CHAP. X. THE PIRATE’S RETREAT.

The Albatross was creeping up the Mozambique channel, with her captain at her helm, who showed an extraordinary degree of knowledge of the coast, piloting the ship through narrow passages lined with breakers, and surrounded by stupendous rocks, amid which the waves kept lashing each other into foam on every side. Threading the mazes of this intricate labyrinth, the ship was borne through a long opening between huge masses of granite, in which it seemed utterly impossible for any vessel to keep afloat, and then entered a snug little bay, perfectly concealed from observation by passing ships by the surrounding rocks, and there she cast anchor. Boats were let down, and the prisoners, well guarded, were taken ashore. Upon landing, they found themselves upon a clean shingly beach, leading to a soil of exceeding verdure, where trees of immense proportions bowed their luxuriant heads to the passing breeze; and parasitical and creeping plants, of wonderful variety and beautiful appearance, twisted and twined among the rocks, and over the gigantic trees. There the bread-fruit tree spread its welcome burden, and the raven palm held out its green abundance. Further on, the cocoa-nut bent down its branches, overladen with their grateful fruit—while limes, oranges, tamarinds, and figs, on every side, offered their refreshing stores. Among the flowering plants, the most remarkable was the anramatico, whose bell-shaped flower contained nearly half a gallon of water, always pure and fresh, and whose excellent fruit was formed like a cup and cover. Among these, several flamingoes were noticed, in their scarlet liveries, like sentinels upon duty—and troops of gaudy paroquets were chattering among the branches of the trees. There the green lizard ran along the bank, and the grey chameleon glided among the boughs.

The party proceeded on through fields of maize, rice, sugar-canes, yams, and bananas, into a thick forest of gloomy trees, from among which they disturbed the wild hogs at their roots, and the monkeys in their branches—occasionally they would meet with a porcupine, or a babyroussa—and more than once they came upon a troop of bisons, or a stray zebra, who were munching the green herbage. Flocks of pigeons were flying wildly about, and innumerable singing birds were endeavouring to create a living harmony in the forest. After proceeding in this manner about a mile, the captain and his followers began to ascend a steep rock, covered with every species of tropical verdure, and they passed, with increasing difficulty, from precipice to precipice till they came to an immense black chasm that yawned fearfully before them. Over this there was no passing. Here the captain fired a pistol, and the report, reverberating through the hollow rocks, was repeated with a thousand echoes, that called up from the dreary depths of the abyss flights of monstrous bats, several hawks, and two or three gigantic eagles, that whirled round and round over the heads of the intruders, and then disappeared in various directions. Immediately afterwards a troop of armed men, of the dark olive complexion of the country, clad in loose tunics, and lower garments reaching to the knee—with naked legs and arms—were seen descending the rock on the other side; and, as soon as they noticed the captain, they set up a cry of welcome, and danced and shouted in joyful recognition.

They immediately threw a thick rope across the chasm, which was made fast to a neighbouring tree—another rope was fastened within a foot of it—over these, two strong hoops were sent across, connected with each other, and affixed to a strong rope, and by resting the body within these, and holding the ropes by the arms, each individual of the party was dragged in safety to the other side of the rock. From thence they proceeded along a narrow path cut in the rock, winding upwards to the top, and then descended on the other side, where, at the foot of the descent, they beheld a low, heavy, antique mansion, strongly built, and almost hid among plantations of the raven palm. Here they were joined by several more of the same sort of men as those by whom they had been assisted over the chasm; and the delight they evinced at the return of their master was equally noisy and wild as that previously shown by their companions.

“Welcome, gentlemen,” said the captain, turning to his prisoners, “welcome to my humble abode. It does not look so imposing as the mansions to which some of you have been accustomed, but I think you will find in it every thing likely to make your captivity endurable.”

“Your abode looks most invitingly, noble captain,” observed Zabra, apparently much delighted; “and if the interior accord with the promise of what we see, I doubt much if either of us will have any desire to quit its attractions.”

Oriel Porphyry glanced angrily upon his friend, and again a suspicion of treachery entered his mind; but his attention was soon directed into another channel, when, upon entering the house, he found it fitted up in the most sumptuous style of Eastern taste. The spacious rooms were floored with marble, that threw a delicious coolness into the atmosphere, and flowers growing out of beautiful vases filled the air with fragrance. Here were ottomans and couches to attract the indolent—and at the open windows the grapes hung in clusters to tempt the thirsty. All the furniture was costly and elegant, and every room breathed an air of luxurious enjoyment.

