“You want eight months of coming of age, Jack,” observed Gascoigne.

  “It won’t make a difference of more than three or four weeks,” said Mr Oxbelly; “and the expenses have been very great.”

  “But—”

  “But what, Jack?”

  “Agnes.”

  “Agnes will be better defended going home by men who have been accustomed to be in action. And, as for her waiting a little longer, it will only make her love you a little more.”

  “Sleep single a little longer, Mr Easy, it’s very pleasant,” said Mr Oxbelly.

  “That’s not very bad advice of yours,” observed Gascoigne.

  “Stop a little, Massa Easy,” said Mesty, “you know dat very good advice.”

  “Well, then,” replied Jack, “I will, as I am quite in the minority. We will work up the whole coast — up to Toulon. After all, there’s something very pleasant in commanding your own ship, and I’m not in a hurry to resign it — so that point’s decided.”

  The Rebiera was steered in to the land, and at sunset they were not four miles from the lofty blue mountains which overhang the town of Malaga. There were many vessels lying at the bottom of the bay, close in with the town; the wind now fell light, and the Rebiera, as she could not fetch the town, tacked as if she were a merchant vessel standing in, and showed American colours, a hint which they took from perceiving three or four large vessels lying in the outer roads, with the colours of that nation hoisted at the peak.

  “What is your intention, Jack?” said Gascoigne.

  “I’ll be hanged if I know yet. I think of working up to the outer roads, and anchoring at night — boarding the American vessels, and gaining intelligence.”

  “Not a bad idea; we shall then learn if there is anything to be done, and if not, we may be off at daylight.”

  “The pratique boat will not come off after sunset.”

  “And if they did, we could pass for an American, bound to Barcelona or anywhere else — the outer roads where the vessels lie are hardly within gun-shot.”

  Mesty, who had resumed his sailor’s clothes, now observed, “What we do, Massa Easy, we do quickly — time for all ting, time for show face and fight — time for hide face, crawl, and steal.”

  “Very true, Mesty, we’ll crawl this time, and steal if we can. It’s not the warfare I like best of the two.”

  “Both good, Massa Easy; suppose you no steal board of polacca ship, you not see Missy Agnes.”

  “Very true, Mesty. ‘Bout ship, Mr Oxbelly.”

  “Mr Oxbelly not good for boat sarvice,” observed Mesty, showing his teeth.

  It was dark before the Rebiera was anchored in the outer roads, a cable’s length astern of the outermost American vessel. One of her quarter-boats was lowered down, and Gascoigne and our hero pulled alongside, and, lying on their oars, hailed, and asked the name of the vessel.

  “So help me Gad, just now I forget her name,” replied a negro, looking over the gangway.

  “Who’s the captain?”

  “So help me Gad, he gone on shore.”

  “Is the mate on board?”

  “No, so help me Gad — he gone shore too.”

  “Who is aboard then?”

  “So help me Gad, nobody on board but Pompey — and dat me.”

  “Good ship-keepers, at all events,” said Jack. “A ship in the outer roads with only a black fellow on board! I say, Pompey, do they always leave you in charge of the vessel?”

  “No, sar; but to-night great pleasure on shore. Eberybody dance and sing, get drunk, kick up bobbery, and all dat.”

  “What, is it a festival?”

  “So help me Gad, I no know, sar.”

  “Is there any one on board of the other vessels?”

  “Eberybody gone on shore. Suppose they have black man, he stay on board.”

  “Good-night, Pompey.”

  “Good-night, sar. Who I say call when captain come on board?”

  “Captain Easy.”

  “Captain He-see, very well, sar.”

  Our hero pulled to another ship, and found it equally deserted; but at the third he found the second mate, with his arm in a sling, and from him they gained the information that it was a great festival, being the last day of the carnival; and that every one was thinking of nothing but amusement.

  “I’ve a notion,” said the mate, in reply, “that you’re American.”

  “You’ve guessed right,” replied Jack.

  “What ship, and from what port?”

  “Rhode Island, the Susan and Mary,” replied Gascoigne.

