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 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 VOL. I.
 
 LONDON : 
 'HINTED BY SAMUEL BENTLEY, 
 
 Dorset Street, Fleet Street.
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS; 
 
 THE NAVAL FOUNDLING. 
 
 BY " THE OLD SAILOR :" 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 
 TOUGH YARNS;" "NIGHTS AT SEA;" "GREENWICH HOSPITAL ;'' 
 
 &c. S;c. 
 
 N THREE VOLUMES. 
 VOL. I. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET. 
 
 1838.
 
 
 TO 
 
 WILLIAM JERDAN, ESQ. 
 
 EDITOR OF THE LITERARY GAZETTE, 
 
 WHO FIRiT EXTENDED THE FOSTERING HAND OF 
 
 ENCOURAGEMENT TO HIS LITERARY LABOURS, 
 
 THESE VOLUMES 
 
 ARE GRATEFULLY DEDICATED 
 BY 
 
 THE OLD SAILOR.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 My first launch was a single volume ; I then 
 tried a two-decker; and now I have boldly 
 commissioned a first-rate, with three tiers of 
 artillery. I make up my mind to some ran- 
 dom shots, and perhaps a rattling broadside ; 
 but I have nailed my colours to the mast, and 
 will never strike. As for sinking me — it must 
 be precious heavy metal to do that ; so that I 
 hope to carry my flag triumphantly into the 
 port of public favour, that has given me snug 
 moorings heretofore. Now, for a Preface, I 
 say this is " short and sweet." 
 
 The Old Sailor.
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 " I am the dependent on your bounty, no less than the 
 child of your care. I owe you much — much in duty, but 
 still more in affection. 'Twas you who held out to me 
 the sheltering, protecting arm of a parent in the first deso- 
 late hour of my childhood's sorrow.'' 
 
 " Thou art fatherless, and therefore I would give you 
 counsel ; motherless, and being so, I would fain keep 
 such a vigilant eye above you, that you should not need 
 a mother's watchfulness — her love — her care." 
 
 Miss E. L. Montagu. 
 
 " Give way cheerily, my lads ! here 's a 
 rough night coming on, and the tide '11 be 
 setting in strong flood directly. One half- 
 hour's bold stretch-out with the tail of the ebb 
 will save a dog-watch of hard pulling against 
 the current ! Who the devil's that catching 
 crabs .''" 
 
 " It's Jem here, and he's almost carried 
 
 VOL. I B
 
 2 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 away the upright of my back," was the 
 response. 
 
 " I tell you what it is, Jem," said the first 
 speaker rather sternly, " you've been coming 
 it too strong, I'm thinking. I loves a taste of 
 the stuff myself ; but d — it, I say, it's too bad 
 to be sucking the monkey all weathers, parti- 
 cularly when a fellow 's on duty." 
 
 " I arn't in the least tosticated," hiccuped 
 Jem, once more catching his oar in the 
 water ; " but I 'm bless'd if this here paddle 
 knows what it 's about : the chap as sarved it 
 out from the dock-yard shoved it in among 
 the capstan-bars." 
 
 " I know better than that, Jem," returned 
 the other ; " the barge's oars are as good as 
 ever were turned out of hand, seeing as I 
 picked them myself. But there's a lump 
 o' grogginess at one end o' yours that I '11 allow 
 ud be just as well away." 
 
 " S'pose I am a little slued," responded 
 Jem, scarcely able to keep his seat, " I arn't 
 a bit the more drunk for that ! It 's the wind 
 in my stomach as blows me out, and makes 
 me roll like an East Ingeeman running down 
 a trade." 
 
 " You'll be getting blow'd up as well as 
 blow'd out afore long," said the first. " There
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. O 
 
 you go again — anoUier crab, and be d — to 
 you !" 
 
 " There you 're out in your reckoning, ship- 
 mate !" exclaimed Jem, more assured, " and 
 it 's a proof, if so be as proof was wanting, that 
 I am quite sober. It's Jack Moberley as 
 catch'd that crab. What makes you alays 
 fix on me, seeing as all hands are tarr'd with 
 the same brush ?" 
 
 "I'm afeard so, Jem," uttered the first 
 speaker in a tone of vexation, — " I 'm afeard 
 so, or you 'd never let the boat move along 
 like a dock-yard lighter, or one o' your Lun- 
 nun river barges. But come, lads, for your 
 own sakes give way ; for I 'm d — if I bear up 
 to-night, come on it whatsomever will."" 
 
 " We are giving way," responded Jack 
 Moberley, who was pretty much in the same 
 condition as Jem. " Don't be grumbling 
 there like a loose fid in the heel of a topmast : 
 we have been taking a pull o' the jib-halliards, 
 and what then ? You Ve as fond o' splicing 
 the main-brace as any on us." 
 
 " I don't deny it, Jack," answered the first 
 in a more quiet tone ; " but d — the lubber as 
 can say that Will Blocks ever looked like a wet 
 swab on duty. Can't you get drunk at proper 
 times, when you 've got a just right to do it.''
 
 4 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 and that 's when you 're on liberty, and may 
 sarve out to yourself just what allowance you 
 please. But d — my ould tarry trowsers if 
 it arn't too much of a good thing to be non- 
 compass on sarvice !" 
 
 " You Ve always running foul of a poor 
 devil if he happens to soak his biscuit a little 
 more than usual," said Jem ; " but I don't 
 care a tinker's d — for you, and you may tell 
 the first leftenant if you like." 
 
 " If I was alongside o'you, Jem, I'd just 
 punch your pumpkin for that," returned Will 
 Blocks angrily. " Whoever know'd me carry 
 tales, or curry favour with any officer what- 
 somever ? But suppose the skipper had taken 
 it into his calculations to have gone off with us 
 to-night, — and it was all but a turn-up that he 
 didn't, — then I 'm thinking you 'd have cotch'd 
 somut more nor crabs in the morning, that's 
 all. I wants you to get to your hammocks ; 
 but if you prefars exercise to rest, why then 
 chop water as long as you likes : it 's easier 
 steering than pulling." 
 
 Such was the conversation in the barge of 
 the Alfred seventy-four, Captain William 
 Bayne, then lying in Cawsand Bay under 
 sailing orders, as she was pulling out about 
 nine o'clock in the evening from Mount
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 5 
 
 Wise, in Stonehouse Pool, to proceed to the 
 ship. They were a fine hearty set of fellows 
 composing that boat's crew ; the very pride 
 of the British navy ; the Tom Pipes and 
 Jack Ratlins of Smollett's days ; men that 
 feared God, whose might and power they had 
 so often witnessed in their favour, and defied 
 the devil because he was an enemy. But the 
 fact was, the ship's company had been paid 
 six months' wages, and a very handsome share 
 of prize-money, preparatory to their de- 
 parture for the West Indies; and, as a matter 
 of course, they spent extravagantly for the 
 purpose of getting rid of it. The writer of 
 old says, " Riches make unto themselves wings 
 and flee away :" but the riches of seamen are 
 not of an aerial character ; they resolve them- 
 selves into a more liquid element, known by 
 the name of grog. Various are the con- 
 jectures from whence the etymology of this 
 word is derived. Some ascribe it to old Ben- 
 bow, who wore what was termed a grogram 
 jacket, and hence obtained the name of Old 
 Grog. In some of his daring actions he 
 refreshed his men with rum and water, which 
 ever afterwards retained the title. Others 
 assert, that a planter of Jamaica wishing to 
 send a puncheon of real good stuff to George
 
 6 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 the Second, marked upon the head G. R. O. G. 
 for " George Rex, Old Gemakee." Another 
 anecdote refers to the well-known act of " tap* 
 ping the governor." Monsieur Guillaume 
 Roussel, Governor of Guadaloupe, died and 
 was shipped in a cask of rum for Europe. On 
 the puncheon was painted " Guillaume Rous- 
 sel, obit. Guadaloupe ;" and round the lead 
 that was nailed over the bung, the initials 
 G. R. O. G. On her passage the vessel 
 was captured by the English; and the jolly 
 Jacks, without knowing the actual contents, 
 soon sucked the governor dry. When they 
 appeared rather out of order before the officer, 
 his general exclamation was, " What, you 've 
 been foul of the ' grog' cask again !" What- 
 ever was the origin, certain it is that no 
 other language has any term applicable to it 
 by way of translation. I remember once 
 hearing the following attempt at explanation : 
 A ship''s chaplain Avas commenting in one of 
 his sermons upon the words " Oh that a 
 man should put an enemy into his mouth to 
 steal away his brains !" and during his dis- 
 course he frequently styled spirituous liquor 
 " the rogue ;" but being a North-countryman, 
 the burr in his throat gave the word the sound 
 of " grogue,"" which was seized hold of with
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 7 
 
 avidity by the tars, and applied to their 
 favourite beverage. At all events, the barge's 
 crew of the Alfred had been partaking freely 
 of the generous neck-tar^ and their excess 
 would probably have brought some of them 
 to the gangway, had their captain, who was a 
 kind-hearted man, but a rigid disciplinarian, 
 embarked with them. As it was, they had 
 reached the dogged devil-may-care sort of 
 feeling that rendered them either unwilling or 
 unable to exert their strength, and ten o'clock 
 on a tempestuous night in October found 
 them outside that famed fortified rock in 
 Plymouth Sound which seamen assert was 
 the first British land made by the celebrated 
 navigator on his return from his first voyage 
 round the world, and has ever since borne the 
 name of Drake's Island. A strong south- 
 wester had set in with the flood ; the sea 
 came rolling across the mouth of the Channel 
 with the whole weight of the Atlantic at its 
 back ; and as the boat just held sufficient way 
 through the water to remain nearly stationary, 
 the spray broke over the bows, and scattered 
 its saline particles right fore and aft, to the 
 great damping of the energies of the crew. 
 
 The individual who had assumed some de- 
 gree of consequence and command, was Will
 
 8 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 Blocks, the captain's coxswain, a splendid 
 specimen of the man-of-war's man in the 
 olden time ; — he was about thirty years of 
 age, a fine-looking fellow, and considered the 
 most trustworthy as well as the best seaman 
 in the ship. He was deeply mortified at the 
 intoxication of the bargeman, who kept grum- 
 bling because he would not bear up for the 
 harbour or run back into Stonehouse Pool ; — 
 his determination was fixed to get on board 
 that night, as he had a rather important letter 
 from the captain to deliver to the first lieu- 
 tenant. It was extremely dark, almost ap- 
 proaching to downright impervious blackness, 
 so that it was impossible to see beyond a boat- 
 hook's length of the bows; when, suddenly, 
 the barge's stem struck against something, 
 which proved to be a small shore-boat, that 
 appeared to have broken away from her moor- 
 ings, and was drifting about at random. 
 
 " Boat ahoy ! "" shouted Will, but no an- 
 swer was returned. " Now, lads, if you 'd been 
 a-mind to have stretch'd out, you might have 
 saved some poor devil his means of livelihood, 
 by taking the punt in tow : as it is, shove her 
 oiF there, for'ud — the blessing of some ould 
 gowl or other will be lost to you — there, shove
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 9 
 
 her off, and give the barge steerage-way, at 
 any rate." 
 
 The bowman arose from his thwart, boat- 
 hook in hand, to obey the order; whilst some 
 of the crew who pulled the after-oars, touched 
 with a generous feeling towards the owner of 
 the punt, on which perhaps depended the 
 maintenance of a family, remonstrated with the 
 coxswain, and promised " to stretch out if he'd 
 take the little vessel in tow." At this moment 
 the shrill cry of infancy was heard upon the 
 breeze, and the bowman, with a thrill of super- 
 stitious dread, immediately stepped back into 
 his original position. 
 
 " What the blazes is that noise ?" inquired 
 the coxswain, a strong tinge of the supernatu- 
 ral mingling with the humane impulse of his 
 nature. 
 
 " It's a sucking himp, Fm thinking," re- 
 plied the bowman, shoving off the punt as she 
 swung with the current more alongside. 
 
 "Sucking devil!" responded the coxswain 
 scornfully, as the feeble wail again came down 
 the blast ; — " hould on there, for'ud !" 
 
 But the bowman was too much terrified at 
 " himps" to comply; he gave the diminutive 
 vessel a vigorous launch ; the seamen, catch- 
 
 B 5
 
 10 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 ing the infection of fear from his exclamation 
 and conduct, stoutly plied their oars, and the 
 barge hastily shot ahead, whilst the punt was 
 borne away by the wind and tide. 
 
 Again arose that infantile cry, as if some 
 child of sorrow had been rocked to sleep in its 
 frail cradle by the billows, and the shock of 
 collision had awoke it from its slumbers. 
 
 " If it arn't a babby, I 'm d — ! " shouted 
 Will, rising up in the stern-sheets, and fixing 
 his keen eyes upon the receding object. " Back 
 your paddles, men — back of all !" but the crew, 
 wrought upon by influences which are not to 
 be easily defined, hesitated to obey, and the 
 tiny vessel would have soon been lost sight of 
 in the gloom, but for the piercing eye of the 
 coxswain, who never suffered it to escape his 
 observation. " Back, I say, men !" he again 
 shouted. " A'VTiy, you lubberly fools ! would 
 you leave a young babby on such a night as 
 this to perish ? Back of all, and be d — to 
 you, and save your manhood !" 
 
 The men reluctantly complied. Jack Moberley 
 declaring that " it was nothing more than one 
 of ould Davy's young uns enjoying the breeze ;" 
 but in a few seconds the cock-tail was on the 
 baige's quarter, the coxswain sprang into it, 
 and almost instantly resumed his station at
 
 TOPSAIL-SIIEET BLOCKS. 11 
 
 the helm with an infant in his arms. He took 
 a turn with the shore-boat's penter to the main- 
 sheet belaying-pin in the barge, and shouted, 
 "Now, lads, if you'll pull neither to please 
 God nor devil, yet for the sake o' humanity, 
 and this here innocent babby, go your hardest, 
 like sons o' thunder !" 
 
 This brief and characteristic appeal had its 
 due effect, — the tars bent sturdily to their 
 oars, and away flew the barge, in spite of all 
 resistance from the gale above or the spring- 
 tide below : their generosity was called into 
 operation, all the better feelings of their nature 
 were excited in favour of infancy ; nor was 
 there wanting that stimulus which induces a 
 tar to believe that in succouring the helpless, 
 he is logging a meritorious act in his own fa- 
 vour against the last great day of general 
 muster. Still they passed their rough jokes 
 on the event, as their sinewy arms frequently 
 brought the bows of their favourite boat near- 
 ly buried in the opposing waves ; but, light 
 and buoyant, she again rose, dashing through 
 the foam, and throwing the spray hither and 
 thither like a fin-back at play. 
 
 The coxswain carefully wrapped the infant 
 in his jacket, and pressing it closely to his 
 breast, the warmth soon tranquillised its wail-
 
 12 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 ings, and it sank into quiet slumber. It would 
 be impossible to describe the many thoughts, 
 wishes, and schemes, that occupied the mind of 
 Will Blocks, as he held the little stranger in his 
 arms and felt it nestle towards him ; — all origi- 
 nated in the kindest intentions, arising from the 
 noblest attributes of the human heart. Will's 
 early life had been one of hardship ; his parents 
 were dead, he knew of no relations in the world, 
 but he had amassed a very handsome sum in 
 prize-money, and he formed a resolution that 
 should no one reclaim the child, henceforward 
 it should be his, and he would do his best en- 
 deavours to provide for it, whether it should 
 turn out either a boy or a girl. 
 
 From the moment of their rescuing the in- 
 fant, the sky began to clear and the wind to 
 lull, which was seized hold of by the bargemen 
 as a token that the act was approved off by 
 One whose eye never slumbers nor sleeps, — 
 the stars peeped forth through their fleecy 
 curtains, and were hailed with pleasure, and 
 the coincidence produced a powerful interest 
 in favour of the helpless being they had saved. 
 It was near midnight, however, before the 
 barge got alongside the seventy-four, and Will 
 carried his still sleeping charge aboard. 
 
 " What combustible have you got stowed
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 13 
 
 away there, Will ?" inquired the midshipman 
 of the watch, 
 
 " It 's my own image in wax-work, Muster 
 Burton," answered the tar; " and it's just for 
 all the world like a lady's doll, — if you pull 
 the strings, the eyes will slue round like a 
 compass-card directly." 
 
 " Let 's have a look at it. Will," said the 
 midshipman, laughing ; " bring it to the bin- 
 nacle-light — it will just do for a beggarlug 
 for the top of the rudder." 
 
 " No, no. Muster Burton, I can't onkiver 
 it to-night, for fear it should catch cowld," 
 responded the seaman : " besides, it belongs to 
 the barge's crew ; the captain 's going to raise 
 upon her — give her a schooner rig, and we've 
 pick'd up this here consarn for a figure-head ; 
 — you shall see it in the morning." 
 
 The barge and her tow were passed astern 
 with a stout hawser, and Will went below and 
 deposited his prize, as he called it, in his ham- 
 mock, where the younker slept profoundly, 
 till aroused by the hands being turned up at 
 four bells in the morning watch to wash decks, 
 &c. when the shrill pipe of the boatswain's 
 mate was responded to by the equally shrill 
 voice of the infant. 
 
 " Halloo ! Why, Will, surely you arn't ha'
 
 14 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 been launching a young un in the night !"" ex- 
 claimed one of his messmates, whose hammock 
 hung near him. " I never know'd you had one 
 on the stocks. What colour is it, Will ?^ 
 
 *' It 's a sandy-grey russet," answered Will, 
 turning out and quieting the child : " you see 
 I 've built a babby at last ; — and now, Harry, 
 I means to engage you as xoet nurse, for all 
 hands knows you 're a precious soaker." 
 
 " Well ! I'm bless'd if itarn'ta right-arnest 
 babby, and no sham I" returned Harry, look- 
 ing at the infant, which smiled in his face. 
 *' Lord love the creatur ! how it grins, like the 
 top of a beggar's walking-stick ; — it shall 
 have a share of my grub, anyhow. But where 
 did you get it, Will ?" 
 
 " We found it sitting astraddle across the 
 mooring-buoy off the dock-yard, like Bacchus 
 riding a barrel o' swipes," replied Will with a 
 serio-comic countenance ; " and knowing as 
 you were fond o' such playthings, why, I 
 just brought it aboard for you to keep your 
 hand in." 
 
 " Well, it 's a rum consarn, anyhow," 
 uttered Harry. " Is it a cock or a hen V 
 
 " I'm bless'd if I know disactly," answered 
 the seaman laughingly ; " but I guess it 's a 
 little o' both, Harry, and double-jointed,"
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 15 
 
 Numerous were the visitors who crowded 
 round the berth to have a look at their young 
 shipmate ; nautical wit and jokes abounded, 
 and the new-comer became the principal sub- 
 ject of conversation fore and aft. The first 
 lieutenant was up early, and being informed 
 of the circumstance of an infant being in the 
 ship, he directed that the coxswain should 
 bring it to him on the quarter-deck. 
 
 " So, my man, what have you got there .''" 
 inquired the officer, as Will, delicately hand- 
 ling the baby with one hand, pulled off his 
 hat with the other. 
 
 " It's a young infant, yer honour," answered 
 the seaman, " as we picked up in a shore- 
 boat last night." 
 
 " Indeed ! that 's strange," returned the 
 lieutenant. " And what have you done with 
 the boat .^" 
 
 " It's towing astarn, sir," replied the sea- 
 man respectfully. " We ran foul of it— heard 
 the child cry, and so I couldn't, yer honour, 
 leave it, and " 
 
 " Well, well, I 'm not going to find fault, 
 my man, but rather to commend," said the 
 officer approvingly : " but come, let us see 
 the youngster — you've got it wrapped up 
 there like a cockroach in a thrum-mat."
 
 16 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 " Why, ay, yer honour, I was afeard o' the 
 cowld wind," answered Will, removing the 
 blankets and wrappers from the child ; but 
 in unmuffling it, he made a slight mistake, 
 for instead of showing its features to the com- 
 manding officer, he commenced at the wrong 
 end, and presented its bare stern. 
 
 " Yes, yes, I see it is a boy, by his being 
 lubberly-rigged," said the laughing lieutenant : 
 " there, cover it up again." 
 
 This was the first intimation that the worthy 
 seaman had of the sex of the helpless creature 
 he had saved. " Ax pardon, yer honour," 
 said Will ; " yer honour must be the best judge 
 as it regards being a boy or a girl, though I 
 dare say the consarn's all ship-shape enough; 
 but that warn't what I meant." He rectified 
 his error ; and as the face of a remarkably fine 
 child, probably about eight months old, was 
 revealed to view, the boatswain exclaimed, 
 " There, yer honour, now I've slued him eend 
 for eend, and you may take a cast of his coun- 
 tenance." 
 
 " He 's a noble fellow, certainly," said the 
 officer as the smiling infant stretched out his 
 arms to him. " Look here, doctor ; we've had 
 a family affair in the night." 
 
 " God bless me ! you don"" t say so ! — what,
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 1/ 
 
 all safe, and I not called !" responded the sur- 
 geon as he ascended the companion to the 
 quarter-deck. " And pray whose is it ?" 
 
 " It's Will's, here," answered the lieute- 
 nant : " he can tell you all about it." 
 
 The surgeon looked at the infant, and be- 
 came immediately aware by its age that his 
 messmate was playing off a joke upon him. 
 " It is a fine child," said he, " a very fine 
 child : where did you get it from .P" 
 
 " Why, the fact is, doctor, that a certain 
 lady, residing you know where, took it yester- 
 day evening to the captain, and told a lament- 
 able tale about desertion, and duty and affec- 
 tion, and Captain Bayne, to save all further 
 trouble, sent it off to you — here 's his letter ;"" 
 and he produced the letter which Will had 
 brought the night before, and then fixing his 
 eyes on the child, and quickl}'^ shifting them 
 to the surgeon, he added, " On my life, Sims, 
 there can't be a doubt on the subject — it's 
 the very image of you." 
 
 " Nonsense, nonsense !" uttered the surgeon, 
 a tell-tale rush of blood colouring all his face. 
 " Where does the baby come from .?" 
 
 Will would gladly have continued the joke 
 of the commanding officer, but his habitual re-
 
 18 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 spect for his superiors at once deterred him, 
 and he briefly related the occurrence. 
 
 " And what do you mean to do with the 
 boy ?" inquired the lieutenant when the cox- 
 swain had concluded. 
 
 " Why, as it regards the matter o' that, 
 yer honour," returned Will, nibbing the 
 youngster under the chin, as boys do when 
 they feed an unfledged sparrow, — " in the 
 regard o' the matter o' that, I thinks its got 
 a good right to be mine by the articles of law 
 as well as war, seeing he 's a good prize ; so 
 we must rear him among us in the mess to 
 sarve his Majesty." 
 
 " But you must make some inquiries re- 
 specting his friends," said the commanding 
 officer, smiling at Will's arrangement. 
 
 *' Friends ! yer honour .?" returned the tar, 
 in a tone of doubt, as if uncertain that he 
 had heard aright ; " did you say friends ?"" He 
 looked down on the crowing child. " Why, 
 then, I 'm thinking the poor little fellow 's had 
 d few of them sarved out to him, any- 
 how ; for what but an infernal rascal would 
 have cast such an innocent as this here upon 
 the wide waters, like a sucking-pig adrift in 
 his mother's trough, on such a night as last 
 night was ?"
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 19 
 
 " But you do not know, my man, what led 
 to his deserted state," argued the surgeon. 
 "It is really a pretty child ! Are you 
 married, Bill .?" 
 
 " No, yer honour," responded the tar with 
 a good-humoured smile; "but I arn't the 
 first as has had a babby without the help of 
 the parson." 
 
 Both officers laughed — the jest told — and 
 the surgeon pursued his inquiry. " Has he 
 no token about him ?"'' 
 
 " Why, yes, yer honour," grumbled Will, 
 " all's right in the regard of a token ; Muster 
 Gilmore says he's got one." 
 
 *' I mean, no mark or anything about his 
 clothes that may lead to a knowledge of the 
 persons he belongs to," explained the doctor. 
 
 This led to an investigation. The dress was 
 plain, but good ; a small heart in needlework 
 was discovered on the shirt ; a coral necklace 
 with a plain gold clasp was round his neck ; 
 and in the folds of his frock, between that 
 and the petticoat, was an antique gold ring, 
 or rather signet, having a stag's head with a 
 dagger thrust through the neck as a crest. 
 The shore-boat was very diminutive, with her 
 name, " The Lovely Sally," painted inside her 
 stern.
 
 20 TOFSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 When Will went for his captain, he respect- 
 fully informed him of every particular, and 
 the most diligent inquiries were instituted ; 
 but though an owner was found for the boat, 
 who stated that he had hired it to a seafaring- 
 looking man in the afternoon, who said he was 
 going out to fish, yet no tidings whatever could 
 be gained relative to the infant, and Will, after 
 consulting his commander, declared his inten- 
 tion to adopt it as his own. Captain Bayne 
 granted him four-and-twenty hours' leave of 
 absence to make his arrangements, and gave 
 him a letter of recommendation to a solicitor, 
 with whom he might deposit the articles found 
 upon the person of the child, and who might 
 undertake its guardianship whilst the coxswain 
 was at sea. Will had provided materials, and 
 some of the women on board manufactured 
 suitable apparel, so as to save the clothes the 
 child had on when found. 
 
 The coxswain with his messmate Harry 
 landed, and being resolved to have everything 
 done ship-shape, they consulted the landlord 
 of the " Roaring Boreas," who recommended 
 them, " as mayhap the youngster hadn't been 
 properly named when he was first launched, 
 by all manner o' means to have him christened 
 afore they went any further."
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 21 
 
 This advice was so reasonable and proper, 
 that the tars at once assented to it, and taking 
 the baby away, they started for the church, 
 expecting to find, as was always the case on 
 board, " some of the officers on duty." But 
 in this they were disappointed — the church 
 was shut up, and after ineffectually knocking 
 at the doors for about ten minutes, they were 
 turning away to make sail for the " Roaring 
 Boreas" again, when a middle-aged man, with 
 the most benevolent countenance and mild 
 language, inquired, " What their wishes 
 were." 
 
 " Why, yer honour," said Will, " it 's in 
 regard o' the babby, seeing as we wants an 
 entry made of his name, that when he comes 
 of proper age so as to be able to larn his 
 duty, we may know what to call him on the 
 ship's books." 
 
 " How is it, my friend, that this child has 
 not been brought for baptism before?" inquired 
 the gentleman mildly. 
 
 " Yer honour .?"" returned Will, with a look 
 of inquisitiveness, for the word " baptism" 
 was new to him. 
 
 " It should have been christened before 
 this ;" said the gentleman. " But is the mother
 
 22 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 one of my parishioners ? I am the officiating 
 clergyman here." 
 
 " God bless yer reverence, howsomever !" 
 exclaimed Will, " and I 'm heartily glad to 
 see you. Harry, and I have been hammering 
 away at the doors — in all due respect, though, 
 yer reverence — for ever so long ; but as nobody 
 never answered the signal, * Mayhap,' thinks 
 I, ' this here church arn't in commission, as 
 there's never a soul on the look-out;' and so 
 we were just going to haul our wind out o' this, 
 but your coming alongside has saved us all the 
 trouble of bracing the yards about. As for 
 the mother o' the babby being one o' your what- 
 you-may-call-its, why then that "s more nor I 
 can tell you. All I wants to know, yer re- 
 verence — and I axes the question in all due 
 civility and honour, — all I wants to know is, 
 whether you'll be so kind as to give the babby 
 a cast of your office." 
 
 " But you come under strange circum- 
 stances, my friend," said the clergyman ; " and 
 though I do not for one moment impugn your 
 motives, yet, as a Christian minister, it becomes 
 my duty to make inquiry why you have 
 brought this child in the manner that you have." 
 The tars looked at each other, and then at
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 23 
 
 the clergyman, as if sorely perplexed as to 
 his meaning : at last, Will seemed to compre- 
 hend the difficulty, and answered, " Is it in 
 regard o' my handling the babby ? Oh ! then, 
 yer reverence, I arn't had much practice in 
 that 'ere way, seeing as we only picked the 
 youngster up a day or two ago ; and nursing, 
 I take it, wants discrimmagement as well as 
 cuckoo-clock making." 
 
 " Only pick'd the child up a day or two 
 ago !" repeated the clergyman, almost as much 
 puzzled as the seamen : " what do you mean ? 
 But do not let us remain here. Though our 
 professions are different, I being the minister 
 of peace, and you the agents of warfare, yet 
 I love the brave defenders of my country, and 
 shall feel honoured by having them beneath 
 my roof. My house is close at hand ; come 
 with me, then — we can see to the christening 
 afterwards." 
 
 With many and repeated thanks they fol- 
 lowed their spiritual guide, and entered a 
 comfortable dwelling, where they were greeted 
 by the kind-hearted lady of the minister, who 
 took the child, and fondled it, whilst Will 
 related every occurrence that had taken place, 
 from the starting from Mount Wise with the
 
 24' TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 barge on the night they picked up the infant, 
 down to the present moment. 
 
 " It is in good truth a most remarkable 
 incident," said the worthy divine ; " but the 
 hand of Providence is everywhere. You do 
 right, my friend, to have the child named. 
 Pray, are the sponsors ready ?" 
 
 " Oh yes, yer reverence," replied the cox- 
 swain, lugging out a canvass bag of guineas, 
 " the 'sponsibles are all ready." 
 
 *' No, no, my man, I did not mean that," 
 returned the clergyman, smiling; " I mean the 
 godfathers and godmother." But observing 
 that the seamen did not comprehend him, he 
 explained that the coxswain and his messmate 
 Harry would do to undertake the office of 
 godfathers, but it would be necessary also to 
 have a godmother. 
 
 " If you have no objections, my dear," said 
 Mrs. Hector, " I will with pleasure act in 
 that capacity to the pretty little fellow. He 
 has not numbered many months, but his his- 
 tory is peculiarly surprising." 
 
 " As you please, my dear,^' assented her 
 husband; "but do not take upon yourself so 
 serious a responsibility without consideration. 
 What do you mean to do with this infant^ 
 my friend .?"
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 25 
 
 " Well, then, yer reverence, I must chalk 
 it out a nurse somewhere or other, seeing as 
 we 're off to the West Ingees in a few days,"" 
 replied Blocks. 
 
 " I do not wish to be prying or imperti- 
 nent, but of course you have sufficient re- 
 sources ?" said the clergyman. 
 
 " Why, no, yer reverence," answered Will 
 hesitatingly, " I carn't say as I have, as I 
 knows of." 
 
 " Who, then, will provide for the child in 
 your absence, ray friend ?" asked the minister. 
 
 " Oh, ay, now I understands," responded 
 the coxswain, at once comprehending the word 
 " resources," and pulling out the captain''s 
 letter : " d 'ye see, I ""ve a goodish lot of prize- 
 money, and so I 'm going to place the consarn 
 in the hands of the gentleman as is on the 
 back of this here," showing the direction ; — 
 " it 's a chit of palaver from Captain Bayne 
 to Muster — Muster — it 's a short name." 
 
 " Brief," said the clergyman, reading the 
 writing. '* I know him, and he truly merits 
 the name of an honest lawyer." 
 
 *' But have you no nurse, nor any place to 
 leave the child .'*" inquired the lady. 
 
 " No, yer ladyship, not none in the least,"" 
 returned Will. " But here's Harry and I 
 
 VOL. I c
 
 26 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 have got four-and-twenty hours' leave to 
 derange matters in ; and if yer ladyship could 
 place a couple of tars upon the right tack, 
 why, then, may God A'mighty bless the heart 
 he has placed in yer ladyship's busom !" 
 
 " I think I can manage it for you, with Mr. 
 Hector's sanction," said the lady, " and under- 
 take the responsibility too. The child's history 
 has greatly interested me ; and it would be a 
 sad pity for him to get into bad hands. But 
 let us have him christened first — then go to 
 Mr. Brief, and settle matters with that gen- 
 tleman. In the mean time, I will make inquiry 
 for a suitable person to take care of the 
 infant ; and you can return here when it suits 
 you." 
 
 "That is so like yourself, my dear," said 
 the clergyman, placidly and pleased, " that I 
 cannot raise a single objection. I have sent 
 for the clerk, and everything will soon be in 
 readiness for the service." 
 
 The infant looked about him with great 
 delight, and seemed to notice things in a 
 manner that excited astonishment in the minds 
 of the unsophisticated tars ; and Will augured 
 that " he should some day or other see him 
 a great man." 
 
 "And, I trust, a good one," added Mr.
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 27 
 
 Hector ; " for there is no true greatness with- 
 out the corresponding qualities which form 
 the Christian. Providence has thus far fa- 
 voured him — he has fallen into benevolent 
 hands. And remember, my friends, the voice 
 of unerring wisdom has said, ' Forasmuch as 
 ye have done it unto one of these, ye have 
 done it unto me.' May the generosity you 
 have manifested on this occasion prove the 
 source of blessing to all !" 
 
 In a short time the clerk announced every- 
 thing prepared ; and, the minister's wife carry- 
 ing the child, they entered the church and 
 proceeded to the font. Several straggleus, 
 whom idleness and curiosity had drawn toge- 
 ther, were present ; and a number of seamen 
 on liberty, who knew their brother tars of the 
 Alfred, joined company, wondering to find 
 themselves inside such a grand place. When 
 all the circumstances are taken into considera- 
 tion, the spectacle was an extremely interest- 
 ing one. There stood the minister, in his 
 white surplice, by the side of an antique font, 
 used in the days when dipping, not sprinkling, 
 was the general mode of baptism. Near him 
 was the clerk — grey-headed, with small eyes, 
 and a consequential look that spoke him a man 
 of great estimation in his own opinion — one 
 
 c2
 
 28 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 who would have liked to have said " I " to 
 everything, but was compelled to adopt, in 
 most cases, the first person plural. On the 
 opposite side of the font appeared the clergy- 
 man''s wife, in a dress of white muslin, holding 
 the capering and crowing boy in her arms ; 
 whilst the tars, in their blue jackets and duck 
 trowsers, placed themselves in front, facing the 
 minister, with a solemnity on their counte- 
 nances which they actually felt in their hearts. 
 A bright gleam of sunshine came through the 
 stained glass of the windows, throwing a vari- 
 ety of glorious tints around all, and giving an 
 admirable finish to the picture. 
 
 The ceremony commenced; the clergyman, 
 from being apprised of the nature of the 
 case, omitting the opening question. But 
 there was some difficulty in making the god- 
 fathers comprehend the subsequent inquiries. 
 They readily promised " to renounce the devil 
 and all his works;"" but when the question was 
 put, " Wilt thou be baptized in this faith .?" 
 Will hesitated. 
 
 " You must say, ' That is my desire,' " whis- 
 pered the clerk, somewhat scandalised at the 
 want of promptitude in the reply. 
 
 " Avast, ould gentleman !" responded Will
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 29 
 
 respectfully : " it arn't me, but the babby, as 
 is going to be thingumed." 
 
 " The infant cannot answer for itself," said 
 Mr. Hector with patient meekness, " and 
 therefore you, as its godfathers, become sure- 
 ties." 
 
 "It's all a matter of form,"" chimed in the 
 clerk with self-complacency ; " you must make 
 the response."" 
 
 " Now, yer reverence, I can understand 
 being bound for the babby," uttered Will ; 
 " but I can't disactly make out the argufi- 
 cation of this ould gentleman here. If so be 
 as Harry and I undertakes a solemn engage- 
 ment, we considers it as double-bitted round 
 our consciences to hould on by it ; but if it 's 
 no more than a mere matter of form, why then 
 I 'm thinking " 
 
 " It is not a mere matter of form, my 
 friends," answered the clergyman, " but such as 
 you take it to be — a solemn engagement," — and 
 his voice assumed a deep pathos, — " entered 
 into with the Majesty of Heaven — the King 
 of kings. As godfathers to the infant, wilt 
 thou that it should be baptized in this faith .'''" 
 
 " Yes, yer reverence," answered the cox- 
 swain firmly ; " and may God A'mighty spare
 
 30 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 our lives — that 's Harry and me — to do our 
 duties by the child !" 
 
 The following prayers, fervently offered up 
 by the divine, were listened to with the most 
 earnest attention by the seamen ; but when he 
 came to the part " Name this child," the tar 
 again hesitated. 
 
 " Why, in the regard o' that, yer reverence," 
 said Will in a tone of mingled perplexity and 
 determination, — " why, I must own that it has 
 rather puzzled my edecation a bit, because, 
 d' ye see "" 
 
 " You mustn't talk to the minister, but 
 tell the name," said the clerk, interrupting 
 him. 
 
 " So I wool, ould gentleman," returned the 
 seaman, rather offended with the interference 
 of the official ; " but his reverence, I take it, 
 arn't the person to throw a poor tar slap 
 aback because, mayhap, he hasn't paid out 
 the slack of ' Amen' so often as you have. — 
 I 'ra saying, yer reverence, as Harry and I have 
 had a bit of a court of inquiry with my ould 
 shipmate as keeps the ' Roaring Boreas,' 
 and "" 
 
 " What is your own name ?" inquired the 
 lady, fully sensible of the embarrassment of
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 31 
 
 her husband, and desirous of putting an end 
 to it as early as possible. 
 
 " My name, yer ladyship !"" reiterated the 
 tar : " why, my name is Will ! — Will Blocks ; 
 and my messmate's, here, is Harry Finn, — Ould 
 FHpper, as we calls him aboard: arn't it, 
 Harry ? — speak up for yourself, man." 
 
 " Yes, that 'ere 's the name my mother guv 
 me," replied the tar; " and it's logged down 
 in the parish muster-book at Sevenoaks in 
 Kent." 
 
 " But the name of the infant, — the name !" 
 said the clerk impatiently ; " you mustn^t keep 
 the minister waiting." 
 
 " Avast, again, ould gentleman," uttered 
 Will rather peevishly : " I 'm thinking you're 
 shoving your oar in where it arn't wanted." 
 
 *' My good man," said the lady kindly, " if 
 you have not already fixed upon a name, may 
 I be permitted to suggest one? Yours is 
 William, and your shipmate's is Henry : why, 
 then, not have it William Henry, after our 
 gallant young Prince, who, like yourselves, is 
 in the naval service of his country ?" 
 
 A buzz of approbation arose from the as- 
 sembled seamen, to the manifest disturbance 
 of the clerk ; and many a blessing on the lady's
 
 32 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 head came from hearts that were honest and 
 fervent in the wish. 
 
 The coxswain pondered a few minutes, — 
 whispered to his brother godfather, who shook 
 his head, and then exclaimed, " Why, no, 
 yer ladyship: though it would pleasure us 
 both — that 's Harry and me, yer ladyship — to 
 have him named arter a son of our good ould 
 King — God bless him! — yet, as names are 
 somut like junk, generally cut up into short 
 lengths when they're wanted, why, if he was 
 to be christened William Henry, it ud soon 
 get shortened into Will or Harry, and he 'd 
 float along without its ever being noticed ; so, 
 if yer reverence pleases, you may just christen 
 him Ten-thousand Topsail-sheet Blocks ;" and 
 the tar gave a knowing hitch to his trowsers, 
 and a circumferential twist to his tarpaulin 
 hat. 
 
 If the seamen had before expressed approval 
 of the proposition of Mrs. Hector, they now 
 were in the indulgence of irrepressible gratifi- 
 cation. William Henry, the name of his Royal 
 Highness the Duke of Clarence, had influenced 
 their pride ; but the latter was so connected 
 with all their nautical feelings, that the sacred 
 edifice echoed to a British cheer. 
 
 The clergyman and his excellent lady were
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 33 
 
 for a minute or two quite staggered, and 
 could scarcely refrain from laughter, so ex- 
 quisitely ludicrous was the sudden announce- 
 ment; whilst the clerk raised his hands and 
 opened his eyes in utter amazement. 
 
 " Ten-thousand what ?" inquired Mr. Hec- 
 tor, his gravity temporarily yielding to the 
 excitement. 
 
 " Ten-thousand Topsail-sheet Blocks," re- 
 peated Will clearly and deliberately : " arn't 
 that it, Harry .?" The seaman assented by a 
 nod. 
 
 " Are you really serious, my good fellow ?" 
 asked the minister, scarcely able to keep his 
 countenance at the apparent sincerity of the 
 tars. 
 
 " Why, yer reverence," returned the cox- 
 swain with greater solemnity, and lowering his 
 voice to a deeper tone, " it arn't in a place 
 like this, built and rigg'd, as I take it, for the 
 peculiar sarvice of our Maker, that a man 
 ought to be otherwise than serious : but if yer 
 reverence thinks I 've said or done anything 
 contrary to regulations, why then I hopes 
 you'll have the goodness to put in a word 
 or two on my behalf, and make all square 
 again." 
 
 " You mistake me, my friend," said the mi- 
 
 c5
 
 34 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 nister, at once called to the recollection of the 
 ;sacred character of his office by the uninten- 
 'tional reproof of the seaman : " but do you 
 ireally wish, and intend to give the child so 
 ■strange a name ?" 
 
 " Why, that 's just it, yer reverence,"" re- 
 .'sponded Will, reassured by the gentleness 
 ;and bland deportment of the minister ; " for, 
 being a rather out-of-the-way sort of a con- 
 sarn, like a fisherman's boot with a horse- 
 dragoon's spur on it, we — that's Harry and 
 me, yer reverence- — we both on us thought 
 that whomsomever heard the boy hailed by his 
 name, would nat'rally be axing how he came by 
 it ; and so, mayhap, when his story's tould, it 
 may chance to lead to the knowledge of his 
 parents, and the true bearings and distance of 
 the cause of his being turn'd adrift upon a 
 sea-cruise with such a slender outfit." 
 
 " Well, there certainly is sound argument in 
 that, I must admit," assented the clergyman ; 
 and taking the laughing infant in his arms, he 
 sprinkled its face with water, and, to the great 
 surprise of the clerk (who seemed almost 
 scandalised by the transaction), but to the 
 unbounded delight of the seamen, he was 
 named accordingly " Ten-thousand Topsail- 
 sheet Blocks."
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 35 
 
 At the conclusion of the service, every tar 
 crowded in to have a kiss of the baby, which 
 they considered now as more especially and 
 particularly devoted to their own peculiar call- 
 ing. Will respectfully invited Mr. Hector to 
 accompany him to the " Roaring Boreas," to 
 drink the youngster's health, which the minis- 
 ter mildly declined. He then invited the clerk, 
 who peremptorily refused, and plainly told 
 them, he thought " they were no better than 
 barbarians, to give a Christian such a heathen- 
 ish name." 
 
 *' Never mind, ould crusty," said Will, 
 pitching him half-a-guinea ; " go and get a 
 glass o' grog to warm the fag eend o' your nose : 
 and, I say, belay all animosity, and drink the 
 boy''s health and prosperity with all becoming 
 piety, — for it 's a rough world, and mayhap he 
 may want a friend in the steeple as well as in 
 the church, — Come along, lads ! I '11 be along- 
 side of you again, directly I've seen Muster 
 Brief, yer ladyship. — Come along, my hearties ! 
 let 's go and give old Joe Breeze a benefit at 
 the Roaring Boreas, all hands of you ! sailor 
 and landsman, seaman and lubber. Heave 
 ahead, my boys!" And taking the child in 
 his arms, he bowed to the minister and his 
 wife, and passed down the aisle towards the
 
 36 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 entrance. He stopped, however, just within 
 the doorway, attracted by a box on a wooden 
 pillar, having painted upon it, " Remember 
 the poor." Will spelt it out, and dropping in 
 a guinea, his example, as far as charity went, 
 though the amount might not be exactly the 
 same, was pretty generally followed by all who 
 had aught to give. 
 
