CHAPTER V
THE NEW FLEET
It would please me greatly to be able to go into all the details of what was done by the officers and crew of the Essex while a new fleet was being gotten together, for we did actually collect a squadron of vessels while so far from the home port; but we met with so many startling adventures, each of which would be of greater interest to a stranger than the setting down exactly how that or the other vessel was captured, that I shall tell this portion of the yarn as briefly as possible.
First let me say, however, that Phil Robbins and I were treated by the men on the gun-deck more as shipmates and less like boys after our adventure in Valparaiso, although why there should have been any change I am wholly unable to say, for we did nothing of moment, save to show, by our willingness to accompany Benson when he baited the trap for us, that we were more simple than lads of our age ought to have been.
It is not to be supposed that the old shellbacks showed any very intense desire to be with us, and sometimes plainly said that the room we occupied was better than our company; but they spoke with us now and then as if we were in fact shipmates, sometimes even going so far as to tell us a particularly interesting yarn. It goes without saying that we were forced to wait upon the whole boiling of them, and were seldom allowed an idle hour; but, to describe the situation in a word, there was a decided and agreeable change so far as we two lads were concerned.
After the Barclay had been recaptured and remanned, we stood across from the mainland toward the islands without meeting a craft of any kind. On the 17th of April we made Chatham Island, but were not rewarded by the sight of an enemy, and a few days later we hove to off Charles's Island, where was located the whalers' post-office.
This last consisted only of a stout box nailed to a tree, where the fishermen deposited letters for each other, or to be taken home by the craft heading in that direction. Captain Porter did not hesitate to rifle the "mail," and by so doing gained much valuable information concerning the different ships in the Pacific.
We cruised around among the islands, seeing nothing which interested us in the way of business, until the 29th of April, just at sunrise, when all hands rushed on deck at the welcome cry of "Sail ho!" the first we had heard since the day we came across the Barclay.
A large ship could be seen to the westward, and an hour after we began the chase two other craft were sighted a trifle farther south.
With three ships in sight, and the odds in favor of all being enemies, it can well be understood that we were in a fine state of excitement.
Until this time I had positively refused to do as Phil desired in the way of asking my cousin, Lieutenant McKnight, to use his influence with Lieutenant Downes to the end that we might be considered as members of his fleet; but on this morning, when it seemed positive there would be hot work in plenty before night, I plucked up sufficient courage, as my kinsman was standing on the break of the quarter, to approach him.
It was the first time since we left port that I had ventured so far as to speak to an officer without first being accosted, and Stephen – I mean Lieutenant McKnight – looked surprised, as indeed he had good cause to be, since it is not customary for boys aboard a man-of-war to address familiarly those who are so far above them in station.
However, it so chanced that the lieutenant was in good humor, as he should have been, with so many possible prizes in sight, and kindly answered my salute by asking what I would have.
Had he been ashore and had I never sailed under his command, I should have accosted him by the name of Stephen, and made known my wants boldly; but now I stuttered and stammered like a simple, thus showing what a difference a uniform and a commission can make.
After a time, however, I managed to say, he kindly encouraging me to "speak up man fashion": —
"There's like to be much work for all hands before night, sir, and Philip Robbins and I are sore at heart because of never having a chance to prove that we can do more than falls to the lot of boys aboard ship."
"So!" the lieutenant said with a laugh. "You are growing down-hearted because there isn't danger enough?"
"It's not exactly that, sir; but when danger does come, we want our full share of it."
"Then you have no cause for complaint, lad. A round shot is as likely to take you off as me; aboard ship we all run the same chances."
"But those who are under Lieutenant Downes when his fleet is called away are likely to see more service and have better opportunities for earning advancement," I stammered, whereat he laughed heartily, thus putting me considerably more at my ease.
"You are eager to try your hand at close work?" he said, rather than asked; and I fancied he was not displeased because I had ventured to approach him on such an errand.
"That is what we most desire, sir," I replied. "If you could only persuade Lieutenant Downes to take us with him when next the boats are called away, I would do anything I could to repay you when we get ashore."
"But what would my uncle, your father, say when I saw him? Do you think he is as eager that his son should be shot as you are?"
