by William H.G. Kingston, Esq.
Originally published in Ainsworth's Magazine: A Miscellany of Romance (Chapman and Hall) vol.11 #2 (1847).
"Well, gentlemen, since you ask for a story, I will tell you one," said Captain Andrews, wetting his lips with a drop of his favourite beverage which stood in a tumbler by his side. "And I'll be bound to say that few people, even in the course of as many years as I have lived, have met with a more extraordinary adventure.
"I was just out of my apprenticeship when I was appointed, by a friend of my father's, a merchant in Liverpool, Mr. Damer by name, as third mate of a fine large brig he had just launched at that port, and called after his wife, 'The Mary Damer.'
"Well, as it happened, a week or ten days before we were ready for sea, the master Mr. Damer had selected to command the brig, was taken very ill, and was utterly unable to proceed on the voyage. A day or so after the owner had been informed of this, a young man presented himself with a letter from his correspondents in London, stating that he had been for some years in their employ as mate and master, and that he had always afforded them the greatest satisfaction; so that they regretted being unable to provide him at once with a ship, but that if Mr. Damer could give him the command of one of his for a voyage, they should feel much obliged. I was in his office at the time waiting for orders.
"'You have arrived very opportunely, captain—I beg your pardon—what is your name?' said Mr. Damer.
"'Penrose, sir— William Penrose,' answered the stranger.
"'Oh, yes, I see,' looking at the letter. 'Captain Penrose, I am happy to be able to forward your wishes. I have a vessel just about to sail, and you shall have the command of her, if you please. She is the Mary Damer—go on board, and then if you like the look of her, come and tell me your opinion—after that we can settle the matter.'
"'It is not necessary,' answered Captain Penrose. 'I saw that very brig alongside the quay as I was strolling down to the river, and could never wish for a finer craft.'
"'Well, then, we will consider the affair settled,' said the merchant. 'When did you arrive in Liverpool, Captain Penrose?'
"'Only last night, sir,' answered the captain; 'I hurried down from London as fast as a horse would carry me, for I hate idleness, and am no sooner on shore than I wish to be at sea again.'
"'I like your spirit, captain—it will much assist your success in the world,' observed Mr. Damer. 'The Mary Damer is bound for Port Royal in Jamaica, and will return with a cargo of sugar. By the by, have you ever been before to the West Indies?'
"'Know every creek and key among the islands,' answered Captain Penrose, quickly. 'Wherever you may wish your ship to go, depend upon it I can take her.'
"'So far so good,' observed the kind-hearted gentleman. 'You can sign your agreement to-day, and go on board and take command; you will be able to expedite affairs, which the illness of poor Captain Jones has much delayed. Before you go, I will make known to you a young man who is to act as your third mate.' And he beckoned me to come forward, for I had been standing during this conversation at the further end of his office.
"After I had been introduced, and Captain Penrose, as he called himself, had expressed his confidence that we should pull well together, he took his leave, promising to return in an hour, when the papers were to be ready. Mr. Damer was an acute man, and a great observer of men's characters. He was, however, sometimes mistaken.
"'I like your new master, Andrews,' he remarked, as soon as Captain Penrose had quitted the room. 'He appears a very honest, intelligent man, and I think you will find him a pleasant person to sail with.'
"'Yes, sir,' | answered mechanically, for I had no reason to offer for an opposite opinion; yet somehow or other I could not cordially agree with him.
"There are some men who appear like very saints on shore, yet the moment they get into blue water, show themselves in their true colours, as very devils incarnate; and such an one, by the glance of his eye, as I felt it for a moment fixed on me, did I suspect was my new captain; but of course, I could not say this to our owner. After I had taken my leave, Captain Penrose returned, was formally invested with the command of the Mary Damer, and soon afterwards came on board and took charge of her. We were at that time still rather short of hands, but in the course of two or three days six stout, active fellows presented themselves, who were instantly entered by the captain, and our complement was soon complete.
"I had never met any of the new men before, nor had any of the rest of the crew; but there was nothing strange in that. They were obedient and orderly, and prime seamen, as I could judge by the way they worked at setting up the rigging and bending sails. The expression of their countenances was certainly not prepossessing, I thought; and what struck me as odd was, that though they apparently had never met each other before, they at once kept entirely together, speaking very little to the rest of the crew. I must confess, though not of a suspicious disposition, I was not altogether easy in my mind about our new captain and the seamen he had entered; yet there was nothing tangible to lay hold of, and I feared either to wrong him, or to appear a mischief-maker to our owner should I whisper my suspicions, so 1 kept them to myself, and determined to keep a strict watch on all that was going forward. In truth, Captain Penrose had the manners of a very agreeable gentleman, and contrived quickly to ingratiate himself both with Mr. Damer and his family, and with his mates and all his crew; indeed, before we sailed, I began to laugh at the thoughts I had at first entertained.
"He certainly, by his exertions and resourees, got the ship in a very short space of time ready for sea; and the day before we sailed, Mr. and Mrs. Damer, and a party of friends, came on board and drank success to our voyage, when Captain Penrose stood up, and in a neat speech expressed his thanks for their good wishes, and promised to return as quickly as possibly with a rich freight.
"That evening we hauled out into the stream, and the next forenoon with a fine breeze, we were standing out of the Mersey, and before dark were fairly on our running down the Irish channel.
"I must not forget to you, that we had two cabin passengers, one a married lady, going out to join her husband at Port Royal. She was still young, and very handsome, but she had charge of a young lady, scarcely seventeen years old, whose father was in the West Indies. She was the sweetest rose-bud ever seen, charming in her manners and delightful in her disposition; so that, though I did not actually fall in love with her at first sight, I felt ready to die to serve her.
