Part 1

LADY EUREKA; OR, THE MYSTERY: A PROPHECY OF THE FUTURE.

BY THE AUTHOR OF "MEPHISTOPHELES IN ENGLAND."

IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. III.

LONDON: LONGMAN, REES, ORME, BROWN, GREEN, & LONGMANS, PATERNOSTER-ROW. 1840.

LONDON; Printed by A. SPOTTISWOODE, New-Street-Square.

CONTENTS

I. ROLY POLY'S SICKNESS, AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. II. AN AUSTRALIAN COLONY IN SPAIN. III. OLD ENGLAND. IV. THE LAST OF THE ENGLISHMEN. V. AN ACCOUNT OF THE DECLINE AND FALL OF OLD ENGLAND. VI. THE DEATH OF THE LAST OF THE ENGLISHMEN. VII. LILYA. VIII. LOVE MISPLACED. IX. A DISCOVERY. X. A FIGHT AT SEA. XI. THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN DEATH, AND THE MEETING OF THE SHIPS. XII. THE CONCLUSION.

EUREKA;

A PROPHECY OF THE FUTURE.

CHAPTER I.

ROLY POLY'S SICKNESS, AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.

"Oh, massa, I so bad!" exclaimed the fat cook, as he waddled up to the surgeon, with a most woeful expression of countenance.

"What's the matter with you, Roly Poly?" inquired Dr. Tourniquet.

"Sich a debble ob a pain, massa," continued the black.

"But where is it, man? where is it? Can't do you any good till I know what's the matter with you, don't you see," said the surgeon.

"Debble ob a pain, massa, in my tomack," replied his patient, rubbing his huge hand over his stomach, and heaving the most despairing of sighs.

"Put out your tongue," exclaimed the doctor.

The fat cook extended a pair of enormous jaws, and protruded something which resembled a scorched brick-bat.

"Ah! derangement of the digestive functions," remarked the practitioner, after a brief inspection of the misshapen lump of flesh his patient had exhibited. "What have you been eating?"

"Eatin, massa?" repeated Roly Poly, looking most ludicrously pathetic, "can't eat nutting, massa, to tink of. Loss nappetite 'pletely. Breakfast, me only eat pound and harp o' beef--berry little lump o' cold puddin big as my two fistes," (which were the size of another person's head), "two or tree red herrin--harp-a-dozen egg--lope o' bread, and one, two quart o' cocoa. Nuttin more, me 'sure you, massa. Yes, me loss nappetite 'pletely. Den for lunch, me eat pound and harp o' beef--berry little lump o' cold puddin, big as my two fistes--two or tree red herrin--and drop o' liquor wash it down, not more den harp a gallon, nutting to tink of, massa. Den for dinner me eat pound and harp o' beef--berry little lump o' hot puddin, big as my two fistes--plate or two o' wedgeables--lope o' bread--small bit o' cheese, big as one o' my two fistes--and drop o' liquor wash it down, not more nor harp a gallon. Can't eat nuttin. Den for tea me eat pound and harp o' beef--berry little lump o' cold puddin, big as my two fistes--two or tree red herrin--harp-a-dozen egg--lope o' bread, and one, two quart o' cocoa. Nuttin to tink of. Den for supper, me eat pound and harp o' beef--berry little lump o' cold puddin, big as my two fistes--two or tree red herrin, and two or tree roasted tatoroes--lope o' bread--small bit o' cheese, big as one o' my two fistes--and drop o' liquor wash it down, not more nor harp a gallon. Me eat nuttin, massa. Loss nappetite 'pletely."

"Why, you eat enough to satisfy a regiment," exclaimed Dr. Tourniquet.

"No, massa, me berry poor eater," replied the fat cook in a doleful tone; "eat nuttin to sinnify. Ony pound and harp o' beef--berry little lump o' cold puddin----"

"Yes, yes; I've heard all that," said the doctor, impatiently interrupting him. "Your plethoric habit must be reduced, don't you see. You must be bled and physicked, till we bring down that mountain of flesh into something like a healthy size. You must eat no beef, no pudding, no red herrings, no eggs, and no cheese; and drink neither liquor nor cocoa. You must drink nothing but barley water, and eat nothing but arrow-root; and run up and down the deck for half an hour, half-a-dozen times a-day."