"We're not counting on that part of it, sir. All who come to close quarters with an enemy are not shot, else you would never be standing on this quarter-deck, wearing the uniform of a lieutenant."
He smiled at this bold speech of mine, whereat I plucked up courage sufficient to continue by saying: —
"Unless you had been given an opportunity of showing what you could do, a commission would never have come your way."
"Now we are getting at the real reason for this request!" he exclaimed cheerily. "You and Robbins believe that by taking part in one sharp engagement rapid advancement is assured?"
"We never will advance, sir, until we have shown ourselves worthy, and there is no great chance of doing good work while we loiter on board when others are paving their way to a commission."
"You speak right sensibly, Cousin Ezra," he said, in a tone which went straight to my heart; for it proved that he had not forgotten the ties of kinship which bound us, even though he was so much higher in station. "I will do all I may properly to persuade Mr. Downes to take you under his wing. If I succeed, remember that I would be equally shamed if you showed the white feather."
"None of the McKnights have ever done anything of the kind, sir, and it's not likely your cousin would be the first to write himself down a coward."
"I begin to believe that you're of the right sort, Ezra; and if you don't make your way in the navy, it won't be because I haven't done my share toward it."
Surely, a lad could not ask for a fairer promise than that; and after saluting properly I went forward, feeling remarkably well pleased with myself.
I found Phil on the forecastle-deck, and the lad was so overjoyed by the news, having come to believe I would never dare ask such a favor of my cousin, that he would have kissed me then and there, but I sprang back in time to prevent an exhibition which must have made us the laughing-stock of all our messmates.
From this time on it can well be imagined that we watched the chase with even more of interest than would ordinarily have been displayed, and Phil said again and again that he hoped the wind would die away, so we might be called to the boats.
If all his wishes could have been granted so quickly, he might have counted himself the most fortunate lad in all the world.
We rapidly overhauled the ship first sighted, and it was no more than nine o'clock in the morning when we came within half a mile, pitching a shot across her bows which brought her to in short order.
The Essex was run within hailing distance, and then we learned that our prize was the British whaleship Montezuma, with fourteen hundred barrels of oil on board.
We could not afford to spend very much time on her because the other two craft were near at hand, and without further ceremony than that of hailing to learn who she was, a prize crew was called away to board her.
We waited only long enough to make certain our men were not opposed when they went over the rail, and then the Essex was headed for the other ships, both of whom were clawing off at the best possible speed.
For two hours we cracked on every inch of canvas that could be spread, overhauling the strangers in fine style, and then, while we were yet fully eight miles distant, Phil's wish was granted. The wind died away so suddenly that, save for the general excitement of taking prizes, all hands would have been on the lookout for a squall, and Phil cried in my ear: —
"Now we shall see something of real business. Those craft won't submit tamely to our small boats, and we shall know what a sea-fight is like!"
I believed he spoke only the truth, and once more the cold shivers chased themselves up and down my backbone; for despite all the fine words with which I had regaled my cousin, I was not really hankering to put myself in the way of the smallest shot that might be fired. The mischief had been done, however, and by no one but myself; therefore the least I could do was to look pleasant, although I hoped most fervently that Mr. Downes would give no heed to my cousin's request.
In this last I was most wofully disappointed, for Phil had hardly more than ceased speaking when a marine came to summon me aft.
I went, knowing full well why the order had been sent, and blaming myself for a meddling fool, when by holding my tongue I might have remained safe and sound on board the Essex instead of pulling a heavy oar two or three hours simply that the Britishers could have an opportunity to kill me.
Lieutenant Downes was on the quarter talking with Captain Porter when I came up, and not until his interview with the commander was come to an end did he turn toward me. Then it was to say: —
"So you and your comrade are eager for a taste of boat-work?"
I could do no less than agree with him after all the fine speeches I had made to my cousin; and he said, as if believing he was doing me a wonderful favor: —
"When the boat crews are called away, you two lads will take your places alongside me. I have promised Mr. McKnight to have an eye out on you bloodthirsty youngsters, and it won't be my fault if he doesn't hear exactly how you behaved under fire."
If I had not been on the quarter-deck I believe of a verity I should have groaned; as it was I said to my miserable self that if we caught it very hot, my cousin would wish I had never been born.
