University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

—Between decks of the De la Cruze—piles of shot, &c.
Peter Wilkins, Jack Adams, and others discovered; they are looking out at stern windows. A long gun.
Chorus
.—Air—“Hearts of Oak.”
What a joke is our ship,
For it's twenty to ten,
That the Don will outsail us,
What shall we do then?
Steady boys, steady,
I'm quaking already,
Once safe upon shore catch me cruising again.

Pet.
(L.)
“Blow winds and crack your cheeks,” they near us fast,
This Boreas is not worth a single blast;
I never knew so dull and slow a frigate,
No wonder that the newspapers should rig it.

Jack.
Peter, 'tis vain the wessel to abuse,
This comes of cruising in the De la Cruze.

Pet.
When once again on land boys, please the pigs,
I'll trust no more experimental brigs.

Jack.
Talk not of brigs! but if we stand like drones,
We shall be very soon with Davy Jones.

[Gun run back, loaded, and run out during the following.
Pet.
Well, if they'll not abandon the pursuit,
Of obstinacy they must take the fruit.

[Takes up grape shot.
Jack.
That sort of fruit is very like to hurt—

Pet.
Only a bunch of grape—'tis their dessert.
Now for a blaze of triumph—quick, Jack, quick,
A lucifer to send them to Old Nick!

Jack.
(fumbling with box.)
Peter, my boy, to me no blame attach,
The gallant Nelson never found his match.
Take care, when congreves fall, they fall 'tis plain,
Like Lucifers, never to rise again.

[Jack Adams discharges the gun.
Pet.
That's hit the chase my boys, it scems to rock her,
There must be shot in every sailor's locker.
She has not time to run for port I think.

Jack.
The only port she'll reach is one o' the Cinque.
[Thunder heard.
Hollo! I see the sails aloft they're clewing,
I do begin to think a storm's a brewing.

Pet.
(putting on a Sou-wester.)
When Neptune brews, we're pretty sure to get
No half-and-half, but thorough heavy wet.
[Crash.
There go the masts, my heart begins to sail,
Here's a distress without the power of sail.

Jack.
(sentimentally.)
How little dream my duns whilst on their pillows,
That he who owes their bills is on these billows.

Voice above.
Look out below!

[Music. Crash. All fall on stage except Peter, who steadies himself on a gun.
Pet.
Good gracious! There's a shock.
What's that I see ahead? The loadstone rock!
There goes the gun. (gong.)

[The gun is drawn quickly across the stage.
And there go every shot.
[The shots fly off.
It really seems a most attractive spot.

Jack.
In such a spot I have no wish to settle.

Pet.
You needn't fear, you're not a man of mettle.

[Music. Crash. The ship appears to strike, and the whole scene assumes the appearance of a wreck—as the ship is sinking scene changes to