University of Virginia Library

7. CHAPTER VII.
THE YOUNG SAILOR.

Cæsar having delivered up his weapons,
for he found that with the sailor
and dog against him he was a prisoner,
quietly followed Jack to the shallop a
few yards distant, Neptune walked
close at his side with a low growl, as if
ready, at the least intimation of a desire
to escape, to fly at his throat; and to a
negro a dog is at all times a more terrible
enemy than a man.

`You see, massa,' said Cæsar, begining
his defence as he followed Jack on
board the little craft, `you see I was
sent up here by my young master on a
yerrand.'

`Who is your master?' asked Jack
gruffly, as he stepped to the gang-way
plank upon the deck and laid the sword
and knife on the companion-way; `these
here pen-knives look like something going
on as orten to, and I'm watch about
here, and must see as how no strange
sail cruises about under false colors.—
Now let's hear you give a reason why I
shan't hand you over to the old Captain
for punishment.'

`Bress your soul, is it Captin Talbo'
you speaks ob?' exclaimed Cæsar with
hope.

`Talbot, man! What do you know
of him?' asked Jack, eyeing him
closely.

`Why, bress you, massa mate, I jiss
come from dere. It was to him I comed
on de yerrand.'

`That true!'

`Sure as can be, massa mate. You
jiss go ax him.'

`Yess, and let you escape. No, no.
I ant an old bird to be caught with chaff,
and by a nigger, too.'

`I no want catchee, massa. I bring
oranges present to massa Cap'n Talbo'.
I juss leave 'em dere. Dis here de berry
bag I cares 'em in.'

`It doos smell orangey,' said Jack,
snuffing at it, while Neptune snuffed at
Cæsar's shins, as if he was very desirous
of taking a mouthful out.

`Sure it doo, massa. Jiss please keep
you dog away, please, massa.'

`Go walk the deck, Nep.'

The dog obeyed, and Cæsar started
with amazement to see him pace the
quarter-deck.

`Dat be de last ting dis child ebber
see. He second mate, massa.'

`No, he's first luff, darkey. So you've
been up to the Captain's. Who did you
see in the parlor cabin?'

`Wall, thar was the Cap'n and a nodder
oldish kind ob missus, and a berry
handsome young missus.'

`That's all accordin to log. Now who's
your master?'

`He down to Hallowell. He massa
Arch, and juss come from Bosson; and
bein massa Cap'n Talbo' was a old
friend, he sends me up to-night wid dis
bag full ob orange as a present.'

`That is a straight yarn. If your master
is the Captain's friend I'll be your's.
There's my hand. What is your name?'

`Caesar.'

`I could ha' guessed it without axin',
for I never knowed a nigger that hadn't
Caesar spliced on to his figure-head.
What are you doing with that soger's
sword and this here Spanish knife toot?'

` Well, massa mate, I hab to tell you
de whole story if I begin, and I hab to
be back to massa Archy soon as I can,
coz he'll be lookin' for me.'

`I'll let you go when I hear about the
knives here, darkee. A man, specially
a blackee, who is cocht skulkin 'bout
the barky with two such boarding weapons,
must be overhauled to know
where he's bound, what his cargo is,
and what his colors is. So uncoil here ;
but first here's a glass of grog for you,'
added Jack, taking from a shelf under
the cover of the companion-way a bottle
and tin-cup, placed there for his own
convenience when on deck at night; for
Jack insisted upon standing watch in the
shallop every four hours, Ned keeping
the deck the other four. This was his
habit at sea, which he could never rid
himself of on land. The grog was therefore
placed conveniently for him to take
a pull now and then during his watch.

`Tankee, massa, I b'leives I will take
a bit, jist for please you,' answered Caesar
complacently. ` Your ver' good helf,
massa.'

`Here's to you, darkee. May you live
a thousand years, as the Dons say!' responded
Jack, taking a nipper. ` `Now
for the yarn about the weapons.'

`Well, you see, as I is comfortable,
and 'tant late yet, I'll jist tell you, specially
as I wants you to be on your guard
agen de willain as I tuk de sword from ;
so I jiss tell you what he is, coz de community
ort to know.'