 Joe Breeze was in sea^raptures when he as- 
 certained that " all was ship-shape in regard 
 o"" the name :" the grog was set a-broach, good 
 roast and boiled of every description made the 
 tables groan, and the worthy coxswain, that 
 the christening might have proper eclat, in- 
 vited every seaman he could pick up to par- 
 take of the cheer. Previous, however, to join- 
 ing the convivial party, he resolved to com- 
 plete another part of his undertaking, by wait- 
 ing on the lawyer. Away strode Will, with the 
 baby and the bundle, disregarding the obser- 
 vations which his appearance called forth from 
 the passers-by, nor stopped till the letters 
 " BRIEF, ^oUcttOtt on a handsome brass 
 plate, brought him up. The first word he 
 readily spelt, but he could make nothing out 
 of the other, and supposed it to be " some 
 outlandish lingo, to show the lawyer's larning." 
 Without hesitation he rang the bell, and a
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 37 
 
 spruce young clerk appearing, inquired his 
 business. 
 
 " Does Muster Brief live here ?" asked 
 Will, after a polite bow. 
 
 " No," answered the clerk, with a prag- 
 matical grin ; " but he gets his living here. 
 What do you want with him, Jack ?" 
 
 " You don't do all your master's business 
 for him, I take it ?" responded the coxswain, 
 offended with the young man's impertinence. 
 
 " Not exactly : I don't do the eating and 
 drinking," replied the clerk ; " he keeps the 
 goose to himself." 
 
 " And sarves you up for sauce," uttered 
 Will, with a knowing look, as much as to say, 
 " There 's a Roland for your Oliver." 
 
 " Come, that 's a fair hit, however," said the 
 young man : " walk in, sailor. — What ! you 
 made out the name, eh! — took a spell at it, 
 I suppose." 
 
 " Why, yes," replied the coxswain, " I 
 made out this here to be 'Brief,' because it's 
 logged down in plain English ; — but I sup- 
 pose this monkeyfied, all legs-and-wings con- 
 sarn, means you, seeing as nobody can under- 
 stand it." 
 
 " No, my friend," dissented the clerk, more 
 complacently, finding he had got hold of a
 
 38 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 queer customer; " that word stands for 
 So-li-cit-or." 
 
 " Or, what ! and be d — to you ! " growled 
 the seaman. " You ""re a rum 'un to gammon 
 a flat, Muster Lawyer; but you don't gammon 
 me with your ' Stand so — lie — sit,' let me tell 
 you. I wants to get alongside o' Muster Brief, 
 and, to make short work of it, d 'ye hear, — is 
 at home or not ?" 
 
 " He is in his office, Mister Sailor," answered 
 the clerk. " Come in, and I '11 let him know 
 you are awaiting an interview." 
 
 In a few minutes afterwards the coxswain 
 was ushered into a comfortable and airy apart- 
 ment, where, at a table covered with books and 
 papers nicely arranged, sat an elderly man, 
 with a hatchet-like contour of face that gave 
 him a peculiarly sharp look, and a pair 
 of eyes that would have stitched the button- 
 hole of a shirt, they were so piercing. "Your 
 business.?" inquired he. 
 
 " Why, yer honour," returned the seaman, 
 unshipping his truck and depositing it on the 
 floor, " I come from Captain Bayne." 
 
 "Good! — client of mine!" returned the 
 worthy construer of statutes. " Proceed." 
 
 " Well, yer honour," said Will, approach- 
 ing nearer to the table, " by his orders I 've
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 39 
 
 brought you Ten-thousand Topsail-shee> 
 Blocks." 
 
 " Brought what !" screamed the man of the 
 law, jumping up from his chair in amaze- 
 ment, and fixing his keen gaze upon the 
 tar. 
 
 " Ten-thousand Topsail-sheet Blocks, ycr 
 honour," returned the tar, placidly but 
 firmly. 
 
 " Ten thousand devils !" ejaculated the 
 lawyer with fierce impatience. 
 
 " No, yer honour, not by no manner 
 o' means in the regard o' the gentleman you 've 
 named," uttered the coxswain, equally warm ; 
 for the dandified conduct of the clerk, and 
 the somewhat repulsive treatment of the 
 lawyer himself, had put Will upon his mettle. 
 " It's blocks, not devils."" 
 
 " One or the other, what can Captain 
 Bayne mean ?" returned Mr. Brief. " Does 
 he take my office for a dock-yard .'' Ten 
 thousand ! — why, where am I to put them 
 
 all r 
 
 " The duds, yer honour ?" asked the cox- 
 swain rather more quietly. " Oh, never 
 fear; they'll not take up much room for 
 stowage, seeing as they're all in this here 
 bag," holding it up at arm's length.
 
 40 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 " Ten thousand topsail-sheet blocks in that 
 bag !"" exclaimed the lawyer, approaching to 
 lay hold of it. 
 
 " No, yer honour," responded the cox- 
 swain, laughing outright. " He arn't in the 
 bag. Lord love you ! no : it 's the duds." 
 
 " Really, my good fellow, this is all mystery 
 to me," said the professional personage with 
 greater gravity and mildness. " Have you 
 no communication — no letter from the cap- 
 tain that may afford an explanation .?" 
 
 " By the tropics of war, and that's just 
 it, yer honour," returned the coxswain ; and, 
 stooping down, he took a letter from beneath 
 the lining of his hat and presented it to 
 Mr. Brief. 
 
 The solicitor received the letter, walked to 
 his chair, sat down and attentively perused it, 
 then raising his sharp keen eyes to Will, he 
 said, 
 
 " There 's nothing about ten thousand or 
 topsail-sheets here, my man. The captain 
 writes about an infant." 
 
 " And here it is, all alive and kicking ! 
 yer honour," exclaimed Will, showing the 
 baby ; " and his name is Ten-thousand Topsail- 
 sheet Blocks, in regard of his having been 
 christened this very morning."
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 41 
 
 " Ho, ho !" rejoined the lawyer, who now 
 began to understand the matter. " Ay, ay ! 
 Your name is Blocks, I presume ?" 
 
 At this moment Captain Bayne himself 
 entered the office, and the whole affair was 
 soon made clear to the ready comprehension 
 of Mr. "Brief, who without hesitation under- 
 took the guardianship of the child. The 
 " duds" were rigidly inspected — replaced in 
 the bag, which was fastened round with red 
 tape, sealed up, labelled, and deposited in a 
 large iron-safe. Orders were given for the 
 preparation of documents and deeds. All the 
 leading features of the case were taken down 
 upon the coxswain's deposition, everything 
 was at length finally arranged, and Will took 
 his departure for the '* Roaring Boreas," where 
 having reported progress to old Joe Breeze, 
 and left the infant in care of Mrs. Breeze, he 
 joined his shipmates over their carouse. A 
 general cheer followed his entrance into the 
 great room, where some forty or fifty tars 
 were getting into the happy sort of inde- 
 pendence that mocks at discipline : but then 
 they were ashore. 
 
 At the head of the table sat old Joe, his 
 silvery hairs floating over his forehead and 
 about his temples, and his breast full of
 
 42 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 enjoyment and gratification. He wore long 
 togs, it is true ; but his black silk handerchief 
 was still knotted round his neck according to 
 old custom, and he had also a handsome silver 
 chain and call that was presented to him by 
 General Elliott, after the defeat of the Spa- 
 niards before Gibraltar, in the combined 
 attack of Spain and France, on the 13th 
 September 1782. Joe at that period was boat- 
 swain's mate of the Brilliant frigate, com- 
 manded by Captain Roger Curtis; but all 
 hands being sent to Europa Point to man the 
 batteries, Joe had charge of a couple of guns, 
 and pointed them so admirably as to call forth 
 repeated commendations from the commander- 
 in-chief ; and he was the first in the barge 
 when Captain Curtis went out to rescue the 
 drowning men from the burning wrecks. 
 The coxswain was killed by a falling timber 
 from one of the Spanish line-of-battle ships 
 that blew up, and Joe and another were 
 severely wounded ; a hole was knocked 
 through the bottom of the barge, into which 
 the crew thrust their jackets, and Joe stretch- 
 ing himself upon them, prevented their being 
 washed inward, and probably saved the whole 
 of their lives. For his gallantry Captain 
 Curtis strongly recommended him to the ge-
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 43 
 
 neral, who not only presented him with the 
 memorial before mentioned, but also subse- 
 quently obtained for him a comfortable pen- 
 sion, with which and his prize-money he 
 looked out for a berth ashore. His favourite 
 house of entertainment at Plymouth was the 
 Pig and Whistle, kept by a decent linsey- 
 woolsey widow named Gale, for whom Joe had 
 had a sort of half-and-half regard many years 
 before. She complained of being a lone woman 
 in a manner that becalmed honest Joe's heart ; 
 he saw which way the wind lay, and he made 
 her an offer. It was promptly accepted, and, 
 as Joe said, " he changed a heavy Gale into a 
 pleasant Breeze;" nor had he ever any occa- 
 sion to repent it. His stream of life flowed 
 smoothly on : he altered the sign of the 
 house from the Pig and Whistle (which 
 seemed something of a reflection upon himself 
 and his silver call) to the Roaring Boreas, 
 typified by the head of a chubby butcher's 
 boy blowing wooden skewers ; he carried on a 
 rattling business, had served the office of 
 overseer of the poor to the satisfaction of all 
 parties, was respected and esteemed by every 
 one, and particularly by his old shipmates, 
 who consulted him on most occasions, from the 
 buying of a watch to the purchase of a vessel ;
 
 44 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 a number of the neighbouring tradesmen 
 constantly passed their evenings in his snug 
 parlour ; and, to make short of it, Joe was far 
 happier than the king he loved. 
 
 As soon as Will Blocks was seated, Joe 
 clapped his call to his lips and gave three 
 chirps ; and no admiral who ever carried such 
 an article slung at his button-hole as the 
 symbol of his rank was ever more promptly 
 obeyed. Drunk and sober were instantly 
 silent as Joe rose and thus addressed them : 
 " Genlemen, shipmates, allow me to propose 
 a toast ; — (cheers) — but, for the honour of the 
 sarvice and for your headifi cation, let me offer 
 a few words afore I commences, — I mean, afore 
 I drinks it ; though any on you as is thirsty 
 may take a fresh nip at starting, and no dis- 
 paragement."" This was universally adopted. 
 " Genlemen, every man fore-and-aft, what- 
 somever his station may be, either aboard or 
 ashore, is bound to do his duty by a messmate 
 at all times ; rig out his fin to a shipmate in 
 distress, help a brother tar when he finds him 
 hard up, and d — the lubberly Crapooos. (Loud 
 cheers.) What's the use, genlemen, of a 
 ship's colours, if so be they 're not allowed to 
 be hoisted, to show what nation a craft belongs 
 to ? and what 's the upshot of wearing a blue
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 45 
 
 jacket if it arn't to be taken as proof positive 
 that it kivers and keeps warm a bould and 
 generous heart ? (Great applause, and cries of 
 ' Go it, my hearty !') In my course through 
 life, fair weather and foul, why, d'ye see, 
 I 've headed to every point of the com- 
 pass except lubber's point ; though mayhap, 
 when a younker not much higher than the 
 combings of a hatchway, I might take that 
 first. Well, I *ve headed, as I said, to every 
 point— ay, and every half-point too ; some- 
 times under bare poles, or with a smack 
 smooth deck ; at other some, with studdensels 
 packed on alow and aloft ; often with three 
 anchors ahead and stranded cables, and having 
 a reef of dark rocks grinning and roaring like 
 devils hiraps dead under our lee, and then 
 again laying all ataunto with open hawse 
 atwixt the two bowers, covered with flags 
 from the jib-boom end right up to the three 
 trucks, and so chock aft to the ring-tail iron 
 on the spanker-boom, as fine as a chimbly- 
 sweep on a May-day : and I 've always found 
 that the best way to keep a clear conscience, 
 barring now and then sucking the monkey, is 
 to do unto others as you would have it sarved 
 out to yourselves ; — (cheers) — and when death 
 threatens to fall athwart your bows and cut
 
 46 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 your cables, no remembrance is so precious as 
 having helped a fellow-creature as was strug- 
 gling against trouble and adversity, — ay, 
 even a Frenchman, after he has hauled down 
 his ensign, barring he has fought fairly and is 
 no coward. Now, messmates, I don''t mean to 
 say you Ve to be like a dog as is everlastingly 
 in chase of his tail, and never claps it along- 
 side, for proper discrimmagement is always 
 necessary; but d — the heart as would let a 
 fellow- creature sink whilst calculating the 
 chances of getting a wet jacket to save him ! 
 (Applause.) That 's my mark, and brings me 
 at once slap home to the toast. Will Blocks, 
 (reiterated cheers) — Will Blocks, (another 
 cheer, and a sound of Joe''s call) — Will Blocks 
 and I have been messmates and shipmates on 
 and off for more nor twenty years. I taught 
 him to hand, reef, and steer ; and a 'cute scholar 
 I found him at larning, so that he was soon 
 able to beat his ould master. I know him to 
 be a thorough seaman, and I hopes to live 
 till he gets a handle to his name — (cheers) ; but 
 it ain't in the regard o' tha alone that I speak — 
 it is the noble and generous disposition which 
 has markM his cha-rackter through life. Mess- 
 mates, his last act does him honour, and will 
 be logg'd down in favour of a blue-jacket
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 47 
 
 through a long line of our hangcestors yet un- 
 born : it brings credit on us all, and there- 
 fore, messmates, I begs leave to propose health 
 and prosperity to Will Blocks, with three 
 times three." 
 
 The long pulls at the grog, and the enthusi- 
 astic cheering, showed the good feeling of the 
 tars ; and when it had subsided, the coxswain 
 rose from his seat and said — 
 
 " Messmates and shipmates, it arn't neces- 
 sary, as I take it, for a fellow to have the gift 
 of the gab to fight an enemy or to sarve a 
 friend : but when he wants to pay out a goodish 
 scope of gratitude and friendly bailings to them 
 as wishes him well, then some o' your 'long- 
 shore talk would sarve to veer and haul upon ; 
 and if I had any coiled away in my breast, 
 d — me if I wouldn't at this moment let it 
 run out to the clinch, and hould on by your 
 regards. (Loud cheers.) In the respect o' the 
 younker, — God A'mighty bless him !" and 
 Will's voice faltered: — " I'm saying, that in 
 respect o' the younker, all's fair and square, 
 and I hopes we shall all live to see him ham- 
 mer the French and do his duty like a man. 
 I thank you from the very bottom of my sowl, 
 messmates, for the manner in which you have 
 drank my health, and axes it as a favour,
 
 48 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 that you will all drink long life, happiness, 
 and prosperity to Ten-thousand Topsail-sheet 
 Blocks." 
 
 A round of applause followed the toast : the 
 infant was brought into the room, and old 
 Joe gave it a taste of his grog ; the younker 
 smacked his lips, caught hold of the glass, and 
 when Will took him in his arms to carry him 
 away, he seemed delighted with the noise. In 
 a short half-hour they were at Mr. Hector's ; 
 and his excellent wife gladdened the heart of 
 the coxswain by introducing to him a clean, 
 motherly-looking woman, who would imme- 
 diately take charge of young Ten. He gave 
 the child a kiss, pressed a handsome gratuity 
 upon the worthy clergyman, deposited a five- 
 pound note in the hands of Mrs. Hector to 
 buy " immediate sarvice duds" for the boy — 
 warmly expressed his gratitude for their gene- 
 rous kindness — took another and a last kiss 
 of his young protege, and then joined his 
 shipmates at the Roaring Boreas over their 
 grog, and passed a jovial night. 
 
 The following morning, accompanied by his 
 messmate Harry, he signed, sealed, and de- 
 livered over his will, with power of attorney to 
 Mr. Brief, and was true to a minute on the 
 Alfred's deck. Blue peter was flying at the
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 49 
 
 fore, a convoy was waiting off the Ram Head, 
 and before night, the gallant seventy-four was 
 leading them down Channel with a spanking 
 breeze. They reached the West Indies in 
 safety, and led the van of the fleet under Sir 
 Samuel Hood, in the engagement with the 
 Count de Grasse on the 29th April 1781, off 
 Martinique, in which the Alfred behaved ex- 
 tremely well, against a very superior force, 
 there being seventeen sail of the British line 
 against twenty-four French sail of the line. 
 On the 15th September in the same year, they 
 were again engaged with the same opponents, 
 the Alfred once more leading the van, off the 
 Chesapeake, when fifteen sail of the British 
 line attacked and drove into port twenty sail 
 of the French line. Arduous and incessant 
 were the duties they had now to perform 
 during the next six months — one unfortunately 
 arose from falling foul of the Nymphe frigate, 
 by which both ships were considerably damaged. 
 The navy at that period had not attained to 
 the sanatory perfection which subsequently be- 
 came so beneficial to the health of the men ; 
 and the climate of the West Indies, to which 
 they returned, was very destructive to human 
 life. Yet Will weathered it all, breezes and 
 calms, squalls and sunshine, fair winds and 
 
 VOL. I. D
 
 50 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 foul, fever and ague, physic and land-crabs 
 and his general good beliaviour marked him 
 out for promotion; — indeed, Captain Bayne, 
 who had been partly brought up under Bos- 
 cawen, was not the man to keep merit in ob- 
 scurity, though he acknowledged he should 
 very much regret parting with his coxswain. 
 
 The separation, however, took place much 
 sooner than either expected, and the sorrow 
 was more of a national than an individual 
 character. In February 1782, Sir George 
 Rodney joined Sir Samuel Hood off Antigua, 
 and took the chief command. After refitting 
 at St. Lucia, and watching the enemy (who, 
 by keeping close under Guadaloupe and Do- 
 minica, contrived to elude the vigilance of the 
 English, and get into Fort Royal Bay), they 
 again put to sea, and discovered that the Count 
 de Grasse had quitted Martinique, in order 
 to run down to leeward, for the purpose of 
 effecting a junction with the Spaniards, and 
 making a grand attack upon the island of Ja- 
 maica, On the night of the 8th April, the 
 enemy were observed by the British fleet under 
 Dominica, in charge of a large convoy, and 
 tlie gallant Rodney made the signal for a gene- 
 ral chase ; so that early the next morning, 
 several of the leading ships (amongst which
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 51 
 
 was the Alfred) were close up with their trans- 
 ports, &c., the main body of the French fleet 
 forming the line-of-battle to windward upon 
 the starboard tack, heading for Guada- 
 loupe. The British admiral then hoisted the 
 signal to form the line ; but the ships being 
 becalmed under the high land at Dominica, 
 could not readily take their stations. It was 
 a trying and anxious moment. There lay the 
 hostile fleets perfectly unmanageable ; — the 
 French, desirous of escaping, so as to carry 
 their design into execution ; the British, eager 
 to lay them alongside, and already singling out 
 the prizes they should win : yet, there they 
 lay, motionless, watching the dark line upon 
 the verge of the horizon that evidenced the 
 coming breeze. 
 
 The Count de Grasse, in his superb ship 
 the Ville de Paris; proudly walked his deck ; 
 but, well knowing the prowess of our hardy 
 tars, his heart was ill at ease. The magnifi- 
 cent vessel that bore his flag was a present 
 from the citizens of Paris to that strange 
 compound of a monarch Louis XV. Her 
 building and outfit had cost upwards of 
 170,000/. sterling ; and brave as the Count 
 was, the bare idea of his gallant first-rate 
 gracing the triumph of his opponents was 
 
 ^'SS,T.onmno>s
 
 52 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 truly galling. He was well aware that he 
 would have many resolute supporters, but he 
 also had good reasons for doubting the courage 
 of others ; yet he determined that his own 
 conduct should afford a bright example for 
 the rest. No less than thirteen hundred men 
 were at their quarters in that floating fabric, 
 the best of Gallia's boast. 
 
 And there in the British fleet lay a small 
 black seventy-four, her commander a thorough 
 tar of the old school, well known amongst the 
 seamen as " Billy Blue." In those days, the 
 wages of the seamen were not over regularly 
 paid — long arrears were frequently due, and 
 this was the case with the ship here mentioned. 
 Previous to coming out with Rodney, the 
 ship's company addressed a round-robin to the 
 skipper, remonstrating against the injustice of 
 neglecting their pay, as they were nearly des- 
 titute of clothing, and declaring they would 
 not lift an anchor or fire a gun till their equi- 
 table demands were satisfied. Cornwallis knew 
 and felt the impolicy and impropriety of keep- 
 ing back the arrears; he was the seaman's 
 friend, and well acquainted with all their pe- 
 culiarities — so he ordered the hands to be sent 
 aft, and when they had mustered, he told 
 them, the stoppage of their pay was no
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 53 
 
 fault of his, and therefore they could not 
 blame him for it. If, then, such was the case, 
 disobedience to his orders would be a far 
 worse offence than that from which they were 
 then suffering, as it would be inflicting punish- 
 ment on him for the faults of others. He 
 appealed to their generosity, assured them of 
 his best endeavours to get the grievance reme- 
 died, but in case affairs could not be arranged 
 in time 
 
 " You must lift the anchors, my lads," 
 said he, " ay, and stow them too. Who is 
 there amongst you that wouldn't sail with 
 Rodney ? And as for fighting, leave that to 
 me, my men, leave that to me ; for if we do 
 fall in with the enemy, I'll take care to clap 
 you alongside of the largest ship in his fleet, 
 and then, my lads, you may just do as you 
 please. Get a smell of French powder, and 
 the devil himself won''t keep you from your 
 guns. I'll do all 1 can for you, my men; I 
 admit you 're not well treated, but trust to 
 me to keep my word." 
 
 The people had assembled with hostile feel- 
 ings and angry countenances — they expected 
 to meet with sturdy opposition from Billy 
 Blue ; but his conciliating language over- 
 powered them, and they gave him three hearty
 
 54 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 cheers, which had no sooner subsided than 
 the call of the boatswain's mate resounded, and 
 his hoarse voice was heard — " Grog a-hoy !" 
 In fact, the grog, an extra allowance, had 
 been mixed all ready, and the honest Jacks ac- 
 quiesced in the reasonableness of the skipper's 
 arguments, and quietly returned to their duty, 
 implicitly relying on the promise they had 
 received. Captain Cornwallis wrote to the 
 Admiralty ; but the Canada was ordered to 
 sea before accounts were settled — the men re-- 
 luctantly obeyed orders — but through the judi- 
 cious management of the commander, they be- 
 came more satisfied, and joined the fleet. And 
 now, there stood Billy Blue, on the break of 
 the Canada's poop, glass in hand, examining 
 with minute inspection the whole of the enemy's 
 line, as they caught a light breeze that just gave 
 them steerage way. At length his look became 
 fixed, a smile played upon his countenance, 
 and taking the glass from his eye, he directed 
 his first lieutenant " to send the hands on the 
 quarter-deck." In a few minutes every soul 
 fore and aft, with heads uncovered, stood on 
 the place of honour. *' Send Benson, the 
 quarter-master, here !" hailed the captain, and 
 the individual named instantly stepped out 
 from amongst the rest. He was a tall sturdy
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 55 
 
 man, six feet in height, well made, and with 
 open manly features : he had light hair, with 
 a ponderous tail behind, and though the leader 
 of the mal-contents, there was nothing in his 
 manner indicative of bad feeling or disrespect. 
 " Come up here, Benson," said the captain, 
 and the quarter-master promptly obeyed. 
 " Take my glass : look at the enemy's centre, 
 and tell me what you see." 
 
 The man unhesitatingly complie'd, took the 
 glass, and directing his sight as ordered, re- 
 plied, " Ships in confusion, sir." 
 
 " And what sort of ships are they, my 
 man ?" asked the captain, to the surprise of 
 the crew, to whom the conversation was per- 
 fectly audible. 
 
 " There's two seventy-fours, sir ; one eighty, 
 and" — he hesitated a moment, as if undeter- 
 mined in his object ; he was desirous of a 
 better view. 
 
 " And what ?" inquired Cornwallis, his eyes 
 sparkling with pleasure. 
 
 " And a three-decker, sir, with an admiral's 
 flag at the main," answered Benson, raising 
 himself from the stooping position in which he 
 had reconnoitred. 
 
 " Good, — very good— you 're a man of dis- 
 cernment, Benson,'' uttered the captain, good-
 
 56 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 humouredly ; " that is the Ville de Paris, one 
 of the finest ships out of France, carrying the 
 flag of Count de Grasse. She's the craft for 
 us, my men ; and as you found me faithful in 
 my word to try and get your arrears of pay, 
 so now you shall see me adhere to my promise 
 in running alongside of the biggest ship I can 
 find. There she is, my lads! and I shall just 
 place you in a proper position, that she may 
 blow the little black ship out of the water 
 if you wish it. Where's your no-fighting men 
 now .?" The seamen hung down their heads 
 like great boys at school when lectured by the 
 master, or caught in some trap they had set 
 for others. " If there are any amongst you 
 who are afraid of a few shot, why stow your- 
 selves away in the pump-well or the hold ? 
 Let the no-fighting skulkers come aft here on 
 the poop; and my own Canadas, who will 
 stand by their captain and officers, jump down 
 to their quarters.*" He raised his hand, the 
 drum beat, and in an instant every soul was 
 stationed at his proper gun. 
 
 The French fleet consisted of thirty-four sail 
 of the line, two fifty-gun ships, ten frigates, 
 seven brigs, two fire-ships and a cutter, be- 
 sides merchantmen and transports. Sir George 
 Rodney had thirty-six sail of the line, besides
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 57 
 
 smaller vessels. The enemy first caught the 
 breeze; but it was not long in reaching Sir 
 Samuel Hood and his brave associates, who in 
 the van divisjion stood for the enemy's centre, 
 when the action commenced, and was continued 
 for some time, the van bearing nearly the whole 
 brunt of the fire from every ship in the French 
 fleet. The Barfleur, the Royal Oak, the 
 Alfred, and the Montague, suffered very se- 
 verely ; but the centre of the British getting 
 the wind, were soon enabled to join in the 
 fight, and the rear division likewise coming 
 up, the French shortly after made off", leaving 
 the English to repair their damages. 
 
 The Alfred was the second ship in Sir 
 Samuel Hood's division ; and nobly did she 
 sustain her character. Will Blocks was at the 
 wheel, and steadily did his steering answer to 
 the con of the master or the captain. Corn- 
 wallis fulfilled his engagement, and boldly 
 attacked the Ville de Paris, his men behaving 
 every way worthy of their gallant chief. It 
 was about seven bells in the forenoon, when, 
 just as Captain Bayne was descending the 
 poop ladder, a shot from the Glorieux, (carrying 
 a white flag at the fore,) struck him on the 
 thigh and shattered it to atoms. He held on 
 by the man rope, and was easing himself 
 
 n.5
 
 58 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 gently down to the quarter deck, when Will 
 started from the wheel, caught him in his 
 arms, and supported him till the arrival of the 
 surgeon, who was some time before he could 
 gain the deck with his instruments. The 
 hemorrhage was very great, nor could any- 
 thing stop it. The brave man was carried by 
 his coxswain into the cabin. He requested the 
 first lieutenant to carry on the duty, as Blocks 
 was sufficient to take care of him. The doctor 
 was about to apply the tourniquet ; but before 
 he could fix it, amidst the rattle of broadsides 
 and the roar of warfare, the spirit of the 
 gallant chieftain took its flight for ever. 
 
 Three days after, the great battle was fought ; 
 Sir George had by skilful manoeuvres gained 
 the weather gauge of the enemy, and broke 
 their line in the old Formidable, followed by 
 his seconds the Namur* and Canada. The 
 Ville de Paris, the Glorieux, the Cesar, the 
 Hector, and the Ardent were taken, and his- 
 tory gives the following record. " The con- 
 duct of the Canada, Captain Cornwallis, excited 
 great admiration. After singly engaging a 
 French seventy-four vmtil she struck, he bore 
 
 * For many years afterwards guardship at the Nore, 
 and well known to the junior officcer in the service.
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 59 
 
 down to the Ville de Paris, and was the long- 
 est engaged with her while the French fire 
 was most violent."" Another historian says, 
 "The well-directed fire from the Canada 
 annoyed the French admiral so much, particu- 
 larly in his rigging and sails, that made it 
 imjjossible for him to escape. But the Count 
 de Grasse, although cut to pieces, seemed 
 determined to sink rather than yield to any- 
 thing under a flag. At length Sir Samuel 
 Hood came up in the Barfleur, and sixty men 
 fell from her first broadside. In less than ten 
 minutes more the colours of this beautiful ship 
 were hauled down." So that it appears Billy 
 Blue rigidly kept his word. In the Ville de 
 Paris were found no less than thirty-six chests 
 of money, intended for the pay and subsistence 
 of the troops in the contemplated invasion of 
 Jamaica. 
 
 Besides Captain Bayne, Captain Blair of the 
 Anson was also killed, and Lord Robert Man- 
 ners, brother to the Duke of Rutland, a young 
 nobleman of great promise, who, though only 
 twenty-five years of age, fought the Resolution 
 most ably, was so severely wounded, that he 
 died on board the Andromache, on her pas- 
 sage to England. The parliament, to perpe- 
 tuate their memory, and at the same time to
 
 60 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 manifest economy, gave these brave men a joint- 
 stock monument in St. Paul's Cathedral. 
 
 The Alfred suffered severely in the gale of 
 wind which destroyed several of the British 
 fleet and all the prizes on the 16th September, 
 The glorious trophy, the Ville de Paris, foun- 
 dered ; the Ramilies and Centaur shared the 
 same fate, and scarcely a ship escaped unin- 
 jured. Will at length arrived off the Land's 
 End, the Alfred in a sad leaky state, her main 
 and mizen masts gone ; but his heart was in 
 the right place, though he deeply felt the loss 
 of his kind and excellent patron.
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 61 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 How gay and brave they sailed from port ! How many 
 
 a kind heart threw 
 A last farewell to the parting ship, and her young and 
 
 gallant crew I 
 Now in the desert sea she lies, a helpless silent thing ; 
 Linked to a tale of blood and crime, of death and 
 
 sorrowing ! 
 
 W. B. CuORLEY. 
 
 During the absence of the worthy seaman, 
 young Ten-thousand improved amazingly in 
 growth and vigour. The person with whom 
 he had been placed most honestly and faith- 
 fully discharged her duty. She respected the 
 clergyman and his kind-hearted lady, who were 
 not only constant in their inquiries after his 
 welfare, but frequently had the boy to visit 
 them at their house, where Mrs. Hector was a 
 godmother in practice as well as in name, and 
 inculcated those principles into his mind which 
 can never be imparted at too early an age. 
 " Train up a child in the way in which it 
 should go," was a favourite maxim with her ;
 
 62 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 and having no family of her own on whom to 
 practise the precept, she devoted her best ener- 
 gies to fulfil the obligations she had under- 
 taken for the poor little fellow who had been 
 so strangely thrown upon her care. Mr. 
 Brief made his monthly professional inspection 
 and payment as regularly as clock-work. 
 Nearly the same words, at the same hour of 
 the day, were uttered twelve times in each year. 
 The boy was honoured by a gracious pat on 
 the head in the way of encouragement. The 
 nurse received her money carefully done up in 
 paper, a piece of red tape fastened round it, 
 and sealed with the office seal, bearing the word 
 so much prized by barristers, "Brief!" The 
 receipt was all prepared ready for signing, 
 the name of the nurse was affixed, and the 
 little lawyer left the minor details of nourish- 
 ment and instruction to less important per- 
 sonages. But he did not relax in the prosecu- 
 tion of his inquiries relative to the boy's 
 origin, and the cause of his being so shame- 
 fully abandoned. Advertisements were from 
 time to time published in the leading news- 
 papers, but without effect. Not a single cir- 
 cumstance transpired — not the slightest infor- 
 mation could be obtained that threw the faint- 
 est gleam of light upon the subject.
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 63 
 
 Of all, however, who patronised our hero, none 
 was more truly valued by him than the landlord 
 of the Roaring Boreas, who at intervals regularly 
 loaded himself with cakes and toys, and having 
 got under way from his snug moorings, made 
 his voyage, and discharged his cargo, to the 
 great delight of the consignee. No nobleman's 
 son could be more plentifully supplied with 
 amusement, and guns, whistles, trumpets, ships, 
 drums, — in short, a little of everything strewed 
 the house. Strangers admired the fine features 
 of the lad ; his story was a thousand times re- 
 peated ; and whilst the unusual' name caused 
 mirth, the occurrence itself excited a lively 
 interest in his welfare. 
 
 On his return to Plymouth, Will Blocks 
 obtained leave, and his first visit was to his 
 old friend Joe Breeze, now become a man of no 
 small consideration, and master of extensive 
 property, that entitled him to several votes as 
 a freeholder in the counties of Devonshire and 
 Cornwall, as well as for some borough towns 
 in both. With party politics Joe was totally 
 unacquainted. The distinction between Whigs 
 and Tories he never could understand, but 
 " church and king" was everything in his esti- 
 mation : and he who could shout it longest
 
 64 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 and loudest carried off his vote. Still he would 
 not personally interfere to influence those who 
 were in some measure under his control. No 
 persuasion could induce him to discharge his 
 tenants for not going the same way with him- 
 self. He used to say, " every man ought to 
 know best the trim of his own craft, and which 
 tack she was most likely to make the longest 
 board on." Will met with a cordial reception 
 from his old shipmate, though somewhat puz- 
 zled at his flourishing speeches and assump- 
 tions of dignity. Yet they overhauled their 
 recollections of past times — mixed their grog 
 half-and-half — gave a sea-sigh to the memory 
 of the departed, and then the hardy tar "hauled 
 his wind" to see his young protege. Sincere 
 and warm were his expressions of delight when 
 he found him a bold strapping boy of five 
 years, full of frolic and fun ; and honestly did 
 he declare his gratitude and satisfaction when 
 the evidences of kind and excellent treatment 
 were so manifest before him. Young Ten was 
 equally pleased with his benefactor, whose 
 pockets were crammed with all sorts of presents 
 suited to infantile amusement ; and our hero 
 considered that there was only one man in the 
 world of greater consequence, and that was Joe 
 Breeze.
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 65 
 
 The interviews which Will Blocks had with 
 Mr. Hector and Mr. Brief were more of a 
 professional character than otherwise. To the 
 former he made the most sincere acknowledg- 
 ments of thankfulness, conjoined with a hand- 
 some present ; and to the latter he gave fresh 
 powers to receive a considerable addition of 
 prize-money. He then rejoined old Joe, and 
 they passed the remainder of the day together 
 in jollity and joy — Joe assuring his old messmate 
 and pupil that, " by the earnest persuasions 
 of his wife, he meant to resign the command 
 of the Roaring Boreas, and lay up in ordinary 
 for the rest of his days ; but, somehow or other, 
 when it came to the point, neither of them 
 could make up their determination to quit a 
 craft that had been so lucky." 
 
 Another week, and Will Blocks was again 
 at sea, in a smart frigate bound to the East 
 Indies ; but soon after his departure, an import- 
 ant change took place in the future prospects 
 of our hero. The person to whose immediate 
 care he had been confided was attacked by 
 apoplexy, and in a few hours became a corpse. 
 Ten-thousand had been very much attached 
 to the woman who had behaved to him with a 
 kindness truly maternal ; and this bereavement 
 was doubly felt by the child, and it may, in
 
 66 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 fact, be considered as his first experience of 
 real sorrow. Joe Breeze, Mr. Brief, and Mr. 
 Hector held a consultation relative to the 
 future disposal of the boy, which terminated in 
 the worthy clergyman, with the sanction of his 
 amiable lady, receiving him into his own 
 family, a competent amount for board and 
 education being appropriated to defray the 
 expense. 
 
 This was on all accounts a happy improve- 
 ment for the child, as Mr. Hector had none of 
 his own, and yet was extremely fond of chil- 
 dren. He was also a man of deep research 
 and extensive knowledge ; and as he found his 
 pupil acute and intelligent, so he contrived 
 every opportunity to impress upon his mind 
 the advantages of religion, whilst he imparted 
 the necessary instruction to improve the intel- 
 lect. The boy venerated his kind preceptor, 
 and his still kinder wife ; he was diligent and 
 attentive to his studies, was affable in his tem- 
 per, and always desirous to please; and in his 
 new sphere he very soon gained the estimation 
 of all who favoured him with their notice. 
 
 Years passed on, and the boy grew tall of 
 his age, extremely handsome, with a strong 
 robust frame, and enjoying excellent health 
 His predilection was evidently for the ocean,
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 67 
 
 and his bias received additional weight from 
 frequent conversations with old Joe Breeze, 
 whose tales of distant climes and the joys ( ! ) 
 of a sea life had so won upon his admiration, 
 that he longed to become a sailor. Mr. Hector, 
 finding that the bent of his inclination was the 
 result of principle, and not mere boyish frivo- 
 lity, immediately directed his mind to those 
 studies which would be most useful to him in 
 his future career as a navigator, and, to the 
 great satisfaction of the teacher, the pupil ex- 
 ceeded even his most sanguine expectations, by 
 the readiness with which he became a proficient 
 in mathematics, and its appliances to practical 
 navigation and astronomy : he also imbibed a 
 good classical knowledge, could talk and write 
 the French language fluently, wrote a free 
 bold hand ; but that which engrossed most of 
 his attention was drawing and planning ; and 
 in these departments he greatly excelled, so 
 that at twelve years of age, through the judi- 
 cious management of Mr. Hector, and the noble 
 stimulus he applied, young Blocks had made 
 further progress in his education than most lads 
 at fifteen and sixteen. The fact was, that, 
 though treated kindly, and even with parental 
 feeling, he had not been pampered and spoiled 
 by mistaken indulgence.
 
 68 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 Mr. Hector was only a poorly paid curate, 
 in humble circumstances, devoted to the 
 sciences, and ardently attached to those pur- 
 suits which, whilst they exalt the understanding 
 above the grovelling things of earth, at the 
 same time but too frequently keep the body 
 without the comforts, and sometimes even the 
 necessaries of life. Still he was happy in the 
 affections and piety of his wife — happy in the 
 faithful discharge of his ministerial functions, 
 and uttered no complaints when circumstances 
 pressed heavy against him. 
 
 About this time Mr. Hector received an 
 offer of a more eligible curacy, at a village 
 some seven or eight miles distant from Ply- 
 mouth, but situated near the coast. It was 
 a lovely spot, just suited for quiet retirement 
 from the obtrusive world, and thither, after 
 another consultation with the lawyer and the 
 landlord, young Ten-thousand accompanied his 
 instructor. Mr. Brief was punctual in his 
 quarterly payments, but, as some considerable 
 time had elapsed since any information had 
 been received of the whereabouts of Will 
 Blocks, he suggested the propriety of pre- 
 paring the youth as early as possible for the 
 busy bustling of active life ; for though he had 
 yet remaining plenty of money to go on with,
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 69 
 
 still it would be preferable to retain some little 
 store to fit the lad out and to assist him in his 
 future operations. Old Joe fully acquiesced 
 in the proposition, which was not lost on Mr. 
 Hector, who devoted all the energies of his 
 mind to advance the knowledge of his pupil. 
 
 In the neighbourhood of the parsonage stood 
 Wellmore Hall, the country seat of a retired 
 merchant, who had made an ample fortune, 
 principally through his connexion with a rich 
 trader in Holland. One privilege of the clergy, 
 however poor in circumstances they may be, is 
 admission into the best society, as far as rank 
 and riches take the precedence ; and in the 
 habitations of the wealthy they are generally 
 admitted as respected guests, which may be 
 adduced as an evidence that learning, conjoined 
 with piety, is esteemed by the aristocracy of 
 England. How far this deduction may be 
 correct, I shall leave to others to determine, 
 having in my narrative to deal principally 
 with facts. Certain it is that Mr. and Mrs_ 
 Hector at all times met with a gracious recep- 
 tion at the Hall ; and Ten-thousand, on account 
 of his short but eventful history, as well as his 
 amiable qualities, became a universal favourite, 
 but more especially among the junior branches 
 of the family ; and one of the French noblesse,
 
 70 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 who had been driven by the Revolution from 
 his home, having found an asylum under the 
 roof of Mr. Well more, was so pleased with his 
 knowledge of the French language, that he 
 took great pains to perfect him both in gram- 
 matical construction and pronunciation, till he 
 had attained a perfect mastery, and could con- 
 verse with all the ease and fluency of a native. 
 The daughter of the Dutch merchant was 
 also on a visit to the Hall, and being about 
 the same age as our hero, they pursued their 
 studies together. Ten-thousand experienced 
 unusual pleasure in associating with the pretty 
 Hollander, and he took great pains in teach- 
 ing her English, whilst he endeavoured 
 through her means to obtain some knowledge 
 of that semi -barbarous tongue the Dutch. 
 Eugenia and Blocks were almost inseparable 
 companions: for, after the time devoted to 
 instruction, they ranged the summer-fields ; he 
 plucked the wild flowers to decorate her hair ; 
 he told her of his early history, and the long- 
 ings of his heart to ascertain who his parents 
 were ; in short, he had found one to whom he 
 could unburthen all the griefs and cares of 
 his mind, and she would throw her arms 
 round his neck in childish sympathy, soothe
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 71 
 
 his distress, kiss away his tears, till he was 
 once more tranquil and happy. 
 
 No tidings whatever had been heard of the 
 benevolent tar who had rescued the orphan of 
 the ocean from destruction, and had also 
 cari'ied out the god-like principle of charity 
 by appropriating a great portion of his prize- 
 money to the maintenance of the child. Ap- 
 prehensions were entertained that he was no 
 more, and though the lad preserved but a 
 feeble recollection of the worthy seaman, yet 
 his grief was unfeigned at the thoughts of 
 losing one to whom he was so much indebted. 
 " My good lad," said Mr. Hector to him one 
 day after they had completed their usual 
 studies, — " my good lad, you are already ac- 
 quainted with every circumstance connected 
 with your situation, and much as it will grieve 
 me to part with you, yet a sense of justice 
 to yourself impels me to prepare you for enter- 
 ing on the great world. You have selected the 
 life of a sailor for that which you wish to pur- 
 sue. There is the same Providence at sea as 
 on shore, and the hand that was outstreched in 
 mercy when you were cast a helpless infant on 
 the turbulent waters can shield you in the 
 midst of dangers calculated to appal the mind
 
 72 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 of man, although they manifest the power of 
 the Creator. I have, under the blessing of 
 Heaven, endeavoured to instil right precepts 
 to guide you in your course amongst the many 
 worthless, — no, I will not call them worth- 
 less, for every soul is precious in the eye of 
 the Almighty, — but I will say, the many irre- 
 ligious and profane with whom you must ne- 
 cessarily hold companionship. I have also 
 imparted such grounds of instruction, as far 
 as my poor scholarship will admit, to render you 
 not wholly ignorant of the sciences ; it is your- 
 self that must build a substantial superstruc- 
 ture upon both, and may the Omnipotent who 
 arrayeth the lily of the field and feedeth 
 the young ravens when they cry be your 
 friend and father !" The good man became 
 too affected to proceed for some minutes, and 
 the lad, taking his hand, bathed it with tears. 
 At length more calmly he proceeded. "Yes, 
 my boy, the Great Being himself has said, ' I 
 will be a father to the fatherless :' do you 
 then place yourself as a humble and dutiful 
 son beneath the shadow of his wing. To- 
 morrow Mr. Brief will be here to make arrange- 
 ments for the future. The service of your 
 country is a service of honour and credit, and, 
 come what may, though silver I have none.
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 73 
 
 and gold I have none, yet what I have you 
 shall have share with me, and at all times con- 
 sider my residence your home. Go now, my 
 young friend, commune with your own heart, 
 and seek counsel of your Maker, that you may 
 be directed to that which is best." He pressed 
 the hand of the agitated boy and left the 
 room. 
 
