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AFLOAT AND ASHORE
all vanished into thick air, one after another, leaving nothing
but vapour. Severe orders had been given for no one to call
out, but, the moment the ship was seen, for the discoverer to
go aft and report. At least a dozen men left their quarters on
this errand, all returning in the next instant, satisfied they had
been deceived. Each moment, too, increased the expectation;
for each moment must we be getting nearer and nearer to her,
if any vessel were really there. Quite twenty minutes, however,
passed in this manner, and no ship was seen. Marble continued
cool and confident, but the captain and second-mate smiled,
while the people began to shake their heads, and roll the tobacco into their cheeks. As we advanced, our own ship luffed
by degrees, until we had got fairly on our old course again, or
were sailing close upon the wind. This change was made easily, the braces not having been touched; a precaution that was
taken expressly to give us this advantage. When we found ourselves once more close upon the wind, we gave the matter up
forward, supposing the mate had been deceived. I saw by the
expression of the captain’s face that he was about to give the
order to secure the guns, when, casting my eyes forward, there
was a ship, sure enough, within a hundred yards of us! I held
up both arms, as I looked aft, and luckily caught the captain’s
eye. In an instant, he was on the forecastle.
It was easy enough to see the stranger now. There he was
in the fog, looking mystical and hazy; but there he was, under
his main-top-gallant-sail, close-hauled, and moving ahead in
all the confidence of the solitude of the ocean. We could not
see his hull, or so faintly as only to distinguish its mass; but
from his tops up, there was no mistaking the objects. We had
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
shot away the Frenchman’s mizen-royal-mast. It was a pole,
and there the stump stood, just as it was when we had last seen
him on the evening of the day of the combat. This left no doubt
of the character of our neighbour, and it at once determined
our course. As it was, we were greatly outsailing him, but an
order was immediately given to set the light staysails. As Captain Williams passed aft, he gave his orders to the men in the
batteries. In the mean time, the second-mate, who spoke very
good New York French, came upon the forecastle, in readiness
to answer the expected hail. As the Crisis was kept a little free,
in order to close, and as she sailed so fast, it was apparent we
were coming up with the chase, hand over hand.
The two ships were not more than a hundred feet asunder
when the Frenchmen first saw us. This blindness was owing to
several circumstances. In the first place, ten men look forward
in a ship, where one looks aft. Those who looked aloft, too,
were generally on the quarter-deck, and this prevented them
from looking astern. Then the Frenchman’s crew had just
gone to their breakfasts, most of them eating below. She was so
strong-handed, moreover, as to give a forenoon’s watch below,
and this still left many of the sluggards in their hammocks. In
that day, even a French ship-of-the-line was no model of discipline or order, and a letter-of-marque was consequently worse.
As it afterwards appeared, we were first seen by the mate of
the watch, who ran to the taffrail, and, instead of giving an
order to call all hands, he hailed us. Mr. Forbank, our secondmate, answered; mumbling his words so, that, if they were bad
French, they did not sound like good English. He got out the
name “Le Hasard, de Bordeaux,” pretty plainly, however; and
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AFLOAT AND ASHORE
this served to mystify the mate for a few seconds. By the end of
that time, our bows were doubling on the Frenchman’s quarter, and we were sheering into him so fast as quite to distract
the Nantes man. The hail had been heard below, however, and
the Frenchmen came tumbling up by the dozen, forward and
aft.
Captain Williams was a prime seaman, and one of the
coolest men that ever lived. Everything that day was done at
precisely the proper moment. The Frenchman attempted to
keep off, but our wheel was so touched as to keep us lapping
in nearly a parallel line with them, the whole time; and our
forward sails soon becalmed even their mainsail. Of course we
went two feet to their one. Marble came on the forecastle, just
as our cat-head was abreast of “The Lady’s” forward-rigging.
Less than a minute was required to take us so far forward, and
that minute was one of great confusion among the French. As
soon as Marble got on the forecastle, he made a signal, the ensign was run up, and the order was given to fire. We let fly all
five of our nine-pounders, loaded with two round and a stand
of grape, at the same moment. At the next instant, the crash of
the ships coming foul of each other was heard. Marble shouted
“Come on, boys!” and away he, and I, and Neb, and all hands of
us, went on board of the Frenchman like a hurricane. I anticipated a furious hand to hand conflict; but we found the deck
deserted, and had no difficulty whatever in getting possession.
The surprise, the rush, and the effect of the broadside, gave us
an easy victory. The French captain had been nearly cut in two
by a nine-pound shot, moreover, and both of the mates were
severely wounded. These accidents contributed largely to our
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
success, causing the enemy to abandon the defence as hopeless. We had not a soul hurt.
The prize proved to be the ship I have mentioned, a letterof-marque, from Guadaloupe, bound to Nantes. She was a trifle
larger than the Crisis, mounted twelve French nines, and had
eighty-three souls on board when she sailed. Of these, however, no less than twenty-three had been killed and wounded
in our previous affair with her, and several were absent in a
prize. Of the wounded, nearly all were still in their hammocks.