I thanked the lieutenant in a shaky voice, and, saluting, went forward to wreak my vengeance on Phil for having persuaded me into such a scrape when there was no sense in it.
I changed my mind very quickly after joining the lad; he, like me, had grown faint-hearted now the opportunity for hot work was close at hand, and I knew by the expression on his face that he regretted, as did I, having made any such foolish request.
"I suppose we've got to go," he said in a faint tone; and the contrast between his manner now and when I first told him what my cousin had promised, was so comical that I could not keep my face straight. "It's all very well for you who are really brave," he continued, believing from the smile on my face that there was no fear in my heart; "but I don't think I want to go."
Since he had given me the credit of being brave when, as a matter of fact, I was more cowardly even than he, I did not propose to undeceive him, but said as stoutly as possible: —
"You can't back out now, Phil, else every man on board will set you down for the veriest kind of a coward."
"That's just what I am," he whispered, and again I laughed, this time because I had earned the reputation of being stout-hearted when any lamb would have outclassed me in that respect.
We were not given much time to mourn over the situation. Our conversation was hardly more than come to its sorrowful end when the word was given for the crews of the boats to stand ready, and we two lads ranged ourselves meekly beside Mr. Downes.
We embarked in proper fashion once the boats came alongside, and were stationed in the stern-sheets near the lieutenant, when it would have been more to my liking had we been forced to work the oars; for by so doing we might keep our thoughts from what seemed surely to be before us.
As I have said, it was about eleven o'clock when the wind died out, and the Essex was fully eight miles from the nearest stranger.
I could see that the men were settling to the oars for a long pull, and the knowledge that whatsoever danger awaited us was an hour or more in the future enabled me to keep my cowardly fears in check. Phil also revived when he understood that some considerable time must elapse before we had come within range of the enemy's guns, and looked quite cheerful as we answered the cheers of those on board the Essex.
Not until two o'clock, and by that time I was terribly cramped with sitting so long in one position, did we come near the strangers. Then we were about a mile distant when they hoisted the British colors and opened fire.
We were so far away, and their aim was so bad, that the shots failed to come within an hundred yards of us, whereat my courage increased once more; my heart came out of my boots where it had gone at the sound of the first gun, and I began to think the danger was not so great as had been represented.
Phil remained silent, clutching my belt, and I could feel his hand trembling violently.
"They can't send a shot anywhere near us," I whispered encouragingly.
"Ay, there's little danger while we're so far away; but we're going nearer each moment, and then of a surety they must strike us."
This was a very unpleasant suggestion, and I ceased my efforts at bolstering up his courage as I tried to stiffen my own.
The Britishers were lying about a quarter of a mile apart, and because the men were at the guns ready for action, I fancied we were very near a bloody engagement.
Lieutenant Downes gave a command for the boats to form in open order, and each craft shot out of line until she was heading a course of her own, the whole advancing after the fashion of the sticks of a fan.
It seemed strange to me that the enemy ceased firing at the moment we began the advance in proper fashion. We could see that on board the nearest ship they were training their guns on us, and expected each instant one of our craft would be struck, yet not a piece was discharged.
Nearer and nearer we approached, until it was possible to see distinctly every person on deck; but still the guns remained silent.
I hardly dared to breathe, nor would I look at Phil lest he should read in my eyes the fear that was in my heart.
We were come within fifty yards; every gun on the port side was trained upon us, and the officers on the quarter stood as if on the point of giving the order to open fire.
I shut my eyes, for it seemed certain that the battle could not longer be delayed, and to my mind there was little chance any of our boats would survive the first broadside.
The rousing cheers of the men startled me into opening my eyes again, and for an instant I could not understand the meaning of the shouts; but Phil soon enlightened me as he exclaimed in a tone of most intense relief: —
"They've struck their colors! They've struck their colors!"
It was indeed a fact, and our boat's crew scrambled on board, we two lads following in silent amazement, hardly conscious of what we were doing until Lieutenant Downes began calling off the names of those who would remain on board as prize crew.
We had captured the Georgiana, a British whaler which had originally been built for the East India Company's service, and was credited with being a fast sailer. She was pierced for eighteen guns, but had only six mounted when we took possession of her.
After the crew had been sent below, the hatches closed, and the officers were imprisoned in the cabin, Lieutenant Downes called away such of our men as had been selected to man the prize, and off we went to try conclusions with the second craft.