 The youth obeyed the advice of his kind 
 preceptor, and kneeling down, his aspirations 
 were addressed to the throne of grace. He 
 then walked out in the glorious sunshine, and 
 beheld all nature smiling around him. A 
 feeling of confidence assured his heart and 
 filled it with pleasing tranquillity. At the 
 borders of the grounds attached to the Hall 
 he was joined by Eugenia, and together they 
 strolled through the village and along the main 
 road, conversing on the painful prospect of 
 soon parting, when they were accosted by a 
 remarkably noble-looking man in naval uni- 
 form, who inquired the way to the Parsonage. 
 The lad's heart warmed at the sight of the 
 cloth, and he immediately proffered his services 
 to show him the way. 
 
 " Ten-thousand Top — I mean thanks, young 
 gentleman,"" returned the officer, taking off his 
 hat and bowing : " and you too, my pretty
 
 74 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 lass, will lend a hand to tow a poor tar into 
 safe moorings, eh ?" 
 
 " Yes, mynheer,"" replied the smiling girl, 
 " we sail be too moosh happy for do you very 
 good." 
 
 " Well, I 'm bless'd," exclaimed the officer, 
 " if this arn't curious anyhow, to be called 
 ' mynheer' on the coast of Devonshire !" 
 
 " She is a native of Holland," said the lad, 
 rather offended at the seaman's bluntness ; 
 " but what of that ?" 
 
 " I hopes no offence, young gentleman," 
 rejoined the officer: "I'm sartin none was 
 meant. You 're English, howsomever, by 
 your running your guns out so quick in de- 
 fence of a petticoat. That 's right ; never see 
 a female with a signal of distress, and clap 
 your glass to a blind eye." 
 
 " This way, sir," said the appeased lad, 
 turning to the left oflp from the road. " We 
 must go down the lane ; it is the pleasantest 
 way." 
 
 " Shape your own course, and I '11 follow in 
 your wake, young gentleman," returned his 
 companion; "but I'm thinking it's what they 
 calls one o'the mummylies of life that an 
 ould tar who has been boxing about to all 
 parts of the world at sea shouldn't be able to
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 70 
 
 work a traverse for a few miles ashore without 
 a pilot. Howsomever, it arn't in reason that I 
 should know the bearings and distance of a 
 port so well as those who were born in it." 
 
 " I was not born here," rejoined the youth 
 somewhat mournfully. " Indeed, I do not 
 know where I was born." 
 
 " What ! no one to keep your reckoning ?" 
 exclaimed the officer, looking earnestly in his 
 face. " Well, them is hard lines anyhow. 
 Pray do you know the parson as I am going to 
 see .''"" 
 
 " Mr. Hector .''" returned the lad, smiling at 
 the question. " Yes, I know him very well : 
 he is one of my best friends." 
 
 " And mayhap you may remember a child 
 he has under his convoy," continued the other • 
 " a pretty bold little craft named ." 
 
 " Ten-tousand, come here ; get one petit 
 bouton for me," called Eugenia, who was 
 somewhat in the rear. 
 
 " Eh ? what ?" exclaimed the officer, stop- 
 ping short and catching hold of the lad's arm. 
 " By what name did she hail you V 
 
 " By my proper name," replied the boy 
 firmly, — " Ten-thousand ! — " 
 
 " — Topsail-sheet Blocks,"" added the other, 
 interrupting him impatiently. 
 
 E 2
 
 7b TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 " Yes, you are perfectly right, sir," an- 
 swered the youngster. " Unhappily I know 
 no other." 
 
 " You ? young gentleman ! you the child I 
 left in short duds a year or two ago ?" ex- 
 claimed the officer, his eyes twinkling with 
 pleasure. " You the babby that I stowed 
 away in my breast when the wind and waves 
 had marked you for their prey ? Give us your 
 fin, my hearty ; there 's no needs to say what 
 cheer, for, by the look on you, you've had 
 snug moorings and been well victualled. And 
 now, my boy, what d'ye say to washing your 
 hands in salt water ?" 
 
 The youth contemplated the appearance of 
 the person who thus addressed him with gra- 
 tified pleasure. There was an open candour 
 on his countenance and frankness in his man- 
 ner well calculated to make their way to the 
 heart of the young. But when he heard him 
 acknowledge himself as having known him in 
 infancy, his pulse beat quicker, and sensations 
 of hope and alarm rushed alternately across his 
 mind. The individual who had rescued him 
 from death was a foremast man, the person by 
 his side was an officer, and Ten-thousand was 
 not sufficiently acquainted with the regulations 
 of the service to know that the warrant-officers
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 77 
 
 are selected from amongst the seamen ; yet an 
 idea that he was in the presence of his bene- 
 factor strongly suggested itself, and warm 
 feelings of respect and gratitude kindled in his 
 breast. 
 
 " You mention circumstances connected with 
 my infancy," said he, rather agitated by con- 
 flicting emotion. *' Will you do me the favour 
 to tell me if you are a friend of Mr. Blocks ?" 
 
 " Why, as for the matter of being his 
 friend, I can't disactly say,"" returned the 
 other, laughing with gratification and good 
 humour. " We 've sailed together many a long 
 year, and I was with him when he picked you 
 up in the punt in Plymouth Sound. You 
 were another guess sort of aconsarn, I'm think- 
 ing, then, to what you are now. Why, Lord 
 love the boy, how he is grown !" 
 
 " 1 had hoped,""' said the lad, rather cha- 
 grined at what he deemed a disappointment, 
 " to have found in you the kind patron who 
 has enabled me to be what I am. You 're not 
 Mr. Blocks, then .?" 
 
 " You never axed me," responded the of- 
 ficer more seriously. " Yes, my lad, 1 am 
 Will Blocks; and let it be what the larned 
 calls a maxim with you, whenever you hails a 
 craft, to do so boldly, without backing and
 
 78 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 filling in your speech : — I am Will Blocks, 
 and right glad am I to come alongside of you 
 again !" 
 
 " You are promoted, then ?"' said the de- 
 lighted boy ; whilst Eugenia, comprehending 
 the scene, took hold of the seaman's rough 
 hand between her little delicate fingers. 
 
 " Why, for the matter o' that," returned 
 the other, "it's not always merit meets with 
 its proper reward, or some people might be a 
 little higher in the sarvice: but, to satisfy you, 
 young gentleman, I am now gunner of his 
 Majesty's ship Scratchee, Captain Joseph 
 Sydney Yorick ; and I hopes soon to have 
 the satisfaction of seeing on you rated on 
 her quarter-deck, as stiff as a midshipman, 
 as the saying is. But, come along ! let 's make 
 sail to the clargyman. I 'm bless M if I arn'^t 
 as happy as a prince ! " 
 
 Mr. Hector received his visitor with his 
 accustomed politeness and urbanity, and felt 
 extremely pleased to find him in a superior 
 station ; and though he could not but contem- 
 plate the parting with his pupil without deep 
 regret, yet, as knowing it was requisite for his 
 future welfare, he hoped that the lessons he 
 had received would not easily be lost sight of. 
 
 " Muster Brief will bring up in your road-
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 79 
 
 stead this afternoon," said the gunner. " He 
 wanted me to keep my anchors down and 
 come out in his one-horse jigamaree thing ; 
 but, thinks I to myself, ' I don't know the 
 build or rig of the consarn, and two or three 
 hours are somut in a man's life ;' so I e'en made 
 sail alone. — But, Lord love the lad I" looking at 
 Ten-thousand, " why it seems but yesterday 
 that I puckelowed him out o' the punt and 
 slued him up, starn foremost, to the first lef- 
 tenant. And now ! — Well, God A'mighty bless 
 yer reverence, and you, my lady ! — when one 
 on you is moored in heaven, may the other 
 be lashed alongside, for your kindness to the 
 babby !" 
 
 A light cart at this moment drove up to the 
 gate, at the bottom of the garden, and a young 
 man alighted and rang the bell. 
 
 " Who or what can this be, my dear ?" said 
 Mr. Hector, addressing his wife, and then read- 
 ing the name upon the cart, ' George Mason, 
 Wine Merchant, Plymouth,' — " I know no such 
 person." 
 
 " He has perhaps brought you a letter from 
 the doctor," replied his wife. " The vehicle 
 often passes this way, and he may be one of 
 the doctor's parishioners." 
 
 " True my dear," returned her husband
 
 80 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 " but he is handing down baskets, and old 
 Grace is receiving them as if they were in- 
 deed designed for me. There must be some 
 mistake." 
 
 " No mistake whatsomever, yer reverence," 
 said Blocks respectfully. " I thought the lub- 
 ber had discharged his cargo afore this, seeing 
 as he promised to be under weigh an hour before 
 I started. The case is just as this here, yer 
 ladyship: — Thinks I to myself, ' What's life 
 without a drop o' grog,' all in the middleum 
 way, in course, yer reverence ; but then, thinks 
 Ij ' the clargy don't drink grog;' so Muster 
 Brief recommends me to a fair-dealing chap, 
 and it 's no mistake in the world, but all your 
 own, in the regard o' drinking the boy's health 
 and prosperity." 
 
 The servant, who had been called, old 
 Grace, entered, and addressing her master, 
 said, " There's three dozen o' port, sir — three 
 dozen o' sherry, six bottles o' brandy, and six 
 bottles o' rum." 
 
 " And I '11 just trouble you for one on 'em, 
 and a corkscrew," interrupted Blocks, " see- 
 ing that the dust's got down my throat in 
 walking." 
 
 " There 's a box too — and a bag — and a leg 
 o' mutton and a goose — and a couple o' ducks
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 81 
 
 — and a side o' bacon — and tea and sugar, 
 split-peas, and bacca, and a bottle of milk, 
 and — " 
 
 " Ay, ay, lovey ! there's a little sumut of 
 everything, from a mould candle to a mouse- 
 trap," said Blocks, laughing. " Why, Lord love 
 your heart ! do you think, after sarving his 
 Majesty, man and boy, for five-and-thirty 
 years, I don't know what 's wanting in a mess ? 
 But hand us in the box, my beauty ! — Though 
 for the matter o' that, there *s no occasion to 
 give you the trouble, seeing as I ""m the ould- 
 est and the ugliest, and best able to do it 
 myself." 
 
 He was, however, spared his labour this 
 time, as the young man who drove the cart 
 brought in the box and " hoped all was 
 right." 
 
 " Ay, ay, my hearty ! all square," returned 
 Blocks, giving him some silver : " and may- 
 hap his reverence here will order you a glass 
 o' grog."" Grace brought in the bottle and 
 the corkscrew. " Or avast ! have I your leave, 
 yer reverence, he shall have a taste o* this."" 
 
 Mr. Hector gave his ready assent; but the 
 young man stopped the operation of the tar 
 by saying, " I would rather have a drink 
 of home-brewed ale, if you please." 
 
 e5
 
 82 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 " Every man to his liking, my hearty !" ex- 
 claimed Blocks, whilst the worthy curate di- 
 rected Grace to supply his wants. The gun- 
 ner filled a good-sized tumbler nearly half full 
 of rum, and then pouring in the water from a 
 jug held nearly two feet above it, there was an 
 appearance of effervescence, but no time was al- 
 lowed to test the fact, for the whole was out of 
 sight at a draught. The gunner smacked his 
 lips with a gusto, and drawing a long breath, 
 uttered as he put down the empty glass, 
 " Never make two bites of a cherry ; — won't 
 yer reverence try it ?" 
 
 " Not now, my kind and excellent friend," 
 answered the minister : " after dinner I will 
 indulge in a glass of wine with you. But your 
 generosity has been over-taxed; we have done 
 nothing to merit such attention." 
 
 " Arn't you, though !" exclaimed the gun- 
 ner, rising from his chair, the blood rushing 
 to his face, for he had given the words their 
 literal meaning. " Then all I've got to say 
 is — ■" his eye rested on the youth — he paused 
 a moment — smiled with pleasure — his placidity 
 returned, and ejecting a stale quid from the 
 window, he uttered the word " gammon." 
 
 The clergyman and the lady were surprised 
 at the change in the manner of their visitor ;
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 83 
 
 but the former soon divined the cause. " I 
 accept your bounty readily, Mr. Blocks," said 
 he, " and the more so as I feel that it has all 
 been kindly meant, as a token of your esteem." 
 
 " YouVe working the right traverse now, 
 yer reverence," returned Blocks, reseating 
 himself and casting a wistful eye at the bottle. 
 *' It's real Jeraakee that, but I thinks there's 
 a twang of the cask." He filled another half- 
 glass. " Let the box alone, you young 
 scamp !" added he laughingly to Ten-thou- 
 sand, who with Eugenia was wondering what 
 it could contain. The parson and his lady turn- 
 ed their heads towards the party addressed, 
 and the grog disappeared. 
 
 " Shall I cook the mutton, ma'am, or the 
 ducks ?" inquired Grace, opening the parlour- 
 door. " There 's a bag of turnips, and plenty 
 of sage and inyons. If they live so well at 
 sea, INIuster Officer, I should like to be a sailor." 
 
 " Barring the breezes, ould girl," returned 
 Blocks : " them short duds ud look queerish 
 skimming aloft to take in a reef. May I stand 
 caterer, yer reverence .'*" Mr. Hector bowed. 
 " I ax pardon ; it's the lady as I should ask." 
 
 '* Make yourself quite at home, Mr. Blocks," 
 said Mrs. Hector ; " order and do as you 
 please."
 
 84 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 " Thanky, thanky, yer ladyship," uttered 
 the gunner. '* Then I say, my beauty, let 's 
 have both on 'em : and if you wants any help 
 in the cooking way, such as a dow-boy or 
 two, or a fathom o' plum duff, why then just 
 give me a hail : my long togs arn't made me 
 forget I've had my day to be cook o' the 
 mess; and though it wouldn't be ship-shape 
 
 for an officer of my rank to But there Tm 
 
 ashore, and, Lord love your heart ! I means to 
 enjoy myself." 
 
 Old Grace chuckled and simpered at being 
 called a beauty by " Muster Sailor-officer,"" and 
 when her mistress accompanied her from the 
 room to forward the arrangements, she ex- 
 claimed, " Well, ma'am, I remember when 
 I held you in my arms a babby, and that's 
 some few years ago ; but never in my life be- 
 fore did I behold a more handsomer and pro- 
 perer a man than Muster Blocks." 
 
 The box was opened. On the top were scat- 
 tered three or four hundred full-grown " cap- 
 stan-bar cheroots," as the gunner termed them — 
 then came a piece of beautiful Bandanna hand- 
 kerchiefs, and under this a handsome palam- 
 poo. Next appeared a delicate dress of China 
 silk, and another of crape, enclosed in which 
 were a large cornelian necklace, two small Chi-
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 85 
 
 nese josses or idols, and a quantity of choice 
 spices that diffused a delightful fragrance, 
 two bottles of real otto of roses, and several 
 other things ; and beneath all was the skin of 
 a young tiger, with a number of pieces of 
 cornelian, for shirt-buttons, bracelets, watch- 
 seals, &c. The young people examined every- 
 thing with delight ; and, if the truth must be 
 told, the older folks were equally gratified. 
 
 " They're all your own, yer ladyship," ex- 
 claimed the gunner as Mrs. Hector quitted the 
 room, " except the josses, and them I brought 
 for his reverence." 
 
 " ' Man makes a god and worships him,"" 
 uttered Mr. Hector, taking up one of the 
 hideous images and inspecting it. " What 
 blindness ! — I may say, what madness ! The 
 Heathens bow down to such a thing as this. — 
 But stop, — let me be just ! Do not Christians, 
 and well-educated Christians too, erect altars 
 in their hearts, and offer incense to idols of 
 their own creation ? And need inquiry be 
 made as to which is most offensive to the 
 Deity .?" 
 
 " Why, as to the matter o' that, yer re- 
 verence," responded the truth-loving seaman, 
 who supposed the question was literally put to 
 himself, — " as to the matter o' that, it ud puzzle 
 
 S
 
 86 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 my edecation a bit to decide, because why — 
 there's only One as can sarche the heart and 
 knows the reckoning it keeps. Now, I arn't 
 had much bringing up in the way of parson- 
 craft ; but yet I thinks an Ingin or a Nigger 
 arn't much 'sponsible rationality in the regard 
 a knowing a pulpit from a wash-deck tub — 
 and the ignoramuses with nothing to kiver 
 their nakedness except an clout — saving 
 
 the lady's presence ; though, being of the 
 mynheer build, mayhap she mayn't under- 
 stand me. — I'm saying, yer reverence, that 
 being nothing but naked dark-skinned igno- 
 ramuses, barring the article afore named, it 
 ud seem a comical sight to 'em, if they were 
 pitched into one of our churches, to see a man 
 in a shirt stuck up aloft like Jack in a box, 
 and " 
 
 " It would — it would, my friend !" inter- 
 rupted Mr. Hector, who feared that the plain- 
 spoken seaman might possibly utter something 
 derogatory to the sacred office. " Every nation 
 has its peculiarities and superstitions ; and it 
 is worthy of remark, that particular classes 
 have particular objects either of veneration or 
 alarm. The sailors, for instance, have a strange 
 superstition relative to the rat." 
 
 " There's no superstition in that, yer rever-
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 87 
 
 ence," answered Blocks solemnly ; " it 's all 
 as true as gospel. I see'd it once myself, and, 
 if you've no objections, I'll just tell you all 
 about it." 
 
 " It shall have my profoundest attention,"" 
 said the clergyman, seating himself near the 
 gunner ; and, despite his remarks on super- 
 stition, he manifested an eager desire to hear 
 the story. 
 
 " Well, then, yer reverence," said the gunner, 
 apparently unconsciously, and from the mere 
 force of habit, mixing himself another glass of 
 grog, " ril just overhaul the consarn a bit in my 
 own mind, so as to make everything ship-shape. 
 Because why? A man's memory is more like 
 the log-board than a log-book — a rough rub 
 with a hand-swab wipes away the chalk from 
 the one, whilst the other keeps its reckoning 
 to the last ; and I don't happen to have any 
 moneyrandums of what took place." He passed 
 his horny hand over his head, either to quicken 
 his intellect or to smooth his hair, rubbed his 
 eyes, twitched his tail over his shoulder, tasted 
 his brewing, and added with solemnity, '* Fm 
 thinking, yer reverence, that what you call 
 superstition about them there rats is sumut 
 of a different natur. Now, a seaman's a sort 
 o' water-rat, and there's a kind of an inkslink
 
 88 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 about 'em both ; though in the regard o' the 
 four-legged creaturs, not having the gift o' rea- 
 son, the Creator has seen fit to bestow a matter 
 o' knowledge that the tar doesn't possess. And 
 it's the same with most hannimals ; for whilst 
 man works his traverse by book-laming and 
 figures, the hannimals have a way of their own 
 that ud put a philosopher to the blush." 
 
 " Very true, my friend — very true," answer- 
 ed the clergyman ; " the unerring Wisdom that 
 framed all things and called them into being 
 has indeed bestowed a wonderful instinct where 
 reason is denied. Indeed, it has long been a 
 matter of doubt, whether some animals — par- 
 ticularly the elephant and the dog — have not 
 a glimmering of reasoning faculties." 
 
 " Mayhap so, yer reverence — mayhap so," 
 returned the gunner, " and I Ve sometimes 
 thought the same of the Niggers ; — but I arn't 
 much skilled in the matter. Howsomever, you 
 shall hear what Tve got to say about the 
 rats." 
 
 The deepest attention prevailed. Ten-thou- 
 sand and the little Dutch girl sat down eager- 
 ly to listen, and after again taking a pull at his 
 grog, Mr. Blocks commenced. " It's likely 
 yer reverence has heard the fag-end of a song 
 what says,
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 69 
 
 There 's a sweet little cherub sits perch'd up aloft 
 To look out for the life of poor Jack.' 
 
 — Well, all I got to say is, that no bishop 
 or commander-in-chief among the clargy could 
 ever take a truer aim — text, I mean, from which 
 to spin his sarmon, than them there lines. At 
 the peace of 1762, I was discharged from the 
 ould Valiant, seventy-four. Captain Duncan, af- 
 ter taking the Havanna, which cost us many 
 a brave fellow's life for nothing, as the place 
 was soon afterwards given up again. But I 'm 
 saying, there I was discharged because they'd 
 no use for me just then; and as I never had 
 any very kindly liking for the shore whilst 
 there was a bit of timber afloat, I ships myself 
 in a barque as was fitting out off Wapping, 
 bound to Canada, which had just then been 
 turned over by parchment articles to England. 
 Well, after taking in our cargo, we drops down 
 to Deptford, and lashed alongside an empty 
 East Ingeeman to wait for the morning tide. 
 It was a beautiful moonlight night, and being 
 only a youngster, I was ordered by the mate 
 to look out on deck all the first watch, to see 
 that no picarooning thieves laid their grapplin 
 hooks on what didn't belong to them. Now, 
 I 'd been brought up in a sarvice where obedi- 
 ence was always made the test of duty ; though.
 
 90 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 for the matter o' that, them as were slack in 
 
 stays had their way freshened by a bulPs , 
 
 saving the presence of the ladies : — so I walks 
 the deck now and then, looking over the bows 
 and starn, and at last thinks I to myself I'll 
 e'en go and have a peep aboard the Ingeeman ; 
 so I clambers up her side, for her gangway 
 laid like the wall of a church above us, and 
 when I peeped over everything was as plain 
 as broad daylight — her decks were all clear, 
 there warn't so much as a rope-yarn to be 
 seen in the way of gear ; but there was a sort 
 of skreeling and skrimmaging about the cap- 
 stan that puzzled me, so I gets into the main 
 chains and looks through the quarter-deck 
 port, and there I saw about a dozen rats al- 
 most as big as young donkeys." 
 
 " They must have been monsters indeed, 
 my friend," said Mr. Hector, looking at the 
 grinning youth, who was all eagerness to 
 hear. 
 
 " Well, well, they mightn't be quite so 
 large as young donkeys — indeed, I didn't say 
 they were," uttered the gunner, rather impa- 
 tient at the interruption ; " but they certainly 
 were the largest I ever did see; and one of 
 'em was seated on the combing of the after- 
 hatchway, whilst the rest were standing or
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 91 
 
 moving about and kicking up a precious bob- 
 bery of squealing and screeching. ' My 
 eyes!' thinks I, * but here's a council o' war 
 going on;' and the fellow on the combing 
 gets up on his hind legs, much after the 
 fashion of a kangaroo, and he steadies him- 
 self by his out rigger, and I 'ra blessed but he 
 was a rattler ! so he comes down off his perch, 
 and they all turned to scrambling about the 
 decks, and some on 'em runs down the head- 
 ropes aboard of the barque. ' Yo hoy !' says I 
 to myself, ' but that won't do — anything but 
 a rat for a shipmate !' And so I goes cautiously 
 along by the side steps ; but either they didn't 
 see me or didn't mind me, for up they went 
 again, and one on 'em got the eend of a ball 
 o' spun-yarn in his mouth, and he whips 
 through the port with it, and screeched out 
 like blue murder. Up comes another with a 
 piece of ould canvass, followed by a third with 
 as much oakum as he could carry. * Well,' 
 thinks I to myself, * what can these fellows 
 be going at ? — howsomever, I won't disturb 
 'em, anyhow ;' for I wanted to see what they 
 meant to do. So, yer reverence, they lays the 
 gear down upon the deck — all but the eend 
 o' the spun-yarn, which a rat that did not 
 move about much held on by — and off they
 
 92 TOPSAIL-SHEET-BLOCKS. 
 
 starts again in a body, down into the barque, 
 and they drags a quantity of shakings and all 
 the loose stuff as they could pick up just 
 under the Ingeeman's port. After this, they 
 returns to the chap as was houlding on, and 
 one on 'em takes up the slack o' the spun-yarn 
 about four inches away from the other's head, 
 and leads him to the edge of the portsill, and 
 then it struck me, from the yarns I 'd heard 
 about such varmin, that the ould chap was 
 blind. Well, next they brings the canvass 
 and spreads it ; and then they laid a tier of 
 the oakum, and the ould blind un stretches 
 himself out on top of it, and they lapped him 
 up snug. ' Well, I 'm blow'd,' thinks I, ' but 
 that 's doing on it, anyhow !' though even I 
 couldn't exactly make up what they were 
 after. But, my eyes ! they rattled off the 
 spun-yarn from the ball till they 'd got a mat- 
 ter of half-a-dozen fathoms, when they passes 
 the eend through three holes as they 'd made 
 in the canvass, and doubles the parts so as to 
 middle 'em at the ould rat. Five or six on 'em 
 stretched the spun-yarn along the deck so as to 
 make straight the line, and a fellow claps his 
 starn against the ould un in the canvass and 
 backs him off in style. As soon as he was clear, 
 the others walks up with the standing parts,
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 93 
 
 and lowers him down into the barque in no 
 time. ' Oh — oh, my chaps,' says I to myself, 
 ' is that your fun ! — what, you 're for emigrat- 
 ing to Canada, are you ! But I 'm blessed if 
 you shall work that traverse just now, at any 
 rate !' So I jumps down and catches hould of a 
 broomstick; but theyM all started afore I could 
 get to 'em, some under the booms, and some 
 down the fore-hatch way — even the ould fellow 
 had made a shift to get out of his slings and 
 was off. I told the second mate next morning, 
 and showed him the consarn, for I was afraid 
 to say anything about it to the skipper lest he 
 might be angry at my letting such passengers 
 aboard. The second mate laughed, and said 
 ' it was a sign of good luck, for them sort o' 
 cattle always knew a tight ship and what sort 
 of a voyage she was to make.' And sure enough 
 we 'd a beautiful passage to the Gulf of St. 
 Lawrence, and so we went up the river and 
 delivered our cargo at Quebec. But the rats 
 had sarved out provisions among 'em — not 
 being over nice where they got it, and there 
 was a Flemish account amongst the cabin stores. 
 Well, they got to smoking 'em out; but, Lord 
 love you ! they cared no more for the smoke 
 than I do for this glass :" and the gunner took 
 a steady pull at his grog. " Then they tried
 
 94 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 Other schemes," exclaimed he, " but it wouldn't 
 do, and * Mind my words,' says the second 
 mate, ' we're all right as long as they'll stick 
 by us.' The skipper gets into a passion ; ' I can't 
 think where the thieves have come from,' says 
 he ; and you may be sure I didn't tell him, for 
 it warn't very safe in them times for a foremast 
 man to pull athwart hawse of his captain, see- 
 ing as there was a slave-trade going on with 
 the Whites as well as the Niggers." 
 
 " You don't mean to say that they sold 
 Europeans ?" said Mr. Hector in a tone of 
 surprise and doubt. 
 
 " Ropeans, or not Ropeans," returned the 
 gunner, " it mattered not what was the call- 
 ing or the colour, if money was bid, money was 
 taken, and the poor devil — I beg pardon, yer 
 reverence — the onfortunate fellow — was sent 
 off into the country, where he 'd small chance of 
 getting away. There was many a deep trick 
 played at that time in England to get rid of 
 troublesome customers ; — they called 'em ap- 
 prentices, but it was ould Bellzebub's claw as 
 signed the indentures." 
 
 " I have read of such things," responded 
 Mr. Hector, " but I did not altogether be- 
 lieve them." 
 
 "It's true, yer reverence; and when I've
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 95 
 
 finished about the rats, why, mayhap, if 
 you've no objections, I'll just overhaul a few 
 antidotes from the log of memory on that 
 there score." 
 
 " You interest and instruct me, Mr. Blocks," 
 returned the clergyman. " I shall be most 
 happy to hear you, — for those that go down 
 to the sea in ships, as the Psalmist says, do in- 
 deed see wonders." 
 
 *' And the gentleman says right too," as- 
 sented Blocks, " let him have been in what 
 sarvice he will — for he must have washed his 
 hands in salt water to have found it out cor- 
 rectly. But, in regard o' the rats, the skip- 
 per was puzzled what to do, till one day he 
 brings off a bag, and ' mew, mew,' went a 
 tortoiseshell mouser, and she was cast loose to 
 pick up the pickerooning wagabones as had 
 plundered the captain's stores. ' The skip- 
 per 's let the cat out o' the bag,' says the se- 
 cond mate ; ' but, to my thinking, he'd better 
 have left her ashore. Howsomever, we shall 
 soon see : if all's square, they '11 stick by us, 
 spite of the skipper's insult; but if we're a 
 doomed craft, they'll want no cat to rouse 
 'em out , — rats never stay by a sinking ship.' 
 Well, yer reverence, there was now and then a 
 bit of a squall atwixt the two — that 's the cat
 
 96 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 and the rats ; but puss didn't do much in the 
 way of man-handling 'em, though she made two 
 or three squeak for their lives." 
 
 " Vot a moosh long tale !" said Eugenia, 
 growing rather weary of such continued im- 
 posed restraint upon her tongue. 
 
 " It 's about rats, my precious !" responded 
 Blocks, " and so you must make all due al- 
 lowance for the length of their tales. — Well, 
 yer reverence, one day, after we'd made a 
 clean hold, we hauled alongside of a jetty, 
 just to examine our bottom at low water; and 
 there was a plank launched out from the ship's 
 side to the quay, for a gangway ashore. It 
 was mid-day, yer reverence, the people were 
 getting their dinners, when the second mate 
 hails us below. ' They're off!' says he; 
 ' young uns and ould uns, there they go! — 
 they've made their calculations, and worked 
 up the dead-reckoning ; and now the skipper 
 may send his cat after 'em as soon as he 
 pleases. I thought it ud be so ; there they all 
 go ! Will, come and bid good-b'ye to your 
 friends.' I jumped up the hatchway, yer re- 
 verence, and there I saw about a score o' rats 
 walking leisurely along the plank to the jetty ; 
 and one on 'em was blind and had got a bit 
 of rattan in his mouth, and another was lead-
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 97 
 
 ing him by it. ' There they go, Will !' says 
 the second-mate ; ' there they go, holus bolus, 
 stock and fluke : and now the skipper may 
 cross out my name from the ship"'s articles as 
 soon as maybe 's convenient.' ' Hadn't we 
 better try and catch one or two of 'em ?' says 
 
 I : 'we can make a cage to keep ""em in "* 
 
 ' And lam 'em to sing,' says he : ' that ud 
 be very like a whale. No, no, my boy, there 'd 
 be no use in stopping 'em against their wills, 
 for that ud be combustion — and combustion 
 arn't of one's own accord, you know.' Well, 
 yer reverence, off they went, blind un and all ; 
 and when the skipper comes aboard, several 
 of the people asked for their discharge. ' Why, 
 you're shipped for the voyage,' says the cap- 
 tain, ' and must go back in the Jessy, or not 
 at all. But what makes you want to leave r' 
 So they told him about the rats, and he called 
 'em a set of d — fools — saving yer clergyman's 
 presence — and ordered 'em forud : but they 
 ail seemed detarmined to run any risk rather 
 than go to sea in the craft. Well, at low- 
 water we examines the bottom, and everything 
 seemed tight and sound enough ; but still the 
 people warn't by no manner o' means satisfied, 
 in the regard of the disembarkation of the rats ; 
 and after we had hauled off, and by the time 
 
 VOL. I. F
 
 98 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 we were ready to sail again, most of 'em had 
 contrived to slip their cables out of the skipper's 
 way. Howsomever, the second-mate was a bit 
 of a dare-devil happy-go-lucky sort of a chap, 
 and says he, ' I tell you what it is. Will, the 
 skipper may laugh and call it all nonsense, 
 but I'm blow'd if we arn't regularly in for a 
 sneezer — and he may log it down, if he likes, 
 that I say so. What '11 be the upshot of the 
 thing .-^ why, we've no traverse-tables as we 
 can find the bearings and distance by ; but as 
 sure as my mother had me christened by the 
 ugly name of Jack, so sure sumut ull hap- 
 pen. But never strike your colours, my boy, 
 whilst there 's a shot in the locker ; never say 
 die whilst there 's a ray of courage in your 
 heart. I won't desart the skipper, anyhow, 
 come dog, come devil,' — saving your clargy's 
 presence; but it's just as Jack said it, — ' come 
 dog, come — ' the same over again — ' I'll have 
 a slap at it. Will you stand by me, my bould 
 un ?"" Well, yer reverence, I promised I would ; 
 and then says he, * All square. Will ; let 's 
 have a toothful of grog over it." 
 
 Whether this was a mere excuse for filling 
 his own glass, or that, being reminded of the 
 circumstance, he was led to give greater effect 
 to his narrative by way of illustration, — or
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 99 
 
 whether he acted mechanically, — the motive 
 must remain unknown : certain it is, that a 
 good stiff nor'-wester passed that way where 
 many a good stiff nor'-wester had gone be- 
 fore. He then continued : — " Well, yer re- 
 verence, we sailed again about the middle of 
 December, — blowing weather, and as cold as 
 a snow-ball, — and we took our departure from 
 Cape Race with a spanking breeze at nor'- 
 west. ' Where 's yer rats and their mischief 
 now ?' says the skipper ; but the second-mate 
 never said nothing to him, though says he to 
 me, * Will, we arn't half-way home yet — he 
 boasts of a dry jacket afore he is out of the 
 water.' Howsomever, we did pretty fair, some- 
 times fair weather, but mostly foul, till we got 
 about thirty-four west longitude, and then it 
 came on to blow great guns." 
 
 " You do not mean literally so.?" said Mr. 
 Hector, looking at the young folks. 
 
 " Letterally or not," responded the gunner, 
 " it was as heavy a gale as ever I was in ; 
 and the barque being deep, the sea made a 
 clear breach over her ; though, being mostly 
 timber-laden, we hadn't much fear of Davy 
 Jones's locker, unless she broke up. It lasted 
 a whole week, and our bowsprit and fore and 
 main topmasts went overboard, and there we 
 
 F 2
 
 100 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 laid at the marcy of the winds and waves, 
 — one wetting us through and through every 
 minute, and the other blowing us dry again. 
 The cold was dreadful ; we rolled about like 
 a log — the water-casks fetched way and got 
 staved, and provisions began to run short, for 
 the bread was soaked in the briny helement ; we 
 couldn't keep a bit of fire to cook by, and 
 some on us had frozen limbs, till at last all 
 got so weak that we could scarcely handle 
 the ropes. AVe kept a reefed foresel, a main 
 staysel, and a trysel on her; but one night 
 the foresel blew clean out of the bolt-ropes, 
 and we hadn't the power to clear the wreck. 
 Day after day we laid, the wind dead at nor"'- 
 east — ice hanging about the rigging — the hould 
 half full of water, and the timber beginning 
 to send fore and aft, so as to threaten to start 
 a butt-end of some of the planks. The skipper 
 fell ill and took to his bed, and very few but 
 the second-mate and myself were able to crawl 
 about out of sixteen persons. We had, all 
 hands, been put^pn a short allowance of grub, 
 and the wind lulling, the cook was able to 
 light a fire, and we made two or three pretty 
 fair meals, and kept our course ; then it fell 
 a stark calm with a heavy swell, and the craft 
 having but little above board to steady her.
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 101 
 
 walloped in the trough of the sea — put out 
 our fire, and at last rolled away the foremast, 
 which we cut clear. In three or four days' 
 time we caught light baffling winds, and next 
 a steady breeze from the nor''-east ; but we 
 could only lay her to under the main-stay- 
 sel. At last, we were reduced to two ounces 
 of bread and a pint of water a man for twenty- 
 four hours, with now and then a little drop of 
 corn brandy. The skipper never left his bed, 
 — indeed he was nearly blind ; but the peo- 
 ple behaved themselves like men, and were 
 always obedient to command. Daily was our 
 small allowance diminished — hunger and thirst 
 began to make us quarrelsome, and look wolfish 
 at one another ; we had only a little water and 
 a few pounds of bread left, when the second- 
 mate at daybreak went on deck, and we heard 
 him shout, ' Sail ho !' and all hands crawled 
 up — even the captain got out of his cot, mak- 
 ing sure that deliverance was at b.and. — It 's 
 hard lines, yer reverence, to have every day a 
 banyan-day, and scarcely anything to eat in 
 it — hour after hour the stomach ravening 
 for food, and the parched throat for a little 
 water — and shipmates' eyes glaring on you as 
 if they could gnaw your flesh and suck your 
 blood. Many 's the delicious dream I had,
 
 102 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 fancying myself at a plentiful feast and en- 
 joying every luxury — drinking clear water 
 from the vagrant stream, or clapping my mouth 
 to the bunghole of a cask — sometimes cutting 
 off rich slices from a roast leg of pork, or mak- 
 ing my mark in a rib-bone of beef, and then 
 to wake almost famished — the vision fled, and 
 starvation, with his maddening leer, staring in 
 my face. — Oh, yer reverence, it was horrible — 
 horrible !" 
 
 *' It must have been, indeed, my worthy 
 friend, overwhelming to the mind, but for the 
 support of that Being whom the winds and 
 waves obey," said the clergyman feelingly. 
 " But the strange sail — the ship that hove 
 in sight — what of her ?"" 
 
 " It warn't a ship — it was a brig," replied the 
 gunner. " She neared us fast, and seeing help 
 so close aboard of us, we consumed our whole 
 remaining stock, except about two gallons of 
 brandy, and two or three of rum, and a cask 
 of wine. Faces that hadn't had a smile on 'em 
 for many days, now again looked cheerful — 
 wrangling ceased, and we congratulated each 
 other on the prospect of being snatched from 
 death. We hoisted a signal of distress at the 
 peak ; and the captain sends for us all down 
 into the cabin, and returned thanks to God
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 103 
 
 A'mighty, in a prayer as would ha' done cre- 
 dit to any archbishop in the sarvice." 
 
 " I 'm very glad of that," said Mr. Hector : 
 *' gratitude to our Maker is the bounden duty 
 of every one. Perhaps, had you prayed sooner, 
 you would have had earlier relief." 
 
 " Prayed sooner, yer reverence ?" reiterated 
 Blocks in something like amazement. " Well, 
 mayhap it mightn't be praying, according to 
 book laming; but if ever poor devils cried 
 arnestly for marcy, it was the crew of the 
 barque. There warn't much fuss made about 
 it, to be sure ; but some on 'em had been sorry 
 blackguards in the way of getting drunk and 
 kicking up sprees ashore, and in course they 
 felt the prickings of conscience as well as the 
 hungry belly, and they were always crying 
 out to be saved. As for the second-mate, he 
 took everything coolly ; and I, being but a 
 youngster, was much obligated to him, for 
 many a lift he give me by way of encourage- 
 ment, to keep soul and body sailing in com- 
 pany : and now, when the brig was not more 
 nor a mile off, and I was just expressing my 
 joy at the thought of soon obtaining relief, 
 he solemnly answered, ' Don't be too ex- 
 pectful. Will ; there 's no accounting for 
 broken crockery in a squall.' — Well, yer reve-
 
 104 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 rence, I felt angry with him, but I didn't never 
 say nothing, for there was always a somut 
 about the man that seemed as if he could see 
 further than other people, and so I held my 
 tongue; but he warn't cheerful like the rest, 
 and his countenance was as gloomy as the dark 
 cloud that forebodes a storm. As the stranger 
 came nigher and nigher, eager expectation 
 increased ; and when she passed within hail, 
 heard our deplorable story, and promised to 
 render us help, we tried to cheer, but it was 
 more like the moaning of wind-gusts through 
 the trees in a churchyard, and we resembled 
 spectres rather than men. We couldn't muster 
 strength enough to get our boat out, for the 
 starn-boat had been washed away ; so the skip- 
 per of the brig said he would send us his, but 
 it wanted a little repairs first. He told us he 
 was short of provisions himself, but he would 
 spare us some bread and water, and whatever he 
 could. — Well, yer reverence, it stirred us up to 
 energy, and, by dint of hard labour, we turned 
 to at the pumps and lightened her of a great 
 deal of water, and should, perhaps, have cleared 
 her, but that all hands became exhausted and 
 were obligated to give in. The stranger 
 brought the wind with him from the eastard ; 
 but just as we had knocked off pumping, it
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 105 
 
 chopped right round to the westard, and he 
 reached away from us. Some thought he was 
 only keeping to windard — others gazed in 
 silence — yet none beheved that he would leave 
 us altogether to perish, but they saw him 
 making sail and every hour lessening to the 
 sight. When he came only just to be seen like 
 a dim speck upon the verge of the horizon, 
 then arose wild cries and lamentations; then 
 did disappointment sink into unutterable de- 
 spair — the mind gave way under the sudden 
 change — the men flew to the liquor and got 
 drunk ; and whilst some were praying to tlie 
 A'mighty for deliverance, others mingled their 
 expressions of distress with oaths and curses. 
 It was a dreadful scene, yer reverence ! The 
 second-mate, though a devil-may-care sort of 
 a chap, wouldn't touch the liquor, nor would 
 he let me. He contrived to light a little bit of 
 ftre, and mulled some wine, which we shared 
 with the skipper, for the chief-mate was as bad 
 as any of the men ; and collecting all the arti- 
 cles we could muster which was likely to ap- 
 pease hunger, there was part of a bullock's 
 hide, about four pounds of candles, and a gallon 
 of lamp-oil, the cat reduced almost to a ske- 
 leton, and the pump-leather. Well, the cat 
 was killed and sarved out in equal pieces the 
 
 f5
 
 106 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 next day ; and I declare, yer reverence, I never 
 eat a morsel with more relish in my life than 
 that which I picked from the breast of poor 
 puss. Nor were there wanting remarks about 
 the rats; but nobody said much, for it was a 
 sore place to some on 'em. Howsomever, the 
 wind being westerly and the water more 
 smooth, we got her away nearly before it, 
 stepped the long-boat's mast in the windlass, 
 and hoisted the sail, and the barque travelled 
 along at the rate of three knots an hour, and 
 those who were able to stand took their spell 
 at the helm. ' This renewed our hopes a little ; 
 for if the breeze continued, we were likely to be 
 carried into the track of the West Ingeeman. 
 But, alas ! another gale came on from the 
 nor'ard, with hard frost ; every eatable was 
 consumed — candles, oil, all were gone, and we 
 passed the long dreary stormy nights of sixteen 
 and seventeen hours in utter darkness, huddled 
 together in the steerage, imploring the A'mighty 
 to help us, yet feeling reckless of existence. 
 Such was our condition about the middle of 
 January, and no one paid the smallest atten- 
 tion to the craft but the second-mate; indeed, 
 had she been laden with any other cargo, 
 nothing would have saved her, but the timber 
 kept her buoyant even after the water had
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 107 
 
 risen to the lower deck. But it was disheart- 
 ening and nioloncholy, in them dismal and 
 dreadful nights, to hear the dashing of the 
 waves as they broke over us — the moaning of 
 the pent-up wind in the hould — the groaning of 
 the poor craft as she writhed between the seas, 
 and the howling of the gale as it swept above 
 our heads, all mingling in one terrible threat 
 to send us to the bottom : and yet, yer rever- 
 ence, in the midst of all this, whilst the hand 
 of the A'mighty showed itself in power and 
 punishment, men were setting all warning at 
 defiance by getting beastly intoxicated ; and 
 the mate, who ought to have set a good ex- 
 ample to the rest, was the worst among 'em. 
 Now, yer reverence, I never yet believed that 
 because one chap might be a d — rogue — saving 
 yer presence — that the Great Being sent a storm 
 just merely to frighten the fellow, because, 
 d'ye mind, it's sarved out to all alike, and 
 there may be a dozen worthy souls to one 
 rascal ; but it certainly was curious to hear 
 some of my shipmates confessing and bemoan- 
 ing their sins— and by their own calculations 
 they had no small share logged down again 
 'em, and they kept crying out that they were 
 Jonases and should be swallowed up for their 
 wickedness — that the storm was sent to punish
 
 108 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 'em : and one wanted the mate to throw him 
 overboard, that the gale might break up. Now, 
 the mate being mad groggy, — or rather mulled 
 winey, for t'other stuff was gone, — catches him 
 up in his arms, and Avas about to pitch him 
 over the quarter just as if he'd been a dipsy 
 lead ; but the second-mate stopped him from 
 committing the murder, and bundled 'em both 
 below again. — It's surprising, yer reverence, 
 how men who are hourly hazarding existence — 
 I say it 's surprising to see how hard they 
 hould on by the life-lines, taking in every 
 morsel of slack that they can gather, and get- 
 ting a severe turn by way of belaying all they 
 can haul in upon. The suffering by famine 
 warn't nothing compared to the dread of death." 
 
