalists of all ranks, from the highest to the lowest, 
 fought as bravely as men could fight in the noblest of causes. 
 Heaven favored the right, and in spite of apparently over- 
 whelming hosts opposed to them, of disease and gaunt 
 famine, they won their cause, and the mother of the present 
 enlightened King of Portugal ascended the throne. 
 
 But I am writing the cruise of the " Frolic," and not a 
 history of Portugal. Still I must dot down a few of our 
 friend's anecdotes. While the north side of the river was 
 held by the Constitutionalists, the south was in the hands of 
 the Miguelites, and the two parties used to amuse themselves 
 by firing at each other across the stream, so that it was 
 dangerous to pass along the lower road by daylight. 
 
 On one occasion, the Miguelites, wishing to attack the 
 castle, brought a number of casks to the end of the spit of 
 sand at the entrance of the river, and erected a battery on it, 
 but they forgot to fill the casks with sand or earth ; when 
 morning broke there was a formidable battery directly under 
 the walls of the castle. Some unfortunate troops were placed 
 in it to work the guns ; all went very well till the guns of 
 the castle began to play on it, and then a few shots sent the 
 entire fabric to the four winds of heaven, and either killed
 
 232 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 the soldiers placed in it, or drove them flying hurry-skurry 
 across the sand, where many more were picked off by the 
 rifles of the Constitutionalists. 
 
 What could be more unpleasant than having on a hot day to 
 run along a heavy shingly beach, with a number of sharp- 
 shooters taking deliberate aim at one's corpus? Happy 
 would he be who could find a deep hole into which to roll 
 himself out of harm's way. 
 
 The banks of the Douro are picturesque from the very 
 entrance. On either side are broken cliffs ; on the south 
 covered with pine-groves, on the north with yellow, white, 
 and pink houses and churches, and orange-groves. On the 
 south we passed the remains of the old convent of St. Antonio, 
 where once the jovial monks feasted and sang and prayed, 
 well supplied with the spoils of the sea. Here pious fisher- 
 men used to stop and ask a blessing on their labors, on their 
 way down the river, and on their return they failed not to 
 offer the choice of their spoil to the worthy friars. The 
 gardens of the convent were profusely ornamented with 
 statues of curious device, and flowers, and vases, and orange- 
 trees, and grottoes, and temples ; all now swept away by the 
 scythe of war the convent walls now forming part of a 
 manufactory. The monks have disappeared from Portugal, 
 and few people regret them less than the Portuguese. At 
 best they were drones ; and, if we are to credit one-quarter 
 of the tales told of them, they continued to do no little amount 
 of evil in their generation. On the same side of the river, 
 but much higher up, where the Douro forces its way be- 
 tween two lofty cliffs, on the summit of the southern one, 
 stands the once very celebrated convent of the Sierra. 
 From beneath its walls the Duke of Wellington led his army 
 across the river into Oporto, and drove Marshal Soult out 
 of the city. This convent, and its surrounding garden, was
 
 A PULL UP THE DOUBO. 233 
 
 the only spot held by the Pedroites, and most heroically held it 
 was, against the whole army of the usurper Miguel, led by his 
 best generals. Day after day, and night after night, were his 
 legions led to the attack, and as often were they repulsed by 
 the half-starved defenders of its earth-formed ramparts. We 
 may speak with pride of the siege of Kars and of Lucknow, 
 and of many another event in the late war ; but I hold that 
 they do not eclipse the gallant defence of the Portuguese 
 Constitutionalists of the Sierra convent. Below the convent 
 the two banks of the river are now joined by a handsome 
 iron suspension-bridge, which superseded one long existing 
 formed of boats. The city stands below this point, rising 
 on the converse steep sides of a granite hill, and with its 
 numerous church-steeples, its tinted-walled houses, its bright 
 red roofs interspersed with the polished green of orange-trees 
 in its gardens, is a very picturesque city. Along its quays 
 are arranged vessels of various sizes, chiefly Portuguese or 
 Brazilians, those of other nations anchoring on the other 
 side, in the stream, to be away from the temptations of the 
 wine-shops. On the south side is a bay with gently sloping 
 shores ; and here are found the long, low, narrow lodges in 
 which are stowed the casks of Port wine, which has perhaps 
 made Portugal and the Portuguese more generally known to 
 Englishmen of all classes than would have been done by the 
 historical associations connected with that beautiful country. 
 As Bubble's friend was on his way to visit his wine-pipes, 
 he took us first to Villa Nova, the place I have been speak- 
 ing of. One lodge he showed us contained three thousand 
 pipes, ranged in long lines, two and three pipes one above 
 another, which, at fifty pounds a pipe, represents a capital 
 of one hundred and fifty thousand pounds. Some of the 
 English houses are said to have two or three times that 
 quantity ; but of course the young wine is not of the value I
 
 234 THE CEUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 have mentioned. The Port wine is grown on the banks of 
 the Douro, in a district commencing about fifty miles above 
 the city. It is made in the autumn, and remains in large 
 vats on the farms till the spring, when it is put into casks, 
 and brought down in flat-bottomed boats to the lodges at 
 Villa Nova. Here it is racked and lotted to get rid of im- 
 purities, and has brandy put to it to keep it. Our friend 
 assured us that Port wine will not keep for any length of 
 time without brandy ; the experiment has been tried over and 
 over again. The only way to make it keep for a short time 
 is to rack it constantly ; but then it becomes spiritless, vapid, 
 and colorless. To one conclusion we came, that Port wine 
 in the lodge at Villa Nova and Port wine out of decanter at 
 an English dinner-table are very different things ; for Port 
 wine racked and lotted for the English market, and kept 
 some years in a temperate cellar, is undoubtedly vastly 
 superior to the juice of the grape before it is so prepared. 
 
 Having satisfied our curiosity, with our friend as guide, 
 we crossed the river to Oporto. We landed at a gateway 
 in the brown old wall of the city, which runs along the river 
 and up the hill to the east and west, surmounted by high, 
 pointed battlements of a very Moorish appearance, though the 
 Moors did not plant their conquering standard so far north 
 as Oporto. Passing along a very narrow, cool, dirty, and 
 somewhat odoriferous street, we entered a wide, well-paved 
 one, called the Rua Nova. In the middle of it congregate 
 the merchants every afternoon, at the exchange hour, to 
 transact their public business. At the end of the street is a 
 fine stone building, called the Factory House, a sort of club 
 belonging to the English, who become members by election. 
 High above the end of the street, on a hill covered with 
 houses, rises the old cathedral of Oporto. We found our 
 way to it along some narrow, twisting streets, with oriental-
 
 DESCRIPTION OF OPORTO. 235 
 
 looking shops on either side tinmen and goldsmiths and 
 shoemakers and stationers a line of each sort together. 
 The cathedral, as well as all the churches we saw at Oporto, 
 were rather curious than elegant. 
 
 For the greater part of our walk we were continually 
 ascending along tolerably well-paved and clean streets, with 
 stone houses and wide, projecting balconies, some with stone, 
 others with iron balustrades. "We passed through a street 
 called the Street of Flowers ; the chief shops in it were 
 those of jewellers, who showed us some very beautiful fili- 
 gree work in gold brooches and ear-rings and rings. We 
 next found ourselves in a square at the bottom of two hills, 
 with wide streets running up each of them, and a church at 
 their higher ends. One has a curious arabesque tower, of 
 great height, which we saw a long way out at sea, called 
 the Torre dos Clerigos. Going up still higher we reached 
 a large parade ground, with barracks at one end, and near 
 them a granite-fronted church, called the Lappa, where, in 
 an urn, is preserved the heart of the heroic Dom Pedro 
 the grandfather of the present King of Portugal. Oporto is 
 full of gardens, which make the city spread over a wide extent 
 of ground. We were agreeably surprised with its bright, 
 clean, cheerful look. Built on a succession of granite hills, 
 which afford admirable materials for the construction of its 
 edifices, it has a substantial comfortable look. It is also 
 tolerably well drained, and wayfarers are not much offended 
 with either bad sights or smells. The variety of the cos- 
 tume of the inhabitants gives it a lively look ; for although 
 gentlemen and ladies have taken to French fashions, the 
 townspeople still generally wear the graceful black mantilla, 
 or colored or white handkerchief over their heads, while the 
 peasantry appear with broad-brimmed hats and cloth jack- 
 ets, gay-colored petticoats, and a profusion of gold ear-rings
 
 236 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 and chains. There are beggars, but they are not very im- 
 portunate, and the smallest copper coin seemed to satisfy 
 them. Our friend told us that he has seen a Portuguese 
 gentleman, wanting a copper, take his snuff-box and present 
 it to a beggar, who would take a pinch with the air of a 
 noble, and shower a thousand blessings on the head of the 
 donor in return. " The truth is, that the Portuguese as a 
 nation are the kindest people I have ever met," observed our 
 friend. " They think charitably and act charitably, and do 
 not despise each other ; they are kindly affectionate one to 
 another. A good government and a reformed church would 
 make them a very happy people." 
 
 Our walk through the city was a hurried one, as we wished 
 to be on board again before dark. We passed near a large 
 palace, with some ugly visages garnishing the front. Here 
 Dom Pedro lived, and here Marshal Soult's dinner had been 
 prepared, when the Duke of Wellington entered the city and 
 ate it up. We found a boat ready to carry us down the 
 river, which we reached by a steep, winding road. Our 
 friend kindly insisted on accompanying us. 
 
 At Foz a catria was prepared by our friend's directions to 
 put us on board the yacht. Oh, how refreshing to our olfac- 
 tory senses, after the hot air of the streets, was the fresh 
 sea-breeze as we reached the mouth of the river, and once 
 more floated on the blue Atlantic ! The sun descended be- 
 neath the far western wave in a blaze of glory, such as I 
 have seldom seen equalled in any latitude ; the glow lit up 
 the Lappa church, the Clerigos tower, and the Sierra con- 
 vent in the distance, suffusing a rich glow over the whole 
 landscape. All sail was set, but we made little way through 
 the water ; a calm succeeded, and then the hot night-wind 
 came off the land in fitful gusts, smelling of parched earth 
 and dry leaves. Having stood off the land sufficiently to
 
 NEARLY KUN DOWN. 237 
 
 clear every danger, we kept our course. The night was 
 somewhat dark, and we had all turned in, leaving the mate 
 in charge of the watch. 
 
 I know not what it was made me restless and inclined to 
 turn out, and breathe the fresher air on deck ; probably I 
 was heated with the long and exciting excursion of the day. 
 As I put my head up the companion-hatch, sailor-fashion, I 
 turned my eyes towards every point of the compass. Did 
 they deceive me ? " Hallo, Sleet, what's that?" I exclaimed. 
 " Port the helm ; hard aport, or we shall be run into." 
 What was the look-out about ? Where were Sleet's eyes ? 
 All, I suspect,, were asleep. There, directly ahead of us, 
 like some huge phantom of a disordered dream, came glid- 
 ing on a line-of-battle ship, her tall masts and wide-spreading 
 canvas towering up into the sky a dark pyramid high 
 above our heads ; our destruction seemed inevitable. With 
 a hail which horror made sound more like a shriek of de- 
 spair, I summoned all hands on deck. Happily, the man at 
 the helm of the yacht obeyed my orders at the moment, 
 and the agile little craft slipped out of the way as the huge 
 monster glided by, her side almost touching our taffrail, and 
 her lower studding-sail booms just passing over our peak 
 so it seemed ; our topmast, I know, had a narrow squeak 
 for it. 
 
 "What ship's that?" shouted Porpoise, springing on 
 deck. 
 
 " Her Britannic Majesty's ship ' Megatherium,' " so the 
 name sounded. 
 
 " Then let a better look-out be kept aboard her Britannic 
 Majesty's ship 'Megatherium' in future, or the Duke of 
 Blow-you-up will have to report to the Lords Commissioners 
 of the Admiralty," replied Porpoise, through the speaking- 
 trumpet. "I hauled in the duke just to frighten them a
 
 238 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 bit," he added ; " they wouldn't care for the plain mister. 
 The chances are that some of the look-outs had their eyes 
 shut, and the officer of the watch had gone to freshen his 
 nip a bit. No one dreams of danger on a fine night like 
 this, and if a few small fishing-boats had been run down, no 
 one would have heard any thing about it ; there would be 
 just a cry and a shriek from the drowning people, and all 
 would be over. There's more danger of being run down on 
 a calm night like this than in a gale of wind, when every- 
 body has his eyes open." 
 
 "What cutter is that?" hailed some on board the ship, 
 through a speaking-trumpet, before Porpoise had done 
 speaking. 
 
 " Bow-wow-wow ! I leave you to guess," he answered. 
 
 By this time the vessels were so far apart that a hail 
 could scarcely be distinguished, and so we separated. I 
 only hope those who deserved a repi-imand got it, and that 
 any of my brother-officers, or other sea-going men who read 
 these pages, will take the hint, and have as bright a look- 
 out kept in fine weather as in foul.
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 CINTKA THE TAGUS LISBON CADIZ GIBRALTAR 
 
 SANDGATE AGAIN OLD FRIENDS NEWS OF MY HEROINE. 
 
 Two days after our narrow escape, as the rising sun shed 
 his bright rays over the world of waters, we again made 
 the land a little to the northward of the Rock of Lisbon. 
 We could see with our glasses the vast convent and palace 
 of Mafra, built by that debauched devotee, Don John V. 
 He had .a notion, not uncommon at the present day, that, 
 by rearing edifices of brick and mortar, he might thus 
 create for himself a few stepping-stones towards heaven. 
 The building shows a front of seven hundred feet at least 
 towards the sea, with a lofty portico in the centre, and is 
 capable of quartering all the troops in the kingdom. When 
 monks dwelt there they must have had ample space for 
 exercise. 
 
 Soon afterwards we came under the rocky heights of 
 Cintra. They surround a perfect oasis, rising from the arid 
 plains about Lisbon. Every one knows Cintra on account 
 of its Convention, not over creditable to its executors ; its 
 convent cut out of the rock, and lined with cork to keep the 
 old monks warm ; and its palace, built by the talented and 
 eccentric Beckford, now a mass of ruins. We just got a 
 glimpse through a break in the rocks of its cork, orange, 
 and citron groves, surrounded with sweet-scented shrubs. 
 
 Passing the Bay of Cascaes, a fresh breeze carried us by 
 the white circular Bugio Fort, standing on a rock at the 
 
 239
 
 240 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 mouth of the Tagus, and with a fair tide we ascended 
 the river. 
 
 In our company were a number of craft of all sorts, 
 carrying flags of all nations. Iron-moulded and weather- 
 stained Indiamen, and Brazilian ships surrounded by boats 
 full of people, who had come out to welcome relations and 
 friends after a long absence ; men-of-war, with their polished 
 sides and snowy, wide-spreading canvas ; heavily laden and 
 heavy-looking English merchant-brigs, more esteemed for 
 capacity than- for speed, like London aldermen ; tub-shaped, 
 yellow-sided Dutchmen, laden with cargoes more formi- 
 dable in appearance than in reality. Instead of being 
 bomb-shells or round shot, proving, on nearer inspection, 
 to be Dutch cheeses, to be dreaded only by those of weak 
 digestion. 
 
 Contrasted with the heavy-looking foreign vessels were 
 the Portuguese rascas, employed chiefly in the coasting 
 trade, with their graceful, high-pointed, lateen sails, sharp 
 bows, and rounded decks, and the native schooners or 
 hiates, with hulls not destitute of beauty, but rigged with 
 masts raking at different angles, and gaffs peaked at un- 
 equal heights. There were also numberless sloops, and 
 schooners, and boats of various sorts, the most curious 
 being the Lisbon fishing-boat, shaped like a bean-pod, curv- 
 ing up at stem and stern, with a short rounded deck at 
 either end, and a single high lateen sail. A pilot whom 
 we received on board off the Bugio Fort took us close to 
 the white tower of Belem, and its Gothic church at the 
 western end of Lisbon, and brought us to an anchor among 
 a crowd of other vessels off Blackhorse Square. Lisbon 
 rising on several hills from the waters of the wide-flowing 
 Tagus here many miles across is noted as a very pic- 
 turesque city ; its white buildings glittering in the sun,
 
 DESCRIPTION OF LISBON. 241 
 
 crowned by the dark frowning castle, and surrounded by 
 suburbs intermixed with gardens filled with richly-tinted 
 orange-trees and flowers of many hues. 
 
 Gold and Silver Streets are handsome streets ; and there 
 are some fine palaces, and the Opera House is a respectable 
 edifice, and has, moreover, a very good opera ; but, though 
 improved of late years, we were told, in cleanliness, it is 
 still a very dirty city, and the lower orders have a marked 
 inferiority to those we saw at Oporto. They are a darker, 
 smaller race, with much Moorish blood in their veins, with- 
 out any mixture of the nobler Gothic stream from which 
 the inhabitants of the north have sprung. They are the fel- 
 lows who have gained for the Portuguese the character of 
 being assassins and robbers, which certainly those in the 
 north do not. deserve. However, a strong government, lib- 
 eral institutions, and a street police have pretty well put a 
 stop to such proceedings even there. 
 
 The best account I have ever read of Lisbon and its peo- 
 ple, as they were before the French Revolution changed 
 affairs not a little in most of the countries of Europe, is to 
 be found in Beckfbrd's "Visit to the Convents of Alcobaqa 
 and Batalha," and in his " Tour to Italy and Portugal." 
 There is a rich, racy humor in his descriptions, which has 
 seldom been surpassed. At one of the convents a dance is 
 proposed for the entertainment of the illustrious strangers, 
 and while a few act as musicians, the greater number of the 
 oleaginous, obese monks tuck up their frocks, and begin 
 sliding and whirling and gliding about with as much gusto 
 as a number of school-girls at play. But we must be off to 
 sea again. 
 
 We lionized Lisbon, and paid a visit to Cintra, but as no 
 adventure occurred worthy of note to any of our party, I 
 will not enter into details. 
 16
 
 242 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 Once more the "Frolic" breasted the waves of the 
 Atlantic, her course being for fair Cadiz. On the third day 
 after leaving the* Tagus, we dropped our anchor off that 
 bright, smiling city. Its flat-roofed houses give it some- 
 what of an eastern look, but it is far cleaner than any 
 eastern city. The houses are built after the Moorish fash- 
 ion, and very like the residences excavated at Pompeii. 
 The coloring of the outside is more in accordance with the 
 taste of the luxurious Romans in the days of their degene- 
 racy, than with that of the ancient Greeks, which made 
 them satisfied with softer hues ; while the interior, on the 
 other hand, is as cool and simple as the purest taste can 
 make it. No sooner had we furled sails than all hands were 
 eager to go on shore, to have a glimpse at the often talked 
 of mantilla-wearing, fair, flirting, fascinating Gaditanas. 
 The gig was lowered, and on shore we went. 
 
 We were not disappointed in the appearance of Cadiz. 
 The streets are narrow, that the sun of that torrid clime 
 may not penetrate into them, and those only who have 
 lived in a southern latitude can appreciate the luxury of 
 having a cool, shady road in which to walk. Verandas in 
 front of every window reach nearly half-way overhead ; 
 they are closely barred, and sometimes glazed, so that no 
 impertinent eye can penetrate their recesses. These veran- 
 das are full of flowers, and overhung with ivy or other 
 luxuriant creepers. 
 
 The fronts of the houses are ornamented with various 
 colors, as red, blue, yellow, green, and other tints ; while 
 the separation between each house and each floor is marked 
 by lines of red, thus giving the whole street a singularly 
 bright and cheerful appearance. 
 
 The gateway is the pride of a Cadiz house. Many we 
 passed were very handsome. It was pleasant to look
 
 CADIZ. 243 
 
 through them into the interior, where the column-sur- 
 rounded patios with cool, sparkling fountains in their centres, 
 and shrubs and flowers of every hue, were indeed most 
 refreshing to the senses. Every house is a square, with one 
 or more patios in the centre, their only roof the bright blue 
 sky. Into this court of columns all the rooms of the house 
 open. Shade and coolness are the great things sought for 
 in that clime. 
 
 We wandered up and down the narrow streets till we 
 began to wish that some one would take compassion on us 
 and ask us in ; but nobody did, and our only satisfaction 
 was the belief that we created a mighty sensation in the 
 bosoms of numberless lovely damsels whose bright eyes we 
 saw flashing at us through the thickly-barred jalouses. 
 
 " Ah, my good fellows, but you did not see their small 
 noses, thick lips, and swarthy skins," observed that unsen- 
 timental fellow, Bubble, thus cruelly depriving us of the 
 only consolation we enjoyed. The fact was that at that 
 early hour of the day no one goes abroad who can stay at 
 home, except, as the Spaniards say, dogs and Englishmen, 
 putting the canine tribe before the biped. Fatigue drove 
 us into a cafe, where we took some refreshment, and in the 
 evening we were somewhat repaid by watching the crowds 
 of bewitching damsels and gay cavaliers, who sauntered 
 forth to enjoy the cool air, and each other's conversation. 
 
 Cadiz is joined to the mainland by a narrow strip of sand, 
 deprived of which it would be an island. Opposite to it, 
 across the bay, is Port St. Mary's, the port of Xeres, where 
 the sherry wine is embarked. 
 
 The next day we visited that place to taste some of its 
 celebrated wines. We were much captivated with some 
 deliciously dry Mansanilla, inferior as it is in flavor, how- 
 ever, to the still more valuable Amontillado.
 
 244 THE CRUISE OF THE " FKOLIC." 
 
 But interesting as was our visit to Cadiz to ourselves, 
 attractive as were its far-famed dames, and delicious as 
 were its wines, my readers will undoubtedly rather hear 
 some of the more stirring events of our cruise. 
 
 Away, away, once more we went, bounding over the blue 
 ocean. We were, however, destined not to find ourselves 
 so soon inside the Mediterranean as we expected. A dead 
 calm came on, and for many hours we lay sweltering under 
 a sun not much less fierce than that of the tropics. 
 
 It was very tantalizing to remain thus almost in sight of 
 the entrance of that classic sea we all wished to behold, and 
 yet not be able to get there. Once within the influence of 
 that strange current which from age to age has unweariedly 
 flowed into that mighty basin, and yet never has filled it, we 
 should have advanced with sufficient rapidity. Another 
 whole day tried our patience, and Hearty had begun to de- 
 clare that, after all, he thought the Mediterranean could not 
 be worth visiting, when, on the morning of the third day, a 
 breeze sprung up, and the cutter began to slip through the . 
 water towards the Straits. 
 
 The chief strength of the current is in the centre, far out 
 of reach of shot and .shell from the shore on either side. I 
 mention this because many people have a notion that the 
 fortress of Gibraltar defends the entrance to the Straits. 
 The fact is, that the narrowest part is seven and a quarter 
 miles wide ; but that narrowest part we passed through at a 
 distance of fifteen miles from Gibraltar, before we reached 
 it. We did not, indeed, see the Rock before we had passed 
 the Narrows. 
 
 The distance from the Rock to Ceuta, opposite to it on 
 the African coast, is twelve miles. 
 
 Gibraltar is formed by a tongue of land three miles long 
 and one broad, with a sandbank joining it to the main, and
 
 GIBRALTAB. 245 
 
 terminating with a high promontory. No one ever expected 
 to make it defend the Straits, even before steamers were 
 introduced. The heaviest guns are turned towards Spain ; 
 at the same time the sea-side is made inaccessible by scarp- 
 ing. Below the Rock is a belt of level land, on which the 
 modern town is built. The Rock has the form of a lofty 
 ridge with three elevations on it, one at each end, and one 
 in the centre. That in the centre is the highest, and has 
 the flag-staff planted on it. When we landed, we went 
 through the wonderful galleries excavated in the Rock. 
 These excavations have been going on since the time of 
 the Moors, who, I believe, made by far the largest number 
 of them. 
 
 They were wonderful fellows, those Moors. I have al- 
 ways felt a vast respect for them when I have beheld their 
 remains in the south of Spain. The reason of their success 
 is, that they were always in earnest in whatever they under- 
 took. However, I don't want to talk here about the Moors. 
 Gibraltar is a very curious place, and well worth a visit ; 
 with its excavated galleries, its heavy guns, its outward 
 fortifications, its zig-zag roads, its towers and batteries, its 
 narrow streets, its croAvded houses, its ragged rocks, and its 
 troops of monkeys, the only specimens of the family of simia, 
 which reside, I believe, in a wild state in Europe. Gibral- 
 tar, in reality, from its geological formation, belongs rather 
 to Africa than to Europe, it being evidently cut off from the 
 African mountains, and having no connection with those of 
 Europe. 
 
 It is a question for naturalists to solve how the monkeys 
 came there I don't pretend to do so. We brought up in 
 Gibraltar Bay, where the yacht lay very comfortably, and 
 so do now our men-of-war. Should, however, a war break 
 out with Spain, they would find the place too hot to hold
 
 246 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 them, as the bay is completely commanded by the Spanish 
 coast, where batteries could jpeedily be erected, nor could 
 the Rock afford the ships any protection. 
 
 Now I have talked enough about Gibraltar ; I'll however 
 just describe it, like a big tadpole caught by the tail as it 
 was darting away towards Africa. We spent some pleasant 
 days there, and were very hospitably treated by some mili- 
 tary friends in the garrison. Malta, the Isles of Greece, 
 and the Levant, was our destination. I did not fail to make 
 inquiries respecting Sandgate ; and, curious enough, I fell 
 in with a merchant who had in his youth fought in the 
 Greek War of Independence. He told me that a youth of 
 that name, and who in every way answered Sandgate's 
 description, had come out from England and joined the 
 patriot forces. He was a brave, dashing fellow, but most 
 troublesome from his unwillingness to submit to any of the 
 necessary restraints of discipline, and utterly unprincipled. 
 He had, however, plenty of talent, and managed to ingra- 
 tiate himself with some of the Greek chiefs, though the more 
 respectable, as did the English Philhellenes, stood aloof from 
 him. 
 
 " The truth is," said my friend, " many of those Greek 
 chiefs had been notorious pirates themselves, and I have no 
 doubt Sandgate learned his trade from them." 
 
 " I suspect very strongly that the man you describe and 
 Sandgate are one and the same person," I remarked. " It 
 is curious that I should so soon have gained a clew to 
 him." 
 
 The next day I again met my friend. " I have some 
 further account of Sandgate to give you," said he, taking 
 me by the button ; " he'll give some little trouble before his 
 career is closed, I suspect. My Smyrna correspondent is 
 here, and he tells me that he knew of Sandgate's being
 
 ACCOUNT OF SANDGATE. 247 
 
 I 
 
 there, and of his selling his yacht. He served with me in 
 the war, and knew him also : consequently, when he made 
 his appearance he kept his eye upon him. He traced him 
 on board a vessel, in which he went to one of the Greek 
 islands. From thence he crossed to a smaller island owned 
 by a chief who had once been a notorious pirate, and was 
 strongly suspected of still following the same trade in a 
 more quiet way. There he lost sight of him ; but several 
 piracies had been committed during the spring by a craft 
 which it was suspected had been fitted out in the island in 
 question." 
 
 " We certainly have in a most unexpected way discovered 
 a clew to Mr. Sandgate's whereabouts and course of life," 
 I remarked. " It would almost read like a romance were 
 it to be put into print." 
 
 " Oh, we have had many heroes of that description from 
 time to time in the Mediterranean," replied my friend. 
 " There was that fellow Delano, who was hung at Malta a 
 few years back, he was an Englishman or a Yankee, I 
 believe rather. How many piracies he had committed I do 
 not know before he was found out, but at last he tried to 
 scuttle a brig, which did not go down as he thought she had, 
 so happily his intended victims escaped and informed against 
 him. He was captured by a man-of-war's boat's crew, and 
 he and his followers were carried in chains to Malta. 
 Then there was a very daring fellow, a Greek, Zappa by 
 name, who commanded a brig, and on one occasion attacked 
 an Austrian man-of-war which he believed had treasure on 
 board, and took her. Then there has been no end of Greek 
 pirates of high or low degree. Gentlemanly cut-throats, 
 princes and counts with fleets under their command, down 
 to the disreputable owners of small boats which lie in wait 
 behind headlands to rob unwary merchantmen who cannot
 
 248 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 defend themselves. Oh ! the Mediterranean has reason to 
 be proud of the achievements of its mariners from the times 
 of the pious -ZEneas down to the present day." 
 
 From all I heard of Sandgate, indeed, I felt more and 
 more thankful that Miss Manners had so fortunately escaped 
 from his power. 
 
 Nothing worthy of note occurred to us during our very 
 pleasant stay at Gibraltar. The day before we had arranged 
 to leave the place, who should we fall in with but Jack 
 Piper, a lieutenant in the navy, and a friend and old mess- 
 mate of Tom Mizen's. "Why, I thought we had left you 
 at Plymouth ! " I exclaimed as I wrung his hand. 
 
 " So you did," he answered ; " but I had been ordered to 
 come out here and to join my ship. You know old Rullock, 
 Mizen's uncle. He had just before commissioned the 
 ' Zebra ' brig, for this station, and as she was the first vessel 
 to sail, I got a passage in her. We had a fast run, and 
 they only put me on shore here yesterday while she has 
 gone to Malta. We had Mrs. and Miss Mizen on board, 
 and Mrs. Mizen's niece, Miss Susan Simms " (Jack, I knew, 
 rather affected Miss Susan, and he looked very conscious as 
 he mentioned her name). "Very nice girl," he continued; 
 " so kind of her, too, to come out just at an hour's notice to 
 take care of her cousin, Miss Rullock, you know. You 
 haven't heard, perhaps, that they are rather alarmed about 
 Miss Laura. Caught a cold, somewhat ugly symptoms. 
 Think her consumptive, so it was judged best to bring her 
 out to spend a winter at Malta, and as her uncle was coming, 
 the opportunity was a good one." 
 
 " Ah ! this news will be matter of interest to Hearty," 
 thought I. "We shall now see whether his feelings for 
 Miss Mizen had any root, or whether he was affected by a 
 mere passing fancy."
 
 MISS MIZEN'S ILLNESS. 249 
 
 " Poor girl ! I am sorry to hear of her illness," said I 
 aloud. " Malta is as good a place as she could come to, 
 and I hope the change will do her good. We shall see her 
 there, I dare say. Have you any commands for the ladies?" 
 
 " Say I hope that my ship will be there before long," 
 answered Piper, absolutely blushing through the well-bronzed 
 hue of his cheek. 
 
 He had been appointed as first lieutenant of the " Thun- 
 der," sloop-of-war. She was expected at the Rock every 
 day. Jack Piper was not very dissimilar in appearance 
 and manner to Porpoise, and he was the same sort of good- 
 natured, frank, open-hearted fellow just the man to do a 
 gallant, noble action, and not to say a word about it, simply 
 because it would not occur to him that it was any thing out 
 of the way. There are plenty of such men in the service, 
 and England may be proud of them. 
 
 On quitting Piper I went on board the yacht, where we 
 had agreed to assemble in the evening, to be ready for a 
 start by daybreak. Should Hearty not have heard of the 
 " Zebra's" touching at the Rock, I resolved to say nothing 
 about the matter. If he really was in love with Miss 
 Mizen, I might chance to spoil him as a companion, and if 
 he did not care about her, there was no harm done.
 
 CHAPTER XVH. 
 
 A SUSPICIOUS SAIL AN EXPECTED VISIT PROM AN UNIN- 
 VITED STRANGER WE PREPARE TO RECEIVE HIM. 
 
 THE Rock of Gibraltar was fading from our sight in the 
 far distance, as the sun in a blaze of glory went down into 
 his ocean bed between the pillars of Hercules. The yacht 
 lay in a dead calm, her canvas idly napping for want of 
 more useful employment, while every spar and rope was re- 
 flected in the mirror-like surface of the watery expanse ; yet 
 she was not immovable, for the current which runs in at the 
 mouth of the Mediterranean was sending her on at the rate 
 of some knots an hour, over the ground pretty well in her 
 direct course. We sat on deck and smoked our cigars, and 
 spun many a yarn, and told many an adventure of bygone 
 days. It was with difficulty that we could persuade our- 
 selves to turn in, so enjoyable was the cool sea atmosphere 
 after the burnt-up, baked, oveny air of the old Rock. 
 
 The next morning, when we came on deck, although there 
 had not been an air in all the heavens, as Snow informed 
 us, we had sunk Gibraltar completely beneath the sea. That 
 day passed much like the previous one. Now and then a 
 light breeze from the westward filled the cutter's sails, and 
 made her step through the water at a speed which must have 
 astonished some of the ancient fish, which looked up at her 
 from out of their caverned homes beneath the waves. As the 
 day wore on we made out, away to the westward, the mast- 
 heads of a brig. As we gradually rose them it appeared 
 
 250
 
 A SUSPICIOUS SAIL. 251 
 
 that she was a polacca-rigged brig, probably a Greek laden 
 with corn, bound out of the Straits, perhaps to supply the 
 insatiable maw of old England with food. We had just 
 made this discovery when we were summoned to dinner. 
 To people who have nothing to do, any small thing affords 
 subject of interest. I remember a story of two noblemen, 
 shut up at a country inn on a rainy day, betting large sums 
 on the speed of two small flies running over a pane of glass, 
 and of others equally wise, staking larger amounts than 
 many a naval and military officer receives in his life-time, on 
 two spots of rain, the bet being a drawn one by the drops 
 uniting. When we returned on deck after dinner no change 
 had taken place. The canvas of the cutter gave every now 
 and then an idle flap, while the sails of the Greek brig 
 seemed very much in the same humor. We, however, were 
 so far better off than the stranger, because the current was 
 sweeping us, slowly indeed, but still in the direction we 
 wanted to go, while it was carrying her away from it. Still 
 we appeared by some mysterious influence to near each 
 other. It was not, however, for some time that we discov- 
 ered that her crew were towing her ahead, and that she had 
 also long sweeps out, which probably sent her through the 
 water two or three knots an hour. 
 
 " I thought those Greek seamen were idle dogs, who 
 would not think of taking so much trouble as these fellows 
 appear to do, even to save their lives." 
 
 "Oh, there's little enough to be said in their favor," re- 
 plied Porpoise. " These fellows want to get through the 
 Straits, as they fancy they shall find a fair wind outside, so 
 : they take a little trouble now in the hopes of perfect idleness 
 . by and by." Odd as it may seem, I could not help fancy- 
 ing that there was something strange about that brig, yet 
 what it was of course I could not tell.
 
