Kitabı oku: «Hair Breadth Escapes», sayfa 5
After the governor had finished his speech, he left the hall, whilst we were immediately bound, and led to a prison, which, like our former ones, consisted of cages. I was put into a small one, whilst my companions were confined together in one of a large size. They stood, however, so near together, that we could converse very easily. Our food was now given to us with a very sparing hand, and the sailors continually complained of hunger. After supper, which we ate about four o’clock, our prison was shut up, and as the walls were made of boards, instead of lattice work, not a ray of light reached us after that hour. As soon as it struck six o’clock, the guards came to examine us, which they did very thoroughly, and if we were asleep woke us, to answer to our names. On the fourth of May, we were again led into the hall, at daybreak, where, as I received many hints, something very important was this time to be determined. When we had taken our places on the benches, which were prepared for us, they unloosened our hands, but did not remove from our waists the rope, which we were led by. The governor now repeated the questions he had before asked us, and had the answers we gave, carefully explained. But now came the most important question, which was, whether I considered my conduct as right or wrong, and whether I thought I had acted properly towards the Japanese or not.
“The Japanese,” replied I, “forced us to the course we took, by first taking us prisoners by stratagem, and then refusing to give credence to our assertions.”
The governor appeared very much astonished at my words; the capturing of us, he said, was now a by-gone affair, about which it was useless to say any thing; he merely wished to know whether I considered myself innocent or guilty, as in the former case he could not lay our case before the Emperor. All the objections I made, did no good; they only made him angry, and he kept repeating the same question. At last as I began to see what he was aiming at, and that he only had our interests in view, I frankly confessed that we had not acted rightly, and that our conduct merited punishment. He seemed very well satisfied with this confession of mine, and we were told that our affairs were prospering.
We were now led back to the house, where we had dwelt before our flight, and treated very well. Besides our usual fare, they gave us tea, and very good tobacco, and provided us, too, with combs, handkerchiefs, and also curtains, to protect us against the gnats, which were very troublesome. Besides these marks of good-will, they gave us some Russian books to read, and pens, ink, and paper; but when we expressed a wish to learn to write the Japanese tongue, they told us that their laws expressly forbade them to teach Christians their language. We never, however, received permission to take walks again, but in order that we might enjoy the fresh air, the governor ordered the doors of our dwelling to be left open from morning until evening.
In this manner, with all our wants gratified, but with time hanging heavy on our hands, we lived until the sixth of September. On that day we were again conducted to the castle, and received the joyful intelligence that the Diana was again at Kumachir, and treating with the Japanese government for our liberation. Our joy, however, was of short duration, for we received information in a letter from the commander of the vessel, that in order to satisfy the Japanese, he was obliged to return to Russia to procure from the government the required avowal, that the acts of violence perpetrated in Japanese territory, was done without their knowledge or consent. We were, therefore, obliged to remain for another year, but during that time we were treated with the greatest consideration.
In September following, word was brought to us that a Russian vessel had again arrived in the Japanese waters, and a few days afterwards we were informed that the negotiations had been successfully terminated, and that we would soon begin our journey to Khakodade. From this time forward, we were most hospitably entertained. Several officers, with their children, visited us, and heartily wished us joy at our liberation. The mayor of the town, also came to see us, and presented us with a beautifully lacquered casket, filled with confectionary, as a token of remembrance. On the following morning, amid the rejoicing of the inhabitants, we left Matsmai, and after a journey of three days, reached Khakodade, where the Diana soon afterwards arrived, accompanied by a multitude of Japanese boats, tastefully ornamented.
On the morning of the fifth of October, an officer, in the most respectful manner, presented me with my hat and sword, which, during our imprisonment, had been carefully preserved. I was, however, obliged to dress myself as the Japanese wished, namely, in a jacket, and wide breeches of costly silk, which had been made expressly for the occasion. The hat and sword must have made this dress appear strange enough in the eyes of Europeans, but as it was all the same to the Japanese, and since they had returned our arms, they had ceased to regard us as prisoners. I willingly complied with their wishes, and determined to present myself before my countrymen, in a costume in which they would have some difficulty in recognizing me.
As every thing was ready for our departure, we went down to the shore, accompanied by the governor and all the officers. Here we found a magnificently decorated barge waiting for us, in which we embarked, after having taken leave of a crowd of people, who wished us a pleasant journey. A multitude of boats, laden with every thing belonging to us, and numerous presents besides, shot from the shore, and accompanied us to the vessel.