  “I thought you were north. We’re of New York. What news do you bring?”

  “Nothing,” replied he, “we are from Liverpool last.”

  A succession of questions was now put by the American mate, and answered very skilfully by Gascoigne, who then inquired how the market was?

  It was necessary to make and reply to all these inquiries before they could ask apparently indifferent questions of American traders; at last Gascoigne inquired:

  “Do you think they would allow us to go on shore? the pratique boat has not been on board.”

  “They’ll never find you out if you are off before daylight; I doubt if they know that you are anchored. Besides, from Liverpool you would have a clean bill of health, and if they found it out, they would not say much; they’re not over-particular, I’ve a notion.”

  “What are those vessels lying inshore?”

  “I guess, they have olive oil on board, the chief on ‘em. But there are two double lateens come in from Valparaiso the day before yesterday, with hides and copper. How they ‘scaped the British, I can’t tell, but they did, that’s sure enough.”

  “Good-night, then.”

  “You won’t take a glass of sling this fine night, with a countryman?”

  “To-morrow, my good fellow, to-morrow; we must go on shore now.”

  Our hero and Gascoigne returned on board the Rebiera, consulted with Oxbelly and Mesty, and then manned and armed the two quarter and stern boats. They thought it advisable not to hoist out their long-boat; no fire-arms were permitted to be taken lest, going off by accident or otherwise, an alarm should be given. Our hero and Mesty proceeded in the first boat, and pulled in for the town; Gascoigne shortly after in the second, and the boatswain, in the jolly-boat, followed at some distance.

  There was no notice taken of them; they pulled gently down to the landing-place, which was deserted. There was a blaze of light, and the sounds of revelry in every quarter on shore; but the vessels appeared equally deserted as the American ones in the offing.

  Finding themselves unobserved, for they had taken the precaution to pull only two oars in each boat, they dropped gently alongside one of the double-masted lateen vessels, and Mesty stepped on board. He peeped down in the cabin, and perceived a man lying on the lockers; he came up in his stealthy manner, closed the hatch softly, and said, “all right.” Jack left Gascoigne to take out this vessel, which he did very successfully, for it was very dark; and although there were sentries posted not far off, their eyes and ears were turned towards the town, listening to the music.

  A second vessel, her consort, was boarded in the same way, but here they found a man on deck, whom they were obliged to seize and gag. They put him down in the cabin, and Mesty, with another boat’s crew, cut her cables and swept her gently out towards the American vessels. One more vessel was required, and Jack, pulling two oars as usual, saluted a galliot heavily laden, but of what her cargo consisted was not known. In this vessel they found two men in the cabin playing cards, whom they seized and bound, and cutting her cables were obliged to make sail upon her, as she was much too large to sweep out. As they were making sail they, however, met with an interruption which they did not expect. The crew belonging to the vessel, having had enough amusement for the evening, and intending to sail the next morning, had thought it right to come off sooner than the others: it was then about midnight or a little later, and while some of Jack’s men were aloft, for he had six with him, Jack, to his annoyance, heard a boat coming off from the shore, the men in her singing a chorus. The galliot was at that time just under steerage way, her topsail had been loosed and her jib hoisted, but the former had not been sheeted home, for the three men below could not, in the dark, find the ropes. The other three men were on the foreyard loosing the foresail, and Jack was undetermined whether to call them down immediately or to allow them to loose the sail, and thus get good way on the vessel, so as to prevent the boat, which was loaded with men, from overtaking them. The boat was not more than twenty yards from the galliot, when, not finding her where they left her, they pulled to the right and lay on their oars. This gave a moment of time, but they very soon spied her out. “Carambo!” was the exclamation — and the head of the boat was pulled round.

  “Down, my lads, in a moment by the swifters,” cried Jack. “Here’s a boat on board of us.”