 252 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 " Well, I shall always think favorably of the industry of 
 Greeks, after watching those fellows/' said Carstairs. 
 
 The strange brig kept creeping up closer and closer to us ; 
 still, except an occasional glance which we took of her, as 
 being the only object in sight, she appeared in no way to 
 excite the interest of my messmates. I, however, as I re- 
 marked, clearly remember to have had a strange feeling of 
 doubt and mistrust as I looked at her. It is impossible to 
 account for similar sensations, experienced frequently by 
 people on various occasions ; had she been a rakish-looking, 
 low, black schooner, with a wide spread of canvas, met with 
 in the latitude of the "West Indies, I might very naturally 
 have guessed her to be a pirate or slaver ; but the brig in 
 sight was a harmless, honest-looking trader, and still I could 
 not help frequently during the day looking at her, very 
 much as I should have done had she been of the character 
 of the craft I had described. 
 
 " Bubble ! " exclaimed Hearty, " you know that you have 
 promised us a tale of your own composition, and you have 
 very frequently been missed from the deck and found pen in 
 hand in the cabin, covering sundry sheets of paper, and 
 when we have been wrapped in slumber you have been sup- 
 posed to have sat up continuing your work. Come, man, 
 have compassion on our curiosity, and give us the result of 
 your lucubrations." 
 
 " Oh, no ! spare my blushes," answered Will, with a 
 comic sentimental look : "I don't aim at the world-wide 
 celebrity of an author : I am content to please a select 
 circle of friends like yourselves. Who would read a story 
 published under the signature of Will Bubble ? No ! I say, 
 let me float on adown the quiet stream of insignificance. 
 The post of safety is a humble station hum ! "
 
 A SUSPICIOUS SAIL. 253 
 
 " Over-modesty, over-modesty, Will," answered Hearty. 
 " Pluck up courage, man ; you will do well if you try." 
 
 The best of the joke was, that the rogue, as I well know, 
 had for many a year past been dabbling in literature, and 
 often had I enjoyed a quiet laugh when reading an article 
 from his pen. 
 
 " "Well, perhaps some day I'll try," said he, demurely. 
 
 " Hillo ! what can the fellow be wanting?" exclaimed 
 Porpoise, interrupting our talking (I won't call it conver- 
 sation). 
 
 We all turned our eyes in the direction in which he was 
 looking. The brig had lowered a boat, which with rapid 
 strokes was pulling towards us. 
 
 " She seems to have a good many hands in her," he 
 added, holding his glass to his eye. " I don't quite like the 
 look of her." 
 
 " Nor do I either, I confess," said I. " There are some 
 craft in this sea not altogether honest, we must remember, 
 though they are generally met with higher up towards the 
 Levant." 
 
 " What ought we to do, then?" asked Hearty. 
 
 " Just serve out the cutlasses and pistols, and cast the 
 guns loose," said Porpoise. " Tell the people to keep an 
 eye on the strangers, and if more than two or three attempt 
 to come on board, to tumble them into their boat again. 
 There's not the slightest danger if we put on a bold front, 
 but if we are caught napping, I would not be answerable 
 for the consequences.
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 THE STRANGER COMES ON BOARD THE GREEK CHIEF A 
 
 WHITE SQUALL WHAT HAS BECOME OF THE BRIG? 
 
 THE SUSPICIOUS STRANGER AGAIN PREPARATIONS FORA 
 
 FIGHT. 
 
 THE advice Porpoise gave seemed so rational that al- 
 though it might have gone somewhat against the grain with 
 so thorough a John Bull as Hearty to put himself in a 
 posture of defence before he was attacked, Snow was 
 summoned aft to superintend the distribution of the con- 
 tents of the arm-chest. The men buckled on their cut- 
 lasses with looks of no small glee, snapping the locks of 
 their pistols to try them before loading, as they eyed the 
 advancing boat. 
 
 " There's no fear, gentlemen, but what they'd give an 
 account of twice the number of chaps as are aboard that 
 craft, if they ever come to close quarters," said Snow, ap- 
 provingly casting his eye over the crew. 
 
 I could not help thinking the same, for a finer set of broad- 
 shouldered, wide-chested fellows I never saw, as they stood 
 around us with their necks bare, and the sleeves of their 
 blue shirts tucked up above the elbows, handling their 
 weapons with the fond look which a child bestows on a 
 newly-given toy. 
 
 " Go forward again, my men, and keep on the opposite 
 side to which the boat comes," said Porpoise. 
 
 " Just stand about as if you did not suspect there was any 
 thing wrong ; very likely there may not be, you know, and 
 
 254
 
 A SUSPICIOUS-LOOKING CEAFT. 255 
 
 perhaps the Greek has lost his reckoning, and is sending 
 aboard us only to ask his whereabouts." 
 
 " A craft like that wouldn't send away a boat with twelve 
 men in her, or more, to ask such a question," observed Snow 
 to old Sleet ; " I know better nor that." 
 
 " You may well say so," answered the old man. " I've 
 heard of such rum tricks being played, that I always like 
 to be prepared for squalls." 
 
 I must say that after the strange misgivings I had expe- 
 rienced in the early part of the day, when the polacca-brig 
 first hove in sight, I was well satisfied to see the yacht put 
 in a perfect state of defence. It was more than possible 
 that the stranger might after all be an honest trader, and 
 that her crew might be not a little surprised to find an Eng- 
 lish yacht with so formidable an appearance. Still again, 
 I have always seen the wisdom of not despising an antago- 
 nist, and of being as prepared as circumstances will allow 
 for any emergency. 
 
 The boat, a heavy launch, was meantime advancing to- 
 wards us. I examined her narrowly with my glass ; she had 
 what looked very like a gun mounted in the bows, though a 
 capote, or piece of dark canvas, was thrown over it. She 
 pulled twelve oars, beside which three or four other people 
 sat in the stern-sheets. I observed Porpoise, who had been, 
 as may be supposed, attentively watching the boat, go up to 
 the foremost gun, and draw the shot. 
 
 " Carpenter," said he, to Chips, " bring me up a shovel 
 of old nails and bits of iron." 
 
 The articles in question were soon brought to him, and 
 he proceeded forthwith to load the gun with them up to the 
 muzzle. 
 
 " Sleet," said he, " you have charge of this gun ; if our 
 friends there show fight, and I give the word, slap this
 
 256 THE CRUISE OP THE " FROLIC." 
 
 mouthful right in among them ; it will soon bring them to 
 reason, I guess." 
 
 " Ay, ay, sir," answered the old man, slapping the breech 
 of his gun with a quiet smile, " I'll make her speak, de- 
 pend on't." 
 
 Thus prepared, we awaited the arrival of the suspicious- 
 looking strangers. Had there been any wind, we might 
 easily have prevented their coming on board by running out 
 of their way, but as it was we could not help ourselves with- 
 out fighting. In a few minutes more they pulled alongside, 
 rather awkwardly ; however, we did not order them to keep 
 off, as it was agreed it would not be wise to show any sus- 
 picion of them. They were all dressed in the Greek cos- 
 tume ; one of the men who sat in the stern-sheets, a full- 
 bearded fellow, with a capote thrown over his shoulders and 
 a fez on his head, stood up in the boat, and in broken Eng- 
 lish asked to come on board. 
 
 " Oh ! let him," said Hearty, who began to fancy we had 
 been over-cautious. " There can't possibly be any harm." 
 
 The side was accordingly manned, and our friend with 
 the capote, followed by two less ill-looking fellows, stepped 
 unceremoniously on board. 
 
 " I speak to de captain," said the stranger, in a blunt 
 tone. 
 
 " I am the captain, at your service," answered Porpoise, 
 standing before him, and preventing his farther advance on 
 deck. 
 
 " Oh ! I come to know where you come from," said the 
 Greek stranger, casting his eyes furtively round the deck, 
 as if to discover the state of defence in which we mi^ht be. 
 
 O 
 
 The look of our sturdy fellows, with their cutlasses by 
 their sides, might possibly have surprised him, and at all
 
 THE STRANGER ON BOARD. 257 
 
 events he must have seen that there was little chance of sur- 
 prising us. 
 
 " We come from England," answered Porpoise, bluntly. 
 "A civil question requires a civil answer, but I don't know 
 by what right you ask it." 
 
 " Where you bound for? " continued the Greek, not notic- 
 ing the last remark it seemed. 
 
 " Malta, Alexandria, Smyrna, and a few other places up 
 the Levant," said Porpoise. 
 
 "Ah! will you take letter for me? You do me great 
 favor," said the Greek, putting his hand in his bosom. 
 
 While the Greek was speaking, I had been eyeing him 
 narrowly from the after-part of the vessel, where I had 
 placed myself. Most of nay readers have heard of the famed 
 Vanderdecken, the terrible Flying Dutchman, who in his 
 phantom ship goes cruising about to the southward of the 
 Cape of Good Hope, sailing right into the eye of the heavi- 
 est gale. When he falls in with a vessel, he conies aboard, 
 and requests a packet he presents may be taken on shore. 
 Just such another as Vanderdecken did our present visitor 
 appear, except that the Dutchman is habited in a somewhat 
 different costume to the Greek, in broad-brimmed hat, big- 
 buttoned waistcoat, and wide breeches. By the way Por- 
 poise looked at him, I had a notion some such idea was 
 passing through his mind. Perhaps he suspected that the 
 gentleman had a pistol instead of a letter inside the folds of 
 his vest. The boat's crew meantime sat scowling at us, 
 and surveying the vessel with a no friendly look ; I guessed, 
 indeed, that nothing would have given them greater pleasure 
 than to have been able to jump on board, and to cut all our 
 throats. 
 
 " We shall be happy to take your letter or any commands 
 17
 
 258 THE CRUISE OF THE " FEOLIC." 
 
 on shore," answered Porpoise, putting his hand in his pocket 
 in imitation of the Greek. 
 
 The stranger furtively eyed the movement of his hand, 
 as much as to say, " Why, have you got a pistol there like- 
 wise ? " 
 
 However, withdrawing his own hand from his bosom, he 
 exclaimed, " Ah ! I have by some omission left my letter on 
 board." 
 
 The man spoke with as downright an English pronuncia- 
 tion as I ever heard in my life. Pretty well for a Greek, 
 thought I, stepping forward to examine his features more 
 narrowly. I had had my suspicions from the time he 
 stepped on board ; so, it appeared, had Tom Newton. 
 There could be very little doubt about the matter ; the man 
 who stood before us in the guise of a Greek, was no other 
 than the ci-devant pirate slaver smuggler, the outlaw 
 Miles Sandgate. I thought his keen eye glanced at my 
 countenance for a moment, as if he recognized me ; but so 
 completely did he maintain his self-possession, that he did 
 not exhibit the slightest sign of fear or hesitation. He bit 
 his lips though, as if he found that he had betrayed himself 
 by speaking English too fluently, and he instantly fell back 
 into his former mode of expression. Porpoise had either 
 not remarked his slip of the tongue, or thought it best not to 
 comment on it. 
 
 " I go send letter aboard," he continued, stepping back a 
 pace as if to be ready to spring into his boat. His crew in 
 the mean time had begun to vociferate something I could 
 not understand. He replied to them in the same language, 
 and I have no doubt it was to tell them that their enterprise 
 was fruitless, and that it was not quite so easy to catch the 
 crew of an English yacht napping as they might have sup- 
 posed. He still hesitated to take his departure. Some plan
 
 A WHITE SQUALL. 259 
 
 or other was passing through his fertile, ever-active brain. 
 Perhaps he did not suspect that I had recognized him. 
 However, whatever might have been his intentions, he was 
 summoned hurriedly into the boat by his crew. He turned 
 hastily round and cast his eye to the northward, so did I and 
 Porpoise. There, rising out of the water as it were, was a 
 small white cloud, which, as we looked, every instant in- 
 creased in size. 
 
 " You'd better shorten sail, or you'll repent it," exclaimed 
 the seeming Greek, as he leaped into his boat. 
 
 The crew pulled lustily away in the direction of their own 
 vessel. Nothing comes on so rapidly and gives so little time 
 for preparation as does a white squall in the Mediterranean. 
 Porpoise, taking the advice offered, gave the necessary orders. 
 All hands rushed to the halliards and downhauls, but before 
 a rope could be let go the squall was upon us. A drift of 
 white foam came rushing towards the cutter, driven on by 
 some irresistible power, which at the same time curled up 
 the whole hitherto calm and shining sea into rolling, break- 
 ing waves. Our eyes were almost blinded with the salt 
 mist Avhich dashed over us. Terrific was the blow we re- 
 ceived. The cutter having no steerage way offered a dead 
 resistance to it. Over she went as does a stately tree, its 
 stem cut through by the woodman's deadly axe and saw. 
 
 " Hold on ! hold on for your lives ! " sung out Porpoise. 
 
 There was good reason. I thought she would never rise 
 again. The water rose up her decks. We began to look at 
 boats and spars as the only hope of safety. Then shrouds 
 and stays and bolts gave way, and the stout mast cracked 
 off at the deck with a loud crash ; and the little craft rising 
 on an even keel floated in safety, but presented a forlorn 
 wreck compared to the gay and gallant trim in which she 
 had lately appeared. Not a moment was to be lost in ascer-
 
 260 THE CRUISE OF THE u FROLIC." 
 
 taining whether the cutter had received any vital damage, 
 and in endeavoring to put her to rights. Everybody was 
 busily engaged in the work. Hearty and our landsmen 
 friends took the matter very coolly. 
 
 " Just sing out where you want us to lend a hand, and 
 we are four men," cried Hearty, pulling and hauling away 
 with a will, while we were getting in the wreck of our mast 
 and spars. 
 
 The drag of the rigging astern brought the vessel up into 
 the wind's eye, and then she lay pitching and bobbing away 
 into the short seas, sending the spray flying over us like a 
 regular shower-bath, and surrounding us with a mist imper- 
 vious to the sight. It was heavy work, and as part of the 
 bulwarks had been knocked away there was no little danger 
 of being washed overboard. Where, however, all labor 
 with a will, the hardest task is soon performed ; and no 
 fellows could have worked harder than did our crew of 
 yachtsmen. Before, however, the craft was in any way put 
 to rights, the squall and its effects on the sea had com- 
 pletely passed away, but night coming down had shrouded 
 us in total darkness. No one had thought of the Greek 
 brig or her boat, and now not a glimpse of either was to be 
 perceived. 
 
 What had become of her ? Had the boat with the rascal 
 Sandgate been swamped? Had the brig been caught by the 
 squall and gone down ? Such had been the fate of many a 
 craft in the Mediterranean. When we had got the yacht 
 somewhat to rights we made inquiries among the men, but 
 no one had observed her. Old Sleet, it was said, had 
 watched the boat pulling away for her even during the 
 hurly-burly of the squall. I therefore called him up to 
 examine him more particularly. 
 
 " When we was on our beam-ends, and I thought we was
 
 STEER BACK TO GIBRALTAR. 261 
 
 over for good, still I couldn't help keeping my eye on the 
 boat," said the old man ; " I can't say as how I liked the 
 look of that ere curious chap the Greek captain who came 
 "aboard us, and as for his crew, a bigger set of cut-throats 
 I never saw. Well, thinks I to myself, if the boat goes to 
 the bottom, and all her people goes in her, there's no great 
 harm done : but if she floats and gains the brig, they may 
 just come back when we are not prepared for them, and try 
 to knock us all on the head ; but, says I to myself, there's 
 no use talking about it, for the gentlemen won't believe 
 such a thing possible, and I shall only get laughed at for my 
 pains." 
 
 I was very much inclined to agree with the old man, 
 that if our Greek friend had escaped drowning, and could 
 discover our whereabout, he would be apt to try his hand 
 at playing us some scurvy trick ; but I said nothing to this 
 effect. I, however, resolved to speak to Porpoise, so that 
 we might be prepared to resist any attack he might attempt 
 to make on us. Porpoise was rather inclined to laugh at 
 my fears. 
 
 " My belief is that the fellow went to the bottom," he re- 
 plied. " Serve him right, too, if he is the rascal you sup- 
 pose him ; or if he got aboard his ship he saw enough of us 
 to know that we should prove rather a tough morsel, should 
 he attempt to swallow us." 
 
 A council of war having been called, it was resolved that 
 we should try to get back to Gibraltar as fast as we could. 
 To effect this, however, it would be necessary to rig jury- 
 masts, and this could not very well be done till daylight. 
 "We proposed turning the cutter into a schooner or lugger, 
 and happily, as we had saved most of our spars and canvas, 
 we expected to have no great difficulty in getting sufficient 
 sail on her to navigate with ease the poor little closely-shorn 
 craft.
 
 262 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 I have often had in my naval career to pass through 
 nights of toil and anxiety, and this gave every promise of 
 being one of that character. In a few hours we had gath- 
 ered in all our ruffled feathers, or, in other words, our masts 
 and spars and sails and rigging ; and having stowed them 
 along the decks as best we could, there we lay floating help- 
 lessly like a log on the water. Not having discarded my 
 suspicions of the polacca-brig, notwithstanding my fatigue 
 I felt no inclination to go to sleep. I now was left in charge 
 of the deck while Porpoise and the rest of my messmates 
 turned in, all standing. J walked the deck for some time, 
 ever and anon turning my gaze upward to the dark blue 
 vault of heaven glittering with a thousand stars, each but a 
 centre of some mighty system, each more complex and mar- 
 vellous, probably, than our own. I thought of the all-potent 
 Being who made them as well as all the wondrous specimens 
 of animal life which dwell on this globe we call our own, 
 and my heart swelled with gratitude to Him who had pre- 
 served me and my shipmates from the danger to which we 
 had been exposed. My spirit, as I thought, seemed to take 
 its flight through the calm atmosphere, and to wander far 
 far away among those distant spheres. How long it was 
 away I know not. I was not conscious of the existence of 
 my body on the surface of the globe. A splash aroused me 
 from my reveries. It was caused by a fish leaping out of 
 its liquid home to avoid some monster of the deep wishing 
 to make a supper off" it. It called me back to earth and 
 'things earthly. My first impulse was to cast my eye round 
 the horizon. It was rather a circumscribed one at that hour 
 of darkness. Once I made the full circuit and could see 
 nothing. I took a few more turns on deck, and again I 
 swept my eye round the watery circle more slowly than be- 
 fore. As I reached the south-eastern point of the heavens
 
 AIT EKEMT IN SIGHT. 263 
 
 I was certain I saw a dark object. I rubbed my eyes. The 
 sails of a vessel appeared before me, rising up like a tbin 
 dark pescil-line against the sky. I wetted my fingers and 
 held up my hand. The cold struck it on that side. What- 
 ever she might be she was well to windward of us. I took 
 the night-glass, which hung on brackets just inside the com- 
 panion-hatch. She was still too far off to enable me to 
 make out what she was. I had not, however, forgotten 
 my suspicions of the polacca. The stranger w r as evidently 
 approaching us. If she was the Greek, her crew would 
 scarcely resist the temptation of attempting to plunder us. 
 Still I felt that my suspicions were almost absurd, and I did 
 not like to arouse my friends without some better grounds 
 for my fears. I, however, felt it would be wise not to run 
 the risk of being taken altogether unprepared. I therefore 
 went up alongside old Snow so we called him, though he 
 was young enough to be old Sleet's son. I was not long in 
 waking him up to the proper pitch of caution by narrating 
 a variety of stories about pirates and slavers and savages, 
 and such like gentry, with a due admixture of instances 
 where people from carelessness were caught napping and 
 lost their lives. 
 
 " Now," said I, " let us get these spars cleared away 
 enough to work the guns. The watch on deck will do it 
 without rousing the rest. We'll have a supply up of round 
 shot and ammunition. The people have not restored their 
 pistols and cutlasses to the arm-chest. Send a couple of 
 hands to collect them all ready, and then if yonder stranger 
 proves to be the polacca, and wishes to taste our quality, 
 we'll let her have her will, and show her what we are 
 made of." 
 
 I spoke thus confidently that there might be no risk of 
 taking any of the pluck out of the people. I cannot say,
 
 264 THE CKUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 however, that I at all liked the notion of a brush with the 
 well-manned and probably well-armed polacca-brig in our 
 present dismantled condition, however little I might have 
 feared her at close quarters had we been all to rights. I 
 watched the approach of the stranger, therefore, with no 
 little anxiety. She was evidently bearing right down upon 
 us, though, as there was but little wind, her progress was 
 slow. The hours of the night wore on. I was leaning 
 against the wreck of the mast which lay fore and aft along 
 the deck, and at length I fell asleep. I do not know how 
 long I had slept when I heard Porpoise's voice close to me. 
 
 " Hillo, Brine ! what in the name of wonder is that away 
 there to windward ? " he exclaimed. 
 
 "The polacca-brig, there's no doubt about it," I answered, 
 as I beheld a vessel like a dark phantom stealing up towards 
 us. I then explained to him the preparations I had made in 
 case the brig should really be of the piratical character we 
 suspected, and at the same time inclined to attack us. This 
 relieved his mind not a little. My belief, however, was that 
 the Greek might not have seen us. She might, of course, 
 have calculated our whereabouts. Perhaps even now she 
 might not see us. Perhaps, also, as Porpoise suggested, if 
 the boat was swamped in the squall, the rest of the crew 
 would probably cruise about to look for their companions. 
 He agreed with me, therefore, that we need not yet rouse up 
 Hearty and our other two friends. By the by, in conse- 
 quence of all the delays we must endui-e, I was doubly glad 
 that we had not told Hearty of Miss Mizen's expedition to 
 Malta. It would have made him undergo them with much 
 less than his usual philosophy, I suspect. 
 
 "I doubt if even now the brig sees us," said I as I 
 watched her through the night-glass. So low down in the 
 water as we were, she was very likely to miss us.
 
 AN ENEMY IN SIGHT. 265 
 
 " See, she is passing us," exclaimed Porpoise, after we 
 had watched her for some time. " It is just as well she 
 should miss us, for in our present state we could not exactly 
 do ourselves justice." 
 
 " Perhaps after all our friends may be very well disposed, 
 and in no way inclined to do us any harm," said I, not that 
 I could in reality divest myself of the idea that the polacca 
 was commanded by Sandgate, and that he would have 
 delighted to do us all the mischief in his power. With day- 
 light, however, I don't think I should fear him, even now, I 
 thought to myself. 
 
 It still wanted nearly an hour to sunrise, and daylight in 
 that clime does not come very long before the glorious lumi- 
 nary of day rushes up from his ocean bed. We hoped by 
 that time that the brig would have pretty well run us out of 
 sight. Still neither Porpoise nor I felt inclined to go below 
 again. We intended, indeed, to rouse out all hands to get 
 up the jury-masts the moment we had light to work by. 
 We, however, were not so clear of danger as we fancied. 
 The brig had got about a mile to leeward of us, when we 
 saw her brace up her yards, and, close hauled, she stood 
 back so as soon to fetch us. There was no longer any time 
 to spare. 
 
 " Rouse up all hands fore and aft," sung out Porpoise, 
 with a stentorian voice. 
 
 In a minute every one was on deck busily employed in 
 casting loose the guns, in priming pistols, and buckling on 
 cutlasses. 
 
 " If the fellow will but come to close quarters, we have no 
 reason to fear him," exclaimed our gallant skipper, survey- 
 ing his crew with no little pride. 
 
 " I only wish we may have a brush with him," added 
 Hearty ; "it would tell well in the Club ; only I wish we
 
 266 THE CRUISE OP THE " FBOLIC." 
 
 had our mast standing." I cannot say that I participated 
 altogether in the satisfaction of my friends. The brig, if 
 she did attack us, I knew, we must find an ugly customer, 
 and the pirates could only venture to do so with the full in- 
 tention of sending every one of us, with the yacht into the 
 bargain, to the bottom, on the principle that dead men tell 
 no tales. 
 
 The Greek was not long in showing us his intentions. 
 No sooner had he got us within range of his guns, than 
 brailing up his courses and lowering his topsails, he opened 
 his fire upon our almost helpless craft. Happily for us his 
 gunnery was very bad, and he evidently had a fancy for long 
 bowls, and a wholesome dread of coming to close quarters 
 with us. Our people went cheerily to their guns, not a bit 
 afraid of our big enemy. 
 
 " Only just do ye come on, ye confounded scoundrels, and 
 we'll just give ye a taste of what we are made of," sung out 
 Tom Hall, a broad-shouldered fellow, standing six feet high 
 or more in his stockings, as he shook his cutlass in an atti- 
 tude of defiance at the enemy ; and no one was better able 
 to give an account of them than he would have been when 
 the day's work was over. 
 
 Will Bubble threw off his coat, fastened a silk handker- 
 chief round his waist and another round his head, and 
 worked away at his little gun in fine style. Carstairs did 
 the same in a more deliberate manner, whistling the fag end 
 of a hunting song. If we had possessed guns four times 
 the size of ours, I verily believe, crippled as were, we should 
 very soon have sent our antagonists to the bottom, instead of 
 running the risk of going there ourselves. Finding his shot 
 fall short or wide of us, he ran on a little way, and then 
 tacking, stood closer up to us.
 
 CHAPTER XTX. 
 
 THE ENGAGEMENT OUR DESPERATE CONDITION A FRIEND 
 
 IN SIGHT OUR ENEMY FLIES MALTA. 
 
 BY this time the first faint streaks of early dawn had 
 appeared in the sky ; but in that latitude the sun does not 
 take long to get above the horizon, and daylight was on us 
 almost as soon as the brig had again got us within range of 
 her guns. Two or three shots struck ou? hull, and at the 
 same time the enemy opened a fire of musketry on us ; but 
 the pirates did not prove themselves better marksmen with 
 their small arms than they had hitherto done with their 
 heavier guns. 
 
 " Oh, I wish the rascals would but attempt to run us 
 aboard ! " exclaimed Hearty. " To think of their impudence 
 in daring to knock holes in the side of my yacht ! " 
 
 " There spoke a true Briton," observed Bubble as he once 
 more ran out his gun. " He does not think any thing of 
 being shot at ; but the idea of having his property injured, 
 or his home invaded, rouses all his anger. Here goes 
 though ; I'll see if we can't pay them off in their own coin, 
 with some change in our favor." 
 
 Will was a capital marksman, and as cool as a cucumber, 
 which was more than most of our men were, though not one 
 was wanting in pluck. He pulled the trigger, and as I 
 watched to see the effects of his fire, I saw two men fall on 
 the pirate's deck, while some white splinters flying from the 
 mainmast showed us that the shot had, as well, done some 
 damage to the vessel herself. 
 
 267
 
 268 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 " Hurra ! bravo, Bubble ! " I shouted, and the crew 
 echoed my cry, which, rising in full chorus, must have 
 reached the ears of our enemy, and showed them that we 
 were not likely to prove as easy a prey as they might have 
 fancied. " Another such a shot as that, and I believe they 
 will up helm and be off," I exclaimed. 
 
 " I'll do my best," answered Bubble, fanning himself 
 with his broad-brimmed hat, for the weather was very hot, 
 and he had been making, for him, somewhat unusual exer- 
 tions. 
 
 Will now trained his gun with great care : a great deal 
 depended on a fortunate shot. "If we could but bring 
 down one of his masts, or make a hole through his sides, 
 we should win the day even now," he exclaimed, kneeling 
 down to aim with more deliberation ; "a ten-pound note to 
 the man who wounds a mast, or sends a shot between wind 
 and water." As he afterwards acknowledged, the ten' 
 pounds was truly a widow's mite with him, for he hadn't 
 another such sum in his locker to back it. 
 
 " I'll make it twenty," cried Hearty, who really seemed 
 to enjoy the excitement of the adventure ; " come, let us see 
 who will win it." 
 
 " I have," cried Bubble, jumping up and clapping his 
 hands like a schoolboy, as he watched with intense eager- 
 ness his shot strike the hull of the brig just at the water- 
 line, sending the white splinters flying in every direction. 
 
 " Fairly won, Bubble, fairly won ! " we all exclaimed ; 
 " if they don't plug that hole pretty quickly, they will soon 
 find their jackets wetter than they like." 
 
 In return for the mischief we had done him, the pirate let 
 fly his whole broadside at us. He was every instant draw- 
 ing nearer and nearer, either to give his guns more effect, 
 or to attempt carrying us by boarding. He probably fancied
 
 AN ENGAGEMENT. 
 
 that we were by this time weakened by loss of men, as he very 
 likely was not aware of the little effect produced by his own 
 guns. Dismasted as we were, and low in the water, we 
 presented, indeed, a somewhat difficult mark to hit. The 
 pirate's approach gave us another advantage, as we were 
 now able to bring our own musketry into play, which some- 
 what made up for the lightness of our guns. We had a 
 great advantage also in the rapid way we were able to load 
 our guns, which were of brass, while our opponents' were 
 probably of iron. Our muskets, too, were kept constantly 
 at work ; Ruggles, the steward, and Pepper, the boy, being 
 set to load them as fast as they were discharged, while 
 Carstairs had a first-rate rifle, with which he picked off 
 every fellow whose red cap appeared above the bulwarks 
 with as much sang froid as he would have knocked over a 
 partridge on the 1st of September. 
 
 As our yachtsmen had had no practice with their guns, 
 they were not particularly good shots, so that none of them 
 surpassed Bubble in the accuracy of their aim, greatly to his 
 delight. The enemy's shot now began to fall rather thicker 
 around us, while two or three of our people were hit with 
 their musket-balls. None of them were hurt sufficiently to 
 make them leave the deck ; we could not, however, expect 
 that this state of impunity would long continue. I every 
 now and then turned an eye on Bubble to watch his energetic 
 proceedings, though I had enough to do to load and fire 
 away with my own musket. On a sudden, as he jumped up 
 to watch the effect of his shot, I saw him stagger back and 
 fall on the deck ; I sprang forward to raise him up, " Oh, 
 it's nothing, nothing," he exclaimed, turning, however, at 
 the same time very pale ; u only the wind of a shot or a little 
 more ; but it's a new sensation ; took me by surprise ; just 
 set me on my legs again, and I shall be all to rights soon."
 
 270 THE CBTJISE OP THE "FROLIC." 
 
 This, however, was more than I could do, poor fellow. He 
 had been hit, and badly too, I was afraid ; I sent Ruggles 
 down for a glass of brandy and water. " Just bring up a 
 flask, and a jug of water also," said I, " others may want 
 it." Bubble was much revived by the draught, and binding 
 a handkerchief over his side, which was really wounded, 
 though not so badly as I feared, with the greatest pluck he 
 again went to his gun. 
 
 During this interval the enemy had ceased firing, having 
 shot some way ahead of us, but he now again tacked, and, 
 looking well up to windward, stood towards us on a line 
 which would enable him to run us aboard, if he pleased, or 
 to strike us so directly amidships, that there was every 
 probability of his sinking us. This last proceeding was 
 the one most to be feared, and I felt sure that he would not 
 scruple so to do. I could not tell if my frriends saw the 
 terrific danger we were in ; I thought not, for they went on 
 peppering away with their fire-arms, and laughing and cheer- 
 ing, as if the whole affair was a very good joke. I confess 
 that my heart sank within me as I contemplated the fate 
 which awaited us. " How soon will those gay and gallant 
 spirits be quenched in death," I thought. " How com- 
 pletely will our remorseless enemies triumph. They have 
 all this time been merely playing with us as a cat does with 
 a mouse." Five minutes more would, I calculated, con- 
 summate the catastrophe. A minute had, however, scarcely 
 passed, when I saw the brig square away her yards ; and 
 putting up her helm, off she went before the wind. Her 
 courses were let fall ; topgallant-sails were set, studding-sails 
 and royals soon followed. Every stitch of canvas she could 
 carry was got on her, while not the slightest further atten- 
 tion did she pay to us. I rubbed my eyes, for I could 
 scarcely believe my senses. "We, however, continued firing
 
 AN ENGAGEMENT. 271 
 
 away as long as there was the chance of a shot reaching her, 
 and then our men set up such a jovial, hearty cheer, which 
 if it could have reached the ears of the pirates, would have 
 convinced them that we had still an abundance of fight left 
 in us. 
 
 What had caused the enemy so suddenly to haul off was 
 now the wonder. At all events, I trust that we were thank- 
 ful for our unexpected deliverance. When I pointed out to 
 my companions the danger we had been in, they at once 
 saw it themselves. Porpoise had seen it, indeed, all 
 along, but had concealed his apprehension as I had done 
 mine. 
 
 " The rascal found we were too tough a morsel to swal- 
 low, so thought he had better let us alone at once," said 
 Hearty. 
 
 " I cannot think that," I observed ; " he had some other 
 reason, depend on it." I was right ; the mystery was soon 
 solved. All hands at once set to work to fit and rig the 
 jury-masts, when we were called from our occupation by a 
 cheer from Bubble, whose wound made it clearly dangerous 
 for him to exert himself in any way. 
 
 " A sail, a sail ! " he exclaimed ; " a ttig ship, too, I 
 suspect." 
 
 I looked in the direction in which he. pointed away to 
 windward, where the topsails of a ship appeared rising 
 above the horizon ; from their squareness I judged her to be 
 a man-of-war. The rising sun just tinged the weather-side 
 of her canvas, as she bore down on us with a streak of 
 light which made her stand out in bold relief against the 
 deep blue sky. The pirate crew had, of course, seen her 
 from aloft long before we could have done so. She was 
 welcome in every way, as she would probably enable us to 
 get into port. The only provoking part of the business was,
 
 272 THE CBUISE OF THE " FBOLIC." 
 
 that the pirate would in all probability get away with im- 
 punity. Had she but come on the scene an hour earlier, 
 she would, probably, have been down upon us before either 
 we or the pirate could have seen her, and would most as- 
 suredly have nabbed our amigo. 
 
 " Never mind," said Porpoise. " the fellow can scarcely 
 get out of the Straits, even if he wishes it, and if I ever fall 
 in with him within the boundaries of the Mediterranean, I 
 have no fear of not knowing him again ; we shall hear more 
 of him by and by, depend on it." 
 
 Our fighting had given us an appetite, so we went to 
 breakfast with no little satisfaction, though we had not 
 much time to spare for it. Bubble would not acknowledge 
 that his wound was of consequence, though he let me look 
 to it, as I did to the hurts of the other poor fellows who 
 were hit. From the appearance they presented, I was truly 
 glad that there was a good prospect of their having surgical 
 aid without delay. They did not know, as I did, that their 
 wounds would be far more painful in a few hours than they 
 were at that time, so they made very light of them. As 
 the stranger drew nearer, we made her out to be a sloop-of- 
 war, and the ensign flying from her peak showed her to be 
 British ; she had been standing so as to pass a little way to 
 the westward of us. When, however, she made us out, 
 which she did not do till she was quite close to us, she 
 altered her course and was soon hove-to, a few cables' length 
 to leeward. A boat was lowered, and, with an officer in the 
 stern-sheets, came pulling towards us. 
 