On board the Diana, the officers and men received us with a joy which only brothers or bosom friends feel under such circumstances. As for ourselves, when after an imprisonment of two years, two months, and twenty-six days, we again found ourselves on board an imperial vessel of war, and surrounded by our countrymen, we felt what can only be felt, and not described. On the tenth of October we weighed anchor, and with a favorable wind left the land of our sufferings, whose inhabitants, nevertheless, we had learned to esteem and love.
So ends the narrative of Golownin. He resumed the command of his vessel, sailed for Kamtschatka, and from there went to St. Petersburg, where he and his rescued companions were richly rewarded by the Emperor.
A Sea-Fight on the Cuban Coast
By the orders of the British government, I cruised for a season in the Cuban waters, for the express purpose of aiding in the suppression of the slave trade, which, in spite of all treaties and efforts to put an end to it, was still carried on with the most unblushing boldness. I had under my command a small, but well-armed schooner, with a crew of picked men, and sailed for my destination with the most positive orders to sink or capture all suspected vessels. We cruised about for some time without making any prizes, and the weary and monotonous life I led, became almost unbearable to me, driving me from the cabin to the deck, and from the deck to the cabin, seeking in vain for some relief from the ennui I suffered.
One very dark evening, it might have been about eight o’clock, I went on deck depressed in spirits, and completely out of sorts. Here I found Timothy Tailtackle, who had the watch, gazing into the surrounding darkness so intently that he did not perceive me until I was standing close to him.
“Any thing in sight, Master Tailtackle?” asked I, eagerly.
“Not exactly, sir, but I have just been begging for your glass. See there! once, twice; but it is as dark as pitch Pray, sir, tell me how far are we from the Hole in the Wall?”
The Hole in the Wall is a very remarkable rock forming the southern promontory of the island of Abaco, one of the Bahamas. As its name signifies, it resembles, either, from the action of the waves, or from the cannonadings it has received, a perforated wall. It rises some forty feet above the surface of the water.
“We are ten miles distant, at least,” said I.
“Then,” cried Tailtackle, in a sharp tone, “there must be a sail to windward, and not far off either.”
“Where?” asked I, eagerly; “quick, get my glass.”
“Here it is, sir.”
“Let me see, then.”
I looked through the glass until my eyes ached, but as I could perceive nothing, I resumed my walk on deck, satisfied in my own mind that Timothy had been mistaken. The latter, however, continued to look through the glass, and when I approached him, a few minutes afterwards, said:
“Well, sir, now that it brightens a little, I see what it is that has been puzzling me.”
“The deuce you do! give me the glass.” In a moment I saw it also.
“By Jove, Tailtackle, you’re right. Send the men to their posts, get the long guns ready, and clear the deck for action.”
These orders of mine quickly changed our hitherto quiet vessel into a scene of bustle and confusion. I kept my eyes steadily fixed on the object which had attracted the watchful gaze of Timothy Tailtackle, but all that I could make out was that it was a strange sail. On account of the distance, and unusual darkness of the night, I could distinguish neither its size nor rig. All this time a fine breeze was driving us rapidly towards the coast of Cuba.
“Give the glass to the boatswain, Master Tailtackle, and come forward here.”
The long gun was now swung round, and the other pieces run into the opened ports. They were all double shotted and carefully primed, and the whole crew, even to a negro we had on board, stood at their posts ready for action.
“I see her now, sir, plain enough,” cried Tailtackle.
“Good! What does she look like?”
“A large brig, sir, hard up against the wind. You can see her now without the glass.”
I looked in the direction indicated by Tailtackle, and sure enough, there was a dark mass towering above the surface of the water, dim and black like a spirit from the deep.
“She’s a large vessel, sir,” said Tailtackle, “there’s no doubt of that; there goes her lower sails, and now they’re furling her topsail; ha! she’s crossing our bows; look out, sir, here comes a shot.”
“The devil!” ejaculated I. I now saw the vessel plain enough, scudding before the wind.
“Keep her close to the wind–ease her a little–that’s right–now give that fellow a shot across his bows–we’ll find out what he’s made of. Reefpoint,” continued I, to one of the midshipmen, “show our signal.”