By this time Phil and I were quite brave; we had come to understand that danger cannot be lessened by fear, and were disposed to believe that the British whalers were not such fighters as had been supposed.
Our small fleet dashed on toward the second ship in the same order as when we came upon the Georgiana, and the same peaceful capture was ours. All the ship's crew were at the guns, yet they hauled down their colors when we were close upon them, and the Essex had taken three prizes in one day.
This last ship proved to be the Policy, a whaler, pierced for eighteen guns and having ten mounted.
How our men cheered when we were on board the third prize without so much as a scratch! It was something to boast of, this taking three fine ships in one day, and again did it appear as if the "luck of the Essex" was an established fact.
Lieutenant Downes did not think it necessary to pull back to the frigate now that the work was finished and there did not appear to be anything of importance on hand. The crews were set about this trifling duty or that, and we waited until sunset for a wind, when the prizes were sailed down to where the flagship lay close alongside the Barclay and the Montezuma.
It was a veritable fleet which Captain Porter now had under his command, and the only drawback was the number of prisoners we were forced to look after; but that was a trifling matter when one considered it as the only cost of four fine ships.
Master Hackett thought it proper to compliment Phil and me on our manliness in applying for permission to go with Lieutenant Downes at a time when it seemed positive there was hot work ahead, and I felt much as though I was acting a lie when I remained silent while the old man was bestowing so much praise upon us.
If he had known all that was in our hearts as we were pulling toward the whalers, I question if he would so much as have spoken to us again.
Now we two, Phil and I, began to ask ourselves if we were regularly drafted to Mr. Downes's fleet, or whether we had been taken for that one cruise only; and, ashamed though I should be to confess it, there was a great hope in my heart that in the future we would be forced to remain on board the Essex when there was any more cutting out to be done.
Before another day had come to an end we of the gun-deck learned, through one of the marines, as a matter of course, that Captain Porter had decided to equip the Georgiana as a cruiser, with Lieutenant Downes as commander. By so doing he would have an able assistant in searching for the enemy, and also a consort on which the crew of the Essex might find refuge in case of any serious injury to the frigate.
And now it was that, remaining at sea as if we were in dock, the work of making the fleet ready for service was begun; and the old shellbacks insisted that by so doing we were adding to the marvellous achievements of our ship. She had sailed halfway around the world, depending upon the enemy for supplies, going where there could be no possibility of receiving assistance in case she was overtaken by disaster, – which was something that had never been attempted before, – and now we were to eclipse even that feat by remodelling the enemy's merchantmen into war vessels while in mid-ocean, using for the purpose supplies we had just captured.
If ever there was a case of living on the enemy, ours surely was this situation.
From this day until the difficult task had been performed every man and boy was kept busy from early dawn until darkness rendered it difficult to see what we were about; and in this general furbishing our own ship was not neglected. The rigging of the Essex was overhauled and tarred; strained spars were replaced by new ones, and the frigate was given a complete coat of paint.
The Georgiana was transformed by the taking down of her try-work, which had been used for getting oil from the blubber of whales, and all the small arms from the other prizes were sent on board. She was given her full complement of guns, those from the Policy being transshipped, and on the 18th day of May Lieutenant Commandant Downes hoisted the American pennant on board the Georgiana, 16, firing a salute of seventeen guns, all of which were answered by the Essex, while the remaining prizes made as much noise as was possible.
We had a great celebration that day when a new ship was added to the United States Navy, and the cooks did their share toward it by filling our duff so full of plums that one could almost believe he was eating a regular, home-made pudding.
The manning of our prizes cost us so many of our crew that after all the ships were in sailing trim we had on board the Essex only two hundred and sixty-four, including officers, a small number, as Master Hackett declared, to handle the frigate in case we found ourselves in action, – an event which seemed only too probable when it should be known in England what mischief we were working among the whalers.
Our new man-of-war was given a fair trial to prove whether she was as good a sailer as had been believed, and we soon learned that the Britishers were decidedly at fault regarding her. She could not hold her own with the Essex even under the most favorable circumstances; but yet she was by no means a tub, and might be of great service before falling in with an enemy sufficiently heavy to send her to the bottom.