 " What in the name of wonder is the matter? " exclaimed 
 the officer, standing up and surveying us with no little 
 surprise. 
 
 " Why, Sprat, the matter is that we have been dismasted 
 in a white squall, which would have sent many a craft to
 
 A SLOOP OF \VAU. 273 
 
 the bottom," answered Porpoise, who in the officer recog- 
 nized an old shipmate ; " we since then have been made a 
 target of by a rascally pirate, whose mast heads have 
 scarcely yet sunk beneath the horizon." 
 
 " If that is the case, we must see if we cannot catch 
 . her," answered Lieutenant Sprat, who was second lieutenant 
 of the corvette. 
 
 " What, sir ! leave us rolling helplessly about here like 
 an empty tub?" exclaimed Hearty, in a dolorous tone. 
 " But never mind, if you think you can catch her, I dare 
 say we can take care of ourselves." 
 
 " I'll report the state of things to Captain Arden, and 
 learn what he wishes," quoth Lieutenant Sprat, as he pulled 
 back to his ship. 
 
 In another minute the corvette's jolly-boat was seen leav- 
 ing her side, while she, putting up her helm, stood away in 
 the direction the pirate had taken. The jolly-boat soon 
 came alongside, with a midshipman and six men. 
 
 " Captain Arden has sent me with the carpenter's mate 
 and some of his crew to help you in," quoth Master Middie, 
 addressing Porpoise ; " we'll soon get a new mast into you, 
 and carry you safely to old Gib, or wherever you want to go." 
 
 Porpoise looked at him, and evidently felt very much in- 
 clined to laugh. He was one of the shortest lads in a mid- 
 shipman's uniform I ever saw ; but he was broad-shouldered, 
 and had a countenance which showed clearly that he very 
 well knew what he was about. 
 
 " Thank you," answered Porpoise ; u we shall be much 
 beholden to you I doubt not, though we should have been 
 glad if your captain had sent us a doctor as well, May I 
 ask your name, young gentleman ? " 
 
 ^ Mite, sir ; Anthony Mite," answered the midshipman, a 
 little taken aback at Porpoise's manner. 
 
 18
 
 274 THE CRUISE OP THE " FKOLIC." 
 
 The old lieutenant did not quite like his patronizing airs. 
 
 " I thought so," observed our worthy skipper ; " your 
 father was a shipmate of mine, youngster, and you are very 
 like him." 
 
 " In knowing my father you knew a brave man, I hope, 
 sir, you will allow," replied Master Mite, with much spirit. 
 
 " But I did not know that you were in the service. A 
 better or braver fellow never stepped," answered Porpoise, 
 warmly, putting out his hand. "I've no doubt you are 
 worthy of him, youngster. We'll have a yarn about him 
 by and by. However, just now, we must try to get the craft 
 in sailing trim again." 
 
 Small as the young midshipman was in stature, he soon 
 made it evident that he was of the true stuff which forms a 
 hero. He was here, there, and everywhere, pulling and 
 hauling, directing and encouraging. So rapid were his 
 movements, that his body seemed ubiquitous, while the tone 
 of his voice showed that he was well accustomed to com- 
 mand and to be obeyed. We had no reason to complain of 
 either the officer or laborers Captain Arden had sent us. 
 Meantime I had been keeping my eye on the proceedings of 
 the corvette. She at first stood away steadily to the north- 
 ward and eastward, in the direction the brig had taken', and 
 it seemed evident that she had her in sight ; then she altered 
 her course to the westward, but finally disappeared below 
 the horizon, steering nearly due north. 
 
 " If the man-of-war has still the brig in sight, the latter 
 must be making for some Spanish port, where the pirates 
 hope to lie concealed till the search for them is over," I 
 thought to myself. " However, Sandgate, if he really is the 
 commander, is up to all sorts of dodges, and will very likely, 
 somehow or other, manage to make his escape." 
 
 As may be supposed, we watched very anxiously for the
 
 MB. MIDSHIPMAN MITE. 275 
 
 re-appearance of the corvette, but the sun went down, and 
 we saw nothing of her. However, we had by this time got 
 up apologies for three masts, and, moreover, managed to 
 make sail on them. 
 
 It was a great satisfaction to feel the poor little barkie 
 once more slipping through the water, though at a much 
 slower pace than usual. 
 
 As I feared, both Bubble and the men who had been 
 wounded began, towards midnight, to complain somewhat 
 of their hurts. While we were all sitting round the table 
 in the cabin at supper, before turning in, Hearty, as Por- 
 poise had done, expressed his regret that Captain Arden had 
 not sent us a surgeon. 
 
 " Oh, we didn't know that any one was hurt," observed 
 Mr. Mite. " But never mind, I understand something of 
 doctoring. I can bleed in first-rate style, I can tell you. 
 Don't you think I had better try my hand?" 
 
 " Thank you, they have been bled enough already, I 
 suspect," answered Hearty. " I'm afraid no one on board 
 can do much good to them. I only pray the wind may hold, 
 and that we may soon get into Gibraltar." 
 
 But Master Mite was not so easily turned aside from his 
 purpose of trying his hand as a surgeon. He begged hard 
 that he might, at all events, be allowed to examine the men's 
 wounds. 
 
 We of course assured our young friend that we did not 
 doubt his surgical talents ; but still declined allowing him to 
 operate on any of the yacht's crew. We were not sorry, 
 however, to let him take the middle watch, which he volun- 
 teered to do, for both Porpoise and I and old Snow were 
 regularly worn out. The wind held fair, and there was not 
 much of it. The night passed away quietly, and when 
 morning broke we saw the corvette standing after us. She
 
 276 THE CEUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 had been, as I expected, unsuccessful in her chase of the 
 Greek brig. She had made all sail after a craft which she 
 took for her, but on coming up with the chase, discovered 
 her to be an honest trader laden with corn. She now took 
 us in tow, and in the afternoon we reached the Rock. 
 
 Hearty very soon heard that the "Zebra" had gone on 
 to Malta, with Miss Mizen on board, and from the way he 
 received the information, I suspected that his feelings towards 
 her were of a warmer character than I at first supposed. 
 He was very anxious to be away again, and urged on Por- 
 poise to do his utmost to expedite the refitting of the yacht. 
 Fortunately, we were able to procure a spar intended for the 
 mast of a man-of-war schooner, and which was not refused 
 to the application of an M.P. In a week the little craft was 
 all to rights again, and once more on her way to that little 
 military hot-house the far-famed island of Malta.
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 VALETTA A GLIMPSE OF THE PIRATE. 
 
 MALTA lay basking on the bright blue ocean, looking very 
 white and very hot under the scorching rays of a burning 
 sun, as, early in the afternoon, we stood towards the en- 
 trance of the harbor of Valetta. Passing St. Elmo Castle 
 on our right, and Fort Ricasoli on our left, whose number- 
 less guns looked frowning down upon us, as if ready, at a 
 moment's notice, to annihilate any enemy daring to enter with 
 an exhibition of hostile intent, we ran up that magnificent 
 inlet called the Grand Harbor. 
 
 Malta Harbor has been so often described, that my read- 
 ers will not thank me for another elaborate drawing. Only, 
 let them picture to themselves a gulf from three to four hun- 
 dred yards across, with several deep inlets full of shipping, 
 and on every conspicuous point, on all sides, white batteries 
 of hewn stone, of various heights, some flush with the water, 
 others rising in tiers one above another, with huge black 
 guns grinning out of them, the whole crowned with flat- 
 roofed barracks, and palaces and churches and steeples and 
 towers, with a blue sky overhead, and blue water below, 
 covered with oriental-looking boats, and lateen-rigged craft, 
 with high-pointed triangular sails of snowy whiteness, and 
 boatmen in gayly-colored scarfs and caps, and men-of-war, 
 and merchant-vessels and a very tolerable idea will be 
 formed of the place. 
 
 Valetta itself, the capital, stands on a hog's back, a nar- 
 
 877
 
 278 THE CRUISE OP THE " FROLIC." 
 
 row but high neck of land, dividing the Grand Harbor from 
 the quarantine harbor, called, also, Marsa Muceit. The 
 chief streets run in parallel lines along the said hog's back, 
 and they are intersected by others, which run up and down 
 its steep sides. In some parts they are so steep that flights of 
 steps take the place of the carriage-way. The best known 
 of these steps are the Nix Mangiari Stairs, so called from 
 the troops of little beggars who infest them, and assure all 
 passers-by that they have had nothing to eat for six days. 
 " Oh, signori, me no fader no moder; me nix mangiari seis 
 journi ! " An assertion which their fat cheeks and obese 
 little figures most undeniably contradict. Few people will 
 forget those steep steps who have had to toil to the top 
 of them on a sweltering day, not one, but three or four 
 times, perchance ; nor will those noisy, lazy, dirty beggars 
 those sights most foul those odors most sickening 
 fade from his memory. 
 
 We ran up the harbor and dropped our anchor not far 
 from the chief landing-place, abreast of Nix Mangiari Steps. 
 There were several men-of-war in the harbor. Among them 
 was our old friend the " Trident." 
 
 " If Piper sees us, we shall soon have him on board to 
 tell us all the news," observed Porpoise. " I don't think 
 Master Mite will forget us, either, if he can manage to come. 
 Our good things, in the way of eating and drinking, made 
 no slight impression on his mind, whatever he may have 
 thought of us as individuals. If he has an opportunity, 
 that little fellow will distinguish himself." 
 
 While stowing sails, the rest of the party having gone 
 below to prepare for a visit to the shore, my eye, as it 
 ranged round the harbor, fell on the sails of a Greek brig, 
 which was just then standing out of the galley port. I 
 looked at her attentively, and then pointed her out to Snow,
 
 A GLIMPSE OF THE PIRATE. 279 
 
 who was so earnest in seeing that his mainsail was stowed 
 in the smoothest of skins, that he had not observed her. 
 
 " What do you think of her ? " said I. 
 
 " Why, sir, if she isn't that rascally craft which attacked 
 us, she is as like her as one marlinspike is to another ! " he 
 exclaimed, slapping his hand on his thigh. " I'll be hanged 
 but what I believe it is her, and no mistake about it." 
 
 " I think so, too. Call Mr. Porpoise," said I. 
 
 Porpoise jumped on deck with his coat off, and a hair- 
 brush in each hand, to look at her. 
 
 " I couldn't swear to her ; but she is the same build and 
 look of craft as our piratical friend," he answered. " Hang 
 it ! I wish that we had come in an hour or two sooner ; we 
 might have just nabbed her. As it is, I fear, before we can 
 have time to get the power from the proper authorities to 
 stop her, she will be far away, and laughing at us. At all 
 events, there is not a moment to be lost." 
 
 By this time all hands were on deck, looking at the Greek 
 brig ; but all were not agreed as to her being the pirate. 
 However, the gig was lowered, and we pulled on shore, to 
 hurry up as fast as we could to the governor's palace, to 
 make our report, and to get him to stop the brig before she 
 got out of the harbor. 
 
 Landing among empty casks and bales on the sandy 
 shore, we hurried up Nix Mangiari Stairs, greatly to the 
 detriment of Porpoise's conversational powers, and then on 
 to the residence of the governor, once the palace of the 
 Grand Master of the far-famed Knights of Malta ; a huge 
 square structure, imposing for its size, rather than for the 
 beauty of its architecture. The governor was within, and 
 without delay we were ushered through a magnificent suite 
 of rooms into his presence. He received us politely, but 
 raised his eyebrows at the account of our adventure with
 
 280 THE CRUISE OP THE "FROLIC." 
 
 the pirate, and seemed to insinuate that yachting gentlemen 
 might be apt to be mistaken, and that we had perhaps after 
 all only found a mare's-nest. 
 
 " But, hang it, sir," exclaimed Hearty, " the villain fired 
 into us as fast as he could ; and that gentleman, Mr. Bubble, 
 and several of my people, were hit. There was no fancy 
 in that, I imagine." 
 
 " Ah, I see ; that alters the case," said the governor. 
 " We will send and stop the brig ; but understand, that you 
 will have to prove that she is the vessel which fired into you ; 
 and, if she is not, you must be answerable for the conse- 
 quences." 
 
 " By all manner of means," sung out Hearty. " I sup- 
 pose the consequences won't be very dreadful." 
 
 " Hang the consequences," he exclaimed, as soon after- 
 wards we were left to ourselves, to await the report from 
 the telegraph-station. " I cannot bear to hear these official 
 gentlemen babbling of consequences when rogues are to 
 be punished, and honest men protected. A thing must be 
 either rigbl or wrong. If it's right, do it if it's wrong, 
 let it alone. I hate the red-tape system which binds our 
 rulers from beginning to end*. We must break through it, 
 and that pretty quickly, or Old England will come to an 
 end." 
 
 We were all ready enough to argue with Hearty in this 
 matter, though the said breaking through an old deep-rooted 
 system is more easy to propose than to carry into effect. 
 
 After we had waited some time, word was brought to the 
 palace that, as I expected would be the case, the suspicious 
 brig had got out of the harbor ; and was out of the range 
 of the guns on the batteries before the message had reached 
 them. A gun was fired to bring her to, but of course she 
 paid no attention to the signal. Once more we were ush-
 
 INTERVIEW WITH THE GOVERNOR. 281 
 
 ered into the presence of the governor. He was very civil 
 and very kind, be it understood. 
 
 " Your best course is to go to the admiral, and tell 
 him your story, and perhaps he will send a man-of-war 
 after her." 
 
 " Thank you, sir," said Hearty, rising. " We will do 
 as you advise ; though I fear, before a man-of-war can get 
 under way, our piratical friend will be safe from pursuit." 
 
 " It matters little. He is very certain to be caught before 
 long ; and we will have him hung at his own yard-arm, like 
 some of his predecessors," observed the governor, politely 
 bowing us out. 
 
 " Humph ! " muttered Hearty, as we descended the superb 
 steps of the palatial abode. " It matters not, I suppose, 
 how many throats may be cut, and how many rich cargoes 
 sent to the bottom, in the mean time. Hang official rou- 
 tine, I say again. We must get these things altered in Par- 
 liament." * 
 
 The admiral was living on shore, and to his residence 
 we repaired as fast as our legs would carry us, with the 
 thermometer at 90. 
 
 " I wish that we had taken the law into our own hands, 
 and made chase after the fellow in the yacht," exclaimed 
 poor Porpoise, wiping the perspiration from his forehead. 
 " A few hours' fighting would have been better than this 
 hot work." 
 
 " All very well if we could prove that she was the vessel 
 which attacked us ; but if it should have turned out that we 
 were mistaken, we should have been in the place of the 
 
 * Let no one suppose that this incident is intended to reflect on any par- 
 ticular governor of Malta. It is, unhappily, only too characteristic of many 
 of our governors, ambassadors, and consuls, and other authorities in vari- 
 ous parts of the world, both at home and abroad. Certainly, old Tom, 
 well known to fame, would not have so acted.
 
 282 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 pirates, and have been accused of murder, robbery, rapine, 
 and all sorts of atrocities," remarked Bubble. " No, no ; 
 depend on it, things are better as they are. Retribution 
 will overtake the fellows one of these days." 
 
 The admiral's abode was reached at last ; but the 
 admiral was not at home, though his secretary was. The 
 admiral had gone into the country, and would not return 
 till the cool of the evening. The secretary received us very 
 politely, though he seemed rather inclined to laugh at our 
 suspicions. 
 
 A pirate sail into Malta Harbor, beard the lion in his 
 den ! The idea was too absurd. It was scarcely possible 
 that any pirates could exist in the Mediterranean. A few 
 had appeared, from time to time, it was true ; but several 
 had been hung, and the example had proved a warning to 
 other evil-doers. He would, however, as soon as the 
 admiral returned, mention the circumstance to him, and if 
 he thought fit he would undoubtedly send a vessel in chase 
 of the suspected polacca. 
 
 Such was the substance of the worthy secretary's remarks 
 to us. We could not go in search of the admiral, as it was 
 uncertain where he was to be found, so, very little satisfied 
 with our morning's work, we left the house. 
 
 "What shall we do next?" exclaimed Hearty. "There 
 seems to be no chance of our catching Master Sand- 
 gate." 
 
 " Oh, by all means, let us go on board and get cool," 
 answered Porpoise. 
 
 " Certainly," said Bubble, " I want to look out some 
 zephyr clothing. One can bear nothing thicker than a cob- 
 web this sultry weather." 
 
 So on board we went, and lay each man in his cabin with 
 all the sky-lights off, and wind-sails down, an awning over
 
 INVITATION TO A BALL. 283 
 
 the deck, and a pulkah invented by Bubble, kept working, 
 which sent a stream of air through every portion of our 
 abode, so that we were far more comfortable than we could 
 have been anywhere else. When yachting I always make 
 a point of going everywhere in the yacht, and living on 
 board her, scarcely ever entering an hotel. We thus spent 
 two or three hours some reading, others smoking or talk- 
 ing, Bubble every now and then giving vent to his feelings 
 in snatches of song. I am not certain that we did not all 
 drop asleep. We were aroused from our quietness by the 
 sound of footsteps on deck, and by the descent of the steward 
 into the cabin. 
 
 "Please, sir, that young gentleman that came aboard 
 from the sloop-of-war, after we lost our masts, wants to 
 know if he may come below to see you," said he to 
 Hearty. 
 
 " By all means," cried Hearty, springing up ; " glad to 
 see him." 
 
 Master Mite had followed the steAvard, and heard the last 
 observation. 
 
 " Thank you, sir," quoth he, helping himself to a seat. 
 " Glad to see you, too. Scarcely thought you would be 
 here so soon. Just in time for a grand ball. You'll like it. 
 We can take you there. I'm a great favorite with the 
 signora. Told me to bring all my friends the more the 
 better very hearty people for Smaitches. That's what 
 we call the Maltese here, you know. I saw your craft come 
 in, and wanted to come on board before, but couldn't. A 
 midshipman is not always his own master, you know. At 
 last I got leave from our jolly old first, Tom Piper. He 
 told me to say that he would come as soon as he could. 
 I know that he wants to press you to come to the ball, 
 also."
 
 284 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 Thus did the young midshipman run on. Hearty told 
 him that he should be very happy to go to his friend's house 
 under his chaperonage, and that so should we all, which 
 mightily pleased Master Mite. 
 
 " That's right," he exclaimed. " It will be jolly good fun, 
 I can tell you. There are some very nice English people, 
 too, great friends of mine. Such a splendiferous girl, too 
 a Miss Mizen came out with her uncle, old Rullock, 
 in the ' Zebra.' I dance with her whenever I can. If you 
 could but see her I'm sure you'd say my taste was very 
 good. Some people think that she is cut out by another fine 
 girl, a Miss Jane Seton ; but I don't. Jane's all very well 
 in her way, very fine to look at, and all that sort of thing ; 
 but to say the truth, she's rather addicted to snubbing mid- 
 shipmen, and that we don't approve of. As for her mother, 
 she wouldn't touch one of us with a boarding-pike. She's 
 a terrible old harridan, and that's not in Jane's favor. Oh, 
 no, give me Laura Mizen for my money, and all our mess 
 say the same. She's the toast of the mess just now, I can 
 tell you." 
 
 While the youngster was running on thus I watched 
 Hearty's countenance. He fairly blushed, and looked more 
 pleased and astonished and puzzled than I had ever seen 
 him before in my life. He evidently did not like to stop 
 the boy, though he winced at hearing Miss Mizen spoken 
 of as the toast of the mess. He was astonished, and clearly 
 delighted at hearing that she was so near him, for, as may 
 be remembered, I had not told him that she and her mother 
 had come out to Malta, nor did he hear of the circumstance 
 during our stay at Gibraltar. Dinner was soon brought 
 on the table, and Tom Mite did not fail to do ample justice 
 to it. 
 
 " Well, you yachtsmen do live like princes," quoth the
 
 INVITATION TO A BALL. 285 
 
 young gentleman, as he quaffed his cool claret. " When I 
 come into my fortune, I'll get a yacht, and cut the service. 
 Then, if Miss Mizen, or some other fine young girl like her, 
 will have me, she shall become the rover's bride. Oh, 
 wouldn't it be jolly ! Here's to her health in the mean 
 timet" 
 
 I could stand the joke no longer, and burst into a fit of 
 laughter. 
 
 "What's the matter?" asked Tommy, guessing he 
 might have been saying something he had" better not have 
 said. 
 
 " Only that Captain Rullock and his sister and niece are 
 great friends of ours, and that they will be highly flattered 
 at the high estimation in which they are held by your mess," 
 I answered. 
 
 Mite, who had plenty of tact, very adroitly replied, 
 " Well, gentlemen, I hope that you will come to the ball, 
 and meet your friends." 
 
 His invitation was backed by Lieutenant Piper, who soon 
 afterwards came on board, and it was arranged that we 
 should call alongside the "Trident" for them just before 
 sunset.
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 A BALL WHAT OCCURRED AT IT THE GREEK COUNT 
 
 MRS. SKYSCRAPER. 
 
 WE were conducted by our friends to a handsome palace 
 in one of the principal streets of Valetta. The ball-room 
 was full of naval and military officers in uniform, and ladies 
 in dresses of every hue and gossamer texture. Many were 
 fair and blooming, but the dark skins and flashing eyes of a 
 southern clime predominated. 
 
 Hearty and I walked in together. He cast a glance 
 eagerly round the room. Laura Mizen against the field, as 
 Carstairs would say, thought I. How will she receive him, 
 however, is the question ? We men are too often apt to 
 forget that point. He was not long in finding her ; he 
 walked up hastily, and put out his hand. She looked up, a 
 gleam of pleased surprise lighted up her eyes, and a slight 
 blush suffused her cheek, and then she put out her hand with 
 the same frankness he had offered his. All right, I thought ; 
 that is just as people should meet ; they will understand 
 each other very soon. Miss Mizen had entirely overlooked 
 me when meeting Hearty, which, however complimentary 
 to him, might, under some circumstances, have hurt my 
 feelings. 
 
 After allowing them to talk a little, I went forward and 
 was cordially received as his friend. I was surprised that 
 Carstairs and Bubble had not found their way to that end 
 of the room. On returning towards the door, after ex- 
 
 286
 
 THE BALL. 287 
 
 changing a few words with some old naval acquaintance, 
 I caught sight of him bending over a lady who was leaning 
 back in an arm-chair flirting with her fan. Her face was 
 thus hidden from me, but on getting nearer I beheld no less 
 a personage than Mrs. Skyscraper ; at a little distance was 
 Bubble, carrying on an animated conversation with Miss 
 Jane Seton, greatly to the chagrin, as it appeared, of a 
 magnificently dressed Albanian who stood near them. The 
 stranger's face was turned away from me, so that I could 
 not see the expression of his countenance ; but the convul- 
 sive clutch which he ever and anon made at the handle of 
 his jewel-hilted dagger showed the irritation of his feelings ; 
 and so strongly did this movement impress me with his evil 
 intentions, that I kept my eye fixed on his weapon to hold 
 him back should he attempt to do any mischief. Just at 
 that moment Mite came up to me. 
 
 "This is fun, isn't it?" quoth my young friend. "Now 
 to my mind there's a fine woman, the one Mr. Carstairs is 
 talking to ; but by Jupiter Ammon she's cut out by that girl 
 there Mr. Bubble has ranged up alongside. She's superb, 
 isn't she ? What a Juno-like head ! Still, do you know 
 that I don't think I should quite like to offend her. She 
 looks as if she could twitch a fellow by the ear pretty sharply. 
 Look there now, there's another girl, she's much more to 
 my mind, though she has nothing of the stunner about her. 
 The primrose style is what I like, or the violet, if that's 
 more to your taste quiet and neat. Now, that's what I 
 should call that little fair girl there. I say, I must just try 
 and have a dance with her ; I ought to, for the skipper 
 made me toe and heel it with a little Smaitch girl, who was 
 wonderfully heavy to haul about ; and as she didn't under- 
 stand a word I said, and as I couldn't make out a word she 
 said, there was no great fun in it."
 
 288 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 Thus the youngster ran on somewhat flippantly, perhaps, 
 drawing off my attention from Bubble and the Greek. I 
 was, however, conscious that the latter had turned his head 
 and looked at me. Directly afterwards he walked off to 
 another part of the room. As I was neither lazy nor too 
 old to dance, nor blind to the charms of beauty, I was soon 
 after this engaged in moving about to the sound of music 
 among the laughing throng. Among others, the fair Jane 
 honored me with her hand. I found her any thing but a 
 lively companion ; somewhat absent, and far from haughty 
 as before. Had the avenging Nemesis of an unrequited 
 passion punished her for her treatment of my friend Loring ? 
 It looked very like it ; she answered my most brilliant sal- 
 lies of wit by monosyllables, and smiled faintly, putting her 
 bouquet to her nose but I am certain the sweets therein 
 conveyed no sensation to her olfactory nerves. What was 
 the matter with her I could in no way make out. I was 
 leading her to a seat, somewhat weary with my vain en- 
 deavors to arouse her, when we encountered Sir Lloyd Snow- 
 don, one of the officers of the garrison, and evidently an 
 admirer of hers. 
 
 " It's all arranged, Miss Seton ; we have fixed to have 
 the pic-nic to-morrow. Mrs. Seton has promised and so has 
 Mrs. Mizen, and Mrs. Rowley, and Mrs. Gray, and her 
 daughters, and that charming personage Mrs. Skyscraper 
 only waits to be asked." I recollected the pic-nic we had 
 had to Netley, when my friend Loring had apparently made 
 such way into the good graces of the fair Jane, but she 
 made no sign to betray any recollection of the event. I 
 was acquainted with Sir Lloyd, and he knew Hearty well, 
 so he invited all our party to join the pic-nic on the morrow. 
 Old Rullock of the " Zebra " of course was asked, and so 
 was Captain Arden of the " Trident," and requested to
 
 SANDGATE AND MISS BEATON. 289 
 
 bring some of their officers, rather an unusual stretch of 
 military politeness at Malta, where midshipmen, and even 
 lieutenants, are held often in but slight estimation. 
 
 We were to visit the old capital of Citta Vecchia and the 
 catacombs, and the grotto of St. Paul's, and then to go on 
 to a sheltered bay on the sea-shore, where the- operation of 
 dining was to be performed. The whole plan was soon ar- 
 ranged, and everybody was pleased. I was talking to Mrs. 
 Skyscraper when Sir Lloyd Snowdon came up to us. 
 
 " By the by," said he to the widow, " I quite forgot to 
 ask your friend the Greek Count ; can you, my dear 
 madam, tell me where he is to be found? I would remedy 
 my neglect." . ' 
 
 " Indeed, I cannot," answered the lady with a toss of her 
 head ; " I saw Count Gerovolio, but I have not watched his 
 proceedings." 
 
 " Oh, Mrs. Skyscraper Mrs. Skyscraper ! " thought I, 
 " what were your eyes about when they wandered just now 
 so often towards Miss Seton and that finely dressed Alban- 
 ian?" I had missed the fair Jane after supper, and heard 
 her mother inquiring for her. I had wandered out on a 
 narrow terrace which ran under the windows of a long cor- 
 ridor, to enjoy the fresh air and the moonlight. As I passed 
 under one of the windows, I saw two figures standing in the 
 recess. One I saw was Count Gerovolio, the other I felt 
 sure was Miss Seton. I would not have willingly been an 
 eavesdropper, but I could scarcely help hearing what was 
 said. I was arrested, also, by finding that the speakers 
 were conversing in English. 
 
 " Beautiful girl," exclaimed the Count, in a tone of deep 
 devotion, " you have enslaved me completely. I sought you 
 but for my amusement, and you have thrown your golden 
 19
 
 290 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 chains around me, so that I could not break from them if I 
 would." 
 
 " Oh ! who are you?" exclaimed Miss Seton, in an agi- 
 tated tone. " You did not tell me you could speak English. 
 Surely you are not an Englishman." 
 
 " Whatever I am, I am a Greek at heart and by adop- 
 tion," answered the stranger, with a slight hesitation in his 
 voice. " I was first led to the shores of that classic land to 
 fight for the cause of her long-oppressed children. My 
 sword raised me to my present position. Let that suffice 
 you. And now, lovely girl, do not longer hold me in tortur- 
 ing suspense. You know how deeply, how earnestly, I love 
 you. Your mother, you tell me, will not consent to our 
 union. Fly with me at once. My beautiful vessel waits 
 off the coast to receive us on board, and to convey us to a 
 land of freedom and romance ; and where, emancipated 
 from the trammels of the cold, calculating world, we may 
 enjoy that bliss reserved for so few on earth." 
 
 Miss Seton's answer I could not hear. I could scarcely 
 believe that she could be influenced by such palpable sophis- 
 try. Still I knew that there are moments when even the 
 wisest among the daughters of Eve, thrown off their guard 
 by the wiles of the Evil One, are ready to listen to his most 
 barefaced falsehood ; if they trust to their own strength 
 their own wisdom and seek not protection from the only 
 source whence it can come. " Oh, you consummate scoun- 
 drel ! " I muttered to myself, as I retreated to the door- 
 way, whence I had come out. I had no longer a doubt as 
 to the identity of the pretended Greek. I resolved to put 
 the matter to the test. Entering the house, I walked 
 briskly along the gallery, towards the window where I had 
 seen the two speakers. Miss Seton was there more like 
 a statue than a living being leaning against the wall, with
 
 MISS SEATON WARNED. 291 
 
 her hands pressed to her forehead ; but the pretended Greek 
 was gone. 
 
 " Miss Seton," said I, going up to her, " tell me what has 
 become of Mr. Sandgate." 
 
 " I know not of whom you speak," she answered. u I 
 know no one of that name." 
 
 " The man in the Greek dress," I replied, calmly, for I 
 felt that much depended on my tone and manner. 
 
 " What ! do you know him ? " she asked in a faltering 
 voice. 
 
 " I do," said I ; " and, Miss Seton, I would save you 
 from him. He is worthless. He lives with a halter 
 around his neck, and he will some day find it hauled taut." 
 
 She stood perfectly silent for some time. I allowed her 
 to remain so that she might regain her composure. She did 
 this in a wonderfully short space of time. I suspected that 
 her feelings were not very acute. 
 
 " You know my secret. I throw myself on your gener- 
 osity, and I am sure that you will not betray me, Mr. 
 Brine." 
 
 " Indeed, you may trust me, Miss Seton," I replied ; " I 
 shall rejoice at being the means of saving you from a very 
 great danger. Let me entreat you, therefore, not to see that 
 man again on any account. Keep close to your mother, and 
 let nothing separate you from her. Another time I will tell 
 you his history, and you will see that you have reason to be 
 guarded." 
 
 " Oh, tell me now, tell me now ! " she exclaimed. " I 
 will follow your advice ; but I would hear all about him, 
 and then shut him out of my thoughts forever." 
 
 I saw that she was right, so I told her briefly all I knew 
 about Sandgate. She shuddered several times at the narra- 
 tive. She was not particularly romantic, and fully alive to
 
 292 THE CKUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 the advantages of a good position, thanks to her mother's 
 instruction. Though she had seen no great objection to be- 
 coming a Greek countess, she had reason to be thankful at 
 having escaped falling into the power of a villain of the 
 stamp of Sandgate. " Now let me lead you to Mrs. Seton," 
 I replied, offering my arm. She took it. Hers trembled 
 as it pressed mine. 
 
 " Why, Jane, my dear, you look very ill ; what is the 
 matter ? " exclaimed the old lady, starting up with a look of 
 real alarm in her countenance. I believe she loved her 
 daughter, and fancied she showed it by helping her to make 
 what she called a good match. 
 
 "Oh, nothing, nothing the heat, I believe," she an- 
 swered, turning still paler. " I think that I had better leave 
 the room." 
 
 Her mother thought so likewise. I found their carriage. 
 They lived not far off; so, following on foot, I watched them 
 till they were safely within their own doors. On returning 
 to the ball-room I heard Mrs. Skyscraper making anxious 
 inquiries as to what had become of Count Gerovolio. 
 
 " Never mind, we shall see him to-morrow at the pic-nic. 
 He promised to be there," she observed. I saw from the 
 look Carstairs gave that the Count had better behave him- 
 self should he venture to make his appearance, which I did 
 not think very likely.
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 OUR MALTA PIC-NIC THE CATACOMBS THE PIRATE IN 
 
 SIGHT SANDGATE AGAIN ESCAPES US OUR EXPEDITION 
 
 WITH THE MEN-OF-WAR RETURN FROM OUR FRUITLESS 
 
 CRUISE. 
 
 MY friends were not a little astonished when I told them, 
 on getting on board the yacht, that Sandgate was in the 
 island. The question was, how to catch him. We had no 
 moral doubt whatever that he had come on board our vessel 
 with the intention of plundering us, and that he had after- 
 wards endeavored to send us to the bottom by attacking us 
 in the polacca-brig ; still no one could swear to the fact. 
 "We were not certain that the brig which left the harbor that 
 morning was the one which had engaged us we could not 
 prove that he belonged to her ; scarcely, indeed, could we 
 expect to induce the authorities to believe that the Greek 
 Count and Sandgate the smuggler were one and the same 
 person. 
 
 " Take my advice," observed Carstairs ; " don't let us 
 fash ourselves on the subject, but give the rogue a long rope, 
 and he will soon hang himself." 
 
 We all agreed to the wisdom of this remark, and resolv- 
 ing to wait the course of events, turned in and went to 
 sleep. 
 
 A large and merry party set off to the scene of the pic- 
 nic, some in caleches, and others in carriages of higher pre- 
 tensions, and vehicles of all sorts, and others on horseback. 
 I will not stop to describe the scenery. Stone walls, and 
 
 293
 
 294 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 here and there an orange grove, form its chief characteris- 
 tics. It is wonderful that there is any cultivation, consider- 
 ing that the greater portion of the soil has been brought 
 from other lands. That which is produced on the island is 
 formed from the crumbling away of the surface of the rock 
 of which it is composed. 
 
 Our party met by agreement near the gates. Hearty, 
 greatly to his satisfaction, managed to undertake the escort 
 of Mrs. Mizen and her daughter ; the widow fell to the lot 
 of Carstairs, and I took charge of Mrs. and Miss Seton. 
 