“Aye, aye, sir.”
The shot was fired and the lights shown, but still our ghostly friend remained silent and dark.
“Scarfemwell,” said I to the gunner, “go forward to the long gun; Tailtackle, I’ve no great liking for that chap, open the magazine.”
The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable’s length from us. At this moment, Tailtackle, in his shirt, pantaloons, and shoes, put his head out of the hatchway, and said:
“If I might advise, sir, I think we had better keep our hatches down; that fellow is not honorable, depend upon it, sir.”
“Very well, Tailtackle, very well. Forward there, Master Jigmaree; give him a shot, if he won’t speak, right between the masts, sir. Do you hear?”
“Aye, aye, sir,” answered the boatswain.
“Fire.”
The gun was discharged, and immediately we heard the crashing of timbers on board the stranger, accompanied by a piercing cry, such as a negro makes at the death of his companions, and then came a long and doleful howl.
“A slaver, sir, and our shot has struck him,” cried Handlead, the gunner.
“Then we shall have a little sport,” remarked I. Hardly had I spoken, when the brig again shortened sail, and fired a shot from her bows; then came another, and another, and another.
“She shows a good set of teeth,” cried Jigmaree; “nine on a side, as I am a living sinner!”
Three of the shots struck us, mortally wounding a sailor, and injuring the poor little midshipman, Reefpoint, who was hit by a splinter.
“Steady, men–aim low–fire!”
Again the long gun was discharged, together with two smaller pieces. But our friend was too nimble for us; he crowded on sail, and escaped in spite of our efforts to overtake him. In less than an hour we lost sight of him.
“Crowd on sail, and after him, Master Jigmaree,” said I; but as I feared lest he might lead us too near the coast, I went down into the cabin to consult the chart.
II
In the cabin I found Wagtail, Gelid, and Bangs, three British officers, stationed at the West Indies, capital fellows, who finding their time hang heavy on their hands, had procured leave of absence, and accompanied me in my cruise, which though somewhat dangerous it is true, still offered occasional opportunities of amusement. They were sitting round a small table, smoking, and before them stood glasses of brandy and water.
“Something of a fight, eh?” said Paul Gelid, a long-limbed Creole from the Bahamas, but a warm-hearted, honorable fellow, with a drawling voice. “Not very pleasant in the evening, I should say.”
“You’re a pretty fellow,” retorted Aaron Bangs, “to be plaguing us with your chatter at such an unseasonable moment as this.”
Bangs had been an active and brave officer, but ease and comfort was every thing to him, and when he could not fight, he did not like to hear it spoken of.
Pepperpot Wagtail was a little round fellow, of an irritable temperament, but great goodness of heart, and very scrupulous in his dealings with mankind. He had been sick and had come on board in order to recruit his health. I do not know how to describe his appearance better than to compare him to an egg, to the large end of which, his little feet were fastened.
“My dear sir,” he said to Bangs, “reach me that cursed biscuit.”
Bangs gave him the bowl, throwing into it some pieces of biscuit which were as hard as stones.
All this time I was occupied with my chart. Wagtail took a piece of the biscuit and put it into his mouth.
“Zounds! my dear Aaron,” cried he, ironically, “what dentist are you in league with? Gelid has just broken off his favorite tooth, and now you want”–
“Bah!” replied Bangs, “don’t frighten yourself; but what the deuce is this? Wagtail, Gelid, my dear fellows, look here!”
A sailor, who was followed by the ship’s surgeon, brought down on his back, the poor fellow who had been wounded, and laid him on the table. I must here remark that the captain’s cabin in small vessels is sometimes used as a cockpit, as it now was.
“Your pardon, captain and gentlemen,” said the surgeon, “but I must, I fear, perform an ugly operation on this poor lad, and I think it better that you should go on deck.”
I had now an opportunity of seeing what kind of mettle my friends were made of.
“Doctor,” said Bangs, pulling off his coat, “I can be of use, I know very well–no skill, but firm nerves.”
“And I,” cried Wagtail, “can tie a bandage, although I am not a surgeon.”
Gelid said nothing, but when it came to the pinch was the most useful of all. The wounded lad Wiggins, a fine young man, was weak and very pale, but bold as a lion. A cannon shot had shivered the bone of his leg just above the knee. Round his thigh was a tourniquet, and in consequence he did not bleed much.