"In those days it was not safe to navigate the Caribbean Sea without being armed; for although the old pirates of the Blackbeard race had long before been extirpated, there were still a number of picarooning villains cruising about, ready to pounce upon any craft unable to protect herself. England was also at war with France, and with the revolted States of America, who sent out shoals of privateers to destroy her commerce. Just at that time a war with Holland had broken out, so that plenty of enemies were to be found in every direction.
"The Mary Damer, therefore, was supplied with letters of marque; carried six guns, two long brass ones and four short, with plenty of muskets and cutlasses for all the crew, of whom, including officers, there were five-and-thirty; so that we were well able to bid defiance to most vessels of our size, although we were strictly charged by Mr. Damer, who did not approve of the privateering, not on any account to go out of our way to make prizes, but to avoid all contests, and merely to defend ourselves if attacked. She was also a very fast craft; indeed, in no way did she disappoint our expectations. She was a good sea-boat, as stiff as a church under canvass, and possessed as nimble a pair of heels and as much beauty as any young lady in the three kingdoms.
"Now I am going to tell you a very extraordinary circumstance which happened on the evening of the very day we sailed, though of course I did not know it till long afterwards. Mr. Damer was sitting in his counting-house congratulating himself on the prospect of a favourable voyage for his brig, when a person presented himself, looking very pale and haggard, who stated that his name was Penrose; that he was travelling from London on horseback with a letter from his correspondents, when he had been attacked by robbers, who took every thing from him, and left him for dead; and that as soon as he was sufficiently recovered, he had hurried on to Liverpool, as he was anxious to get to sea to make up for his losses.
"For some time Mr. Damer would not believe the story, treating the poor man as an impostor; and at last, though he thought he might be speaking the truth, he was still convinced that there must be, though a curious coincidence, two Captain Penroses, and that he could not have given the command of his fine new brig to an impostor, and something worse. Of course he wrote to his friends in London to ascertain the truth—what that was I shall by and by tell you.
"Every thing went on well on the Mary Damer. With a fine north-easterly breeze, and studding sails set, we kept a direct course for Madeira.
"For many days, till we were within about sixty miles of that island, the fair wind continued, the blue waves dancing gaily in the sunbeams which darted forth from an unclouded sky. The ladies were constantly on deck; indeed Miss Arden—for that was the name of the youngest—spent most of her time beneath the shade of an awning we used to spread, to protect them from the burning rays of the sun. In those days, as was to be expected from my age, I was rather sensitive to the tender passion, and it was not long before the charms of Miss Arden made a deep impression on my heart, nor was the poor girl insensible to my attentions, though they were bestowed in rather a boyish manner. The other mates were blunt, honest fellows, who never thought of interfering with what they considered my nonsense; indeed, it rather amused them, so that the captain was the only person likely to prove my rival,—but he flew at other and less lawful game, but of that by and by.
"Well, one night the second mate being ill, I took the middle watch, it being his turn of duty. The watch were snoozing away between the guns except a look-out man forward, and the man at the wheel, and I was taking my solitary walk on the quarter-deck, whistling for want of thought or company, when, as I stopped for a moment, as I reached the waist, to take a glance along the horizon, over the starboard bulwarks, I felt a hand laid upon my shoulder. I know not why a cold shudder ran through my veins. I fancied that no human being was near me. For a moment I dared not move, when a low quiet laugh recalled me to my senses, and turning suddenly round I beheld the captain.
"'What, indulging in a reverie, Andrews? he observed. 'I fear that I must have interrupted it, but, truth to say, I could not sleep, so have come to take a turn on deck.'
"'It's a night fine enough to tempt any man from his hammock,' I answered, for want of something better to say.
"'Fine enough, yes; but tame and dull.' He spoke as if musing to himself, rather than addressing me. 'For my part I prefer the tempest and the fight to idleness and a calm. What say you, Andrews—would you not rather be pursuing a richly-freighted enemy—a heavy Spanish galleon, for instance—than sailing on in a steady course as we are doing?'
"'I should not mind a fight, if it was necessary, but I find no fault with the weather we have at present,' I replied.
"'Well, it will be strange if we cross the broad sea without some change, and I hope we shall have luck enough to fall in with an enemy of our own size, without going out of the way to look for her. Do you think the men are staunch?' he asked. I said that I thought they were, and ready to fight any Frenchman, Dutchman, Don, or American we were likely to meet. For more than an hour he continued the conversation while pacing the deck, though it was for some time before I discovered its drift. He spoke of the pleasures of a privateer's life, the large fortune to be rapidly acquired, and the contemptible dulness of a mere trader's existence. While we were conversing, the wind gradually fell, and in a short time the loud flapping of the sails against the masts showed that we were almost becalmed. The captain took a look round the horizon.
"'Rouse up the watch on deck, Mr. Andrews, and take in the studding-sails,' he sang out sharply 'We shall have a stiff breeze before morning.'
"'The order was quickly obeyed; the rest of the lighter canvass was then handed, and the now useless courses clewed up. The captain, instead of going below, kept the deck, watching with a seaman's eye the signs of the heavens. He was not deceived. Before the end of the morning watch dark masses of clouds came rolling on from the south-west, the ship already beginning to feel the heavy swell which precedes a storm, although as yet there was little wind. The topsails were now closely reefed and every thing made snug. Fortunate, indeed, was it for us that it was so, for just as day was breaking a squall struck the brig, laying her almost on hes beam-ends, and carrying away the gaff of the mainsail by the jaws.