 "Oh! but where is Count Gerovolio?" exclaimed Mrs. 
 Skyscraper, as we were driving off. " I fully expected to 
 have him of our party. Has anybody seen him? Miss 
 Seton, do you know what has become of him?" 
 
 Poor Jane for a moment looked dreadfully disconcerted 
 at hearing the name of the impostor ; but she soon recov- 
 ered her self-possession, and I did my best to rattle on, so as 
 to draw off the attention of her mother and Mr. Mite, who 
 had been admitted as a fourth in the carriage. Mrs. Sky- 
 scraper looked about in vain for the Count ; I thought that 
 he would scarcely have the boldness to make his appear- 
 ance. Our drive, as far as we four ill-matched beings were 
 concerned, was any thing but a pleasant one. Old Mrs. 
 Seton was annoyed at not having Sir Lloyd Snowdon, or 
 any other eligible gentleman, to act the suitor to her daughter. 
 
 Poor Jane could not drive away her own bitter thoughts. 
 Mite would infinitely rather have been in the company of 
 one of his jolly little Maltese acquaintances, and I felt op- 
 pressed at being the keeper of a young lady's secret. At 
 last we arrived at the spot where our lionizing was to com- 
 mence the old capital of the island, Citta Vecchia, and 
 had to descend from our conveyances. 
 
 The structure would delight a connoisseur in mediaeval
 
 OUR MALTA PIC-NIC. 295 
 
 antiquities, for a more ancient-looking collection of tumble- 
 down houses I never saw collected together. Here stand the 
 first palace of the Grand Masters, and the cathedral of 
 Malta, celebrated for the pertinacity with which its bells are 
 rung. But the great sight we had all come to see was 
 the catacombs. Guides and lights were procured, and the 
 whole party descended to them. Incongruous, indeed, 
 seemed the light dresses of the ladies, the glittering uni- 
 forms of the officers, and the merry laughter of the party, 
 with the solemn, silent gloom of this vast receptacle for the 
 dead. These catacombs consist of long galleries or streets 
 cut in the rock, extending a great distance, and intersecting 
 each other at right angles about" fifteen feet beneath the sur- 
 face of the ground. The gloom, the chilly, confined atmos- 
 phere, the dark shadows, the mysterious passages and 
 recesses, the undefined shapes which flitted before us, were 
 ill calculated to dispel poor Miss Seton's melancholy. She 
 walked on, however, silently by my side, avoiding rather 
 than courting the attention of Sir Lloyd Snowdon, who at 
 length joined us, and who, seeing this, devoted himself with 
 much tact to her mother. 
 
 " If you have any intention, Sir Lloyd," thought I, 
 "you'll win the day, notwithstanding the present appear- 
 ance of matters." 
 
 We could hear behind us the cheery voice of Captain Rul- 
 lock, and every now and then a laugh from Hearty, who 
 seemed to be in high spirits. 
 
 " He feels that he does not stand ill in the good graces of 
 Miss Mizen, I suspect," thought I. " Most sincerely do I 
 rejoice at it; for though not to be compared in point of 
 beauty to the lovely girl by my side, she will make him a 
 very far bette'r wife. Her straightforward honesty, her 
 modesty, her bright intelligence, her well-cultivated mind,
 
 296 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 her unvarying good temper, her genuine wit, her loving dis- 
 position, are certain to secure her husband's affections and 
 respect." 
 
 Little did the lady by my side dream of the comparison I 
 was drawing, and yet I verily believe that she might have 
 been not much inferior to Miss Mizen in all those womanly 
 qualities, had they not been crushed or perverted by the 
 false system of education which her mother had adopted. 
 Such were the somewhat incongruous thoughts which passed 
 through my mind in the catacombs of Citta Vecchia. I 
 ought to have been duly oppressed with the gloom of the 
 place, and to have thought of nothing but ghost-like forms 
 flitting through the mysterious passages. I do not know 
 what my companion was thinking about, but she sighed 
 deeply and sadly. That sigh touched my heart with pity, 
 and reminded me how little I had attempted to do to restore 
 her mind to a state of composure. 
 
 We had, as I said, walked on somewhat ahead of the rest 
 of the party, and old Rullock and Hearty had just hailed us 
 to return, when directly before us appeared the figure of a 
 man who was evidently endeavoring to conceal himself in 
 one of the niches cut in the rock. It had, however, been 
 blocked up, and he was frustrated in his intention. He wore 
 a large cloak, such as the Italians call a feriuoligio, with 
 which he was attempting to hide his head, but the light of 
 the torch carried by our guide fell directly on him, and re- 
 vealed the features of Miles Sandgate. 
 
 He must have guessed that he was known, for he ad- 
 vanced a step or two rapidly towards us, but then, whatever 
 were his intentions, he must have changed them, for he re- 
 treated as hurriedly, and was lost to view amid the surround- 
 ing gloom. I knew that Miss Seton had discovered him
 
 OUE MALTA PIC-NIC. 297 
 
 by the way iii which her arm trembled in mine, and most 
 certainly she would have fallen had I not supported her. 
 
 " I fear, Miss Seton, that the atmosphere of this place 
 oppresses you ; we will get out of it as soon as possible," 
 said I. 
 
 " Thank you, thank you," she answered, leaning heavily 
 on my arm. " I long for a breath of fresh air ; I shall be 
 better then." 
 
 Sir Lloyd Snowdon was much concerned at finding that 
 Miss Seton was unwell, and the whole party hurried to the 
 mouth of the catacombs. 
 
 It was very provoking to have Sandgate almost within 
 one's very grasp, and yet not to have the power of punishing 
 him. 
 
 On reaching the open air, Miss Seton at first nearly 
 fainted. Restoratives of all sorts were recommended by her 
 friends, but before any could be applied, she recovered, and 
 endeavored to laugh off any disagreeable inquiries as to the 
 cause of her attack. The exertion necessary to do this still 
 further aroused her, and she speedily became one of the most 
 lively and animated of the party. I saw that she could now 
 do very well without me, so I retired from her side. Sir 
 Lloyd Snowdon took my place. He was enchanted, and 
 abandoned himself to the happiness of the moment. She 
 saw her advantage, and not unmindful of her wise mother's 
 instructions, seemed resolved to make the most of it. Still 
 I thought that I detected at times the signs of unnatural 
 spirits, and forced laughter, and I would not have answered 
 for the consequences had the so-called Count Gerovolio 
 appeared in the midst of us with a hundred well-armed fol- 
 lowers, and summoned her to accompany him. 
 
 From the catacombs we drove to the Grotto of St. Paul, 
 which is at no great distance. "Whether the apostle to the
 
 298 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 Gentiles ever took shelter within it matters but little; 
 the monks of old decreed that he did, and therefore a fine 
 statue of white marble has been placed within it, and the 
 faithful have been encouraged to offer their gifts at his 
 shrine. The statue stands in the farthest from the entrance 
 of three grottoes, one within the other. We looked at them 
 very much in the way that people in general look at sights 
 with very little interest, but thinking it necessary to give 
 utterance to certain set expressions of surprise or admiration. 
 The most interesting sight was a portion of the cavern 
 which resembles the nave of a church, overgrown with ver- 
 dure. It is surprising that vegetation should flourish in 
 such a position. 
 
 When we had all satisfied our curiosity, we proceeded to 
 a small sheltered bay, where the most important part of the 
 day's entertainment was to be performed. There was no 
 great beauty of scenery, but the blue sea, and the pure sky, 
 and the fresh salt breeze, and the rugged rocks, made it 
 pleasant to the sight and feelings ; and as most of the party 
 had very good appetites, and tolerably clear consciences, we 
 were altogether very merry. Captain Rullock, Hearty, 
 Bubble, and Mite did their best to make it so. Miss Mizen 
 was naturally very happy ; so was her mamma, for Hearty 
 had that day very palpably declared his intentions. Sir 
 Lloyd Snowdon was happy because he thought he had won 
 the beauty of the season ; and Mrs. Seton, because she 
 fancied that the great object of her life was on the point of 
 being accomplished. 
 
 Several vessels had been for some time in sight, but we 
 T had been so much engaged in our own immediate occupa- 
 tion, that neither I nor any of the other naval men had paid 
 them much attention. 
 
 The heavier portion of the feast had been concluded, and
 
 OUB MALTA PIC-NIC. 299 
 
 sparkling wines filled our glasses, and luscious grapes our 
 plates. Bubble had been called on for a song, and Sir 
 Lloyd Snowdon for a speech, when we were somewhat 
 startled from our propriety by a loud exclamation from 
 Porpoise. 
 
 " Why, by the Lord Harry, there's that rascally polacca- 
 brig again ! " he cried, pointing to a vessel which was stand- 
 ing under full sail in shore. 
 
 Our pocket-telescopes were in instant requisition. The 
 vessel in question was a polacca-brig, of the same size, and 
 paint and build, and appearance aloft as the one which had 
 attacked us ; but still it was impossible to be certain as to 
 whether the vessel in sight was the pirate or not. Porpoise 
 was the only person who was positive as to her being so. 
 Hearty was inclined to side with him. Still, what was to 
 be done ? Captains Rullock and Arden were ready enough 
 to go in chase of her, but their ships were on the other side 
 of the island, and by the time they could have got back to 
 Valetta and obtained permission from the admiral, and been 
 under way, the suspicious brig would have been far away 
 again. 
 
 This discussion once more nearly upset poor Miss Seton, 
 but she seemed relieved, and recovered somewhat of her 
 vivacity when it was resolved not to take any notice of the 
 stranger. I, of course, as she did, could not help connect- 
 ing the brig in sight with the appearance of the pretended 
 Count Gerovolio in the catacombs. He had, I suspected, 
 been hiding there for some reason or other, till he could get 
 on board his vessel. 
 
 After a little time the fun of the pic-nic went on as be- 
 fore. I, however, not being in love, nor having any lady 
 to whom it was necessary to pay exclusive attention, kept 
 my eyes about me, and every now and then swept the line
 
 300 THE CRUISE OF THE " FKOLIC." 
 
 of the coast with my telescope, while I also did not neglect 
 to watch the movements of the brig. As she came clearly 
 into the plane of my glass, I observed a dark cloth on her 
 foretopgallant-sail, which I suddenly recollected to have 
 remarked on the same sail of the brig from which Sand- 
 gate boarded us, as she lay becalmed before the squall 
 came on. This to my mind was conclusive evidence ; but 
 my suspicions were further confirmed by seeing the polacca- 
 brig lower her topgallant-sails, and bring her head up to 
 the wind. When hove-to, she lowered a boat, which, well- 
 manned, at once made for the shore. I said nothing, but 
 narrowly watched the point for which she was steering. 
 As she drew near, I saw a figure climb a rocky point and 
 waive to her. The dress and air of the person left no 
 doubt on my mind that he was no other than the Greek 
 count, or rather Miles Sandgate. It was, indeed, provoking 
 to see the rascal escaping before our very sight. Had we 
 taken upon ourselves to make chase after him, he would 
 have got on board the boat before we could have reached 
 him. Still I felt that I ought to point out the state of 
 things to Rullock and Arden, and let them judge what 
 should be done. 
 
 " Go in chase after the fellow, by all means," they ex- 
 claimed ; " we must not be too sanguine as to catching 
 our bird, or proving him a culprit if we do catch him, but 
 still we'll try." 
 
 It was arranged, therefore, that while the ladies and 
 military men, and non-combatants, should take their time 
 to return, we naval men should hurry back to Valetta, and 
 take the necessary steps to go in chase of the pirate. 
 Hearty looked at Miss Mizen and thought he should very 
 much like to stay with her, but his manhood would not let 
 him ; so he, with Bubble and Carstairs, settled to go away
 
 AFTER THE PIKATE. 301 
 
 in the yacht. Mrs. Skyscraper made an effort to detain 
 the latter, but her admirer was not a man to shirk work 
 where any was to be done, so he set off with the rest of us. 
 This time we were more successful in finding the admiral. 
 He was eager as we could be to catch the pirate, and in- 
 stantly ordered the " Trident" and " Zebra" to go in chase 
 of her. When last seen, after Sandgate, or the man we 
 supposed to be him, had got on board, she was standing to 
 the southward and east, with the wind from the northward ; 
 in which direction she would ultimately shape her course it 
 was impossible to say. Calculating that she might probably 
 be still hovering about the island, the " Trident " was or- 
 dered, after leaving the harbor, to beat round to the north- 
 ward of Malta ; while the " Zebra " was to keep to the 
 southward, so as to intercept her, should she steer a course 
 for the Straits. It was arranged that the " Frolic " should 
 accompany the " Zebra," but to keep to the nor'ward of her, 
 within telegraph distance. 
 
 " This is exciting," exclaimed Bubble, as we bowled 
 along in company with the brig-of-war, away from Malta 
 Harbor. " It seems like real work, going in chase of a 
 pirate ; only I hope that he may not give us the go-by in 
 the dark." 
 
 The sun sank into the ocean before we had rounded 
 Gozo, so that we were not able to see what vessels were to 
 the eastward of us. We kept, however, a very bright look- 
 out on either hand, so that we thought no vessel could pass 
 between us and the land on one side, or us and the " Zebra" 
 on the other. We were to stand on till we fell in with the 
 " Trident " at day-light, and then the three vessels, spread- 
 ing wide apart, were to continue the chase all day, and 
 return or not at discretion. 
 
 It was at' first a lovely night, starlight and bright, with
 
 302 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 just such a breeze that we could cany our gaff-topsail, and 
 yet the cutter scarcely heeled over to it. 
 
 None of us felt inclined to go below, notwithstanding 
 the fatigues of the day and the previous night. Hearty, 
 of course, had pleasant thoughts ; Porpoise was eagerly 
 watching for the pirate ; I was running over the events of 
 the day, and Bubble was whistling, while Carstairs was, I 
 suspect, pondering on the advisability of proposing to Mrs. 
 Skyscraper. 
 
 At first we had been very loquacious, but the silent so- 
 lemnity of the night had an influence on all of us, and by 
 degrees our remarks grew less and less frequent, till we 
 were found standing, in meditative mood, in different parts 
 of the vessel. The hours of the night passed by, and still 
 we all kept the deck far later than was our usual custom. 
 Towards midnight, either from a mist rising, or from some 
 other cause, the darkness very much increased. 
 
 " If this continues we shall have to shorten sail," or we 
 shall be running into some craft or other," observed Por- 
 poise, who was no great admirer of romance, and would 
 rather all the time have been listening to a jovial song. 
 
 " Yes, indeed," said I ; " very little chance, though, of 
 falling in with our roving friend, even should he be in the 
 neighborhood." 
 
 " We'll get the gaff-topsail off her, Mr. Snow," said Por- 
 poise ; " the brig will be shortening sail, and if we do not, 
 we shall be running ahead of her." 
 
 The order was given, and the hands had gone aloft to 
 execute it, when an exclamation from the look-out forward 
 made us open our eyes. 
 
 " A sail ahead, on the starboard-bow ! " he shouted, with 
 startling energy. 
 
 We looked in the direction indicated.
 
 APTEB THE PIEATE. 303 
 
 "Luff luff all you can," cried Porpoise, with equal 
 animation. " Luff! or she'll be into us." 
 
 The helm was put down ; happily the gaff-topsail had not 
 been taken in, and the cutter, having good way on her, shot 
 up to windward. Close on our quarter appeared, towering 
 up, it seemed, into the sky, a wide spread of canvas. The 
 stranger rushed on past us, the white foam hissing and bub- 
 bling at her bows. 
 
 " What vessel is that ? " shouted Porpoise. 
 
 I thought I heard a shout of derisive laughter in return. 
 The next moment, as she came beam on, I distinctly made 
 her out to be a Greek polacca-brig. 
 
 " The pirate the pirate ! " shouted all hands. 
 
 " We had a near chance of being run down by the rascal," 
 cried Porpoise ; " but we must be after him as soon as 
 we can let the ' Zebra ' know in what direction to make 
 chase." 
 
 To do this we had to edge away to the southward, firing 
 our guns to call the attention of the man-of-war brig. This 
 was not so easy to do as might be supposed. We stood on 
 and on, blazing away to no effect. We reached the track 
 of the brig, but still we did not find her. 
 
 It was difficult to say what we should do next. Daylight 
 came, and we had the satisfaction a very poor one, thought 
 I of seeing her hull down to the eastward, while we had 
 every reason to believe that the chase was merrily bowling 
 away to the westward. There was no use going after the 
 pirate brig by ourselves, so that all that we could do was to 
 make sail in the hopes of catching up our friend. 
 
 Porpoise bit his nails with vexation. Hearty wanted to 
 get the matter over to return to Malta. 
 
 It was noon before we came up with the " Zebra." This 
 we should not have done had she not hove-to for us. We
 
 304 THE CRUISE OP THE " FBOLIC." 
 
 then had to wait for the " Trident," which appeared to the 
 northward, standing towards us. 
 
 We were all so confident that the polacca-brig which 
 passed us in the night was the pirate, that our naval friends 
 were obliged to be convinced, so we all hove about, and 
 stood back the way we had come in chase. 
 
 I think it better to make a long story short. "We crowded 
 every thing we could carry, and the little " Frolic " behaved 
 beautifully alongside her big companions, shooting somewhat 
 ahead of them in light winds, and keeping well up with them 
 when there was a sea on. 
 
 We scarcely expected that the pirate would attempt to get 
 through the Gut, and therefore we might hope to pick him 
 up inside it. I could not help suspecting, however, that all 
 the time Mr. Sandgate was laughing at us in his sleeve, 
 and that we should see no more of him. So it proved. 
 Ten days were fruitlessly expended in the search, and at 
 the end of that time we were all once more at anchor in 
 Malta Harbor. 
 
 Hearty very speedily reconciled himself to the disappoint- 
 ment in the society of Miss Mizen. Carstairs was soon at 
 the feet of Mrs. Skyscraper, while I went to inquire for 
 Miss Seton ; but as I found Sir Lloyd Snowdon occupying 
 her entire attention, I paid a short visit, and went to dine 
 with Piper on board the " Trident."
 
 CHAPTER XXIH. 
 
 LADIES ABOARD OUR CREW'S DREAD OF THE CONSEQUENCES. 
 
 WE had not been many days in harbor, when Rullock 
 received orders to take a cruise to the westward to practise 
 his crew, who, being mostly raw hands quickly raised at 
 Plymouth, required no little practice to turn them into 
 men-of-war's men. 
 
 As plenty of sea-air had been prescribed for Miss Mizen, 
 and change of scene not that I think she now required 
 either it was arranged that she and her mother should 
 take a cruise in the " Zebra." Had Mrs. Mizen been his 
 wife instead of his sister, Captain Rullock could not have 
 taken her, as the rules of the service do not allow a captain 
 to take his wife to sea with him, though he may any other 
 man's wife, or any relative, or any lady whatever. 
 
 Under such circumstances, it was not to be supposed that 
 the " Frolic " would remain at anchor. Accordingly she put 
 to sea with the brig-of-war. Carstairs, however, had metal 
 more attractive to his taste at Valetta, so decided on remain- 
 ing on shore. We did not fail to miss him, and to wish for 
 his quaint,' dry, comic remarks, and apt quotations from 
 Shakspeare. Never, certainly, was a party better consti- 
 tuted than ours for amusing each other, all of us, having 
 that indispensable ingredient of harmony, perfect good hu- 
 mor ; and had not that arch mischief-maker Cupid found 
 his way among us, we should have continued in united 
 brotherhood till the yacht was laid up. 
 
 20 305
 
 306 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 A light breeze brought off faintly the sound of the evening 
 gun from the castle of St. Elmo, as, in company with the 
 " Zebra," we stood away from Malta to the westward. 
 Hearty walked his deck with a prouder air and firmer step 
 than was his wont. Nothing so much gives dignity to a 
 man as the consciousness of having won the affections of a 
 true, good girl. His eye was seldom or never off the brig, 
 even after the shades of night prevented the possibility of 
 distinguishing much more than her mere outline, as her taut 
 masts and square yards, and the tracery of her rigging 
 appeared against the starlit sky. He had charged Porpoise 
 to have a very sharp look-out kept that we might run no 
 chance of parting from our consort ; but, not content with 
 that, he was on deck every half-hour during the night to 
 ascertain that his directions were obeyed. 
 
 " I say, Bill, the gov'nor seems to fancy that no one has 
 got any eyes in his head worth two farthing rushlights but 
 hisself, this here cruise," I heard old Sleet remark to his 
 chum, Frost. " What can a come over him?" 
 
 " What, don't you know, Bo ? " answered Bill ; " I thought 
 any one with half an eye could have seen that. Why, he's 
 been and courted the neice of the skipper of the brig there, 
 and soon they'll be going and getting spliced, and then 
 good-bye to the ' Frolic.' She'll be laid up to a certainty. 
 It's always so. The young gentlemen as soon as they comes 
 into their fortunes goes and buys a yacht. We'll always be 
 living at sea, say they. It goes on at first very well while 
 they've only friends comes aboard, but soon they takes to 
 asking ladies, and soon its all up with them. Either they 
 takes to boxing about in the Channel, between the Wight 
 and the main ; for ever up and down anchor, running into 
 harbor to dine, and spending the day pulling on shore, wait- 
 ing alongside the yacht-house slip for hours, and coming
 
 OLD SLEET'S STOBY. 307 
 
 aboard with a cargo of boat-cloaks and shawls, or else, as 
 I have said, they goes and gives up the yacht altogether." 
 
 Old Sleet gave a munch at his grub and then replied, 
 
 " But if I don't judge altogether wrong by the cut of this 
 here-young lady's jib, I don't think she's one of those who'd 
 be for wishing her husband to do any such thing. When 
 she came aboard of us, t'other day, she stepped along the 
 thwarts just as if she'd been born at sea. Says I to myself, 
 when I saw her, she's a sailor's daughter, and a sailor's 
 niece, and should be a sailor's wife ; but if what you say is 
 true, Bo, she's going to be next door to it, as a chap may 
 say, and that's the wife of a true, honest yachtsman. No, 
 no, there's no fear, she won't let him lay up the ' Frolic,' 
 depend on't." 
 
 "Well, I hope so," observed Frost; "I should just like 
 to have a fine young girl like she aboard, they keeps things 
 alive somehow, when they are good, though when they are 
 t'other they are worse than one of old Nick's imps for play- 
 ing tricks and doing mischief." 
 
 " You are right there again, and no mistake, Bo," an- 
 swered Sleet. " I once sailed with a skipper who had his 
 wife aboard : I never seed such goings on before nor since. 
 The poor man couldn't call his soul his own, or his sleep his 
 own. She was a downright double-fisted woman, a regular 
 white sergeant. She wouldn't allow a drop of grog to be 
 served out without she did it, nor a candle end to be burned 
 without logging it down ; she almost starved the poor 
 skipper she used to tell him it was for his spirit's welfare. 
 He never put the ship about without consulting her. One 
 day, when it was blowing big guns and small arms, she was 
 out of sorts, and says he, 
 
 " ' Molly, love, I think we ought for to be shortening
 
 308 THE CEUISE OP THE "FROLIC." 
 
 sail, or we may chance to have the masts going over the 
 sides.' 
 
 "'Shorten sail?' she sings out, 'let the masts go, and 
 you go with them, for what I care. Let the ship drive, 
 she'll bring up somewhere as well without you as with 
 you.' 
 
 " The poor skipper hadn't a word to say, but for his life 
 he daren't take the canvas off the ship. 
 
 " ' My love, it blows very hard,' says he again, in a mild, 
 gentle voice. 
 
 " ' Let it blow harder,' answers the lady ; and you might 
 have supposed it was a boatswain's mate who'd swallowed 
 a marlinspike who spoke. 
 
 " Presently down came the gale heavier than ever on us. 
 Crack, crack, went the masts, and in another second we 
 hadn't a stick standing. 
 
 '"Where's the ship going to drive to, now?' asks the 
 skipper, turning to his wife. ' I've been a fool a long time, 
 but I don't mean to be a fool any longer ; just you get the 
 ship put to rights, or overboard you go.' 
 
 " ' How am I to do that same?' asks Mrs. Molly, very 
 considerably mollified ; ' I don't know how.' 
 
 " ' Then overboard you goes,' says the skipper, quite 
 coolly, but firmly. ' If the wind shifts three or four points 
 only we shall have an ugly shore under our lee, which will 
 knock every timber of the ship into ten thousand atoms in 
 no time, and you may thank yourself for being the cause of 
 the wreck.' 
 
 " ' Oh, spare my life, spare my life, and I'll never more 
 interfere with the duty of the ship,' cries the lady, in an 
 agony of fear. 
 
 " The captain pretended to be softened. ' Well,' says he, 
 ' take the oaths and go below, and I'll think about it.'
 
 LADIES ABOARD. 309 
 
 " Mrs. Molly, as we always called her, sneaked to her 
 cabin without saying another word. All hands set to work 
 with a will, and obeyed the skipper much more willingly 
 than we had ever done before. We got jury-masts up, and 
 carried the ship safely into port, but from that time to this 
 I've always fought shy of a ship with petticoats in the cabin, 
 and so I always shall, except I happen to know the sort of 
 woman who wears them." 
 
 I was much amused with old Sleet's remarks, and in most 
 respects I agreed with him. 
 
 A day or two afterwards the crew had their suspicions 
 confirmed by the appearance of Mrs. and Miss Mizen on the 
 deck of the cutter. In the mean time Hearty had been con- 
 stantly on board the brig-of-war. He dined on board every 
 day, as indeed we all did, only we dined in the gun-room, 
 and he with the captain and ladies. The accommodation, 
 however, on board the brig was rather confined, and as the 
 weather promised to continue fine, he became naturally 
 anxious to get them on board the yacht. At last he broached 
 the subject. Old Rullock did not object ; the ladies finding 
 that there was nothing incorrect in the proceeding were very 
 willing ; and to give them more accommodation, an exchange 
 was effected between them and Bubble, who took up his 
 quarters on board the brig. I should have gone also, but 
 Porpoise begged I would remain and keep him company, so 
 I doubled up in his cabin to give the ladies more accommo- 
 dation. Hearty took Snow's berth, and the old man was 
 very glad on such an occasion to swing in a hammock for- 
 ward. The thought of those days are truly sunny memories 
 of foreign seas. 
 
 Miss Mizen, by her kind and lively manners, her readi- 
 ness to converse with the crew, her wish to pick up informa- 
 tion about the sea and the places they had visited, and their
 
 310 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 own histories, and her unwillingness to give trouble, soon 
 won the love of all on board ; while her mother, whose 
 character was very similar to her daughter's, was a general 
 favorite, and I heard old Sleet declare to Frost that the old 
 lady wasn't a bit like Mrs. Molly Magrath, and as for the 
 young girl she was an angel, and old as he was he'd be 
 ready to go round the world to serve her, that he would. 
 
 " Now don't you think Mr. Hearty, that you could find 
 some one who can spin a regular sea matter-of-fact yarn 
 about things which really have been?" said Miss Mizen, 
 one fine afternoon, with one of those sweet smiles which 
 would have been irresistible, even if a far more important 
 request had been made. 
 
 The owner of the " Frolic " thought a little. " Yes, by 
 the by, I have it," he exclaimed ; " one of the men I have 
 on board is a first-rate yarn-spinner. Once set his tongue 
 a going, it is difficult to stop it, and yet there is very little 
 romance about the old man. He has, I conclude, a first- 
 rate memory, and just tells what he has seen and heard. I'll 
 call him aft, and will try what we can get out of him." 
 
 Hearty on this went forward, and after a little confab 
 with the crew, returned with old Sleet, who, instead of be- 
 ing bashful, was looking as pleased as Punch in his most 
 frolicsome humor, at the honor about to be done him. 
 Without hesitation he doffed his hat, threw his quid over- 
 board", smoothed down his hair, and began his tale. I must 
 confess that I have not given it in his language, which was 
 somewhat a departure from the orthodox vernacular, and 
 might weary my readers. 
 
 " Now, gentlemen and ladies all, I'm going to tell you 
 
 HOW JOE BUNTIN DID THE REVENUE. 
 
 The " Pretty Polly" was the fastest, the smartest, and the
 
 HOW JOE BUNTIN DID THE REVENUE. 311 
 
 sweetest craft that sailed out of Fairport ; so said Joe Bun- 
 tin, and nobody had better right to say it, or better reason 
 to know it, he being part owner of her, and having been 
 master of her from the day her keel first touched the water. 
 She was a cutter of no great size, for she measured only 
 something between thirty and forty tons ; she had great 
 beam for her length, was sharp in the bows, rising slightly 
 forward, and with a clean run ; she was, in fact, a capital 
 sea-boat, fit to go round the world if needs be weatherly 
 in a heavy sea, and very fast in smooth water, though the 
 nautical critics pronounced her counter too short for beauty ; 
 but Joe did not consider that point a defect, as it made her 
 all the better for running in foul weather, which was what 
 he very frequently wanted her to do. She carried a whack- 
 ing big mainsail, with immense hoist in it, and the boom well 
 over the taffrail. Her big jib was a whopper with a ven- 
 geance, and her foresail hoisted chock up to the block. She 
 had a swinging gaff-topsail very broad in the head, and a 
 square-sail to set for running, with prodigious spread in it ; 
 so that, give the "Pretty Polly" a good breeze, few were the 
 craft of anything like her own size she couldn't walk away 
 from. In fact, anybody might have taken her for some 
 dandified yacht, rather than for a humble pilot-boat, which 
 the number on her mainsail proclaimed her to be. Now 
 the " Pretty Polly," like other beauties, had her fair weather 
 and her foul weather looks, her winter as well as her summer 
 suit. She had her second, and third, and storm-jibs, a try- 
 sail of heavy canvas, and even a second mainsail, with a 
 shorter boom to ship at times, while her standing and run- 
 ning rigging was as good as the best hemp and the greatest 
 care could keep it, for every inch of it was turned in under 
 Joe's inspection, if not with his own hand. Joe Buntin 
 loved his craft, as does every good sailor ; she was his care,
 
 312 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 his pride, his delight, mistress, wife, and friend. He would 
 talk to her and talk of her by the hour together ; he was 
 never tired of praising her, of expatiating on her qualities, 
 of boasting of her achievements, how she walked away 
 from such a cutter how she weathered such a gale how 
 she clawed off a lee-shore on such an occasion ; there was 
 no end to what she had done and was to do. She was, in 
 truth, all in all to Joe ; he was worthy of her, and she was 
 worthy of him, which reminds us that he himself claims a 
 word or two of description. He had little beauty, nor did 
 he boast of it, for in figure he was nearly as broad as high, 
 with a short, thick neck, and a turn-up nose in the centre 
 of his round, fresh-colored visage ; but he had black, spark- 
 ling eyes, full of fun and humor, and a well-formed mouth, 
 with strong white teeth, which rescued his countenance from 
 being ugly, while an expression of firmness and boldness, 
 with great good nature, made him respected by all, and 
 gained him plenty of friends. Joe sported a love-lock on 
 each side of his face, with a little tarpaulin hat stuck on the 
 top of his head, a neat blue jacket, or a simple blue guern- 
 sey frock, and an enormously large pair of flushing trousers, 
 with low shoes ; indeed, he was very natty in his dress, and 
 although many people called him a smuggler nor is there 
 any use in denying that he was one he did not look a bit 
 like those cut-throat characters represented on the stage or 
 in print-shops, with high boots, and red caps, and cloaks, 
 and pistols, and hangers. Indeed, so far from there being 
 any thing of the ruffian about him, he looked and considered 
 himself a very honest fellow. He cheated nobody, for 
 though he broke the revenue laws systematically and regu- 
 larly, he had, perhaps, persuaded himself, by a course of 
 reasoning not at all peculiar to himself, that there was no 
 harm in so doing ; possibly he had ao idea that those laws
 
 HOW JOE BUNTIN DID THE REVENUE. 313 
 
 were bad laws, and injurious to the country ; so out of the 
 evil, as he could not remedy it, he determined to pluck that 
 rosebud profit to his own pocket. Remember that we 
 are not at all certain that he actually did reason as we 
 have suggested ; we are, we confess, rather inclined to sus- 
 pect that he found the occupation profitable ; that he had 
 been engaged in it from his earliest days, and therefore fol- 
 lowed it without further troubling his head about its lawful- 
 ness or unlawfulness. So much for Joe Buntin and his 
 cutter the u Pretty Polly." 
 
 His crew were a bold set of fellows, stanch to him, and 
 true to each other ; indeed, most of them, as is usual, had 
 a share in the vessel, and all were interested in the success 
 of her undertakings ; they were quiet, peaceable, and or- 
 derly men ; their rule was never to fight, the times were too 
 tranquil for such work, and a running noose before their 
 eyes was not a pleasant prospect. They trusted entirely to 
 their wit and their heels for success, and provided one cargo 
 in three could be safely landed, they calculated on making 
 a remunerating profit. 
 
 The days when armed smuggling craft, with a hundred 
 hands on board bid defiance to royal cruisers, had long 
 passed by, for we are referring to a period within the last 
 six or eight years only, during the last days of smug- 
 gling. Now the contraband trade is chiefly carried on in 
 small open boats, or fishing craft, affording a very precarious 
 subsistence to those who still engage in it. After what has 
 been said it may be confessed that the " Pretty Polly" was 
 chiefly employed in smuggling, though her ostensible, and, 
 indeed, very frequent occupation, was that of a pilot-vessel. 
 
 Now we must own that in those days we did not feel a 
 proper and correct hatred of smugglers and their doings ; 
 the dangers they experienced, the daring and talent they dis-
 
 314 THE CRUISE OP THE " FROLIC." 
 
 played in their calling, used, in spite of our better reason, 
 to attract our admiration, and to raise them to the dignity 
 of petty heroes in our imagination. The dishonest mer- 
 chant, the dealer in contraband goods, the encourager of 
 crime, was the man who received the full measure of our 
 contempt and dislike he who, skulking quietly on shore, 
 without fear or danger, reaped the profits of the bold sea- 
 man's toil. 
 