' Well, in course it ort, if he is a villia',
answered Jack very positively as
he took his seat on the companion-way,
while Caesar sat upon a cask placed
against the quarter-railing. ` Now heave
a-head.'

'Well, you see, in de fust place, I is a
West Indgy nigger.'

`I guessed that afore, darkee. I've
been in the Havanna, and seed jist sich
craft as you, shaped jist like you fore aed
aft, top-knot and all. Now a Orleans or
a 'Merikan nigger looks different. Yes,
I'd swore you was a West Indgy,' and
Jack twisted off a finger's length of pigtail
and thrust it into his cheek, offering
at the same time the roll of tobacco to
Caesar, with

`Do you chaw, darkee ?'
politely.

`I does n't, massa, answered Caesar

`Then forge a head. You ses as how
you are a West Indgy,'

`Yiss, massa mate, and-'

`Avast there, shipmate. Who told
you I was mate ?' `

`I ony guess him, massa.'
` Well, I am Captain o' this barky.'

`Beg pardon, massy Capting, I does;
I berry sorry I didn't know it afore.'

`No matter, so you know it now. But

let out your hawser. Don't be so long
wearing round.'

` You interrup's me, massy.'

` Well, I wants to have you start shipshape.
Now give her the helm.'

,` Well, I is a West Indgy nigger,
massy Capting, and I belonged to a massa
French planter, live near de Havanna.
Well, one day, 'bout two year and half
ago, comes into de port a 'Merikam frigate,
and my master invites de ossifers
to dine, coz my massy hab marry a Yankee
lady, and he berry much like de
'Merican. Dey all come out to dinner
in carriage and on horseback.'

` I got cast away on one o' them animals,
once, out in Cuby. He wouldn't

mind the helm; and though I held him
by the fore-stays, as the lubber as let me
have him told me, he got the wind o' me
and there was no bringing him under
short canvas after that. I braced my legs
in the main-chains, both sides o' the saddle
and got hold o' his tail to keep him
steady, seein' he veered and hauled
amazing and didn't keep the channel.—
At last he took a lee lurch, dove bows
under, stern up in the air, and sent me
three fathom over the bulwarks on the
road side into a corn-field.'

`Horses is berry dangerous,' responded
Cæsar, shaking his head. `These ossifers
came out on horses and got there
safe to dinner. There was to be a large
party in de ebenin' and massa hearin'
'em tell a story 'bout a young seaman as
had been the first to board an English
frigate, and had disarmed the Cap'n and
tuk him prisoner, besides strikin' the
colors wid his own hand—Massa said he
must come to de party too!'

`In course. That master of yours
was a true gentleman, darkee. That
was a brave tar. Do you know his
name?'

`It was massa Archy, my master as is
now.'

`The same that sent the oranges to the
captain?'

`Yis, de same.'

`How came he to be your master?'

`I'll tell you, afore long. Soon as my
old massa say dat he like to see de young
sailor, de first ossifer write a short billet,
and massa gib it me and tell me ride fast
as I can go to the city and go board and
giv de note to de leutenant.'

`The officer of the deck. And you
did?'

`It was only four mile, and I soon dere
and aboard ob de ship. I pressents de
note to de ossifer ob deck and he reads
it, and den calls out a name; and a
young man comes dressed berry neat,
for dey had made him someting under a
midshipman, aboard. `You is wanted
on shore, it seems,' said the ossifer,
smiling as he handed him de note.—
`You'll have to put yourself in trim, as
there's a ball!' He couldn't believe he
was invited, but the ossifer told him he
was, and he must go! So he got ready
and went wid me; and when we got
ashore and on horseback, he asks me a
great many questions all 'bout master,
and why he was sent for; and I told him,
coz I liked him berry much indeed.—
And afore we got dere, he seeemed to
like me berry much.'

`And what did he do when he got
there?'

`Why he seemed a little modest-like
at first; but master made much of him,
and treated him so like a gentleman, he
soon felt as much at home as his ossifers;
and they seemed to like to have him
there, for he was a 'varsal favorite board
the frigate! Well, massa somehow took
a great liking to him, and told him he
must come out again and dine with him;
and all the handsome ladies thought a
great deal of him; for every body knew
he had been so brave, and the first to
board the frigate and haul down the
colors!'