As the Doctor described the remedies he desired his patient to adopt, Roly Poly's mouth gradually extended itself till it threatened to approach his ears; and his eyes kept winking and staring as if in complete consternation.

"Massa!" at last he loudly exclaimed, and seemed gradually becoming more indignant. "What, starve poor nigger! reduce poor Roly Poly to a natomy! No eat no pound and harp o' beef, no berry little lump o' cold puddin big as my two fistes--no red herrin--no nuttin! You want to kill poor Roly Poly, Sar! You want to 'prive de world o' de cook what makes de booflifulest dishes as you nebber see, Sar! You want to make skeleton o' poor nigger to put in glass-case, Sar! Nebber heard o' sich numanity! sick barbararity--sich cruelty to anmals! Where de debble you spect to go when you die?"

"Well, if you don't like to follow my prescriptions, it's no use coming for my advice, don't you see," remarked the Doctor.

"Follow your scriptions?" replied his patient, losing all respect for his companion in the intensity of his indignation. "Follow a shark's grandmutter, Sar. What, eat nuttin but arrow-root? nassy slop!--pooty joke indeed. Drink nuttin but barley water?--washy stuff! Tink you catch me at it. Be bled and physicked, and run up and down deck six times a day for harp an hour--what a preposterosterous impossumbility."

"You will get much worse if you don't, and possibly you may die, don't you see," observed Tourniquet.

"Die, Massa!" cried the fat cook, looking horrified at the idea, and rubbing his stomach with an increased energy. "Oh, sich a debble ob a pain! Die Massa! Poor Roly Poly die? Sich a boofliful cook die! Quite unnatral, Massa. Oh, sich a debble ob a pain! What become o' de poor fellars who eat him nice puddins, and soups, and all dat? Nebber hab no beckfast; nebber hab no lunch; nebber hab no dinner; nebber hab no tea; nebber hab no supper; never hab no nuttin! What become o' ebry body? What become o' ship? Same o' you say Roly Poly die! Nobody do nuttin widout him; cook be most important ofcer in ship. Roly Poly be booflifulest cook as nebber was. Same o' you say Roly Poly die!"

"Well you will find out the difference by-and-bye, don't you see," said the Doctor; and, turning on his heel, he left his patient to his own reflections.

"Him no more doctor dan a jackmorass," muttered the fat cook, as he waddled to another part of the ship, making the most ludicrous grimaces, and rubbing his stomach with an activity, that for him, was quite surprising. On his way he met with Loop, the young midshipman, who had lately distinguished himself by his love of mischief, and fondness for tricks. The lad, with a very demure face, approached Roly Poly.

"How do you do, Roly Poly?" he inquired, looking into his face as if he was wonderfully interested in the result of his question.

"Oh, sich a debble ob a pain!" replied the fat cook, with a most melancholy visage, continuing the up and down motion of his hand.

"You look very ill, very ill indeed," observed the boy. "What an extraordinary change! I should scarcely have known you. You must be in a very dangerous state, Roly Poly. You ought to be in your hammock. You ought to be making your will--you ought to be saying your prayers."

"Oo, oo, oo!" blubbered out the fat cook, lengthening his face as he listened to the remarks of his companion. "You tink I die, Massa Loop?"

"I am much afraid you will be as dead as a herring before you can look about you," replied Loop.

"Oo, oo, oo!" The other continued. "Doctor say I die: you say I die: spose I must die. Oo, oo, oo!----"

"We are all mortal," observed the youth, with a grave countenance; "and all, sooner or later, must leave this sublunary world. Cooks cannot be spared any more than midshipmen."

"Oo, oo, oo!" cried Roly Poly.

"Is there any thing I can do for you?" anxiously inquired the midshipman;--"any consolation I can afford, before your cold remains are consigned to the deep."

"Oo, oo, oo!" continued the fat cook.

"You must have fortitude to bear the blow," said Loop, with a countenance that would have done credit to a judge. "Let this be your consolation, that although your body will be devoured by the first shark that ventures in its way----"

"Oo, oo, oo, oo!" vehemently sobbed the sick man, interrupting the sentence before it was half finished.