Among the remainder, some sixteen or eighteen suffered by
our close and destructive broadside on the present occasion,
reducing the efficient part of her crew to about our own numbers. The vessel was new and valuable, and her cargo was invoiced at something like sixty thousand dollars, having some
cochineal among it.
As soon as assured of our victory, the Crisis’s main-topsail was braced aback, as well as it could be, and her helm put
down. At the same time, the Dame was kept away, and the two
ships went clear of each other. Little injury had been done by
the collision, or the grinding; and, in consequence of our guns
having been so much shotted, no damage whatever was done
the lower masts of the prize. The shot had just force enough to
pass through the bulwarks, make splinters, and to lodge. This
left both vessels in good condition for going into port.
At first it was determined to leave me in la Dame de Nant-
es, as prize-master, with directions to follow the Crisis into
Falmouth, whither she was bound for orders. But, on further
examination, it was discovered that the crew of an American
brig was on board the prize as prisoners; la Dame de Nant-
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AFLOAT AND ASHORE
es having captured the vessel only two days before we met the
former the first time, taken out her people, manned her, and
ordered her for Nantes. These Americans, including the master and two mates, amounted to thirteen souls in all, and they
enabled us to make a different disposition of the prize. The
result of an hour or two’s deliberations was as follows:
Our old second-mate, whose hurt was likely to require better care than could be had on the North-west Coast, was put
on board the French ship as prize-master, with orders to make
the best of his way to New York. The master and chief-mate of
the American brig agreed to act under him, and to assist in carrying la Dame across the ocean. Three or four of our invalids
were sent home also, and the liberated Americans took service for the passage. All the French wounded were left in the
ship, under the charge of their own surgeon, who was a man of
some little merit, though a good deal of a butcher, as was too
much the fashion of that day.
It was dark before all the arrangements were made, when la
Dame de Nantes turned short round on her heel, and made sail
for America. Of course our captain sent in his official report by
her, and I seized a moment to write a short letter to Grace,
which was so worded as to be addressed to the whole family. I
knew how much happiness a line from me would bestow, and
I had the pleasure to inform them, also, that I was promoted to
be second-mate – the second-mate of the American brig having shipped as my successor in the rank of third-officer.
The parting on the wide ocean, that night, was solemn, and,
in some respects, sad. We knew that several who were in la
Dame de Nantes would probably be left behind, as she trav-
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
elled her long, solitary path, in the depths of the ocean; and
there were the chances that she, herself, might never arrive.
As respects the last, however, the odds were in her favour, the
American coast being effectually cleared of French privateers
by that time; and I subsequently received eleven hundred and
seventy-three dollars for my share in that exploit. How I was
affected by the circumstance, and what I did with the money,
will appear in the sequel.
The Crisis made sail on a bowline, at the same moment her
prize filled away for America; Miles Wallingford a much more
important personage than he had been a few hours before. We
put the prisoners below, keeping a good watch over them, and
hauled off to the northward and westward, in order to avoid
any French cruisers that might be hovering on their own coast.
Captain Williams seemed satisfied with the share of glory he
had obtained, and manifested no further disposition to seek
renown in arms. As for Marble, I never knew a man more exalted in his own esteem, than he was by the results of that day’s
work. It certainly did him great credit; but, from that hour, woe
to the man who pretended to dispute with him concerning the
character of any sail that happened to cross our path.
The day after we parted company with our prize, we made
a sail to the westward, and hauled up to take a look at her,
the wind having shifted. She was soon pronounced to be an
American; but, though we showed our colours, the stranger, a
brig, manifested no disposition to speak us. This induced Captain Williams to make sail in chase, more especially as the brig
endeavoured to elude us by passing ahead, and the run was
pretty nearly on our course. At 4, P. M. we got near enough to
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AFLOAT AND ASHORE
throw a nine-pound shot between the fellow’s masts, when the
chase hove-to, and permitted us to come up. The brig proved
to be the prize of la Dame de Nantes, and we took possession
of her forthwith. As this vessel was loaded with flour, pot and
pearl ashes, &c., and was bound to London, I was put in charge
of her, with a young man of my own age, of the name of Roger
Talcott, for my assistant, having six men for my crew. Of course
the Frenchmen, all but one who acted as cook and steward excepted, were received on board the Crisis. Neb went with me,
through his own and my earnest entreaties, though spared by
Marble with great reluctance.
This was my first command; and proud enough did I feel
on the occasion, though almost dying with the apprehension
of doing something wrong. My orders were, to make the Lizard
light, and to crawl along up-channel, keeping close in with the
English coast; Captain Williams anticipating instructions to go
to the same port to which the Amanda (the brig) was bound,
and expecting to overtake us, after he had called at Falmouth
for his orders. As the Crisis could go four feet to the Amanda’s
three, before sunset our old ship was hull down ahead of us.