`That's enough to make a gentleman
of any man. The ladies al'ays likes
courage, darkee l'

`Yiss, I thinks they does. Well, the
frigate was in port three weeks, and jist
afore she was to sail he was tuk down
ashore with yellow-fever. The frigate
had to go, and left him; but the ossifer
wrote to my master, and we went right
in and brought him out home and nussed
him, He was berry sick for two months,
but by and by got well, and wanted to
go and join his ship; but it would be two
months afore it was expected back.—
Master and he rode out ebbery day, and
master seemed to like him as if he was

his son. I tuk care of him all the time
he was sick, and berry much loved him,
he was so good and kind.

`One day, massa came ridin' home
bleed n' in the arm. Three men had
'tacked him, who wanted to kill him, for
they were his enemies; and if massa
Archy —'

`That was the young sailor who had
been on his beam ends sick!'

`Yis. If he hadn't been brave as a
lion and killed one out-right and fought
the others till they ran, master'd been
killed sure, as he said to us. You don't
know how he praised him, and said he
owed his life to him. At length the
frigate came back, and he said he must
go. Massa would have kep' him, but he
said he must not stay another day away
from the ship. I then wanted to go with
him, for I had become berry much
'tached to him; and he was berry sorry
to have to leave me! And what you
tink master do?'

`Gave you to him, as was proper.'

`Dat was just it. He told me, if I
loved his young deliverer so much, I
might go with him and take care of him
in danger. Massa Archy didn't know
of dis till I show myself to him board de
ship. He den want me to go back, but
I wouldn't stir; and when de ossifer
come to know 'bout how it was, he said
I should stay and do what I could board
de frigate.'

`So you staid!'

`Yiss; and I nebber hab lef massa
Archy from dat day to dis. He hab
save my life four time, and I hab save
him life twice, coz we seen good many
fights on de sea l'

`What frigate was you in?'

`De Eagle frigate!'

`I've heard about her cruises. She
made a good many captures.'

`Yis massa, dat she did! But we was
in two oder vessels besides! Now,
Massa Cap'n, I b'leives I must go!'

`You haint told me how you happened
to come here abouts armed with this here
spanish knife and long soger's spit.'

`I haint time, now, Massa. I ony jist
tell you dat —'

`You must explain all ship-shape.—
How do I know but you want to kill me
and run off with the barky? Come shipmates,
make all square and veer out your
talkin' tackle. Here's another sup o'
grog.'

`Tankee, massa! Dis am berry nice
beberage.'

`To be sure it is. I haint been eight
and twenty years at sea not to know how
to mix grog, especially to suit a niggar.'

`It bery good, massa.'

`Now let's hear the end o' your story.'

`Wall you see, massa, arter we left
Havanna and cruised about on de ocean
we puts into Rio Janeiro. Dere we
found another 'Merican sloop-o'-war, de
Lexinwille.'

`Lexington, you mean, darkee.'

`Dat precise de name, massa. Well,
dere was parties on shore, and one night
dere was a smashin' great ball at de Emp'ror's
palace.'

`I've seen that.'

`Hab you?'

`To be sure I have! Ask me what
place that a barky can sail into on the
globe I haint been in, and drank grog in.
I've seen the Emperor's palace and his
black guards, blast their eyes. Five on
'em chased me and a messmate to our
boat one night, coz we keeled over a
Portuguee shop-keeper as wanted to cheat
us out of our money's worth. Jist as I
was takin' the last leap for the boat, one
of their baggonets caught me under the
waistband a-starn and sent me clean afinto
the coxswain's lap, keel up.'

`Well, dat was a berry 'markable escape.
De night de ball was, all our ossifers

went ashore in long-togs and eppylets,
and chapos, and swords at their
sides—'

`That's party riggin' all the world over.
You needn't tell me that.'

`I likes to be tikkalar. Well, some
how or order when do ossifers was goin'
to dair boats dere was a row wid de black
sogers, who wanted to get money out of
em for lettin' em go through de gate to
de mole. Our orsifers showed fight, but
were forced to their boats, but dey
brought off de Portugee Cap'n prisoner.
Somehows in de darkness Massa Archy
and I got in de boat as belonged to the
sloop-o'-war and didn't know it till we'd
pulled off.'