"You ought now to think of your sins," continued his tormentor. "It is never too late to repent, you know; and I should earnestly advise you to confess all the injuries you have done your fellow-creatures by imposing upon their stomachs the villanous specimens of your cookery you have from time to time set before them. Confess upon what pipe-clay and train-oil system you made your puddings,--confess the abominable trash you put together to manufacture into soups;--confess how many you have poisoned with your atrocious cocoa--confess----"

It is possible that the young midshipman might have said much more, but Roly Poly, who had listened to his injunctions at first with astonishment, and next with rage, lost all consideration for his approaching dissolution, and his yellow eyeballs flashed with fury. "What de debble you mean you fellar!" thundered out the enraged cook, approaching his companion, who wisely kept out of arms' reach. "What de debble you mean ob pipe-clay and train-oil? What you mean ob bominable trash--what you mean ob poison wid trocious cocoa? You mean to sult me, Sar? You tink I put up wid your imprance, Sar? You spose I low one man to peak sick horble tings o' nodder man."

"Man!" exclaimed the youth, as he edged away from his pursuer,--"You don't call yourself a man, surely? You know you're nothing else but an old blacking bottle, turned inside out."

"Blacka bottle!" shouted Roly Poly, while his face became livid with rage, and he looked utter annihilation at his insulter, "Blacka bottle! I blacka bottle you, I catch you!" and he waddled after the midshipman as fast as his fat legs would carry him, intent upon vengeance.

Loop kept dodging him about from one place to another, saying the most aggravating things he could think of, till the perspiration rolled down the black cheeks of the infuriated cook, and he seemed completely exhausted by his exertions. Roly Poly sat down at the foot of one of the masts to rest himself, breathing all sorts of threatenings against his tormentor; while the young midshipman, laughing at the success of his trick, nimbly ascended the yards, and took up a position just over the head of the victim of his mischief. The latter was congratulating himself that he was left at peace, and was endeavouring to recover the tranquillity of his temper, when he became conscious of something dropping down upon him; putting his hand to his woolly head, he discovered it was being covered with pitch, and, looking up, beheld Master Loop snugly balanced aloft, amusing himself by pouring from an old bucket some of the fluid that had polluted his person.

It would be in vain attempting to delineate the passion of the fat cook at this discovery. Furious with rage, he caught up a small hand-spike that lay near, and poised it in his hand with the intention of throwing it at his tormentor. Loop saw what he was about to do, and immediately, as rapidly as possible, moved from his position, and kept changing from place to place, with a quickness that baffled the fat cook's aim; but when he had ascended to a greater height, and was passing from one point to another with a velocity that seemed impossible to be imitated, his foot slipped, and with a scream that made all on deck aware of his danger, he fell headlong into the sea.

The Albatross was proceeding at a moderate rate, and was about fifty miles off the coast of Spain. Oriel Porphyry was conversing with Zabra on the quarter-deck, when he noticed the accident. He, with others, rushed to the side; and, observing where the boy descended, he immediately threw off his upper garments, and plunged into the waves. There was a strong sea running at the time, and it required the arm of a powerful swimmer to force a way through the heaving billows. Upon arriving at the surface, after his plunge, Oriel struck out for the spot where the midshipman had fallen, but saw nothing of the object of his search. He dived about in every direction; but was equally unsuccessful. Anxious to endeavour to save the youth while a possibility remained of his rescue, he continued his exertions; but he met with nothing that could in the slightest degree, assist him in his object. Not a trace of the boy was to be seen. Disappointed and weary, he was about returning to the ship, when he caught the sound of a faint, bubbling cry at no great distance from him, and turning his eyes in that direction, he thought he could distinguish something like a human head in the trough of an advancing wave. He swum rapidly in that direction; and as he approached, saw it disappear from the surface. Down he dived after it as rapidly as his skill would allow; but though he swept the waters, far and near, with his arms, he touched nothing but the cold salt water; and after remaining beneath the surface till his strength and breath were nearly exhausted, he arose, dispirited and faint, into the open air.