"At that instant I heard the cry of a man overboard, and turning round, I observed that the captain was no longer where I had before seen him standing. Running aft, I saw an object in the water close astern of us, for the brig had not gathered way, and without a moment's consideration, being an admirable swimmer, I slipped out of my shoes and jacket and plunged overboard. At first I sank, but rising again, I found myself close to the figure of a human being, and on swimming up to it I discovered that it was the captain, but insensible from a blow he had received on his head. It was surprising that he did not sink at once. Having grappled him by the collar, I looked round for the ship, when what was my horror to see her, through the faint light of the morning, apparently driving away from us before the gale. The foaming, bubbling waves were around me, the dark clouds overhead, the hissing of the waters in my ear; I was giving way to despair when I saw a broken spar floating close to me, and pushing the captain towards it, I managed to get hold of it, and to secure him to it likewise. At first I thought we were to be abandoned to our fate, and while under this impression the captain's senses returned. He appeared as if just waking from a deep sleep, and while mechanically grasping the spar he looked round to discover where he was. Instantly comprehending our awful situation, and seeing who had preserved him, he exclaimed,
"'By heavens, Andrews, you are a gallant fellow. I meant you wrong, but, if we live, so help me G—d, I will die sooner than harm you.'
"I thought he was raving as he spoke, so paid little attention to his words; indeed, I was rather thinking of preparing for another world, where I felt that both of us must soon be sent. The white foam driven by the furious wind dashed over my head almost blinding, and suffocating me; and every instant I feared the captain would be washed from his hold. I had given all up for lost when, as we mounted to the top of a wave, I saw through the gray dawn the brig heave to, and directly afterwards a boat pulled round from under her stern. As yet the sea had not got up very much, though it was rapidly rising, an every instant was of importance. The men in the boat bent bravely to their oars, but they had hard work to pull up against the gale, which sent the white foam flying in sheets over them. They cheered as they came near us, and I grasped still tighter hold of the captain, who could do little to assist himself, his arm I found having been injured by the blow which knocked him overboard. At last the boat reached us, but there was no little difficulty in approaching the spar without risk of staving in the bows of the boat, or giving either of us a knock on the head, which would inevitably have sent us to the bottom. The bowman, however, contrived to seize hold of the captain's collar, and with the aid of the rest hauled him on board, while I was still hanging on to the spar. At that moment I observed that the crew who manned the boat were those who had been last shipped by the captain, the next instant the send of the sea separated her from me, as I was about to grasp hold of an oar.
"'Let the young coxcomb drown, and be d--d. We've no time to waste in hauling him on board,' I heard ope of the men exclaim in a loud tone.
"life, however, was not to be abandoned without a struggle, and making a desperate effort, I grasped of an oar, but the villain, pulling it, would have shaken me off had not the captain, seeing the treachery of the men, ordered them with a terrible threat to take me on board. The intervening moments while I held on the oar were those of dreadful suspense, for my age too much exhausted to enable me to swim another stroke. Indeed, I scarcely know what occurred till I found myself in the boat pulling towards the brig. I was close to the captain.
"'Utter not a word on board of what has just occurred, and you are safe,' he whispered, putting his fingers to my lips. 'If not, I have no power to protect you.'
"I had little dime to meditate on the meaning of the strange expressions before we were alongside the brig, and, with considerable difficulty, got on board. Scarcely was the boat hoisted up when the gale came down upon us with fresh fury, and the ship being once more got before it, away we scudded under bare poles. It did not, however, last many hours, though we were several days retracing our course before we reached Madeira. Our lady passengers were very much alarmed at the storm: of the accident they knew nothing till the captain and I were safe on board again, and with the return of fine weather their spirits revived. With me, on the contrary, it was a time of anxious suspense, yet though my suspicions were aroused that all was not as it should be, with all my vigilance I could find nothing definite to communicate to my brother officers. I felt at the same time that I also was narrowly watched by the captain and the men I have spoken of, though I was scarcely prepared for the dreadful catastrophe which was about to occur. After taking in wood and water and fresh provisions at Madeira, we again sailed, shaping our course for the West Indies. Every thing went on favourably for some days with a fair wind and a smooth sea; the ladies were constantly on deck, and I as before continued my attentions to Miss Arden, which she received with apparent pleasure. We sighted several sail during the passage, and more than once were pursued, but always had the heels of our enemy. Another ere I did not like was, that the captain insisted on keeping a more southerly course than the two senior mates approved of, he alleging that we should thus more easily make Jamaica, which was not the case we all well knew. At last we found ourselves running in through the broad passage between Grenada and Trinidad, when, the wind falling during the night, we lay completely becalmed. At the dawn of the following morning a sail was perceived about four miles to the southward of us, which we were not long in making out to be a sloop of war under British colours. We accordingly hoisted our ensign, and in a short time perceived a boat pulling towards us, which, as she approahed, we saw contained an officer and ten men fully armed. A dark frown came over the captain's brow at sight of this, and mustering the men on deck, he told that some of them would to a certainty be impressed on board the man-of-war, that if they chose to be made slaves of they might, but that if they resisted he would protect them. Saying this he threw open the arm-chest, and stuck a brace of pistols in his belt, the greater number of the men following his example, so that when a lieutenant from the ship of war with his men on board, he found a determined band ready to encounter him. Undaunted, however, by our hostile appearance, he went about the performance of his duty in a quiet firm manner, selecting me and seven more of the crew to serve his majesty. Not only was I not armed, but I was with a heavy heart to yield to my fate, when I heard the captain exclaim in a voice of thunder—
"'Take my men if you like, but do so at your own peril.'
"'We see,' replied the lieutenant, seizing one of the men (five of them were the volunteers of whom I had the doubts I spoke of).