Here the pirate chief kept his prisoners closely watched, but allowed them every comfort that his house afforded. The wounded men were carefully attended to; and through the skill of Doctor Tourniquet, and the benefit they derived from strolling about in the neighbourhood, which they were allowed to do when well guarded, they became convalescent. Zabra was more than ever in favour with the captain, and, by the same attractions, gained the good will of every one of the wild gang whom he commanded. They let him go where he pleased, and do as he pleased; and he had excited so complete a confidence in his captors, that they left him to roam about unguarded at all times, when the rest were watched with the most jealous care. Not only was he allowed this indulgence, but they showed him all the secrets of their retreat; conducted him into subterranean caves, where piles of the most valuable merchandise were stored, and led him into the vaults where their ammunition and weapons, in great abundance, were laid up ready for use. He also went several times with them from the house to the ship, till he could find his way alone.

Oriel Porphyry was not long allowed to remain in ignorance of the conditions upon which his life and the lives of his companions might be preserved; and these were, that he should sail in the Albatross on his destination, as if nothing had transpired—negotiate a sale of the merchandise it contained—and betray into the captain’s hands such of his father’s ships as he might meet with on his voyage. These proposals were immediately spurned; but the entreaties of Doctor Tourniquet and the professor, and his own consideration for the poor men whose safety was in his hands, at last induced him to adopt a temporising policy. He seemed to listen with some attention to the captain’s propositions, and, as the pirates thought, not unwillingly; but he was only waiting for an opportunity to attempt some desperate struggle, by which the liberation of himself and friends might be effected. This apparent acquiescence gained for him a greater degree of liberty, and a less strict surveillance, than he had previously known; and then, when they found themselves entirely free from observation, Zabra and he often met together, and had long and earnest conferences. Zabra, too, took every opportunity to converse with Hearty and the others, who had recovered from their wounds, and all seemed to listen to him with extraordinary interest. These men had intimated to the captain, that they had no objection to join his band on condition that they were not separated from Master Porphyry; and as they associated with the pirates, with every appearance of sociality and sincerity, the captain, though he did not then allow their request, left them in a less guarded state than he had previously done. Then Zabra’s communications with them became more frequent, and their conferences with one another appeared to increase in interest.

One day, when the captain, and about half his band, had gone out shooting wild hogs in the adjacent woods, the rest of the pirates, with their prisoners, were mingled together, talking and joking, and amusing themselves among the trees at the back of the house, and Hearty was looking anxiously every now and then as if he was waiting for some one to join his party. His companions also shared in the laugh, and in the sport which was proceeding, but it seemed as if their thoughts were otherwise employed. They were evidently inattentive to what was going on around them. They evinced a restlessness—an anxiety—an impatience not characteristic of men engaged in amusement; and now and then looks passed between them in which there appeared more meaning than was visible to the others. But the pirates heeded not these things. They thought only of the sport in which they were occupied; and being well armed, and much out-numbering their prisoners, who were without weapons, they had not the slightest fear or expectation of their attempting an escape. At last the boy Loop was observed turning the corner of the house, carrying a heavy bundle on his head. As soon as he was seen, Hearty and his companions hastily put their right arms into the upper part of their vests, each produced a pistol, and in an instant eight or ten of the pirates fell dead or wounded at their feet. With a shout, the sailors rushed towards the boy Loop, whose bundle, containing weapons, was soon appropriated, and then, amid yells and imprecations, cheers and shouts, there commenced a war of extermination between the two parties. The pirates were taken quite by surprise, and were put in confusion by the fierceness and suddenness of the attack. They still outnumbered their opponents, but while they gathered together, and were seeking to revenge their fallen comrades, a discharge of fire-arms in their rear from Oriel Porphyry, Zabra, Doctor Tourniquet, and the professor, still more diminished their numbers, and still more distracted their attention. They were not allowed a moment of inaction. At once from both sides came the attack. Pistols were only discharged, when it was almost impossible to miss; but the chief weapon was the sword, and with this Hearty, Boggle, Climberkin, and Ardent, well backed by their companions, and Oriel Porphyry, closely followed by Zabra, Fortyfolios, and the doctor, cut down all who opposed them. The conflict was fierce. Oriel Porphyry displayed an energy that nothing could resist. He hewed his way through the thickest of his foes, and they fell like reeds before his sword; while a stern scorn was breathing from his handsome features, and his fine manly figure seemed to dilate with the pride of conscious power. Close to his side came Zabra, whose exertions were not so effective; but his object seemed more to be to defend Oriel than to attack the pirates. Several times the arm that threatened the destruction of the young merchant was rendered powerless by the ready interference of his youthful friend, and the pistol levelled at his head dropped harmless to the ground. It soon became a struggle of man to man. Each singled out his opponent, and when he was disposed of, looked out for another. In a few minutes the state of the parties had changed exceedingly. A great number of the pirates had fallen, and the rest, unable to withstand the fierceness of the encounter, appeared desirous of making their escape. They were pressed so closely, that only three out of the whole band got away, and each of these was severely wounded.