While the most painful reflections were created in his mind, by the unsuccessful result of his labours, he suddenly observed a dark substance rise within a few feet of him; he struck out towards it in a moment, and grasping it firmly with his hand, to his deep and inexpressible delight discovered it to be the body of the lost midshipman. His face was pallid, his skin cold, and as Oriel found that he made no reply to his hurried inquiries, he was much afraid that the boy was either dead, or was in a state nearly approaching dissolution.

By this time the ship had been put about, and the sailors having been made acquainted with the accident rushed with anxious faces to the side. They watched with the deepest interest the young merchant gallantly breasting the waves in search of their drowning favourite, and became uneasy as they noticed the unprofitableness of his efforts. But none regarded the progress of the swimmer with such intense excitement of feeling as Zabra. He saw his patron pass from wave to wave--he observed him dive into the dark waters, and waited for his re-appearance with sensations impossible to be described. As the vessel was brought round to the spot where Oriel Porphyry was pursuing his researches, he became more earnest in his attention. He endeavoured to encourage him in his efforts with his voice, and to strengthen him in his purpose by his praise. The captain had not ascended to the deck, and he was unacquainted with the accident: but as soon as he was made aware of it, he hurried to the ship's side in an agony of apprehension, and it was only the strong grasp of Boggle and Climberkin that prevented him from plunging into the sea.

A loud cheer from the crew announced that the young merchant had succeeded in finding the object of his solicitude, and anxiously every eye turned towards the spot where he was seen supporting the boy with one arm and cleaving his way through the waves with the other.

"A shark--a shark!" screamed Zabra; and to the horror of Oriel and those who were observing him, a monstrous shark was seen coming rapidly towards him. A cry of terror arose from the ship. Some shouted in hopes of frightening away the ravenous animal--others to warn the young merchant of his danger. Some ran to get fire arms, and Hearty, breaking away from those who held him, suddenly hurried below the deck. The agony of Zabra became insupportable. He screamed in all the piercing tones of horror and despair, and his handsome features seemed convulsed with fear. Still, as if there was a fascination in the object, he kept his eyes upon the form of the shark. He watched its movements with a fearful interest, and saw it near its intended victim with wild and frantic terror.

Oriel Porphyry beheld the approach of the giant of the deep with consternation and dread. He could not abandon his companion, who was incapable of making the least exertion for his own safety, and he saw no way of rescue for himself. He held the boy tighter, and dashed along the waves with greater velocity in hopes of reaching the rope that was hung out from the ship before the huge animal could come up with him. To the attainment of this purpose he strained all his powers. Many friendly voices cheered him on, and others strove all they could to frighten away his remorseless enemy. But the shark kept on his way, unheeding the frightful cries and showers of missiles with which he was assailed. His fierce eyes were fixed upon his prey, and his monstrous jaws were gaping for their food. The rope was almost within reach, but the destroyer was nearer. Oriel Porphyry gave himself up for lost. It appeared evident to all that he could not escape. The crew redoubled their cries and flung every thing at hand at the monster without avail. Just as he was turning on his side to make the fatal gripe, Hearty rushed upon the deck with a long knife in his hand, and before any one was aware of his purpose, he leaped over the side of the ship and descended into the water close to the jaws of the shark, with a splash that completely distracted the animal's attention, and allowed Oriel Porphyry unmolested to seize the rope which the eager sailors held to assist him in regaining the vessel. In a moment, with his lifeless burthen still grasped in his arm, he was hawled upon the deck, and then placing him under the care of Dr. Tourniquet, he was turning to notice the result of the Captain's manoeuvre when he found himself seized by the friendly grasp of Zabra, whose delight at his escape appeared to have taken away all power of utterance.