"'There's a breeze coming down to us from the nor'ard, my boys,' sung out the captain.
"The man took the hint, and with the butt end of his pistol felled the young officer to the deck. It was the signal for a general slaughter. The man-of-war's men fought with desperation, for they saw that they had little hope of quarter after the outrage which had been committed. A shot from one of their pistols brought me on the deck, as I was rushing forward to preserve their lives, and at the same moment the captain, not knowing my intentions, but seeing me fall, vowed he would avenge me; and drawing his cutlass, like a madman, gnashing his teeth with fury, he cut down the man-of-war's men on every side. Not one of them escaped, I heard a loud cry as a cannon-shot was thrown into the boat alongside, and the man left in her felt himself left floating on the wide waters. The still breathing body of the lieutenant was thrown overboard, followed by those of his slaughtered and dying crew. A fresh breeze filled our sails, and as we flew from the scene of destruction I heard some of the savages jeering at the hapless wretches still struggling in the water, and soon to become the prey of the voracious sharks, which were sure before long to assemble round them.
"'I knew not what happened for some hours, for I fainted from loss of blood, till I found myself an a sofa in the cabin, with Miss Arden sitting by my side and bathed in tears.
"'What has occurred?' I asked, lifting myself up on my arm, after having somewhat recovered my senses and my strength, and looking wildly around me.
"Miss Arden uttered a faint cry as she saw me come to myself.
"'Thank Heaven that you have recovered, Mr. Andrews!' she exclaimed. 'But, oh do not ask me what has occurred, for I scarcely dare to utter the dreadful suspicions which have risen in my mind. There has been bloodshed and murder, and I much fear that it is not yet over.'
"'I will go on deck and ascertain the truth,' I answered. 'Oh! I recollect—the officer and boat's-crew of the man-of-war were basely murdered, and I had no power to save them. Alas! Miss Arden, I fear your worst suspicions are correct; but believe me, whatever happens, I will protect you to the last.'
"'I trust to you, Mr. Andrews; and, should all else fail me, that must be my last resource.'
"As she spoke she pointed to the now foaming ocean, seen through the stern-ports, or rather scuttles. She endeavoured to prevent me rising, entreating me to remain quiet; but assuring her that, for her sake, I would be careful how I behaved, I succeeded in getting on my feet and gaining the deck. My worst anticipations were realised. Complete was the change which had occurred since I was carried below. A heavy gale had arisen, dark clouds were chasing each other over the sky, and a high broken sea was running, through which the,ship was working her way, close-hauled, the water washing over her decks in clear sheets, almost burying her bows beneath its weight; While, far away to leeward, appeared the man-of-war in hot pursuit, with as much canvass set as she could venture to carry. On board, the signs of recent strife were still visible. Three of our own crew lay wounded on the deck, while the two mates, with their hands behind them, were lashed to the main-mast, and four more, forward, were evidently prisoners. The captain stood aft, with a spy-glass under his arm, with which, every now and then, he turned a glance at the man-of-war, but seemed to be paying little attention to the sailing of the brig. Two men were at the wheel, and near them appeared a swarthy man, with an eye piercing as an eagle's, who was conning the ship, and acting as one accustomed to command. I regarded him attentively, and was soon convinced that he was a perfect stranger, though how he had come on board it was impossible to say. The longer I looked at him the greater difficulty I found in withdrawing my eyes from him. I felt myself fascinated, like the bird hovering over the jaws of the snake. There was something indescribably dreadful in his aspect; his bronze-like, passionless countenance, his eyes glowing like hot coals; his tall, undefined figure; the involuntary shudder which ran over me as I first beheld him, gave me the idea that he was a being not of this world. I had heard that the evil one had been known to come on board ships to pilot them to destruction, but did not believe the tales. 'Could they then be true? Can such things be?' I asked myself. I looked again at the dark stranger, and felt convinced that they might. A rapid survey showed me what I have taken much longer to describe. I was hesitating how to act, when Captain Penrose, seeing me, advanced to where I was standing near the companion-hatch.
"'Andrews,' he exclaimed, 'you are not in a fit state to be on deck. Remain below, and you are safe,' he whispered. 'If you draw the attention of the men on you, your life is not worth a moment's purchase; but I promised to protect you, and will do so if you follow my directions.'
"'I do not understand you, Captain Penrose,' I replied ; 'what is the meaning of all I see?'
"'That the Mary Damer has changed owners, and that all who refuse to obey my orders are likely to find themselves without a plank to stand on,' was the answer.
"'All hands about-ship,' cried out a hoarse, unearthly voice.
"The men, obedient to the call, flew to their stations, the helm was put alee, the yards were braced round, and the brig was darting away on the other tack, quickly weathering on her pursuer. While this operation was going forward, I again asked the captain the meaning of what I saw, but instead of answering me, he took my arm and led me below. As I passed Mrs. Lawley's cabin, I heard her sobbing violently, and her female attendant endeavouring to comfort her, but the captain paid no attention to it, and leading me up to Miss Arden, desired her to watch that I did not again venture on deck. Having done this he hurried from the cabin. As soon as he was gone, the young lady entreated me to tell her the worst, and though I would willingly have calmed her apprehensions, I felt that it would be impossible so to do; and I confessed that my conviction was, that the captain, having once set the laws at defiance, was about to commence the accursed calling of a pirate, though I did not venture to whisper my suspicions of the terrific character of the dark stranger.
"'Great Heaven! and what will be our fate?' cried the poor girl, wringing her hands.
"'I feel that had the captain intended you any injury, he would not have waited till now,' I answered. 'He evidently also means me well; so that we must place our trust in Providence, and hope for the best.'
