The Privateersman Part 30

"That's very true, also; and I will swear fidelity so far as this, that you never shall be betrayed by me, and I never will appear as a witness against one of you; it were most ungrateful if I did. While I am on board, I will do any duty you please to put me to, for I cannot expect to eat my bread for nothing."

"And suppose we come to action?"

"There's the difficulty," replied I; "against an English s.h.i.+p I never will fight."

"But if we are opposed to any other nation, and there is a chance of our being overpowered?"

"Why, then, if you are overpowered, as I shall be flung along with the rest, I think I must do all I can to save my own life; but, overpowered or not, I will not fire a shot or draw a cutla.s.s against my own countrymen."

"Well, I cannot deny but that's all very fair."

"I think," replied I, "it is as much as you can expect; especially as I never will share any prize-money."

"Well; I will talk to the men, and hear what they say; but, now, answer me one question--Are you not a seaman?"

"I will answer the truth to everything; I am a seaman, and I have commanded a privateer. I have served many years in privateers, and have seen a great deal of hard fighting."

"So I thought," replied he; "and now answer me another question,--Was it not you that played that trick to that French privateer captain at Bordeaux?"

"Yes it was," replied I; "but how came you to know that?"

"Because I was the mate of a merchant vessel that had been captured, and I saw you three or four times as you pa.s.sed the vessel I was on board of; for, being put in quarantine, we were not sent to prison till the pratique was given. I thought that I knew you again."

"I have no concealment to make."

"No: but I will tell you candidly, my men, if they knew all this, would not allow you to leave the vessel. Indeed, you might be captain if you pleased, for I do not suit them. Our captain--for I was his officer-- was killed about six months ago; and I really am not fit for the office--I am too tender-hearted."

"Well; you don't look so," replied I, laughing.

"Can't judge of outsides," replied he; "but it's a fact. They say that they will be all condemned if taken, from my not destroying the crews of the vessels we take; that they will be so many witnesses against them; and I cannot make up my mind to cold-blooded murder. I am bad enough; I rob on the high seas; I kill on the high seas--for we must kill when we fight; but I cannot commit deliberate murder either at sea or on sh.o.r.e, and so I tell them. If any one else could navigate the vessel, I should be superseded immediately."

"I am glad to hear you say what you have, captain; it makes me less dissatisfied at finding myself here. Well; I have said all I can, and I must trust to you to manage with your s.h.i.+p's company."

"It will be a difficult job," said he, musing.

"Tell them," replied I, "that I was once a captain of a vessel like this (after all, there is not so much difference between a pirate and a privateer as you may think)--and that I will not be under the command of any one."

"If they hear that, they will give you the command of this vessel."

"I will refuse to take it; and give my reasons."

"Well; I'll tell them that: I leave you to settle with them how you can; but," added he, in a low tone, "there are some desperate villains among them."

"That I take for granted," replied I; "so now I leave you to speak to them."

Toplift did so. He told them that I was a pirate captain, who had lost his vessel and been thrown on sh.o.r.e, but I refused to join any s.h.i.+p except as captain of her; that I would not serve as first officer, and would obey no one. He told them that he knew me before, and he narrated the business at Bordeaux when I commanded a privateer, extolling me, as I afterwards found, beyond all measure.

The crew, having heard what he had to say, went forward, and, after consultation, came to Toplift and said that I must take the oath.

Toplift replied that he had desired me so to do, and that I had answered that I would not. "But," said he, "you had better speak to him yourselves. Call all hands aft and hear what he has to say."

This was done, and I was sent for.

"I have told them what you said, Sir. I don't know your name."

"I have no name," replied I, proudly, "except 'Captain,'--that's my name."

The fact is, Madam, I was determined to carry it out bravely; knowing that it is the best way to deal with such people as I now had in hand.

"Well, then, Captain, I have told the men that you will not take the oath."

"Take the oath!" replied I, with scorn; "no; I administer the oath to others. I make them take it. I make them swear fidelity to me. Such has been my conduct, and I shall not depart from it."

"Well, but, Captain Toplift, you don't mean to say that he is to remain on board with us and not take the oath," said a surly-looking ruffian.

"In spite of you, he shall take the oath, Captain Toplift."

"Captain Toplift," said I, calmly, "do you allow one of your crew to use such language as this? Had I been captain of this s.h.i.+p, I would have blown his brains out as he stood. You don't know how to deal with these rascals. I do."

Captain Toplift, who appeared much pleased at being supported in this way by me--(strange that a single individual, whom they might have thrown overboard in a minute, should have gained such an ascendency, but so it was)--and who perceived that the men fell back, as if taken by surprise, then said, "Captain, you have taught me a good lesson, which I will take advantage of. Seize that fellow and put him in irons."

"Hah!" cried the man, seeing that no man touched him; "who is to bell the cat! Hah!" and drew his cutla.s.s.

"I will, then," said I to Captain Toplift, "if you desire it;" and stepping forward I went up to the man, saying, "Come, come, my good fellow, this won't do here; I am used to deal with such chaps as you, and I can manage worse than you, a good deal."

I advanced till I was within the stroke of his cutla.s.s before he was aware of it, and, seizing him by the waist, I threw him flat on his back and put my foot on his neck.

"Now," cried I, in an authoritative voice, "put this man in irons immediately--refuse who dares. Here, you Sirs, lay hold of this fellow," continued I, looking to the Portuguese; who accordingly came forward and led him away, a.s.sisted by others, who now joined them.

"Are there any more mutineers here?" inquired I; "if so let them step forward."

No one stirred.

"My lads," said I, "it is very true that I have refused to take the oath, for the oath is not given to those who command, but to those who obey; but at the same time I am not one to betray you. You know who I am; and is it likely?"

"No, no," replied the men.

"Sir," asked one of them, who had been most forward and insolent, "will you be our captain?--say but the word,--you are the sort of man we want."

"You have a captain already," replied I, "and in a few weeks I shall command a vessel of my own; I cannot, therefore, accept your offer; but while I am on board I will do all in my power to a.s.sist Captain Toplift in any way, and you can desire no more. And now, my men, as an old hand, I have but this advice to give you, which is--to return to your duty; for everything in a vessel of this description depends upon obedience; and to you, Captain Toplift, I have also advice to give, which is--to shoot the first man who behaves as that scoundrel did who is now in irons. Boatswain! Pipe down."

I hardly knew whether this latter order would be obeyed by the boatswain, or, if obeyed by the boatswain, whether it would be obeyed by the men; but, to my great satisfaction, it was; and the men retired peaceably.

"Well, Captain Toplift," said I, "I have done you no harm, and myself some good."

"You have indeed," replied he; "come down into the cabin." When we were in the cabin he said, "You have unarmed and subdued the most mutinous rascal in the vessel, and you have strengthened my authority. They fully believe you are what you a.s.sert from your behaviour, and I feel, with you at my side, I shall get on better with these fellows than I have done. But now, to keep up the idea, you must, of course, mess in the cabin with me, and I can offer you clothes, not my own, but those of the former captain, which will suit your shape and make."

I readily agreed with him; and, having equipped myself in the clothes he offered me, which were handsome, I soon afterwards went on deck with him, and received the greatest respect from the men as I pa.s.sed them. A cot was slung for me in the cabin, and I lived altogether with Captain Toplift, who was a good-hearted, rough sort of a man, certainly wholly unfit for the command of a vessel manned by such a set of miscreants, and employed on such a service. He told me that he had been taken three years before by a pirate vessel, and finding that he could navigate, they had detained him by force, and that at last he had become accustomed to his position.