 | CHAPTER XVI. The free-trader, or, The cruiser of Narragansett Bay |  |
16. CHAPTER XVI.
The commissioner, after enjoying for
a moment the surprise which his presence
on deck had created, and feeling
too much over-joyed at having secured
his position on board of, the Free-Trader,
to fear the consequences that
might follow his showing himself, thus
replied to the amazed inquiry of the
merchant,
“There is no miracle, sir, about it,
unless it is a miracle that I was not
drowned! When the boat which you
sunk so unceremoniously, as if men's
lives were of no more value than
kitten's, wont down, I was thrown into
the water with the rest, and should certainly
have been drowned if I had
known how to swim a little, for then I
should have tried to have made the
shore, and should certainly have gone
to the bottom before I get on soundings.
But not swimming, I had no
sooner risen to the surface than I
tried to grasp hold of the brig's side;
but could get nothing to cling to,
and was going under again when I saw
the rudder, and I scrampled towards it
some how and grasped it! There was
an iron ring in it, which was the best
friend ever I had. I held on to it, and
after collecting myself a little, I found
that if I exerted myself I could
climb up into the cabin windows. I
did for a moment think of calling to
those in the boat to tell them I was
there, and asking them to come for me;
but the moment I thought of the cabin
windows I changed my mind; for, said I
to myself, here I am, having fairly
effected a lodgment upon the brig, and I
mean to make it sure, if I die for it! So
I resolved to watch my time and crawl
into the window of the cabin; for after
having ran so many dangers to get on
board, I did not feel like giving up the
hope of finally ensconcing myself between
decks. So, after all was quiet,
I crept up into the cabin window and
safely landed myself within; and there
I have remained in a berth till three
minutes ago, when hearing by your conversation
that we were near the wharf,
I thought I would present myself, as
this is about the place in the harbour
where a vessel coming in should take an
officer of the customs on board!”
“Shall I pinion him, Mr. Frankland?”
asked the captain, in an under
tone, and evidently chagrined, “I will
deeply pinion him if you say so, and keep
him prisoner below till the cargo is stored.
No one knows he is on board, and no
doubt the officers of the boat suppose
him to be drowned! Give me the
word, and I'll take care he don't trouble
us till the brig is clear of the wines and
sugars, the only dutiable articles!”
“I have nothing to say against any
course you pursue, Captain Benbow,”
responded Mr. Frankland, in the same
tone.
“Then heave a-head! All is safe.
Come with me into the cabin, Mr.
Riverton, and let me show you my
manifest; and give you also a glass of
brandy and water; for your wetting may
give you a bad cold. I am very glad
you were not drowned! I should have
regretted it very much; and trust that
none of the seamen were lost or hurt!
Come, sir, now you are on board we
must take care of you as hospitably as
we can.
“I am glad you have thought better
of it, Captain Benbow. I hope it won't
go hard with you about resisting the
boats, for we have been friends and
neighbours in our day! I do think a
little brandy wouldn't hurt me! It is
rather chilly being so long in wet
clothes! Come, neighbor Frankland,
suppose you join us, and drink the
king's health.”
“I have no objection to drinking
my king's health, Mr. Riverton, nor of
yielding proper obedience to his laws;
but I cannot submit to be treated as a
serf, and as serfs the king is pleased to
treat his faithful colonists. We have
fought his battles against the French in
Canada, taken for him Louisburg, and
always shown ourselves loyal and true
subjects. I never will refuse to drink
his majesty's health; for though I love
not his laws I respect his person!”
“Come, Mr. Riverton, I can't be
very long absent from the deck!” said
the captain.
“True. I will just look at your
manifest, and see what you have got,
and drink a glass and be on deck
again. I am glad this matter, friend
Franklin, has ended so quietly. The
king will have his duties on your cargo,
and you will sleep with a good conscience
after paying them!”
With these words the commissioner,
little suspecting the trap that the angry
captain was laying for him, followed
him down into the cabin.
“Here is where I keep my wines,
Mr. Riverton,” said the captain, opening
a locker beneath the companion-stairs.
Just look in and see what a cool
place!”
The commissioner stooped to comply,
when Captain Benbow, with a strong
grasp upon his two shoulders pushed
him into the closet, and clapping to the
door locked it, and rolled a half pipe of
wine against the door.
“There, you will be safe there, my
man, till I choose to let you out again!”
muttered the captain, with an emphatic
manner.
“For the love of mercy! Help!
help! Murder! help! Treason!
Let me out! Oh, murder!” were cries
that proceeded from the terrified and
surprised officer of customs.
“Silence, or I will blow you up with
a cask of powder that is close by your
door!” cried Captain Benbow. “So
let me not hear your voice till I am
ready to let you out! You came on
board without my consent, and you
must stay here without your own.
Keep quiet, is all the caution I give you,
master Riverton!”
With these words of menace, the
captain left him, and hastened on deck.
“What have you done with him,”
asked Mr. Frankland eagerly.
“Locked him up! He is safe
enough, and frightened out of his wits!
Now I am ready, sir, to attend to your
directions!”
“Only to bring the brig alongside
the pier as expeditiously as possible,
and when she is secured to open your
hatches and break bulk. It looks odd
to see a merchant compelled to steal his
own goods out of his own vessel, to save
am conscientious in what I am doing,
Captain Benbow!”
“We are pretty well in now! another
cable's length and we shall be abreast
of the end of the pier! What is that,
Mr. Coffin?”
“A boat, sir, coming from the wharf!
Ho! the boat!”
“Birchell, the tide-waiter! Throw
me a rope, for I'm coming aboard in the
king's name!”
“Here is another of them!” cried
Captain Benbow, “shall we sink him?”
“No, we have his principal here, and
that is enough,” annswered the merchant.