"I continued talking to her for some time, though nothing I could say served to soothe her alarm. Our conversation was at last interrupted by a wild shriek, which came from above, and my curiosity getting the better of my discretion, I again sought the deck. Had I remained below I might have saved myself from being witness to the scene of murder which met my sight, and in which every body was too much engaged to observe me at first. The first mate was nowhere to be seen, and the fate prepared for the second showed what his had been. He was at that moment standing at the end of a plank projecting over the bulwarks, near the main rigging, with his arms lashed behind him, and his eyes blindfolded.
"'Will you sign the articles?' I heard the dark stranger exclaim.
"'Never,' cried the mate, firmly.
"'Then walk him forward,' shouted the stranger; and a shriek of despair escaped the unhappy youth, as the board on which he stood being tilted up, he felt himself plunged beneath the boiling waves.
"Two of the petty officers were next led aft, and remaining faithful to their trust, were likewise made to walk the plank, while the wounded seamen, lashed back to back, were hove overboard, and the wild tempest howled above their lifeless forms. This work of death being concluded, I expected that my turn would come next, but neither the captain nor any of the crew appeared to pay me any attention, and | was allowed to wander about the decks as I pleased, he asserting that I was mad, which was, I believe, not very far from the truth; the supposition, at all events, saved my life with the superstitious sailors.
"The evening was now approaching, and the gale every instant growing more furious; but still the brig continued to beat against it, for the avenger of blood was seen to leeward, hovering, like the white wing of a sea-bird, on the dark mass of waters. At last darkness came on; but away, away we flew, with unabated speed, into the black obscurity, the tall masts bending like reeds, the rigging straining, the white sails ready to burst from their bolt-ropes, the wind howling, the sea roaring, the waves dashing over us, loud thunder rolling through the sky above, and vivid lightning, serving only to show the horrors of the scene, darting ever and anon from the opaque clouds, and casting a blue, unearthly hue over the faces of the crew and the swarthy stranger. If I were to live a hundred years never should I forget that night; it was one fit for demons to hold their revels in, and an appropriate accompaniment to the work of murder which had been just accomplished. But neither the captain nor his crew seemed to heed the fury of the gale, though never before was mortal bark pressed as was ours, but they knew whom they had got on board, and placed reliance on his mysterious skill and power. Every order which was issued came from his mouth, in the same deep, unnatural tones I had before heard, and promptly, too, were they obeyed. Horror-stricken at all I saw, I could not tear myself from the deck, my anxiety to see what might next occur conquering all other feelings; indeed, I expected every instant to find the masts go by the board, and to feel the ship striking on some coral reef or rock, and her timbers parting beneath our feet; still, on we tore into the k, unexplored space of darkness rising before us, like suicides rushing into an unknown eternity. At last, a still more heavy squall than usual struck the ship, and away flew her mainsail into a thousand shreds. Her head, deprived of its balancing power, no longer kept up close to the wind, but, falling off from the seas, she drifted rapidly to leeward. A momentary lull followed.
"'Square away the main-yards, and up with the helm,' cried the stranger in his terrific voice.
"The fore-yards were next squared, and away flew the brig before the wind. The crew were then ordered to their quarters, and the guns were loaded and run out, while the men stood with their matches in their hands ready to fire, the swarthy stranger going round and pointing each with his own hands. I was not left long in doubt as to what was to happen. Onward we rushed before the gale, when, directly ahead of us, I beheld the white canvass of the corvette, just then made visible by a vivid flash of blue lightning. I thought we should have run into her, as our bows almost grazed her spanker-boom.
"'Fire!' shouted the stranger.
"Gun after gun, pointed with a demon's power, discharged a deadly shower into the hapless bark. Loud, fearful shrieks arose and filled the night air, drowning the sound of the tempest and, as it seemed, echoed by the mocking laughter of a thousand demons.
"Not a shot struck us in return—there was a fearful pause—then a deafening report was heard, and bright flames burst forth—the tall masts with their canvass spread shot upwards to the sky, the dark hull itself seemed to rise above the waves, human forms appeared by the bright, lurid light amid the wild confusion, then in another instant all vanished as a dream from sight, a solemn silence followed, and we bounded onward in our demon directed course.
"Daylight at length appeared, but it served alone to reveal the horrors of the scene; the storm as furiously as ever, the seas ran mountains high, and away we wildly careered before it, as if flying from some unseen foe. When the gale abated we were close in with the Spanish main, and hauling our wind we stood to the westward till we reached one of the numerous islets which abound on that coast, with deep bays in them, where a vessel may lie securely concealed even from any craft expressly looking for her. Into one of these we hauled the brig to water and wood, and
while here I entertained thoughts of escaping from her, but though I enjoyed apparent liberty, I felt that I was narrowly watched, nor could I leave the unhappy young lady, Miss Arden, to her fate, without attempting her rescue. I consequently remained on board the brig, entertaining, however, but slight hopes of escaping with my fair companion in captivity. Thrown together as we now were, every day she wound herself more closely round my heart. I was all in all to her, for unhappily her friend Mrs. Lawley could render her no consolation or advice. I need not describe how we spent our time at the island; our stay was brief, for the pirates were eager to be off to commence the life of plunder and dissipation which they contemplated for themselves. How Miss Arden escaped other annoyances than such as her imprisonment entailed I know not, except it was by the influence of the captain, who took every opportunity in showing his gratitude to me. It was the redeeming trait in his character.