  The men were in a few seconds on deck, and the others, who had now sheeted home the topsails, hastened aft. The vessel soon gathered way, but before that her way was sufficient, the boat had pulled under the counter, and the Spaniards, letting their oars swing fore and aft, were climbing up, their knives in their teeth. A scuffle ensued, and they were thrown down again, but they renewed their attempt. Our hero, perceiving a small water or wine cask lashed to the gunwale, cut it loose with his cutlass, and, with one of the men who was by his side, pushed it over, and dropped it into the boat. It struck the gunwale, stove a plank, and the boat began to fill rapidly; in the meantime the galliot had gained way — the boat could not longer be held on, from its weight, and dropped astern with the men in it. Those who were half in and half out were left clinging to the gunwale of the vessel, and as they climbed up were secured and put down in the cabin. Fortunately, no fire-arms having been used on either side, the alarm was not given generally, but the sentry reported fighting on board one of the vessels, and the people of the guard-boat were collected, and pulled out; but they only arrived in time to see that the galliot was under way, and that the two other vessels from Valparaiso were not in their berths.

  They hastened on shore, gave the alarm; the gunboats, of which there were three at the mole, were ordered out, but half the crew and all the officers were on shore, some at balls, others drinking at taverns or posadas; before they could be collected all three vessels were alongside of the Rebiera; and not aware that anything had been discovered, our hero and his crew were lulled in security. Jack had gone on board, leaving fourteen of his men on board the galliot — Gascoigne had done the same — Mesty still remained on board his vessel; and they were congratulating themselves, and ordering the men on board to the windlass, when they heard the sound of oars.

  “Silence! — what is that?” exclaimed Oxbelly. “The gun-boats or row-boats, as sure as I’m alive!”

  At this moment Mesty jumped up the side.

  “Massa Easy, I hear row-boat not far off.”

  “So do we, Mesty. Gascoigne, jump into the boat — tell the men in the prizes to make all sail right out, and leave us to defend their retreat — stay on board of one and divide your men.”

  “Dat all right, Massa Easy. — Mr Gascoigne, be smart — and now, sar, cut cable and make sail; no time get up anchor.”

  This order was given, but although the men were aloft in a moment, and very expeditious, as the Rebiera payed her head round and the jib was hoisted, they could perceive the boom of the three gun-boats pulling and sailing not five cables’ length from them. Although rather short-handed, topsails, courses, and top-gallant sails were soon set, the men down to their quarters, and the guns cast loose, before the gun-boats were close under their stern. Then Jack rounded to, braced up, and the Rebiera stood across them to the westward.

  “Why the devil don’t they fire?” said Jack.

  “I tink because they no ab powder,” said Mesty.

  Mesty was right — the ammunition chests of the gun-boats were always landed when they were at the mole, in case of accidents, which might arise from the crew being continually with cigars in their mouths, and in the hurry they had quite forgotten to put them on board.

  “At all events, we have powder,” said Jack, “and now we’ll prove it. Grape and canister, my lads, and take good aim.”

  The commanders of the gun-boats had hailed each other, and agreed to board the Rebiera, but she now had good way on her, and sailed faster than they pulled. A well-directed broadside astonished them — they had no idea of her force; and the execution done was so great, that they first lay on their oars and then pulled back to the mole with all speed, leaving the Rebiera in quiet possession of her prizes, which had already gained two miles in the offing.

  The Rebiera, as soon as Jack perceived that the gun-boats had retreated, was put before the wind, and soon closed with her captures, when she was hove-to till daylight with the three vessels in company. Gascoigne returned on board, prize-masters were selected, and Jack determined to keep them all with him, and take them to Palermo.

  Chapter Forty.

  In which there is another slight difference of opinion between those who should be friends.

  The two lateen vessels proved of considerable value, being laden with copper, hides, and cochineal. The galliot was laden with sweet oil, and was also no despicable prize. At daylight they were all ready, and, to the mortification of the good people of Malaga, sailed away to the eastward without interruption.

  “Me tink we do dat job pretty well, Massa Easy,” observed Mesty, as he laid the breakfast table.

  “Nothing like trying,” replied Gascoigne; “I’m sure when we stood into the bay I would have sold all my prize-money for a doubloon. How do I share, Jack?”