 " Although we ought at all times to be pre- 
 pared for our latter end," said the clergyman, 
 " yet it seems to be a wise ordination of Provi- 
 dence that men should place an inestimable 
 value on existence — it is the best gift of the 
 Creator, and once destroyed, is gone for ever." 
 
 " Mayhap so, yer reverence," returned 
 Blocks, " for I take it you 're better skilled 
 in them things than I can be ; but it did seem 
 strange that whilst they were hourly expecting 
 it, and knew it must come some time or other, 
 yet the nearer it approached, the more they
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 109 
 
 were terrified. I can't exactly explain my 
 meaning, perhaps, only I've felt more uneasi- 
 ness afore going into action than when we got 
 to hard hammering; and in this here case, 
 aboard the Jessy, the second-mate laid himself 
 down as calmly to sleep as if nothing at all 
 was the matter. And it was really a molon- 
 choly sight to see the poor withering wretches 
 dying by inche?, some like moving skeletons, 
 and others with their flesh swelled and bloated 
 as if they'd lived on plenty. At last, there 
 were red eyes and ravening glares, and grind- 
 ing of the teeth, as they looked upon one an- 
 other ; and the mate having cut his arm with 
 a hatchet, he sucked his own blood, and it 
 made him laugh with such savage fierceness 
 as rendered him more like a devil than a 
 human being : and then he stared at one and 
 stared at another with the eagerness of a 
 famished tiger ; but he said nothing, though it 
 was plain enough to be seen what his thoughts 
 were. And they all sat silently clutching their 
 hands, and snatching their breath, as if each 
 had something to communicate, but dared not 
 clothe their thoughts in words — then there was 
 an indistinct muttering of doing the best to 
 save their lives, till it came to a question of — 
 what was best ?
 
 110 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 " ' Here we are, nineteen of us, starving, 
 perishing,"' said the mate, who had been drink- 
 ing more wine and was inflamed : * if we 
 continue thus a few days longer, what is there 
 before us? Wouldn''t it be better for one — ' 
 and he stopped a minute or two, for all ex- 
 pected what was coming next, and shuddered, 
 though the very thought made them more 
 eager for food. At length, says he, ' D — all 
 ceremony ! one must die, that the rest may live.'' 
 — It was a fearful moment, yer reverence : there 
 we were, all but the captain, down in the steer- 
 age, hungering for each other's flesh, and none 
 on us knowing which might be the victim. 
 The second- mate said nothing, but the rest 
 kept mumbling about drawing lots, and the 
 carpenter said he 'd a couple of dice as would 
 do to throw ; but the second-mate said, ' he 'd 
 be no partner to use the devil's bones when the 
 life of a Christian was the stake.' At last, the 
 chief-mate and two or three others went into 
 the cabin to consult the captain, who wouldn't 
 listen to 'era or have any hand in it, but 
 requested them all to come aft whilst he read 
 the Bible and went to prayers. They said, 
 ' it was of no manner of use, all the prayers in 
 the Psalm-book wouldn't appease their hunger. 
 — they 'd come to the determination of casting
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. Ill 
 
 lots, and if he wouldn't give his sanction, 
 they'd do it without,' and returned to the 
 steerage again. So they made all ready, with 
 a dreadful eagerness, as if they wanted to put 
 the matter beyond doubt ; and it was agreed 
 that the second-mate should prepare eighteen 
 (for we left the captain out) — eighteen pieces 
 of rope-yarn — sixteen on 'em exactly of equal 
 lengths — one a little shorter, and another a 
 little shorter still. Whoever drew the first lot 
 was to be clear, the second was death, and the 
 third the man who was to do the deed. The 
 bights were to be shoved through a crack in 
 the bulk-head from the steward's store-room, 
 and every one was to draw his yarn. Well, 
 it was done, and all hands were placed in the 
 steerage, with almost bursting eyes looking at 
 Avhat must be a death-warrant to one of 
 them ; but when it came to the push, there 
 was a reluctance to draw, and the second-mate, 
 says he, * My lads, suppose we wait till to- 
 morrow morning afore we proceed any further ; 
 — let us leave the lots where they are for to- 
 night, and try what may come to our fishing- 
 gear,' — for we'd had the hooks out several days. 
 * We've stood it thus far; surely we may wea- 
 ther it out a few hours longer.' But those 
 who had been the most reluctant to draw, now
 
 112 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 again became the most eager ; though at last it 
 was agreed to wait over another night. The 
 mate was very much again it; and when it 
 was decided, he made himself mad drunk, quar- 
 relling and fighting with anybody as was near 
 him. At last he struck the carpenter a severe 
 blow, and was knocked down insensible. This 
 conduct seemed worse than all, that at the very 
 time when horrible misfortune was crushing 
 all of us with the same weight, any one should 
 be trying to make the affliction heavier by 
 vengeance against a fellow-sufferer. Darkness 
 came on, and we'd caught no fish, seen no 
 prospect of help, so that another daylight 
 would be the last that was to dawn upon a 
 shipmate — which, was then unknown, though 
 each might fancy it would be himself. — That 
 was a dreadful night, yer reverence — a night 
 of groans and tears, and lamentations ; and it 
 was about the close of the first watch that 
 somebody came down below from the upper 
 deck, but nobody axed him any questions or 
 spoke — all hands, except the look-out, were in 
 their berths, thinking of the dreadful deed of 
 the morrow. All at once there was a scuffling 
 in the steerage, and a sort of a gurgling sound 
 like water blowing through a pump; but not a 
 word was spoke, — though two or three heavy
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 113 
 
 sighs were heard as if a person was trying to 
 keep his heart from rising ; but soon all was 
 quiet again, and tlie men were too much en- 
 gaged in thinking of themselves to take much 
 notice of anything else. The second-mate and 
 I was to have the middle watch, and the wea- 
 ther was much finer and even warmer than it 
 had been for some time before, and the barque 
 remained pretty steady and quiet. The chief- 
 mate had the first watch ; but he warn't on 
 deck when we went up, so we supposed he had 
 gone to his cabin, — for I must tell you he left 
 the steerage when he recovered from the blow 
 which the carpenter had given him. Well, I 
 and the second-mate crouched ourselves toge- 
 ther under the trysel, for we couldn't walk, 
 and every now and then one on us looked out 
 to see if we could see anything ; and at eight 
 bells — that's four o'clock in the morning, yer 
 reverence, — I went below to rouse out the car- 
 penter to take the morning watch ; so I goes to 
 his berth and gives him a shake, but he never 
 took no notice ; and then I shakes him again, 
 but still he never answered, and I thought 
 there was a lumpish heaviness about his body 
 as warn't altogether nat'ral or ship-shape, and 
 * Yo-hoy, ould chips !' says I, ' it 's past eight 
 bells.* Well, finding he warn't inclined to turn
 
 114 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 out, I began to suspect there was somut the 
 matter with him, and so I feels up his breast 
 towards his face, and there was a great deal of 
 slimy wet about his shirt-collar; but, oh God ! 
 I shall never forget the sensation that came 
 over me when, on feeling his neck, I found that 
 his throat was cut in such a dreadful manner, 
 that his head was more than half severed from 
 his body." 
 
 " Horrible ! horrible !" said Mr. Hector, 
 shuddering. " ' Lord, what is man that thou 
 art mindful of him .?' — So the poor fellow had 
 destroyed himself?" 
 
 " Not by no manner o'' means, yer reve- 
 rence,"" returned Blocks with solemnity. " But 
 let me go on in my own way, if you please, 
 unless you 're wearying of hearing of so much 
 wretchedness and misery." 
 
 " It certainly is anything but a gratifying 
 narrative, Mr. Blocks," responded the clergy- 
 man ; " but there may be many useful lessons 
 gleaned from it. When I feel dissatisfied at 
 my lot hereafter, I shall recall your sufferings 
 to my mind, and the contrast must fill my 
 heart with gratitude to God. Pray, let me 
 hear the result ; and I hope these young folks 
 will treasure what they hear in mind." 
 
 " Well, yer reverence," continued the gun-
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 115 
 
 ner, " when I found that the poor onfortunate 
 carpenter was dead, I didn't make any noise, 
 but I goes up to the second-mate and tells him ; 
 and says he, ' Will, say nothing about it below. 
 Come, it's pretty warm here; creep under 
 again, and let 's wait till daylight.' So I stows 
 myself away again : and about eight o'clock, 
 just as light began to struggle against the 
 gloom, we saw the chief-mate come on deck 
 and look carefully and cautiously round him ; 
 and he draws a bucket of water, and was going 
 to wash his hands, when my companion gets 
 from under the trysel and goes towards him. 
 * Watson,' says he, * you 're a murderer !' Oh, 
 how his eyes glared ! and there was damning 
 testimony on his hands and clothes, which were 
 darkly stained with gore. ' How dare you call 
 me by such a name.'" says he. 'Because you 
 deserve it,' answers the second-mate : ' it was 
 you who cut poor Davis's throat; and though 
 we may none of us live to bring you to earthly 
 punishment, yet there is a Judge, before whom 
 you will shortly have to appear, whose con- 
 demnation will be sure.' ' Leave me to settle 
 that affair,' says Watson : ' but by what right 
 or on what grounds do you tax me with the 
 crime ?' ' Your hands are evidence again 
 you,' said the second-mate: 'and let me ax
 
 116 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 you whose knife is this?' and he shows the 
 chief-mate's knife as sharp as a razure, and 
 covered with blood. The villain made a snatch 
 at the knife, but the second-mate kept him ofF ; 
 and then Watson took up the hatchet and tried 
 to cut him down, but missed; and they grap- 
 pled together, and wrestled for mastery, till 
 they got near the starboard chesstree, where 
 the bulwarks had been washed away and the 
 deck was flush out with the sea. The chief- 
 mate was by far the strongest man, and 1 could 
 see he was dragging his hangtagonist to the side 
 to pitch him overboard ; and so I rouses out 
 from under the trysel, hardly knowing what to 
 do, but determined to try and save my friend. 
 So I looks about for something or other to 
 knock Watson down, and I grabs hould of the 
 bar of the companion-hatch ; but afore I could 
 get alongside of 'em, the barque gave a roll to 
 starboard — I heard a heavy splash amid the 
 wash of the sea, and in the increasing light 
 saw them in the white foam, still keeping up the 
 deadly strife in the waters. I hailed 'em down 
 in the steerage, to say the mates were over- 
 board; but though I heard them turning out, 
 not a soul came on deck. I hurries as fast as 
 I could to the gangway again, and there they 
 were beneath the surface, still clinging to and
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 117 
 
 Struggling with each other, till they both dis- 
 appeared ; and I fell down in agony, and clung 
 with my arm round the stancheon to keep 
 from being washed away. I felt sick ; a dizzi- 
 ness corned over me. I couldn't see for several 
 minutes ; but I thought somebody passed their 
 arm over mine, and spoke to me softly and 
 soothingly. It roused me up ; 1 looked, 
 and therevv as the second-mate half in-board, 
 and half out, quite exhausted, but houlding on 
 by the stancheon with the hardiness of a last 
 death-grip. With what little strength I had 
 left, I caught up the eend of the maintopsel 
 clewline, and passing it round him, took three 
 or four turns to the stancheon, and then crawls 
 to the hatchway, and begs some of 'em in the 
 steerage to come and help me, but none on 'em 
 would stir ; and presently the captain comes up, 
 but he was obligated to go upon his hands and 
 knees, and the second-mate recovering his 
 senses a bit, after a great deal of labour and 
 trouble, we got him aboard and laid him 
 under the trysel. I gave him a little wine ; 
 the cook made a shift to light a fire, and in 
 about half-an-hour I saw the men coming on 
 deck with lumps of flesh, which they ate half- 
 roasted, half-raw. — Ate, did I say ? They 
 tore it like dogs with their teeth, and quarrelled
 
 118 TOPSAIL SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 and fought to get near the grate. I knew 
 what it was — my very soul loathed it; but, oh, 
 yer reverence, the gnawings of hunger, now 
 heightened by seeing others at a banquet, over- 
 powered all disgust, and going forud, I 
 begged a piece o' the carpenter and made a 
 hearty meal. I carried some to the second- 
 raate, who chewed but did not swallow it, and 
 for a short time we all found ourselves strength- 
 ened. It was a dead calm ; the sun shone 
 upon us this day, and each took a little warm 
 wine and became more rational. The remains 
 of the carpenter were brought on deck ; and as 
 there was plenty of salt, some on 'em cut up 
 the flesh, and taking out the bones, it was put 
 into pickle. The skipper wouldn't touch a 
 bit of it, especially as we told him the poor 
 fellow had been murdered. The second-mate 
 was silent as to his manner of escape from the 
 conflict ; but we soon had the mystery solved : 
 for as it still remained calm, the body of Wat- 
 son floated on the surface, with his own knife 
 sticking in his throat. The thing had been 
 done in self-defence. I had witnessed the 
 affray ; the dastardly conduct of the chief-mate 
 to the carpenter all conspired in favour of my 
 friend, and he was cordially congratulated on 
 having conquered. Howsomever, we got the
 
 TOPSAIL SHEET BLOCKS. 119 
 
 villain alongside, and in a couple of hours the 
 murderer was in the same pickle-cask along 
 with the man he had murdered." 
 
 " Strange and wonderful vicissitude I" ex- 
 claimed Mr. Hector ; " that was indeed asto- 
 nishing retrihution ! There is a plain and 
 simple fidehty in your narrative that makes the 
 heart sick." 
 
 " Yer reverence had best take a little grog," 
 said Blocks, refilling his glass and drinking. " I 
 feels a little squawmish myself when I thinks 
 about the consarn. Mayhap I 'd better leave 
 off?" 
 
 " By no means," returned the clergyman, 
 whose curiosity had been greatly excited. " In 
 fact, I could not rest without becoming ac- 
 quainted with the means of your deliverance." 
 
 " Well, I '11 go on then, if you please," said 
 Blocks, adding more daylight to his grog. 
 " We'd now plenty of meat, such as it was; 
 but we 'd no water, — and thirst is harder to be 
 borne than hunger. Howsomever, we had still 
 half a cask of wine ; and the second-mate got 
 the cook to boil salt water as much as he could, 
 pu tting the body of a shirt over the pot, which 
 when it became soaked with steam, was wrung 
 into a pannikin, and we got about a quart of 
 brackish stuff in a day. After the death of
 
 120 ^ TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 the mate, the men became more orderly, and 
 the calm continuing, we contrived by short 
 spells at the pumps to get out a good deal of 
 the water ; but at the end of a week it came on 
 to blow again, and the people*'s limbs swelled 
 and broke out into dreadful wounds, owing to 
 the onnafral food they subsisted on. The 
 gale came down heavier and heavier ; the 
 sea rolled and raged, and tumbled over us, — 
 washed away the boat from the deck,— indeed, 
 made a clean sweep of everything, pickle- 
 cask and all ; so that what was left of the mate 
 and the carpenter was carried into the ocean, 
 where mayhap it may be floating about to this 
 day. Death seemed certain : the poor barque, 
 though a sound craft, could not resist the 
 buffetingsand batterings she constantly got, and 
 began to break up. We had no canvass abroad, 
 for it was all blown to shreds, and nobody 
 kept the deck ; so that she lay on the waters 
 like a huge coffin containing living skeletons. 
 Sometimes one and then another would drag 
 up their tortured limbs just to look round; 
 but despair began to prevail, and two of our 
 number expired raving mad, whilst the rest 
 were unable to get their bodies upon deck. 
 The hould was filled with water up to the 
 beams, and the timber getting an increass of
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 121 
 
 weight by suction, we were soon up to our 
 knees in the steerage. Ravening hunger again 
 attacked us. Tlie yarns still remained in the 
 crack of the bulkhead, and often and often 
 the eyes would wander to them as a sort of 
 fixed point. To be sure, there were the dead 
 bodies; but the state in which they died made 
 every one fear a similar malady, and so they 
 were left untouched. The weather moderated, 
 and having nothing to do, the people got talk- 
 ing about home, which they never expected to 
 see again, and wives and children from whom 
 they supposed themselves parted for ever. 
 Oh, what grief and pain, and tribulation and 
 bemoaning, succeeded each other, hour after 
 hour, as memory pictured past enjoyments, 
 which, they said, they thought but little of at 
 the time ! and then there were agonizing cries 
 for marcy every now and then bursting out, 
 till the throats got swelled and parched, and 
 the numbers daily grew thinner. — It was in- 
 deed dreadful, yer reverence, to look upon 
 the blackening corpses with which we were 
 compelled to hold companionship, and to feel 
 a certainty that we should soon be like them." 
 " The situation you describe is now present 
 to my imagination," said the clergyman, " and 
 it chills my blood to contemplate it. What,
 
 122 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 then, must the reality have been ! And yet 
 you were saved — snatched like a brand from 
 the burning." 
 
 " No, yer reverence, there warn't no possi- 
 bility of burning : the craft was too deep in the 
 water and too much soaked to take fire," urged 
 the gunner in reply. 
 
 " My allusion was scriptural," answered the 
 clergyman, inclined to smile at the worthy tar's 
 mistake, but restrained by the awfulness of the 
 calamity he was describing. 
 
 " Mayhap so, — mayhap so," returned 
 Will quietly ; " I can't hould much upon 
 that tack, seeing as I arn't skilled in scrip- 
 tural delusions ; but I don't think none on 
 us would have burned, dry as we all were ;" 
 and he took a small supply from his glass. 
 " But there we were, anyhow, day after 
 day getting weaker. One afternoon I made 
 a shift to drag myself into the captain's ca- 
 bin, just to see how he was weathering it, 
 for nobody hadn't been nigh-hand him for 
 three days." 
 
 " And was he all that time alone?" in- 
 quired Mr. Hector, who lost not a word of 
 what was uttered, so intensely were his feel- 
 ings excited. 
 
 " Entirely alone!" returned Blocks; " and
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 123 
 
 when I eased myself off slowly down the com- 
 panion-ladder and went into the cabin, he laid 
 on his back perfectly still, with his eyes fixed, 
 and his hands folded on his breast ; so I 
 thought he had tripp'd his anchor of life, and 
 had made sail for snugger moorings: but when 
 I got alongside of his cot, I saw his lips were 
 moving, and he 'd an open Bible under his 
 hands — he was at prayers. ' I am dying,Will!' 
 said he, as he tried to move on his side ; ' a 
 few hours more, and the storms of existence 
 will be over ! May the great God be a parent 
 to the fatherless, and the friend of the widow !' 
 His thoughts were lingering on his home. 
 What could I say to him .? — there was no 
 hope ; but I tould him just to hould on as 
 long as he could, because we were all out'ard- 
 bound as well as himself, and it ud be better 
 for all hands to sail in company, as the skip- 
 per, having most laming, would understand 
 which was the best tack to stand on if so be we 
 should happen to have a foul wind. ' Here 's 
 a compass and a chart, Will,' says he, hould- 
 ing up the book ; and he overhauled a great 
 many comfortable things, which made quite a 
 lull in my heart. To be sure, I was but young, 
 and I trusted that I hadn't been much of a 
 scamp ; but there was a somut onsartin about 
 
 G 2
 
 124 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 death that made me feel quite timbersome. 
 * There is, indeed, no hope but this. Will,' 
 says he ; ' and when I 'm gone, take it to 
 the steerage, and let them read the pages I 
 have turned down.' — Well, yer reverence, 
 just at this moment in comes the second-mate ; 
 and there was a wildness in his eye, and he 
 seemed gasping for breath, that both the skip- 
 per and I thought he was mad ; and as there 
 was somut in his hand which looked like a 
 weapon, I thought, mayhap, hunger had made 
 him crazy, and he would try and kill one of 
 us. The skipper thought so too, for he drop- 
 ped the Bible, and catches up a pistol that laid 
 by his side to defend himself. But the second- 
 mate stopped short under the skylight, and 
 then we saw that what we had took for a 
 weapon was his spy-glass; and he stood there 
 houlding on by the table, and trembling, till at 
 last he burst out a-crying like a child. ' What 
 is it ? speak ! ' says the skipper ; ' don't deceive 
 me — speak ! — it is — it is — ' 'A sail ! ' says 
 the second-mate. * And how is she standing.^' 
 eagerly axed the skipper. ' To the best of my 
 belief, towards us,' answers the second-mate* 
 The skipper rose up, and we got him 'pon 
 deck, where every sowl as could move soon 
 mustered — eleven out of nineteen. The stran-
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 1^35 
 
 ger was plain enough to be seen ; but our eyes 
 were so bad, that it was a long time afore we 
 could make out what course she was steering, 
 till at last the second-mate declared that she 
 was running to the nor'-nor'-east, and would 
 pass about six miles ahead of us. Now, 
 we knew he couldn't miss but see us ; yet, in 
 the state we were in, he njiglit belike take the 
 barque for a desarted wreck, and not come to 
 our aid. — Oh ! yer reverence, how dreadful 
 was the suspense of them horrors ! for the wind 
 was light, and in a couple of hours it would be 
 dark. I can't describe what we suffered ; but 
 I know the captain read a prayer for help, and 
 we all repeated it after him word for word. 
 Well, when we had yet half an hour's good 
 daylight, the stranger was right ahead ; but 
 she came nigher to us than the second-mate 
 calculated upon, as she couldn't then be more 
 than a league off, and we made her out to be a 
 large ship with painted ports and a poop. We 
 tried to shout, but the hollow voices died away 
 sullenly on the waters ; — we hadn't strength to 
 get up the rigging, — we 'd no ensign or signal- 
 halliards to hoist anything by, and we was 
 afeard they wouldn't see us on the deck. How- 
 somever, the weather was clear, and so the 
 second-mate gets a horn of powder and empties
 
 126 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 it on the windlass ; and then he takes the cap- 
 tain's pistol and fires into the powder, and it 
 blew up, and the smoke curled thick and high. 
 ' What do you see. Will ?' says the skipper 
 eagerly, for he 'd given me his glass and my 
 eye was fixed upon the ship. ' There's nothing, 
 sir,' says I ; 'all remains the same as afore. — 
 Yet, avast a bit ! there 's a somut red over the 
 quarter — there it goes aloft! — she sees us, 
 sir — she sees us! — she''s hoisted her ensign ! — ' 
 Oh, yer reverence ! who can describe the joy 
 the sight of that bit o' buntin give us ! — not a 
 sow] spoke, but every man dropped on his 
 knees, and the great Sarcher of hearts 
 heard the silent swell of gratitude. The ship 
 altered her course — she got within a mile of 
 us, — daylight was rapidly declining, and it 
 fell a stark calm. Doubt and uncertainty again 
 came over our minds — there was a sudden 
 change from joy to torturing anxiety, — a 
 breeze might spring up after dark, and she 
 might leave us to our fate. I still kept ray 
 eye upon the craft, and, oh ! how my very 
 heart did dance when I saw a boat shove off 
 from the stranger and pull towards us ! ' Thank 
 God,' says I, ' we 're saved ! ' And so we was, 
 yer reverence ; though ounly eight ever saw 
 the land again. As for the barque, poor thing !
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 127 
 
 we left her alone on the ocean, and were very 
 kindly received aboard the Ganges East In- 
 geeman, which had parted company from her 
 convoy in a gale o"* wind, and had been driven 
 by bad weather and heavy sailing bodily down 
 into the nor'-west. — Thus, yer reverence may 
 say, that a fine craft was abandoned and eleven 
 men lost their lives all in regard o' them there 
 rats." 
 
 The clergyman was about to reply ; but Mr. 
 Brief's gig at that moment drove up to the 
 gate, and he immediately hastened out to re- 
 ceive him. The man of the law expressed him- 
 self much pleased with the appearance of our 
 hero, and after dinner the subject of his future 
 prospects was discussed, when it was finally 
 agreed upon that he should commence his 
 career in the service of his country ; and the 
 gunner having already obtained Captain Yo- 
 rick's consent to give the youngster a cruise 
 " just to see how heM take to it," it was 
 finally arranged that he should return with 
 his foster-parent and be fitted out for the un- 
 dertaking. 
 
 Melancholy was the parting between young 
 Ten and the pretty Hollander; though why 
 they should feel so much neither of them could 
 exactly tell, especially as there was a prospect
 
 128 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 of their soon meeting again. But so it was ; 
 and though anxious to make his way in the 
 world, yet he could not forbear shedding 
 tears that night, as he laid his head upon 
 the pillow at the Roaring Boreas: and Eu- 
 genia felt as if she had lost her best and 
 dearest friend.
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 129 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 " All on board of a man of war." 
 
 It was a new scene to young Ten-thousand 
 when, on the following morning, he embarked 
 with his benefactor to join his ship. Yet the 
 love of novelty, so natural to boyhood, and the 
 aspirings of hope as the prospect of honour 
 lay before him, were of too pleasing a character 
 to admit of melancholy feelings. Hencefor- 
 ward he was to be devoted to his country, and 
 a glow of pride fresliened on his cheeks. The 
 Scratchee was lying in Plymouth Sound, at no 
 great distance from the spot where Will had 
 first encountered him in the shore-boat ; and 
 though there was for a moment a hasty sensa- 
 tion of sickening desire to know the cause of 
 his thus being mercilessly cast adrift, yet it 
 speedily vanished as he mounted the side-steps 
 and passed over the gangway. " Come along, 
 young Six-foot V said Mr. Blocks, giving the 
 lad a rather rough lug by the arm, that some- 
 
 g5
 
 130 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 what embarrassed him ; and they advanced to 
 the quarter-deck, where stood an officer, tall 
 and stout, with a quick full eye that seemed 
 to let nothing escape him, rather manly than 
 handsome in features, with black curling hair 
 escaping from beneath a three-cornered cocked- 
 up hat : but his legs destroyed the fine effect 
 which was produced on the mind by the her- 
 culean proportions of the upper part of his 
 frame ; — they were, as he used to style them 
 himself, *' trap-sticks " Where he got them, 
 and how he came to have a line-of-battle ship's 
 figure-head and bows, to a gun-brig's stern, 
 must remain amongst those occurrences that 
 have never yet nor ever will be elucidated. 
 
 " I 've come aboard, sir," said Blocks, rais- 
 ing his hat from his head, and addressing the 
 person he mentioned, — " and made bould to 
 bring the youngster with me, sir."" 
 
 " Ay, I see," returned the captain, eyeing 
 the youth with a rapid scrutiny : " never been 
 in the lee-scuppers yet, I think you said ?" 
 
 " No, sir," replied the gunner, *' this '11 be 
 his first trip; and I'm thinking, sir, he'll be 
 none the worse for dipping; his hand in a tar- 
 bucket." 
 
 "None — none at all: if he's a good lad.
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 131 
 
 we '11 see what can be done for him," responded 
 the captain. " What age is he?" 
 
 "It's now just fourteen years since I first 
 came athwart him, sir," answered Blocks; " and 
 I hopes by dint of a little tuteration to make 
 him turn out a seaman." 
 
 " Ay, ay, you'll do right to tut er ate him," 
 said the captain, giving one of his rapid 
 glances. " What 's his name ?" 
 
 "Ten-thousand Topsail-sheet Blocks," re- 
 turned the gunner somewhat proudly at the 
 idea of his own penetration in the way of 
 christening. 
 
 " And a devilish good name, too," responded 
 the captain, "but rather too much hammered 
 out. We must call him Young Blocks, for 
 shortness. — And now, my lad, keep your wea- 
 ther eye up ; don't get to play instead of 
 minding the ship's duty. Look smart, and 
 d — the dog that bit the barber ! — Pray, Mr. 
 Blocks, are all your stores on board ?" 
 
 " Everything, sir, and stowed away," an- 
 swered the gunner : " but if we could get ano- 
 ther match-tub or two, sir, and a hand-bible, 
 we should be all the better." 
 
 " Good ! good ! — the cooper shall make the 
 first, and we 11 get the other from the dock-
 
 132 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 yard when we return," replied the captain : 
 and then shouting loudly "Unmoor ship!" 
 the boatswain and his mates summoned the 
 people to that duty. 
 
 " I have a small Bible in my chest," said 
 young Blocks to the gunner as they walked 
 forward; "and all that I have you're welcome 
 to : it was given me by Mr. Hector, and though 
 I shouldn't like to part with it altogether, yet 
 it will always be at your service." 
 
 " Keep your Bible, my lad," uttered the 
 gunner seriously, and surprised at the observa- 
 tion ; " and you shall read it to me at proper 
 times on Sundays. But what made you over- 
 haul that in your talk just now .?" 
 
 " Because I heard you tell the captain you 
 wanted one," answered the boy. 
 
 « Who,— I !" exclaimed Blocks ; « I talk to 
 the skipper about Bibles ! I should as soon 
 think of axing him to let me spin a parson's 
 yarn to the ship's company when they rigs out 
 the church." 
 
 " I thought you said something about a 
 hand-Bible," uttered the youngster diffidently. 
 
 " Oh, ay ! why. Lord love your heart ! so 1 
 did," acknowledged Blocks : " but them con- 
 sarns as we call hand-bibles are small axes, 
 kept for particular purposes."
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 133 
 
 " O — ho !"" returned the lad, both enlightened 
 and surprised at the designation given to such 
 an instrument. 
 
 The Scratchee was what was termed one of 
 the donkey-class of frigates, an eight-and-twenty 
 cramped up in her proportions as if the pro- 
 jector had only in view the inconvenience of 
 the men at their quarters, or thought that a 
 little saving of wood and iron was to atone for 
 every imperfection : still to young Blocks, who 
 had never been to sea, it was a matter of per- 
 fect indifference, and he followed his patron 
 down to his cabin. The confined abode, where 
 darkness was made manifest by the rays ema- 
 nating from a purser's dip, was rather appal- 
 ling to one who had sweetly enjoyed the clear 
 light of heaven and freely ranged the fields : a 
 thought — it might be a comparison — presented 
 itself in the parsonage-house he had so recently 
 left, and the rough sturdy men who were has- 
 tening to their stations formed a striking con- 
 trast to the kind and gentle beings he had so 
 lately parted from. Tears chased each other 
 down his cheeks ; but they fell unobserved, and 
 the admonitions of Mr. Hector recalled him to 
 greater firmness and energy. In another hour 
 they were passing the Mew Stone, with a 
 beautiful breeze; and when night spread its
 
 134^ TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 shades upon the bosom of the waters, Ushant 
 lights were seen dancing upon the verge of the 
 horizon. 
 
 A few days made young Blocks perfectly 
 contented with his lot. He had not been sta- 
 tioned by the first-lieutenant in any particular 
 watch, or to any especial duty, and he enjoyed 
 the free range of the frigate — every man treat- 
 ing him with affability, however homely, on 
 account of his situation. Active and nimble, 
 he could go aloft as smart as a topman; and 
 the seamen, ever anxious and proud to give 
 instruction to one so desirous of learning, 
 taught him many things which it was necessary 
 to know. The lieutenants took but little notice 
 of him at first, — and the midshipmen quizzed 
 him on account of his queer name — whilst the 
 boys, though somewhat under the awe of the 
 boatswain's rattan, were spitefully jealous that 
 a youngster of their own class should have so 
 much indulgence. But still the youth was far 
 from idle, and though none could find fault 
 with his conduct, yet he perceived that he was 
 held in no very great estimation by those who 
 ought to have been the first to perceive his 
 good qualities. The master, however, a rough 
 knot of the old school, very early became his
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 135 
 
 friend, and Captain Yorick not unfrequently 
 gave him a word of encouragement. 
 
 One lovely evening about an hour before 
 sunset, Ten-thousand went up into the mizen- 
 top to sketch the Glenan Isles, off which the 
 frigate was then lying. On descending again 
 after completing his task, the captain was walk- 
 ing the quarter-deck and eyed him rather stern- 
 ly. *' The skipper has been sending all over 
 the ship for you," whispered one of the quar- 
 termasters : " bear a hand aft, and, mind, dowse 
 your truck and show your manners." 
 
 Away went the youngster, unconscious of 
 having offended, yet apprehensive that some- 
 thing was wrong, which was not lessened by 
 catching a glimpse of the gunner"'s face, on 
 which anxiety and vexation were vividly de- 
 picted. The captain, however, had gone below 
 to his cabin, and thither the lad was directed to 
 follow him by the officer of the watch. He 
 found the commander sitting at his table with a 
 letter before him, which he took up and ab- 
 rjjptly asked, " Pray, young man, is this your 
 writing .''" 
 
 The lad gave one look, and a sickly sensa- 
 tion came over his heart : it was a letter con- 
 taining a description of the officers, from the
 
 136 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 chief downward, and a sort of journal of their 
 proceedings, which he intended forwarding to 
 Mr. Hector. " Yes, sir," said he, " it is 
 mine." 
 
 " For what purpose was it thrown down 
 into my cabin, and by whom ?" inquired the 
 captain harshly. 
 
 " How it came into your possession, sir, I 
 really cannot tell," answered the youth : " it 
 was in my waistcoat-pocket previous to my 
 going aloft, and, perhaps, has " 
 
 " — Worked out whilst you were in the rig- 
 ging," said the captain, his countenance as- 
 suming a milder expression. " And now, if 
 you was in my place, what would you do with 
 
 it r 
 
 " If I had not already read it, sir," returned 
 the youngster with more boldness, " I should 
 return it unread." 
 
 " The devil you would !" exclaimed the 
 captain, reddening up. " And how could you 
 know whom it belonged to, and the purpose 
 for which it was sent into your hands, with- 
 out opening it.? Here is no direction, and I 
 was led to guess the writer by what is there 
 contained. — Now, hear me, boy," and he as- 
 sumed a severer mode of expression : " I have 
 read your letter, and take my advice, — never,
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 137 
 
 for the future, make observations upon any 
 one. There certainly is nothing offensive in 
 it — nothing; but malice can twist a halter 
 from half a dozen hairs. There are some d — d 
 good hits: but if you wish to steer clear of 
 personal animosity, never tickle a lion's rump, 
 that's all. You are yet but a green-horn, 
 and therefore I pass it over without further 
 notice ; but if ever you whisper, even in your 
 sleep, another word about my legs, d — me if I 
 don't use 'em to some purpose ! — But go along 
 forud — perhaps I may bring you to a court- 
 martial yet, and produce the letter as evidence 
 against you, for impeaching the understanding 
 of a member of parliament,* — it's a clear breach 
 of privilege." 
 
 Poor Ten-thousand was so terrified at the 
 thoughts of having incurred the anger of his 
 commander, as well as having the dread of 
 disgrace before him, that, in his alarm and 
 tremor, he dropped the small portfolio which 
 contained the sketch he had just finished, as 
 well as several minutely-finished water-colour 
 drawings, and nearly the whole were instantly 
 spread upon the cabin-deck. " Hand those 
 things to me, youngster," said the captain ; 
 
 * Captain Yorick was an INI. P.
 
 138 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 and the lad placed them before him. " Leave 
 them here," be commanded ; " go to your 
 berth, and carry with you the advice I have 
 given — log it in your memory, voung man ! 
 Be honest and straightforud in all things; but, 
 d — it ! don't quiz the devil himself — unless, 
 indeed, you 're his superior officer, — and then 
 don't carry the joke too far." 
 
 Young Blocks bowed and withdrew ; and 
 Captain Yorick — no mean proficient himself 
 with the pencil — sat down to examine the 
 sketches. Repeatedly did he look them over — 
 placed them in various lights, to collect all 
 their beauties — replaced them in the case, and 
 audibly whispered, " That boy will make a 
 bright man some day ; — must see a little more 
 of him though, before he comes aft." 
 
 Rumour soon spread the tale along the decks 
 that Ten-thousand was in disgrace ; and when 
 he entered the gunner's cabin, honest Will was 
 sitting with a can of stiff grog before him, and 
 showing a most rueful figure-head. " What 's 
 all this about, you young scamp .''" said he, 
 spurred into ill-humour by the irritation of the 
 moment ; but instantly checking himself on 
 looking at the countenance of the boy, he con- 
 tinued, " Not but what if you 're in the right, 
 I 'd die before any one should injure you.
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 139 
 
 whilst it was in my power to lay an anchor to 
 wind'ard of 'em. Every dog has fleas to back- 
 bite him, and, mayhap, — though you 're no dog 
 neither : but there, the best carack-ters in the 
 world have been torn into babby-rags by malice. 
 What did the skipper want with you, my boy? 
 Come, out with it, — are you in the right or 
 the wrong?" 
 
 *' I am sorry to say, sir, that I'm in the 
 wrong,"" returned the youth : " although no 
 harm was meant, yet Captain Yorick says 
 I 'm in the wrong." 
 
 " Oh, he does, eh .''■" grinned Will as he 
 bit through the huge mountain of tobacco in 
 his mouth. " The skipper says you Ve in the 
 wrong, and you plead guilty, eh ? Well, 
 I 'm blessM but this is beginning life merrily, 
 anyhow, to make enemies where you ought to 
 secure friends ! Harkee, my fine fellow, arn't 
 you got my example afore you, and can't you 
 fear God and obey orders, and be d— to you ! 
 But what 's the damage ? What have you 
 been arter ? Why tlie devil don't you speak, 
 and not stand there as if your ideas were all 
 becalmed, and your tongue won't answer the 
 helm ? Have you shied a wad at the skipper's 
 legs, put a quid into the gun-room decanters, 
 or stole the midshipmen's lump-sugar .'* Have
 
 140 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 you made a tar-bucket of the purser's wig, 
 poisoned the doctor with his own stuff, or 
 stifled the marine-officer with pipeclay ?"" 
 
 All this was uttered with the utmost ra- 
 pidity and volubility, and Will paused to take 
 a long pull at his grog, after which it was 
 necessary to get breath. 
 
 " I have done none of those things, sir," 
 replied the boy mildly, his thoughts reverting 
 to the parsonage-house, and the gentlemanly 
 manners of his preceptor, so different from 
 what he was then experiencing. 
 
 " What the devil have you done, then ?'' in- 
 quired the gunner. " Come, come, out with 
 it." 
 
 " Mr. Blocks, the captain wants you in the 
 cabin directly," said a quartermaster, opening 
 the door. 
 
 " Ay, there it is !" exclaimed the gunner. — 
 *' But avast, avast ! Arn't I been running 
 ahead of my reckoning ? The skipper 's not a 
 man to do anything onjust or cruel, and 
 mayhap I may make it all square again. 
 We 've sarved together too long for a bit of a 
 squall to part us; so keep up your courage, 
 boy, and don't be down-hearted !" — and after 
 finishing his grog, smoothing down his hair, 
 and shaking young Ten-thousand by the hand,
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 141 
 
 he ascended the ladder to the main-deck, and 
 walked aft to the cabin ; whilst young Blocks 
 seated himself on his chest, ruminating on 
 what had occurred, and calling to mind the 
 precepts of Mr. Hector, the tenderness of his 
 wife, and the affectionate conduct of Eugenia. 
 Whatever transpired in the cabin was kept 
 secret ; but the gunner returned in about ten 
 minutes, called the lad to him, gave him a smile, 
 hoped he didn't bear malice with his old friend 
 for being hasty, and then they went on to the 
 forecastle together to enjoy the coolness of the 
 evening air. 
 
 The Scratchee was very fortunate in her 
 cruise, and Ten-thousand found great excite- 
 ment when chasing the enemy's vessels ; but 
 he was not employed in any regular duty, and 
 therefore was not looked upon as properly 
 belonging to the ship. The result of the affair 
 with the captain was not known ; though from 
 no notice being taken of him for several days, 
 the officers conjectured that he would be either 
 sent on shore, or stationed before the mast. 
 A circumstance, however, occurred that soon 
 set the matter at rest. 
 
 Amongst the midshipmen was a delicate 
 little lad, not eleven years of age, but with a 
 spirit far beyond either his strength or magni-
 
 142 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 tude. His watchmate was a stout youth of 
 fifteen, sullen and despotic, fond of showing 
 his seniority, and proud of his titled descent. 
 Young Blocks had on more than one or two 
 occasions observed the manner in which the 
 elder treated the younger, showing an over- 
 bearing and not unfrequently cruel disposi- 
 tion. It was about a week after the affair of 
 the letter, and little Parker had displeased his 
 tyrannical messmate, for which the latter had 
 thought fit to punish him by three or four 
 smart blows with what is called a colt — a piece 
 of rope knotted at the end ; and Parker, to 
 avoid a repetition of the severity, descended to 
 the main-deck, just before the mainmast, on the 
 larboard side. Our hero happened to have 
 witnessed the whole transaction ; but he for- 
 bore to interfere, as the gunner had given him 
 positive directions never to address the midship- 
 men unless previously spoken to by them : yet, 
 as he looked on the countenance of the poor 
 little fellow, where sorrow was struggling with 
 pride, he felt how happy it would have made 
 him could he have been permitted to try and 
 comfort him. Persons of tender years are 
 generally correct readers of human sympathy 
 as pictured in the expression of the features, 
 and little Parker saw at a glance that Ten-
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 143 
 
 thousand wished to befriend him. But his 
 tormentor again discovered him, and the colt 
 was laid across his back. " Away on deck in 
 your watch, you young skulker !"" exclaimed 
 the older midshipman. " What are you doing 
 down here ?" 
 
 " Getting out of your brutal way, Acheson," 
 replied the youngster. "You'll force me to 
 do something serious in my own defence one of 
 these days, for I won't stand your ill usage 
 much longer.*' 
 
 " Won't you, though !" rejoined the first 
 contemptuously, and at the same time repeat- 
 ing the blow. "What, you'll complain, I 
 suppose.? Well, there's something for you to 
 complain about !" 
 
 " ]\o, Acheson," returned little Parker, " I 
 will tiot complain of you, and I 'm not able to 
 fight you ; but I shall some time or other 
 knock you down with a handspike if you go 
 on treating me as you do. Why don't you 
 thrash Mulleon or Ancell ? — because you know 
 you 'd get it again." 
 
 " No impertinence, boy !" commanded 
 Acheson ; " but away on deck, and see what 
 Mr. Watts will say to you about hand- 
 spikes." 
 
 " Ay, you talk about Mr. Watts, because — "
 
 144 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 and here the lad paused, as if fearful to pro- 
 ceed. 
 
 " Because what ?" vociferated the other, 
 raising his colt. " Come, don't let us have it 
 by halves, or Sweet-lips shall make his mark 
 again."" 
 
 " Why, because you are both alike," an- 
 swered Parker : " and now I don't care if you 
 kill me for it. I wish I was as big as Blocks : 
 you shouldn't crow over me then." 
 