"What may seem extraordinary, all the time we lay there, the mysterious pilot did not once appear, indeed from the moment we left the open sea I did not observe him. What had become of him I could not tell, nor did the men seem to know more than I did. Some affirmed that he came on board in a canoe after the massacre of the king's officer and boat's crew; but others again denied this statement, and declared no boat of any sort had come alongside, indeed, at the distance we were from the land, such was not probable, if she were indeed a bark built by human hands, and he a human being. Of that I had strong reasons at the time for doubting. Afterwards the certainty forced itself on me, that a spirit of darkness and evil had come among the devoted crew to urge them on to destruction.
"At last we sailed, and as the canvass was loosened a coal black ensign was run up at our peak, a broadside was fired, and three loud cheers from the maddened crew saluted the pirate flag.
"Away we flew on our course of havoc and destruction, and many a richly-laden bark we met never entered her destined port. I am not going to give a detailed description of all the atrocities committed by that accursed crew, indeed, my recollection of those dreadful events is far from distinct, except that the mysterious pilot was always the chief instigator and leader. No sooner had we quitted the harbour where we watered, and got into the open sea, than he appeared at his post on deck. He never entered the cabin, he never spoke to the men, but when the tempest raged the loudest, and the fight grew the hottest, his voice was heard above the howling of the wind, or the shrieks and groans of the dying, and the shouts of the victorious, encouraging the pirate band, or urging them on to fresh deeds of violence. Sailing northward, our course marked by plunder and destruction, we reached the coast of Cuba. It was towards the evening when we stood in near one of the Keys at the back of that island, when a signal was hoisted at the fore, and before dark we again stood off the land. During the night we tacked and beat back towards a fire we saw burning close down to the water. We then fired a gun and hove to. Not long afterwards the splash of oars was heard, and through the darkness I discovered two large boats approaching the vessel. Captain Penrose hailed them, the answer appeared satisfactory, for they were allowed to come alongside.
"Immediately a number of dark forms swarmed up the side of the vessel. I scarcely thought the boats could have contained so many of them. Whoever they were, they were warmly greeted by our crew. They were savage-looking beings habited in every sort of costume, and apparently of every clime and nation under the sun. As soon as they were on board, the boats which brought them pulled back again to the shore. All that night there was a wild carousal among the newly-met comrades, and had they been attacked they would have fallen an easy prey to an enemy. Drunkenness and brawls were the consequence—daggers and knives were drawn, and more than one fell beneath the steel of a shipmate.
"Twice I heard the sullen splash of a heavy body thrown overboard; the dark water was the only grave, an obscene jest the only obsequies the murdered pirate received. During this time Captain Penrose continued moodily pacing the deck, keeping a few of the people to attend to the necessary duties of the ship, but not attempting to interfere with the rest. He evidently felt that his authority over them was gone, while the mysterious pilot was moving the excited crew the whole time, encouraging them to increase their fomenting fresh disputes and quarrels. We now again stood towards the Spanish main, and though before we had captured merely defenceless vessels, we now attacked any we encountered of equal force with ourselves, and always came off victorious. Some, after plundering, the pirates set on fire, with all their people on board; the crews of of others were made to walk the plank; some were sunk; and none escaped to betray the perpetrators of these atrocities. With a ship loaded with plunder, we then repaired to a Spanish port, where the pirates were received by the inhabitants with open arms. Here they soon spent their ill-gotten gains in debauchery and excess of every kind; and not till they had no means left of purchasing these gratifications, could they be induced to make any preparations for putting to sea in search of more plunder. During this time, I remained a close prisoner on board; nor could I account for the anxiety of the captain to detain me, till he one day came to me, and told me that he purposed landing me and Miss Arden, on the first opportunity, at Jamaica, or on one of the nearest islands belonging to the English, concluding, by saying,
"'I shall then, Andrews, have fufilled my promise to you; for your sake, also, I have preserved Miss Arden, and you thus have no cause to say, that among my other crimes ingratitude 1s one.'
"I expressed my thanks for his intentions and the favour he had already shown to my unfortunate companion and to me.
"'Speak not of it,' he answered; 'I do not willingly part with you, for you are the only man on board this accursed craft with whom I can have any sympathy, and yet I have made most of them what they are. I would have made you hes a comrade, but you were not to be tempted. Well, I cannot find fault with you; mine is not, perhaps, the most enviable career, but I have pursued it too long to dream of turning back; my soul is already lost without hope—lost, lost, lost!'
He was silent for a moment.
"'What nonsense I was speaking!' he exclaimed suddenly, a ghastly smile lighting up his features. 'We shall part soon, Andrews, and shall never meet again; for my time is nearly up, and there is one waiting for me who never allows his bondsmen to escape.'
"He again checked himself.
"'More folly!' he suddenly exclaimed, breaking into a loud, wild laugh. 'I have been apt lately to talk in a rambling way. What did I say? Well, no matter. 1 was telling you I would land you and Miss Arden, as soon as possible.'
"'And why not quit this dreadful life yourself, Captain Penrose, before it is too late?" I uttered, hastily.
"The same ghastly smile, as before, passed over his features.
"'The advice of a boy, Andrews!' he replied. 'Because I am wedded to it, and it to me, with bonds stronger than the church ever bound man to woman.'
"'Ali hands unmoor ship!'
"'These words were uttered in the unearthly voice of the dark stranger, yet no one was aware that he was on board.
"'My last cruise!' exclaimed the captain, springing from his seat, and rushing on deck. 'All hands unmoor ship!' he repeated, and in a moment he was all life and energy. 'Huzza, my boys! the wealth which floats on the wide sea shall be our reward!' he shouted, to encourage the men as they ran the anchor up to the bows.
"'The wide sea shall be your reward!' cried the mysterious voice.