But now an extraordinary scene presented itself upon the sea. The shark had dived below the surface, when Hearty suddenly dashed down before him; but on rising again, which he very shortly did, and on perceiving his prey escape, he turned with increased ferocity towards the hardy seaman, who was rejoicing at the success of his scheme. The old man waited quietly till the shark turned to make a snap at him, then diving quickly under his enormous belly, he plunged the knife up to the hilt in his body, and rose up on the other side. The crew cheered vociferously when they saw what their captain was about, and every one on board watched the unequal combat with feelings of the most intense interest. The ravenous monster, smarting with pain, again approached his opponent; again he turned to gripe him within his jaws, and again the old man diving under his belly, plunged his knife deep into his flesh. The animal now became furious; he lashed the waves with his tail till they became a mass of foam, and rapidly followed his brave antagonist, making every effort to devour him; but the old man warily avoided all his ferocious attempts, and at every blow of his arm crimsoned the water with his blood. This fight continued for several minutes, till both the combatants disappeared from the surface, when the anxious crew of the Albatross began to fear that their brave old commander had fallen a sacrifice to his exertions; but when they beheld the huge fish floating on the water belly upwards, and heard the old man cry out for a rope, a long and hearty cheer rose from the ship, and every one rushed to bear a hand in assisting him on board.

He appeared covered with the blood of the slaughtered shark, and with the weapon in his hand, of which he had made such good service. While he was receiving the congratulations of his messmates, he inquired eagerly after his young relative. Oriel, who had ascertained that he was doing well, hastened to communicate the intelligence; and the old man as soon as he beheld the preserver of his boy, eagerly grasped his hand, and uttered his grateful thanks. Both soon afterwards left the deck to change their apparel.

Among those who seemed most anxious for the recovery of the young midshipman was Roly Poly, who, although exceedingly passionate, and easily enraged, was a very good hearted sort of creature, and he quite forgot the insults he had received--forgot even the terrible pains that had a short time since so much alarmed him, when he witnessed the dangers to which the boy had been exposed, and saw him brought lifeless upon the deck. He assisted Dr. Tourniquet in using the usual means for restoring suspended animation, and observed his recovery with a delight equal to that of any one in the ship.

After Loop was able to walk about, Roly Poly addressed him with a great deal of gravity upon the offence he had committed.

"Nebber you gain call me Blacka Bottle," said the fat cook. "Nebber you say nuttin scandabalous bout de boofliful tings what I cook. Nebber you say no preposterosterous impossumbilities. Horble ting, massa Loop, to call Roly Poly Blacka Bottle--Horble ting to say nuttin scandabalous--Horble ting to say preposterosterous impossumbilities."

"I'll never say any thing against you again, Roly Poly, as long as I live," exclaimed the contrite midshipman: and thus ended the quarrel; and ever afterwards they were the best friends in the ship.

CHAP. II.

AN AUSTRALIAN COLONY IN SPAIN.

"We are approaching the Colony to which you thought of emigrating, are we not?" inquired Oriel Porphyry of the captain's clerk, who stood beside him on the deck, and with whom he had been in earnest conversation concerning the misfortunes of the young Australian.

An expression of pain and regret passed over Ardent's countenance.

"Yes it was here," he replied making a violent effort to conquer his emotion. "We were destined to the penal settlement of New Sydney on the Spanish coast, thriving accounts of which were in circulation in Australia. My brothers were desirous of a location somewhere near the banks of the Guadalquivir, as, although it was thinly settled, the land was said to be of a very superior quality. My father was of the same inclination. I had no other wish than to accompany them. Optima was anxious for nothing but to be with me. But, alas! the devouring flame, or the equally unrelenting flood has swallowed up all. I am a wanderer and a beggar.--I have neither kin nor country."

"Say not so," replied the young merchant kindly. "I have not forgotten the services you have rendered me, nor am I likely to pass them by without notice. If you wish to settle at the colony, I will take care you shall have the means of doing so with every hope of success; or if you have no particular inclination towards any country, if you will return with me to Columbia, you may depend upon meeting with many kind friends, and may pass the rest of your life in comfort. I must touch at New Sydney as I expect a letter from my father, from whom I have not for some time had any communication, which makes me exceedingly anxious; and if you hear of any desirable farm or plot of land, I wish you would let me know."

"Your kindness is overpowering," said Ardent, much affected. "I have done nothing to deserve it. I have already been rewarded in a manner far exceeding my deserts. But while I can be of any service, I should like to remain with you. I have no ties to bind me to any country--and where I can be useful is where I should like to dwell."

"So it shall be then," added Oriel Porphyry. "Be satisfied that the remainder of your life shall bear no comparison with what has preceded it. We are now nearing the shore. I shall require your services as I have some business to transact; therefore you will be good enough to prepare to land with me immediately."