NIGHTS AT SEA; Or, Sketches of Naval Life during the War. BY THE OLD SAILOR. WITH AN ILLUSTRATION BY GEORGE CRUIKSHANK. NO. VII. THE RUSE-THE DUELLO-NAVAL SPORTSMEN. DAYLIGHT broke upon the scene as the Spankaway, fast closing with the Hippolito, was firing blank cartridge from her bow-guns, and the prize returning it from her stern-chasers, to the great scandal of old Savage the boatswain, who swore enough that night to serve the Channel Fleet for a twelvemonth. The beautiful glow of a bright clear morning!--In what part of the world are the mornings so lovely as in the Mediterranean, when the sun climbs above the verge of the horizon, and gilds the fleecy clouds, -white, edged with gold,―as they sail through the azure vault of heaven? And then to see the vast cities, which fancy pictures as rising from the ocean-turret, dome, and minaret, gorgeous palaces, glowing in the full effulgence of glory, with their pavilion curtains of purple, and crimson, and gold; the dark-blue waters doing homage at their feet. Oh! there is no place like the Mediterranean for witnessing a sunrise. The poet has said, Morning is beautiful everywhere:" But I have witnessed the first beams of the glorious orb as it seemed to emerge from the Atlantic wave, tinging the ocean and the heavens with their glowing hues; I have seen his red and hazy light, lifting heavily from the waters of the Southern Sea, after tracing his course through the night by the rays that spread themselves above the horizon; I have seen his early radiance resting upon the blue tops of the Andes; I have beheld the glistening reflection of his dazzling brilliancy from the icebergs of the North: but I can, from tried experience, declare that nothing surpasses the spectacle which is exhibited in these seas when "he cometh forth as a bridegroom from his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run his race." And, as I have already said, the morning of which I am writing was bright and clear. The strangers were made out to be a French frigate, with a large armed ship in company. Up went the national colors of England at the Spankaway's peak, and up went the republican flag in the Hippolito, as the British frigate was walking up to her supposed enemy hand over hand. 66 Fore-top there!" shouted the captain and as soon as the usual response, "Ay, ay, sir!" was given, his lordship continued, "Away up and knock the fid out of the fore-to'gall'nt mast. Mr. Savage, sway away upon the mast rope, sir; and when the fid's out, lower away handsomely." "Ay, ay, my lord," answered the boatswain aloud, and then mumbled to his mate," Well, Jack, what can you make on it now ?--we shall have to knock the chocks away from the bo'sprit presently, and run it in fore and aft, like a cutter "Bear a hand there forud!" shouted his lordship: "less of the shark's head, if you please. Are you ready aloft ?" “All road 1 she wan in the fare-topmast cross. trees; "sway away 'pon deck-High enough ?" He pulled out the fid. "Lower away." "Let run the fore-topsel halliards," commanded the captain-" lower away the t'gall'nt mast roundly-clear away the lifts and overhaul them -let fly the starboard foretopsel sheet." The orders were punctually obeyed; the sails hung in entire confusion-the top-gallant-mast was struck; and this to the distant ships ap. peared the effects of the Hippolito's shot. They were nearly along. side the prize rounded to and sent her broadside, and in a few minutes the heavy firing gave notice to the strangers that a severe engagement had commenced, "Mr. Savage!" cried his lordship, as the veteran stood wondering what it all could mean, though the merest boy in the ship had guessed the ruse. "Ay, ay, my lord," returned the man of the silver call, walking aft to the quarter-deck in a state bordering upon amazement, or what Jack Sheavehole called "a fit of perplexity." "Strike the mizen topmast, Mr. Savage," said his lordship," and have all clear for swaying aloft again." The veteran stared with astonishment; but he well knew that his only duty was obedience, and in a very short time the heel of the mizen topmast was half-way down the lower mast, the topsail and topgallant-sail flying in the wind. "The Frenchman's hove about, and standing towards us, sir," hailed a foretopman from aloft. "Double-shot the starboard guns !" exclaimed his lordship; "round and grape. Mr. Blueblazes! see that every gun on the larboard side is loaded with shot when I give the word. Seymour!" he hailed, Johnny is running into the trap; be all ready for him." 66 "D-my owld tarry trowsers! but I sees it all now," uttered the boatswain, slapping his hand vehemently on his thigh. "Well, Jack it's comical as I didn't diskiver it