 Fairport, to which the " Pretty Polly " belonged, is a 
 neat little town at the mouth of a small river on the south- 
 ern coast of England. The entrance to the harbor is 
 guarded by an old castle, with a few cannon on the top of 
 it, and was garrisoned by a superannuated gunner, his old 
 wife and hjls pretty grand-daughter, who performed most 
 efficiently all the duties in the fortress, such as sweeping it 
 clean, mopping out the guns, and shutting the gates at night. 
 Sergeant Ramrod was a good specimen of a fine old soldier, 
 and certainly when seeing his portly figure and upright car- 
 riage, and listening to his conversation, one might suppose 
 that he held a higher rank than it had ever been his fate to 
 reach. He had seen much service, been engaged in numer- 
 ous expeditions in various parts of the world, and went 
 through the whole Peninsular war ; indeed, had merit its 
 due reward, he should, he assured his friends, be a general 
 instead of a sergeant, and so being rather an admirer of his, 
 we are also apt to think but then when has merit its due 
 reward? What an extraordinary hoisting up and hauling 
 down there would be to give every man his due ! Sergeant 
 Ramrod always went by the name of the Governor of Fair- 
 port Castle, and we suspect rather liked the title. He was, 
 in truth, much better off than the governors of half the cas- 
 tles in the world, though he did not think so himself; he 
 had no troops, certainly, to marshal or drill, but then he
 
 HOW JOE BUNTIN DID THE REVENUE. 315 
 
 had no rounds to make or complaints to hear, and his little 
 garrison, composed of his wife and grandchild, never gave 
 him a moment's uneasiness, while he might consider himself 
 almost an independent ruler, so few and far between were 
 the visits of his superior officers. 
 
 The town of Fairport consists of a long street, with a 
 few offshoots, containing some sixty houses or so, inhabited 
 by pilots, fishermen, and other seafaring characters, two or 
 three half-pay naval officers, a few casual visitors in the sum- 
 mer months, a medical man or two, and a proportionate 
 number of shopkeepers. The castle stands at one end of 
 the town, close to the mouth of the river, the tide of which 
 sweeps round under its walls, where there is always water 
 sufficient to float a boat even at low tide. In the walls of 
 the castle are a few loopholes and a small postern-gate or 
 port to hoist in stores, and close to it is a quay, the chief 
 landing-place of the town. Here a revenue officer is sta- 
 tioned night and day to prevent smuggling, though there are 
 certain angles of the castle wall which he cannot overlook 
 from his post. This description we must beg our readers 
 to remember. 
 
 One fine morning, soon after daybreak in the early part 
 of the year, Joe Buntin and his crew appeared on Fairport 
 quay with their pea-jackets and bundles under their arms, 
 and jumping into their boat pulled on board the " Pretty 
 Polly." Her sails were loosened and hoisted in a trice, the 
 breeze took her foresail, the mainsail next filled, the jib- 
 sheet was flattened aft, and slipping from her moorings she 
 slowly glided towards the mouth of the river. The jib- 
 sheet was, however, immediately after let go, the helm was 
 put down, and about she came in half a minute more, so 
 narrow is the channel, that she was again about, and at least 
 six tacks had she to make before she could weather the
 
 316 THE CRUISE OP THE " FROLIC." 
 
 westernmost spit at the entrance of the harbor, and stand 
 clear out to sea. 
 
 " I wonder which of the French ports she's bound to 
 now," observed a coast-guard man to a companion who had 
 just joined him on the little quay close to the castle. "Af- 
 ter some of her old tricks, I warrant." 
 
 " We shall have to keep a sharp look-out after him, or 
 he'll double on us, you may depend on it," replied the other ; 
 " Joe Buntin's a difficult chap to circumvent, and one needs 
 to be up early in the morning to find him snoozing." 
 
 " More reason we shouldn't go to sleep ourselves, Ben," 
 said the first speaker ; " I must report the sailing of the 
 ' Pretty Polly ' to the inspecting commander, that he may 
 send along the coast to give notice that she's out. Captain 
 Sturney would give not a little to catch the 'Pretty Polly,' 
 and he's told Joe that he'll nab her some day." 
 
 " What did Joe say to that? " 
 
 " Oh, he laughed and tried to look innocent, and answered 
 that he was welcome to her if he ever found her with a tub 
 of spirits, or a bale of tobacco in her." 
 
 " I'll tell you, though, who'd give his right hand and 
 something more, to boot, to catch Master Joe himself, or 
 I'm very much mistaken." 
 
 "Who's that?" 
 
 " Why, Lieutenant Hogson, to be sure. You see he has 
 set his eyes on little Margaret Ramrod, the old gunner's 
 grandchild, but she don't like him, though he is a naval offi- 
 cer, and won't have any thing to say to him, and he has 
 found out that Joe is sweet in that quarter, and suspects 
 that if it weren't for him, he himself would have more 
 favor. Now, if he could get Joe out of the way, the game 
 would be in his own hands." 
 
 " Oh, that's it, is it? Well, I think the little girl is right,
 
 HOW JOE BUNTIN DID THE REVENUE. 317 
 
 for Joe is a good fellow, though he does smuggle a bit ; and 
 as for Lieutenant" Hogson, though he is our officer, the less 
 we say about him the better." 
 
 While this conversation was going on, the "Pretty Polly" 
 had reached down abreast of the quay, when Buntin, who 
 was at the helm, waved his hand to the coast-guard men, 
 they in return wishing him a pleasant voyage and a safe re- 
 turn. 
 
 " Thank ye," answered Joe, laughing, for he and his op- 
 ponents were on excellent terms. " Thank ye, and remem- 
 ber, keep a bright look-out for me." 
 
 The cutter then passed so close to the castle that her boom 
 almost grazed its time-worn walls. Joe looked up at the 
 battlements, and there he saw a bright young face, with a 
 pair of sparkling eyes, gazing down upon him. Joe took off 
 his tarpaulin hat and waved it. 
 
 " I'll not forget your commission, Miss Margaret. My 
 respects to your grandfather," he sang out. 
 
 There was not time to say more before the cutter shot out 
 of hearing. The flutter of a handkerchief was the answer, 
 and as long as a human figure was visible on the ramparts, 
 Joe saw that Mistress Margaret was watching him. Now, 
 it must be owned, that it was only of late Joe had yielded 
 to the tender passion, and it would have puzzled him to say 
 how it was. He had been accustomed to bring over trifling 
 presents to the little girl, and had ingratiated himself with 
 the old soldier, by the gift now and then of a few bottles of 
 real cognac ; but he scarcely suspected that his " Pretty 
 Polly," his fast-sailing craft, had any rival in his affections. 
 
 The day after the "Pretty Polly," sailed, Margaret was 
 seated at her work, and the old dame sat spinning in their 
 little parlor in the castle, while Mr. Ramrod was taking his
 
 318 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 usual walk on the quay, when a loud tap was heard at the 
 door. 
 
 " Come in," said the dame, and Lieutenant Hogson made 
 his appearance. 
 
 Now, although by no means a favorite guest, he was, 
 from his rank and office, always welcomed politely, and 
 Margaret jumped up and wiped a chair, while the dame 
 begged him to be seated. His appearance was not prepos- 
 sessing, for his face was pock-marked, his hair was coarse 
 and scanty, and sundry potations, deep and strong, had 
 added a ruddy hue to the tip of his nose, while his figure 
 was broad and ungainly. He threw himself into a chair, as 
 if he felt himself perfectly at home. " Ah, pretty Margaret ! 
 bright and smiling as ever, I see. How I envy your happy 
 disposition ! " he began. 
 
 " Yes, sir, I am fond of laughing," said Margaret, de- 
 murely. 
 
 " So I see. And how's grandfather?" 
 
 " Here he comes to answer for himself, sir," said 
 Margaret, as old Ramrod appeared, and, welcoming his 
 guest, placed a bottle and some glasses before him, while 
 Margaret brought a jug of hot water and some sugar. The 
 eyes of the lieutenant twinkled as he saw the preparations. 
 
 " Not much duty paid on this, I suspect, Mr. Ramrod," 
 he observed, as he smacked his lips after the first mouthful. 
 
 " Can't say, sir. They say that the revenue does not 
 benefit from any that's drunk in Fairport." 
 
 " A gift of our friend Buntin's, probably," hazarded the 
 officer. 
 
 " Can't say, sir ; several of my friends make me a little 
 present now and then. I put no mark on them." % 
 
 " Oh, all right, I don't ask questions," said the lieutenant.
 
 HOW JOE BUNTIN DID THE REVENUE. 319 
 
 " By the by, I find that the 'Pretty Polly' has started on 
 another trip." 
 
 " So I hear, sir," said Ramrod. 
 
 "Can you guess where she's gone, Miss Margaret?" 
 asked the officer. 
 
 " Piloting, I suppose, sir," answered the maiden, blushing. 
 
 " Oh, ay, yes, of course ; but didn't he talk of going any- 
 where on the French coast?" 
 
 " Yes, sir," answered Margaret, " he said he thought he 
 might just look in at Cherbourg." 
 
 " And how soon did he say he would be back? " asked the 
 officer. 
 
 " In four or five days, sir," said Margaret. 
 
 The lieutenant was delighted with the success of his inter- 
 rogations, and at finding the maiden in so communicative a 
 mood ; so mixing a stiffer tumbler of grog than before to 
 heighten his own wits, he continued, " Now, my good girl, I 
 don't ask you to tell me any thing to injure our friend 
 Buntin, but did he chance to let drop before you where he 
 proposed to make his laud-fall on his return you under- 
 stand, where he intended to touch first before he brings the 
 'Pretty Polly' into Fairport?" 
 
 " Dear me, I did hear him talk of looking into Bay ; 
 
 and he told Denman, and Jones, and Tigtop, and several 
 others to be down there," answered Margaret, with the 
 greatest simplicity. 
 
 " I don't think the girl knows what she's talking of, Mr. 
 Hogson," interposed old Ramrod, endeavoring to silence 
 his grand-daughter. " But of course any thing she has let 
 drop, you won't make use of, sir." 
 
 " Oh, dear, no ! of course not, my good friend," answered 
 Mr. Hogson. " I merely asked for curiosity's sake. But 
 I must wish you good afternoon. I have my duties to
 
 320 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 attend to duty before pleasure, you know, Mr. Ramrod. 
 Good-by, Miss Margaret, iny ocean lily a good after- 
 noon to you, old hero of a hundred fights ; " and, gulping 
 down the contents of his tumbler, with no very steady 
 steps the officer took his leave. 
 
 As soon as he was gone, Ramrod scolded his grandchild 
 for her imprudence in speaking of Buntin's affairs. 
 
 " You don't know the injury you may have done him," he 
 added ; " but it never does to trust a female with what you 
 don't want known." 
 
 " Perhaps not, grandfather," said Margaret, smiling 
 archly. " But Joe told me that I might just let it fall, if I 
 
 had an opportunity, that he was going to run a crop at 
 
 Bay, and I could not resist the temptation when Mr. Hogson 
 asked me, thinking I was so simple all the time. I'm sure, 
 however, I wish that Joe would give over smuggling alto- 
 gether. It's very wrong, I tell him, and very dangerous ; 
 but he promises me that if he can but secure two more 
 cargoes, he'll give it up altogether. I'm sure I wish he 
 would." 
 
 " So do I, girl, with all my heart ; for it does not become 
 me, an officer of the government, to associate with one who 
 constantly breaks the laws ; but yet, I own it, I like the lad, 
 and wish him well." 
 
 Margaret did not express her sentiments ; but the bright 
 smile on her lips betrayed feelings which she happily had 
 never been taught the necessity of controlling. 
 
 Mr. Hogson esteemed himself a very sharp officer ; and, 
 as he quitted the castle, he congratulated himself on his 
 acuteness in discovering Buntin's plans. He had spies in 
 various directions, or rather, people whom he fancied were 
 such, though every one of them was well known to the 
 smugglers, and kept in pay by them. By them the informa-
 
 HOW JOE BUNTLN" DID THE BEVENUE. 321 
 
 tion he had gained from Margaret was fully corroborated, 
 and accordingly he gave the necessary orders to watch for 
 the cutter at the spot indicated, while he collected a strong 
 body of men to seize her cargo as soon as the smugglers at- 
 tempted to run it. His arrangements were made with con- 
 siderable judgment, and could not, he felt certain, fail of 
 success, having stationed signal men on every height in the 
 
 neighborhood of Bay, to give the earliest notice of the 
 
 smugglers' approach. As soon as it was dark, he himself, 
 with the main body of coast-guard men, all well armed, set 
 off by different routes, to remain in ambush near the spot. 
 While they lay there, they heard several people pass them 
 on their way to the shore, whom they rightly conjectured 
 were those whose business it was to carry the tubs and 
 bales up the cliffs to their hides, as soon as landed. The 
 night was very dark, for there was no moon,"and the sky 
 was cloudy ; and though there was a strong breeze, there was 
 not sufficient sea on to prevent a landing ; in fact, it was just 
 the night the smugglers would take advantage of. Mr. 
 Hogson, having stationed his men, buttoned up his pea- 
 jacket, and drawing his south-wester over his ears, set off 
 along the shore to reconnoitre. He rubbed his hands with 
 satisfaction when he perceived a number of people collected 
 on the beach, and others approaching from various direc- 
 tions. 
 
 " I'm pretty sure of forty or fifty pounds at least," he 
 muttered, " and if I can but nab Master Joe himself, I'll 
 soon bring his coy sweetheart to terms, I warrant. Ah ! 
 the cutter must be getting in with the land, or these people 
 would not be assembling yet." 
 
 Just then a gleam of bright light shot forth from the 
 cliffs, at no great distance from where he was standing ; it 
 was answered by the gleam of a lantern from the sea, 
 
 21
 
 322 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 which was instantly again obscured. He watched with in- 
 tense anxiety, without moving for some minutes, when he 
 thought that he observed two dark objects glancing over the 
 waters towards the shore. His difficulty was to select the 
 proper moment for his attack. If he appeared too soon, 
 the people on shore would give notice, and the boats would 
 return to the cutter ; if he did not reach them directly after 
 they touched the shore, he knew from experience that he 
 should certainly find them empty, a minute or two sufficing 
 to carry off the whole cargo. At last he had no doubt that 
 the smugglers were at hand ; and, as fast as his legs could 
 carry him, he hurried back to bring up his men. 
 
 We must now return to the "Pretty Polly." Besides 
 Joe Buntin, the crew of the cutter consisted of Dick Davis, 
 Tom Figgit, and Jack Galloway, as thorough seamen as 
 were ever collected together, and all of them licensed pilots 
 for the Channel, each having a share in the craft ; then 
 there were, besides them, twice this number of men shipped 
 on certain occasions, who, though they received a share of 
 the profits, had no property in her. Joe had determined to 
 run great risks this voyage, in the hopes of making large 
 profits, and had invested a large part of his property in the 
 venture, which his agent had prepared ready for shipment at 
 Cherbourg. The wind shifted round to the nor'ard, and the 
 " Pretty Polly" had a quick run across the Channel. The 
 evening of the day she left Fairport, she was riding at 
 anchor in the magnificent harbor of Cherbourg. As soon 
 as they arrived, he and his mates went on shore, and the 
 agent, not expecting him that evening, being out of the way, 
 they betook themselves to a cafe on the quay, overlooking 
 the harbor. Joe always made himself at home wherever 
 he went, and although he had no particular aptitude for 
 learning languages, he managed, without any great diffi-
 
 HOW JOE BUNTIN DID THE REVENUE. 323 
 
 culty, to carry on a conversation in French, and his thorough 
 good-nature and ready fund of humor gained him plenty of 
 friends among the members of the great nation. 
 
 The house of entertainment into which the Englishmen 
 walked, is entitled "Le Cafe de la Grande Nation." The 
 room was large, and had glass doors opening on the quay, 
 through which a view of the harbor was obtained. It was 
 full of little round tables, with marble slabs, surrounded 
 with chairs, and the walls were ornamented with glowing 
 pictures of naval engagements, in which the tri-color floated 
 proudly at the mast-heads of most of the ships, while a few 
 crippled barks, with their masts shot away, and their sails 
 in tatters, had the British ensign trailing in the water. The 
 prospect before them was highly picturesque. Directly in 
 front was an old tower, the last remnant of the ancient 
 Walls of Cherbourg. Beyond, spread out before them, 
 was the broad expanse of its superb harbor, capable of 
 containing all the fleet of France. In the centre, where 
 laborers were busily at work, was the breakwater, the in- 
 tended rival of Plymouth, one entrance guarded by the Fort 
 of Querqueville, the other by that of Pelee ; and on the 
 western shore, guarded by numerous ranges of batteries, 
 was the naval arsenal and dockyard, the pride of the people 
 of Cherbourg, and which, when finished, is intended to sur- 
 pass any thing of the kind possessed by the perfide Anglais. 
 
 Joe and his friends, having ordered some eau de vie and 
 water, and lighted their cigars, took their seats near the 
 door. They did not stand much on ceremony in passing 
 their remarks on all they saw, particularly at the men-of- 
 war's men who were strolling about the town. 
 
 " My eyes, Dick," exclaimed Tom Figgit, " look at them 
 fellows with their red waistcoats and tight jackets, which 
 look as if they were made for lads half their size, and
 
 324 THE CRUISE OP THE "FROLIC." 
 
 their trousers with their sterns in the fore part. Just fancy 
 them going aloft." 
 
 " They are rum enough, but, to my mind, not such queer- 
 looking chaps as the sodgers," answered Dick. 
 
 " Do you know, Dick, that I've often thought that a 
 Frenchman must be cast out of quite a different mould to 
 an Englishman ? The clothes of one never would fit t'other. 
 It has often puzzled me to account for it." 
 
 " Why, Tom, it would puzzle one if one had to account 
 for all the strange things in the world," answered the other. 
 " You might just as well ask why all the women about here 
 wear caps as big as balloons ; they couldn't tell themselves, 
 I warrant." 
 
 Just then their conversation was broken off, that they 
 might listen to Joe, who had entered into a warm discus- 
 sion with the boatswain, or some such officer of one of the 
 French ships-of-war, on the relative qualities of their re- 
 spective navies. The salle was full at the time of naval 
 and military officers of inferior grades, douaniers, gens- 
 d'armes, and worthies of a similar stamp, all smoking, and 
 spitting, and gesticulating, and talking together. 
 
 " Comment, Monsieur Buntin," said the Frenchman ; 
 " do you mean to say that you have got an arsenal as large 
 as le notre de Cherbourg in the whole of England ? " 
 
 " I don't know how that may be," answered Joe, quietly ; 
 " Portsmouth isn't small, and Plymouth isn't small, but 
 perhaps we don't require them so big. We get our enemies 
 to build ships for us." 
 
 "Bah," exclaimed the Frenchman, shrugging his shoul- 
 ders ; " les perfides ! " 
 
 Just then a fine frigate was seen rounding Point Quer- 
 queville. Like a stately swan slowly she glided through 
 the water till, when she approached the town, her rigging
 
 HOW JOE BTJNTIN DID THE REVESfUE. 325 
 
 was crowded with men, her courses were clewed up, her 
 topsails and topgallant-sails were furled, and she swung 
 round to her anchor. She was a model of symmetry and 
 beauty, and the Frenchmen looked on with admiration. 
 
 "There," exclaimed Joe's friend, " n'est-ce pas que c'est 
 belle ? Have you got a ship in the whole English navy like 
 her?" 
 
 " I don't know," answered Joe, innocently. " But if 
 there came a war, we very soon should, I can tell you." 
 
 " Comment ? " said the Frenchman. 
 
 " Why you see, monsieur, we should have she." 
 
 " Sare ! " exclaimed half a dozen Frenchmen, starting 
 up and drawing their swords. " Do you mean to insult La 
 Grande Nation ? " 
 
 Whereupon Tom Figgit and Dick Davis, though they did 
 not exactly comprehend the cause of offence, jumped up also, 
 and prepared for a skirmish, which might have ended some- 
 what seriously for the three Englishmen, had not Joe's agent 
 at that moment appeared and acted as a pacificator between 
 them, Joe assuring them that he had no intention of insult- 
 ing them or any one of their nation, and that he had merely 
 said what he thought would be the case. 
 
 Joe did not spend a longer time than was absolutely 
 necessary at Cherbourg, and as soon as he got his cargo on 
 board, the " Pretty Polly " was once more under way for 
 England. Her hold was stowed with much valuable mer- 
 chandise, chiefly silks, laces, and spirits. She had also on 
 deck a number of empty tubs, and a few bales filled with 
 straw. As soon as he had got clear of the land, the wind, 
 which had at first been southerly, shifted to the south-west, 
 and it soon came on to blow very fresh. This he calculated 
 would bring him upon the English coast at too early an hour 
 for his purpose, so when he had run about two-thirds of his
 
 326 THE CRUISE -OF THE " FEOLIC." 
 
 distance, he lay to, with his foresail to windward, waiting 
 for the approach of evening. 
 
 As he walked the deck of his little vessel, with Tom 
 Figgit by his side, he every now and then broke into a low 
 quiet laugh. At last he gave vent to his thoughts in 
 words. 
 
 " If we don't do the revenue this time, Tom, say I'm no 
 better than one of them big-sterned mounsieurs. What a 
 rage that dirty spy, Hogson, will be in ! Ha, ha, ha ! It's 
 a pleasure to think of it." 
 
 Tom fully participated in all his leader's sentiments, and 
 by their light-hearted gayety one might have supposed that 
 they had some amusing frolic in view, instead of an under- 
 taking full of peril to their personal liberty and property. 
 All this time a man was stationed at the masthead to keep 
 a look-out in every direction, that no revenue-cruiser should 
 approach them without due notice, to enable them to get out 
 of her way. 
 
 We must now return to Lieutenant Hogson. As soon as 
 he felt certain that the boats had landed, he hurried down 
 with his men to the beach. His approach was apparently 
 not perceived, and while the smugglers were actively engaged 
 in loading themselves with tubs and bales of goods, he was 
 among them. 
 
 " Stand and deliver, in the king's name," he shouted out, 
 collaring the first smuggler he could lay hands on, his men 
 following his example. 
 
 For a moment the smugglers appeared to be panic-struck 
 by the suddenness of the attack ; but soon recovering them- 
 selves, as many as were at liberty threw down their loads 
 and made their escape. 
 
 " Seize the boats," he added. " Here, take charge of this 
 prisoner." And rushing into the water, he endeavored to
 
 HOW JOE BUNTIN DID THE REVENUE. 327 
 
 capture the boat nearest to him ; but just as he had got his 
 hand on her gunnel, the people in her, standing up with 
 their oars in their hands, gave her so hearty a shove, that, 
 lifting on the next wave, she glided out into deep water, 
 while he fell with his face into the surf, from which he had 
 some difficulty in recovering himself with a thorough drench- 
 ing ; the other boat getting off in the same manner. In the 
 mean time, signals had been made by the revenue men sta- 
 tioned on the neighboring heights, that the expected run had 
 been attempted, and the coast-guard officers and their people 
 from the nearest stations hurried up to participate in the 
 capture. Some came by land, while others launched their 
 boats in the hopes of cutting off the "Pretty Polly" in case 
 she should not have discharged the whole of her cargo. 
 
 With muffled oars and quick strokes they pulled across 
 the bay ; but if they expected to catch Joe Buntin, or the 
 " Pretty Polly," they certainly were disappointed ; for 
 although they pulled about in every direction till daylight, 
 not a sign or trace of her did they discover. Not so unfor- 
 tunate, however, was Lieutenant Hogson, for although he 
 did not capture his rival, he made a large seizure of tubs, 
 and several bales of silk, as he supposed, and a considerable 
 number of prisoners, which would altogether bring Jiim in 
 no small amount of prize-money. One prisoner he made 
 afforded him considerable satisfaction. It was no other 
 than Tom Figgit, who, having jumped out of the boat with 
 a tub on his back, was seized before he had time to disen- 
 gage himself from his load, and this, with many a grimace, 
 he was now compelled to carry. 
 
 " I hope you've made up your mind for a year in Win- 
 chester jail, Master Tom," said Mr. Hogson, holding a 
 lantern up to his face. " It isn't the first time you've seen 
 its inside, I warrant."
 
 328 THE CEUISE OF THE " FEOLIC." 
 
 " It would be, though ; and what's more, I intend to spend 
 my Christmas with my wife and family," answered Tom, 
 doggedly. 
 
 The prisoners were now collected, and marched up to the 
 nearest coast-guard station, but there were so many tubs 
 and bales that the coast-guard men were obliged to load 
 themselves heavily with them ; for it was found that should 
 only a small guard be left to take charge of them, the smug- 
 glers would carry them off. The wind whistled coldly, the 
 rain came down in torrents, and the revenue people and 
 their prisoners had a very disagreeable march through the 
 mud up to the station, Tom Figgit being the only person 
 who retained his spirits and his temper though he grum- 
 bled in a comical way at being compelled to carry a tub for 
 other people, and insisted that he should retain it for his 
 trouble at the end of his journey. When he reached the 
 guard-house, he slyly tumbled the tub off his shoulders, and 
 down it came on the ground with so heavy a blow that it 
 was stove in. The names of the prisoners were now taken 
 down in due form, and they were told they must be locked 
 up till they could be carried before a magistrate, and be 
 committed to jail for trial. As soon as the officer had done 
 speaking, 
 
 " Please, sir," said Tom, " there's one of the tubs leaking 
 dreadfully, and if it isn't looked to, it will all have run out 
 before the morning ; though for the matter of that, it doesn't 
 smell much like spirits." 
 
 " Bring me a glass," said the lieutenant, who, wet and 
 cold, was longing to have a drop of spirits. " I'll soon pass 
 an opinion on your eau de vie, Master Tom." 
 . Tom smiled, but said nothing, while one of the men 
 brought a glass and broached the leaky tub. 
 
 " Show a light here," said Tom. " "Well, I can't say as
 
 HOW JOE BUNTIN DID THE REVENUE. 329 
 
 how it's got much of the smell of spirits hang me, if I can 
 make it out." 
 
 Tom filled the glass, and, with a profound bow, worthy 
 of a Mandarin, presented it to the officer. Lieutenant 
 Hogson was thirsty, and, without even smelling the potion, 
 he gulped it down. 
 
 " Salt Avater, by George ! " he exclaimed, furiously, spit- 
 ting and spluttering it out with all his might, and giving 
 every expression to his disgust. 
 
 Tom, forgetful of the respect due to a king's officer, burst 
 into a fit of uproarious laughter. 
 
 " Well, I warned you, sir. I told you there was some- 
 thing odd about it ha, ha, ha and now you find what I 
 said was true ha, ha, ha ! " 
 
 "What do you mean, you scoundrel ?" cried the lieu- 
 tenant, stamping furiously. " How dare you play such a 
 trick?" 
 
 " Nothing, sir, nothing," answered Tom, coolly ; " you 
 see I should have been very much surprised if there had 
 been any thing else but salt water ; for you see we was 
 bringing those tubs on shore, full of sea-water, for a poor 
 old lady who lives some way inland, and her doctors ordered 
 her to try sea-bathing on the coast of France ; but as she 
 couldn't go there herself, you see, she has the water carried 
 all the way from there to here. It's a fancy she has, but 
 it's very natural and regular, and we get well paid for it, 
 sir." 
 
 " Do you, Master Tom, actually expect me to believe such 
 a pack of gross lies ? " stammered out the lieutenant, as well 
 as his rage would let him. 
 
 " I don't know, sir," answered the smuggler ; " some 
 people believe one thing, some another, and I hope you 
 won't think of keeping us here any longer, seeing as how
 
 330 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 we've done nothing against the law in landing tubs of salt 
 water for old Missis Grundy up at Snigses Farm, sir. You 
 may just go and ax her if what I says isn't as true as gospel. 
 It might be the death of her if she didn't get her salt water 
 to bathe in, you know, sir." 
 
 " Old Missis Grundy ! I never heard of her before," 
 exclaimed the lieutenant, growing every moment more 
 angry ; " and Snigses Farm, where's that, I should like to 
 know?" 
 
 " Why, sir, you see it's two or three miles off, and rather 
 a difficult road to find," answered Tom, winking at his com- 
 panions. " You first go up the valley, then you turn down 
 by Waterford Mill, next you keep up by Dead Man's Lane, 
 and across Carver's Field, and that will bring you about a 
 quarter of the distance," 
 
 " Why, you scoundrel ! " exclaimed the lieutenant, who 
 recognized the names of these places, and knew them to be 
 wide apart, "you impudent rogue, you why, you are 
 laughing at me ! " 
 
 " Oh, no, sir," answered Tom, demurely, pulling a lock 
 which hung from his bullet-shaped head, " couldn't think 
 of laughing at you ; besides, sir, you knows one can't 
 always make one's face as long as a grave-digger's appren- 
 tice's." 
 
 " I'll make it long enough before I've done with you, 
 Master Tom, let me tell you," exclaimed the officer. " Now 
 let us see what are in those other casks and bales." 
 
 " What, all them that your people have had the trouble 
 of carrying up here?" cried Tom. "Lord! sir, the tubs, 
 of course, is all full of salt water, too, for Missis 
 Grundy." 
 
 " We shall soon see that, my fine fellow," answered the 
 officer, thinking Tom had only told the tale to annoy him ;
 
 HOW JOE BUNTIX DID THE RE VENUE. 331 
 
 but to make sure, seizing a gimlet, with his own hands he 
 broached tub after tub, his face elongating as he proceeded, 
 and the visions of his prize-money gradually vanished from 
 his eyes. Tom and the other smugglers looking on all the 
 time with a derisive smile curling their lips, though prudence 
 prevented their saying any thing which might further exas- 
 perate the lieutenant. 
 
 At last, with an angry oath, he threw down the gimlet. 
 They one and all contained nothing more potent than salt 
 water. He then, with eager haste, anticipating disaster, 
 tore open the bales. They were composed solely of straw 
 and a little packing cloth. 
 
 " Them be life-buoys, sir," said Tom, quietly. " We 
 carries them now always, by the recommendation of the 
 Humane Society." 
 
 The smugglers now burst into fits of laughter at the rage 
 and disappointment of the outwitted officer, and even his 
 own men could scarcely restrain their tittering at his ex- 
 travagances. There was, however, not a shadow of excuse 
 for detaining the smugglers. They had a full right to land 
 empty tubs and life-buoys at any hour of the night, and they 
 had not offered the slightest resistance when captured by the 
 coast-guard. In fact, as Tom expressed it while narrating 
 his adventures with high glee to Joe Buntin, they " fairly 
 did the revenue." 
 
 The next morning, the " Pretty Polly" appeared beating 
 up towards Fairport, and before noon she was at her moor- 
 ings, and Joe was exhibiting a variety of pretty presents to 
 the delighted eyes of Miss Margaret Ramrod. Rumors 
 were not long in reaching her ears that one of the largest 
 runs which had been known for ages had been made on the 
 coast at some little distance from Fairport, the very night 
 Lieutenant Hogson seized the tubs of salt water ; and Joe
 
 332 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 confessed that he had only one more trip to make before he 
 settled for life. 
 
 We need not detail the events of the next few days in the 
 quiet town of Fairport. Those we have narrated served for 
 conversation to the good people for full nine days, and dur- 
 ing that time poor Mr. Hogson never once ventured to show 
 his face inside the castle walls, for he had a strong suspicion, 
 though an unjust one, that pretty Mistress Margaret had 
 something to do with his disappointment. For her credit, 
 however, we are certain that she was innocent of any inten- 
 tional falsehood. Joe suspected that Mr. Hogson would 
 attempt to pump her ; so, as we have seen the contents of a 
 bucket of water thrown down a ship's pump to make it 
 suck, Joe took care that the lieutenant should get something 
 for his pains, by telling the young lady to answer, if she was 
 asked, that she had heard him say that he intended landing 
 at Bay. 
 
 For the three following weeks Joe Buntin contrived to 
 spend several days on shore in the society of Sergeant Ram- 
 rod's family, though the "Pretty Polly" during that time 
 made several trips down Channel, and was very successful 
 in falling in with some large East Indiamen, the pilotage 
 money of which was considerable ; and besides that she 
 landed several rich passengers who paid well, so that Joe 
 was rapidly becoming a wealthy man. He would have 
 been wise to stick to his lawful and regular calling ; but 
 there was so much excitement in smuggling, and the profits 
 of one trip were so much more than he could gain in several 
 winters' hard toil, that he could not resist the temptation. 
 Had he taken the trouble of comparing himself with others, 
 he would, we suspect, have considered himself a more 
 honest man than the railroad speculators of the present 
 day.
 
 HOW JOE BUNTIN DID THE BE VENUE. 333 
 
 It was again the last quarter of the moon, and the nights 
 were getting dark, when the "Pretty Polly" once more left 
 her moorings in Fairport Harbor. Now it must not be sup- 
 posed that she ran over at once to the coast of France, and 
 taking in a cargo, returned as fast as she could to England- 
 Joe was not so green as to do that. He, on the contrary, as 
 before, cruised about the Channel till he had put two of his 
 pilots on board different vessels, and, to disarm suspicion, 
 they took very good care to present themselves at Fairport 
 as soon after their return as possible ; and even Mr. Hogson 
 began to fear that there was very little prospect of making 
 prize-money by capturing the " Pretty Polly," or of wreak- 
 ing his vengeance on Joe. 
 
 As soon as the last ship into which he had put a pilot was 
 out of sight, Joe shaped his course for Cherbourg, where he 
 found a cargo of tubs ready for him, but he this time did 
 not take any silks in his venture. In a few hours he was 
 again on his way across the Channel. The weather was 
 very favorable. Now some people would suppose that we 
 mean to say there was a clear sky, a smooth sea, and a 
 gentle breeze. Far from it. It blew so fresh that it might 
 almost be called half a gale of wind ; the clouds chased 
 each other over the sky, and threatened to obscure even the 
 stars, which might shed a tell-tale light on the world, and 
 there was a heavy sea running ; in truth, it gave every 
 promise of being a dirty night. Nothing, however, in this 
 sublunary world can be depended upon except woman's love, 
 and that is durable as adamant, true as the pole-star, and 
 unequalled. The "Pretty Polly" was about fifteen miles 
 from the land, and Joe and Tom Figgit were congratulating 
 themselves on the favorable state of the weather, when the 
 breeze began to fall and veer about, and at last shifted round 
 to about east-south-east. Gradually the sea went down, the
 
 k? 
 
 
 fe cart fe 
 
 KSBOtfeB 
 Iwi*I3 
 
 - : 
 
 WeMihj 
 
 M?* 
 
 -o 
 
 : - _- -: - 
 
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 ^ 1.7-1.
 