 " Nor Mr. Watts, either, 1 suppose," spite- 
 fully uttered Acheson. " But what has Blocks 
 to do with it ? — And," turning to Ten-thousand, 
 " pray what business have you to be skulking 
 there, and listening to the conversation of 
 gentlemen ?" 
 
 " I am neither skulking, nor listening to the 
 conversation of gentlemen," returned Blocks 
 coolly and firmly. 
 
 " No sauce, fellow !" exclaimed Acheson, 
 strutting up to him with the colt in his hand ; 
 " and if you don't want a d — good starting, 
 you'll get out of my way. Walk forud to 
 your proper station." 
 
 " I have yet to learn whether you have a 
 right to order me, sir," said Blocks, carelessly 
 seating i)imself on the breach of the gun ; " and
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 145 
 
 whether or no, I would warn you not to strike 
 me." 
 
 " Indeed !" replied the other, his passion 
 growing more violent fi-om resistance : " and 
 pray what would you do if I did ?" 
 
 " Strike you again," said Blocks delibe- 
 rately, whilst little Parker's face glowed with 
 pleasure at the prospect of finding a champion. 
 
 "The devil you would — would you ?" uttered 
 Acheson, placing himself in a menacing atti- 
 tude. " You ! you plebeian foundling — you 
 picked up scum of the ocean — " he paused 
 from passion. 
 
 " Your abuse 1 treat with the contempt that 
 it deserves," answered Blocks calmly, " and 
 your threats are equally unworthy notice; but 
 a blow would meet with a return, depend upon 
 it." 
 
 " You impertinent scoundrel ! You 'd strike 
 an officer, eh ? Mr. Watts shall know of this ;" 
 and Acheson dropped his colt. 
 
 " Ah, that's just like your cowardly ways !"" 
 shouted little Parker. " And perhaps, when 
 you Ve telling Mr. Watts, you 11 let him know 
 at the same time who it was that threw Blocks"'s 
 letter down the cabin skylight." 
 
 This was something new to Ten-thousand ; 
 
 VOL. I. H
 
 146 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 it opened his eyes to the manner in which his 
 letter had come into the captain's possession, 
 though how Acheson had got hold of it re- 
 mained a mystery. " Did he open it, Mr. 
 Parker ?" inquired he. 
 
 " Yes, he did," returned the youngster ; 
 " but he couldn't make out much of it, for he 
 can hardly read writing." 
 
 Blocks said nothing ; he was aware there was 
 a malevolent motive, though he had given no 
 cause for it. " Yes, I did read it,"" said Ache- 
 son ; " and if you was only equal to me in rank, 
 I'd try which would be master. However, 
 you shan't be saucy, youngster, so away 'pon 
 deck ;" and a heavy blow of the colt fell upon 
 poor Parker's shoulders. 
 
 " You are inflicting punishment on my ac- 
 count," said Blocks, starting up and facing him 
 so as to get between the two ; " if there 's any- 
 thing wrong in what I have said, let your 
 resentment fall on me." 
 
 " Get out of my way, you vagabond !" ex- 
 claimed the other, trying to hit Parker, but 
 prevented by his opponent ; " sheer off, you 
 low-born — " 
 
 " Remember, Mr. Acheson, I '11 not stand a 
 blow," exclaimed Ten-thousand ; " and come 
 what may, I '11 defend this young gentleman
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 147 
 
 with my life. You are, I believe, older and 
 stouter than I ; you are an officer, and I am 
 nothing: but if you strike him again, I '11 try 
 which is the best man." 
 
 Many of the seamen had gathered round, 
 and there were two or three who had witnessed 
 the whole from first to last, and nothing could, 
 exceed the pleasure with which they noticed 
 the gallant conduct of young Blocks. To the 
 latter part there was also another spectator; 
 and that was the second-lieutenant, Mr. Watts. 
 " Come on deck here, directly, Mr. Acheson, 
 and Mr. Parker," shouted he : " and, master- 
 at-arms, take that boy and place him aft in 
 confinement." 
 
 The orders of the lieutenant were promptly 
 obeyed ; the two midshipmen ascended to the 
 lee-side of the quarter-deck, and Ten-thousand, 
 under the charge of the master-at-arms, was 
 conducted abaft the wheel to wait the return 
 of the captain, who had gone forward on to the 
 forecastle to inspect the head-sails. Great 
 indeed was the consternation of the gunner 
 when informed that his protege (who won 
 more and more upon his rugged affections) was 
 a prisoner ; but one of his mates who had 
 been present during the altercation set the 
 behaviour of the youth in so favourable a light, 
 
 h2
 
 148 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 that the honest seaman, whilst alarmed at his 
 situation, gloried in his exploit. At length the 
 captain walked aft, and the lieutenant was 
 about to make his report, but was promptly 
 stopped by the generous Yorick. who exclaimed, 
 " You are going to speak of the youngster, 
 sir." The lieutenant bowed. " I beg pardon, 
 but it is quite unnecessary, as I heard the 
 whole myself. You, perhaps, might wish me to 
 be severe with Mr. Acheson ;"" and he gave 
 Watts one of his hasty glances ; " but I think 
 I can settle the difference in another way. 
 Quartermaster, send my clerk to me." 
 
 " Ay, ay, sir," responded the person ad- 
 dressed, and who had overheard the conversa- 
 tion, the purport of which he spread as he 
 descended to the midshipman's berth ; and the 
 rumour extending along the mess-deck, most of 
 the watch below went up to see in what way 
 the skipper would " settle the difference." The 
 captain continued pacing the deck till the clerk 
 touched his hat before him and received some 
 instructions. He then went below, directing 
 the lieutenant to send Mr. Acheson and Blocks 
 into his cabin. The youths complied with very 
 different feelings : the former had not heard 
 the observations of his commander, and entered 
 the sanctum with confident boldness that he
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 149 
 
 could make his own story good ; the latter was 
 full of perplexity and doubt, yet secure in the 
 innocency of his intentions. 
 
 " You may leave your prisoner, master-at- 
 arms," said the captain, quietly seating him- 
 self, " and shut the door." A silence of seve- 
 ral minutes ensued, which was broken by the 
 entrance of the clerk with the ship''s muster- 
 book in his hand. " Have you entered him in 
 the proper rating ?" inquired Yorick. The clerk 
 replied in the affirmative. " Then send the whole 
 of the young gentlemen into the cabin." An- 
 other interval of stillness succeeded, disturbed 
 only by the mustering of the midshipmen, who 
 ranged themselves on the larboard-side, anxi- 
 ously looking at each other as if to inquire 
 what it all meant. As soon as the whole had 
 assembled, " Cast loose this table," said the 
 captain ; and a dozen busy hands were in- 
 stantly engaged in overhauling the turns of 
 the seizings through the cleats. The table 
 was soon adrift. " Stow these chairs in the 
 after-cabin, and launch the table between the 
 guns." This also was immediately done. " And 
 now," continued the chief, erecting himself 
 with dignity, " young gentlemen, attend to 
 what I am going to say. You are starting in 
 life devoted to the service of your country.
 
 150 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 and it will rest principally upon the impres- 
 sions you now receive, whether you turn out 
 an honour or a disgrace to the profession. 
 There are some among you of whom I en- 
 tertain a pleasing expectation that they will 
 become brave and good men, into whose hands 
 on some future day the supremacy of the Bri- 
 tish flag may with safety be entrusted ; and of 
 others, I hope, that when experience has ma- 
 tured their reason, they also will do credit to 
 the service. But, young gentlemen, it is not 
 by quarrelling amongst yourselves — it is not by 
 topping the officer one over the other, that 
 this is to be achieved ; and much less by acts 
 of oppression. Mr. Acheson will understand 
 me." All eyes were instantly directed at the 
 unfortunate mid, who began to fear he had 
 made a bit of a mistake. " Nor should the 
 youngsters treat the oldsters with disrespect, 
 but look up to them for kindness and protec- 
 tion ; — remember that, Mr. Parker." 
 
 " I always have, sir," murmured the little 
 fellow, " and always would, if Acheson wouldn't 
 use his colt so much." 
 
 " I was witness to a scene just now," con- 
 tinued the captain, passing the observation of 
 Parker unheeded by, though it drew forth a 
 titter from the middies, " that pained me very
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 151 
 
 much. But, first of all, my lad," turning to 
 Ten-thousand, who stood apart by himself 
 wondering how it was to end, " let me advise 
 you not to interfere in the quarrels of others, 
 and never, whilst the case is doubtful, place 
 yourself in defiance against a superior officer. 
 I honour you for your noble defence of that 
 child, and for the sentiments you expressed ; 
 but you did wrong to aggravate. However, 
 we '11 pass that by. It was my intention to 
 have placed you on the quarter-deck immedi- 
 ately on your coming aboard ; but I was de- 
 sirous of ascertaining, in the first instance, whe- 
 ther you were likely to be worthy of my pa- 
 tronage. You have answered my wishes ; and 
 if you keep from letter-writing, or at least 
 from being so careless as to let your communi- 
 cations fall into the hands of a busy postman ; 
 — Mr. Acheson will comprehend the allusion," 
 — again all eyes were fixed on the rueful coun- 
 tenance of the mid : — "I say," continued the 
 captain, " if you will follow the counsel I have 
 already given you, I hope I shall live to see 
 you a flag-officer. During the little unplea- 
 santness that took place just now upon the 
 main-deck, Mr. Acheson used very unbecoming- 
 language — bringing discredit upon my ship, 
 and the known gentlemanly feelings of my
 
 152 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 officers. Mr. Blocks," — Ten-thousand's ears 
 tingled at the Mister, — " and yourself expressed 
 a strong hostility towards each other, such as 
 ought not to exist between future messmates : 
 and you, Mr. Acheson said, * if Blocks was 
 only equal to you in rank, you would give 
 him a chance of trying which should be mas- 
 ter.' Now, though you were extremely wrong 
 in using the abusive language you did, yet 
 I admired your spirit, and the preservation 
 of your rank ;" a slight smile of contempt 
 curled the captain's lip ; " and as Mr. Blocks 
 is now rated midshipman," — Ten-thousand 
 shook in every limb, — " why, sir, you must 
 either apologise, and handsomely too, for your 
 behaviour, or you must strip and fight him. 
 Here's clear decks and no favour : each choose 
 your seconds, and I '11 be umpire." 
 
 This was a mode of settling the difference but 
 very little expected by the young gentlemen, 
 and at the first they thought the captain was in 
 joke; but his serious look assured them he was 
 in earnest, and they began to look forward to 
 some fun. A silence of two or three minutes 
 followed the address, and Acheson stood ra- 
 ther doggedly sullen ; but Ten-thousand, find- 
 ing that no progress was made in any way, 
 advanced steadily to Acheson and held out
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 153 
 
 his hand, which the other at first declined, 
 but after a little hesitation took. 
 
 " You have acted generously, young gentle- 
 man,"" said Yorick ; " and so we are to have no 
 turn-up, after all ! Lash the table and fetch 
 the chairs back." This was effected in a few mi- 
 nutes, and the cabin-bell summoned the steward. 
 *' Place the decanters and wine-glasses." The 
 board was spread. " Fill one glass, young gen- 
 tlemen ; drink success to your new messmate, 
 and then away to your duties as shipmates and 
 friends." 
 
 " Come — come along, Blocks !" shouted se- 
 veral of the midshipmen, dragging the young- 
 ster with them to the berth. *' You only want 
 a uniform coat and a jacket to fit you out, and 
 we'll lend you them till the cruise is up. 
 Heave ahead, my boy ! " And in a short space 
 of time Ten-thousand had mounted the weekly 
 account, and walked forward to his generous 
 but anxious patrhn, as he was sitting alone in 
 his cabin ; the candle burnt down nearly into 
 the socket, just giving sufficient light to show 
 the cheerless gloom that prevailed. " Well, 
 my lad, and how is it to be — eggs, or young 
 uns ?"" demanded the gunner, heaving out from 
 the deep recesses of his capacious chest what 
 he intended for a sigh. " Has the skipper 
 
 h5
 
 154 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 signed your Michaelmas — cast you off stock 
 and fluke ? No, no, d — it ! I wrong him : he 
 always does what 's right, and does it well 
 too. — But come, Ten, tell us all about it."" 
 
 " Do you see this ?" replied the youth, point- 
 ing to his jacket : " that will tell you all about 
 it." 
 
 " What ! rope's-eended .?" asked Will, start- 
 ing up, and by his quickness extinguishing the 
 remnant of the light. " No, no, you can""! 
 mean that. Ten. — But there, — I 've dowsed the 
 glim. Here, boy — Cupid! where the devil 
 have you stowed yourself, you horse-marine ?" 
 
 *' Ay, ay, sir," answered the boy, flying 
 down the ladder to wait upon his master : 
 " I 'm coming, sir."" 
 
 " Like seven bells half struck," said Will. 
 " Bear a hand and get a light, you son of a 
 sea-coote. And what is it, Ten, you have got 
 to show me, — eh V 
 
 *' The first-letenant wants you immediately, 
 Mr, Blocks," said the same quartermaster 
 who has been mentioned before ; " and I give 
 you joy." 
 
 " Give me the devil !" muttered the gunner, 
 emerging from his den. " What can the firsf- 
 leftenant want with me ? ""
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 155 
 
 " It isn't you that is wanted, sir,"' replied 
 the quartermaster from the square of the 
 hatchway. 
 
 " Who then ? you said Mr. Blocks," assert- 
 ed the worthy tar. " Why, what are you all 
 bamboozling about ?" 
 
 " It 's young Mr. Blocks as is wanted, sir," 
 explained the quartermaster, " and not you." 
 
 " Oh, what, I 'm to be considered as nothing 
 better than old Blocks, eh .'^" grumbled the 
 gunner, — " treated like condemned stores ! — 
 But what does all this mean.? — why don't you 
 speak, Ten .''*'' 
 
 " My dear sir," replied the youth, deeply 
 affected, " the captain has rated me midship- 
 man, and " 
 
 " Oh, d — it ! is that all .''" uttered the gunner 
 with assumed carelessness, for his heart beat at 
 a rattling rate with delight. " I knew I had 
 interest enough with the skipper to make an of- 
 ficer of you. But there — bear a hand on deck, 
 my boy — I beg pardon, Mr. Blocks. But, Jem," 
 — Ten-thousand started off up the ladder, — " I 
 say, Jem, — here, just swallow a glass of grog 
 to the future prosperity of the lad — Lord love 
 him ! he 's somehow or other got double-bitted 
 round my heart, and when I think any mis-
 
 156 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 chief's going to fall athwart his hawse, it 
 makes me shiver and shake like a Lascar in a 
 snow-storm.*" 
 
 The object of the first-lieutenant's interview 
 with our hero was to put him in a watch and 
 appoint him to his station in the various routines 
 of duty. Mr. Spicer was a smart officer, and 
 an amiable man ; and whilst giving his direc- 
 tions to the youth, relative to future conduct, 
 in a voice that showed his very soul was en- 
 gaged in the profession, there was a gentle- 
 manly and pleasing deportment that did not 
 fail to have a due influence with Ten-thousand. 
 On his return forward, it was agreed between 
 the youth and his patron, that he should rough 
 it out in the midshipman's berth ; and thither 
 he removed to join his new messmates, and 
 seated himself by Acheson. 
 
 " You may perhaps take it into your head 
 to think, that because the captain has placed 
 you on the quarter-deck, you may swagger as 
 you please," said Acheson to him spitefully : 
 " but I'll thank you to keep your distance 
 from me, and not attempt to make yourself 
 my equal." 
 
 " Shame, shame, Acheson !" said Ancell, 
 a youth of the same age with the individual 
 he addressed. " If you don't clap a stopper on
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 157 
 
 your pride, the captain will make you strip 
 yet." 
 
 " And pray, what business is it of yours?" 
 exclaimed Acheson fiercely : " can't you mind 
 your own affairs, and leave me to mine?" 
 
 " Everybody knows that you ?iever interfere 
 in other people's concerns," uttered Mullion 
 sharply and sneeringly. " For my part, I think 
 your godfather was a barber, and taught you to 
 be always meddling with everything, as well as 
 seeing you made perfect in the vulgar tongue." 
 
 A laugh at Acheson's expense followed this 
 sally, which served to increase his ill-hu- 
 mour ; but he answered with hauteur, " My 
 godfather a paltry barber, indeed ! No, sir, 
 my godfather was his Grace the Duke of 
 Portland." 
 
 "Then he's got a graceless godson," re- 
 joined an old master's-mate, who had hitherto 
 sat silent; " and though the duke's no barber, 
 he 's always amongst the whigs.'''' A roar of 
 applause followed this hit ; which having sub- 
 sided, he went on — " Now, I'll tell you what 
 it is, Acheson, — if you don't belay the slack of 
 your pomposity, and take a couple of reefs in 
 your conceit, d — me if I don't have a court- 
 martial in the berth, and cob you with the 
 horse-shoe end of the boot-jack !"
 
 158 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 " Do at your peril !" uttered Acheson, at- 
 tempting a fierceness of manner, though it was 
 evident he was afraid the threat would be 
 carried into execution. 
 
 " Yes, I will do it at my own peril, and I 
 will do it at my leisure too ; for it would be 
 hardly worth while to disturb the peace of the 
 mess for a subject so worthless," answered 
 the master's-mate. " However, whilst I'm 
 caterer, I will be minded, in spite of either the 
 barber or the duke." 
 
 "That's right, Mac!" said little Parker. 
 " I 'm sure I always obey you ; and why 
 shouldn't Acheson .'' He wouldn't strip in the 
 cabin, though." 
 
 " Hold your tongue, youngster, and don't 
 shove your oar in where 'tis not wanted," 
 ordered the master's-mate : " though perhaps 
 it would have been as well to have backed up 
 so much blustering by at least showing fight." 
 
 " He would not give me time," exclaimed 
 Acheson with a rather subdued voice. " What ! 
 do you think I'm afraid of him ?" 
 
 " He'll fight you now, Acheson!" shouted 
 Ancell, desirous of seeing him thrashed. " I'm 
 sure he'll fight you : — won't you. Blocks.?" 
 
 " I shall always be ready to defend myself," 
 returned Ten-thousand boldly ; " and when
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 159 
 
 Mr. Acheson thinks fit to attack me, or those 
 who are less able to stand against him, I'll 
 try my best to convince him that he shall not 
 do it with impunity. But I should be very 
 loath, the first evening that I have joined the 
 berth, to be the cause of dissensions and blows. 
 However, I will place myself in the hands of 
 the gentlemen of the mess."" 
 
 " Fight him ! — fight him !" roared the 
 youngsters, delighted at the prospect of mis- 
 chief. 
 
 " I see you are all against me," uttered 
 Acheson, rising up, " and therefore I should 
 have no chance. However," turning to Par- 
 ker, " you sha''n''t crow ; — remember, "'tis my 
 middle watch."*"" 
 
 " But not mine,"" returned the little fellow, 
 clapping his hands and laughing with delight. 
 " No, no — the captain is too just a man to 
 leave me to your tender mercies. I 'm in Mr. 
 Stowage"'s watch now ; so you may keep your 
 colt — the foal of an ass — to yourself. Ah ! 
 anybody may see you 're afraid to fight." 
 
 A box of the ear from the master''s-mate 
 checked Barkery's volubility. 
 
 " No impertinence, youngster! — hold your 
 tongue, and shut down the port : I "'11 have 
 no fighting now. Here, Ebony! — Ebony!
 
 160 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 where ""s that dark-looking thunder-cloud got 
 to ? — Ebony ! Call Ebony there outside." 
 
 " Ebony !"—" Ebony P— " Ebony !" was 
 passed from mouth to mouth, till it reached 
 the sable ears of a negro who acted as mid- 
 shipman's steward. And here it may be as well 
 perhaps to remark, for the benefit of the 
 embryo heroes of the cockpit, that black is 
 the best colour for their attendants, as it never 
 shows the dirt ; and it is proverbial throughout 
 the service, that the midshipman"'s boy is al- 
 ways the most blotted copy of a servant in the 
 ship. — " Ebony !" 
 
 " Here em tis, saar," answered the steward, 
 hastily descending the hatchway. " Gara- 
 mighty ! whar for you makee me start so ? — me 
 coming, saar ;" and he entered the berth. 
 
 " I tell you what it is. Master Guinea,"" 
 uttered the master's-mate slowly : " if ever 
 you haul your wind out of this again so as 
 to get a boat-hook's length away from the reach 
 of my voice, I shall borrow Mr. Acheson's colt. 
 Get supper." 
 
 " Em no tink he want em just now, saar," 
 returned the black : " me go on deck for see 
 da trange fleet." 
 
 " A strange fleet !" burst from every voice, 
 and in two minutes the berth was cleared.
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 161 
 
 Ten-thousand accompanied the rest on deck, 
 and by the lights which were seen dancing 
 on the waters, it was evident that a large fleet 
 was in sight ; but whether friends or foes, was 
 as yet undetermined. Captain Yorick, Mr. 
 Spicer, and Mr. Stowage (the master), were at- 
 tentively scanning them through their glasses. 
 
 "They're English, I think, sir," said Mr. 
 Spicer : " most probably Lord Howe." 
 
 " I 'm very dubersome about that, Mr. Spi- 
 cer," replied the master. "If them were British 
 ships, there wouldn't be such a wasteful ex- 
 penditure of purser's dips, because Lord Howe 
 wouldn't show never a glim but his own to 
 tell 'em whereabouts he was. — But look, sir, 
 at the lights in the centre; — why, it's like Picca- 
 dilly of illumination night. Take my word for 
 it, they 're enemies ; and that fellow in the 
 centre is the three-decker as chased us about 
 six weeks since — the Goat and Oar, or some 
 such name." 
 
 " The what, master .'*" inquired tlie captain ; 
 
 " the Goat and ? Come, that's not so bad, 
 
 anyhow ; but it would have been better ' Cot.' 
 However, 1 believe you are right. It is the 
 French fleet, sure enough ; the ship you speak 
 of is the Cote d'Or, and Morard de Galles is 
 at sea. Now, snug 's the word ! Mr. Spicer,
 
 162 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 send down and let the watch below bring up 
 their hammocks and stow them. Who's got 
 the watch ?" 
 
 *' I have, sir," replied the master. 
 
 " Then let the watch on deck see all clear 
 for making sail," said the captain : " we must 
 give these fellows a wider berth, I wish to 
 Heaven Lord Howe was where I am ! not a 
 would ever see France again." 
 
 The Scratchee was lying pretty close under 
 the land, so that she could not be so well 
 distinguished as if she had been outside the 
 strange fleet, which, with a southerly wind, was 
 stretching away on the larboard tack. The 
 night was tolerably clear overhead ; but there 
 was a haze upon the horizon, which, though 
 it did not conceal objects to seaward, yet ren- 
 dered them dim and obscure in-shore. But 
 there was no mistaking the long line of dancing, 
 flickering lights, which enabled the captain to 
 count twenty-five sail — just the number of 
 line-of-battle ships and frigates that lie had 
 reconnoitred a day or two before at anchor 
 under Belleisle. The situation of the English 
 ship was ralher critical : she was close to Groa, 
 and had, during daylight, gone under French 
 colours within range of the batteries ; she was 
 to leeward, and might be easily cut off, should
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 163 
 
 any sharp eye catch sight of her. Trusting 
 to escape unseen, the sails of the Scratchee were 
 clewed up and furled ; but the topmen were 
 kept aloft to loose them at a moment's warning. 
 Everytliing was prepared at quarters, and the 
 gunner was in his glory, when up rose the 
 moon — the breeze freshened, the haze cleared 
 away, and Captain Yorick became aware that 
 further concealment was vain, as two of the 
 fleet were distinguished standing in towards 
 L'Orient. In less than five minutes the frigate 
 was clothed with a cloud of canvass right up 
 to her trucks, and pelting along like a race- 
 horse. One of the ships immediatel}' came in 
 chase, bearing up to cut her off, whilst the 
 other pursued her course. The Scratchee, how- 
 ever, had scarcely got clear of Groa, when 
 another ship was seen not more than two miles 
 distant, upon the starboard quarter, running 
 along between that island and the main. 
 When first discovered, she was under easy 
 sail, and it was doubtful whether she was a 
 merchantman or a fighting-craft ; but having 
 made out the eight-and-twenty, the matter 
 was placed beyond dispute by her crowding 
 sail, as supposed, in pursuit. 
 
 " Let me have the best helmsman in the 
 ship at the wheel," said the captain, address-
 
 164 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 ing the first-lieutenant. " We're in the split- 
 stick now ; but I'll try and exchange berths 
 with them, if Sir John Warren is anywhere 
 in the neighbourhood. Those fellows 11 be 
 
 kicking my presently, and bring down 
 
 more of their frigates. Where the devil is 
 Lord Howe ? — But that's just the way they 
 manage affairs at home ! — tremble at a little 
 expense for an outfit — delay the sailing of an 
 armament through parsimony, and then throw 
 away millions to redeem the error." 
 
 " That 's pretty much the case, sir," said the 
 master, to whom the foregoing observations 
 had been addressed ; " like the ould saying, 
 ' penny- wise and pound-foolish.' " 
 
 " It 's d — hard to be driven away in this 
 fashion, too !" continued Yorick : " I expected 
 a consignment of at least a couple of West 
 Indiamen to my agent, and a few re-captures." 
 He directed his night-glass to the ship in-shore, 
 and added, " That fellow overhauls us; and let 
 him be what he will below a forty, 1 should 
 like to have a slap at him. But then there's 
 the other," looking out to seaward ; " by the 
 Lord! but he rises fast! — ah, there goes his sig- 
 nal ! Get a gun ready forud." " All ready," 
 was the immediate response. " Fire !" shouted 
 the captain, and the report echoed between the
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 165 
 
 walls of canvass like a dozen discharges. " One 
 light in the main rigging," continued the chief, 
 and a signal lantern was almost instantly dis- 
 played. " Another gun from the enemy : re- 
 peat it !" cried Yorick : again the loud thunder 
 bellowed amongst the swelling sails. " A blue 
 light and a rocket," said the captain : " d — 
 the frog-eating rascal ! he fancies himself at 
 Vauxhall. Mr. Blocks, up with a rocket!"" 
 and in half a minute a beautiful pale blue 
 flame shed its gleams upon the ocean, and gave 
 a spectral appearance to the men and ship, 
 such as imagination would picture the ghastly 
 vision of some of those death-craft which sea- 
 men assert are sometimes flitting above the 
 waters rather than in them. Another half- 
 minute, and away flew a train of fire into the 
 heavens, as if to show the daring ingenuity of 
 man in combining the elements to suit his mur- 
 derous purposes. "Oh, he's done, has he!"" 
 
 said Captain Yorick : " now see what the 
 
 in-shore says." All eyes were directed to the 
 ship that was running along the land ; but she 
 made no return to the signals, and was walk- 
 ing up abeam of the Scratchee, hand over hand. 
 The moon had well risen, and, to the surprise of 
 Captain Yorick, the seaward ship, which ap- 
 proached near enough to show that she was of
 
 166 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 the line, hauled dead upon a wind, and gave 
 over the chase ; whilst the other was clearly 
 made out to be a vessel of war, somewhat about 
 the dimensions of the Scratchee. " Bamboozled 
 the fellow, by — !" shouted Yorick, unable to 
 repress his mirth : " and now to be somewhat 
 loving with our neighbour there, who, I begin 
 to suspect, is much of the same breed as our- 
 selves. Port a little, lad — port! keep her 
 another point to starboard : there — steady, so. 
 How shall we do for the Penmarks, master?" 
 
 " All clear, sir, on this course," answered 
 Mr. Stowage, looking at the compass. " But if 
 that there 's a Frenchman, and has any suspi- 
 cion of us, he '11 haul in for Quimperlay, sup- 
 posing he don't want to fight." 
 
 " Spoke like an oracle, master," said the 
 captain ; " and the point which he must round 
 is—" 
 
 " — About two leagues distant from him," 
 answered Stowage, without waiting for the finish 
 of the question. 
 
 " How 's the current ?*' inquired the captain, 
 steadily fixing his assisted sight upon the ship, 
 that was now abeam of him, and not more than 
 half a mile distant. 
 
 " We have got the last drain again us out 
 here, sir," replied the master ; " but I'm duber-
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 167 
 
 some whether he does not catch the first of the 
 flood where he is." 
 
 " To quarters, Mr. Spicer," said the captain; 
 " let the sail-trimmers take their station on the 
 fokstle, ready for the moment's orders :" and 
 the men, by means of the young gentlemen, 
 were in a very few minutes at their guns, pre- 
 pared and determined to do their best to con- 
 quer, should the stranger be an enemy ; but 
 the general opinion ran that she was an Eng- 
 lish cruiser or a Yankee trader : the latter 
 was most prevalent. 
 
 " Port, my lad !" said the captain ; " port 
 another half-point, so we shall near each other 
 faster ; have the private signal ready, — three 
 lights in a triangle — one up the starboard main- 
 rigging, another by the gangway, and the third 
 by the after-swifter, with a blue light. Bear 
 a hand ! — we '11 try his pluck, at all events," 
 added he, turning to the first-lieutenant. A 
 noise was heard on the main-deck, for disci- 
 pline had hardly yet got its ascendency. 
 " What 's that row there below ? By — ! no 
 wonder we deceive the Frenchman ; for if 
 
 she 'd heard you lubberly sons make 
 
 such a thundering noise — no wonder, I say, 
 she took us for one of their own craft. Stand 
 clear, my men ! I abominate a Frenchman and
 
 168 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 all his ways. They 've more tongue than brains; 
 whilst British tars have their mouths shut and 
 their eyes open. If there 's any d — Crapeaus 
 among you there, hand 'em on deck in a clean 
 plate." The noise abated, though it did not 
 cease, and Yorick sprang down upon the main- 
 deck, where several of the crew were quarrel- 
 ling, and rather mutinous, on account of some 
 severity that had been practised by one of the 
 boatswain's mates. Yorick strode, or rather 
 straddled amongst them. " 1 '11 not hang you, 
 ye lubbers ! the expenditure of a piece of rope 
 is more than you 're worth; but I'll do worse, 
 
 you ! I'll disgrace you: you shall be 
 
 pointed at as the cowardly Scratchees — you 
 shall be drafted amcmgst the fleet, and be in 
 every black-list throughout the service. You've 
 a French frigate in-shore, that I made sure you 
 would take into Plymouth with you. But do 
 you think I 'd go into action with a set of 
 
 that presume to disobey their officers ? 
 
 No, no ! we must run away — we must leave 
 our prize, and be d — to you ! But every man 
 
 will be pointed at by the , when you go 
 
 ashore, as cowards. You '11 all be known — ay, 
 I '11 put a mark upon you for ever : instead of 
 brandy, you shall have a brand ; and if you ask 
 for wk^ (y) — Cowards have no spirit Mr.
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 169 
 
 Spicer I"' — the first-lieutenant's "Ay, ay, sir," 
 was responded,—" Mr. Spicer, let the sail- 
 trimmers see all clear for shortening sail, and 
 call the drummer." 
 
 Yorick ceased, and not a whisper was heard — 
 all was as still as death. " Are you English 
 or French .?" shouted he ; " d — your hearts, 
 
 let me know! But there, let the French 
 
 come in a-midships, and my own tars stand to 
 their guns." In an instant every seaman was 
 at his station, and the captain returned to the 
 quarter-deck. "Show the private signal,'' said 
 the captain, and it was immediately displayed 
 as ordered, but no notice was taken of it. 
 " What have I got there upon the main-deck, 
 English or French ?" shouted Yorick : and a 
 
 simultaneous cry arose, "English, by !"" 
 
 He did not suffer a moment's pause before his 
 voice was again heard : " Then stand by your 
 bull-dogs." 
 
 The strange ship kept her course, and in about 
 another quarter of an hour the two were within 
 hailing-distance. " Hooo — whooo ! " shouted 
 Yorick through his speaking-trumpet, but no 
 answer was returned. Again the loud sonorous 
 voice of the captain flew across the waters, but 
 still no reply was made. " INIr. Blocks," said 
 the captain in an under tone to Ten-thousand, 
 
 VOL. I. I
 
 no TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 " run forud and tell your namesake to throw 
 a shot from the bow-gun right under that 
 fellow's fore-foot." 
 
 " Ay, ay, sir," responded the youngster, and 
 promptly hastened along the gangway to the 
 forecastle, where he delivered his orders. 
 
 *' We '11 see, my boy — we '11 see," said Will, 
 taking a handspike and heaving the breach of 
 the gun round to the required position. " Now 
 then !" He applied the match — the smoke 
 wreathed up, and the report rebounded from 
 the stranger. 
 
 "Very well hove," said the captain; " knocked 
 away his flying jib-boom. Hooo !" he shouted 
 again, and was answered in French — " Le 
 Commerce de L'Orient — what frigate's that .p" 
 '* His Britannic Majesty's ship" — The cap- 
 tain was not allowed to finish the words, before 
 the shots from a broadside came crashing and 
 rending through the sides and spars of the 
 Scratchee, and the battle commenced. " Pass 
 the word to the officers of divisions to order 
 the men at their quarters to unrig the fellow. 
 He goes two foot to our one, and he'll outwalk 
 us if we don't shorten sail for him. Fire high, 
 men ! Mr. Blocks, see if you can't take in his 
 main-topsel for him," 
 
 '* Ay, ay, sir," answered the gunner, highly
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 171 
 
 pleased at the confidence which his chief seemed 
 to place in his professional talents, and busying 
 himself with the forecastle gun ; "■ I '11 try my 
 luck, anyhow. Elevate her muzzle, Jem — 
 so, so ; that 's too high— depress an inch or two 
 — steady." He cast his eye along the sight, 
 watched the motion, and, when suitably laid, 
 waited for a clearance in the smoke. The 
 opportunity was offered, and the next minute 
 the main-top-gallant mast of the enemy was 
 knocked away close to the cap. Ten minutes 
 decided the business : the stranger's canvass was 
 rent to shreds, — there was no chance of escape, 
 — she ceased firing, and hailed tliat she had 
 struck. Nor was there much surprise caused 
 at her doing so, when on boarding she was 
 found to be a privateer, mounting twenty-six 
 guns, with a crew of two hundred and forty 
 men, quite new, admirably fitted out and well 
 found : she belonged to Bordeaux, and had 
 left Basque Roads early in the morning, with 
 the intention of trying her luck in the British 
 Channel. The fire of the English frigate had 
 done great execution ; fourteen lay dead, and 
 there were upwards of sixty wounded who were 
 found lying about the decks unheeded by their 
 shipmates, and many of them bleeding to death. 
 
 I 2
 
 172 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The bullets are flying, huzza ! huzza ! 
 
 The bullets are flying away, away ; 
 
 The brawny boarders mount by the chains, 
 
 And are over their buckles in blood and brains ! 
 
 On the foeman's deck, where a man should be, 
 
 Young Hamilton Tighe 
 
 Waves his cutlass high, 
 And Capita'me Crapaud bends low at his knee. 
 
 Legend of Hamilton Tighe. 
 
 No sooner was the prize taken possession of, 
 than all sail was immediately made to escape 
 from the vicinity of the French fleet, who 
 Captain Yorick naturally concluded would 
 hear the reports of the guns, and the admiral 
 would probably send a far superior force to 
 his own, for the purpose of ascertaining the 
 cause. The privateer was kept close to the 
 Scratchee during the night, the crew of the 
 frigate remaining at their quarters. The 
 breeze freshened ; the water remained smooth ; 
 the men had but little to do, so they sat and 
 conversed together on the nature of their con-
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 173 
 
 quest, and calculated the amount of prize- 
 money each would share. They laughed 
 heartily at the promptitude of the '' skipper" 
 in setting matters to right, and restoring good 
 order on the main-deck when an ebullition of 
 strong feeling had overpowered discretion. 
 The Scratchees were a rough, undisciplined 
 set, though braver fellows never toed a line at 
 muster ; but they became sensible that they 
 had a master-spirit to deal with, and felt no 
 repugnance at the conviction. 
 
 A little before daybreak, both ships having 
 gained a good offing, were hove to, and the 
 boats were busily engaged in removing the 
 prisoners. Young Blocks found his know- 
 ledge of the French language peculiarly ser- 
 viceable, not only to himself, but also to those 
 officers who were ignorant of it, as well as the 
 unfortunate captives. The privateer's crew 
 were none of the most reputable individuals in 
 life ; — indeed, she had been manned chiefly from 
 the gaols and galleys, as the men-of-war had 
 picked up most of the seamen that could be 
 found to fit out and complete the complements 
 of the French fleet. Amongst such a set there 
 was some difficulty in compelling obedience, 
 and a gang of about fifty in a state of intoxi- 
 cation got forward on the main-deck of the
 
 174 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 privateer, as if determined to resist removal ; 
 and the second-lieutenant sent Aclieson down 
 with a party of marines to fire at them if they 
 would not obey. Ten-thousand, with five or 
 six seamen, was remonstrating with them on 
 their folly, and pointing out that it was likely 
 to prove fatal to some, and might lead to the 
 mutilation of others. One of their own officers 
 warmly supported him, and the fellows were 
 becoming more reasonable, when Acheson made 
 his appearance with the marines coming for- 
 ward along the main-deck. Without delaying 
 an instant, though he must have been aware 
 that Blocks and the frigates' men were be- 
 tvjreen him and the enemy, he ordered the 
 marines to fire ; and these well-trained disci- 
 plinarians would in sheer obedience to the 
 word of command have poured in a destruc- 
 tive volley, had it not been for the serjeant 
 opportunely joining them at the very moment 
 they were coming to the present, and shouting 
 with stentorian lungs, " Recover arms !" One 
 musket was, however, fired, and an unfortu- 
 nate Frenchman who was standing close by 
 Blocks gave a convulsive struggle and breath- 
 ed his last. The privateer's men were en- 
 raged, but they saw how useless would be 
 resistance, especially as Acheson had again
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 175 
 
 directed the marines to fire ; but the Serjeant 
 insisted upon ordering his own men, and the 
 Frenchmen went sullenly on deck. 
 
 " Whatever was your intention, Acheson," 
 said Ten-thousand, as soon as duty would 
 permit, — " whatever was your intention in 
 making an instantaneous attack upon those 
 fellows, you ought to have remembered that 
 some of our own men would have been ex- 
 posed to the marines' fire." 
 
 "I am not to be schooled by you, sir," 
 returned Acheson fiercely, " a mere know- 
 nothing, that never was at sea before. I am 
 your senior officer here, and I order you on 
 deck." 
 
 " An order I shall not obey, as I am under 
 the command of Mr. Watts, and not you," 
 returned our hero. " Nor would I leave these 
 prisoners to your ferocious nature." 
 
 " Send the marines on deck directly,"" shout- 
 ed the second-lieutenant : " and, Mr. Acheson, 
 remain down there, and see the prisoners up as 
 quick as possible." 
 
 " Ay, ay, sir," answered Acheson, but with- 
 out moving a step from his position. The 
 Serjeant marched off" his party up the hatch- 
 way, and Blocks, calling his handful of men 
 together, prepared to descend to the orlop,
 
 176 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 for the purpose of ascertaining whether there 
 was any one concealed. " Remain with me, 
 men,'* exclaimed Acheson ; " I shall want you 
 here." 
 
 " Mr. Watts placed them under me for this 
 especial duty," returned Blocks firmly, " and 
 not one shall quit me without my sanction." 
 
 " But I 'm not going to be left alone here 
 with such a set of cut-throat rascals," said 
 Acheson somewhat imploringly. " I shall go 
 and report to Mr. Watts." 
 
 " Take care what you say, Acheson," utter- 
 ed Ten-thousand : " remember, falsehood and 
 malice often defeat themselves. As far as I 
 am concerned, I defy you ; but think well 
 before you speak, — it may be good for your 
 own safety." 
 
 " Three times to-day have you run athwart 
 me," exclaimed Acheson : " d — you ! come 
 what will, I '11 have revenge !" He darted to- 
 wards the hatchway, down which Blocks was 
 descending, and aimed a furious blow at him 
 with a cutlass; but the latter, making a jump 
 to the bottom of the ladder, avoided the stroke ; 
 whilst the cowardly rascal, meeting with no re- 
 sistance, overbalanced himself, and went sprawl- 
 ing head foremost down the hatchway, where 
 he lay bruised and stunned. At first £o indig-
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 177 
 
 nant was Ten-thousand, that he determined to 
 let him lie ; but better feelings prevailed, and 
 therefore, raising him up, he ordered two of the 
 men to convey him upon deck, whilst he with 
 the remainder prosecuted his search. As soon 
 as it was finished, he made his report to Mr. 
 Watts, and found that Acheson had been sent 
 in a state of insensibility on board the frigate. 
 For himself, he had formed a resolution not to 
 make any mention of the transaction; but he 
 did not deem it an act of justice to lay any re- 
 straint upon the men who had witnessed what 
 had taken place. 
 
 Mr. Watts was appointed to command the 
 prize and take her into Plymouth, whilst the 
 frigate made sail to look out and give informa- 
 tion that the French fleet was at sea. 
 
 '' And what do you think of fighting, Ten ?" 
 incjuired the gunner of his protege when next 
 tliey met. " It 's rough-and-tumble work to 
 them as arn't used to it ! I hears you behaved 
 very well, and it warms my heart. Ten, — for, 
 somehow, I can't help thinking of you, let you 
 be where you will." 
 
 " Your kindness is always acceptable to me, 
 sir," returned the youth modestly ; " and 1 
 have nothing in life to wish for if Acheson 
 wouldn't bear me such deadly animosity." 
 
 i5
 
 178 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 " Have a care of him, lad,'"" whispered the 
 gunner, shaking his head : " he 's like a pet 
 monkey, full of spite, and would do you an in- 
 jury if he could. Such officers ruin the ser- 
 vice, and I 'm thinking some day or other he ''11 
 be napping monkey's allowance, more kicks 
 than ha'pence. Ten. Howsomever, he's hove 
 down in the sick-list now, and mayhap will 
 have to be left ashore next cruise ; so keep 
 your weather-eye up. Ten, and we '11 get to 
 wind'ard of him yet." 
 
 Acheson was severely hurt, but he was too 
 wise to say anything about the cause, although 
 it was pretty well known by his messmates 
 and amongst the ship's company ; and whilst 
 it lowered him in their estimation, it served to 
 raise Ten-thousand higher than ever. None 
 pitied the former; indeed, there were many who 
 rejoiced, and no one more heartily than little 
 Parker, who now looked up to our hero as his 
 best friend and protector. But the highest 
 gratification young Blocks experienced was de- 
 rived from the approbation of his commander, 
 who honoured him with especial favour — par- 
 ticularly at those periods when the tensity of 
 duty becomes relaxed, and the generous wine 
 expands the heart of true benevolence. Ten-
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 179 
 
 thousand took his regular turn at the captain"'s 
 dinner-table, and on more than one occasion 
 they had been employed sketching together in 
 the morning. 
 
 The number of prisoners on board the frigate 
 exceeded that of the ship's company, and being 
 most of them desperate characters, it was neces- 
 sary to be constantly on the alert, — for as half 
 a dozen might perpetrate the worst mischief, 
 so it was utterly impossible to detect the of- 
 fenders amongst so many. This may be exem- 
 plified by stating that when the Scratchee re- 
 turned to Plymouth, and a range of the cable 
 was hauled up previous to letting go the an- 
 chor, it was found cut nearly strand-through 
 in several places; and once or twice the breech- 
 ings of the guns had been similarly dealt with. 
 Captain Yorick, however, trusted to his own 
 vigilance, and he never quitted the deck with- 
 out leaving it in charge of one of the officers — 
 generally the first-lieutenant, on whom he could 
 place the strictest reliance, — for he was well 
 aware that not only did the prisoners require 
 a sharp eye, but also several of his own peo- 
 ple were not to be depended on. Still, as the 
 French West-India convoy was hourly ex- 
 pected, he felt a repugnance at quitting their 
 track, and thereby losing a chance of encou-
 
 180 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 raging his officers and men, as well as improv- 
 ing his own fortune. 
 