“Now, my brave fellows, we have not a moment to lose,” exclaimed Oriel Porphyry. “Zabra, you will lead the way. Climberkin, you are much hurt, I’m afraid?”

“O, it’s nothing, sir,” replied the man cheerfully, although he was bleeding from several deep gashes: “we’ve nearly all got a few scratches; but I wouldn’t have cared being cut to pieces, now I behold these blood-thirsty villains so reg’larly done for.”

“Well, we must get forward, or the others may be upon us. Let every one look to his weapons, and be in readiness to use them. You go on, Zabra: I will follow you in a few minutes.”

The young merchant hastily re-entered the house, while the others proceeded up the acclivity, and before they reached the top, he joined them. “Hullo, my friends!” he cried, with a face glowing with excitement: “just take one parting glance at this den of infamy, and I will stake my existence it will give you pleasure.”

They had scarcely turned round for the purpose of complying with this request, when they observed flames issuing from the windows of the house. In so dry a climate fire burnt rapidly, and very quickly the whole place was a sheet of flame. While they were gazing, a loud noise like an earthquake shook the ground upon which they stood, and they beheld the house lifted up high into the air—the walls crack—the timbers split into pieces—and in a moment the retreat of the pirates was a mass of smoking ruins, and the air was darkened with a thick smoke and a shower of ashes. The men gave three hearty cheers, and proceeded merrily on their way. They descended the mountain till they came to the chasm where the rude bridge they had previously used remained. First, Hearty got within the hoops, and with the assistance of the ropes dragged himself across: when the hoops were pulled back, each in succession passed over; and the last was in the act of crossing as the pirate chief and the rest of his followers appeared upon the summit of the mountain. A yell of mingled ferocity and hatred arose as they witnessed the escape of their prisoners; and with malignity in their eyes and curses on their lips, they, as rapidly as possible, commenced descending the rock with the intention of overtaking the fugitives.

“Cut the ropes! cut the ropes!” shouted Oriel, and in an instant the swords of all the party were hacking at the thick twists of hemp; and as the pirates descended on the other side they were severed, and the ends fell into the abyss. A volley of pistol bullets and a chorus of imprecations arose from the enraged and baffled villains, but they did no mischief, and they were only answered by a triumphant cheer from the crew of the Albatross. The fugitives now rapidly pursued their way till they came to the sea shore, where they found two boats high and dry; these were immediately launched into the sea, and pulling the oars vigorously, they were soon by the side of the Albatross. There were not above half a dozen of the pirates left in charge of the ship, but these had noticed the approach of the boats, and seeing who they contained, were prepared to give them a hostile reception. A gun was brought to bear upon them—they saw it pointed—fired—and in the next moment the shot whizzed over their heads. With another cheer of triumph the brave fellows mounted the ship’s side. Every obstacle was used to prevent their boarding, and the few who were in the ship, from the determination with which they defended it, seemed likely still to remain its masters. At this instant, when Oriel and his party were unavailingly attempting to make good a footing upon the deck, assistance came from a quarter from whence any thing so welcome had never been anticipated.

Roly Poly was pursuing his avocations in the cook-house when he heard the affray, and looking out observed exactly the state of the opposing parties. By him the pirates had never been regarded with any thing like affection. They had treated him with great disrespect. They esteemed not his art, and spoke contemptuously of his skill. His resolve was soon made, and as quickly executed. Dipping a mop in a copper of boiling water, in which his cookery was going on, he hurried as fast as his fat limbs could carry him upon deck.