“Captain,” said the poor boy, “I shall get over this. I have no great pain, sir; I have not indeed.“
All this time the surgeon was cutting his pantaloons from his leg, and now a shocking sight presented itself to our view. The foot and leg were blue and shrivelled, and connected with the thigh by only a small ligament; the knee pan too was shattered. The doctor made the young man swallow a glass of brandy, containing a strong dose of opium, and then began to amputate the limb above the knee. As long as the knife was used, Aaron remained firm, but when the saw grated against the bone, he murmured with a shudder:
“I’m going on deck captain: I can’t stand this–I’m sick as a dog.”
He was so weak that I released him and took his place, holding Wiggins in my arms. Wagtail, too, was soon obliged to beat a retreat, but Gelid remained firm as a rock. The leg was amputated, the arteries tied, and the surgeon busy in loosening the tourniquet, when suddenly the thread which bound the principal artery, gave way, and a stream of blood gushed forth, as if driven by an engine. The poor fellow had hardly time to cry “Take away that cold hand from my heart!” when his eyes grew dim, his lower jaw fell, and in a minute it was all over with him.
“Dead as Julius Cæsar, captain,” said Gelid coolly.
Dead enough, thought I, and left the cabin to go on deck. At the foot of the companion-ladder, I stumbled over something.
“What the deuce is this?” growled I.
“It’s me, sir.”
“Me–and who’s me?”
“Reefpoint, sir.”
“Gracious God! what are you doing here youngster? You’re not wounded, I hope.”
“A little, sir; a scratch from a splinter, sir. The same shot that tripped up poor Wiggins, sent a splinter after me.”
“Why don’t you go to the doctor, Reefpoint?”
“I was waiting until he had finished with Wiggins, sir, but as it is all over with him now, I’ll go and have my wound dressed.”
His voice grew weaker and weaker, until I could hardly understand what he said. I took him in my arms, carried him into the cabin, and undressed him. I found that he was wounded in the right side just above the hip. Bangs, who in the meanwhile had got over his weakness by the aid of a glass of water, lent his aid, and the natural goodness of his heart now made itself apparent.
“What, Reefpoint! little reefer,” he cried; “you are surely not wounded, my dear friend–such a little fellow; why I should as soon have thought they would have shot at a fly.”
“Indeed, I am wounded, Master Bangs; look there.”
Bangs examined the wound, holding the poor little midshipman in his arms.
“God bless me!” he cried, with an outbreak of the most heartfelt grief; “you seem more fit to be in your mother’s nursery, than to be knocked about in this way.”
Reefpoint sank fainting into his arms.
“With the captain’s permission you must have my bed,” said Aaron to him, whilst he and Wagtail undressed the boy with the greatest care and tenderness, and laid him in the hammock.
“Thank you, sir,” sobbed little Reefpoint, “if my mother were here, she would thank you too.”
III
My duty called me on deck, and I heard no more. The night was very dark, and I could see nothing of the stranger, but I steered as near as I could in the direction I believed him to have taken, hoping to catch a glimpse of him at daybreak. After a little while Bangs came on deck.
“Well, captain, now that the little reefer is asleep, what do you think of this business? A pretty large vessel, eh? We nearly had a brush with her. I’m not particularly sorry, though, she has taken herself off, especially as the wind has gone down.”
“Ah, but my dear sir,” replied I, “I don’t think that we have done with her yet. I hope to have a brush with her at daybreak.”
“Now, captain, you’re jesting; you don’t wish that really and truly, do you?”
“Really and truly, my dear fellow, and the only thing which troubles me, is that you and your friends will thereby be exposed to danger.”
“Bah! don’t bother yourself about that, but reflect before you engage with this slaver, how is it possible to gain any advantage over him? Remember that he has twice as many men as we have, and eighteen guns to our three.”
“Time will show,” replied I, smiling; “but I must and will fight, if I can only get alongside of him. And now, my dear friend, as the surgeon has left the cabin, I advise you to go down to your hammock–good night. I fear that I must remain on deck.”
“Good night, captain. Heaven guard you. I will go down and comfort my friends.”