 There were one or two among the prisoners 
 who seldom made their appearance, and ru- 
 mour spread conjectures that they had cogent 
 reasons for concealment ; nor was this suppo- 
 sition lessened when one of them, an officer, 
 was discovered to be in intimacy with Mr. 
 Acheson. How they had become acquainted 
 was a mystery to all, and the young man's 
 unamiable propensities forbade the attributing 
 of the acquaintance to feelings of compassion 
 or generosity. Certain it was, that the French- 
 man (who, however, was strongly suspected to 
 be an Englishman) paid the midshipman very 
 great attention during his confinement, and 
 was most obsequious to his wishes. As soon 
 as Acheson was able to move about. Captain 
 Yorick questioned him on the subject ; but the 
 young man " denied all previous knowledge of 
 the prisoner," and " protested, the only motive 
 which actuated him was humanity ;" — that, 
 *' being neglected by his messmates, (which 
 was untrue,) Dubois had nursed him with 
 kindness and attention." 
 
 " I will not urge you further Mr. Acheson," 
 said Captain Yorick, " and I have no right to 
 wring a secret from you when the life of a
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 181 
 
 fellow-creature is at stake. Still, sir, there are 
 circumstances which have come to my know- 
 ledge;" — Acheson trembled in every limb. 
 " Sit down, sir, — your illness has made you 
 nervous and weak," — and Yorick condescend- 
 ingly handed him a chair. " I was observing, 
 that circumstances had come to my knowledge 
 which renders the position of that man ex- 
 tremely doubtful: his shipmates speak of him in 
 terms of disrespect — as a hardened, abandon- 
 ed miscreant ; and Captain Belliaud has more 
 than hinted that the marks of the fetters are 
 yet upon his wrists and ankles. Such a cha- 
 racter is not very likely to be influenced by 
 the impulses of humanity, and therefore I 
 am induced to look to some other cause for 
 his attention to you. Mind, sir, your secret 
 is with yourself, but if you have respect for 
 the service and veneration for your king, you 
 will never suffer a traitor to escape. — I do 
 not say positively that Dubois is a traitor — I 
 have no means of proving it ; but I tell you in 
 
 fairness, that if I do find him out, by , sir, 
 
 he shall hang, and your situation will be rather 
 precarious, young gentleman ! " — Acheson was 
 about to speak, but was instantly checked by 
 his chief, who went on. " Avast, sir, — avast! 
 — I have appealed to your honour — 1 have
 
 182 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 touched your pride, — but I have also used 
 threats. Go, young gentleman, and digest the 
 whole. Think calml}' and deliberately. What 
 has passed here shall rest between ourselves, — 
 it shall not be said that I wrested a secret from 
 you. Go to your berth, sir, and commune with 
 your own heart." 
 
 Acheson immediately obeyed ; and Dubois 
 was ready to receive him, not in the midship- 
 man's berth, for that would not be allowed, 
 but at the place where the invalid's hammock 
 was suspended. The young man looked cau- 
 tiously around to discover whether there were 
 any listeners; but finding there was no one 
 within hearing, he whispered, 
 
 " You are suspected, Clairfait, and if dis- 
 covered, you know your doom." 
 
 *' Will you venture to betray me .?"" asked 
 the other in the same tone of voice, and in 
 perfect English. 
 
 " What can I do ? " returned Acheson 
 mournfully. " If you are found out, it will be 
 my ruin ; and the tale you have told me may 
 not have a word of truth in it." 
 
 " As you please," said the other doggedly ; 
 " but remember, as sure as he I told you of is 
 now in the same ship with you, so sure shall 
 be your downfall with mine, I have docu-
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 183 
 
 ments in Plymouth sufficient to convince an 
 unbelieving Jew : besides, I fear no one's re- 
 cognition if you are silent." 
 
 " It is a very awkward affair," uttered 
 Acheson, a secret determination working in 
 his mind to betray his companion, if he could 
 do so without injury to himself. " What you 
 have told me is most mysterious and im- 
 probable." 
 
 " But it is nevertheless the truth ; ay, as 
 clearly the truth as that the sun gives light 
 and the heavens are studded with stars," said 
 the prisoner. 
 
 *' There are certainly several circumstances 
 of a nature that tend to give a foundation to 
 your statements," observed Acheson. 
 
 " Betray me, and you will find the whole a 
 reality — a fearful reality," answered the man. 
 " And recollect, young gentleman, I have a 
 palliative to plead : for though I was born in 
 England, and my mother a native of that 
 country, yet my father was a Frenchman ; and 
 who can blame me for preferring the land of 
 my father's nativity to my own ? Use your 
 pleasure, sir : the name I go by is properly 
 my own, that of Clairfait, but assumed. — Your 
 name ! you scarcely know it yourself." 
 
 " Are you well assured that there is no
 
 184 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 fear of detection ?" asked Acheson more com- 
 posedly. 
 
 " There is not a being on earth, at least 
 nigh hand, whom I care for, so that you will 
 but keep my council," replied Dubois. " Do 
 not let a craven fear annihilate your future 
 hopes and prospects. Do not drag down dis- 
 grace and poverty on those whom you are 
 bound to love." Acheson shuddered. " Do 
 not place your enemy on the pinnacle of for- 
 tune, and at the same moment sink yourself 
 to perdition." 
 
 " Never, never, so help me !" an- 
 swered the midshipman, forgetful that he was 
 calling upon the God of justice and retribution 
 to attest his adherence to crime. " Leave me, 
 Dubois, leave me now," added he, much 
 agitated ; " let me turn in a little while and 
 think." 
 
 *' Eh bien, monsieur," exclaimed the pri- 
 soner aloud, and assisting Acheson into his 
 hammock, " bon repos !" and he quitted the 
 spot. 
 
 That the pretended Frenchman had ob- 
 tained an amazing influence over the young 
 man's mind there could not be a doubt, and 
 that it was by means known only to them- 
 selves was equally certain ; for as he lay in
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 185 
 
 his hammock heavy groans burst from his 
 heart, in spite of his endeavours to suppress 
 them : but there was no one near to listen, or 
 to soothe him ; every soul, except a few of 
 the prisoners, and the sentries who watched 
 over them, was on deck, making sail in chase 
 of a large lugger that was seen in the north- 
 east with a ship close to her. They were both 
 hove to, and it was supposed to be a French 
 privateer boarding an English merchantman. 
 The two vessels, however, very speedily sepa- 
 rated and stood on different courses ; and though 
 a good re-capture would have paid the best, 
 yet Captain Yorick lost not an instant in de- 
 ciding to pursue the lugger, especially as he 
 carried a fine breeze, whilst the others lay 
 nearly becalmed. The lugger had got out her 
 sweeps, and was making very fair headway; 
 but the frigate came rapidly up with her till 
 nearly within gun-shot, when she also lost the 
 wind, and her sails hung flapping against the 
 masts. Still she held her own with the lug- 
 ger, till the light breeze died entirely away, 
 and not a breath curled the surface of the blue 
 wave. 
 
 " Send the prisoners below," exclaimed the 
 captain, as he rapidly paced the deck, and 
 occasionally paused to cast a hasty glance at
 
 186 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 the strangers. The order was promptly obey- 
 ed ; the prisoners were sent below, and a Ser- 
 jeant with a party of marines placed over them 
 to keep the whole in order. The officers, 
 however, were suffered to remain. As soon as 
 the first-lieutenant had reported the main-deck 
 clear, he was directed to get the boats out, 
 and prepare to take command of them. In 
 a quarter of an hour all the boats were in 
 the water manned and armed, the launch with 
 an eighteen -pounder carronade in her bows, 
 and the pinnace with a twelve-pounder carro- 
 nade. 
 
 The lugger was not two miles distant, and 
 the ship between three and four. 
 
 " Had we not better divide the party, sir .''" 
 said the first-lieutenant. " The cutter and 
 jolly-boat might recapture the ship, whilst we 
 carried the lugger." 
 
 " Remember the old man and the bundle of 
 sticks, Mr. Spicer," responded Yorick. " Do 
 you capture the lugger ; I '11 take care of the 
 ship afterwards." He then added in an under 
 tone, " I have given young Blocks the small 
 cutter ; have an eye upon the youngster, and 
 let me know how he behaves. The gunner 
 has got the pinnace." He looked over the 
 gangway unexpectedly, and hallooed out,
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 187 
 
 *' Halloo ! whose head ""s that bobbing up in 
 the stern-sheets of the small cutter ?■" and up 
 rose little Parker with a pistol in his hand, 
 and a heavy cutlass buckled round him. 
 " Pray, i\Ir. Tom-tit," shouted the captain, 
 " who gave you permission to leave the ship? 
 Come, sir, come on board again. Do you 
 think I could spare so important a personage 
 at such a time as this.?" and Yorick laughed 
 as the child reluctantly ascended the side, 
 fearful of having offended his commander. 
 " No, no, Mr. Parker," added the captain, 
 highly pleased at the boy's gallantry, but 
 assuming a severe look to deter him from 
 such freaks in future, " I cannot afford to 
 expend you yet awhile ; and let it be clearly 
 understood between us, that you remain on 
 board till both bowers are fast in the ground, 
 and the ship is held by the nose between them. 
 Go aft, sir, — I must have a few more words 
 with you presently." And the brave little 
 fellow, dragging a cutlass as long as himself, 
 to the great amusement of all who saw him, 
 walked aft to an old friend— Mr. Stowage. 
 
 " Mercy on us ! what hog in armour have 
 we here ?" exclaimed the master, laughing 
 heartily. " I 'm sure the captain ought to 
 have let you gone, for the lugger wouldn't
 
 188 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 attempt a defence with such a Goliath as you 
 in the boat." 
 
 " I am not to be despised because I am 
 little, sir," answered the mortified boy. " I 
 might have done some good." 
 
 " And been sent home to your heart-broken 
 mother, stowed away in a cartridge-box, with 
 your head knocked off'," returned the master, 
 gratified by the boy's demeanour. " I am 
 afraid Blocks will get reprimanded, though, for 
 suffering you to get in the boat." 
 
 " It was not his fault, sir, — indeed it was 
 not," urged Parker, alarmed lest his friend 
 should get into trouble. " He did not know 
 I was in the cutter, for I stowed myself away 
 in the bows at first, and when I went aft he 
 wanted to send me aboard again. Indeed, 
 Mr. Stowage, Blocks was not to blame." 
 
 At this moment a loud shout arose from the 
 flotilla as they shoved off and formed, and 
 three hearty cheers resounded, which were 
 answered by those remaining in the frigate. 
 " Beat to quarters, Mr. Stowage," said the 
 captain as soon as silence was restored ; and 
 at the roll of the drum the men handled their 
 arms and took their stations. 
 
 " Your armament will hardly succeed,"" 
 said Captain Belliaud, late of the privateer,
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 189 
 
 to Yorick, as they stood looking at the lug- 
 ger. " I think I know that vessel : she carries 
 twelve six-pounders and two brass nines, with 
 a crew, including officers, but little short of 
 a hundred. They will have an immense ad- 
 vantage over the boats with the nine-pounders, 
 if they point them well." 
 
 " I have no fear for my lads," returned 
 Yorick, " and the nine-pounders won't have 
 long to play with them." He wetted the tips 
 of his fingers with his tongue, and held them 
 up. " Ah, by George ! but there 's an air of 
 wind aloft, though there 's not a breath upon 
 the face of the ocean. See ! the royals and 
 skysels are filled ;" and tearing a piece of 
 paper which he pulled from his pocket, he 
 threw a fragment over the quarter : it fluttered 
 for an instant, then fell dead upon the water, 
 and remaining stationary, the vessel evidenced 
 the progress she made by passing it at rather 
 more than a knot an hour. 
 
 Neither officers nor seamen had anything to 
 do, and the utmost excitement prevailed as 
 the little armament pulled steadily towards 
 the object of attack, which was plying her 
 sweeps with rapidity, and travelling at no less 
 than three knots, whilst the boats were making 
 about double that number of miles.
 
 190 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 " There go the nine-pounders !" said Bel- 
 liaud, as a wreath of smoke curled up from 
 the lugger's stern; and Yorick quickly glanced 
 his eye at the boats. The shot fell short, and 
 the experiment was not immediately repeated. 
 In about five minutes, however, a second 
 cloud obscured the lugger, and this time the 
 shot struck the water close to the small cutter, 
 throwing the spray over the boat ; but the 
 men pulled steadily on, without giving the 
 slightest heed that they were now within 
 range. Another shot fell about half a dozen 
 fathoms ahead of the launch, then rose again, 
 passed closely over their heads, dropped 
 astern, and spent itself in playing at " ducks 
 and drakes." 
 
 " Those fellows have had good practice," 
 said Yorick, as a certain undefinable sensa- 
 tion crept upon his heart lest any of the 
 boats should get hit. " But never mind ; 
 
 Spicer will give the a taste of the carro- 
 
 nade presently : and your privateer' s-m en, 
 though they come from the Garonne, are not 
 over fond of grape." 
 
 Again the smoke curled up from the lugger, 
 and, as if the commander had heard the remark 
 of Yorick, a shower of grape from the nine- 
 pounders fell ahead, but in a line with the
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 191 
 
 flotilla, and throwing up the water like a shoal 
 of flying-fish off" Barbadoes. Still the boats, 
 uninjured, continued to pull steadily on, each 
 preserving its position in a line close ahead and 
 astern, the launch leading them ; but no return 
 was made to the fire of the privateer. A few 
 minutes more, and again the grape was seen 
 dashing up the spray close to the launch ; and 
 the captain observed through his glass, with 
 pain, that two oars lay idle in the rowlocks : 
 the poor fellows had fallen, but their places 
 were instantly supplied by a couple of marines, 
 and the launch held on her way as if nothing 
 had happened. 
 
 " Brave fellows !" uttered Captain Belliaud. 
 " With such gallant souls, I fear I shall have 
 to meet my countrymen yet." 
 
 " Lord love you I" said the master, " they 
 thinks no more of a shot than I do of an 
 ingon. Here, young gentleman," turning to 
 Parker, " take a look through my glass at 
 your shipmates, and watch the next dis- 
 charge." 
 
 The little fellow did as he was bid ; nor had 
 he long to wait, for the grape flew over the 
 boats, dancing and skimming along till spent, 
 and then they were added to the accumulated 
 heaps in that vast shot-locker — the ocean ; or.
 
 W2 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 as the boatswain observed, Davy Jones would 
 have a few more beads for his young devils. 
 " Pray, what do you think of that, Mr. Park- 
 er ?" asked old Stowage. 
 
 " Oh, that 's nothing, sir V answered the 
 youngster, smiling. " Our school once stood 
 another school with stones, — and they 're as 
 hard as shot,— and we beat 'em just as Mr. 
 Spicer will do the lugger presently. See, Mr. 
 Stowage, there goes the gun in the launch."" 
 
 " Hand me my glass, boy," said the vete- 
 ran impatiently, as he jumped upon one of 
 the quarter-deck carronades ; and Parker in- 
 stantly obeyed. 
 
 "Short! short!" exclaimed Yorick. " Spi- 
 cer's not yet within range; a few minutes 
 more, and he'll pay 'em back a few of their 
 compliments. I see old Blocks is becoming 
 busy too: he wants to give them a taste of 
 that iron-pot of his, but he's too good a judge 
 to begin too soon. There goes the lugger 
 again !" 
 
 In an instant everything on board the fri- 
 gate was hushed, for the spectacle became of 
 the most animating and exciting nature to 
 those who had no share in the encounter. 
 The shots again fell harmless, and the hum of
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 193 
 
 many voices united in one general cheer came 
 swelling upon the surface of the glassy sea. 
 
 " Mr. Stowage, keep your eye upon the 
 lugger," said the captain. " Spicer is going to 
 attempt it again, and I think he '11 pitch the iron 
 aboard this time. Ay, there he tries his range. 
 
 Hurrah ! well done ! my fine fellow ! By , 
 
 but he 's knocked away the chips, and down 
 comes the lugger's mizen." 
 
 Again the distant hum of voices reached the 
 frigate. Yorick in his ecstasy waved his hat ; 
 and first one, and then another hurrah was 
 heard, till it swelled into a general chorus fore 
 and aft, and the Scratchee''s decks echoed to 
 the thrilling sound of British cheers. 
 
 '"^Sacrt!" exclaimed Belliaud with deep 
 mortification. " Monsieur, your countrymen 
 must win." 
 
 " To be sure they will," answered Yorick, 
 entering most amply into the spirit-stirring 
 scene ; " most undoubtedly they will ! I 
 never thought otherwise. Mind the boats, Mr. 
 Stowage ; the privateer is pulling round to get 
 his broadside to bear ;" and scarcely were the 
 words uttered, before the vessel was enveloped 
 in smoke, and the captain's voice was again 
 heard — " What do you see, Mr. Stowage ?*' 
 
 " Tlie small cutter has been struck, sir, and 
 
 VOL. I. K
 
 194 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 the bow-oars are laid in," answered the master; 
 " but I do not think any one is hurt."" 
 
 " I see, I see," said Yorick, speaking in an 
 under tone to himself ; '* and now the pinnace 
 is closing with them — the oars are tossed — 
 they are alongside ; — there ""s one poor fellow 
 lifted in, wounded — wounded. The boat is 
 abandoned — hurrah ! pinnace gives way 
 again. — What the devil are you about, Spicer .'' 
 — speak, man ! and grape for your life. — Ah, 
 he hears me! Well done, my boy ! that's let 
 daylight into his 'tween decks — and presently 
 Blocks will whisper a word or two." 
 
 A round shot from the launch's eighteen- 
 pounder had crashed into the lugger's quar- 
 ter about two feet above the water-line; and as 
 she heaved in the swell, the liquid element 
 rushed in so as to render it necessary for a 
 couple of men to be slung over to patch up the 
 hole. But the supposed nine-pounders used 
 as stern-chasers were not idle, and the contest 
 grew every moment more and more animated, 
 so as to produce the most lively emotions 
 amongst the spectators : round and grape 
 skimmed along the surface, sometimes strik- 
 ing the summit of the swell, and glancing off 
 again like a bird wetting its wings. The ad- 
 mirable and closely-formed line preserved by
 
 TOrSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 195 
 
 the boats (all except the sinking small cutter 
 that lay alone and deserted) rendered it diffi- 
 cult to hit them, especially as the quick motion 
 of the lugger prevented a steady aim, 
 
 " The pinnace is drawing out, sir," said 
 Stowage, addressing the captain. " Blocks is 
 forud in her bows — she 's clear of the line — 
 and there goes the twelve-pounder : look out 
 for the splinters, for never did gunner throw a 
 better shot." 
 
 " Well done, Blocks !" shouted the captain ; 
 " bravely planted ! grape slap through the 
 bulwarks just above the deck; — admirably 
 timed ! just as she was winding to bring her 
 broadside to bear. What are they about in 
 the launch ? — Play up, Spicer ! — you son of a 
 gun ! — you seem to have forgot your mother- 
 tongue. Watch the effect of the lugger's fire ; 
 — no harm done that I can see. There bel- 
 lows the eighteen ; but the enemy is in the 
 thick of the smoke, and what mischief she gets 
 must be shared out amongst them." 
 
 Sometimes the boats, and at other times the 
 privateer, were totally enveloped in the thick 
 smoke,which, as there was no wind, settled down 
 heavily on the water ; but they soon emerged 
 from the density, as the propelling power was 
 kept in operation, though now the distance had 
 
 K 2
 
 196 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 increased so much from the frigate that they 
 could only be seen through the vapour they 
 left in their track. The boats neared the ene- 
 my fast, and musketry was called into play. — 
 But we will for a short time quit the frigate 
 and join the flotilla. Mr. Spicer, in the launch 
 with twenty men, had the chief command ; 
 Mr. Blocks, with eighteen men, was in the 
 pinnace ; Mr. Macdonald, the master's mate, 
 already mentioned as the caterer of the young 
 gentlemen's mess, had the large cutter with 
 twelve men ; and our hero was in the small 
 cutter with ten men, — thus making a total of 
 four officers and sixty stout seamen and ma- 
 rines, well armed and eager for the aff'ray. 
 Onward they pulled, keeping close together ; 
 and the first shot from the privateer reminded 
 them that they were approaching the debate- 
 able ground, and would soon go to work in 
 earnest. The grape that entered the launch 
 killed one man outright, and disabled another ; 
 but, as we have before stated, their places were 
 instantly supplied by a couple of marines, and 
 the dead and the wounded lay side by side in 
 the bottom of the boat. 
 
 " Give way, my boys in the cutters !" shout- 
 ed Mr. Spicer as he went forward to superin- 
 tend the carronade. " Hurrah ! " was the re-
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 197 
 
 sponse, and the men bent gallantly to their 
 oars. The gunner had frequently looked 
 astern to see how his protege got on ; but he 
 could make out very little, except that the 
 small cutter, being an old and heavy-pulling 
 boat, was at times left considerably in the rear, 
 and delayed the rest, who were compelled to 
 wait for her. Such was the case when a round 
 shot entered her bows at the water-line, and 
 tore out the breadth of two planks, took the 
 bow-man's leg just below the knee, and passed 
 out over the quarter. The gunner became 
 immediately aware of what had happened, hail- 
 ed the launch, and then pulled short round to 
 rescue the poor fellows from the sinking wreck. 
 Ten-thousand was about to spring into the 
 pinnace as soon as she got alongside ; but the 
 gunner waved him back, and uttered, with a 
 frown, "Avast, young gentleman! — there's 
 a wounded man." The youngster felt the re- 
 proof and remained till every one had quitted 
 the cutter, when he also left her to her fate, 
 and the pinnace not only resumed a proper 
 station in the line, but pulled up close to 
 the launch 's quarter, for half the rescued men 
 to board. 
 
 " Well, Ten," said the gunner, addressing 
 his protege, whilst at the same time he was
 
 198 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 folding up his silk neckerchief to apply it by 
 way of tourniquet to the shattered leg of the 
 unfortunate fellow, who had been removed from 
 the small cutter, and now was extended at 
 full length in the stern-sheets of the pinnace, — 
 " Well, Ten, how do you like the whistling of 
 shot — eh ?" A shower of grape at that moment 
 hurtled in the air above them, with that pecu- 
 liar half hiss, half whistle, which may be 
 heard but not described. " Pretty music, arn't 
 it, and somut different to psalm-singing ! — But 
 here, lend us a hand. Ten, to clap this turn- 
 again upon the fag eend of poor Jack's lower 
 stanchion." The youth, with sickly sensation 
 at the sight of the mangled and bleeding limb, 
 complied. " Now, don't be awkward, young- 
 ster, but larn how it's done : — there, gently, 
 so. Ten — gently, so, and mind and don't let 
 him go by the run. — Cheer up, heart ! Jack, 
 you '11 get a cook's warrant and sarve out bur- 
 goo yet. Lord love you ! about twenty inches 
 or two foot of timber '11 set you all square 
 again by-and-by. — Don't look at me, cox- 
 sun, but pay heed to your steering; and 
 hand the young gentleman the spare tiller out 
 of the box : — There, lay hould of it jolly, 
 and bear a hand — it may be your turn next." 
 The marine received the spare tiller from the
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 199 
 
 coxswain and passed it to Ten-thousand ; whilst 
 the gunner took two turns with the rolled-up 
 neckerchief round the stump, and loosely 
 knotted the ends ; — he then placed the spare 
 tiller through the slack bight, and using it 
 by way of heaver, he screwed every part of the 
 bandage tight. During this process, which was 
 executed with the most perfect coolness, as if 
 it was a mere ordinary act of daily occurrence, 
 the gunner continued a running colloquy. — 
 " Lay hould of the other side. Ten, and heave 
 handsomely and steadily, so as to give time for 
 the turns to render." The poor fellow groaned, 
 and the youth trembled, which brought a stern 
 look from his patron. " Handsomely, Ten — 
 handsomely, and don't shake the heaver, for it 
 hurts him poor, fellow ! Have you got a bit of 
 sanctum smearum in the boat, any of you ? for 
 them turns won't render kindly." Some tallow 
 was handed to him from the box, which he 
 applied to the deputy tourniquet as if he had 
 been merely clapping a seizing upon the fag 
 end of a shroud. '* Now heave again. Ten ; 
 and lay quiet, Jack, there's a good sowl ! I'll 
 stop the confusion of blood directly. Now, 
 suppose you had left him in the cutter, Ten ! 
 Never be the first to quit your craft when 
 she 's in danger, — no disparagement to you
 
 200 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 now, my lad, for I dare say you didn't think of 
 it, for it was somut in the latitude of what the 
 larned calls a slapsis lingo.'''' Another groan 
 from the wounded seaman ; and as the arteries 
 and veins became narrowed by compression, 
 the blood spirted out in little gushes as fine as 
 a thread. "Ah, I know you must feel it, Jack, 
 but still we must fish it just to sarve yourself; 
 and I 'm bless'd if I don"'t come and see you at 
 Grinage, when you gets your iron-bound long 
 togs and a three-cornered scraper." — Another 
 flight of both round and grape swept past them ; 
 but the men took but little notice, bending to 
 their oars with the same undaunted, careless- 
 ness as if they had been pulling into Sallyport 
 from Spithead. A report from the launch's 
 eigh teen-pounder, however, operated very dif- 
 ferently ; the moment it was heard, loud 
 cheers ascended, and the boats' crews seem- 
 ed more eager to get into the thick of the 
 action. 
 
 " The shot has fell short about half a cable's 
 length," said the coxswain to the gunner, who 
 never raised his head from his occupation. 
 
 '* Then there's a cartridge expended and 
 eighteen pound of iron thrown away to no 
 purpose," grumbled Blocks. " Give way, my 
 lads ! stick her nose right in the launch's
 
 TOfSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 201 
 
 starn, and let her smell the powder." He 
 then wen^ on in a lower tone — " No, no, Ten, 
 never leave the craft you command whilst 
 there 's a man aboard and the planks will hould 
 together. Log it down in your memory, my 
 boy, that an officer must never have no thought 
 for his own safety till he sees his men out of 
 danger." 
 
 Ten-thousand was abashed ; he felt the blood 
 rush to his cheeks and tinge them with a deep 
 suffusion. " I will remember it, sir," said he, 
 '• and I take great shame to myself for having 
 been so heedless and deficient in my duty just 
 now." 
 
 " All very proper," continued the gunner, 
 applying a piece of tarred parcelling to the 
 mangled flesh of the sufferer, and binding it 
 up with a handkerchief; " but don't heed it 
 just now, and keep close to me in boarding, 
 that you may live and lam. Grasp your 
 cutlash with a taut grip, and keep a free 
 arm : but don't be rash or hasty, cutting away 
 from starboard to port, and from port to star- 
 board, without having any particular object 
 in view ; but keep yourself cool, with a steady 
 eye and a good guard, till you catch an op- 
 portunity to make your blow tell. You must 
 be able to hit pretty smart by this time. Ten : 
 
 k5
 
 202 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 and mind, the head and face are the best points 
 of assault for a cutlash — though a heavy stroke 
 just about the wrist or elbow of the sword- 
 arm, if well laid on, generally disables a fel- 
 low, unless he 's left-handed ; but, at all events, 
 it gives you an advantage." Another shot from 
 the launch stopped his utterance for a moment. 
 
 " Slap into the lugger's counter, Mr. 
 Blocks !"" cried the coxswain. " I ""m bless'd ! 
 but that 's digging for daylight, anyhow !" 
 
 " Mind your helm, Johnson," said the gun- 
 ner; but three hearty cheers resounded, and 
 were responded to by the frigate. As soon as 
 silence was restored, the gunner went on, as 
 he carefully laid the shattered limb on some 
 jackets that were spread beneath, and then 
 propped the poor fellow's head with others, — 
 " There, Jack, I can do no more for you : 
 keep quiet, my lad." 
 
 " Water — a little water, Mr. Blocks," 
 feebly uttered the almost exhausted seaman ; 
 " for the love of God, a little water." 
 
 " Is there any water in the boat.?" inquired 
 the kind-hearted gunner, and was answered 
 in the negative. " There is none, Jack," con- 
 tinued he: " but a few minutes more, and we 
 shall get plenty in the privateer : — mayhap with 
 a dash of what the French call ' O Davy !' in
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. £03 
 
 it. — Now look at that turnagain. Ten — every 
 part does its proper duty, — but what's the use, 
 Ten, of mangling a poor devil, when it 's best, 
 if you can, to be marciful and put him out of 
 his misery at once, especially when your ene- 
 my 's no better than a privateer' s-man ? 'Cause 
 why, my boy ? Now, there 's poor Jack, there, 
 as smart a topman as ever crossed a t'gal'nt 
 yard, and see how he 's hove down on his 
 beam-ends ; but, seeing as he 's in the sarvice 
 of his king and country, instead of being cast 
 adrift to shift for himself, he'll have a pen- 
 sion and a snug berth for life : but your pri- 
 vateer' s-man belongs to nobody, and if he loses 
 a limb or gets his dead-lights closed in, there 
 he is, kicked about like a ten-weeks' chaw, 
 without pension, most likely without friends. 
 So, d' ye mind. Ten, when you uses your pis- 
 tols, don't get flusterated and flabbergasted, 
 but take a steady aim at the head or the heart, 
 and do the job at once." Again the shot flew 
 about them in every direction, striking and 
 splintering the blades of the oars, but without 
 doing any further injury. " There comes the 
 grape again !" continued the gunner : " them 
 lubbers have got some pretty pieces in that 
 craft, but. Lord love you ! they don't know 
 how to use 'em. Now, if a hindividual I could
 
 204 TOFSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 name was ounly at the breech of them there 
 guns — and they 're brass by the ring of 'em — 
 there 's no snakes in Virginny, but somebody 
 wouldn't have nothing to boast of. — Give way, 
 men ! Mr. Spicer is giving 'era the marbles ; 
 let me see what our ould pitch-kettle is made 
 of." 
 
 Blocks rose from his seat — coolly scanned the 
 aspect of affairs — then leisurely stepping from 
 thwart to thwart, he got forward to the twelve- 
 pounder, ran his eye along the sight, and seated 
 himself in the bows. The advice given to Ten- 
 thousand by his patron, now that he was sitting 
 alone with no one to speak to, came most pain- 
 fully aci'oss his ruminations. He was about 
 to enter — nay, had actually entered upon 
 deadly warfare, and his hand was soon to be 
 raised in personal encounter against the life 
 of a fellow-creature — that very life that had 
 emanated from the Deity ; and it was equally 
 probable, that before another hour had elapsed, 
 he might himself be hurried into the presence 
 of his Makei'. It was true, he had no parental 
 home to which his thoughts could revert — he 
 had no relatives either to mourn his death, or 
 who would suffer by his loss : but then there was 
 the pleasant parsonage, the affectionate clergv- 
 man and his wife — and there was dear little Eu- 
 
 1
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 205 
 
 genia ! — Was there no one else ? Ten-tliousand 
 cast his eyes forward, and met the earnest but 
 placid gaze of his generous benefactor, and 
 conscience smote him that he had not suffi- 
 ciently taken the noble-minded man into his 
 grateful consideration. 
 
 " Starboard a little !" shouted the gunner ; 
 " draw her out just clear of the launch, John- 
 son, so that I may try our range ; — though, if 
 my eye doesn't very much deceive me, I 
 shall stick some of their spoons in the wall. 
 Starboard a little, now ; — there, steady, steady 
 — port a bit, with a small helm." He held the 
 match in his hand, watched the motion of the 
 boat, and when the gun attained its proper 
 bearings, he was about to fire, but observed the 
 lugger yawing in her course for the purpose 
 of opening her broadside. When the privateer's 
 quarter became exposed, he let fly, and the effect 
 upon the enemy proved how destructive had 
 been the aim : they could both hear and see the 
 crashing bulwarks, whilst piercing shrieks and 
 yells told a tale of mangled limbs, death, and car- 
 nage, 'i'he pinnace hastily pulled into the line 
 again, but not before the lugger's six-pounders 
 came rattling amongst them ; and one of the 
 marines sitting by the side of our hero was 
 struck in the head, carrying away the whole
 
 206 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 of the upper part of his skull, and leaving 
 a shattered countenance that bore no resem- 
 blance to humanity. The man sat a moment 
 supported by the convulsive clutch with which 
 he held his musket upright between his knees ; 
 the next instant he would have fallen pro- 
 strate upon the unfortunate topman in the stern- 
 sheets — but the youngster caught hold of 
 one arm, and a comrade grasped the other, 
 and eased the body gently down, and it was 
 dragged in under the thwarts. 
 
 " You'll want the jolly's magazine and 
 baganet, Mr. Blocks,"" said the coxswain ; " so 
 you 'd better haul him out again and secure it. 
 We shall get to small arms, I take it, presently, 
 and we shall need to sarve out plums for the 
 duff." 
 
 The corporal crept down and released the 
 cartouch-box and bayonet, which he handed 
 aft, and then streaked out the limbs of the 
 dead. The launch again fired, and down came 
 the privateer's main-lug by the run, falling 
 upon the men and preventing them from plying 
 the sweeps. Up rose a cheer from the boats, and 
 away they stretched out again like tantalized 
 lions, eager to rush upon the foe. The lugger 
 ceased sweeping, but left the sweeps out, and 
 lashed them so as to prevent the boats getting
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 207 
 
 alongside. All hands were actively engaged in 
 preparing for defence at close quarters ; the 
 boarding-nettings were quickly triced up, and 
 the nine-pounders and musketry made sad 
 havoc amongst the British. But the lugger 
 was now no longer under control, and the 
 carronades in the two boats were loaded and 
 fired with the most efficient precision. 
 
 " Catch hould of the jolly's musket. Ten," 
 shouted the gunner to the astonished lad, who, 
 having nothing to do, was contemplating the 
 carnage with shuddering horror. " Aim steady, 
 my boy, and don't throw a charge away." 
 
 The youngster handled the weapon, and 
 seeing one of the lugger's people busy in the 
 main rigging seizing up the upper chain of 
 the netting, he pointed the musket at him 
 with a nervous quickness, pulled the trigger, 
 and closed his eyes as he felt the recoil. 
 
 " I 'm bless'd but you 're a good marksman, 
 Mr. Blocks !" said the coxswain. " You 
 knock'd that gull off his perch in prime style, 
 howsomever." 
 
 " Pretty fair for a beginning, young gentle- 
 man !" shouted the gunner. " You won't have 
 him to contend against when you get aboard. 
 Load, my boy, and try again." 
 
 A sickly tremor came over the youth at these
 
 208 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 intimations of his having destroyed a human 
 being ; but it quickly passed away : the deed 
 of blood had been perpetrated, the Rubi- 
 con was passed, and something like ferocity 
 curdled up all the kindlier emotions of the 
 heart. He plied his musket at every oppor- 
 tunity, and scarcely ever missed. 
 
 They were now rapidly cleaving the water 
 and nearing the lugger, when Mr. Spicer hail- 
 ed the pinnace. " Mr. Blocks," said he, " take 
 the cutter with you, and board, where you can, 
 abaft. I shall pull under the bows, and meet 
 you on the deck. The cutlass and pistol 
 must decide it ; and, hurrah, my lads ! let Cap- 
 tain Yorick see what you can do. Give them 
 another taste of the carronade. Blocks, and 
 load with grape and canister." 
 
 " Ay, ay, sir," responded the gunner, and 
 then repeated the orders to Macdonald astern. 
 The master's-mate had sat perfectly at his ease 
 from the moment they quitted the frigate ; 
 indeed, part of the time he had indulged him- 
 self with a comfortable snooze, unawakened by 
 the firing, and unmindful of the shot. His 
 boat had escaped all casualties, and when he 
 shook off his lethargy, he rose up like a giant 
 refreshed by sleep. Such encounters were no 
 novelty to him — he looked upon them as a
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 209 
 
 portion of the routine of duty, the same as 
 mixing tlie grog or stowing the hold ; there 
 was a regular way of doing it, and he was 
 so rigid a disciplinarian that he would have 
 shoved his head to the muzzle of a two-and- 
 thirty pounder whilst the match was at the 
 priming, provided he had a written order in 
 his pocket. But poor Macdonald had a fail- 
 ing which opposed a barrier to all his hopes of 
 promotion. He was an excellent seaman, a 
 clever officer, and recklessly brave, when sober ; 
 but place the creature in his way, and Mac 
 would get drunk. Entreaties, persuasions, 
 threats, remonstrances were of no avail, and 
 but for his abominable propensity to liquor he 
 might have been high upon the list of lieu- 
 tenants, with every prospect of rising through 
 his own merit to the very top of the tree ; but 
 Mac would get drunk, and therefore Mac at 
 the age of thirty-four was still " a young gen- 
 tleman." — On receiving his orders, the master's- 
 mate took a survey of the lugger; told the 
 coxswain, " as soon as the boats separated, 
 to place the cutter under the starboard side of 
 the lugger's stern, where the mizen-gear was 
 hanging over ;" called to the men " to be ready 
 to follow him ;" sat himself down again, laid 
 his legs up upon the seat, folded his arms.
 
 210 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 and looked on apparently with as much uncon- 
 cern — perhaps with more unconcern — than he 
 would have done if entering a church. 
 
 The boats were now close to the enemy, and 
 the musket-balls flew like hail-stones, wounding 
 and slaying; the carronades were discharged 
 for the last time, and their efiect was most 
 deadly. Each boat then took its station ; the 
 nettings were cut through or surmounted, and 
 the battle commenced on the enemy's deck. 
 The pinnace ran under the larboard-counter : 
 Blocks made a spring at the taffrail as the 
 vessel set abaft, but was instantly knocked 
 back again ; the second spring he was more 
 successful, and brandishing his cutlass, he was 
 soon in the heat of fight. Ten- thousand could not 
 perform the same manoeuvre ; but he scrambled 
 on board by aid of a rope and Johnson the 
 coxswain, and rushing towards his patron, he 
 found him engaged with three or four French- 
 men, one of whom had poised his half-pike, 
 and would have passed it through the gunner's 
 body, but the boy dashed the muzzle of his 
 pistol in the Frenchman's face, sprung the 
 trigger, and the brains of his opponent were 
 scattered on the deck. 
 
 " Well behaved, Ten, my boy !" shouted 
 Blocks ; " you Ve a good lad and follows
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 2il 
 
 adwice : remember the head or the heart." 
 The latter word was uttered with considerable 
 energy, for at the same moment the gunner's 
 bayonet was thrust with a giant"'s strength 
 through the heart of an unfortunate whose 
 pistol had missed fire. The men were soon 
 assembled abaft, and a shout forward pro- 
 claimed that Mr. Spicer and his party had 
 reached the deck. But they found no enemy to 
 contest the possession ; every Frenchman had 
 jumped below, and the lugger was in the hands 
 of the British tars. 
 
 Every part fore and aft, now that the con- 
 flict had ceased, presented to the eyes of the 
 boarders a most horrible spectacle, the dead 
 and dying lying stretched out like the carnage 
 of a slaughter-house. But scarcely had the 
 blood which flowed in deadly hostility rallied 
 back to the heart and rendered it once more 
 human — scarcely had the English time to 
 contemplate the havoc that had been made, 
 when sheets of flame burst out in amidships 
 round the mainmast, and the mainlug was 
 discovered to be on fire in several places. 
 
 " Was it not for losing so fine a craft," said 
 the first-lieutenant, " 1 would shove off with 
 the boats, and leave these scoundrels to work 
 for their lives — sink or swim. But we must
 
 212 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 carry her into Plymouth ; so out knives, men, 
 and cut away." 
 
 " Avast, avast, if you please, Mr. Spicer," 
 exclaimed Blocks. " Let 's launch yard and 
 all overboard, holus bolus : then we shall have 
 a clear deck." 
 
 The suggestion was attended to ; but the 
 flames were so fierce and raged so violently that 
 it was impossible either to cut away the sail or 
 move the yard, and the deck had become ignit- 
 ed so as to threaten destruction to the pri- 
 vateer, whose men were coming up the fore- 
 scuttle, and refused to render any assistance 
 in stopping the ravages of the devastating 
 element. 
 
 " Hand us half a dozen cartridges out of 
 the pinnace," shouted the gunner ; and Mac- 
 donald in a few minutes passed a couple of 
 boxes to him. " Now then, if you please, Mr. 
 Spicer, to call all hands away from the fire. 
 We '11 make devil fight devil." 
 
 " What are you going to do, Blocks ?'" 
 inquired the first-lieutenant. " Keep that 
 powder back." 
 
 " Why, if you please to call the people off, 
 sir," answered the gunner, holding the car- 
 tridge-boxes wrapped up in seamen's jackets, 
 " and let 'em get anything and everything
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 213 
 
 that'll hould a cupful of water, I'll be bound 
 to dowse the fire in no time. But they must 
 bear a hand about it, sir." 
 
 Higher and higher rose the flames, snapping 
 and cracking, and curling round the mast and 
 shrouds like blazing serpents, in defiance of 
 the exertions of the English seamen to suppress 
 them. The lieutenant issued the necessary 
 orders, and Blocks giving a couple of car- 
 tridges to Mr. Spicer, keeping two himself, 
 and placing other two in the hands of Mac- 
 donald, pointed out the spots where it would 
 be necessary to pitch them. " Look out now," 
 said the gunner : " we must heave together ; 
 and lay down on your faces, men, but be ready 
 to throw water or stamp out the burning 
 pieces. — Now then, Muster Spicer, heave !" 
 
 The cartridges were thrown with accurate 
 precision, the explosions were simultaneous : 
 the burning sail was blown to atoms, and down 
 came the mainmast over the starboard-side, 
 whilst the fiery fragments were scattered or 
 thrown into the air, so that at a distance it 
 might be supposed (and this was actually the 
 case on board the frigate) that the kigger had 
 blown up. The moment after the explosion, 
 the men sprang up ; water was plentifully sup- 
 plied in buckets, hats, and everything that
 
 214 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 could be rendered available, and as the whole 
 worked with a will, in the course of a few 
 minutes all apprehensions of danger had sub- 
 sided. Two half-consumed bodies were found 
 near the stump of the mainmast. 
 
 The ship was now six or seven miles distant, 
 but with a light air of wind that slipped her 
 along about two knots an hour. Mr. Spicer 
 therefore placed the severely wounded of both 
 nations in the launch, and despatched Mr. 
 Macdonald with her to the frigate. The 
 casualties had been great : of the British, six 
 were killed, and fourteen wounded ; the pri- 
 vateer had seventeen killed, and forty-seven 
 wounded. As soon as this was performed, the 
 wreck of the mainmast was cleared away, sheers 
 were promptly rigged, the stump was got out, 
 and the upper part of the mast not being 
 much shattered, one of the carpenter's crew 
 quickly shaped a heel, and in two hours it was 
 again ataunto, the rigging shortened and set 
 up, and a small fore-lug made all ready for 
 setting. 
 