 HOW JOB /! DID THE KETESTTK. I- '. 
 
 scope, bat far sam* time it rested OB Bothia- bat theamV 
 ring sea and the distant land. At last, however, his eye 
 caught a ghmpse of what, to him* appeared a %eij saspt- 
 
 " What do yon make her oBt to be?" be 
 the gfara toTomF^git,aBd poiBtiBg toward 
 
 BO B%BBr than a sea-gBlTs 
 rays of the son. Tom took a kmg look at her. 
 
 - She's a big cotter, aad BO austake," he aaswered, ami 
 his eye to the tabe. "And fcafV more, aW* 
 
 fresh breexe. I don't like tbe cat of her jft.~ 
 
 * Let's have another squint at her," said Joe, takrag the 
 glass from the awte's haad : tbea kttmg it come dowa sad- 
 denly. and giving a slap OB bis thigh, be exclaimed, ** YOB 
 are right, Tom. by George ; and what's more, if I doat 
 s by the way her gaEtopsafl abaam, aVe's the - Raagar* 
 we gave tbe go-by in the wiater, ami they've 
 us ever 
 
 Davis and Galloway tben gave 
 
 tided with the rest, BOT did there appear to be aaj 
 that tbe appnttchitg vessel was tbe U BHK" 
 
 Tbe wind, as we said, bad dlen. b tbere was sd& a 
 considerable swell, tbe elects of the past gale, whk* aude 
 tbe littfe vessel phcb aBdPMhie aboBt, *d coasidenbly re- 
 tarded her progress. Joe 
 ottghly to ae tbat they drew well, 
 over tbe side of tbe cotter to jadge how st she was 
 through tbe water. He was &r from satisfied widi the re* 
 soh of bis obserratioBS. 
 
 -It won't do," be remarked; M we mvst be up sck, aad 
 run for it, or she'll be overhaafiBg BS before dark. If we 
 was blessed with tbe breeac she's got, we wonUaH miad her.
 
 |H THE CEUISE OF THE u FEOUC." 
 
 Rig out lhiifMHi ill] boom, bend on the square-saiL Come, 
 a band my hearties, be quick about it. None of us 
 fancy fix* a twelvemonth in Winchester jail. I 
 That'll do : now hoist away." 
 
 And himself setting an example of activity, the helm 
 being pot up, the main-sheet was eased off, a large square- 
 aafl set, and the colter, dead before the wind, was running 
 awaj from her supposed enemy. The square-topsail was 
 act hoisted, and every stitch of canvas she could carry was 
 dapped on. and under the influence of the returning breeze, 
 the ~ Pretty Polly " danced merrily over the waters, though 
 not at aH approaching to the speed her impatient crew de- 
 sired. Tom Figgit shook his bead. 
 
 " I thought it would be so," he muttered. " I knowed it 
 fcui I seed the wind dropping. Well, if it weren't for 
 
 Joe, and to ace that b d coastgnarder. Hogson, a-grin- 
 
 ing at os, and nibbing his paws with delight, I shouldn't 
 care. If we might fight for it it would be a different thing, 
 but to be caught like mice by a cat, without a squeak for life, 
 is rery aggrawating, every one must allow." 
 
 Tom had some reason for his melancholy forebodings, for 
 the " Pretty Polly " most certainly appeared to be out of 
 lock. Do all she could, the " Ranger," bringing up a fresh 
 breeze, gained rapidly on her. The people in the revenue 
 cruiser had evidently seen her soon after she saw them, and, 
 aaapecting her character, had been using every exertion to 
 cone up with her. They had, in fact, long been on the 
 watch for her. and quickly recognized her as their old friend. 
 The smugglers walked the deck, vainly whistling for a wind, 
 bat, though they all whistled in concert, the partial breeze 
 refused to swell their sails till it had filled those of their 
 enemy. Nothing they could do, either wetting their sails, 
 or altering her trim by shifting the cargo, would make the
 
 HOW JOE BUXTDf DID THE HEVJOiUJE. 337 
 
 t; Pretty Polly " go along faster. One great object irnti 
 retain a considerable distance from her till darkness cov- 
 ered the face of the deep, when they might hope more easily 
 to make their escape. 
 
 As the son went down the heavens grew most provokingly 
 clear, and the stars shone forth from the pore sky, so that 
 the smugglers saw and were seen by the revenue cutter, aad 
 the character of the " Pretty Polly " was too well known by 
 every cruiser on the station to allow her to hope to escape 
 unquestioned. Still Joe boldly held on his course. He 
 never withdrew his eye from his pursuer, in order to be 
 ready to take advantage of the slightest change in her pro- 
 ceedings, but he soon saw that he must make the best use 
 of his heels and his wits, or lose his cargo. Poor Joe, be 
 thought of his charming Margaret, he thought of his good 
 resolutions, he thought of Tom's evil prognostication;-, but 
 he was not a fellow to be daunted at trifles, and he stifl 
 trusted that something in the chapter of accidents would 
 turn up to enable him to escape. 
 
 The breeze at last came up with the " Pretty Polly," bat 
 at the same time the - Ranger " drew still nearer. AD 
 their means of expediting her movements had been ex- 
 hausted, every inch of canvas she could carry was spread 
 aloft, and even below the main-boom and square-sail-boom 
 water sails had been extended, so that the craft looked like 
 a large sea-bird, with a small black body, skimming, with 
 outspread wings, along the surface of the deep. The land, 
 at no great distance, laid broad on their beam to the star- 
 board. With anger and vexation they saw that all their ef- 
 forts to save their cargo would probably be fruitless. 
 
 It can't be helped, my lads," cried Joe ; " better luck 
 
 next time. In with all that light canvas. Be smart about 
 
 it, stand by the square-sail halliards lower awmy : 
 
 22
 
 338 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 the foresail again ; down with the helm, Bill, while we get 
 a pull at the main-sheet. We must run into shoal water 
 and sink the tubs. It will come to that, I see." 
 
 As Joe said, there was no time to lose, for the revenue 
 cruiser was now a little more than a mile distant, looming 
 large in the fast-increasing obscurity of night. There prom- 
 ised, however, to be too much light during the night for them 
 to hope to elude the sharp and practised eyes of her look- 
 outs. While the smuggler, with the wind nearly abeam, 
 was running in for the land, her crew were busily employed 
 in getting the tubs on deck, and slinging them in long lines 
 together, with heavy weights attached, over the side, so as to 
 be able, by cutting a single lanyard, to let them all sink at 
 once. No sooner did they alter their course than their pursuer 
 did the same. They had, at all events, gained the important 
 advantage of escaping being overhauled in daylight. They 
 now stood steadily on till they got within a quarter of a 
 mile of the land, the revenue cutter not having gained ma- 
 terially on them. By this time every tub was either on 
 deck or over the side. 
 
 " Starboard the helm a little, Tom steady now ! " sung 
 out Joe ; " we'll have the marks on directly ; I can just 
 make out Pucknose Knoll and Farleigh church steeple. Now 
 mind, when I sing out cut, cut all of you." 
 
 It was not without some difficulty that the points he men- 
 tioned could be distinguished, and none but eyes long accus- 
 tomed to peer through darkness could have seen objects on 
 the shore at all. His aim was to bring certain marks on the 
 shore in two lines to bisect each other, at which point the 
 tubs were to be sunk, thus enabling him to find them again 
 at a future day. 
 
 " Starboard again a little, Tom steady now that will 
 do luff you may, luff I have it. Cut now, my hearties,
 
 HOW JOE BUNTIN DID THE REVENUE. 339 
 
 cut ! " he exclaimed, and the next moment a heavy splash 
 told that all the tubs slung outside had been cut away, and 
 sunk to the bottom. " Stand by to heave the rest over- 
 board," he continued, and a minute afterwards, with fresh 
 bearings, the remainder of the cargo was committed to the 
 deep. " Now let's haul up for Fairport, and get home to 
 comfort our wives and sweethearts. Better luck next time." 
 
 With this philosophical observation, Joe buttoned up his 
 pea-jacket, and twisted his red comforter round his neck, 
 determined to make himself comfortable, and to bear his 
 loss like a man. By the " Pretty Polly's " change of course 
 she soon drew near the " Ranger," when a shot from one 
 of the guns of the latter came flying over her mast-head. 
 On this significant notice that the cruiser wished to speak to 
 her, Joe, not being anxious for a repetition of the message, 
 let fly his jib-sheet, and his cutter coming round on the 
 other tack, he kept his foresail to windward and his helm 
 down, thus remaining almost stationary. A boat soon pulled 
 alongside with the mate of the cruiser, who, with his crew, 
 each carrying a lantern, overhauled every part of the vessel's 
 hold, but not even a drop of brandy was to be found, nor a 
 quid of tobacco. 
 
 " Sorry, sir, you've taken all this trouble," said Joe, 
 touching his hat to the officer. " I thought, sir, you know'd 
 we was a temp'rance vessel." 
 
 It was diamond cut diamond. The officer looked at Joe, 
 and burst out laughing, though disappointed at not making 
 a seizure. 
 
 " Tell that to the marines, Mister Buntin," he answered. 
 " If you hadn't, half an hour ago, enough spirits on board 
 to make the whole ship's company of a line-of-battle ship as 
 drunk as fiddlers, I'm a Dutchman." 
 
 " I can't help, sir, what you thinks," replied Joe, hum-
 
 340 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 bly ; " but I suppose you won't detain us ? We wants to 
 get to Fairport to-night, to drink tea with our wives and 
 nurse our babies." 
 
 " You may go, my fine fellow, and we will bring in your 
 tubs in the morning," answered the mate, as he stepped into 
 his boat, 
 
 " Thank ye, sir," said Joe, making a polite bow, but look- 
 ing very much inclined to expedite his departure with a kick, 
 but discretion withheld him. 
 
 " Let draw ! " he sang out in a voice which showed the 
 true state of his feelings, beneath his assumed composure ; 
 " now about with her." 
 
 In a short time after, the " Pretty Polly " was safely 
 moored in Fairport River. 
 
 The next morning at daybreak, the " Ranger " was seen 
 hovering in rather dangerous proximity to the spot where 
 the tubs had been sunk. She was then observed to get 
 her dredges out, and to be groping evidently for the hidden 
 treasures. In the course of the day, Joe and his crew had 
 the mortification to see her come into the harbor with the 
 greater part of their cargo on board. Of course they all 
 looked as innocent as if none of them had ever before seen 
 a tub, for there was nothing to betray them, though it was 
 not pleasant to see their property in the hands of others. 
 The revenue cutter then hauling alongside the quay, sent all 
 the tubs she had on board up to the castle, where they 
 were shut up securely while she went back to grope for 
 more. 
 
 Joe watched all these proceedings with apparently calm 
 indifference, walking up and down all the time on the quay, 
 with a short pipe in his mouth, and his hands in his pock- 
 ets. No sooner, however, had darkness set in, than he and 
 his companions might have been seen consulting earnestly
 
 HOW JOE BttSTTIN DID THE BEVBNUE. 341 
 
 together, and going round to the most trustworthy of their 
 acquaintance. What was the subject of their consultations 
 may hereafter be guessed at. Their plans, whatever they 
 were, were soon matured, and then Joe repaired to pay 
 his accustomed visit to Sergeant Ramrod and his grand- 
 daughter. 
 
 Joe Buntin was, as I have hinted, not the only lover 
 Margaret Ramrod possessed, which was, of coarse, no fault 
 of hers. One of them, for there might have been half-a- 
 dozen at least, was James Lawson, a coast-guard man, be- 
 longing to Fairport ; and if he was aware that he was a 
 rival of his superior officer it did not afflict him. As it hap- 
 pened, he was stationed at the castle to guard the tubs which 
 had been captured in the morning. Having seen that every 
 thing was safe, he soon grew tired of watching on the top 
 of the castle, for it was a dark, cold night, with a thick, 
 driving rain, and a high wind, so he persuaded himself that 
 there could be no harm looking into Sergeant Ramrod's 
 snug room, lighted up by pretty Margaret's bright eyes, and 
 warmed by a blazing fire. The sergeant welcomed him 
 cordially, and Margaret mixed him a glass of hot brandy 
 and water, while discussing which, a knock was heard at 
 the castle-gate, on which Mistress Margaret, throwing her 
 apron over her head, ran out to admit the visitors. She 
 was absent a minute or more ; probably she had some diffi- 
 culty in again closing the gates on so windy a night : at last 
 she returned, followed by no less a person than Joe Buntin, 
 and his shadow, Tom Figgit. 
 
 A smile stole over Margaret's pretty mouth as she watched 
 Joe, who looked as fierce as he could at Lawson, and by 
 Ramrod's invitation, sat himself down directly opposite 
 the revenue-man. Lawson was not to be stared out of 
 countenance, so, notwithstanding Joe's angry glances, he
 
 342 THE CRUISE OP THE "FROLIC." 
 
 firmly kept his post. Tom Figgit quietly sipped his grog, 
 eyeing Lawson all the time much in the way that a cat 
 does a mouse she is going to devour, so that at last the rev- 
 enue-man, feeling himself rather uncomfortable, he scarcely 
 knew why, helped himself thoughtlessly to another stiff 
 glass. Joe laughed and talked for all the party, and told 
 several capital stories, contriving in the interval to whisper 
 a word into Margaret's ear, at which she looked down and 
 laughed slyly. She was soon afterwards seen filling up the 
 coast-guard man's glass, only by mistake she poured in 
 Hollands instead of water. The error was not discovered, 
 and Lawson became not only very sagacious, but brave 
 in the extreme. After some time he recollected that it 
 was his duty to keep a look-out from the top of the castle, 
 and accordingly rose to resume his post. Joe on this 
 jumped up also, and wishing the old couple and their grand- 
 daughter good-night, took his departure, followed by Tom ; 
 Sergeant Ramrod and Lawson closing the gates securely 
 behind them. 
 
 No sooner were Joe and his mate outside the walls 
 than they darted down a small alley which led to the water, 
 and at a little sheltered slip they found a boat, with a coil 
 of rope and some blocks stowed away in the stern-sheets. 
 Joe, giving a peculiarly low whistle, two other men ap- 
 peared crawling from under a boat, which had been turned 
 with the keel uppermost on the beach, and then all four 
 jumping in, pulled round underneath the castle-wall to a 
 nook, where they could not be observed from the quay even 
 in the daytime. 
 
 It was, as we have mentioned, blowing and raining, and 
 as dark as pitch, so that our friends had no reason to com- 
 plain of the weather. After feeling about for some time, 
 Joe discovered a small double line, to which he fastened
 
 HOW JOE BUNTIN DID THE REVENUE. 343 
 
 one of the stouter ropes, and hauling away on one end of 
 it, brought it back again into the boat. Who had rove the 
 small line we cannot say, but we fear that there was a little 
 traitor in the garrison ; perhaps Joe or Tom had contrived 
 to do it before they entered the sergeant's sitting-room. 
 
 " Hold on fast," Joe whispered to his comrades ; " I'll be 
 up in a moment." Saying this, he climbed up the rope, 
 and soon had his face flush with the summit of the castle 
 walls. Looking round cautiously, he observed no one, so 
 he climbed over the parapet, and advanced across the plat- 
 form to the top of a flight of steps which communicated 
 with the lower part of the building. He looked over the 
 railing, but his eyes could not pierce the gloom, so he 
 descended the steps, and had the satisfaction to find Lawson 
 fast asleep at the bottom of them, sheltered from the rain by 
 one of the arches. " All's right : he won't give us much 
 trouble, at all events," he muttered to himself; and return- 
 ing to the parapet he summoned his companions. Two 
 other boats had now joined the first, and, one after the 
 other, twelve smugglers scaled the walls. Others were, it 
 must be understood, watching at various points in the 
 neighborhood, to give the earliest notice of the approach of 
 the coast-guard. Joe stationed two men by the side of 
 Lawson to bind and gag him if he awoke, which he was 
 not likely to do, while the rest proceeded with their work. 
 
 They soon contrived to break open the door of the store, 
 opening from the platform, where the tubs had been depos- 
 ited ; then each man, carrying one at a time, like ants at 
 their work, they transported them to the parapet of the 
 castle-wall. From thence, with great rapidity, they were 
 lowered into the boats, and then conveyed round to the foot 
 of a garden belonging to an uninhabited house, which, of 
 course, had the character of being haunted by spirits. Joe
 
 844 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 and his friends worked with a will, as much delighted with 
 the thought of doing the revenue as at recovering their 
 property. 
 
 The greater nunber had been thus secured when the rain 
 ceased, and the clouds driving away, the smugglers were 
 afraid of being seen by their opponents. They therefore 
 secured the door of the nearly empty store, and all descend- 
 ing, unrovc the rope from the breech of the gun to which it 
 had been fastened, so as to leave no trace of their pro- 
 ceedings. 
 
 The next morning Lawson, on recovering from his tipsy 
 slumbers, seeing the door closed, reported that all was 
 right. Mr. Hogson was the first person to make the dis- 
 covery that all was wrong, and his astonishment and rage 
 . may be more easily imagined than described. Nearly every 
 tub of the rich prize had disappeared ; and the lieutenant 
 swore he was certain that wicked little vixen, Margaret 
 Ramrod, had something to do with it. 
 
 Neither Sergeant Ramrod nor Lawson could in any 
 way account for it ; and as it would have been a subject of 
 mirth to all their brother officers, who would not have 
 shared in the prize, the authorities of Fairport thought it 
 wiser not to say much on the subject. Several persons 
 were suspected of having had a hand in the transaction ; 
 but the smugglers were known to be too true to each other 
 to afford the remotest chance of discovering the culprits. 
 
 Soon after this Joe Bun tin married Margaret Ramrod ; 
 and, wonderful to relate, forswore smuggling ever after. 
 Whether her persuasions, or from finding it no longer 
 profitable, had most influence, is not known ; at all events, 
 he is now one of the most successful and active pilots be- 
 longing to Fairport, and thougli he does not mention names,
 
 HOW JOE BUNTIN'DID THE REVENUE. 345 
 
 he is very fond, among other stories, of telling how a cer- 
 tain friend of his did the revenue. 
 
 As soon as old Sleet had finished his story, which was 
 much more effective when told by him than as it now stands 
 written down by me, he scraped his right foot back, made a 
 swing with his hat, and was rolling forward, when Hearty 
 cried out, " Stop, stop, old friend, your lips want moisten- 
 ing after that long yarn, I'm sure. What will you have, 
 champagne, or claret, or sherry, or brandy, or rum, 
 or" 
 
 The honest seaman grinned from ear to ear. 
 
 " Grog," he answered, emphatically. " There's nothing 
 like that to my mind, Mr. Hearty. It's better nor all your 
 French washes put together." 
 
 Due praise was bestowed on Joe Buntin's history, but he 
 evidently thought the extra glass of grog he had won of far 
 more value. 
 
 " Health to you, gentlemen and ladies all, and may this 
 sweet craft never want a master nor a mistress either," he 
 rapped out; then fearing he had said something against 
 propriety, he rolled away to join his messmates forward.
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 'THE POLACCA-BRIG AGAIN THE "ZEBRA" IN CHASE 
 REFLECTIONS ON AFRICA AND THE SLAVE-TRADE. 
 
 IT was now time for the officers of the "Zebra" to re- 
 turn on board their ship. Another night and day passed 
 away much in the same manner as its predecessors. All 
 this time we were edging over to the African coast. Miss 
 Mizen was rapidly recovering her strength, indeed she could 
 no longer be declared an invalid, and it was very evident 
 that a sea-life perfectly agreed with her. 
 
 Though I missed Bubble's fun and anecdotes, and his 
 merry laugh and good-natured visage, I must confess that I 
 much enjoyed the society of the two ladies. Mrs. Mizen 
 was a kind-hearted, right-minded, good-natured, sensible, 
 motherly woman, without a particle of affectation or non- 
 sense of any sort. She had seen a good deal of the world, 
 and of the people in it, and could talk well of what she had 
 seen. Under present circumstances, indeed, I preferred 
 her, as a companion, to her daughter. Barring the differ- 
 ence of age, they were very like each other. Miss Mizen 
 also treated me with the utmost frankness and kindness as 
 the friend of her intended husband, and I often enjoyed a 
 pleasant conversation with her, though, of course, it more 
 frequently fell to my share to entertain her mother. 
 
 While the fine weather lasted, the life we led was ex- 
 cessively pleasant ; but as winter was now rapidly approach- 
 ing, we knew that we must look out for squalls and heavy 
 
 846
 
 THE POLACCA-BUIG AGAIN. 347 
 
 seas. We had, as I before remarked, been making our way 
 to the westward along the African coast, now making the 
 land, and then standing off again at night-time. 
 
 One morning when daylight broke, we found ourselves 
 rather in-shore of the brig. As I came on deck to relieve 
 Porpoise, I saw her signalizing. We got the signal-book. 
 
 "What is Rullock talking about?" asked my brother- 
 officer, as I was looking over the leaves of Harriot's well- 
 known work. 
 
 " A suspicious sail to the north-west. Stay where you are. 
 I shall chase, but be back by nightfall," said I ; on which 
 Porpoise ordered the answering signal to be hoisted. 
 
 The brig now crowded all sail, but as she kept away I 
 saw that the bunting was again at work. 
 
 " If we do not appear by noon to-morrow, return to Malta," 
 said I, interpreting the flags. " And so our pleasant cruise 
 will be up : but all things pleasant must come to an end. I 
 wish it could have lasted longer." 
 
 " Well, Porpoise, what do you make of the stranger he 
 is after?" 
 
 " By that she is no other than our friend the Greek 
 
 polacca-brig," he exclaimed, almost letting his glass fall 
 from aloft, where he had gone to get a look of the vessel 
 the brig was chasing. " I have a great mind to rouse 
 Hearty up, and get him to disobey orders, and go in chase 
 of her also. I don't like the thoughts of the pirate being 
 captured without our being present." 
 
 " Remember that we have ladies on board, and I don't 
 think Hearty will be inclined to run the risk of carrying 
 away our spars or mast for any such gratification," I re- 
 marked. " He'll be for obedience in this case, depend 
 on it." 
 
 " That's the worst of having ladies on board," answered
 
 348 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 Porpoiso with a sigh. " But, I say, they have been rather 
 more alive on board the brig than I should have given them 
 credit for. How could they have suspected that the polacca 
 out there was our friend ? " 
 
 " You forget that Will Bubble is on board, and probably 
 he was on deck, and aloft, indeed, at sunrise, and made out 
 the Greek," I answered, not that I considered that there 
 was any want of strict discipline or sufficient alertness kept 
 on board the brig, though the crew were any thing but first- 
 rate specimens of men-of-war's men. 
 
 By the by, that reminds me that I should like to say a 
 few words about manning the navy. But I won't, though, 
 simply because the subject is just here somewhat out of 
 place. We are off the northern coast of Africa in a yacht 
 with some ladies on board, and they might be bored, and we 
 have to watch the proceedings of the brig-of-war and the 
 vessel of which she is in chase. Only I would strongly urge 
 any members of parliament, or other law-makers, or persons 
 of influence, whose eyes may glance over these pages to 
 think, and talk, and do very seriously about the matter. It 
 will not bear letting alone or sleeping over. Something 
 must be done, and at once. I've known ships-of-war go to 
 sea with not a quarter of the men seamen because seamen 
 were riot to be got. How would it fare with us had we to 
 engage in a downright earnest naval war? Our men, it 
 will be answered, will fight like Britons ; so they will, I 
 doubt not, but is it just to oppose landsmen to the well- 
 trained seamen of other nations? Is it just to the able sea- 
 men to make them do the work which should be shared by 
 others ? But now we will again look after the brig-of-war 
 and the chase. 
 
 The polacca, as soon as she saw that the British man-of- 
 war was in pursuit of her, made all sail to the northward
 
 THE "ZEBRA" IN CHASE. 349 
 
 and westward. Old Rullock was evidently determined that 
 she should not escape from any neglect on his part of carry- 
 ing enough sail. Royals and studdingsails were quickly set, 
 and under a wide spread of snow-white canvas away stood 
 the " Zebra," leaving us jogging slowly on, with the pur- 
 pose of returning to the spot whence we started. Hearty's 
 surprise, aa may be supposed, was very considerable, and so 
 was that of his lady guests, when they found that the brig 
 had run away from us. 
 
 " However, Mrs. Mizen, I suppose we must obey orders, 
 must we not ? " said he, with a shrug of his shoulders. u If 
 you do not blame Captain Rullock for his treachery, I am 
 sure that I do not, since he has left with me hostages of so 
 much value for his safe return." 
 
 Mrs. Mizen and her daughter seemed to think the affair 
 a very good joke, only they could not understand why the 
 cutter should not go in chase of the polacca as well as the 
 brig-of-war. 
 
 " Perhaps the captain wishes to have all the honor of 
 capturing the pirate by himself without our assistance," 
 observed Porpoise ; "I suppose the fellow will show fight 
 should he come up with him." 
 
 " No fear of that," I remarked. " The truth is, I sus- 
 pect, that Captain Rullock feared, that had he allowed the 
 yacht to proceed in chase of the pirate, we might have 
 come up with her before he could, and had to bear the 
 brunt of the action. He probably would not have cared 
 very much about that, had there been only four yachting 
 gentlemen on board to be shot at, but the case was very 
 different when his sister and niece might be placed in 
 danger." 
 
 " He did very right. There can be no dispute about it," 
 said Hearty. " We must bear our disappointment like
 
 350 THE CBUISE OF THE " FBOLIC." 
 
 men, and during breakfast we will consider what amuse- 
 ment we can afford our guests, to recompense them for the 
 absence of the brig in the landscape or rather seascape 
 we ought to call it for little enough of the land have we 
 had this cruise." 
 
 We had a great deal of amusing conversation during 
 breakfast. It is a pleasant meal everywhere, if people are 
 well and in spirits, and nowhere is it more pleasant than at 
 sea under the same provisions. 
 
 " What do you say to a look at the African coast, Mrs. 
 Mizen ?" exclaimed Hearty. "We could get there very 
 soon could we not, Porpoise ? " 
 
 " We should be well in with the land, so as to have a 
 good view of it before the evening, and if the wind holds, 
 we might be back here before the brig-of-war returns to 
 look for us," was the answer. 
 
 " Capital ; then let us stand in there at once," said 
 Hearty. " It is a fine, mountainous, bold coast, very pic- 
 turesque. You will have your sketching things ready, I 
 hope," he added, looking at Miss Mizen. He had not 
 learnt to call her Laura when any one else was pres- 
 ent. 
 
 Miss Mizen said she would get her drawing-board and 
 color-box ready, and Porpoise went on deck to put the 
 cutter's head to the southward. A steady breeze from the 
 south-west enabled us to stand in for the land close 
 hauled. As we rapidly approached it, the mountains, with 
 their lofty peaks and wooded sides, seemed to rise out of 
 the water like the scene at a theatre, till the lower lands at 
 their base rocky, undulating heights, and even the sea- 
 shore became clearly visible. 
 
 " How very different is this scenery from the common 
 notion of Africa ! " said Miss Mizen, as, with Hearty's help,
 
 REFLECTIONS ON THE SLAVE-TRADE. 351 
 
 she was arranging her sketching-board, to make a view of 
 the coast. " I have hitherto always pictured it to myself as 
 a country of arid sands and dense jungle." 
 
 "You'd find jungle enough and sand enough in many 
 parts, Miss Mizen, where I have been," observed Porpoise. 
 " But both in the north and south there are districts which 
 will vie in fertility with most in the world. Just think of 
 Egypt ; what an abundance of corn does that produce ! All 
 along this north coast are many fertile districts : so there 
 are on the west coast, only it is rather too hot there to be 
 pleasant ; and then at the Cape and Natal are to be found 
 spots rich in various productions." 
 
 " You draw a glowing picture of the country, Mr. Por- 
 poise," observed Mrs. Mizen. 
 
 " I do, ma'am, because the country deserves it," he an- 
 swered. " The world owes a great deal to Africa, and I 
 should like to see every possible attempt made to repay it by 
 continued and strenuous efforts for the civilization of her 
 people. The work is a very great one, there is no doubt 
 about that, and a few feeble and isolated efforts will not ac- 
 complish it. The merchant princes of England must take 
 the matter up, and send out several expeditions at the same 
 time. The officers should be experienced, energetic men, 
 the vessels well supplied with merchandise, and well armed 
 to protect it. But what can we hope for while the abomina- 
 ble slave-trade still flourishes ? England is doing her best 
 to put it down, but she is but ill supported by other nations. 
 America, with all her boasting about freedom, protects and 
 encourages those engaged in it ; while France, professing to 
 be the most civilized and liberal of countries, does the same. 
 Spain and Portugal only occasionally pretend to interfere 
 with a very bad grace, and secretly aid and abet the 
 wretches carrying it on under their flag. I say, at any cost
 
 352 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 and at every cost, England must put it down. No matter 
 if she goes to war with all the world to do so. It will be a 
 glorious war for the most holy cause, and honest men will 
 be able to pray with sincerity and faith, that heaven will 
 protect her in it." 
 
 " I am very glad to hear you speak so, Mr. Porpoise," 
 said Mrs. Mizen ; " I will ansAver for it, that no war would 
 be so popular among the women of England as a war 
 against slavery and the slave-trade. No one worthy of the 
 name of an Englishwoman would refuse to sell her jewels 
 and every thing of value to support it." 
 
 " That's the spirit that will put it down, ma'am," ex- 
 claimed Porpoise, enthusiastically. "When we sailors know 
 that we have the prayers and good wishes of the ladies of 
 England with us, we should very soon sweep all our enemies 
 from the seas." 
 
 The rest of the party responded in most respects to these 
 sentiments. Hearty suggested that much might be hoped 
 for from a wise and firm diplomacy, and by calmly waiting 
 the course of events. 
 
 " No, no," answered Porpoise. " That's what the people 
 in parliament say, when they want to shelve a question. 
 Do nothing, and let aifairs take their own course. It's a 
 very easy way of doing nothing, but that is not like you, 
 Mr. Hearty. You would manage the matter in a very dif- 
 ferent way, I'm sure, if it was left to you." 
 
 " I should be very much puzzled if the question were left 
 for me to decide it," said Hearty. " What do you think I 
 should do?" 
 
 " Oh, I will soon tell you what you would do," replied 
 Porpoise. " Why, you would look out for all the energetic, 
 dashing officers you could find, and send them to the coast in 
 command of as many fast steamers, and other small craft,
 
 REFLECTIONS ON THE 8LAVE-TBADE. 353 
 
 with orders to overhaul every suspicious sail they could find 
 on the coast. Then you would have a whacking big fleet in 
 the Channel, and several others in different parts of the 
 world. You would not forget to keep your coast defences 
 in good order, and to have a compact well-disciplined army 
 on shore, and a numerous trained militia, ready to call out 
 at a moment's notice. That's what you and every other 
 sensible man would do, Mr. Hearty, and then I think we 
 . need have no fear that any one would causelessly attempt to 
 molest us, or that we should be unable to make other nations 
 keep their treaties with us." 
 
 " Bravo, Porpoise, bravo ! " cried Hearty. " I wish that 
 you were Prime Minister, or First Lord of the Admiralty, 
 or Dictator, or something of that sort for a short time. I 
 doubt not but that you would get things in prime order in a 
 very short time." 
 
 While this conversation was going on, we were rapidly 
 drawing in with the coast. Miss Mizen made two or three 
 very masterly sketches, though the blue sea and water filled 
 up the larger portion of the paper. The less there is in a 
 subject the more does it exhibit a master's talent if the pic- 
 ture is interesting. 
 
 A fresh breeze had been blowing all day, but towards 
 evening the wind fell, and the cutter lay floating idly on the 
 water. We were assembled after dinner as usual on deck, 
 laughing, talking, yarn-spinning, and occasionally reading 
 aloud, enjoying the moments to the full, and little dreaming 
 of what a few short hours were to bring forth. 
 
 Evening was about to throw its dusky veil over the Afri- 
 can shore. The idle flap of the mainsail showed us that 
 there was a stark calm. A fish would occasionally leap out 
 of the water, or the fin of some monster of the deep might 
 28
 
 354 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 be seen as it swam by in pursuit of prey, or a sea-bird 
 would come swooping past to ascertain what strange craft 
 had ventured into its haunts, ere it winged its way back to 
 its roosting-place for the night, amid the crags of the neigh- 
 boring headland. 
 
 I was taking a turn on deck, when, as I looked over the 
 side and measured our distance from the land, it appeared 
 to me that, although the calm was so complete, we had con- 
 siderably decreased our distance from it. Walking forward, 
 I asked Snow if he had remarked any thing particular. 
 
 " Why, yes, sir ; I was just going to speak to you or Mr. 
 Porpoise, about the matter," he answered. " I've been 
 watching the land for an hour or more past, and it strikes 
 me that there is a strong current, which sets in-shore to the 
 westward hereabouts ; it's just the sort of thing, which, if 
 we hadn't found out in time, might have carried us much 
 too close in on a dark night to be pleasant ; as it is, if a 
 breeze doesn't spring up, and we continue to drift in, we 
 must just get the boats out and tow her head off shore, so 
 there'll be no great harm come of that." 
 
 " You are right," said I ; " there's little doubt about it ; 
 I'll mention the matter to Mr. Porpoise, and he'll approve 
 of what you propose. But I do not think there's any use in 
 letting the ladies know, or they'll be fancying all sorts of 
 dreadful things that they are going to be cast on shore, or 
 eaten up by lions, or murdered by savages. I should not 
 like to give them any uneasiness which can be helped." 
 
 I watched the old man's countenance while I was speak- 
 ing, to ascertain what he really thought about the matter. 
 The truth was that I was not quite satisfied myself with our 
 position. I had been along that coast some years before, 
 looking into several of the ports ; and I remembered that 
 the Moors inhabiting the villages just above there, bore any
 
 THE AFRICAN COAST. 355 
 
 thing but a good character. I began to blame myself, when 
 too late, for not having thought of this before. When the 
 brig-of-war was with us, it mattered little ; for no pirates 
 would have ventured to come out to attack her : they would 
 have known that she would have proved a dear bargain, 
 even if they could ultimately have taken her, and very little 
 value to them if taken, but with a yacht the case was differ- 
 ent. We could not fail to appear a tempting prize, and 
 easily won. Had we, however, been without ladies on 
 board, we should, I expect, all have enjoyed the fun of 
 showing the rascals that they had caught a Tartar, and am 
 fully certain that we should have been able to render a good 
 account of them. 
 
 I remember that these ideas crossed my mind as I walked 
 the deck, waiting for an opportunity of speaking to Por- 
 poise, who was still engaged in conversation with Mrs. 
 Mizen ; then I burst into a fit of laughter at the thought of 
 the ideal enemy I had so busily conjured up to fight with. 
 Porpoise, who just then joined me, inquired the cause of my 
 merriment. 
 