  “Only as one of the crew, Ned, for you are a supernumerary, and our articles and agreement for prize-money were signed previous to our sailing.”

  “I ought to share with Mr Oxbelly’s class by rights,” replied Gascoigne. “That would be to take half my prize-money away. I shall want it all, Mr Gascoigne, to pacify my wife for giving her the slip.”

  “Ah, very well; I’ll get all I can.”

  For ten days they ran down the coast, going much too fast for the wishes of the crew, who were anxious to make more money. They seized a fishing boat and put on board of her the four prisoners, whom they had found in the vessels, and arrived off Barcelona, without falling in with friend or foe. The next morning, the wind being very light, they discovered a large vessel at daylight astern of them to the westward, and soon made her out to be a frigate. She made all sail in chase, but that gave them very little uneasiness, as they felt assured that she was a British cruiser. One fear, however, came over them, that she would, if she came up with them, impress a portion of their men.

  “As certainly as I’m here, and Mrs Oxbelly’s at Southsea,” said Oxbelly, “they’ll take some of the men — the more so as, supposing us to be a Spanish convoy, they will be disappointed.”

  “They will hardly take them out of the prizes,” observed Easy.

  “I don’t know that; men must be had for his Majesty’s service somehow. It’s not their fault, Mr Easy — the navy must be manned, and as things are so, so things must be. It’s the king’s prerogative, Mr Easy, and we cannot fight the battles of the country without it.”

  “Yes,” replied Gascoigne, “and although, as soon as the services of seamen are no longer wanted, you find that there are demagogues on shore who exclaim against impressment, they are quiet enough on the point when they know that their lives and property depend upon sailors’ exertions.”

  “Very true, Mr Gascoigne, but it’s not our fault if we are obliged to take men by force; it’s the fault of those who do not legislate so as to prevent the necessity. Mrs Oxbelly used to say that she would easily manage the matter if she were Chancellor of the Exchequer.”

  “I dare say Mrs Oxbelly would make a very good Chancellor of the Exchequer,” replied Gascoigne, smiling; “one thing is certain, that if they gave the subject half the consideration they have others of less magnitude, an arrangement might be made by which his Majesty’s navy would never be short of men.”

  “No doubt, no doubt, Mr Gascoigne; but nevertheless, the king’s prerogative must never be given up.”

  “Then I agree with you, Mr Oxbelly; it must be held in case of sudden emergency and absolute need.”

  “We’ll argue that point by-and-bye,” replied Jack; “now let us consult as to our measures. My opinion is, that if I made more sail we should beat the frigate, but she would come up with the prizes.”

  “That’s the best thing we can do, Mr Easy; but let us send a boat on board of them, and take out all the men that can possibly be spared, that there may be no excuse for impressing them.”

  “Yes,” replied Gascoigne; “and as the wind is falling it is possible it may fall calm, and they may send their boats; suppose we separate a mile or two from each other.”

  “Dat very good advice, Massa Gascoigne,” observed Mesty.

  This plan was acted upon; only three men were left in the lateens, and four in the galliot, and the vessels, in obedience to the orders, sheered off on both sides of the Rebiera, who made all sail and started ahead of the prizes. This manoeuvre was perceived on board of the frigate, and made them sure that it was a Spanish convoy attempting to escape. The fire-engine was got on deck, sails wetted, and every exertion made to come up. But about four o’clock in the afternoon, when the frigate was eight or nine miles off, it fell calm, as Gascoigne had predicted, and the heads of all the vessels, as well as the frigate, were now round the compass.

  “There’s out boats,” said Mr Oxbelly; “they will have a long pull, and all for nothing.”

  “How savage they will be!” observed Gascoigne.

  “Never mind that,” replied Jack; “Mesty says that dinner is ready.”

  After dinner, they all went on deck, and found that the boats had separated, one pulling for each of the prizes, and two for the Rebiera. In less than an hour they would probably be alongside.

  “And now let us decide how we are to act. We must not resist, if they attempt to impress the men?”