 The captain of the privateer was a bold, 
 resolute fellow, though a little dapper man 
 with more of the manners of a petit-mattre 
 than the characteristic demeanour of a seaman. 
 He had presented his gold-hilted sword to Mr.
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 215 
 
 Spicer with a thorough dancing-master's bow, 
 and at the same time declared his utter igno- 
 rance as to the firing of the mainsail, which he 
 strongly condemned as having been perpetrated 
 without his commands or sanction. He com- 
 plimented the British officers on their achieve- 
 ment, shed tears at the loss he had sustained, 
 but laughed most heartily at the means em- 
 ployed to bloic out the fire, and directed the 
 attention of his captors to some choice claret 
 in one of the lockers. His brass nines were 
 especial favourites with him ; he embraced 
 them in his ai-ms, and even went so far as to 
 kiss them — then again fell to weeping at the 
 thoughts of parting with such treasures; — in 
 fact, such a strange compound of bravery and 
 balderdash, of true courage and fopper}', was 
 scarcely ever met with, and never but in a 
 Frenchman. His dress was a mixture of finery 
 and filth : he wore wooden shoes, with re- 
 markably fine but soiled silk stockings ; coarse 
 grey cloth knee-breeches, with richly-chased 
 gold buckles ; a dirty figured satin waistcoat, 
 and an enormous frill to his shirt ; a coat of 
 taffeta cut court-fashion, with large buttons on 
 the sleeves and laps ; and a red woollen cap 
 upon his head. Such was the revolutionist — 
 adhering with all his soul to the frippery of
 
 216 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 fashion, yet, for the sake of his body, adopting 
 some of the republican manners. He could not 
 speak one word of English, and all his fine 
 harangues would have been lost, (for Mr. 
 Spicer and Blocks were equally innocent of 
 French,) had it not been for Ten-thousand, 
 who translated for him. The crew were pretty 
 much of the same character as those in the 
 " Commerce de L'Orient ;" most of them des- 
 perate fellows, with the galling marks of the 
 gyves still upon them. 
 
 The lugger at length caught the breeze, and 
 got her head round towards the captured 
 vessel, which, the privateer's men informed him, 
 was an English West Indiaman from Jamaica. 
 The frigate, observing that her intentions had 
 been anticipated, stood also for the prize, which 
 was making off but very slowly ; and just as a 
 lovely evening slumbered into night, the pin- 
 nace had captured the Kingston of four hundred 
 tons, laden with sugar, molasses, and rum. 
 
 The second and third lieutenants were al- 
 ready away in prizes ; Mullion and Ancell 
 also were gone in chasse-marees, and, unfor- 
 tunately, Macdonald could not be trusted ; 
 Acheson was in the sick-list ; and there was 
 no alternative but to send the master and one 
 of the youngsters in the lugger, whilst the
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 217 
 
 gunner and his protege took charge of the 
 West-Indiaman. But Captain Yorick was 
 now, on account of the number of his prisoners 
 and the shortness of his own hands, compelled 
 to run for Plymouth also, taking his prizes 
 in company. At the entrance to the Channel 
 they encountered a thick fog with light winds, 
 so that the vessels entirely lost sight of each 
 other ; and during the same night a heavy 
 squall was succeeded by a gale of wind, and 
 it required all the laborious exertions of the 
 people in the Kingston to get the sail in ; nor 
 was it effected till the fore-topsail was blown 
 completely away, and the mizen-topsail split to 
 ribbons. 
 
 This was the first gale young Blocks had 
 been in, and, to do him justice, he behaved ex- 
 tremely well, working with and encouraging 
 the men : but it was a mere summer spurt — 
 a few hours'' hard puff and over ; for by the 
 time they had got everything snug, the wind 
 lulled, the sea went down, and they were com- 
 pelled to remain on deck and make sail again. 
 A beautiful daylight grew out of the stormy 
 night, and at its first opening Ten-thousand 
 enjoyed a glorious spectacle. The sky near 
 the verge of the horizon resembled in colour 
 what is known amongst anchor-smiths as a 
 
 VOL. I. L
 
 218 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 white-heat, and, standing out in strong relief, 
 about five miles distant from the West-India- 
 man, appeared seventeen sail of the line, nine 
 frigates, two sloops, two cutters, and a lugger, 
 in all the pride and pomp of war; whilst 
 another frigate and a lugger were approaching 
 to speak them ; — the exact line in which they 
 were sailing and their distance from each other 
 was so well preserved, that it drew forth a burst 
 of enthusiastic admiration from young Blocks, 
 which was communicated to his patron, whose 
 heart glowed in his breast " to see," as he 
 said, " the younker take to the sarvice so 
 kindly." 
 
 The ship and the lugger distinct from the 
 fleet were soon made out to be the Scratchee 
 and her prize, and Blocks by aid of his 
 glass ascertained that one of the three-deckers 
 carried white at the main, two of them red 
 at the fore, and a two-decker blue at the 
 mizen ; in fact, it was Earl Howe's fleet, his 
 lordship having under him Vice-admirals Sir 
 Alexander Hood and Thomas Graves, and 
 Rear-admiral John Macbride, and they were 
 going to look for the French fleet from which 
 Captain Yorick had so recently escaped. 
 
 The Scratchee spoke the admiral, and a
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 219 
 
 fine breeze continuing, the frigate and her 
 two prizes were on the following morning safe 
 anchored at Plymouth, where also the Com- 
 merce de L'Orient and the chasse-raarees had 
 previously arrived. 
 
 l2
 
 220 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 " I am a gay and sprightly lad, 
 But just come home from sea, sir." 
 
 Sea Song. 
 
 Whatever passed between Acheson and 
 Dubois subsequent to the suspicions that had 
 been excited, the former faithfully persevered 
 in keeping the secret of the latter, though 
 apparently all communication had ceased be- 
 tween them; and as Acheson had pretty well 
 recovered and the frigate was short of officers, 
 he was pronounced by the surgeon able to do 
 day-duty. Imperious and overbearing, he was 
 but little esteemed either by officers or men, 
 except that a similarity of feeling had induced 
 the second-lieutenant, Mr. Watts, to take 
 more notice of him than any one else. It is 
 a misfortune peculiar to some minds, that con- 
 viction is closed against everything but a sense 
 of their own individuality — or, in other words, 
 they fancy that all they do or say is right, and 
 the rest of the world lies grovelling in error ;
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 221 
 
 as we remember hearing Dr. Spurzheim once 
 say of a gentleman who would never yield to 
 any argument, however conclusive, " he ash de 
 bomp of shelf-consheit vera large." Such was 
 the case with Acheson ; and though a fear of 
 corporeal suffering might influence him so as 
 to prevent his undertaking what he had set 
 his mind upon performing, yet nothing could 
 operate to persuade him that wrong was wrong 
 if he desired to perpetrate it. He had, almost 
 from the first hour of his embarkation, im- 
 bibed a strong prejudice against our hero, and 
 without endeavouring to investigate its, origin — 
 it was sufficient for him that it was so, and 
 therefore he cherished the dislike with as much 
 bitterness as he could have done, had Ten- 
 thousand been his most inveterate foe. This 
 was greatly increased by the circumstances that 
 subsequently transpired, and instead of view- 
 ing his disgrace with the captain and the pain 
 he had suffered by his fall as the result of 
 his own misconduct, he attributed the whole 
 solely to young Blocks, whom he now hated 
 with the most cordial hatred. 
 
 A great number of the prisoners were re- 
 moved on the day of the Scratchee's arrival ; 
 but several (amongst whom was Dubois) Avere 
 unavoidably detained till the ensuing day.
 
 222 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 Captain Yorick had closely questioned sevei'al 
 of the captives relative to Dubois ; but though 
 many of them knew him as un mauvais sujet, 
 jione could precisely fix the place of his birth ; 
 though several believed that he was a native 
 of Bordeaux, where his relatives still resided, 
 and were in respectable and affluent circum- 
 stances, but they had cast off the prisoner for 
 his mal-practices. The conflicting nature of 
 the accounts he received, though they did not 
 alter the opinion of the captain, yet deterred 
 him from making an open accusation; but 
 he determined that the suspected individual 
 should be sent on board the guard-ship, where 
 it was probable he might be recognised. But 
 the next morning, on mustering the prisoners, 
 Dubois did not make his appearance, and 
 though every part of the ship was thoroughly 
 searched — every nook and corner carefully ex- 
 amined, yet he v/as nowhere to be found, and 
 what had become of him was a mystery that 
 no one could or would solve. The different 
 marines who had been posted during the night 
 were separately questioned and put under con- 
 finement with menaces of punishment, but no 
 light whatever was thrown upon the subject. 
 The officers who had kept the watches, as well 
 as the quartermasters, declared their utter
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. fi23 
 
 ignorance of the manner in which he could 
 have escaped ; and Mr. Acheson, who had 
 been on deck during the greater part of the 
 day till dark hour, strongly protested that he 
 had not seen him since the first detachment 
 of prisoners had left the frigate. There cer- 
 tainly was a chance that he had disembarked 
 with the others ; but this was speedily decided, 
 for several had spoken to him at some hours 
 subsequent, on the main-deck, forecastle, and 
 even the quarter-deck. 
 
 Captain Yorick was excessively mortified ; 
 but he was too upright a man to punish where 
 no proof of guilty connivance could be ob- 
 tained, and other and more important duties 
 occupying his attention, the affair was passed 
 over; and he was the more readily induced 
 to this by hearing that a dead body had 
 been picked up between Drake's Island and 
 the main, the description of which corre- 
 sponded with the dress and person of Dubois ; 
 so that it was probable the prisoner had slipped 
 overboard during darkness for the purpose of 
 attempting his escape, and had been drowned 
 in his attempt to reach the shore: in other 
 words, as Yorick expressed it, " he had saved 
 the expending of a piece of new rope." All 
 doubts as to his being a traitor were at an end.
 
 224 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 Mr. Acheson solicited leave of absence for 
 home to recruit his health, which was promptly 
 granted, with an intimation from the captain 
 that he need be in no hurry to join again, and 
 perhaps a voyage to some milder climate would 
 be most conducive to his recovery. The 
 young man took the hint, applied for and ob- 
 tained his discharge into the guard-ship at 
 Spithead ; and when his traps were lowered 
 into the boat which was to convey him to a 
 gun-brig whose commander had given him a 
 passage round to Portsmouth, no one regretted 
 his departure, and little Parker danced about 
 half mad with joy. 
 
 Ten-thousand also obtained leave ; but it was 
 only for a few hours. He had continued in 
 charge of the prize, and his general good con- 
 duct had gained him the encouragement of his 
 commander's approbation — and none knew bet- 
 ter the how and the when to address the best 
 feelings of the human heart than Yorick ; he 
 seemed to enter into every one's peculiarities — 
 was rigid and stern, and sometimes punished 
 to excess where he deemed it requisite to make 
 an example (for that was a main point with 
 him) ; but he never neglected merit, however 
 humble the individual who possessed it, and 
 he never abandoned one whom he had taken
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 225 
 
 by the hand as long as his conduct was deserv- 
 ing of patronage. At this time he was a young 
 man not six-and-twenty years of age, devotedly 
 attached to his profession, full of energy and 
 resolution, but in most instances tempered with 
 a happy discretion. As he was the experienced 
 practical seaman afloat, so also he entered with 
 a reckless spirit into all the peculiar charac- 
 teristics of men-of-war's men ashore. At the 
 theatre, the midnight spree, or the practical 
 joke, none could equal him ; and as he never 
 left his companions in the lurch, he was be- 
 loved and trusted by them all. Such was the 
 individual who had promised Ten-thousand 
 that " if he continued as he had begun, he 
 shouldn't want a kick in the stern to lift him 
 up the rattlins of promotion." 
 
 " Well now, my lad," — said the gunner to 
 his protege, " you Ve bound ashore on liberty, 
 here''s a ten-pounder," (giving him a note to 
 that amount,) " on one Abraham Newlander. — 
 Don't make ducks and drakes of it. Ten, nor 
 yet be niggardly. Buy some present for the 
 parson, — not a hand-bible^ my boy,"" added he 
 laughingly, " but somut as you think will 
 please his natur, as a token of respect. Never 
 overhaul long yarns about gratitude for past 
 favours — them are mere words, but show it in 
 
 l5
 
 226 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 your actions, Ten, — show it in your actions^ 
 — Then there "s his wife, — the women loves a 
 bit of a kick-shaw ! — not forgetting young miss. 
 Ah ! you sly rogue, conscience has hoisted her 
 colours on your cheeks ; — but no matter — she 's 
 a kind-hearted wench, though she is aDutchman, 
 — I mean woman — that is, girl. — Well, Ten, 
 ould Jigamaree, the button-hole darner, will rig 
 you out, and your uniform will be ready by 
 this time. — But, I say my boy, keep clear of 
 pirates, and look out for squalls, 'specially 
 'mong the blow 'uns. Give 'em a wide berth, 
 Ten, and don't be caught by their flying gear 
 aloft, and the galimancoes below : — they carry 
 a taut press going before it, Ten ; but. Lord 
 love your heart ounly just clap 'em on a wind, 
 and they'll go to looard like a bag of sand. — 
 Have a bright eye about you, my boy ; and if 
 any of your 'long-shore folk gets to pitching 
 their palaver about ' sir' and ' yer honour,' 
 mark my word but they 're sharks, with every 
 row o' teeth ready to make a grab at you : — 
 there's keen uns cruising about the latitudes 
 of them there streets, looking out for a bite — 
 male and female, cocks and hens, my boy. — 
 Just call on Muster Brief, and give the ould 
 gemman a hail ; — he '11 be pleased to hear of 
 your good luck — I mean about the prizes, for
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 227 
 
 there'll be two or three hundred — money I 
 mean, for you to receive. Make my salaam to 
 him, and say Muster Blocks, the gunner of 
 his Majesty's ship Scratchee, will haul along- 
 side of his proclamation-box — though I thinks 
 they call it secketary — as soon as possible. 
 Tell the parson I sha"'n't be able to see him 
 this here cruise, unless he '11 bring the lady out 
 — and I ''11 get Mr. Spicer to let me have the 
 jolly-boat ; — I 'm saying, unless he comes with 
 his lady to visit the frigate. Do all my best 
 manners to him, Ten, and give the little 
 Dutchman a kiss for me. Ah, you sly rogue ! 
 you grin at that, do you ! Well, well — there, 
 make sail and be a good lad : and 1 say, Ten, 
 don't forget any o" your ould friends, though 
 mayhap they may shake a cloth in the wind ; 
 — a trifle well bestowed may be a blessing to 
 many a child of sorrow. — There, be off, and 
 don't come aboard again with a single copper 
 left." The boy held out his hand. " Oh, ay, 
 to be sure, give us your fin, my fine fellow." 
 And as young Ten-thousand hurried away to 
 the boat, his benefactor added, " Lord love the 
 youth ! he's just arter my own heart: I hope I 
 shall live to see him posted yet." 
 
 The first board young Blocks made on land- 
 ing carried him to the tailor's shop ; and he
 
 228 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 was speedily equipped in a suit of full uni- 
 form, cocked hat, and dirk, and everything 
 complete ; and perhaps there was not a mid- 
 shipman in the service who made a more 
 handsome appearance. His countenance, brown- 
 ed by the sun and the sea-air, presented the 
 very picture of good health and good humour ; 
 and being tall and stout for his age, he might 
 have readily been taken for two years older 
 than he really was. 
 
 His next place of call was the " Roaring 
 Boreas;" and there he found the veteran Joe 
 Breeze — his long togs with enormously large 
 brass buttons, silver buckles in his shoes, and 
 his chain and call round his neck — his milk- 
 white shirt open in front, and a black necker- 
 chief beneath the collar, loosely knotted before. 
 There he was, in all the pride of landlordism, 
 seated snugly in an arm-chair, in his comfort- 
 able bar (which he had made as much like a 
 ship'^s cabin as possible), with a glass of grog 
 before him, and his busy bustling wife attend- 
 ing to the customers, and pleased to see her 
 husband happy. 
 
 " What cheer — what cheer, my hearty ? " 
 exclaimed Joe, rising from his seat and taking 
 our hero by the hand with a hearty shake. " I 
 knew you directly, though you have bent a 
 new suit of sails. Ah, now this is all ship-
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 229 
 
 shape. I knew you 'd have the ' weekly ac- 
 count"' afore long; and a tight craft you look, 
 young gentleman."" 
 
 " Well, I declare ! how he 's grown !" said 
 Mrs. Breeze, smoothing down the youth's hair 
 as she had been accustomed to do when he 
 was a child. " But there's the same face, 
 howsomever ; and I never yet seed a hand- 
 somer."'"' 
 
 " — Except mine, ould gal," chimed in her 
 lord and master. " And I 'm thinking there 's 
 the same heart too, as well as the same phisog ; 
 — arn't it, Ten ?" 
 
 " I hope so, sir," answered the youth, who 
 remembered with gratitude the numerous kind 
 offices he had received from the worthy couple. 
 *' I should indeed be lost to feeling, could I 
 forget the many and great kindnesses I have 
 received at your hands." 
 
 " Now, avast there, my boy !" uttered Joe: 
 " though it"'s all right and proper to remem- 
 ber ould friends, you shouldn't be overhauling 
 the account afore their faces. Come, ould gal, 
 arn't you got sumut nice for him, as you used 
 to have ? — And how "'s my worthy messmate 
 Muster Blocks?" 
 
 " I left him quite well about an hour since,"" 
 replied Ten-thousand ; " and he purposes pay- 
 ing you a visit before we sail again."
 
 230 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 " Shall be happy to have him alongside," 
 responded Joe: " he's heart of oak every inch 
 of him. Ah ! well do I remember his first 
 bringing you ashore in his arms to make a 
 Christian of you, and the jovial spree we had 
 that night ! There arn't been many jollifica- 
 tions at a christening as ud beat your'n, young 
 gentleman, seeing as I held the honourable 
 post of president, and Harry Finn — ould Flip- 
 per, as they used to call him — was wice. Poor 
 Harry ! he lost the number of his mess when the 
 ould Alfred behaved so well under Rodney, in 
 the engagement with Count de Grasse, the day 
 arter Captain Baynes was killed : and there 
 warn't many more noble fellows than Harry 
 Finn ; — he was one o' your sidesmen — god- 
 fathers I think they call 'em, — when the parson 
 named you. And I suppose you 're going to 
 pay his reverence a visit, — eh ?" 
 
 " That is my intention, sir," answered our 
 hero ; " and as the walk is rather long, I hope 
 you will not consider me disrespectful if I set 
 out immediately." 
 
 " Shall, though," said Joe with a twist of his 
 head. " What ! come aboard the Roaring 
 Boreas and not take so much as a pinch of 
 salt with us.? Come, come. Muster Ten, that 
 ull never do ! There's the ould gal as busy as
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 231 
 
 a cockroach in a iTiarine"'s kit ; she 's getting 
 you a sonuit nice, my boy, to cherish the 
 cockles of your heart, and it won""! do to fall 
 athaut her hawse. And I 'ni thinking, Ten," 
 added Joe, as he went across the bar, and open- 
 ing a tin case, took something out, *' I 'm think- 
 ing you '11 have a bit of a cruise ashore, now 
 you 're an officer : and, for the sake o' the cloth, 
 Ten, don't stand for a trifle of money to show 'em 
 you 've got them as ull keep your head above 
 water, and rig you out as fine as a fiddle. I 
 don't misdoubt but my ould messmate has 
 done everything as is handsome ; but there 
 may be, mayhaps, a few odd kickshaws as you 'd 
 like to have, so here 's a couple o' guineas for 
 you. Don't say a word afore the ould gal, for 
 the more she scrapes together the less she likes 
 to part with it; but expend it just as you 
 please, though never forget the onfortunate in 
 distress." 
 
 The "ould gal," as Joe called her, very 
 soon, with the assistance of two pretty-looking 
 handmaidens, had placed some delicacies before 
 our hero, who, though impatient to be gone, 
 laid in a good foundation for his journey. He 
 then bade them farewell, and hurried to a 
 jeweller's shop, where he purchased a pair of 
 silver-mounted spectacles for Mr. Hector —
 
 2B2 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 (whether they would suit his eyes or not never 
 entered into Ten's calculations) ; a tortoiseshell 
 case with two handsome cut-glass scent-bottles 
 for Mrs. Hector ; a brooch for Miss Caroline, 
 the youngest of Mr. Wellmore's daughters at 
 the Hall ; and a neat gold ring set with pearls, 
 enclosed in a red morocco box, for Eugenia ; 
 — for all which, according to the immemorial 
 practice on jolly reefers, he paid about thirty 
 per cent, above the usual sale price. He next 
 repaired to a haberdasher's, where numerous 
 little packages of laces, ribands, and other 
 articles were soon made up, intended as pre- 
 sents for old acquaintances in the village ; so 
 that his ten-pound note was greatly shrunk by 
 the time he was ready to start. 
 
 It was a lovely morning towards the close of 
 summer ; the brefe^e tempered the solar heat, 
 the atmosphere was unclouded, and no painful 
 sensation wounded the happy mind of the 
 young midshipman as he left the busy and 
 fetid mart of rum, grog, and pigtail-tobacco 
 far behind him, and once more luxuriated 
 amongst the green fields, and the ripened grain 
 bending down to entice the sickle of the reaper. 
 Joyous were his feelings as he listened to the 
 blithe lark carolling its sweetest lay between 
 heaven and earth, reminding the hearer of
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 233 
 
 both, or heard the full but plaintive notes of 
 the blackbird perched amongst the foliage of 
 the trees. They seemed to be pouring forth a 
 welcome to the wanderer, and gaily he pur- 
 sued his way, his very soul exulting with 
 delight, and his heart communing with the 
 still small voice of Nature issuing from her 
 works. There was pride too, an honest pride, 
 swelling in his breast, as his eyes glanced over 
 his handsome uniform, the dirk suspended 
 by his side, and a smart cocked-hat, which he 
 frequently unshipped for the purpose of clean- 
 ing it of dust. He had no glass to view his 
 figure ; but as " coming events cast their sha- 
 dows before," so did his precede him, and serve 
 as a guide to direct him in the best mode of ad- 
 justing his scraper. Yes, he was proud of being 
 in the service of his country : but we must 
 not omit the principal actuating sentiment 
 which prevailed ; and that was, grateful affec- 
 tion for those who had been to him like parents 
 — the friends of his childhood, the individuals 
 he had so much cause to respect and love. 
 There was Eugenia too — the pretty Eugenia — 
 his dear little friend and playmate, his in- 
 structor in Dutch, his pupil in English, and 
 the sweet companion of many a happy hour. 
 He should soon meet them — soon enjoy their
 
 23i> TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 society,, and his spirit glowed when he con- 
 templated the favourable circumstances under 
 which the meeting would take place. He was 
 no longer a boy — an irresponsible boy, but an 
 officer in the Royal Navy ; had been in battle, 
 and gained the esteem of his brave but eccen- 
 tric commander. 
 
 Onward he trudged, his pockets stowed to 
 repletion, and his hands nearly full, till the 
 spire of the village-steeple greeted his sight as 
 it reared its venerable head above the trees. 
 Oh, what joyous associations revelled in his 
 mind as he quickened his pace ! and the last 
 half-mile seemed to lengthen itself to double 
 the distance. At last he entered the village : 
 but he was not immediatel}' recognised, on 
 account of the alteration in his dress; but 
 stopping at one of the cottages to dispense his 
 gifts, the children soon spread the intelligence, 
 and hearty were the congratulations he received 
 on every side as he tendered his donations to 
 the cottagers who thronged round him, chiefly 
 females, as the husbands and fatheis were busy 
 in the fields. Ribands were streaming in the 
 air, laces were placed around many a pretty 
 face, silk handkerchiefs adorned the necks of 
 the rustic belles, and for a length of time ]Mr. 
 Hector had an opportunity every Sunday of
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 235 
 
 enjoying reminiscences of the young middy's 
 bounty as the females sported their gaieties at 
 church. As for the children, he bought the 
 entire stock of the cake-shop, and the little 
 laughing rogues carried off brown twelves 
 and parliament, Adams and Eves, and lord- 
 mayor's coaches, bullVeyes and Nelson's 
 balls, lollypops and barley-sugar ; — in short, 
 every article soon vanished as if swallowed up 
 by an earthquake, and leaving not a wreck 
 behind. One of his guineas was left at the 
 village public for the men when they returned 
 from labour in the evening to refresh them- 
 selves ; the other was deposited with two fe- 
 males to purchase tea and sugar for the old 
 folks ; and a third was left in the hands of 
 others in whom he could trust, to treat the 
 females in any way they should prefer : so 
 that by the time his arrangements were made, 
 his cash was nearly exhausted. No tongue was 
 idle in the praise of the young sailor that day ; 
 and as rumour ran that " he had fowt the 
 French and made his fortun," several of the 
 youth subsequently entered his majesty's ser- 
 vice, and became clever seamen. 
 
 This business settled, our hero proceeded 
 towards the Parsonage, where he was almost 
 devoured by old Sarah, the house — indeed the
 
 236 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 only maid servant (except a young girl), who 
 laughed and cried alternately at seeing her 
 young master 'a navy midshipmite," as she 
 called him. But neither Mr. nor Mrs. Hec- 
 tor were at home : they had walked over to 
 Wellmore Hall, to request permission for Miss 
 Caroline and Eugenia to pass a day or two at 
 the Rectory previous to the departure of the 
 latter for Holland, which was shortly expected 
 to take place. Nothing could be more gratify- 
 ing to the feelings of the youth than the 
 prospect of enjoying the society of Eugenia 
 under the worthy clergyman's roof; but he 
 could not wait for their return, so he walked 
 out towards the Hall. 
 
 Eugenia was indeed about to return to her na- 
 tive home. The French Revolution had stirred 
 up theNorthern Powers against the Republicans, 
 an English army had taken Valenciennes ; but 
 the Terrorists had persuaded the people to rise 
 en masse, and the Duke of York was defeated 
 at Dunkirk. Everything was precarious — a 
 feeling of enmity towards the Allies began to 
 manifest itself amongst a certain powerful 
 party in Holland, and the etiquette which was 
 exacted by the Austrians was anything but 
 favourable to the movements of an army. 
 Under such circumstances, Eugenia''s father
 
 TOPSAIL SHEET BLOCKS. 237 
 
 (her mother was in the grave) had deemed it 
 necessary that she should be near him whatever 
 change might occur, and she was now of an 
 age to superintend his household affairs. 
 
 The worthy clergyman and his lady were 
 very graciously received by Mr. Wellmore, 
 and the requested permission granted ; re- 
 freshments were provided, after partaking of 
 which the hothouse was visited, and some 
 choice grapes placed in a basket for conveyance 
 to the Parsonage. The young ladies were soon 
 ready, and accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Hector, 
 in whose society they greatly delighted. Play- 
 ful as fawns they skipped over the grass, ex- 
 ulting in youth, beauty, and health, till their 
 conversation turned upon the young sailor 
 whom they supposed far away. The exploits 
 of the Scratchee had been communicated to 
 them by Mr. Hector, and our hero's name had 
 been mentioned in the public prints with com- 
 mendation ; for Captain Yorick made it a 
 matter of course to give every encouragement 
 to those v/ho had only their own arduous en- 
 deavours to forward them in life. Great was 
 their gratification at the prospects the youth 
 had now before him, and Eugenia expressed 
 an earnest hope that she sliould see him once 
 more before the time arrived for her quitting
 
 238 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 England. They had just turned the corner of 
 the sylvan lane leading to the Rectory, and the 
 words had scarcely escaped her lips, when she 
 suddenly found herself clasped in the arms of a 
 handsome young naval officer, who was by no 
 means niggardly, as Will Blocks would have 
 said, " in sarving out the kisses." Miss Caro- 
 line came in for the next embrace, nor did 
 Mrs. Hector escape ; but the rudeness met 
 with no harsh reproof, for the cocked-hat had 
 fallen from the head of the youth, and the 
 smiling face and curly hair of Ten-thousand 
 were instantly recognised. 
 
 "Oh, fie!" said Eugenia, "you kissa me 
 moosh ; you very fine for gentelehomme now — 
 von wicked, bad sailors mans."" 
 
 " No, Eugenia," returned Ten-thousand, 
 " Mr. Blocks sent you them. 1 have yet got 
 to give you mine." 
 
 *' I declare, sir, you 've rumpled my frock, 
 and put all my hair in disorder,"" exclaimed 
 Caroline. "But I am so pleased to see you ! — 
 how long are you going to stop V 
 
 " I must be on board to-night," replied the 
 youth, " as I have charge of one of the rich 
 prizes we have taken." And Ten-thousand 
 felt himself an important personage for the first
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 239 
 
 time in his life : it arose from a desire that 
 his friends should think well of him. 
 
 " I am truly happy to see you safe, my 
 young friend,"" said the clergyman, "and highly 
 gratified at the mention which has been made 
 of you in the public prints." 
 
 " Public prints, sir !" repeated Blocks in 
 astonishment, for he knew nothing of gazettes 
 and newspapers. 
 
 " Yes," reiterated the clergyman, " your 
 name has been made honourable mention of in 
 more than one instance, and we have read the 
 accounts with mingled emotions of pain and 
 pleasure ; — pain when we thought of the dangers 
 to which you had been exposed — pleasure at 
 your escape from them." 
 
 To have his name in print, and seen by 
 thousands and thousands of his countrymen 
 classed with the brave of England's pride, was 
 indeed an unexpected honour; and never be- 
 fore had the lad felt so thrilling a sensation as 
 that which was now nearly overpowering him : 
 — his heart swelled almost to bursting — his 
 head swam giddily round, and a vow was regis- 
 tered in heaven that he would never disgrace 
 the proud distinction which he knew his noble- 
 minded commander had conferred upon him.
 
 240 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 At this moment a number of the villagers 
 turned the lane and greeted the party with 
 cheers. The labouring men had returned home 
 to their dinner-hour, and hearing of the youth''s 
 kindness from their wives and children, they 
 had come in a body to thank him. He had 
 always been an especial favourite, and they 
 testified their joy by hearty huzzas, and shak- 
 ing hands with the young officer " who had 
 fought the French and remembered the poor." 
 Such an exhibition was enough to make a 
 hundred heroes. 
 
 " This is an outset in life, my young 
 friend," said the clergyman when they were 
 again alone and pursuing their way to the 
 Parsonage, " that is most flattering to you ; and 
 I might fear that it would excite vanity in your 
 breast, did I not feel certain that your princi- 
 ples are unchanged, and that you still remem- 
 ber the maxim I have so often endeavoured to 
 inculcate, that ' to be truly great, you must be 
 also humble.'' Never forget the scene you 
 have just witnessed : it proceeded from the 
 spontaneous operation of kind hearts, — and to 
 whom ? — to one who has fought for his coun- 
 try, and shared his little wealth amongst them. 
 You are honoured as a brave defender — you 
 are loved as a generous disposition ought to
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 241 
 
 be. Should you on some future occasion hear 
 the plaudits of the thousands, look back with 
 honest pride and heartfelt gratitude to the 
 villagers of ■" 
 
 " I will, sir — indeed I will," replied Ten- 
 thousand. " From what I feel at this moment, 
 I am sure I shall not show myself undeserving 
 of your excellent instruction and the kind atten- 
 tion you have paid me : they have never been 
 erased from ray mind ; in danger and distress, 
 in difficulty and vexation, they have been my 
 directory and guide." 
 
 The pious divine stopped, and gazed upon 
 the youth with a countenance full of heavenly 
 benevolence and soul-loving affection : it was 
 so benign, so divested of all earthly considera- 
 tion, that the boy removed his hat and stood 
 uncovered. The hands of the herald of salva- 
 tion were spread out, they descended on the 
 head of the foundling before him, and as the 
 crystal-drops overflowed his eyes, he solemnly 
 and fervently uttered, " May the God of Israel 
 bless the lad !" 
 
 A silence of several minutes ensued as the 
 group stood in the presence of their Maker, 
 bearing witness to the blessing dispensed by his 
 faithful servant, and experiencing that sweet 
 communion of spirit that passeth from heart 
 
 VOL. I. M
 
 242 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 to heart. That was indeed a happy meeting ! 
 The youth recounted his adventures, his sea- 
 fights, the storm ; nothing was left untold. 
 He excited their bursts of laughter — he be- 
 guiled them of their tears, and thus he conti- 
 nued to the period of his landing that morning, 
 when he suddenly stopped, and a suffusion of 
 shame flushed his cheeks as he exclaimed, 
 "I have forgotten to call upon Mr. Brief;" 
 but scarcely were the words uttered, when a 
 gig drove up the avenue, and out of it alighted 
 the very gentleman himself. He had been into 
 the country the day before, and was now re- 
 turning to town, so that Ten-thousand would 
 have an opportunity of riding back ; and at the 
 earnest solicitations of the ladies, he agreed to 
 wait till the evening, and not start till there 
 was just sufficient daylight left for Ten-thou- 
 sand to get on board. The little lawyer was 
 much pleased with the youth''s success, both as 
 it respected his present station and his prize- 
 money ; and there only wanted the presence of 
 the worthy gunner to complete as joyous a 
 party as ever assembled. 
 
 After dinner, the young folks, leaving the 
 lawyer and the divine deep in argument, walked 
 over to the Hall, where Blocks was warmly
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 24<3 
 
 welcomed by every one, and by none more 
 than Mr. Wellmore himself. 
 
 "And so, Eugenia," said Blocks as they 
 were returning to the Parsonage, " you are 
 shortly to leave England." 
 
 " Yes," returned she mournfully, (I shall 
 depart from the broken idiom), " and perhaps, 
 Ten-thousand, we may never meet again." 
 
 This was an unexpected suggestion to the 
 youth. It had never struck him that there was 
 a probability of his parting for ever from 
 Eugenia. She who had been his dear compa- 
 nion and playmate — she who had listened with 
 patience to his wailings when calling to recol- 
 lection the unprotected state in which he had 
 been cast upon the ocean, and had so often 
 soothed his griefs and smiled away his tears, — 
 to part with her for ever, the thing seemed 
 utterly impossible ; and yet she was going to 
 another land, whilst he, perhaps, might be sent 
 on foreign service. It caused a pang he could 
 not suppress. "Do not fear, Eugenia," said he 
 as soon as his mind was somewhat calmed ; 
 " let you be where you will, I shall not forget 
 
 you, and . Oh yes, I feel assured that we 
 
 shall have many happy meetings." 
 
 She shook her head and looked at a neat 
 
 M 2
 
 244 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 gold ring upon her finger, bearing two united 
 hands in a small entablature : it was the keep- 
 sake she had that day received from the young 
 man, and in return had presented him with a 
 locket containing her initials worked in her 
 own hair. " I shall often think of my friends 
 in England," uttered she, " and of the plea- 
 sant visit I have made. Here, Caroline, you 
 will be enjoying security without fear of mo- 
 lestation, for neither French nor any other na- 
 tion can get across the water whilst the Bri- 
 tish sailors are so brave and vigilant : but my 
 home will be exposed to foreign armies and 
 all the cruelties of war ; — perhaps the revolu- 
 tion which terrified me so much in Paris may 
 reach Holland, and, oh, how horrible will it be 
 then !" 
 
 " But you have a father to protect you," re- 
 turned the youth ; " and somehow I can't help 
 thinking the very name of relative implies a 
 defender. Alas ! I have no one with whom I 
 can claim kindred ; and though I hope I am 
 not ungrateful for the preservation and kind- 
 ness I have received, yet I feel I could almost 
 welcome hunger, and cold, and pain, and afflic- 
 tion, to know and see my parents." 
 
 " Do not give way to melancholy thoughts, 
 Ten," said the noble-minded girl, forgetting her
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 245 
 
 own sorrow to soothe that of the youth. " Come 
 let us hope that peace will be restored, and per- 
 haps we may often hear of one another ; — at 
 least, I hope the wretches who murdered their 
 king will be driven back to France by your 
 Duke of York ; and then. Ten, you may likely 
 sail to Holland, and I will be your sister." 
 
 The hour for parting at length arrived — the 
 farewell and sincere good wishes were earnestly 
 expressed, and away went our hero, in the lit- 
 tle lawyer's gig, on an autumnal evening full 
 of delightful beauties. The shades of twilight 
 were deepening into night as Ten parted with 
 his companion, and hastened through the 
 streets, towards the landing-place, where he 
 might hire a boat to get on board the ship : 
 but just as he reached the quay some one 
 caught hold of his arm, and, turning round, he 
 saw Mullion and Ancell, with several midship- 
 men, who speedily surrounded him. 
 
 " Hallo! Blocks," cried Ancell, " where are 
 you bound to if the wind holds ? My eyes ! 
 shipmate, but you carry a taut press." 
 
 *' I am going aboard, Ancell," returned the 
 youth. " Little Parker is looking out for me 
 whilst I am away, and 1 promised to return to- 
 night." 
 
 " All my eye !" said Ancell, laying hold of
 
 246 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS- 
 
 him. " Come ! — come along with us, my boy, 
 and we '11 show you a little of life, — plenty of 
 wine, and lots of pretty girls." 
 
 " Indeed you must excuse me, Ancell," re- 
 joined Ten-thousand. " I passed my word not 
 to stay beyond my leave ; and I am sure you 
 wouldn't wish me to break it." 
 
 A general laugh followed this declaration ; 
 and Blocks had the mortification to hear him- 
 self styled " green-horn," — " Methodist par- 
 son," — " gulpin," — " flat," — and a few other 
 such contemptuous epithets. 
 
 " Why, you're not serious. Blocks !" exclaim- 
 ed Mullion. " Who the devil 's to know whether 
 you 're aboard or not .'' Parker will never split. 
 At all events, come and have a glass of wine 
 with us ; and then we '11 have one round at the 
 shops." 
 
 " What shops .?" asked the midshipman. " I 
 do not want to buy anything." 
 
 Another burst of laughter excited our hero's 
 irritability ; but seeing that some of them were 
 rather inebriated, he forbore manifesting any- 
 thing like resentment. 
 
 " Were you ever at the theatre. Blocks ?"" in- 
 quired Ancell, who was the most collected of 
 the party. " We 're all bound there ; you 'd 
 better join us."
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 247 
 
 " I never saw a play performed," rejoined 
 Ten-thousand ; " though I \e often wished 
 to see it." 
 
 " Never saw a play ! What a Johnny 
 Raw you must be!" exclaimed a rather dandi- 
 fied young geyitleman. — " Why, do you think 
 we go to see the nonsense on the stage ?" 
 
 " Perhaps you consider your own nonsense 
 of superior quality," answered our hero some- 
 what tartly. 
 
 " D — me, sir ! do you mean that as an in- 
 sult ?" demanded the other, strutting up and 
 looking Blocks fiercely in the face. 
 
 '•' It is not my custom to give offence," re- 
 turned Ten-thousand ; " nor am I very patient 
 in receiving it." 
 
 " Oh, if you didn't mean it personal, that 's 
 another thing," replied the dandy, turning 
 quietly away. 
 
 " Come let 's have no quarrelling," said 
 Ancell. " Blocks was not personal, but general 
 in his hit ; though you deserved it, Sparkes, and 
 something with it, for calling him a Johnny 
 Raw. However, let us have a glass of wine 
 together, and drown animosity." 
 
 It was not quite dark, and Ten-thousand 
 saw no objections to complying with their 
 request. They were soon seated in a com-
 
 248 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 fortable room by themselves; the wine was 
 brought in, and eagerly swallowed by those 
 who already had had too much of it. 
 
 " You will go with us to the play, Blocks," 
 said Ancell. " We shall have lots of sport; 
 and the captain 's away to dine with the ad- 
 miral." 
 
 " Not to-night, Ancell," replied Blocks 
 firmly, though there was a strong temptation 
 to comply, which was strengthened by the in- 
 toxicating nature of the wine he had drunk. 
 " Little Parker will be expecting me, and I 
 should not like to disappoint him." 
 
 " Oh, never mind the youngster," urged 
 IMuUion ; '* it will keep him out of mischief. 
 I dare say he's as proud as a dog with two 
 tails to-day at having charge of the craft." 
 
 '* If I had leave," said Blocks, " I should 
 feel great pleasure in accompanying you." 
 
 " Leave !" shouted the whole. " What, do 
 you think we 're on leave, then ? Not a bit of 
 it ! — we Ve all our own masters — that is, prize- 
 masters, and so we've dined together, and now 
 we're going to have a cruise." 
 
 " But won't the captain be angry, Ancell .''" 
 asked Blocks somewhat seriously. 
 
 " How is he to know anything about it ?"
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 249 
 
 answered MuUion. " Surely you don't mean to 
 turn informer !" 
 
 " You do me great injustice by the suspi- 
 cion, MuUion," returned Blocks, " and you 
 confirm me in my determination to go 
 aboard." 
 
 " Oh, just as you please, my boy," uttered 
 the other. " By-and-by you '11 be held up as 
 an example to the middies of the fleet." 
 
 " He should be hung up for a pattern — 
 like the reefer's coat in the admiral's office, 
 which everybody looks at, but nobody cuts out 
 by," uttered one of the party. 
 
 " Really, gentlemen, I am not aware that 
 there has been anything offensive to you, ei- 
 ther in my manners or my conduct," exclaimed 
 Ten-thousand ; " and, therefore, why you use 
 the language that you do, unless it is conge- 
 nial with your usual habits, I am at a loss to 
 conjecture." 
 
 " Oh ! — hum ! — haugh ! " said the dandy, 
 raising a gold-set quizzing-glass to his eye, and 
 surveying our hero ; " so you are," drawling 
 out the words, " Mr. Ten-thousand Topsail- 
 sheet Blocks, eh ? picked up at sea, like a ma- 
 rine adrift upon a main-hatch grating." 
 
 The colour flushed into the face of the youth 
 
 Al 5
 
 250 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 as he heard this allusion to his preservation, — 
 he rose steadily from his chair — caught the 
 dandy by the collar, gave him a rather rough 
 shaking. " And you, sir, by name Sparkes, had 
 no other birth-place than a tinder-box or an 
 armourer 's anvil. Then, sir, some hammering 
 must have been required to bring you into light ; 
 and if you don't keep a bridle on your tongue, 
 you shall get hammered again. Pray, sir," and 
 he threw him from him, " do you consider that 
 personal." 
 
 " Serve you right, Sparkes r shouted Ancell 
 to the crest-fallen dandy. " I'm glad you've 
 met with your match, anyhow ; — you see his 
 brimstone caught ^re in an instant." 
 
 A general confusion ensued, — most of the 
 party rallying round Sparkes, whilst two or 
 three, with Ancell, congratulated our hero on 
 his displaying so proper a spirit. The foppish 
 young man who had caused the affray was fully 
 sensible, from the manner in which Blocks had 
 held him in his grasp, that he would be but 
 little more than a child in his hands ; but then 
 boxing was beneath the rank of officers, and 
 therefore one of the party was sent to demand 
 an apology, and in case of refusal to give a 
 formal challenge. 
 
 The Sparkites and the Blockites had sepa-
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 251 
 
 rated to different parts of the room, and much 
 as Ten-thousand was desirous of getting away 
 to his charge, yet he thought there would be 
 something pusillanimous in quitting at that 
 moment. 
 
 " Mr. Sparkes has sent me, Mr. Blocks, to 
 demand an apology," said the emissary. 
 
 " An apology, for what ?" coolly demanded 
 the person addressed. 
 
 The youngster hesitated, — scratched his 
 head, — tried to look big. " Why, sir, — for 
 — for having — for having — " 
 
 '* For having what ?" asked Blocks, laugh- 
 ing at the ridiculous figure of the ambas- 
 sador. 
 
 " Nay, d — it ! I don't know exactly what 
 it is for," said the other. " All I know is, I 
 was sent to demand an apology ; and if you 
 wouldn't give it, to challenge you." 
 
 " Return then, and get better instructed,''' 
 said Ten-thousand, renewing his laughter. 
 
 " Get better instructed ! What do you mean 
 by that.''" demanded the other fiercely. " I 
 have had a better schooling than ever fell to 
 your lot, I '11 swear, and will work a day's work 
 with you any hour you please." 
 
