Chapter 55

AN OLD STORY.

He was roused before sunrise by his father’s cough. After a bad fit, he was very weary and restless. Now, in such a condition, Cosmo could almost always put him to sleep by reading to him, and he therefore got a short story, and began to read. At first it had the desired effect, but in a little while he woke, and asked him to go on. The story was of a king’s ship so disguising herself that a pirate took her for a merchant-man; and Cosmo, to whom it naturally recalled the Old Captain, made some remark about him.

“You mustn’t believe,” said his father, “all they told you when a boy about that uncle of ours. No doubt he was a rough sailor fellow, but I do not believe there was any ground for calling him a pirate. I don’t suppose he was anything worse than a privateer, which, God knows, is bad enough. I fancy, however, for the most of his sea-life he was captain of an East Indiaman, probably trading on his own account at the same time. That he made money I do not doubt, but very likely he lost it all before he came home, and was too cunning, in view of his probable reception, to confess it.”

“I remember your once telling me an amusing story of an adventure--let me see--yes, that was in an East Indiaman: was he the captain of that one?”

“No--a very different man--a cousin of your mother’s that was. I was thinking of it a minute ago; it has certain points, if not of resemblance, then of contrast with the story you have just been reading.”

“I should like much to hear it again, when you are able to tell it.”

“I have got it all in writing. It was amongst my Marion’s papers. You will find, in the bureau in the book-closet, in the pigeon-hole farthest to the left, a packet tied with red tape: bring that, and I will find it for you.”

Cosmo brought the bundle of papers, and his father handed him one of them, saying, “This narrative was written by a brother of your mother’s. The Captain Macintosh who is the hero of the story, was a cousin of her mother, and at the time of the event related must have been somewhat advanced in years, for he had now returned to his former profession after having lost largely in an attempt to establish a brewery on the island of St. Helena!”

Cosmo unfolded the manuscript, and read as follows:

“‘An incident occurring on the voyage to India when my brother went out, exhibits Captain Macintosh’s character very practically, and not a little to his professional credit.

“‘On a fine evening some days after rounding the cape of Good Hope, sailing with a light breeze and smooth water, a strange sail of large size hove in sight, and apparently bearing down direct upon the “Union,” Captain Macintosh’s ship; evidently a ship of war, but showing _no colours_--a very suspicious fact. All English ships at that time trading to and from India, by admiralty rules, were obliged to carry armaments proportioned to their tonnage, and crew sufficient to man and work the guns carried. The strange sail was _nearing_ them, or “the big stranger,” as the seamen immediately named her. My brother, many years afterwards, more than once told me, that the change, or rather the _transformation_, which Captain Macintosh _under_went, was one of the most remarkable facts he had ever witnessed; more bordering on the _marvellous_, than anything else. When he had carefully and deliberately viewed the “big stranger,” and deliberately laying down his glass, his eyes seemed to have catched _fire_! and his whole countenance lighted up; a new spirit seemed to possess him, while he preserved the utmost coolness: advancing deliberately to what is called the poop railing, and steadily looking forward--“Boatswain! Pipe to quarters.” Muster roll called.--“Now, my men, we shall _fight_! I know you will do it well!--Clear ship for action!” I have certainly but my brother’s word and judgment upon the fact, who had never been _under fire_; but his opinion was, that no British ship of war could have been more speedily, or more completely cleared for action, both in rigging, decks, and guns,--guns _double shotted_ and run out into position. “The big stranger” was now _nearing_,--no ports opened, and no colours shewn--_all_ increased cause of suspicion that there was some ill intent in the wind--and it was very evident, from the _size_ of “the big stranger”--nearly _thrice_ the size of the little “Union,”--that, one broad side from the former, might send the latter at once to the bottom:--the whole crew, my brother related, were in the highest spirits, more as if preparing for a _dance_, than for work of life and death. Suddenly, the captain gives the command,--“Boarders,--Prepare to board! --Lower away, boarding Boats”--and no sooner said than done. The stranger was now at musket-shot. It was worthy the courage of a _Nelson_ or a _Cochrane_, to think of boarding at such odds;--a mere handful of men, to a full complement of a heavy Frigate’s crew! The idea was altogether in keeping with the best naval tactics and skill. Foreseeing that one broadside from such an enemy would sink him, he must _anticipate_ such a crisis. Boarding would at least divert the enemy from their _guns_; and he knew what British seamen could do, in clearing an enemy’s decks! _There was_ British spirit in those days. Let us hope it shall again appear, should the occasion arise. The captain himself was the first in the foremost Boarding Boat--and the first in the enemy’s main chains, and to set his foot on the enemy’s main deck! when a most magic-like scene saluted the Boarders; but did not _yet_ allay suspicion:--not a single enemy on deck!--Here, a characteristic act of a British _tar_--the Union’s Boatswain,--must not be omitted--an old man of war’s man:--no sooner had his foot touched the _enemy’s_ deck, than _rushing aft_--(or towards the ship’s _stern_)--to the _wheel_,--the _only man on deck_ being he at the wheel,--a big, lubberly looking man,--the Union’s boatswain in less than a _moment_ had his hands to the steersman’s throat,--and with one _fell shove_, sent him spinning, heels over head--all the full length of the ship’s quarter-deck, to land on the main deck;--one may suppose rather _astonished_! The manly boatswain himself was the only man _hurt_ in the affair--his boarding pistol, by some untoward accident, went off,--its double shot running up his fore-arm, and lodging in the bones of his elbow. Amputation became necessary; and the dear old fellow soon afterwards died.

“‘But what did all this _hullybaloo_ come to? Breathe--and we shall hear! “The Big Stranger” turned out to be a large, heavy armed Portuguese Frigate!--Actually the _war-ship solitary_ of the Portuguese navy then afloat!--a fine specimen of Portuguese naval discipline, no doubt!--not a _watch_ even on deck!--They had seen immediately on seeing her, that the “Union” was _English_, and a merchant ship--which a practised seaman’s eye can do at once; and they had quietly gone to take their _siesta_, after their country’s fashion--Portugal, at that time, being one of Britain’s allies, and not an enemy;--a grievous _disappointment_ to the crew of the “Union.”’

“My uncle seems to have got excited as he went on,” said Cosmo, “to judge by the number of words he has underlined!”

“He enters into the spirit of the thing pretty well for a clergyman!” said the laird.