Four days after being put into commission the Georgiana set off on an independent cruise, and we hung around Charles's Island until the 28th of May before sighting another sail.
Then one hove in sight dead ahead, and, success having made us confident, we piled on the canvas, believing she was the same as ours already.
Our three prizes, with good working crews, were close aboard us at the moment the stranger was sighted, and away we dashed in the finest style, ready to meet anything from a line-of-battle ship to a couple of frigates.
The chase was begun late in the afternoon, and we held on all night, keeping her well in sight, and heaving in view another sail of which we took no notice, save to send a couple of boats after her, for the bird which we had almost in our hand was worth any two well down on the horizon.
The stranger was a big ship, and sailed well; but she could not hold her own with the Essex, and by nine o'clock next morning we were alongside with the crew at quarters.
We believed of a verity that this fellow would fight, since he had ten ports on a side, and once more did I feel too nervous for comfort; but no sooner were we in a position to open the battle than she surrendered, and we were in possession of the British whaler Atlantic, of three hundred and fifty-five tons burden, carrying twenty-four men. She had eight eighteen-pounders mounted, and might have held us in check long enough to show that English sailors are the gluttons at fighting which they claim to be.
No sooner had we thrown a prize crew on board, and seen to it that the Britishers were secured where they couldn't make any trouble for our men, than the Essex was put about in chase of the sail we had sighted during the night, our consorts following a long distance in our wake, unable to keep the pace we were setting.
We came up with the chase about noon, and then were becalmed within two miles of her.
She appeared to be heavily armed, and we were short-handed in consequence of having distributed so many men among the prizes taken thus far, as well as sending out the two boats, which had probably been picked up by some of our fleet before this time.
To equip the fleet of small boats would require nearly every man and boy on board, leaving no one to handle the frigate in case the wind sprang up, and as we noted this fact – I mean as the old shellbacks discussed it – Master Hackett said to me with a long-drawn sigh of relief: —
"It's the luck of the Essex to find Britishers so plentiful; but this time she's got more'n a mouthful, an' that fellow yonder is like to give us the slip unless our slow-movin' prizes work up this way before the wind rises."
"Do you mean, Master Hackett, that we can't make any effort at capturing her?" I asked in surprise.
"Look about an' see if that ain't the size of it. Do you reckon Captain Porter would strip his own ship, leavin' her helpless in case this 'ere calm ended with a squall?"
It surely did not seem possible our commander would do anything of the kind, and my heart was heavy as I gazed at the Britisher lying so near at hand and we unable to so much as come up with her.
Before our crew had much time for discussion we were startled, and some of the oldest hands almost frightened, by being called to man the boats; and our surprise may be imagined when we learned that every craft was to be sent off.
I saw the old shellbacks looking at each other furtively, exchanging odd glances and shrugging their shoulders as much as to say that Captain Porter must have taken leave of his senses; but into the boats they went, and all hands followed until there were none left aboard the frigate except the captain himself, the chaplain, the captain's clerk, and the boatswain.
Four men only to look after the Essex in case of sudden danger, or in event of our being forced to surrender! It surely seemed as if we were gazing upon the frigate for the last time, when the boats were pulled away, and I heard Master Hackett mutter to the man nearest him: —
"Take your good-by squint at the old hooker, matey, for I'm reckonin' there's many a chance you'll never see her again. I'm willin' to admit that a man-o'-warsman is bound to run many a risk; but this 'ere beats anything I ever saw or heard of before."
And from the expression on the faces of all I understood that to a man the crew believed we were going far beyond our duty, – which fact, as may well be imagined, was not calculated to make me very comfortable in mind. There were an hundred things likely to happen that would leave us without a ship, and it was by no means even chances that we could gain a foothold on the deck of the stranger. Surely, the day must come when we should find a Britisher who would fight, even though he was no more than a whaler, and this might be the day.
Looking back I could see Captain Porter pacing the quarter-deck, and I wondered if he believed himself fully justified in thus leaving the frigate to the mercy of the sea and weather when we might not succeed in our errand.
However, it was not for a lad like me to speculate as to whether the captain was going beyond duty and reason. I was a member of the boat's crew, and as such must do my utmost to make of the expedition a success, regardless of what threatened the Essex.