“See how Roly Poly come to ’sist him friends,” cried he, exultingly, as he began to use his strange weapon among the pirates with a dexterity that scattered them right and left. “Ha! you call my boofliful puddin’ ‘choke dog’—take dat you libellious vagabone,” and with a forcible sweep the scalding mop descended upon his face, sending him howling off his heels. “Ha! you say my lumptious soup wishy-washy,—take dat, you ignrant jackmorass!” and a resistless blow upon the ear levelled him with his companion, yelling with pain; and thus he proceeded till he had cleared a way for Oriel Porphyry and his coadjutors, who quickly silenced all opposition. “I hab you now, you fellar!” shouted Roly Poly, striding in triumph over one of his victims, and seemingly intent upon ramming the scalding mop down the man’s throat. “Like your imprence, I tink, you fellar! to go for to say I boil sich nice puddin I make, in nassy dishcloth!”

“Hubble, bubble, hubble, bloo!” said the choking wretch.

“Now I gib you puddin debblis nice, you fellar!” cried the fat cook, ramming away with all his might.

“Hobble, a bobble, a gobble, a gloo!” were the only sounds that were heard in reply.

“Dis nebber boil in nassy dishcloth, you fellar!”

“Grow, a row, a row, ow, oo, oo, oo!”

“Like your ’bominable imprence, you fellar!”

“Rug, a rug, a glug.”

“Take debblis good care you nebber say no more sich diclus impossumbilties. Ha! him dead as herrin’ now,” observed the unrelenting negro; and then adding, “But serb him berry right—berry right, indeed—a fellar!” he shouldered his mop, and turned on his heel.

“Up with the anchor, and get out to sea as fast as you can,” exclaimed Oriel Porphyry.

“If I might advise, sir,” said Hearty, respectfully, “I should recommend an unkimmon deal o’ care in steerin through these shallows. I paid ’ticular notice when we entered this here rascally neighbourhood. I’ve a notion them varmint never had sich a reglar spiflification since they commenced their murderin rigs—and I’m sartan sure the ship’ll be lost if we don’t look out pretty sharpish.”

“Well, what is best to be done?” asked Oriel. “You, of all of us, are best acquainted with these matters—what do you advise.”

“Why I advises this,” replied the old man: “I thinks it’s best, under all the ’cumstances o’ the case, for a boat to be sent a little forrard takin soundins, while I takes the helm and pilots the ship ’cordingly.”

“Let it be done, then,” said Master Porphyry; “and as I have the greatest confidence in your skill and experience, and as I wish to show in some appropriate manner how much I regard the fidelity and courage you have evinced in my service, from this time I intrust the entire management of the ship to you, allowing you to choose your own officers from among those of your shipmates whom you think most fitted for the duties you will require from them.”

At this announcement a cheer of loud congratulation proceeded from the delighted crew, among whom Hearty, by the inoffensiveness of his conduct, his general kindness, and approved courage, had become remarkably popular; but the old seaman appeared as if he did not know what to make of so unexpected a piece of intelligence. His honest, weather-beaten countenance assumed a variety of different expressions, and his confusion for some time prevented his utterance. However, at last, making an effort, he stammered, and as well as the state of his feelings would allow,—

“Thank ’ee, sir. But though I desarves nuffin o’ the sort, and ar’n’t hardly got gumption enough for the sitivation, I’ll do all as I can as long as there’s a timber afloat in this here craft, or as long as ever I can be of any sarvice to the owners.”

Two men then went in a boat in advance of the ship, taking soundings as they rowed along, the result of which they continued to cry out to Hearty, who with firm hand and steady eye stood at the helm, skilfully piloting the ship through the midst of the rocks. Notwithstanding the caution that was used, she was aground more than once; but immediately she touched, she was backed off the rock by the skilful seamanship of the anxious sailors; and in this way she floated slowly along, threading the intricacies of this dangerous navigation, till she passed from amidst the breakers into the open sea. It was an arduous task, and one full of peril to the Albatross and her gallant crew; and it was not without considerable anxiety that Oriel Porphyry and his companions watched the vessel’s progress from the deck. They spoke not to each other, but looked to the huge masses of granite that rose around them—and listened to the cry of the men in the boat with an interest that had swallowed up every other consideration. But when the ship was seen safely clearing her way through the deep waters, leaving the foaming breakers far in her rear, each looked upon his neighbour as if congratulating him on his escape; and Hearty, when he gave the helm into the hands of Boggle, received the sincere thanks of all whom by his skill he had saved from destruction.

“Zabra, you seem ill! What ails you?” exclaimed Oriel Porphyry, noticing for the first time that the eyes of his young associate looked dim and unsteady, and that he appeared as if unable, from weakness, to keep his footing on the deck.

“Nothing, Oriel, nothing!” replied Zabra, faintly, as he caught hold of the arm of his patron.