 " It suddenly occurred to me that we were off a some- 
 what ill-famed part of the coast, and I could not help 
 fancying I saw half-a-dozen or more piratical row-boats 
 come stealing out from under the cliffs there, with the in- 
 tention of cutting our throats and rifling the vessel," I an- 
 swered ; " but of course it is a mere fancy. I never heard 
 of an English yacht being attacked by pirates hereabouts, 
 and it would be folly to make ourselves anxious about such 
 a bugbear." 
 
 Now even while I was saying this I was not altogether 
 satisfied in my own mind about the matter. If, as I before 
 said, we had had only men on board, we might have fought 
 to the last, and could only then have been killed ; but
 
 356 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 should we be overpowered, the fate of the women com- 
 mitted to our charge would be too horrible to contem- 
 plate. 
 
 " I'm glad that you think there is no cause for apprehen- 
 sion," said I to Porpoise. " Still it might be as well to keep 
 a sharp look-out during the night, and should a breeze spring 
 up, to give the coast a more respectful offing." 
 
 " I'll do that same," he answered. " I feel no inclination 
 to turn in myself, so that should any of the natives of whom 
 you are suspicious be inclined to visit us, they may not find 
 us altogether unprepared." 
 
 The ladies soon after this retired to their cabin ; we only 
 then had an opportunity of mentioning the subject to Hearty. 
 He rather laughed at the notion, but begged that he might 
 be called when the fighting began. After taking a few turns 
 on deck, he also turned in, and Porpoise was left in charge 
 of the deck. I, after a little time, went to my cabin ; it 
 seemed too ridiculous to lose my night's rest for the sake of 
 an idea. I had slept about a couple of hours, when I awoke 
 by hearing the sound of Porpoise's voice. He was standing 
 directly over my skylight, which, on account of the heat of 
 the weather, was kept off. 
 
 " Can you make any thing out, Snow?" he asked. 
 
 " I think I can now, sir. It seems to me that there are 
 four or five dark spots on the water, just clear of the shadow 
 of that headland in there," was the answer. " I can't just 
 make out what they are for certain." 
 
 I was on deck in a few seconds, with my night-glass at 
 my eye pointed in the direction indicated. 
 
 "What think you of their being row-boats?" said I. 
 " They look wonderfully like them." 
 
 " I can't say that they are not," answered the old man. 
 " They may be rocks just showing their heads above water.
 
 MOORISH BOATS IN SIGHT. 357 
 
 But what, if they are boats, can they be doing out there at 
 this time of night ? " 
 
 " Coming to pay us a visit, perhaps," I remarked. " We 
 really should be prepared in case of accidents, Porpoise. 
 By timely preparations we averted danger once before, when 
 otherwise, in all probability, we should have had our throats 
 cut. Do not let us be less wise on this occasion." 
 
 " Certainly not," said Porpoise ; " and as discretion is 
 the better part of valor, we Avill try and tow the cutter off- 
 shore. It will prolong the time till our visitors can over- 
 take us, and will give us a better chance of having a breeze 
 spring up. If we get that, we shall be able to laugh at any 
 number of such fellows. They are only formidable when 
 they can find a vessel becalmed. After all, I don't say that 
 those are pirates, and if it were not for the ladies on board, 
 we would very quickly learn the truth of the case." 
 
 The thorough John Bull spoke out in these remarks. 
 Porpoise did not at all like the idea of flying from an enemy 
 under any circumstances, and as he had to do it, he wished 
 to find every possible reason for so doing. 
 
 " Turn the hands up and get the boats out, Snow ; we'll 
 see what towing will do," he continued. " You see that this 
 current is setting us far too much in-shore, and, at all events, 
 it is necessary to get a better offing before daybreak, lest no 
 breeze should spring up in the morning to carry us back to 
 the spot where Rullock was to find us." 
 
 Three boats were got into the water and manned forth- 
 with ; Porpoise, Hearty, Snow, and I, being the only people 
 remaining on board. The crews gave way with a will, 
 and the cutter soon began to slip through the water. She 
 went along, probably, faster than the current was carry- 
 ing her in an opposite direction. These arrangements being 
 made, I took another scrutiny of the suspicious objects under
 
 358 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 the land. I had no longer any doubt in my mind that they 
 were boats, and that they were pulling out to sea towards 
 us. It was now time to call up Hearty. We had seen no 
 necessity before this of making him unnecessarily anxious, 
 and the noise of lowering the boats had not roused him ; 
 indeed, he would have slept through a hurricane, or while 
 a dozen broadsides were being fired, I verily believe, if 
 not called. He was brisk enough, however, when once 
 roused up. As I expected, he was very anxious at the state 
 of affairs. 
 
 " We were thoughtless and unwise to stand in so close to 
 this shore," he remarked. "Brine, my friend, we must 
 sink the cutter or blow her up rather than yield to those 
 villains ! " 
 
 He spoke with much emotion, and I could sincerely enter 
 into his feelings. He did not utter a word of complaint 
 against Porpoise or me, though I think he might have 
 had some reason in blaming us for allowing the cutter to 
 get into her present condition. He paced the deck with 
 hurried steps, looking every now and then anxiously through 
 the glass towards the objects we had observed, and then he 
 would hail the boats. 
 
 " Give way, my lads give way ! " he shouted ; " if any 
 one knocks up, I'll take his place." 
 
 Again he looked through his glass. 
 
 " Can they be rocks? " he exclaimed. " I seen no altera- 
 tion in their appearance." 
 
 " I do, though, I am sorry to say," I answered. " They 
 have got considerably more out of the shade of the land 
 since I first saw them." 
 
 This became very evident after some time ; nor could 
 Hearty any longer doubt the fact. I counted five of them, 
 largish boats ( I suspected) , each pulling some twenty oars
 
 APPEOACH OF THE MOOES. 359 
 
 or more, probably double-banked. Very likely each boat 
 carried not much fewer than sixty men fearful odds for 
 the "Frolic" to contend with. The "Zebra" would not 
 have found them altogether contemptible antagonists, if, as 
 I said, my suspicions were correct as to their size. Still, I 
 hoped that I might be mistaken ; we could not be certain as 
 to their object. They might be mere fishing-boats magnified 
 by the obscurity, or coasters which had pulled out in the ex- 
 pectation of getting a breeze in the morning to carry them 
 alongshore, or to get into some current which might set in 
 the direction in which they wished to go. All these ideas I 
 suggested to Hearty ; still my original notion outweighed all 
 others in my mind. Indeed I have always found it wisest to 
 take the point of view which requires the most caution ; pre- 
 cautions can, at the worst, only give a little trouble ; the neg- 
 lect of them may bring ruin and misery. On this principle 
 I was most anxious to get as far as possible from the shore. 
 No one was idle. Happily the ladies slept on, so that we had 
 not the additional pain at feeling that they were left in a 
 state of anxiety. Porpoise took the helm ; Snow went for- 
 ward to direct the boats how to pull ; while Hearty and I 
 busied ourselves in getting out the arms, arranging the am- 
 munition, loading the guns, and muskets, and pistols ; in- 
 deed, in making every preparation for a desperate struggle. 
 The boats came on very warily. I suspected that we had 
 been seen in the afternoon from the shore, and that as we 
 appeared a tempting prize, the expedition had been planned 
 to capture us. 
 
 " A very short time longer will settle the question," said 
 I to Hearty. " We must endeavor to keep them at a re- 
 spectful distance as long as we can ; should they once get 
 alongside they would overpower us with their numbers. 
 Happily these sort of gentry are as great cowards as they
 
 360 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 are scoundrels, and a fii'm front is certain to make them con- 
 sider whether the profit is likely to be worth the risk of a 
 battle." 
 
 I have gone through a good many anxious moments in the 
 course of my life, but never did I feel more apprehension 
 for the result of an adventure than I did for that in which 
 we were at present engaged. A waning moon had now 
 risen, and showed us very clearly the number and character 
 of the strangers whether friends or foes was hereafter to 
 be decided. Another look at them through my night-glass 
 showed me that they were large boats, as I had suspected, 
 and full of men. 
 
 " There is little use in making any farther efforts to es- 
 cape," said I to Hearty ; " I would hoist in the boats and 
 serve out some grog to the men. They want something after 
 their exertions, though they do not require Dutch courage 
 to defend the ship." 
 
 Porpoise agreed to my suggestions ; they were immedi- 
 ately put into execution. The men threw off their grog as 
 coolly as if they had been about to sail a match at a regatta, 
 instead being about to engage in deadly fight. 
 
 " Here's to your health, Mr. Hearty, and gentlemen all, 
 and may we just give those scoundrels out there a thorough 
 good drubbing if they attempt to attack us," quoth Snow, 
 in the name of his shipmates. 
 
 " Thank you thank you, my men," answered Hearty; 
 " you'll act like true-hearted Englishmen, and what men 
 can do you'll do, I know, to protect the helpless women we 
 have on board. I won't make you a long speech, you don't 
 want that to rouse your courage, but I do ask you not to 
 yield while one man of us remains alive on deck." 
 
 " That's just what we are resolved to do, Mr. Hearty ; 
 no fear, sir," answered all hands, and they would have
 
 ALL HANDS READY. 361 
 
 cheered lustily, had I not restrained them for two reasons : 
 I was unwilling to awaken the ladies sooner than was neces- 
 sary, and also should the pirates have expected to surprise 
 us, it would be a great advantage if we, on the contrary, 
 should be able to surprise them. I mentioned this latter 
 idea to my companions, and they immediately entered into it. 
 The Moors had been too far off to allow them to perceive us 
 hoisting in the boats, so they could not tell but that we were 
 all fast asleep on board. Accordingly, the guns were loaded 
 up to the muzzle with langrage and musket-balls ; pistols and 
 cutlasses were served out to the men, and it was encouraging 
 to see their pleased manner as they stuck the one into their 
 belts, and buckled the other round their waists. Some had, 
 in addition, muskets, and a reserve of small-arms was placed 
 amidships to be resorted to in case of necessity. The men 
 then went and lay down so as to be effectually concealed 
 under the bulwarks : Porpoise and I only walked the deck, 
 as if we were the ordinary watch, and we agreed to pretend 
 to be looking seaward when the boats drew near, as if un- 
 conscious of their approach. Meantime Hearty went below 
 to perform the painful task of informing the ladies of our 
 dangerous position. He did it with his usual tact. 
 
 " Mrs. Mizen," I heard him say, " I must beg you and 
 Miss Mizen to dress, but not to come on deck. We have 
 got too close in-shore, and some Moorish boats appear to be 
 coming off to us ; they may not mean to do us any mis- 
 chief, but it is as well to be prepared, and we do not intend 
 to allow them to come too near to us." 
 
 There was a short pause. I heard no exclamations of 
 surprise or terror no cries, or lamentations, or forebodings 
 of evil, but Mrs. Mizen simply answered in a firm voice : 
 
 " We trust, then, Mr. Hearty, to you and your companions
 
 362 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 to defend us, and may a merciful God give you strength to 
 fight and beat off our assailants ! " 
 
 " That's a speech worthy of a true heroine," exclaimed 
 Porpoise, who had likewise overheard it. " Just the thing 
 to strengthen our nerves, and to put true courage into us. I 
 trust, Mrs. Mizen, we shall not be long in beating off the 
 pirates," he added, looking down the skylight ; " do you, in 
 the mean time, keep snug below, and don't mind the up- 
 roar." 
 
 " Now, my lads, be ready ; we mustn't let the blackguards 
 get on board to frighten the ladies, mind that. When I give 
 the word, be up and at them." 
 
 Porpoise having thus delivered himself, in accordance 
 with our plan, pretended to be intently looking over the taff- 
 rail. The row-boats were all the time drawing disagreeably 
 near, and I had no longer in my mind any doubt as to their 
 character and intention. We, also, were anxiously looking 
 out for a breeze which might enable us to meet them at 
 greater advantage. I took a glance at the compass ; as I did 
 so I felt a light breeze fan my cheek ; it came from the 
 westward. The cutter's head was at that time tending in 
 shore, for as soon as the boats had been hoisted in she had 
 again lost all steerage-way, and had gradually gone round. 
 Again the puff of air came stronger, and she gathered suffi- 
 cient steerage-way to enable us to; wear round just before 
 the boats reached us. The pirates must have thought that 
 we were very blind not to perceive them. Silently they 
 pulled towards us in two columns : we let them approach 
 within a quarter of a cable's length. Just as a tiger springs 
 on his prey, they pulled on rapidly towards us, evidently 
 expecting to catch us unprepared. 
 
 "Now, my lads, up and at them!" sung out Porpoise,
 
 THE BATTLE BEGUN. 363 
 
 in imitation of the speech of a somewhat better-known 
 hero. 
 
 Our jolly yachtsmen did not require a second summons. 
 Up they sprang to their allotted duties. 
 
 "Steady!" added Porpoise, "take aim before you fire. 
 Those forward aim at the headmost boats ; let the after 
 guns give account of those coming up next astern. Now 
 give it them." 
 
 The orders were comprehended, and executed promptly 
 and well. Cries and groans and shouts from the row-boats 
 followed the simultaneous discharge from our great-guns 
 and small-arms. The pirates ceased rowing, and a second 
 intervened before they fired in return, but their shot gen- 
 erally flew wide of us, our unexpected commencement of 
 the action having evidently thrown them into not a little 
 confusion. For an instant it occurred to me that we might 
 have been too precipitate, and that perhaps after all they 
 might not have been pirates, but for some reason or other 
 had come off to us at that unseasonable hour. It was there- 
 fore, in one respect, a positive relief to me when they began 
 to fire, and I discovered their real character. Still un- 
 daunted, on they came. Before, however, they could get 
 , alongside, our people had time to load again and fire ; this 
 time not a shot but took effect. The Moors did not relish 
 the dose ; some attempted to spring on board, but were 
 driven back by pike and cutlass into the sea, Hearty setting 
 the example of activity and courage by rushing here and 
 there, cutting and thrusting and slashing away, so that he 
 did the work of half a dozen men. Indeed I may say the 
 same without vanity of all on board, or we could not have 
 contended for a minute against the fearful odds opposed to 
 us. The low deck of a yacht, it must be remembered, does 
 not present the difficulties to assailants which even a brig-
 
 364 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 of-war or an ordinary high-sided merchantman is capable of 
 doing. Ours was literally a hand-to-hand fight without the 
 slightest protection, our slight bulwarks alone separating us 
 from our enemies when they once got alongside. Happily 
 the breeze increased, and giving us way through the water, 
 the Moorish boats having failed to hook on to us, we once 
 more slipped through them. Some of the men in the bows 
 continued firing at us, but a little delay occurred before the 
 rest could get out their oars to follow the cutter. The chiefs 
 of each boat appeared to be holding a consultation, and I 
 only hoped that they would come to the decision that the 
 grapes were sour, or rather that the game was not worth 
 the candle to play it by, as the Frenchmen say, and give up 
 the pursuit. But they were not so reasonable ; they proba- 
 bly thought that if we fought so desperately we had some- 
 thing on board worth fighting for ; not considering that our 
 lives and liberties were of very much consequence, and so they 
 showed a resolution once more to attempt to overhaul us. 
 This hesitation was much to our advantage, as it enabled us 
 once more to load our guns up to the muzzle, and to take a 
 steady aim as they came up. In all my fighting experience 
 I have come to the conclusion that there is no system equal 
 to that of waiting for a good opportunity, mustering all re- 
 sources, and then, once having begun the attack, to continue 
 at the work without relaxing a moment till the day is won. 
 The Moorish pirates did not follow this course. At last 
 came the tug of war. Their fury and thirst for vengeance 
 was now added to their greed for plunder, and the boats 
 ranged up on either side of the little "Frolic" with seem- 
 ingly a full determination on the part of their crews to over- 
 power us at once. 
 
 " Steady, my good lads, steady ! " shouted Porpoise.
 
 HEARTY WOUNDED. 365 
 
 " Remember, fire as before, and then load again as fast 
 as you can." 
 
 Off went our guns with good effect ; while Hearty and I, 
 and three or four others, armed with muskets, blazed away 
 with them, taking up one after the other as fast as the 
 steward could load them. The report of the guns must 
 have been heard on shore, and far out to sea over that calm 
 water, while the bright flashes lighted up the midnight air. 
 Musket-balls and round-shot don't often fly about without 
 doing some damage ; and while ours were telling pretty well 
 among the thickly crowded boats of the Moors, we were not 
 altogether free from harm. Two of our people had been 
 wounded. One of them fell to the deck, and, from the way 
 the poor fellow groaned, I was much afraid that he was 
 mortally hurt. I drew him close to the companion-hatch, 
 that he might, in a slight degree, be protected from further 
 injury ; but we were too hard pressed to spare any one for 
 a moment from the deck to take him below. Hearty was 
 passing close to me, when, by the flash of the guns, I saw 
 him a give a sudden, convulsive movement with his left 
 arm. I felt sure he was hit. I asked him. 
 
 "Oh, nothing, nothing," he answered. " Don't say a 
 word about it. I can fight away just as well as ever, and 
 that is all I care about just now." 
 
 One of our chief efforts was to prevent the Moorish boats 
 from hooking on to us. This they frequently attempted to 
 do, and each time the lashings they tried to secure were cut 
 adrift. I was indeed surprised to find them so pertinacious 
 in their attack, for a resolute resistance at the commence- 
 ment will generally compel those sort of gentry to give up 
 an enterprise, unless they are certain a great deal is to be 
 gained by it. 
 
 The breeze was now increasing, and old Snow stood at
 
 366 THE CRUISE OP THE " FKOLIC." 
 
 the helm, with his left hand on the tiller, and his right hand 
 wielding a cutlass, with which, aided by another man, he 
 kept at bay any of the Moors who attempted to climb on 
 board over the stern. Still, so overmatched were we by 
 numbers, that I felt even then, in spite of our determined 
 resistance, that the result was very doubtful. I almost 
 sickened at the thought ; but I was very certain that, before 
 such a sad consummation should occur, not a man of us 
 would be left alive on the deck. 
 
 " And then, should the day be evidently going against us, 
 should no help remain not a shadow of hope would it 
 be right to blow up the vessel, and preserve those innocent 
 ones below from an ignominious slavery from a worse 
 than death? " 
 
 " Impious man," responded a voice within me, " think 
 not to rule the providences of thy Creator. Do not evil 
 that good may come of it. Who can tell what means he 
 has in store, even at the very last moment, to preserve 
 those whom, in his infinite wisdom, he has resolved to 
 preserve ? " 
 
 I felt the frailty of human thoughts and human inten- 
 tions, and banished the terrible idea from my mind. Still 
 I could not feel but that our case, to outward appearance, 
 was very desperate. Porpoise himself was wounded, I 
 found, though the pain he suffered did not allow him for a 
 moment to relax in his defence of the vessel. His voice 
 was heard everywhere as loud and cheering as before, 
 encouraging our crew to persevere. 
 
 Once more the pirates drew off. 
 
 " Huzza, huzza ! " shouted all hands ; " they have had 
 enough of it." 
 
 But no.
 
 OUB PERILOUS CONDITION. 367 
 
 " Load your guns, load your guns ! " shouted Porpoise. 
 " Don't trust to them." 
 
 It was fortunate this was done. With terrific cries and 
 yells they for a third time gave way towards us, completely 
 hemming us in, so that some boats going ahead almost 
 stopped the vessel's way through the water. Keeping up 
 their hideous yells, firing their pistols, and flourishing their 
 cimiters, they flung themselves headlong on board. Many 
 were driven back, but their places were speedily filled by 
 others. The physical power of the cutter's crew, exerted 
 so long to the utmost stretch, was almost failing, when, far 
 in the offing, to the northward, the bright flash of a gun was 
 seen, followed shortly afterwards by another and another. 
 I pointed them out to Hearty. 
 
 " There's help coming, my lads ! " he shouted. " Never 
 fear ; but let's have all the glory of the fight to ourselves, 
 and drive these scoundrels off before it arrives. Huzza, 
 huzza ! Back with them ! No quarter ! Cut them down ! 
 Drive them into the sea ! " 
 
 All this time he was most completely suiting the action to 
 his words. At last some of the pirates saw the flashes. 
 
 The morning light was just breaking in the east, for the 
 action had endured far longer than it has taken to describe 
 it. They must have suspected that they foreboded no good 
 to them, and that the sooner they were off the better. 
 Orders were shouted out by the chiefs. Those who could 
 obeyed them, and, leaping back, the boats in a body shoved 
 off from us ; but some unfortunate wretches were still cling- 
 ing to our bulwarks. They fought as they clung with all 
 the fanaticism of Mohammedans ; but our seamen made 
 quick work of them, and in less than two minutes not one 
 was left alive. The gray light of dawn showed us the dark 
 boats pulling in-shore, and as the sun arose its early beams
 
 368 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 lighted up the canvas of a man-of-war brig, close hauled, 
 laying up towards us. Our people shouted lustily when they 
 saw her ; and Hearty, forgetting his wound and his begrimed 
 and war-stained appearance, hurried below to assure his 
 charges of their safety. We quickly recognized the " Zebra," 
 and were not long in getting within hail of her, when Rul- 
 lock, accompanied by Bubble, came on board of us, to inquire 
 into the particulars of our adventure. 
 
 Old Rullock at first was somewhat inclined to be angry 
 with us for getting so close in-shore, and Will almost pulled 
 his hair off in his vexation that he had not been with us to 
 share in the honors of the fight and defence. 
 
 Our loss had been serious ; the poor fellow who had been 
 the first wounded had died just before sunrise, and the sur- 
 geon of the brig pronounced the other cases to be somewhat 
 bad. Porpoise's was a flesh-wound the advantage, as he 
 observed, of being a fat man ; but he forgot that if he had 
 not been fat he might not have been wounded at all. 
 Hearty, though he made light of his hurt, was very much 
 injured ; and the surgeon, with a somewhat significant look, 
 advised him to get on shore as fast as he could, and to get 
 carefully nursed for a time. 
 
 " You'll have no great difficulty to get some one to nurse 
 you," he remarked. 
 
 I really believe that he did not think so badly of the case 
 as he pretended. Be that as it may, we made the best of 
 our way to Malta Harbor, where we all took up our abode 
 on shore, while the cutter was undergoing some necessary 
 repairs. The brig also requiring repairs, Rullock took 
 lodgings, and in the most considerate way had Hearty con- 
 veyed to them, and invited his sister and neice to stay with 
 him a very indelicate proceeding, I dare say ; but the 
 jolly old sailor observed, " Who was so fit to look after a
 
 A FRIEND IX NEED. 369 
 
 wounded man as the girl he was going to marry, and in 
 whose defence he was wounded? A fig for all such rigma- 
 role prudisms, say I." As the parties concerned did not 
 disagree with him, so the matter was arranged to the satis- 
 faction of everybody. 
 24
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 THE BACHELORS AT SEA THE IONIAN ISLANDS RETURN 
 
 TO MALTA SAD NEWS HOMEWARD BOUND HORRIBLE 
 
 SUSPICIONS THE PIRATE'S HANDIWORK A BURNING SHIP 
 
 TRACES OF OUR FRIENDS THE RESCUE THE BACHE- 
 LORS BECOME BENEDICTS, AND THUS TERMINATES IN THE 
 MOST SATISFACTORY MANNER IMAGINABLE THE CRUISE OF 
 THE "FROLIC." 
 
 IT took nearly two months before Hearty recovered even 
 partially from his wound ; and at the end of that time, the 
 " Frolic " being ready for sea, the surgeons insisted that to 
 re-establish his health he must take a trip away for a few 
 weeks in her. This proceeding became somewhat more 
 necessary, as the "Zebra" had been ordered off to the 
 Levant, and he could not well remain the guest of Mrs. 
 Mizen during Captain Rullock's absence. Among the 
 lovely isles of Greece, then, it was resolved we would take 
 a cruise. Both Carstairs and Bubble joined us : the former, 
 in his usual way, had been carrying on with Mrs. Sky- 
 scraper ; but the widow had been unable to hook him firmly ; 
 indeed, as Bubble observed, he was somewhat a big fish to 
 haul on shore. He, on his part, also, could not tell whether 
 the lady cared for him or not. In my opinion she did, but 
 could not quite make up her mind to lose her liberty. 
 
 Once more we five jolly bachelors were afloat together, 
 
 on our passage to Greece. Hearty was in fair spirits. The 
 
 fresh air after the confinement of a sick-room, raised them, 
 
 in spite of himself; indeed, considering that he was certain 
 
 870
 
 THE BACHELORS AT SEA. 371 
 
 of Laura's affection, and hoped in a few months to be united 
 to her, though parted from her for a brief space, he had no 
 reason to be melancholy. We had a fine run to the east- 
 ward. What words can describe the picturesque beauties 
 of Corfu and the Albanian Coast the classic associations 
 of Athens and the varied forms of the isles and islets scat- 
 tered over the vEgean Sea ! Bubble and I revelled in them ; 
 but it must be owned that Carstairs, and even Hearty, 
 thought more of the wild fowl and snipes and woodcocks to 
 be shot in the marshy valleys or thyme-covered heights, than 
 of their pictorial effects, or classic association. 
 
 Whenever we were at sea our people kept a very sharp 
 look-out for Sandgate's polacca-brig, in the hopes that she 
 might be cruising in those parts. After, however, the 
 various pranks he had played in the Mediterranean, I sus- 
 pected that he would have shifted the scene of his exploits 
 to some other part of the globe. 
 
 Greece and her islands, lovely and interesting as they are, 
 have been so often described by more graphic pens than 
 mine, that I do not think my readers would thank me for 
 filling my pages with an account of what we saw., 
 
 We had not much personal communication with the 
 lonians. What we saw and what we heard of them did 
 not raise them especially in our estimation. However, 
 what could be expected of a race so long under the dominion 
 of Venice, during the worst times of her always nefarious 
 system of policy? By the Venetian system discord was 
 fermented among all the states subject to Turkish rule, and 
 miscreants of all classes who could help to effect that object 
 were protected and supported. Crime was thus openly en- 
 couraged ; the assassin who had committed ten murders 
 was only sent to the galleys for the same number of years ; 
 and any one speaking disrespectfully of any person high in
 
 372 THE CRUISE OP THE " FBOLIC." 
 
 office was actually punished with the infliction of a like 
 sentence. The young men of the noble families were brought 
 up in Italy, and while they learned all her vices, were taught 
 to despise their native land, and to forget their mother- 
 tongue. Falsehood, revenge, a foolish vanity, a love of 
 political intrigue, were but some of their most glaring vices ; 
 justice was openly sold ; public faith was unknown ; their 
 peasants were grossly ignorant ; their nobles were without 
 honor ; and their merchants were destitute of integrity ; 
 while their priests were generally illiterate and immoral in 
 the extreme. Heu mihi ! a pretty picture of a people. Well, 
 I fancy they have improved somewhat under British pro- 
 tection ; and when I was among them I do not believe they 
 were so bad as all that. Still they were in an unsatisfactory 
 state, and a very difficult people to govern. They may have 
 improved still more now ; and I hope they have. 
 
 We sailed about from island to island, and visited them 
 all in their turn. First we went to that of the ancient 
 Teleboans ; once conquered by King Cephalus, who gave 
 it his name, and whose descendants for many generations 
 reigned over them so Bubble informed us ; and we were 
 not a little interested in visiting various cyclopic remains, 
 and among them those of the ancient city of Cranii. The 
 island is very rugged and mountainous ; the highest moun- 
 tain, that of Montagna Negra, being upwards of three 
 thousand feet above the level of the sea. We spent a couple 
 of days also at the handsome city of Zante, the capital of 
 the island of that name, famous for the longevity of its in- 
 habitants, and its currants, oil, wine, and fragrant honey. 
 Santa Maura, once known as Leucadia, was our next resort. 
 Little cared we for its classical recollections, but far more 
 interested were we in visiting the tomb of the gallant Clarke, 
 who fell under the walls of its fortress, which was attacked
 
 BACK TO MALTA. 373 
 
 by the English in 1810, under General Oswald. The island 
 is separated from the main land by a narrow channel. 
 There is a curious natural mole running out from the island, 
 which has exactly the appearance of being the work of art. 
 "We all anticipated much pleasure in visiting Ithaca, the 
 birth-place and patrimony of Ulysses ; but when we got 
 there none of us felt inclined to envy him his rugged, inhos- 
 pitable-looking territory, and were not surprised that he was 
 anxious to get a footing in a more fruitful portion of the 
 globe. Still it is a very romantic and picturesque spot ; 
 and produces the vine, orange, lemon, and other fruits in 
 abundance. 
 
 Pasco also we saw, once noted as a retreat for pirates, 
 and Cerigo and Cerigotto ; and thus, having made the tour 
 of the Septinsular republic, we sailed back to Malta, with 
 the anticipation of a hearty welcome from the friends we 
 had left behind there. How glittering white looked the 
 houses of the city ! how blue the water ! how gay the caps 
 and sashes and jackets of the boatmen as they pulled about 
 in their fancifully painted boats, and came vociferating 
 alongside as we beat up the harbor of Valetta, and dropped 
 our anchor not far from the landing-place. We all of us 
 hastened on shore ; Hearty to see his betrothed, and I to 
 take care of him ; Carstairs to throw himself at the feet of 
 Mrs. Skyscraper ; Bubble, as he himself said, to see that no 
 one got into mischief; and Porpoise to order certain stores 
 for the cutter. Hearty and I walked up at once to Mrs. 
 Mizen's lodgings. He knocked hurriedly at the door. Per- 
 haps some of my readers know how a man feels under simi- 
 lar circumstances I don't. 
 
 An Italian servant appeared, a stranger. " Que vuole, 
 signori ? " he asked. 
 
 " Are Mrs. or Miss Mizen at home?" inquired Hearty,
 
 374 THE CRUISE OF THE " FKOLIC." 
 
 in an agitated voice, not heeding the man's question. " Do 
 you understand me ? An English lady and her daughter ? " 
 
 " Oh, capisco, capisco ! " answered the Italian, running 
 away up stairs. 
 
 I thought he was going to announce our arrival ; but he 
 speedily returned holding a letter. I saw that the address 
 was in a lady's handwriting as he delivered it to Hearty. 
 Hearty opened it with a trembling hand. His countenance 
 assumed a look of blank disappointment as he read its con- 
 tents. As soon as he had glanced hurriedly through it, he 
 began and read it over again ; and then as he held it in his 
 hand his eye still rested on it. 
 
 "What has occurred, my dear fellow?" I asked, anx- 
 iously. 
 
 I must confess and oh ! my fair readers ! don't be 
 angry with me, an old bachelor I did truly suspect that 
 it was the old story, and that the fair Laura had for some 
 reason or other thought better of it ; that she had heard 
 something against her intended's character, and believed it ; 
 or that Sir Lloyd Snowdon, or somebody else, whose metal 
 was more attractive, had stepped in and cut him out. I say 
 these ideas glanced through my mind. They were very 
 wrong and very disparaging to the sex, and most unjustifia- 
 ble, and I was quite angry with myself for entertaining 
 them, but I had seen so much that was bad in the world 
 that they came in spite of me I crave for pardon. I had 
 also seen much that was good, and noble, and excellent ; 
 examples of the most devoted, self-sacrificing, all-enduring 
 affection, and I ought at once to have remembered those 
 examples and balanced them against all my evil suspicions. 
 I did not, however, at that time ; so I waited with no small 
 amount of anxiety for Hearty's answer.
 
 SAD NEWS. 
 
 " They are gone," he replied ; " gone away to Eng- 
 land." 
 
 Then my suspicions are correct, I thought. 
 
 " It is a very sad case, I fear. Soon after we sailed, 
 Mrs. Mizeu received notice of Tom Mizen's illness, and the 
 next post brought out such alarming accounts that she and 
 her daughter resolved at once to return home. A fine fast- 
 sailing merchant-brig, the ' Success,' was on the point of 
 sailing, so, as a journey by land through Italy and France 
 would be injurious to Laura, they determined to go by her. 
 What was their surprise on going on board to find the other 
 berths occupied by Mrs. Seton and her daughter, and Mrs. 
 Skyscraper, who, for some business matters connected with 
 property left them, had to go England. Miss Mizen wrote 
 as they were on the point of sailing, and the people of the 
 house took charge of the letter to deliver to me. She speaks 
 in favorable terms of the brig and of the master, Captain 
 Hutchins, so I trust that they may have a good passage 
 home. But it is disappointing. You'll not mind, my dear 
 fellow, sailing at once to follow them? I am afraid there is 
 no chance of catching them at Gibraltar, but if the ' Frolic' 
 behaves as well as usual, we may get to England almost as 
 soon as they do. Not that I wish that either I would far 
 rather the ' Success' had a speedy passage. I am certain 
 also Carstairs will be ready to start ; and as for Bubble, 
 he'll wish to do what is reasonable ; so I suppose there is 
 nothing to prevent our sailing as soon as we have got a fresh 
 supply of water, and a few more provisions on board." 
 
 I assured my friend that I was perfectly ready to go to 
 sea that very hour, if the necessary preparations for the 
 voyage could be made ; and volunteered at once to go in 
 search of Porpoise, to hasten what was required to be done ; 
 while he himself went to his bankers, and settled a few bills
 
 376 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 he had left unpaid. On my way I encountered Carstairs, 
 who had received no notice of the widow's departure, and 
 was therefore still engaged in searching for her, as much 
 puzzled as Hearty had at first been. I never saw a fellow 
 more taken aback than he was when I communicated the 
 truth to him, and he directly became all eagerness to put to 
 sea. What his feelings were I cannot exactly tell. I sus- 
 pect that his confidence in the durability of Mrs. Sky- 
 scraper's regard for him was not quite up to the mark of 
 Hearty's for that of his intended. 
 
 " "Why hasn't she written to me, to tell me what she was 
 going to do, and why has she hurried away to England? 
 Hang it, they are all alike, I suppose, and delight to make 
 fools of us poor men. Now let us go and hunt up Porpoise. 
 Bubble said he should tend to him while I was paying my 
 visit to my my hang it, to the widow, I mean." 
 