"'Ha, ha, ha!' rang through the ship.
"The seamen for a moment stood aghast, but they were not to be daunted; they persuaded themselves it was the voice of the captain; but that night they had terrible cause to think differently. The sails were loosened, the tacks hauled on board, the sheets aft, and once more the doomed brig flew seaward to her accursed work; tempest and lightning accompanying her on her course.
"No sooner were we clear of the land, than the sky, hitherto of azure hue, became overcast with clouds; the wind increased to a furious gale, the sea rose with wild foaming crests, and away we drove before the blast; the lightning flashing vividly, the thunder roaring, and the waves in deluges breaking over our decks. Whenever I went on deck, there I saw standing, near the helm, the mysterious stranger. He might have been taken for a statue, so calm and unmoved he stood, not a word did he utter, his dark, bronze-coloured countenance alone exhibiting marks of satisfaction, as the storm raged more fiercely, and any of the seamen showed signs of fear at the awful strife of the elements. There was something peculiarly terrific in the stern glance of his dark eye, and the sarcastic curl of his otherwise immoveable lip. As spell-bound I gazed on him, my limbs shook, till I sank senseless on the deck.
"On, on we flew towards the north, day after day, when a sail was made out right ahead.
"A prize! a prize!' was the cry on board.
"We neared her fast, nor did she attempt to escape us. She proved to be a ship—an armed merchantman she appeared; and, as we came up with her, she hoisted British colours. The gale had abated, and the sea gone down; and as we ranged along-side, both of us running before the wind, we poured in a broadside. The enemy the next moment opened her ports, and returned it with a vengeance. Her shot came crashing on board us, tearing up our decks, shattering our spars, and killing and wounding our people.
"They were unaccustomed to resistance, and their blood was up. They howled with rage and fury. 'Run her on board—run her on board,' was the ery. With a loud crash our sides grated together before there was time to re-load the guns, and with the shrieks of demons, the pirates threw themselves, with their gleaming cutlasses, on the decks of the enemy, the two vessels rolling and pitching all the time, as if they would drag each other down to the fathomless deep. The robbers of the sea met with a brave resistance; twice were they driven back to their own ship, and again led on by the captain, the ferocity of whose nature was excited to the highest pitch by the combat.
"While this scene of bloodshed was going on in the waist of the enemy, the quarters of the two vessels meeting, we, in like manner, were boarded in return by a determined band, under the command of a person who seemed prepared for death or conquest, so bravely did he all before him. In the meantime victory had sided with the pirates, and the remainder of the merchant crew being driven below or overboard, our captain was recalled to the brig to oppose those who had boarded her. The pirates had scarcely returned when the vessels separated, and the brave Englishmen found themselves surrounded by the enraged and ferocious pirates. Quarter was unasked and unthought of. One by one they were cut down, till their leader alone remained.
"Boldly he confronted his enemies like a noble stag at bay, and even the fiercest held back till he crossed swords with the captain. At that moment the unhappy Mrs. Lawley, instigated by what motive I know not, rushed on deck, and no sooner did her glance fall on the brave man who was defending himself against such fearful odds, than she uttered a piercing shriek, which sounded above the din of battle and the roaring of the wind.
"'My husband! my husband!' she exclaimed; but scarcely had she uttered the words, when the sword of the pirate pierced him to the heart. She rushed forward to stay the murderer's hand, but it was too late; and as she beheld the lifeless body of her husband, she clasped her hands with an expression of hopeless agony on her countenance, which I shall never forget, exclaiming,
"'And was it thus for one abandoned like me you died? Qh, Henry! how unworthy was I of you, but I will not survive you.'
"As she uttered these words, she threw herself on the body. She took the hand on which the chill of death was already stealing; a gazed into the eyes of the corpse now glazed and senseless. She assured herself that her husband was indeed dead, then imparting a kiss upon the cold brow, she sprung on her feet, and before any of the pirates could stay her, she threw herself, with a shriek of convulsive laughter, into the raging ocean. The sound was echoed in yet wilder strains, by a thousand mocking voices, which seemed to issue from the dark clouds, hanging like a funereal-pall overhead.
"Even the bold pirates stood aghast, but the captain ordered a boat to be instantly lowered. The command was obeyed, and the boat was swamped alongside, while three of the crew were swept away by the sea; indeed, the attempt was useless, for the moment the unhappy lady plunged into the water, she sank beneath its surface, nor was the slightest trace of her again visible.
"What were the feelings of Captain Penrose, I cannot say, but the tragedy made slight impression on the rest of the pirates, and forthwith set about securing the prize, and transferring to their own ship any thing valuable they could find in her. No prisoners were brought on board the brig, and while I stood gazing at the abandoned prize, her rent sails fluttering in the wind, I saw her pitch violently forward, then rise again, and lastly, sink gradually down beneath the foaming waves, her funeral wail the same mocking laughter which had before been heard. Not one of her crew remained alive to betray the deed.
"Scarcely had the work of destruction been accomplished, when another sail was seen from the mast-head, and every stitch of canvass we could carry was set to come up with her. We seemed to fly over the waters, at such a rate did the gale drive us onward; and the pirates little thought what demon power blew those furious blasts, urging them on to destruction. The stranger was soon made out to be a large ship, and the pirates elated with their success, were eager for plunder, insisted that she was a richly-laden merchantman. Every preparation was, however, made for a fight, should she prove, as she probably was, armed like the former one. The black flag was hoisted to intimidate the enemy, and before long we brought her within range of our guns. As we were about to run alongside, she suddenly hauled her wind, and before we had time to luff likewise, she poured in from a broadside of ten guns a heavy fire, raking us fore and aft, and then keeping away again, allowed us to range up on her beam, giving us a taste of her quality on that side also.