He went below, and I continued my walk on deck, stopping every moment to look through the nightglass, until my eyes ached. The long night was at last over, and the light of day found me leaning against the mast, sleeping soundly. The noise made by the sailors, in holy-stoning the deck, woke me, and I discovered our friend of the previous night, under full sail, about four miles to leeward of us, and evidently striving to reach the coast of Cuba. During the night, however, we had sailed faster than he had expected, and as we were now between him and the island, his purpose was frustrated. When he saw that he was thus cut off from the land, he hoisted his lower sails, fired a gun, and run up the Spanish flag, as if he had been a vessel of war. It was now bright day, and Wagtail, Bangs, and Gelid, were all three on deck, washing themselves. I, myself, was standing forward by the long gun, when Pegtop, Bangs’ black servant, came to me, and said:
“Scuse me, massa captin; could ye gibe me some guns?”
“Some guns,” replied I; “certainly, a half dozen of them, if you wish it.”
“Jist de number massa told me to fotch him; tank’e, massa captin.”
Pegtop was very fond of this word, “massa,” and could never get accustomed to any other title used by the whites.
“Listen, friend,” said I to Pegtop, “now that you have got the guns; is your master really going to fight?”
The negro stood still, rolling his eyes, and expressing in his countenance the greatest astonishment.
“Massa Bangs fight! Golly, massa, you jestin? Massa Bangs fight? Why yer doesn’t know him. Ye ought to see de way he fotches down de ducks and snipe, and a man isn’t so hard to hit as dem.”
“Granted,” said I; “but a snipe has not a loaded gun in his claws, like a Spaniard, friend Pegtop.”
“Makes no difference, massa,” replied Pegtop, decidedly. “Saw massa Aaron, myself, fight robbers, and helped him to kill de debbils, too. Massa Aaron fight? Don’t say nothin’ more about dat.”
“Very well,” said I; “and is Master Gelid going to fight.”
“B’lieve he will; fust rate friend of massa Bangs–good at shootin’ ducks, too–guess he’ll fight.”
“Ah,” said I, “your friends are all heroes, Pegtop. Will Master Wagtail also fight?”
Pegtop came closer to me, and said in a low, mysterious voice:
“Aint so sartin about him, massa; nice little fat man, but tinks too much of his belly. Not ’zactly sartin if he’ll fight or not.”
With these words, Pegtop and the two other blacks, Chin-Chin and Zampa, Wagtail’s and Gelid’s servants, took a couple of guns apiece, and providing themselves with the necessary ammunition, went aft, and began carefully cleaning and oiling the weapons. I had expected that the wind would blow fresher at daybreak, but I was mistaken. Well, thought I, we might as well sit down to breakfast, which we accordingly did.
The wind soon died away entirely, and I ordered out the sweeps, but I soon found that we had no chance of overtaking the slaver in that way, and it was just as much out of the question to attack him with our boats. Besides, as we did not know at what moment we might ourselves be attacked, I was unwilling to fatigue my men by compelling them to row under a burning sun, whilst the enemy could man his oars with lusty slaves, and not use a single man of his crew. Accordingly, I ordered the men to desist, and remained all day on deck, watching the brig, which was gradually leaving us. At noon I ordered the boatswain to pipe to dinner. When the men had finished their meal, they came on deck again, and as the calm still continued, and there was no prospect of a wind springing up, we sat down to dinner in the cabin. Very little was spoken by any of us. My friends were brave men, but still they could not help feeling glad that they had escaped an engagement, which would bring them danger without profit. As for myself, my feelings were of a mixed nature, for though I was determined to use every endeavor to bring the enemy to an engagement, yet I confess that my heart would not have been broken had he escaped us. But this was not to be, for we had hardly ordered our meal, when the rush of the water past the vessel caught my ear, and I knew in a moment that we were once more in motion. At this moment Tailtackle appeared at the cabin door, and announced that the wind had sprung up again, and that the strange vessel was bearing down upon us. I immediately rushed on deck, and sure enough, there was the slaver, some two miles from us, his deck crowded with men, and evidently prepared for action. As soon as I saw the state of affairs, I busied myself in putting every thing in order, on board our vessel, for a fight. Wagtail and Gelid had followed me on deck, and were now assisting their servants in putting the muskets in order. Bangs alone remained in the cabin, and when I went down, I found him swallowing the last morsel of his meal. He had on his fork some very respectable pieces of cheese. Before I left the deck, I saw clearly enough that a combat was inevitable, and as the disparity between the two vessels was very great, I confess that I had serious misgivings as to its probable result. That I felt excited and uneasy at the prospect before me, I cannot deny; it was the first time I had commanded a vessel, and on the result of this action rested all my hopes of promotion. God bless me! I was but a boy, not more than one-and-twenty years of age. A strange and indescribable feeling came over me at this moment–an irresistible desire to open my heart to the excellent man I saw before me. I sat down.