`Then he went to the hall?'

`Yis, dat he did, for he messed wid de
middies though he want one; but the
Captain said he must, for he'd have him
a middy soon as he got to the states, for
de skipper like Massa Archy bery great
deal. Finding he was in de wrong boat,
Massa Archy said he'd keep on, and go
aboard de sloop first, and den be put
aboard de frigate. Well, when we got
aboard, as Massa Archy was passing de
marine as was sentry at de gangway, he
no sooner saw de marine, den he speak
his name out with surprise; but neider
spoke to each oder, ony de marine look
black as em thunder when he see Massa
Archy treated as equal by the ossifers.'

`Who was the marine?'

`Why you see it was a love matter.—
Massa Archy and he hab love de same
young Misses, and her fader say dat
neider ob em shall hab her till de war
was ober, and den he gib her to him as
'stinguished himself de bravest! Dat
was de reason de soger when he see Massa
Archy look so black.'

`I understand. He was only a marine,
and seeing the other a gentleman-like,
it riled his bilge-water.'

`Dat it did! Well, I cant tell you all
what happened arterwards, but may be
I'll spin the yarn some oder time; but I
jiss wants to inform you dat when I was
coming from your Massa Captain's up
dere, wid dis bag, I meets dis berry marine.'

`The very soger as stood sentry and
hated your master?'

`De cozact man, massa. He try to
keep him face hid, but I 'cognise him,
and he axes me berry quisitive kestions
bout my master, as I didn't like. I did
not choose to answer him, coz I know'd
he'd try to do Massa Archy a mischief
ob some kind, if he could come across
him. He den got mad, coz I wouldn't
tell him where Massa Archy was, and
draw his sword and I draws my knife;
and I gets his sword afore he could pink
me, and den chases him up de bank.—
But he run too fast for dis niggar and so
I came to my skiff when your big dog
grab me by de jacket and axes me what
I doin dar. Den you come and dat's de
end ob de story, massa Cap'n.'

`It's a strait yarn, nigger. I see you
be an honest fellow.'

`To be sartain I is, massa.'

`Then I'll give you up your weapons.
Now take another sup of grog. It is
very dry work reeving off talk.'

`Dat it am. massa;' responded Cæsar
smacking his lips as he returned the tin
cup to Jack. `But I felt it to be berry
necessary duty for me to tell you bout
dis man, coz he's skulking bout here, and
he berry bad man; for I did'nt tell you
how he like to kill me and Massa Archy
dead.'

`No. How was it?'

`I cant stop now, massa. I ony say
dat he bery ebil man, and if you sees
him cruising about here, keep your eye
on him.'

`Yes and set the dog on him too.—
Who was the young lady your master and
this chap was trimming their sails in chase
of?'

`Why bress you, Massa, is was de butiful
Miss Blanche, up dare!' responded
Cæsar in a low, confidential tone; for
the grog had made him quite communicative.

`What the old Captain's handsome
daughter?'

`Yiss. Didn't I tell you that my
young Massa had sent her a bag ob oranges.'

`I heard something about such shipping
papers being drawn up between the
old Captain and two young sparks, but I
disremembered the names. What is the
name of the other barkey?'

`Nelson Osborne.'

`I'll log him down in my memory.—
You say he went up by the block-house?'

`Yis, massa.'

`Well, I'll just make sail and give
chase. If he's such a pirate-craft as you
say, he haint no business coming about
Miss Blanche. I'm glad I fell in with
you, Cæsar! You say your master has
done bravely through the war!'

`He hab been berry 'stinguished;—
But when he and de Capting hab a talk
to-morrow, den I hab de liberty of telling
you all about it.'

`So he's coming up to-morrow?'

`Yis, for sartain.'

`We are all bound on a fishing-cruise
to-morrow! Tell him if he keeps a
sharp eye on the river he'll discover us;
and if he is on the shore let him hail; or
if he is in a boat to bear along side. I
love to see a brave tar as well as any
body. Now I'll just weigh and make
after that marine as you gave chase to!