"Never shall I forget the shrieks, the cries, and the groans of the enraged pirates, or their fearful denunciations of vengeance. They stormed and swore in vain; their oaths and cries echoed with mocking laughter by the same mysterious voices as before; and this time the seamen guessed from whence it came. Every shot from the enemy had told with awful effect, while we had done but little damage in return. Numbers lay dead, others dying or dreadfully wounded, some of the guns were dismounted, the bulwarks torn and decks ploughed up, slippery with gore, and encumbered with the wreck of the shattered spars and rigging, while the main-mast, struck just above the deck, looked as if ready every instant to fall.
"Above all the noise and confusion, the voice of the dark stranger was now heard with terrific tones, encouraging the pirate crew to renewed exertions. Their only chance of victory was to run alongside, and try a hand-to-hand struggle, but scarcely could they hope for success against a well-armed king's ship. The attempt, however, was made, the pirate captain lashing the fluke of the bow-anchor into the fore-rigging of the enemy. Then came the fiercest strife. Three times did the pirates gain a footing on the deck of the king's ship, and as often were they driven back, and boarded in return, each time with much diminished numbers; but they fought for life and liberty, and well knew that quarter would neither be asked nor given.
"During every action I had been on deck, standing near the main-mast, but taking no part in the fray, and caring little whether a shot knocked me over or not. Had it not been for Miss Arden, I should have welcomed death, as a release from the life of thraldom I was doomed to bear, and the horrors to which I was daily a witness; but to protect her I wished to live, only I was determined that the pirates should not say that I held back from joining them through cowardice.
"It might seem extraordinary that I should care for the opinion of such reprobates, but I believe my behaviour in this respect mainly assisted the captain in preserving me from their fury. While I was standing, as I have described, the shot and splinters flying harmlessly about my head, thrice did the Demon Pilot pass close to me, a gleam of malignant satisfaction on his bronze-like countenance, for he knew full well that the souls he had lured to destruction were about to become his prey. The guns roared louder than ever, the shot crashed through the sides of the brig, the yells of the combatants grew fiercer and fiercer, when it struck me that the ship was settling deeper in the water.
"The thought that Miss Arden would be left to perish rushed into my mind, and I sprung below. I found her on the sofa fainting from terror, and the water already washing the deck of the cabin. Lifting her senseless form in my arms, I hurried again on deck, when seizing a cutlass, I struck a pirate dead who attempted to oppose me, and at that instant the quarters of the two vessels meeting, I sprung over the hammock nettings on board the king's ship. The last act had been witnessed by one of the officers, or I should have been cut down immediately, for the seamen thinking that they were about to be boarded in that direction, came aft to repulse the enemy, but the fresh air recovering Miss Arden, she instantly perceived what had occurred, and throwing herself before me, exclaimed,
"'He is no pirate! oh, do not injure him!'
"At these words the men restrained their hands, and the next moment their attention was called off to witness the awful fate of the pirate ship. During the action the storm had much increased, and the crew of the corvette seeing her condition, contrived to cut her clear of their own ship, just as 1 was leaping on board. To the last, although the water was almost awash with the deck, the pirates continued firing their guns, uttering fearful yells, shrieks, and curses.
"As I gazed at her with staring eyes, I beheld the terrific form of the dark stranger, standing upright amid the bodies of the dying and the dead, and the wreck of spars and rigging which cumbered the deck. Gradually his figure expanded into gigantic proportions, growing every instant more hideous and awful. His bronze-like countenance, with his eyes glowing like furnances, reached the topmast-head as he stood between the two masts of the brig, grasping one in each hand, the vivid lightning playing round his stern features, while the roar of the thunder and the cannon, the crashing of spars and timbers, the wild tumult of human voices, and the shouts of the mocking laughter of the invisible spirits who surrounded us, made a wilder din than is heard in the fiercest fight. Furiously he stamped his feet; the wild sea rushed over the deck of the pirate ship; again he stamped with greater fury than before, and the waters dashed upwards from the stroke, the thick spray flying in showers over our mast-heads; a third time he stamped, and down, down, down went the accursed brig to the unfathomed depths of the ocean, the despairing shrieks of the crew ringing in our ears ere they were ingulfed beneath the foaming waves, the last object seen being the tremendous countenance of the demon, lighted up with a gleam of satisfaction at having thus secured his prey. That also grew gradually fainter and fainter, till it totally disappeared, and not a trace was left of the doomed bark.
"No sooner had this dreadful event occurred, than the wind subsided, the sea went down, the clouds were dissipated, and the bright sun shone forth from the blue sky. What may seem extraordinary is, that not a man, a spar, or a sail of the royal cruiser had been injured. I was immediately led up to the captain, who, hearing the account of the officer who witnessed my killing the pirate, believed my rather incredible story (which I hope, by the by, you will do), and every attention which courtesy and humanity would dictate was paid to Miss Arden and myself. We soon reached Port Royal, in Jamaica, where Mr. Arden, who had given up his daughter as lost, was so overjoyed at her recovery, that he could deny her no request she made. One of the first was, that she might bestow her hand upon me.
"On my return to England, I called on Mr. Damer, who of course thought that I must have been lost in his brig. He expressed himself much pleased at seeing me safe, and satisfied with my conduct throughout, though he did not appear quite to comprehend the account I gave him of the Demon Pilot. I afterwards met the real Captain Penrose, who happened just then to be at Liverpool, and he narrated to me how he had been robbed by the man whole assumed his name, and run away with the brig; but to this day no one has been able to discover the true name of the pirate chief."