“Halloa, captain,” cried Bangs, putting down his coffee cup, “what’s the matter with you? You look infernally pale, my dear fellow.”
“I was up all night,” replied I, somewhat embarrassed, “and have been running about all day. I am very tired.”
As I pronounced these words, a shudder ran through my frame, and a strong emotion, which I could not account for, kept my tongue tied.
“Master Bangs,” said I, at length, “you are the only friend in whom at this moment I can confide. You know my circumstances in life, and I feel that I can with confidence ask you to do the son of my father a favor.”
“What is it you wish, my dear fellow–speak out.”
“I will speak. In the first place, I am very much worried that I have exposed you and your friends to so much danger, but I could not foresee it; on that score my conscience is easy; the only thing I ask of you all is to remain below and not expose yourselves unnecessarily. If I should fall,”–here I involuntarily grasped Bang’s hand–“and I doubt if I shall see another sunset, for we are going to fight against fearful odds.”
“Well,” interrupted Bangs, “if the enemy is too strong for you, why didn’t you leave him to himself, my dear fellow, and take to flight?”
“A thousand things, my worthy friend, prevented me from taking such a step. I am a young man and a young officer, and must win my character in the service; no, it is impossible to fly; an older and more tried seaman than myself might have done so, but I must fight; if a shot finishes me, will you, my dear friend, deliver this portfolio to my poor mother, whose only support I am?”
As I uttered these words, the scalding tears rolled in torrents down my cheeks. I trembled like a leaf, and firmly pressing my friend’s hand in mine, I fell on my knees and fervently and silently prayed to that God in whose all-mighty hand my destiny lay, that he would give me strength on this day, to do my duty as became an English sailor. Bangs knelt by my side. Suddenly my tears ceased to flow and I arose.
“I am not ashamed to have shown so much feeling before you, my friend.”
“Don’t mention it, my dear boy, neither of us will fight any the worse for it.”
I looked at him in astonishment.
“Are you going to fight?” I asked.
“Of course I am,” replied he; “why not? I have no longer either mother or wife. Fight? Of course I will fight.”
IV
“Another shot, sir,” cried Tailtackle, through the open cabin window.
All was now noise and confusion, and I hastened on deck. Our opponent was a large brig of at least three hundred tons burthen, a low vessel painted black. Its sides were as round as an apple, the yards were unusually large, and it was evidently filled with men. I counted nine guns on a side and prayed silently that they might not prove long guns. I was not a little horrified to find, on looking through the glass, that the deck was covered with naked negroes. That the vessel was a slaver, I had not for a moment doubted, and I had also imagined that its crew might number fifty men, but that the captain would resort to such a dangerous expedient–dangerous to himself as well as to us–as to arm the slaves, had never entered my mind, and it startled me not a little to find that he had done so, as it showed that I must expect the most desperate resistance.
Tailtackle had pulled off his jacket, and was standing by my side. His belt was tightly drawn round his waist, and his cutlass hung from it. The rest of the men were armed in the same manner; some of them had also, muskets, and the others stood at their posts, near the guns. The grapnels were loosened, and tubs of wadding, and boxes of cartridge stood ready for use. In short, all was prepared for action.
“Master Tailtackle,” said I, “your post is in the magazine. Lay aside your cutlass; it is not your duty to lead the boarders.”
“Master Timothy,” said Bangs, “could you do without one of these pikes?”
“Certainly, sir,” replied Timothy, laughing, “but you do not intend to lead the boarders yourself, do you, sir?”
“How do you know that?” returned Aaron, with a grim smile, “since I have been fool enough to trust myself in this dancing cork of a vessel;” as he spoke he laid aside his coat, unsheathed a cutlass, and bound a red woolen cloth round his head.
The slaver, who was now hardly a cable’s length from us, suddenly put up his helm with the evident intention of running under our quarters, but at this moment we poured a broadside into him. I could see the white splinters fly from his side, and again there rang in our ears a sharp piercing cry, followed by that long, melancholy howl already described.