 Poor fellow, he was sadly put out I saw. Porpoise was 
 soon found ; and when he heard the state of the case, he set 
 to work as if life and death depended on it, in getting the 
 cutter ready for a long voyage. He had plenty of lieuten- 
 ants in us three gentlemen ; and while one went off in one 
 direction another started away in an opposite one to order 
 what was required, and to see the orders executed, while 
 the crew did their part with right good will. Water and 
 coals, and stores and provisions, were soon alongside, and 
 quickly hoisted on board and stowed away below. Hearty 
 was surprised and highly gratified when he got on board 
 and found what was done. 
 
 " Where there's a will there's a way," is a very true say- 
 ing ; and " If you want a thing done, go and do it yourself," 
 is another. The Portuguese say, " If you want a thing go, 
 if you don't want a thing send." 
 
 That very evening, with a fair wind, we were running
 
 HOMEWARD BOUND. 377 
 
 out of Malta Harbor. Away glided the " Frolic " over the 
 moonlit Mediterranean, with every stitch of canvas she could 
 carry set alow and aloft. We had a sharp look-out kept 
 ahead so that we might avoid running down any boat, or 
 running into any vessel ; while the three landsmen agreed 
 to keep watch with Porpoise and me, to add to the number 
 of hands on deck. Porpoise prognosticated a very rapid 
 passage home, and certainly, from the way we commenced 
 it, we had reason to hope that he would not prove a falla- 
 cious seer. We speedily lost sight of Malta, and its rocks 
 and fortifications ; with its scanty soil and swarthy .popula- 
 tion, and noisy bells, and lazy monks, without any very 
 great regret on our part. We had altogether passed a pleas- 
 ant, and not unexciting time there ; and I, for my part, look 
 back to those days with fewer regrets as to the way I spent 
 them than I do to some passed in other places. I am some- 
 what inclined to moralize. I must own that often and often 
 I wish that I could live my early days over again, that I 
 might employ them very differently to what I did. Deeply 
 do I regret the precious time squandered in perfect idleness, 
 or the most puerile frivolities, if not in absolute wickedness ; 
 time which might have been spent in acquiring knowledge 
 which would have afforded the most intense and pure delight 
 in benefiting my fellow-creatures ; which would have assur- 
 edly afforded me happiness and peace of mind in the con- 
 sciousness that I was doing my duty. But ah ! time has 
 gone by never to be recalled ; but happily it may be re- 
 deemed while health and strength and vigor of mind remain. 
 Often have I thought to myself, " Why was I sent into the 
 world ? Why was I endued with an intellect with a heart 
 to feel a soul to meditate on things great and glorious 
 with powers of mind which I am conscious are but in embryo, 
 and which but await separation from this frail body to com-
 
 378 THE CBUISE OF THE " FEOLIC." 
 
 prehend some, if not all, the great mysteries of nature ! 
 Surely I was not placed here merely to kill time to amuse 
 myself to employ my faculties in trifles ; still less, to in- 
 dulge myself in mere animal gratification. No, no ; I am 
 certain of that. I was sent here as a place of trial as a 
 school where I might learn my duties as a preparation for 
 a higher sphere. When I understood this, the great problem 
 of existence was at once solved ; difficulties vanished ; the 
 whole government of the world at once seemed right and 
 just and reasonable ; and my thoughts, feelings, tastes, and 
 aspirations became changed. I was led to look upward as 
 to the only source of happiness, and a pure and unfailing 
 source it has ever since proved to me. 
 
 Brother yachtsmen who may glance your eye over these 
 pages, meditate seriously on this matter. As you walk the 
 deck on your midnight watch, looking up ever and anon 
 into the dark sky where flit countless numbers of brilliant 
 stars to guide you on^your path across the ocean, ask your- 
 self the question, "Why was I sent into this world?" and 
 do not be satisfied till you have found an answer, and re- 
 solved to profit by it. 
 
 I do not pretend that I thought much about this matter 
 when I was on board the " Frolic," yet now and again some 
 thoughts of the sort did flash across my mind, but my com- 
 panions rallied me on my seriousness and they vanished. 
 
 But to my history : away sailed the saucy little "Frolic" 
 over the blue waters of the Mediterranean. We laughed 
 and sang and chatted, much as usual, and Carstairs quoted 
 to as good effect as in days of yore ; but we failed en- 
 tirely in our long stories, for our pens had been idle, and 
 our imaginations were much at fault. What we might have 
 done I do not know, had not a reality occurred which effec- 
 tually put all fiction to flight.
 
 A TERRIBLE SUSPICION. 379 
 
 We were about half way between Malta and Gibraltar, a 
 succession of light winds having made old Snow confess 
 that he was afraid his prognostications of a rapid passage 
 were not likely to be realized, when one forenoon when I 
 came on deck, I found Porpoise scrutinizing through his 
 glass an object which he had discovered on the water nearly 
 right ahead of us. 
 
 " What is it, do you think? " I asked. 
 
 " I can't quite make out," he answered, handing me the 
 telescope. " It looks to me like the hull of .a dismasted 
 ship an ugly thing to run foul of on a dark night with a 
 heavy gale blowing." 
 
 " You are right as to its being a ship's hull, I am pretty 
 certain," I answered. " We shall be up to it soon, and that 
 will settle the question." 
 
 Some of the people, however, declared that what we saw 
 was a rock or an island, and others that a dead whale had 
 floated in through the Straits. As we approached, however, 
 our opinion was found to be the correct one, and then it be- 
 came a subject of discussion as to what she could be. 
 
 " She is a good-sized craft, whatever she is," observed 
 Hearty, who had joined us on deck. " Is she an English 
 or foreign vessel do you think ? " 
 
 " English by her build," replied Porpoise, observing 
 her narrowly through the glass ; "I cannot make it out. 
 I see no one on board. How she came into that state 
 puzzles me." 
 
 " My dear fellow, have you any idea what sort of a vessel 
 the ' Success ' is ? Does any one on board know her ? " ex- 
 claimed Hearty, suddenly turning pale, and literally trem- 
 bling from head to foot, as all sorts of horrible suspicions 
 and fears flashed through his mind. 
 
 Inquiries were made, but no one recollected to have seen
 
 380 THE CEUISE OP THE " FEOLIC." 
 
 the brig in which our friends had taken their passage. We 
 did our best to calm Hearty's apprehensions, but under the 
 circumstances they were very natural, and in spite of all 
 we could say, they rather increased than diminished, as we 
 approached the wreck. Carstairs shared them, but, being 
 of a far less excitable temperament, in a much less de- 
 gree ; indeed, Hearty seemed to look on him as being very 
 callous and insensible, for not making himself as miserable 
 as he felt. 
 
 The breeze was very light, and our progress seemed 
 terribly slow to the impatient feelings of our kind-hearted 
 host. His glass was never for a moment off the wreck ; 
 indeed we were all of us constantly looking at her, in the 
 hopes of seeing some one appear. The afternoon was 
 drawing well on, before we got up to her. The instant 
 we approached her, two boats were lowered, and Hearty 
 and I jumped into the first, and away we pulled as fast as 
 the men could bend to their oars the men evidently en- 
 tering fully into the feelings of their master. I went with 
 him that I might really look after him, should his worst 
 anticipations be realized. We were soon alongside, and in 
 an instant scrambled on board. 
 
 The masts, and rigging, and sails, hung over the side ; 
 the former in their fall having carried away the bulwarks 
 and smashed the boats. I saw before we got on board, 
 that she had lost her masts with all sail set, in some unac- 
 countably lubberly way it seemed. The sea had washed 
 away some of her spare spars and the caboose, but she had 
 apparently righted directly her masts went, and there seemed 
 no reason why she should have been deserted by her crew. 
 As we pulled up under the stern, we looked out for a name 
 painted there, but a sail hung over it, and if there was a 
 name it was not perceptible. Hearty, the moment he was
 
 THE PIRATE'S HANDIWOKK. 381 
 
 on board, rushed with frantic haste along the deck, to ascer- 
 tain the important fact, and very nearly fell overboard in 
 his attempt to remove the sail, till others could aid him. 
 The sail was soon dragged aside, and as we hung down 
 over the taffrail, a large S appeared, there could be no doubt 
 of it. There was the word " Success " of London. I had 
 to help my friend on board again. 
 
 " What can have happened ! What can have happened ! " 
 he exclaimed, as soon as he could find words to speak. 
 
 " Why, I trust that they fancied the brig in a much 
 worse condition than she appears to us to be, and that they 
 quitted her in the boats, or some other craft which was for- 
 tunately passing soon after the catastrophe." But as I 
 spoke, our eyes fell on the shattered boats, and I recollected 
 that the former hypothesis could not be correct/ " They 
 must have fallen in with some vessel," I remarked to Hearty. 
 " The ladies were happily conveyed on board her, but why 
 the crew deserted the ship I cannot say." 
 
 " But where can they have gone to what port can they 
 have put into what sort of vessel can they be on board ? " 
 exclaimed Hearty, almost frantic with agitation. " It's 
 very dreadful." 
 
 By this time the other boat had got alongside, with Car- 
 stairs, Bubble, and Porpoise in her. Together we com- 
 menced a search over the deserted vessel. The appearance 
 of the cabin again raised our doubts as to the reason of the 
 desertion. The ladies had evidently been at work just be- 
 fore the catastrophe. Their work-baskets were on the floor, 
 with their work, in which needles were sticking ; and needle- 
 cases, thimbles, and reels of cotton, skeins of silk and 
 worsted, and similar articles, were strewed about. 
 
 As I looked more minutely into the state of affairs, I ob- 
 served that every thing of value had been carried off ; not a
 
 382 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 silver spoon or fork, not a piece of plate of any description 
 remained. The ladies' jewels were all gone. This was 
 what was to be expected, but I was also certain that they 
 would not leave their daily work behind. I did not increase 
 Hearty's apprehensions by pointing this out to him. Car- 
 stairs all the time, though he took matters in a very dif- 
 ferent way, seemed to be much alarmed and anxious. I 
 saw the chronometer, sextants, charts, compasses, and every 
 thing in the captain's cabin had been carried off. The ship's 
 log and manifest could nowhere be found, nor indeed could 
 any of her papers. 
 
 From the cabin we went to the hold, and there also the 
 cargo had evidently been disturbed, and I judged that a con- 
 siderable quantity had been carried away ; a few bales of 
 silk and velvet only remaining. This was a very suspicious 
 circumstance. Still, had there been time to remove any 
 thing, the captain would of course have carried away what 
 was likely to be of most value. The fore-peak was next 
 searched. The seamen's chests had been broken open, and 
 the contents of many of them were strewed about why 
 the men did not use their keys was surprising. Still, in their 
 hurry they might not have had time to find them. Hearty 
 went about looking into every hole, and making his observa- 
 tions on all he saw. He had collected every thing belong- 
 ing to the ladies as treasured relics, and had them packed 
 and conveyed on board the " Frolic," while Carstairs took 
 charge of all Mrs. Skyscraper's property, and sighed over 
 it with a look of despair, and we were about to quit the ves- 
 sel, when one of the men declared that he heard a voice 
 proceeding from the fore-hold. Forward we all went again. 
 Certainly there was a groan. Guided by the sound, and by 
 removing some of the cargo, we arrived at a space where 
 lay a human being. We lifted him up, and carried him out
 
 THE RESCUED COOK. 383 
 
 of the dark noisome hole, and the fresh air speedily revived 
 him. At first his startled look showed that he did not know 
 what to make of us, but by degrees he recovered his senses, 
 though his first words increased our apprehensions. 
 
 " What ! are you come back again ? Don't murder me ! 
 Don't murder me ! " he exclaimed, with a look of terror. 
 
 " Murder you, mate ! What should put that into your 
 head?" asked one of our men who was supporting him. 
 
 By pouring a little brandy and water down his throat, he 
 in a short time recovered altogether. He told us that he had 
 been the cook of the brig. He was an old man, and almost 
 worn out, and that this was to have been his last voyage. 
 
 " Well, gentlemen," he continued, " when I see a number 
 of young ladies come on board, and their mothers to look 
 after them, and no parson to make Davy Jones angered 
 like, which he always is when any on 'em gets afloat, says 
 I to myself, we shall have a fine run of it home, and the 
 chances are that the ' Success ' will make a finer passage 
 than she ever did before. Well, we hadn't been two days 
 at sea before we falls in with a pokicca-brig, which speaks 
 us quite civil like, and a man aboard, though he was rigged 
 like a Greek, asks us in decent real English, quite civil like, 
 what passengers we'd got aboard. So, thinking no harm, 
 we told him, and he answered ' that he'd keep us company, 
 and protect us, for that to his knowledge there was a notori- 
 ous pirate cruising thereabouts, and that if he fell in with 
 us he might do us an injury.' The captain did not seem 
 much to like our new friend, and would rather have been 
 without his company, but as he sailed two knots to our one, 
 we couldn't help ourselves, do ye see. For two days or 
 more he kept close to us, and then it fell almost to a calm, 
 and what does he do, but quietly range up alongside with 
 the help of some sweeps he had, and before we knew where
 
 384 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 we were, he had thrown some twoscore or more of cut- 
 throats aboard of us, who knocked some of our crew down, 
 drove others overboard, and very soon got possession of the 
 brig. I was ill below, but I popped my head up to see what 
 was happening, and when I found how things were going, 
 thinks I to myself, the best thing I can do is to be quiet ; if 
 they cut my throat, they may as well do it while I'm com- 
 fortably in bed as struggling away on deck. Instead, how- 
 ever, of turning into my berth again, I thought that I'd just 
 go and stow myself away in the hold under the cargo, where 
 they wouldn't be likely to look for me, so there I went, and 
 there I've been ever since. I felt the ship some time after- 
 wards thrown on her beam ends, and thought she'd be going 
 down, but she very soon righted. I felt the masts shaken 
 out of her, but I could not tell what else had happened. I 
 tried to get out to see, but the cargo had shifted and jammed 
 me in so tight that I couldn't break my way out. I suppose 
 I should have died if you hadn't come to help me, gentle- 
 men." 
 
 " But can you not tell what became of the passengers 
 and crew?" exclaimed Hearty, interrupting him. 
 
 " No more than the babe unborn, sir," answered the old 
 man ; " I suppose they were all carried aboard the pirate. 
 From what I know of some of our crew, I don't think they 
 would have much minded joining the villains, and several I 
 myself saw killed and hove overboard." 
 
 This fearful information gave us still more concern than 
 we had felt from what we had already discovered. 
 There was some cause for hope before, now there was none. 
 There was no doubt whatever that our friends had fallen 
 into the power of the villain Miles Sandgate. Grown des- 
 perate, it was impossible to say to what extremes he might 
 not venture to go. Still I had less apprehension for the
 
 DREADFUL ANXIETY. 885 
 
 fate of Mrs. and Miss Mizen than for that of Jane Seton. 
 It could scarcely be expected that he would again let her 
 out of his power. 1 was offering what consolation I could 
 to Hearty as well as to Carstairs on these grounds, in which 
 I was joined by Bubble, whose heart was overflowing with 
 commiseration for them and those they were so deeply in- 
 terested iu, when Hearty suddenly exclaimed, 
 
 " But, my dear fellow, is it not possible that the same 
 squall which struck this vessel and reduced her to a wreck 
 may have struck the pirate, and sent her and all on board 
 to the bottom ? or can you answer me that this is not pos- 
 sible ? Still it may have preserved them from a worse fate. 
 Oh, horrible, horrible ! " 
 
 " I do not think it is probable that people so thoroughly 
 acquainted with these seas should not have been forwarned 
 in time to guard against even the most sudden squall. 
 There are always some indications ; only those who do not 
 regard them are the sufferers. Just as likely after he had 
 rifled the brig, Sandgate (for I doubt not that he is the cul- 
 prit) may have put the passengers on shore somewhere or 
 other, and made some plausible excuse for having taken them 
 on board his vessel. I think, in truth, that for the sake 
 of making friends at court, he is much more likely to have 
 treated them with perfect civility than to have ventured in 
 any way to insult or injure them." 
 
 All the time I was trying to persuade myself that I was 
 speaking what I thought ; but I must own that I had very 
 serious apprehensions for their safety. There was no object 
 in remaining longer on board the wreck. To prevent any 
 vessels running into her, for that night at all events, we 
 secured a large lantern with a burner full of oil to the 
 stump of the mainmast. We were very unwilling to quit 
 her, but we could not venture to leave anybody on board to 
 
 25
 
 386 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 look after her till we could despatch a vessel to bring her 
 into Gibraltar, lest before this could be done a gale might 
 spring up, and she might founder. So, taking Tom Pan- 
 cake, the old man we had found, on board with us, we 
 returned to the cutter. We forthwith held a council of war, 
 when it was resolved to steer a direct course for Gibraltar, 
 that we might then get vessels sent out in all directions to 
 look for the daring pirate. I never saw any one suffer so 
 much as did Hearty. A few nights of the anxiety he was 
 now doomed to suffer would, I feared much, not only turn 
 his head gray, but completely prostrate him. Carstairs 
 suffered a good deal, but his regard for Mrs. Skyscraper 
 was of a very different character to the deep affection 
 Hearty entertained for Miss Mizen ; and if he was to lose 
 her, I suspected that he would have no great difficulty in 
 supplying her place as the queen of his affections. No 
 sooner had we left the unfortunate ship, than a fresh breeze 
 had sprung up, and before sunset we had run her completely 
 out of sight. For all the first part of the night the breeze 
 lasted, and we made good way on our course for Gibraltar. 
 For a long time poor Hearty would not turn in ; but at last I 
 persuaded him to lie down and take some of that rest which 
 he so much required. I also went below, but I was rest- 
 less, and just as the middle watch was set, I returned on 
 deck. Porpoise and Bubble were there. I found them 
 watching a bright glare which appeared in the sky. I con- 
 sidered a moment our whereabouts. 
 
 " That must be from a ship on fire," I exclaimed. 
 
 " There is no doubt about it," replied Porpoise. " She 
 has been blazing away for the last hour or more, I fear, for 
 all that time I have observed that ruddy glow in the sky. 
 I hope we may be in time to render some assistance to the 
 unfortunate crew."
 
 A BUENING SHIP. 387 
 
 The wind freshened even still more as we advanced 
 towards the burning ship, but not enough for our impatience. 
 Hearty and Carstairs were called, and when they came on 
 deck they exhibited equal eagerness with the rest of us ; 
 indeed, Hearty seemed for a time almost to forget his own 
 anxiety in his zeal in the cause of humanity. Surely we 
 seldom know even our most intimate friends without seeing 
 them tried under a variety of circumstances. Sometimes I 
 must own that I have been sadly disappointed in them ; at 
 other times I have been as agreeably surprised by the 
 exhibition of self-denial, courage, warmth of heart, and 
 judgment, which I did not believe to exist in them. Such 
 was the case with my friend Hearty. 
 
 We got the boats ready to lower the instant we should be 
 close enough to the vessel. The interval which elapsed 
 before we drew up to her was one of great anxiety. All 
 sorts of ideas and fears crossed our minds, and at all events 
 we felt that many of our fellow-creatures might be perishing 
 for want of our assistance. Through our glasses, as we 
 drew on, we discovered that the greater part of the vessel 
 was enveloped in flames ; the poop alone was not entirely 
 consumed, though the devouring element had made such 
 progress that the people were already seeking for a momen- 
 tary safety by hanging on to the taffrail quarters. 
 
 " Stand by to shorten sail ! " sang out Porpoise. 
 
 The squaresail and gaff and square topsail were taken in, 
 and the foresail being hauled up to windward, and the jib- 
 sheets let fly, the cutter was hove-to and a boat instantly 
 lowered. As before, Hearty and I went in her, while the 
 other gig immediately followed us. 
 
 Our appearance took the poor wretches by surprise, as 
 from the darkness of night our approach had not been per- 
 ceived. They raised a cry to implore us to hasten to their
 
 388 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 assistance. Our men shouted in return. They needed no 
 cry to urge them to exertion. By the bright glare of the 
 flames we saw that the men clinging to the wreck were by 
 their costume Greeks, while the hull itself had a foreign 
 appearance. The vessel was a brig, we observed. The 
 foremast had already fallen, the flames were twisting and 
 twining in serpentine forms along the yards and up to the 
 very maintop-gallant mast-head. Some, as I said, were 
 still clinging to the wreck, others had leaped overboard, and 
 were hanging on to spars and oars and gratings, and a few 
 were in a boat floating near the vessel ; but she appeared to 
 be stove in, and to have no oars or other means of pro- 
 gression. 
 
 With all these people, blinded with terror and eager to 
 save their lives, it was necessary to use much precaution to 
 prevent ourselves from being swamped by too many leaping 
 on board at a time. The first thing was to rescue those who 
 were in the most imminent danger of being burned. While 
 we pulled under the stern, and as the people dropped into 
 the water picked them up, the other boat hauled those on 
 board who were already floating, and seemed most to require 
 help. We had got most of the people off the burning wreck, 
 but two still hung on to the burning tafFrail, and seemed un- 
 willing to trust themselves in the sea. 
 
 " Never fear, jump, jump, my lads ! " sung out our men ; 
 then turning to the Greeks whom they had saved, added, 
 " Tell them to jump in your own lingo ; they don't under- 
 stand us." 
 
 The Greeks said something about "Inglesi," but I did not 
 understand what they meant. At last, however, the flames 
 rushing out from the stern ports and along the deck, gave 
 them no alternative, and they had to throw themselves into 
 the water, whence we quickly picked them out, and with a
 
 RESCUED GREEKS. 389 
 
 boat loaded almost to sinking, returned on board the cutter. 
 I was especially struck by the appearance of the two men 
 last saved. Certainly they were much more like English- 
 men than Greeks. No sooner, however, did the old man 
 we had saved from the "Success" see them than he ex- 
 claimed, "What mates! is that you? How did you get 
 aboard there? Why, as I live, that craft must be the 
 Greek pirate which plundered us, and carried off the 
 ladies." 
 
 The worst suspicions which had been floating through my 
 mind were confirmed by these remarks. Poor Hearty 
 seemed thunderstruck. Carstairs had not yet returned. 
 The men could not deny their identity, and they instantly 
 began to offer excuses for having been on board the Greek. 
 
 " Never mind that ! " exclaimed Hearty. " Tell me, my 
 men, where are the ladies? what has become of them? 
 Help us to find them, and all will be overlooked. They 
 could not have been left to perish on board the burning 
 vessel." 
 
 " We can't say much about it, sir," answered one of the 
 men, who seemed to be the most intelligent. " We were 
 forward when the fire broke out, and it was with great dif- 
 ficulty that we managed to crawl aft. When we got there 
 we found that a raft had been built and lowered into the 
 water, and that the boats had been got out, and that several 
 people were in them. Some got away, and we don't know 
 where they went, but we towed two of them after us. One 
 was swamped and went down, and the other, as you saw, 
 was stove in. What became of the other two we don't 
 know ; we believe that the ladies were in them, but we can't 
 say for certain ; all we know is, that we did not see them on 
 the deck, or in either of the other two boats, when we got
 
 390 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 aft ; still we believe that nearly half the people on board, in 
 one way or another, have been lost." 
 
 Then, supposing the seaman spoke the truth, there was 
 still hope ; but how dreadful at the best must be the condi- 
 tion of our friends, exposed in open boats with the most 
 lawless of companions ! While we were still examining the 
 men. Carstairs and the rest returned on board. He had also 
 with him one of the crew of the " Success," who, on being 
 examined, corroborated the statement of the other two. 
 The character of the men whose lives we had preserved was 
 now clear ; but, wretches as they were, and deserving of the 
 heaviest punishment, we could not have avoided saving 
 them from drowning, even had we known the worst at first. 
 Scarcely were they all on board before every portion of the 
 burning vessel was enveloped in flames. Porpoise all the 
 time was fortunately not forgetful of the safety of the cutter, 
 and, having let draw the foresail, we had been standing 
 away from her. Suddenly there was a fiercer blaze than 
 before a loud, deafening report was heard, the remaining 
 mast and deck lifted, the former shooting up into the air like 
 a sky-rocket surrounded by burning brands, and then down 
 again came the whole fiery mass, covering us, even at the 
 distance we were, with burning fragments of wreck, and 
 then all was darkness, and not a remnant of the polacca- 
 brig remained together above water. After the character 
 we had heard of the rescued crew, without giving them any 
 warning, we suddenly seized them, and, lashing their arms 
 behind them and their legs together, made them sit down in 
 a row under the bulwarks. They seemed to be very much 
 surprised at the treatment, but we did not understand their 
 expostulations, and should not have listened to them if we 
 had. We, however, served out provisions to them, and 
 they very soon seemed reconciled to their fate. The three
 
 ALMOST DESPAIRING. 391 
 
 English seamen vowed that they had been kept on board the 
 brig by force, and, as we woxild fain have believed this to be 
 the case, we did not treat them as prisoners, though we kept 
 a very sharp eye on their movements ; so, especially, did 
 old Pancake, who appeared to have no little dread lest they 
 should play him some scurvy trick in return for his having 
 betrayed them. 
 
 These arrangements were very quickly made. The most 
 important consideration, however, was the best method to 
 pursue in order to discover what had become of the raft re- 
 ported to have been made, and the missing boat. Unless by 
 those who have been placed in a similar situation, the nerv- 
 ous anxiety and excitement which almost overcame every 
 one of us would be difficult to be conceived. Hearty 
 thought of sending the boats away to range in circles round 
 the spot, in the chance of falling in with the raft or boat ; 
 but Porpoise overruled this proposal by assuring him that 
 the raft could only have gone to leeward, and that the boat 
 probably would be found in the same direction. Keeping, 
 therefore, a bright lookout, with a light at our mast-head, 
 we kept tacking backwards and forwards so as to sweep 
 over every foot of the ground to leeward of the spot where 
 the fire first burst out. We had hinted to the English sea- 
 men taken from the pirate that their future prospects 
 depended very much on the success which might attend our 
 search. They accordingly gave us all the information and 
 assistance in their power, by showing us how the pirate had 
 steered from the moment the fire was discovered, and how 
 far she had gone after her captain had placed the ladies on 
 the raft. Nothing could we discover during the night. 
 Hearty was in despair ; so was Carstairs ; only he was 
 rather inclined to be savage than pathetic in his misery. 
 Daylight came ; as the dawn drew on nothing could be seen
 
 392 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 but the clear gray water surrounding us. Then, just as we 
 had gone about and were standing once more to the west- 
 ward, the sun rose from his ocean bed, his beams glancing 
 on a small object seen far away on our port bow. 
 
 " Huzza ! huzza ! " shouted Bubble, who was the first to 
 bring his glass to bear on it. " Some people on a raft ! 
 There is no doubt on the subject. White dresses, too ! It 
 may be the ladies ! It must be ! Oh, it can't be otherwise ! 
 Keep up your spirits, Hearty, my dear fellow ; all will go 
 well ! It will, Carstairs, I tell you ! Don't be cast down 
 any more ! I think I see them waving ! " 
 
 Thus the worthy Bubble ran on, giving way to the 
 exuberance of his feelings and sympathy for his friends. 
 Every yard of canvas the cutter could carry was pressed on 
 her, and each moment rapidly decreased our distance from 
 the raft ; for that a raft it was, or a piece of a wreck, there 
 could be no doubt. Our telescopes were kept unchangeably 
 fixed on it. It was with no little apprehension, however, 
 as we drew nearer, that I perceived that there were but 
 three persons on it. One was standing up ; the other two 
 were seated on benches, or chests, or something of the same 
 size, secured to the raft. The figure standing up was that 
 of a man in the Greek costume ; the other two were females. 
 I had little doubt in my own mind who they were. As we 
 got still nearer I fancied that, under the Greek cap, I could 
 distinguish the features of Miles Sandgate. The features 
 of the ladies were more difficult to make out, but I heard 
 Hearty exclaim, "Yes, it is her it is her!" meaning 
 Miss -Mizen ; and I felt sure he was right. But who was 
 the other person? The figure was not like that of either 
 Mrs. Mizen or Mrs. Seton, but whether it was Jane Seton 
 or Mrs. Skyscraper was the question. Poor Carstairs, he 
 must have felt that, in all probability, it was Miss Seton.
 
 DREADFUL END OF SANDGATE. 393 
 
 What would Sandgate do when he found himself thus com- 
 pletely brought to bay ? It was a serious question, for he 
 had the two ladies entirely in his power, and, had he chosen, 
 might, holding them as hostages, make any terms with us 
 he pleased. I saw him watching the approaching cutter. 
 He must have recognized her as soon as she hove in sight. 
 Yet he did not quail, but stood up boldly confronting us. 
 Then he seemed to be addressing one of the ladies. I looked 
 again ; I was certain she was Jane Seton ; and I clearly 
 recognized Miss Mizen. Jane had given her hand to Laura. 
 The pirate seemed to be urging her to fulfil some request ; 
 he half knelt before her with uplifted hands ; then he sprang 
 up, with a look of bitter reproach. By this time the cutter 
 was close up to the raft, and a boat was on the point of 
 being lowered. Again, with an imploring gesture, the pirate 
 urged his suit. Miss Seton shook her head. He seized her 
 hand. She struggled violently. It appeared that, in his 
 rage, he was about to drag her into the water. He would 
 have succeeded, had not Miss Mizen held her hand and 
 drawn her back. 
 
 Hearty and Bubble were in the boat pulling rapidly to 
 the raft. The pirate let go Miss Seton's hand, and drew 
 himself up to his full height ; he seemed to be uttering some 
 strong reproaches. The bows of the boat were almost 
 touching the raft, the oars were thrown in. At that moment 
 the pirate, uttering a fearful cry (and if ever I heard the cry 
 of a madman that was one), turned round, and plunged 
 headlong into the water. Down, down, he sank ! Scarcely 
 an eddy marked where he had sprung in, with such deter- 
 mination had he endeavored to reach the bottom. I watched 
 for him, but he never rose again. Such was the dreadful 
 end of Miles Sandgate. The next moment Hearty was on 
 the raft, and had clasped Laura Mizen in his arms, while
 
 394 THE CRUISE OF THE "FROLIC." 
 
 Miss Seton was borne fainting into the boat by Bubble. 
 They were quickly conveyed on board, while the raft and 
 its freight Avere allowed to go adrift. The two young ladies 
 were immediately carried to the cabin, where Laura rapidly 
 described to Hearty all that had occurred. Poor Miss Seton, 
 however, required their whole attention, and for the moment 
 drew them off from all thoughts about themselves. Not 
 that Miss Mizen for a moment forgot her mother and her 
 other companions, and it was a relief to us all to find that 
 she had seen them placed in the first boat which had left the 
 vessel just before they had been carried by Sandgate to the 
 raft. He intended, it seemed, to have taken possession of 
 one of the other boats, and when she was swamped he 
 managed to get on the raft, and clear away from the burning 
 vessel before any one else reached it, while he left the rest 
 of his companions in crime to perish without an attempt to 
 afford them aid. The general opinion was that the boat 
 would be steered to the southward, for the purpose of making 
 the Moorish coast, where the pirates fancied that they might 
 find protection. 
 
 " The chances are that they will all get murdered if they 
 reach it," observed Porpoise ; " but we must try and catch 
 them up before they get there." 
 
 Fortunately we had the whole day before us. All sail 
 was again made on the cutter ; the sun rose high in the 
 heavens ; tolerably hot came down its beams on our heads. 
 At noon a meridional observation was taken, and just as we 
 were shutting up our sextants, Bubble, who was keeping a 
 sharp lookout on every side, sang out that he saw a speck 
 on the water almost ahead of us. I went immediately with 
 my glass aloft. After waiting a little time I made out dis- 
 tinctly that the speck was a boat. As we drew on we made 
 out that the boat was strongly manned, and that the people
 
 THE LADIES SAVED. 395 
 
 in her were doing their utmost to keep ahead of us. They 
 could not have known what the " Frolic " was made of to 
 suppose that they had a chance of escaping. The breeze 
 freshened. Hard as they were pulling, hand over hand we 
 came up with them. There were women in the boat, or we 
 should have sent a shot after her to stop her way ; we ran a 
 gun out to frighten them. On we stood ; the women in the 
 boat now first observed us. 
 
 " Oh, help us ! help us ! help us ! " they shrieked out. 
 
 We required no summoning, however. There were three 
 ladies, we saw, the number we expected to find. We soon 
 ran up alongside the boat, though it required nice steering 
 not to sink her. Our earnest hopes and wishes were realized. 
 In the stern-sheets sat Mrs. Mizen and Mrs. Set on, and, to 
 the very great relief of poor Carstairs, the fair Mrs. Sky- 
 scraper. The pirates saw that they had not a prospect of 
 escape, so they threw in their oars, and quietly allowed us 
 to get alongside them, and to hook on their boat to us. I 
 need not describe the joy of the two mothers at finding their 
 daughters safe, or that of the daughters at seeing their 
 mothers ; nor will I do more than touch on the effect which 
 the risk she had endured, and the satisfaction Carstairs dis- 
 played at having her restored to him, worked on the heart 
 of the widow. 
 
 We very soon got to Gibraltar, where we at once landed 
 our very troublesome prisoners. Mrs. Mizen had written 
 to England to desire that letters might be sent to meet her 
 there. In a day or so they arrived, and they gave so favor- 
 able an account of her son's health that as there was no 
 necessity for her hurrying home, she was able to wait till 
 we were at liberty to accompany her, having given our 
 evidence against the pirates. Several of them suffered, as 
 the papers say, the extreme penalty of the law, and it was
 
 396 THE CRUISE OF THE " FROLIC." 
 
 certainly a pity, for the sake of justice, that Miles Sandgate 
 had not been alive to keep them company. At length we 
 all reached England, and not long afterwards I had the 
 satisfaction of seeing my friend Edward Hearty united to 
 Miss Laura Mizen, and the next week was called away to 
 act as best-man to Captain Carstairs on his marriage with 
 the fair relict of the late Lieutenant Skyscraper, of the Rifle 
 Brigade. 
 
 Poor Miss Seton suffered much from the severe trial she 
 had gone through. It was, I rejoice to say, not without 
 good effects, and I had the opportunity of observing a great 
 improvement in her character. Some years passed by, 
 during which she remained single, but on the death of her 
 mother she became the wife of Sir Lloyd Snowdon ; and, 
 living constantly on his estate in Wales, proved a blessing 
 to her family, and to the poorer inhabitants of the surround- 
 ing district. May all the trials any of us have to endure 
 have a like good effect ; for we may depend on it for that 
 purpose are they sent. 
 
 I am happy to say that, notwithstanding old Snow's prog- 
 nostication, Hearty's yacht was not sold, and that many a 
 pleasant summer cruise did I afterwards take with him on 
 board the " Frolic." 
 
 THE END.
 
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