afore." Then, turning to Mungo Pearl, who was rather unceremoniously showing his mirth before his superiors, "Out o' that, you black angel!" said he. "Does the skipper think the nights are not long enough, but he must ship a double allowance o' darkness to stretch them out ?" Broadside upon broadside rattled from the sham combatants, till the Spankaway, apparently first noticing the approaching reinforcement of her opponent, up stick to run away. The Hippolito, however, kept close to her the strangers made more sail to join in the affray. Onward came the French Frigate; not a sail or a spar touched, not a rope-yarn strained; and she looked beautifully as she glided with her swelling canvass through the clear smooth waters, the republican ensign floating in the breeze, and a long pennant gracefully descending from the maintruck. The Hippolito had dropped somewhat astern, and as the French ship hailed in passing, they were so close that their yard-arms nearly touched. The French captain knew the ship, and was congratulating himself upon the easy conquest of a British frigate, (for he made sure, of jointly capturing the Spankaway,) when, to his utter amazement, down dropped the national colors, up went an English ensign, and rattle came a broadside that made him stagger again; the mizen-mast reeled for a moment, and then, with its whole weight of top hamper, fell over the larboard quarter, the shattered end coming in-board, and knocking away a great part of the wheel. At the same moment the Spankaway crossed his hawse within excellent range, and poured in a raking fire that quite unsettled his nerves. The impetus he had gained made him rapidly shoot a head of the prize without returning a shot. Instead of finding two to one in his favor, he found that he had two to one against him. Nevertheless, he tried to redeem his error, and manœuvred and fought his ship well: but he had British skill and British valor to deal with. The odds were fearfully unfavorable: the Spankaway had refidded her mizen topmast and fore-top-gallant-mast, and was all ataunto, to the extreme mortification of the unfortnnate Frenchman, who sacre'd everything an inch high, and was ultimately compelled to haul down his colors. The armed ship had made sail away; but the Hippolito went in chase, and, after a three hours' run, brought her back to share the fate of her consort. The prisoners were removed: Mr. Sinnitt was sent with a prize-crew to take charge of the frigate, which proved to be L'Ethalion, of thirty-eight guns; and Mr. Winterbottom assumed command of La Gironde, of eighteen guns, acting as a transport, and laden with naval stores. This bold achievement, however, was not accomplished without loss; seven brave fellows were DD* from the Spankaway's books, and fifteen were severely wounded; but the sweet craft had done her share for that cruise, and, taking the lead, followed by her prizes, she hauled her wind and stood well out to sea, like a swan with well-fledged cygnets in her train. In his cabin lay the wounded master, whom the noise of the guns and the smell of the powder had brought back to consciousness. During the action he had been stowed away upon his bedding in the very heart of the cable-tier; but, now the battle was fought and the victory won, his cot resumed its old berth, and his friend the surgeon stood over him, soothing his mind under the mortification of having been absent from the deck during the engagement. Well, the devil's children have the devil's luck!" growled the old man. "Another frigate captured, and ould Will hove down, mayhap for a full due doctor!-hove overboard into Davy Jones's locker, with my chest stove in!" 64 But you must be sensible, master, that your not being at your station was no fault of yours," urged the doctor. Why no, messmate; and that's some gloomy satisfaction too!" responded the veteran mournfully: "like the marmaid who had her eye knocked out when they were heaving the lead, it's more my misfortune than my fault." 66 Fault!" uttered Lord Eustace as he entered the cabin; "the term is not applicable to the case, doctor. Do you call it a fault to be laid upon a bed of honor ?" 64 And with such a glorious wound too," muttered the old man, assuming a rueful countenance. Why, master, you will be crowned with laurel !" exclaimed his lordship cheerfully. "And have a sick-bay in prospect for the rest of my days," responded the veteran, writhing with pain. "I hope everything is going on right, my lord, in my department?" Make your mind easy on that score, Mr. Parallel," returned the noble seaman; "everything is as it should be: but, to prevent errors, I must be at my station." He quitted the cabin to resume his duties. * Discharged dead. |