“But he must be prevented if
possible; but use no violence, or there
may be a commotion in the crowd who
are looking on! Let everything be
conducted as quietly as may be now!”
“We have no spare ropes, Master
Birchell,” responded the mate, as the
collector's boat, with but one person at
the stern-wheels and two oars, went
under the bows with a rapid movement.
“I must then get on board as I can,”
answered Birchell resolutely.
“Don't harm him, Mr Coffin, but
keep him from getting hold. He is a
hard-faced, resolute fellow, and will
prove a harder customer than the commissioner!”
While he was speaking there was
a cry of surprise forward, and
“He is aboard!” reached their ears.
“Yes, indeed, I am on board, and
I mean to stay here, Captain Benbow.
Glad to see you home again! I knew
the Free-Trader as soon as she began
to appear in sight, ten minutes ago!
Ah, Squire Frankland, your humble
servant, sir! I am happy to be the first
man on board the first craft that has
come into port under the new law! You
have plenty of sugars and wines, hey!”
“You are welcome, Birchell!” answered
the captain, not a little annoyed.
“If I ai'nt it is not my fault. I caught
the brig's martingale as she was passing
and throwing myself on her bowsprit,
was upon the forecastle in a jiffy. Did
you see anything of an armed schooner
below?” he asked significantly.
“Yes, we left one aground on the
shoal, four miles below! But walk
into the cabin, Mr. Birchell! I have
some capital brandy!”
“To be sure! Right from the fountain,
where it flows, in the West
Indies! I never refused a good offer,
yet. I'd like to take a bottle of it home
as a present, after I see the brig unloaded
and all your freight entered
to-morrow, 'cording to law!”
“Mr. Coffin, take the brig up to the
wharf, and get every thing snug al oft
and open the hatches. Mr. Frankland
will have men to help hoist out the cargo.
We have a hard night's work before
us, and you must be lively with the
men. I am going below to lock up this
blustering tide-waiter. Come, Birchell,”
he added in a louder tone of voice
to the deputy officer.
“I'm there, captain, I am,” responded
Birchell, and with a swaggering air,
for his successful boarding of the brig,
which certain people in town prophecied
he would never see the inside of until
she was unladen, had elated him, he
followed Captain Benbow into the cabin.
“Nice, comfortable cabin you have,
here, captain, real nice snug box, for a
single man,” said the tide-waiter, looking
about him. “How many days from
Madeira?”
“Forty, to-morrow.”
“Good passage, very. And how
many did you have from the Havana to
Madcira?”
“Half as many,” answered Captain
Benbow politely, as he opened a case of
spirits and drew forth a square gilt bottle,
labelled “French Brandy,” in gold
lettering.
“Ah, that is the kind for weak eyes,
Benbow,” exclaimed Birchell, his eyes
snapping at the sight of the rich ruby
tint, as the captain held it up to the
light. “You have a taste in selecting
the best, Captain. How much duty
think the brig 'll pay the king on this
venture?”
“Well, we may have about thirty
thousand dollars in wines and sugars in
the hold,” answered Benbow, pouring
out half a tumbler of brandy into a glass,
into which unseen by the tide-master,
he had previously poured a large dose of
laudanum, enough to produce sound
and long sleep, but without danger.—
“There, Mr. Birchell, try that! You
will find some loaf sugar there before
you.”
“I never dilute, Captain. Here's to
his majesty's health, and a long life to
him. Your health, Captain Benbow,
and luck to your brig.” With this
miscellaneous sort of a toast, Birchell,
who was slightly tipsy when he came
on board, drunk off the potion.
“Capital brandy, but it seems to me
it has a taste of—of—what is it?”
“Perhaps there may have been a
taste of camphor in the tumbler.”
“That is it. Nevertheless, it was
capital liquor.”
“Take a clear glass and try some
that has no smell of camphor,” said
Captain Benbow drily.
“Well, I think I will,” responded
Birchell, as he received a second glass,
without any foreign mixture from the
captain. “But you don't drink.”
“I will pledge you sir.”
“Here's luck and a rich voyage
next time out,” said Birchell, as he
tossed off the brandy. “Ah, that is
the nectar! No camphor there, Capting,
I'm blessed if there is!” and with
an expression of very high satisfaction
upon his countenance, he replaced the
glass upon the transum.
“I suppose you would like to see my
manifest, Birchell?” asked Captain
Benbow closely watching his face to
see the effect of his stupefying draught.
“Yes, I don't mean you shall get
off without paying every penny of the
duty. I am a king's officer, I am, and
I must do my duty, and my duty is to
look after your duty, hey? Yes it is.
Your brandy is confounded strong, Benbow.
It is busty strong! Fourth proof
eh?” and Birchell's eyes looked heavy,
and he soon sank upon a camp stool.
“It begins to do it for him,” said
Captain Benbow o himself. “He will
soon be quiet enough.”
“B—B—Ben—bo—bow!”
“Well, Birchell.”
“I am a kin—kin—king's officer, I
am. Keep my eyes open for me!—
Strong br—br—brandy, Benbow, it is. I
say, Benbow, I say, I'm a ki-king's—”
Here the tide-waiter, whose senses
had been each moment yielding to the
influence of the laudanum, fell over and
rolled upon the cabin floor in a state of
stupefaction.
“There he will lie sound enough
until morning, when I will have the hog
hoisted ashore, and the king may take
him for duties.”
“Captain?” called a faint voice from
the locker, “Captain, I'm smothering.”
“There's plenty of air there, Master
Riverton. You must be quiet. Remember
my threat!” and with these
words Captain Benbow ascended to the
deck, locking both of the cabin doors,
and drawing the top of the companion
below.
| CHAPTER XVI. The free-trader, or, The cruiser of Narragansett Bay | |