“Nay,” cried the merchant’s son, in tones of affectionate solicitude—“you are wounded. I see the blood trickling through your vest. How strange I should not have observed it before, and how wrong of you not to have mentioned it. Doctor Tourniquet!” cried he to the surgeon, who was discussing with the professor the philosophy of cause and effect, “here is one who requires your immediate attention. I hope there is nothing of much consequence, but whatever it may be, let it receive all your skill.”

Doctor Tourniquet hurried to his patient; but not without evincing much concern in his good-natured countenance, when he noticed by whom he was wanted.

“Not now, doctor, not now!” cried Zabra, hastily, and in evident confusion, as Tourniquet was proceeding to examine the state of the wound.

“But, my dear young friend,” observed the surgeon, kindly, “unless you let me take off part of your dress it is impossible that I can discover the injury you have received, don’t you see.”

“Here! I will remove his tunic,” said Oriel, eagerly coming forward to assist the doctor.

“Oh no, no, no!” hastily exclaimed Zabra, retreating in alarm from the proffered assistance. “I shall be better presently—that is—I am not much hurt. It is nothing. It will get well without assistance.”

“You must have your wound dressed, Zabra!” said Oriel Porphyry, surprised that his young friend should exhibit such a disinclination to intrust himself to the surgeon’s treatment. “I dare say it will give you but little pain, and will soon be over.”

“I can say nothing on the subject till I have seen the wound, don’t you see,” remarked the surgeon, in a slight degree offended at the extraordinary want of confidence in his surgical skill evinced by his patient.

“I am very faint,” cried Zabra, looking bewildered around him, as he leaned for support upon Master Porphyry—“very faint. I think I had better descend to my berth, where the doctor can attend me.”

“Very well,” replied Oriel: “only you must let me assist you.”

“Oh no, no!” exclaimed his young associate, eagerly. “Not now, Oriel. The doctor’s arm will be all the assistance I shall require. You can come to me afterwards.”

“You are a strange creature,” observed the merchant’s son. “But let it be as you wish.”

Doctor Tourniquet assisted his patient into a small cabin, into which he had scarcely entered, before Zabra would have sunk on the floor in a swoon, had not the surgeon observed his faintness, and prevented him from falling. He then laid him gently on his back. The doctor never before had had such an opportunity for noticing the rich and peculiar beauty of the countenance before him. He gazed for several minutes in undisguised admiration on the faultless features of his youthful patient, with the full conviction that he had rarely, if ever, met with any human face so attractive in its expression. The long black curls which Zabra had allowed to grow till they nearly reached his shoulder hung in shining clusters around his face and forehead; and the faint bronze in his complexion appeared to heighten the grace in which the features were modelled. Desirous of saving so much attraction to the world, if it were endangered, he sought to examine the injury the youth had received. It was a gun-shot wound in the shoulder. Doctor Tourniquet was carefully unfastening and removing the upper part of his patient’s dress, for the purpose of getting at the wound, when he suddenly started back, looking as if in the highest degree bewildered and amazed—his ruddy countenance acquired an additional glow—and surprise seemed to have had the power of taking away his breath; and after some minutes’ silent wondering, with eyes staring, and mouth opening wide, he recovered sufficiently to be able to ejaculate a long drawn “whew!”

END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

London: Printed by A. Spottiswoode, New-Street-Square.

Transcriber’s Note

The cover of this book was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.

A table of Contents has been added.

Some punctuation errors have been corrected silently. Inconsistent use of quotation marks in some parts of the book has not been changed.

The following corrections have been made, on page xii “imagin on” changed to “imagination” and “cean” to “ocean” (Cannot imagination make the sea dry land, and the earth ocean?) 29 “bouyant” changed to “buoyant” (elegant, and buoyant) 33 “pole” changed to “poll” (indignantly thrusting his woolly poll in the middle) 74 “disrepect” changed to “disrespect” (and my person with disrespect) 81 “reprepresented” changed to “represented” (for they represented, or were connected) 99 “Abatross” changed to “Albatross” (and the Albatross was rushing through the waves) 193 “un” changed to “sun” (with its own sun, moon and stars) 268 “ound” changed to “found” (he found it fitted up in the most) 287 “gettin” changed to “getting” (for the purpose of getting at the wound) 288 “Spotiswoode” changed to "Spottiswoode". (Printed by A. Spottiswoode).

Otherwise the original was preserved, including archaic and inconsistent spelling and hyphenation.