When I took charge of the deck the next morning, I found
myself on the wide ocean, with nothing in sight, at the age of
eighteen, and in the enemy’s seas, with a valuable vessel to
care for, my way to find into narrow waters that I had never
entered, and a crew on board, of whom just one-half were now
on their first voyage. Our green hands had manifested the aptitude of Americans, and had done wonders in the way of improvement; but a great deal still remained to be learned. The
Crisis’s complement had been too large to employ everybody
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
at all sorts of work, as is usually done in a merchant-vessel
with her ordinary number of hands and the landsmen had to
take their chances for instruction. Notwithstanding, the men I
got were stout, healthy, willing and able to pull and haul with
the oldest salts.
By the arrangement that had been made, I was now thrown
upon my own resources. Seamanship, navigation, address, prudence, all depended on me. I confess I was, at first, nearly as
much depressed by the novelty and responsibility of my command, as Neb was delighted. But it is surprising how soon we
get accustomed to changes of this sort. The first five or six hours
set me quite at my ease, though it is true nothing occurred in
the least out of the usual way; and, by the time the sun set, I
should have been happy, could I have got over the uneasiness
produced by the darkness. The wind had got round to southwest, and blew fresh. I set a lower and a top-mast studding-sail,
and by the time the light had entirely vanished, the brig began
to drag after her canvass in a way to keep me wide awake. I
was at a loss whether to shorten sail or not. On the one hand,
there was the apprehension of carrying away something; and,
on the other, the fear of seeming timid in the eyes of the two
or three seamen I had with me. I watched the countenances
of these men, in order to glean their private sentiments; but,
usually, Jack relies so much on his officers, that he seldom anticipates evils. As for Neb, the harder it blew, the greater was
his rapture. He appeared to think the wind was Master Miles’s,
as well as the ocean, the brig, and himself. The more there was
of each, the richer I became. As for Talcott, he was scarcely as
good a seaman as myself, though he was well-educated, had
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AFLOAT AND ASHORE
good manners, was well-connected, and had been my original
competitor for the office of third-mate. I had been preferred
only through the earnest recommendations of Marble. Talcott,
however, was as expert a navigator as we had in the ship, and
had been placed with me on that account; Captain Williams
fancying two heads might prove better than one. I took this
young man into the cabin with me, not only as a companion,
but to give him consideration with the people forward. On
shore, though less fortunate in the way of state, he would have
been considered as fully my equal in position.
Talcott and myself remained on deck together nearly the
whole of the first night and the little sleep I did get was caught
in a top-mast studding-sail that lay on the quarterdeck, and
which I had determined not to set, after rowsing it up for that
purpose. When daylight returned, however, with a clear horizon, no increase of wind, and nothing in sight, I was so much
relieved as to take a good nap until eight. All that day we started neither tack nor sheet, nor touched a brace. Towards evening I went aloft myself to look for land, but without success,
though I knew, from our observation at noon, it could not be
far off. Fifty years ago the longitude was the great difficulty
with navigators. Both Talcott and myself did very well with
the lunars, it is true; but there was no chance to observe, and
even lunars soon get out of their reckoning among currents
and tides. Glad enough, then, was I to hear Neb sing but “Light
ahead!” from the fore-top-sail-yard. This was about ten o’clock.
I knew this light must be the Lizard, as we were too far to the
eastward for Scilly. The course was changed so as to bring the
light a little on the weather-bow; and I watched for its appear-
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
ance to us on deck with an anxiety I have experienced, since,
only in the most trying circumstances. Half an hour sufficed
for this, and then I felt comparatively happy. A new beginner
even is not badly off with the wind fresh at south-west, and the
Lizard light in plain view on his weather-bow, if he happen to
be bound up-channel. That night, consequently, proved to be
more comfortable than the previous.
Next morning there was no change, except in the brig’s
position. We were well in the channel, had the land as close
aboard as was prudent, and could plainly see, by objects ashore,
that we were travelling ahead at a famous rate. We went within a mile of the Eddystone, so determined was I to keep as far
as possible from the French privateers. Next morning we were
up abreast of the Isle of Wight; but the wind had got round to
the southward and eastward, becoming much lighter, and so
scant as to bring us on a taut bowline. This made England a
lee-shore, and I began to be as glad to get off it, as I had lately
been to hug it.
All this time, it will easily be understood that we kept a
sharp look-out, on board the brig, for enemies. We saw a great
many sail, particularly as we approached the Straits of Dover,
and kept as much aloof from all as circumstances would allow. Several were evidently English vessels-of-war, and I felt
no small concern on the subject of having some of my men impressed; for at that period, and for many years afterwards, ships
of all nations that traded with the English lost many of their
people by this practice, and the American craft more than any
other. I ascribed to our sticking so close to the coast, which we
did as long as it was at all safe, the manner in which we were
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