 " 1 made no allusion to your education, nor 
 the benefit you may have derived from it," an-
 
 252 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 swered Blocks. " Indeed, no one who sees you 
 at this moment can doubt your proficiency. 
 But " 
 
 " Out o' that, you bog-trotter ! " shouted a 
 young Irish Blockite, giving the pienipo a set 
 in the stern with his foot. Go to Mr. Sparkes, 
 and tell him to come here with himself, and 
 hand over his message by word o*" mouth. — An 
 apology ! Och ! by the powers, but it should 
 be in the shape of a big blow that ud put Mr. 
 Sparkes in ajlame." 
 
 The young Sparkite returned to his party, 
 who were quite indignant and uttered many 
 cruel things in reference to the circumstances in 
 which Blocks was placed ; but, though by far 
 the strongest (nearly three to one) in nume- 
 rical force — yet Ancell, Paddy Flynn, and 
 Mullion (who at first joined the Sparkites, 
 but afterwards came over to his shipmates), 
 and Blocks, with two others, were not customers 
 to be trifled with, and no one was hardy 
 enough to renew the hostile demonstration. 
 
 " It's split, then, we are," said Paddy 
 Flynn, walking up to the fireplace and em- 
 bracing the poker, which he carried to and 
 laid upon the table ; then, seating himself and 
 filling his glass, he turned to the Blockites. 
 " Och ! be sated, gentlemen, with all the plea-
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 253 
 
 sure in life, and it's myself will be happy to 
 see yez. Here am I, Paddy Flynn, prize- 
 master of the mahogany, anyhow, and sorrow 
 
 the sowl shall bring his to an anchor 
 
 without lave and license from Kennedy 
 here," and he lifted the poker. " Sit down, 
 gentlemen, — sit down, and make yer lives 
 happy, Och ! by the powers, apology is it you 
 mane? By me conscience. Blocks, but you 
 was right ! Divel a thing but the son of a 
 tindther-box is he ! Apology ? — it 's the Con- 
 naught way of settling a row ; — knock a man 
 down, and then kick him for falling." 
 
 The Blockites seated themselves at the table, 
 and some of the other party seized their glasses, 
 intending to share in the wine : but a rap of 
 the knuckles from the poker made them drop 
 the brittle material, that crashed upon the floor 
 — and brought in the waiter. 
 
 " Did you ring, gentlemen ?" 
 
 " No, but the glasses did," replied Paddy, 
 laughing. " The officers have been after amusing 
 themselves to thry how hard the craturs were ; 
 and, by the powers, they Ve knocked 'em into 
 smithereens." 
 
 " It was you, Flynn, that did it with the 
 poker ! " exclaimed several. 
 
 *' What !" said the rough Hibernian, rising
 
 254 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 up ; and giving Kennedy a twist, shillelagh 
 fashion over his head, he uttered the wild 
 Irish cry, ' Whaug ! hooroosh ! ' who dare say 
 I did it, or impache me veracity?" Not a 
 tongue moved, — no Sparkite was bold enough 
 to resist Paddy's appeal, and most of them 
 knew the way of the boy. Flynn stood looking 
 ludicrously stern at his opponents, and then 
 addressing the attendant. " You see, waither 
 they own the soft impachement — put it down 
 in their bill, Sparkes debtor to Morreen seven 
 empty wine-glasses with nothing in 'em ; — 
 and pray bring another room for the gentle- 
 men ; for, by the sowl o"" me, they 're heartily 
 tired of our company ;" he laid his hand on the 
 poker and gave them a significant look — *' ain't 
 you, my fine fellows?" A ready assent was 
 given. " You see, waither, you must bring 'em 
 up another room. Come, gentlemen, charge 
 your glasses — the waither 'ell charge theirs 
 — and I '11 give you a toast, * Paddy Flynn's 
 striking argument, — vide Dr. Kennedy :' och ! 
 but it bates Bannacher!" 
 
 The toast was drunk with applause by the 
 Blockites, and the wine circulated so freely 
 that Ten-thousand incautiously suffered him- 
 self to be led on till it began to have a very 
 sensible effect upon his usual sobriety of man-
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 255 
 
 ner. The Sparkites left the room ; and young 
 Blocks had discretion enough to propose that 
 they should all accompany him on board the 
 Kingston, where he could treat them to some 
 excellent Madeira. This was assented to, pro- 
 vided they had one cruise just to show the 
 Sparkites that they had no intention of run- 
 ning away ; and having paid the bill, forth they 
 sallied into the street, and shortly afterwards 
 stopped at the door of a rather genteel-looking 
 house. 
 
 "Who lives here?" inquired Blocks, on 
 whom the fresh air began to operate. " Where's 
 Mr. Flynn ?— I Ml stick close to Mr. Flynn. — 
 But what are you going to do here ?" 
 
 "Here!" said Paddy, "at this house.? — 
 Why, then, by the powers, it ""s an ould aunt 
 o' mine as lives here ; and, by me sowl, as nate 
 little craturs as I 've got for cousins ! — och ! 
 the darlints !" 
 
 The door was opened, and in they rushed to 
 a large, richly but tawdrily-furnished room, 
 where indeed were some of the most lovely 
 of Eve's fair daughters, dressed in virgin white, 
 and by no means delicate in displaying charms 
 that would have fired the icy passions of an an- 
 chorite. Pad(^y's aunt could not have weigh- 
 ed less than three-and-twenty stone ; and she
 
 256 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 was seated in an easy arm-chair, her head ap- 
 parently resting upon three or four tiers of 
 chins, and the lower part of her bust, like a 
 breast of veal, almost entirely exposed to public 
 gaze. Her dress was in the extreme of fashion 
 and of rich materials ; her fingers, each as big 
 as a baby's leg, displayed sparkling gems, set in 
 gold hoops that might have served for anchor- 
 rings ; the bobs in her ears were a trifle smaller 
 than the clapper of a line-of-battle ship's bell ; 
 and so great was the labour for this mountain of 
 flesh to move without leverage, that even when 
 breathing her rising and setting were performed 
 with much difficulty, and she wheezed like a 
 blacksmith's bellows with a hole in the leather. 
 The room was well lighted up and strongly per- 
 fumed ; though all the spices of Araby could 
 not keep down the smell of that villanous com- 
 pound, gin. 
 
 Young Blocks was greatly abashed at the 
 sight of such fine ladies, and much as his brain 
 whirled, he yet had sense enough to feel the 
 impropriety of appearing before females in a 
 state of intoxication — particularly the cousins 
 of his friend Mr. Flynn, who had so generously 
 taken his part that very evening. At first, 
 therefore, he loitered at the door; but the voice 
 of the aunt, like the roar of an elephant, arous-
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 257 
 
 ed him, as she bellowed " Come in, reefer ! 
 don''t stand hanging a there !" Ten- 
 thousand was struck into a heap ! What lan- 
 guage for the aunt of a naval officer ! But he 
 entered and made his best bow. 
 
 " Well, Paddy, my darling!" exclaimed 
 one of the young ladies, who Ten thought 
 looked blooming with health, though she cer- 
 tainly laboured under some malady that pre- 
 vented her preserving the perpendicular, — 
 " Well, Paddy, how are you off for dumps ?" 
 
 How kind of his cousin to take so much in- 
 terest in his welfare, thought Blocks, and then 
 to call him by the endearing name of Darling ! 
 But where was Ancell and Mullion ? Ten 
 looked round, and, to his great astonishment, 
 each had got one of Flynn's cousins upon his 
 knee, and they were exchanging kisses like 
 fury. Never had Blocks blushed so much be- 
 fore in all his life, — he felt indignant, and was 
 ready to resent the insult offered to his friend. 
 One of the cousins ap})roached Ten-thousand, 
 — she was a pretty little girl, with laughing 
 blue eyes and delicately fair complexion — and 
 Ten's heart warmed towards her, she looked 
 so engagingly mild and affectionate. But 
 what was his surprise when she threw her arms 
 round his neck, and, in a voice as hoarse as a
 
 258 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 boatswain's-mate, called him " her dear little 
 reefer,'^ whilst at the same time she essayed to 
 press her lips to his ! — Faugh ! there was no 
 mistaking the effluvia of that breath ; — Paddy 
 Flynn's pretty cousin drank — rum. 
 
 At this moment in burst the Sparkites — 
 presumptuous rascals, to invade the sanctity of 
 private life, and evince their pitiful spite by 
 attacking the domicile of Mr. Flynn 's aunt ! 
 Away dashed Paddy at the poker ; but the 
 opposition were flushed with new wine and 
 armed with knob-sticks, and one of them got 
 hold of Paddy's argument before he could 
 seize it, and brandished it about, to the terror 
 of the young ladies and the indignation of the 
 aunt, who poured forth such a torrent of oaths 
 that Blocks was stupified with horror, from 
 which state he was aroused by a heavy blow 
 on the neck, that made him reel, (he staggered 
 before,) and, turning round, he saw his adver- 
 sary Sparkes about to repeat the blow. In an 
 instant Blocks made a clever hit with his fist 
 at his opponent's stomach, that drove him slap 
 into the chest of the aunt, who, catching him 
 by the hair, held him fast and pummelled 
 him, or rather sledge-hammered him, without 
 mercy. A general row was the result : two of 
 the young ladies — the handsome cousins —
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 259 
 
 were capsized, and showed the prettiest feet 
 and ankles in the world, besides — but Ten- 
 thousand shut his eyes. 
 
 " Arrah ! you sowls, cut and run !" shouted 
 Paddy, knocking down a Sparkite ; and catch- 
 ing our hero by the arm, he dragged him to- 
 wards the door. 
 
 " What ! leave your aunt and cousins in 
 trouble?" said Ten-thousand, shocked at his 
 irreverent conduct. 
 
 " Och ! the divel run a hunting round the 
 rim of the moon with the whole boiling of 
 'em !" replied Paddy. " By the powers ! make 
 sail out o' this — your shipmates are off — och, 
 bother ! start, you spalpeen, don't you hear the 
 rattles ? — and see, there comes the watch ! " 
 
 Several persons were indistinctly seen com- 
 ing along the street, and the noise of the rattles 
 answering each other with fraternal regard. 
 Blocks thought it time to be moving. His com- 
 panion, however, would not let him run, but, 
 linking him by the arm, exclaimed, " Aisy, 
 boy, aisy ! the inemy uU be down upon 
 us this course, and they mustn't see us 
 running away, anyhow : take it aisy, me dar- 
 lin !" They walked leisurely on, and Ten- 
 thousand soon became sensible of the value of 
 this advice wjien at the corner of the street
 
 260 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 they saw Ancell and Mullion in the hands of 
 three or four stout watchmen, who still kept 
 springing their rattles, either to terrify their 
 prisoners, or also to keep up their own cou- 
 rage. 
 
 " Arrah ! what 's the row about here ?" said 
 Paddy, going boldly up to the guardians of 
 the night. "One ud think, when there's 
 murther going on, you wouldn't be wasting 
 your time stopping people on the king's high- 
 way." 
 
 " These are our shipmates," said Ancell ; 
 " and they can tell you " 
 
 " Och, bother !" shouted Paddy, addressing 
 Ancell ; " and pray, who the divel may you 
 be that claims relationship to meself, in the 
 regard o"" being shipmates ? Sorrow the know 
 I know of him at all, watchman." 
 
 " Not know me !" screamed Ancell, whilst 
 Blocks was struck with greater wonder at 
 Paddy's sudden forgetfulness ; — " not know 
 me and Mullion.?" 
 
 " The divel a bit !" exclaimed Flynn. " But 
 you seem to be officers — what got you in 
 limbo ?" 
 
 " Vy, 'cause they were running — and you 
 must go with them too, my sparks," said one 
 of the men, approaching him.
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 261 
 
 " And what ud we go with you for ?"" asked 
 Paddy; " because we were walking? Hands 
 off! By the powers! but I'll report you to- 
 morrow for neglecting your duty." A dis- 
 tant call of the rattles was heard. " There, 
 you tieves o' the world ! — barring ye 're watch- 
 men, — don't you hear that signal to form close 
 order.'' Och ! but there ""s murther going on 
 there, at ould Mother Damnable's." 
 
 " If you 've nothing to fear, you '11 have 
 no objection to go back with us, gentlemen," 
 said a watchman who seemed to be more sensi- 
 ble than the rest. 
 
 " Not a taste in the world of objection," re- 
 turned Paddy ; " we '11 go with all the plea- 
 sure in life. My friend and I harde the skreek- 
 ing as we came by ; and it 's ' Kilt I am !' 
 skreeks one, and it 's ' Kilt I am !' skreeks 
 another; and, ' Blood and ouns,' says I, ' but 
 it 's best to be out o' this, any way.' " 
 
 All Paddy's eloquence, however, was of no 
 avail ; back they were marched to the scene 
 of contention, for it would have been madness 
 to have offered opposition to several stout men, 
 well armed, who expected to make something 
 handsome by the affray. On re-entering the 
 house, or rather getting within the doorway, 
 — for they were not permitted to go further, —
 
 262 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 Blocks saw Flynn's aunt (whose real character 
 he now became awake to) lying like a moun- 
 tain of whale-blubber on the floor ; and by her 
 side, hors de combat and crushed by the weight 
 of her hand, was the dandified Sparkes. A 
 battle royal was still going on amongst the 
 junior middies and the ladies, and the carpet 
 glistened as with a thousand gems from the 
 fragments of a handsome looking glass that 
 had been shattered to pieces : beads and broken 
 combs, cocked-hats crushed in and tails of 
 coats dissevered, shreds of muslin and pieces 
 of silk, were scattered about ; scratched faces 
 and bloody noses gave a profusion of the vital 
 current, to fill up the horrible in the san- 
 guinary contest. 
 
 " By the sowl o' me !" said Paddy Flynn, 
 " but they Ve a disgrace to the sarvice ; and 
 all of 'em plenty o' money to spend. There's 
 me Lord Leatherlungs," pointing to Sparkes ; 
 " and that 's Sir John Nighthead," directing 
 attention to another. " By the powers, watch- 
 men, but they '11 be a Plate fleet to you in the 
 way of tip. Here," slipping a seven-shilling 
 bit into one of their hands, " it 's honest fel- 
 lows ye all are, 1 11 engage ! — take the whole 
 shole of 'em away to the lock-up — they've 
 been paid prize-money to-day."
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 263 
 
 This seasonable intimation to the watchmen 
 had its due effect; his h)rdship and Sir John 
 were taken into custody on the charge of the 
 ladies — counter charges were made, and as 
 some serious hurts had been given, the whole 
 bevy, except the wahus of a landlady, were 
 carried off to durance vile, whilst Blocks* and 
 his party took the way to the quay in order 
 to return on board. But it was now past 
 midnight ; yet still Blocks determined to ac- 
 complish his object by some means or other, 
 and Paddy, who smacked his lips at the 
 thoughts of the Madeira, declared himself 
 ready to bear him company. Ancell and Mul- 
 lion urged many objections, but at length 
 acquiesced ; a small boat was forced from her 
 moorings, a pair of loose paddles was bor- 
 rowed from another, and the whole party, 
 six in number, after encountering a few diffi- 
 culties, repaired with our hero on board 
 the Kingston. Well was it for Ten-thousand 
 that he returned : for during his absence or- 
 ders had been given to remove the West-In- 
 diaman at daylight the following morning, 
 preparatory to her being delivered up to the 
 proper owners; and had Blocks remained away 
 all night, it must have been detected, and most 
 probably he would have fallen into disgrace.
 
 264 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 Little Parker rejoiced to see his young pro- 
 tector: he had walked the deck nearly the 
 whole of the first watch to look out for him, 
 and only a few minutes before his arrival had 
 stretched himself on the lockers abaft to sleep. 
 
 " An' you never fought a jewel, my boy ?" 
 said Paddy as they sat over the Madeira and 
 sea-cake. 
 
 " Fought a jewel ? no," replied our hero, 
 who was not yet recovered from the effects 
 of his potations, and was induced to keep the 
 others company over their wine. " Wliat do 
 you mean by fighting a jewel?" 
 
 " Och ! then it 's meself as is bothered about 
 you, anyhow," said Paddy, " in the regard 
 o' your not knowing what is meant by a 
 jewel."" 
 
 '* Flynn means a duel," said Ancell : " but 
 he has not yet completed his English educa- 
 tion, and therefore still adheres to his foreign 
 tongue." 
 
 " Be aisy, Ancell, — be aisy !'"' returned 
 Flynn. " Didn't I get you nicely out o' throu- 
 ble to-night, — tell me that,? now." 
 
 " Yes, you were certainly a very admirable 
 friend to deny all knowledge of us," responded 
 Mullion. " It was what I call firing a broad- 
 side into a sinking ship."
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 265 
 
 " Och ! an' warn't it the making of you ?" 
 returned Paddy. " Didn't the watchmen let 
 you slip your cables quietly, when, if I'd ouned 
 you, it 's long odds but we 'd all now been in 
 the lock-up, instead of drinking Madeira. But 
 I 've a great regard for you, Mr. Blocks, and 
 if you never fought a jewel, it 's meself that 
 ull give you some wholesome advice about it, 
 seeing as I come from the fighting Flynns of 
 Ballymacwhackem. There 's my father — 'faith ! 
 but he's the broth of a boy for snuffing a 
 pistol with a candle at ten paces " 
 
 '* Snuff a pistol with a candle?" shouted 
 Ancell, amidst the laughter of the rest; " that 
 would indeed be a grand achievement — it 
 would be as bad as putting the match to the 
 muzzle of a gun instead of the touch-hole." 
 
 "It's snuff a candle with a pistol, I mane," 
 explained Flynn ; " and sure it was my ould 
 father, Major Dilberry O'Flynn, that ud do 
 that thing. I onest remember his taking a 
 bit o' practice before breakfast, and ' Stay at 
 home, Pat,' says he, ' an' don't be bothering 
 after me this morning, seeing as I 'm going 
 to shoot circular, and may chance to hit them 
 as I shouldn't like to hurt.' The divel a bit 
 of ' stay at home' was in me : so I just tracked 
 him across the fields, and crept through the 
 
 VOL. I. N
 
 266 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 gaps — sorrow a few of them either — ^just to 
 give the cattle a taste of the spring corn, and 
 away over a bog, till he got to a nice snug 
 place in a wood : it was cleared of the trees, 
 and made a pretty round circus of an amphi- 
 theatre, where Natur was scene-painter as 
 well as scene-shifter, and one of the actors was 
 Major Dilberry O'Flynn. By the powers ! 
 but it 's meself as stowed away in the big bush 
 clane out of sight, where nobody could see 
 me. But, presently, rattle comes a shot over 
 my head, and ' It won't do,' says the major. 
 Then he tried another and another, till at last 
 he got a good tree for a mark, and then he 
 rubs his pistols, and sits down upon the sod 
 whistling ' Croppies, lie down,' like a whole 
 shole of fifers. ' And what uU he be after 
 now ?' thinks I, seeing as he didn't move, 
 barring the whistling, for nearly an hour, and 
 I began to get hungry. Well, up comes 
 an ould skipper in the navy, one Captain 
 Fairfax O'Grady, ounly they called him Fiery- 
 face, and * The top o' the morning to you, 
 major !' says he. * The same to yourself, 
 Captain O'Grady,' says my father ; ' you see 
 I 'm on the ground first.' — ' It 's shooting for 
 a wager they '11 be,' thinks I. — ' All right 
 and proper, major,' says Captain O'Grady;
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 267 
 
 'is your hand steady this morning?* — 'It's 
 odds again that,' thinks I, seeing as he 'd 
 drank his four bottles of port the day before 
 after dinner. — ' As steady as the pope,' says 
 ray father ; ' a pint of brandy is a capital thing 
 to strengthen the nerves. That 's a pretty 
 tree, Captain O'Grady, — a fine direction for 
 the eye; and a second is bound to do the best 
 for his principal, the same as a lawyer for his 
 client though he may be a thief.' — * All just 
 and true,' says Captain O'Grady. — ' And what 
 the divel ull they be at next?' thinks I, as 
 I squatted down in tlie bush, longing for my 
 breakfast, and wishing meself out of it. — 
 ' There's no thrembling or quakering in the 
 arm, major, I hope ?' says the captain. — ' The 
 divel a bit,' says my father ; ' perhaps you 'd 
 like to stand up, just for a thrial of practice, 
 captain, to get our hands in afore they come : 
 we can take twenty paces, and I '11 bet you 
 five guineas to one, I hit you twice out of 
 three times wherever you like to name. Will 
 you thry, just for pastime, captain?' — * No, 
 major, no !' says the skipper ; ' there 's no oc- 
 casion in life — I know your quality as a marks- 
 man, seeing as I 've had a taste of it.' And 
 indeed he had ; for one night, when they *d 
 quarrelled, the major had allowed him to have 
 
 n2
 
 268 TOrSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 two shots for one in the dining-room, (for my 
 father had always a pistol laid on each side of 
 his plate, along with the carving-knife and 
 fork and the gravy-ladles,) and Captain Fiery- 
 face O'Grady was carried to bed with enough 
 lead in his hip to make mustard-spoons for a 
 midshipman's mess. ' There 's no occasion in 
 life,' says the captain. — ' Why don't they fix 
 their mark,' says my thoughts to meself, ' and 
 have done with it, so that we may go back 
 to breakfast ?' Well, just then, up comes two 
 more, and ' Maybe it isn't a grand match,' 
 thinks I ; so 1 heard them measuring the 
 ground, ounly ten paces, and ' Gentlemen, are 
 you ready.'*' says Captain O'Grady. So I took 
 a bold peep out of the bush, and there stood 
 my father, the major, forenent Sir Thaddeus 
 O'Connor, a raal bullet-splitter upon a razure; 
 and they looked just as cool and good-natur'd 
 as a brace of griffins. — ' It 's a jewel, by the 
 hookey !' thinks 1, ' a right arnest jewel, I '11 
 be seeing of; and if Sir Thaddeus hits Major 
 Dilbcrry O'Flynn, maybe I won't have a pop 
 at him meself!' thinks I again, only I never 
 said nothing, because it wouldn't have been 
 civil ; but I pulls out my own pistol and cocks 
 it. But the major had got Sir Thaddy in a 
 line with the tree, and ' It 's all up with you
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. ^69 
 
 now,' thinks I. — ' Where shall I hit you, Sir 
 Thaddy ?"" says my father, as pleasant spoken 
 as a priest at offering-time. — ' In the head or 
 the heart, where I mane to hit you,' says Sir 
 Thaddeus. — ' By the gridiron of St. Antony ! 
 but not so bad as that,' answers the major ; 
 ' it ud be cruel and onfriendly. Now, I '11 
 just plant a seed in your pistol-hand, if you '11 
 be kind enough to allow me.' — ' I '11 bet you 
 ten pound to two upon that,' says O'Connor's 
 second, one Mr. Terence Mahoney, a great 
 sporting character in the county. — ' Say gui- 
 neas,' says my father, ' and I '11 take you.' — 
 
 * Done !' shouts Mr. Terence : ' and now, gen- 
 tlemen, you 're to snap the triggers by signal.' 
 — ' Are you agreed, Sir Thaddeus O'Connor ?' 
 asked my father. — ' Fire and be d — !' — bel- 
 lows Sir Thaddy, and both pistols went off 
 with one report — down dropped the O'Connor 
 in the thick of tlie smoke, whilst the major 
 stood up as straight and as stiff as a marine 
 at drill ; and ' I '11 throuble you for ten 
 guineas, Mr. Terence Mahoney,' says he. — 
 
 * You 've lost !' says Mahoney. — ' I 've won !* 
 says my father. — ' You 've hit him in the 
 head,' says Mahoney, as he raised up Sir 
 Thaddy. — ' But I hit him in the hand first,' 
 says my father: ' as for the head, it was all
 
 270 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 his own fault, for hoalding the pistol so high/ 
 And, sure enough, so it was. — ' All 's one for 
 that,' says Terence ; * you 've lost your bet.' — 
 ' The divel a bit !' says the major : ' but if 
 you don't feel it convanient to acknowledge 
 the debt, take up t'other pistol, my sowl ! and 
 I '11 give you a receipt in full under my own 
 hand.' — ' Done !' says Terence : bang went the 
 pistols, and Mr. Mahoney embraced his mother 
 — the major staggered, but didn't fall, and I 
 jumped out and ran to him. * You divel's 
 imp ! what are you doing here .'" says he. — 
 ' It's to see the jewel,' says I ; ' and now we'll 
 go home to breakfast.' Well, Sir Thaddeus 
 O'Connor was only stunned a bit, for the ball 
 had just grazed his head down to the bare 
 scull ; and Mr. Terence Mahoney jumped up 
 again with a ball in the small of his leg : 
 * You've kilt me, major,' says he, ' it's down 
 here ; but I 're saved my ten guineas, anyhow.' 
 — ' A mighty dear bargain I 've made !' says my 
 father, ' ten guineas for shooting a calf; but 
 are you satisfied ?' They all expressed their 
 satisfaction. ' Then come to the castle to 
 breakfast, and the doctor and a full bottle will 
 soon make matters up.' So they all agreed, 
 and away we started. ' What did you fight 
 about, father ?' says I. * Ask some of the
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 271 
 
 Others,' answers he, * for I can't for the life of 
 me recollect.' So I asked the others ; but none 
 of them remembered what it was, only that 
 there was a dispute and a challenge. When 
 we got to Castle Flynn, the doctor was in 
 readiness, and so he dresses the hand, the head. 
 and the leg. ' And now,' says my father, ' I '11 
 just throuble you, doctor, to visit a patient as 
 I 've got in the house.' And ' Who the divol 
 will that be .''' thinks I. So as they went out, 
 I stales after them into the major's own room — 
 and ' Where 's the patient ?' asks the doctor. 
 ' Whisht, whisht, you sowl !' says my father, 
 pulling off his coat, and stripping his shirt- 
 sleeve right to the shoulder; 'just take me 
 out this pistol-ball,* says he, showing the 
 wound in the fleshy part of his arm : ' it was 
 O'Connor that put it there ; but I said no- 
 thing, that he mightn't crack of his firing. 
 Dextricate it, doctor dear, and never spake 
 sorrow the word about it.' The doctor did 
 as he was bid— the ball was taken out — and 
 a jovial day they had of it afterwards, and 
 another jewel in the evening in the long gal- 
 lery ; but no harm was done, bey on t an eye 
 knocked through the head of one of my an- 
 cestors that hung against the wall, and an ould 
 lamp shattered to pieces. That day I larned
 
 272 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 one thing, and I'll tell it you — always in a 
 jewel get your antagonist behind a tree." A 
 general laugh followed this advice, and Paddy 
 immediately corrected himself: " It's get a 
 tree behind your antagonist, I mane, to make 
 sure of your mark. I '11 engage there 's no- 
 thing like a tree." 
 
 " But suppose the challenge should be given 
 where there are no trees,"" said Mullion ; " what 
 would you do then ?" 
 
 " I wouldn't fight till I 'd come to one," 
 says Paddy with the utmost gravity. 
 
 " But on board and out at sea," said An- 
 cell, " where there 's no possibility of making 
 an excuse ?" 
 
 " An excuse is it you mane ? Och ! then 
 there ""s no use in it in life," answered Paddy, 
 " but fight it out ; and if you can't do any- 
 thing else, why, take the cross-tree."
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 All on a sudden, darken 'd are the skies, 
 
 The lamp of heaven obscured, the winds do rise. 
 
 Waves swell like mountains. 
 
 Flavell. 
 
 In a few days after the events recorded in 
 last chapter, the Scratchee received all her 
 officers and men from the prizes, and once 
 more stood out to sea with a light breeze, in- 
 tending to run over towards Cape Barfleur. At 
 daylight the next morning, the flashes of guns 
 and their thundering reports proclaimed that a 
 severe action had commenced in-shore, and by 
 the aid of glasses they discovered it was be- 
 tween two large frigates apparently well match- 
 ed. Captain Yorick made all sail ; but when 
 within a couple of leagues of the combatants, 
 the wind utterly died away, and they lay 
 perfectly becalmed. For upwards of an hour 
 did they continue in this tantalizing condition, 
 and Yorick stamped, raved, praycil, and swore 
 in his best style, till a light air sprang up, and 
 
 N 5
 
 274 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 the Scratchee once more moved through the 
 water : but the affair was over before she got 
 up, and the national frigate Reunion was in 
 possession of his majesty's frigate the Crescent, 
 Captain Saumarez, after a hard engagement of 
 two hours and ten minutes, during which time 
 they were so completely enveloped in smoke 
 that none of their manoeuvres could be dis- 
 tinctly seen from the eight-and-twenty. 
 
 This was a gallantly-fought action, and, to 
 the astonishment of every one, the Crescent had 
 not a single man touched or injured by the 
 enemy's shot, whilst the Reunion suffered most 
 severely by the fire of her antagonist, having 
 about forty oflficers, seamen, and marines killed, 
 and sixty severely and slightly wounded. Here 
 then the Scratchee came in for more prize- 
 money, the French frigate being purchased by 
 the government and added to the British navy. 
 Captain Yorick having accompanied the Cres- 
 cent and her prize across the Channel, stood 
 away to the westward, intending to resume his 
 station in the bay ; but the light winds retarded 
 his progress, and on the third day, when the 
 breeze freshened, a squadron of five ships hove 
 in sight, which were supposed to be the roving 
 cruisers under Sir J. Warren ; but on a nearer 
 approach the private signal remained unanswer-
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 2tO 
 
 ed, and their character became well known. 
 The Scratchee stood from them and showed 
 her colours; the ships of the squadron hoisted 
 English ensigns, but the cut and make of their 
 sails was French, and a general chase com- 
 menced after the eight-and-twenty. The 
 French frigates were each heavier than the 
 Scratchee, and Captain Yorick subsequently 
 came to learn that the squadron consisted of 
 the Carmagnole, forty guns, — the Uranie, forty 
 guns, — the Resolue, thirty-six, — the Semillante, 
 thirty-six, and the Espiegle corvette, (all 
 afterwards taken by the British, the latter by 
 the Nymphe and Scratchee together in the 
 following month.) These ships carried every 
 stitch of canvass to come up with Yorick, 
 pursuing him close in-shore, but happily he 
 escaped into Falmouth, and information was 
 immediately forwarded to Lord Howe, then 
 lying with the English fleet in Torbay. 
 
 Twelve months rolled rapidly away, and 
 young Blocks, for the short time he had been 
 at sea, had not only seen much stirring service 
 of almost every kind, but he had also acquired 
 considerable proficiency in the practical part of 
 a seaman's duty. The success of the frigate 
 continued unabated, and the young midshi])- 
 man's share of prize-money did not amount to
 
 276 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 less than 800/. which was safely deposited 
 under the charge of Mr. Brief. Captain 
 Yorick narrowly watched the youngster's pro- 
 gress, gave him every encouragement to per- 
 severe, was strict but kind, and employed those 
 means that were best calculated to produce 
 fixed principles within the mind. 
 
 It was a beautiful daybreak on a summer's 
 morning, that the Scratchee, on her return to 
 her station after convoying a fleet of merchant- 
 men to the Downs, was hugging the French 
 coast close in under Cape Lailly : the officer of 
 the watch, Mr. Stowage, was sweeping the 
 horizon with his glass, when suddenly his 
 attention became fixed, and instantly after- 
 wards as the look-out man was going aloft, 
 and had got about half-way up the fore-rigging, 
 he shouted, " Sail, O !" 
 
 " 'Tis well you have unplugged your day- 
 lights,"" said the master in reply to the man, 
 and still keeping his eye steadily directed 
 towards the object. " A sail it is indeed," he 
 muttered to himself, "for there's canvass 
 aloft ; but as for the craft that carries it, why 
 then I'm thinking it's just no more than 
 Westminster Hall put into commission, and 
 come out to give the lawyers a cruise. What 
 do you make of her, quartermaster ?"
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 277 
 
 " Why, sir, she looms again' the sky somut 
 like the marine-barracks adrift," responded 
 the man, who from age and service was a sort 
 of privileged talker. " At all events, she 's 
 not—" 
 
 " A parish-church," interrupted the master, 
 cutting his harangue short with some degree of 
 petulance; " I never asked you what she is 
 not." Then turning to Blocks, who was using 
 his glass at a respectful distance and wonder- 
 ing what the dark mass could be, he added, 
 " Look out, young gentleman ; there 's more 
 prize-money. Yon 's a gin-tank afloat, but, I 
 suspexts, has shifted her cargo and got somut 
 better for us." 
 
 " Do they smuggle in such immense un- 
 wieldy vessels as that, sir.!^" inquired Blocks, 
 who mistook the old man''s meaning. 
 
 " No, no, boy," returned the veteran, *' she \s 
 a reglar Dutch Ingeeman, and, from the way 
 she 's standing, is trying for a French port." 
 Then turning to the helmsman, "• Keep her 
 away, boy ; bend on the Crappo colours abaft. 
 And, young gentleman, rouse the watch, and 
 see all clear for making sail." 
 
 The master went below to inform the cap- 
 tain, who in a few minutes afterwards made his 
 appearance on deck. He looked at the stranger,
 
 278 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 and then hailing aloft, inquired " whether any 
 other vessel was in sight ?" 
 
 " Yes, sir," replied the man on the foretop- 
 sail-yard, " there are two luggers right in 
 under the land." 
 
 " The Dutchman has altered his course, sir," 
 said the master, " and has bore up as if for our 
 own coast." 
 
 " We '11 make short work of him presently, 
 Mr. Stowage," responded the captain, as he 
 earnestly scrutinised the luggers, who were 
 carrying on about four miles distant, making a 
 clear run for St. Valery en Caux. " It would 
 
 be a hopeless task to chase those ," he 
 
 observed, " and now for Mynheer. Forud 
 there ! send a piece of cold iron into that 
 elephant haystack." 
 
 The order was promptly obeyed ; the shot 
 struck the chase, and instantly she hauled to 
 the wind, and laid her maintopsail to the mast. 
 A very short time brought the frigate along- 
 side, when the stranger proved to be a Dutch 
 East Indiaman, which had been picked up dur- 
 ing the night by the two luggers then in sight. 
 
 A prize-crew was immediately mustered, for 
 most of the Dutchmen had been removed, and 
 Macdonald (who had for some time past re- 
 frained from his usual intemperate habits) was
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 279 
 
 placed in charge, with Blocks for his second, 
 Yorick giving orders that they should without 
 loss of time make the best of their way for the 
 Downs, and subsequently for the River Thames. 
 The old Noah's ark shovelled along tolerably 
 M'ell with a free wind ; but scarcely had they 
 lost sight of the frigate than it fell perfectly 
 calm, and though they were then at least ten 
 miles from the shore, a number of row-boats 
 were distinctly seen pulling out towards them 
 from Dieppe, whilst, to the deep mortification 
 of our hero, Macdonald had not been able to 
 resist the temptation which laid in his way, 
 and was sinking fast into beastly intoxication. 
 Still there was nothing to fear from the row- 
 boats : he had fourteen good seamen and four 
 marines belonging to the frigate, twelve Dutch- 
 men, and ten long-twelves in each broadside, 
 (the ship had been captured by boarding, 
 whilst the Mynheers were smoking their 
 pipes,) with plenty of ammunition. 
 
 " Do you think they mean to attack us, 
 Jem ?" said the young officer, addressing a 
 worthy old friend in the quartermaster. 
 " They pull out with a good show of de- 
 termination." 
 
 " Mayhap they '11 try it on, Mr. Blocks," 
 returned the quartermaster. " Them chaps
 
 280 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 have plenty o' pluck for a dash, though they 
 can't stand hard hammering. But let 'em 
 come, sir ; we 've had some pretty fair target 
 practice lately, and I 'm not misdoubtful but 
 we shall expend some on "'em."" 
 
 At this moment Macdonald appeared on 
 deck, and observing Blocks and the quarter- 
 master in conversation, with a self-conviction 
 which still lingered about him, as the last 
 glimmer of reason, he suspected that he him- 
 self was the subject they were talking about. 
 "What's all this. Blocks?" said he rather 
 inarticulately. " Come aft here, sir, and don't 
 be plotting mischief amongst the people." 
 
 Blocks complied with the order, for he had 
 no wish to irritate him ; but the quartermaster, 
 nettled at the words, promptly replied, " If 
 nobody makes no more mischief nor him, Mr. 
 Macdonald, there wouldn't be much harm 
 done in that 'ere way, anyhow." 
 
 " Silence, you mutinous scoundrel !" roared 
 Macdonald, infuriated by the liquor he had 
 swallowed. 
 
 " I 'm no mutinous scoundrel," returned 
 the veteran, with that degree of coolness 
 and collectedness which generally operates on 
 passion to stir it to extreme. " I 'm a plain 
 sober tar as knows his duty, and does it."
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 281 
 
 The term " sober," whether intended as a 
 hit or not, produced the same effect. " Do you 
 mean to say I 'm drunk ?" demanded the 
 master's-mate, his rage bursting all bounds. 
 He staggered into the cabin, but in two 
 minutes reappeared with a pistol in each hand. 
 " Here's mutiny — mutiny ! — " he exclaimed. 
 " Who will — who dare dispute my orders ?" 
 
 " No one, Macdonald," said Blocks mildly. 
 " Come, come below, and let us have a over- 
 haul, for — " 
 
 " Silence, you brat !" interrupted Mac- 
 donald fiercely. " I know your schemes, and 
 
 by I '11 take the law into my own hands 
 
 if you disobey me. Go forud, quartermaster, 
 and take your station on the fokesul." 
 
 The man hesitated for a minute, but, urged 
 by Blocks's voice to obedience, he was walking 
 away, when Macdonald shouted, " Come back 
 here, you sir. What ! you wouldn't move till 
 Blocks spoke, eh .'' Now, sir, come back here, 
 and stay aft that I may have my eye on you." 
 The quartermaster returned, but did not 
 touch his hat as he passed, and this was made 
 a fresh source of irritation. " So you mean to 
 
 insult me, do you ? Avast, sir ! by , 
 
 I believe you 're drunk." 
 
 There was something so extremely ludicrous 
 in this charge, it had in its purport and man-
 
 282 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 ner so much of the vis comica, that the seamen, 
 who had collected near the gangways, could not 
 refrain from laughter. The Dutchmen looked 
 on with their accustomed gravity ; whilst the 
 Frenchmen joined in the laugh, merely for the 
 sake of companionship in mirth. This pro- 
 duced a climax. 
 
 " If nobody had buU'd* the cask more nor 
 Jem to-day, there wouldn't have been much 
 grog drunk," mumbled the quartermaster, 
 and the next instant a ball would have passed 
 through his head, but for the timely inter- 
 vention of Blocks, who sprang forward and 
 struck up the muzzle of the weapon. 
 
 " For shame, for shame, Macdonald !" ut- 
 tered our hero. " Give me up that pistol in- 
 stantly. This is getting too serious to be 
 trifled with." 
 
 " I don't value his crackers a tinker's ," 
 
 exclaimed the quartermaster, totally unmoved 
 by the occurrence ; " but arter sailing to- 
 gether so many years — " 
 
 " You must lay aside that pistol, Mac- 
 
 * When a spirit-cask was emptied, if the seamen could 
 clandestinely get hold of it, a small quantity of water was 
 introduced through the bung-hole, the cask bunged up and 
 shook and rolled about till the water became grog. This 
 was called "a bull."
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 283 
 
 donald," said Blocks, who observed that the 
 eye of his messmate was rolHng with frenzy. 
 " Here's the enemy coming out from Dieppe, 
 and " 
 
 " Ay, ay, I see it all," returned the master's 
 mate. " You \e mutinied, and mean to de- 
 liver up the craft. What enemy ? where is 
 the enemy ?" The quartermaster was again 
 about to speak, but Blocks sternly insisted 
 upon his being silent. " I see no enemy," 
 continued the infatuated being, " Away aloft 
 there, men, and take a reef in the topsels." 
 
 •' There is not a breath of wind, Mac- 
 donald," said Blocks, who saw the impropriety 
 of sending their own seamen aloft, whilst the 
 Dutch and French remained below, and the 
 row-boats were nearing them fast, though not 
 within gun-shot. " Had we not better get a 
 gun or two to bear upon the boats as they 
 advance ?" 
 
 *' All humbug !" returned Macdonald ; and 
 then turning to the quartermaster, " Here, 
 you, sir, hand yourself into the cabin." 
 
 " I can obey a man in his senses, Mr. 
 Blocks," argued the petit officer, addressing 
 
 our hero ; " but I 'm if I 'm going abaft 
 
 there with a madman merely to have an oilet- 
 hole worked in my carcase."
 
 284 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 Poor Blocks scarcely knew what to do. 
 He had received many, many kindnesses from 
 Macdonald, who when sober was as clever an 
 officer as ever breathed. He saw no alterna- 
 tive but to take the command from him, but 
 he wished to do it quietly by persuading him 
 to turn in ; and when intoxication had passed 
 away, he was well aware that no one would 
 more lament the impropriety of his conduct 
 than the individual who had been guilty of it. 
 The quartermaster had been an old shipmate 
 of Macdonald's, and had screened him on 
 several occasions, which led to a familiarity 
 derogatory to the distinctions imposed by 
 discipline : the seamen, on the other hand, 
 knew but little of him, and only saw that 
 their lives were at the mercy of a man lite- 
 rally mad drunk ; — they pressed aft, therefore, 
 partly in self-defence, and partly because the 
 barrier had been broken down by the officer 
 himself which ought to have kept them at a 
 distance, — they now ranged themselves in a 
 body on the quarter-deck. 
 
 " I thinks, Mr. Blocks," said one of them, 
 who, though a notorious drunkard, put himself 
 forward as spokesman, — " I thinks that for tlie 
 good of the sarvice you ought to put Muster 
 Macdonald under confinement "
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 285 
 
 " Stand back, and clear the quarter-deck," 
 shouted Blocks with firmness and prompti- 
 tude : " when I want your advice, I '11 seek 
 it." 
 
 " But we think it right to give it, sir, without 
 axing," answered the man ; " and if you don't 
 clap him in limbo, why mayhap we may do it 
 for you." 
 
 The words had scarcely passed his lips, when 
 the fellow lay prostrate on the deck from a 
 blow given by the still strong arm of the 
 sturdy old quartermaster. " Lie there, you 
 drunken swab !" exclaimed Jem, standing 
 erect over his fallen shipmate. *' What ! did 
 ye think I was going to stand by and hear 
 you insult a young officer as wishes to do his 
 duty, and will do it too. But God A'mighty 
 has stowed a commodity in his heart which 
 never formed any part of your cargo, you 
 lubber! — and that's humanity. You talk of 
 clapping a man in limbo?" and he spurned 
 the fellow away from him with his foot. 
 
 Tiie man rose up and cried out, " I say, 
 shipmates, will you stand treatment like this ? 
 If you do, then you're a pack of lubberly 
 cowards ! " 
 
 A general laugh followed this appeal. 
 
 " What treatment, Joe ? — vou \e had it all
 
 286 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 to your own cheek, — it warn't sarved out 
 among us," was the response ; and the crest- 
 fallen advocate sneaked away. 
 
 " Men," said Blocks, taking advantage of 
 the change in the position of affairs, " it is 
 true that I am young and but inexperienced; 
 yet I know my duty, and cannot want for 
 efficient support whilst you do yours. As 
 for my poor messmate," — his voice faltered 
 with emotion, for recollections rushed across 
 his mind, — the generous feelings of those 
 whom he addressed were more forcibly touch- 
 ed than by any power of language, and 
 a simultaneous cheer burst forth from the 
 worthy tars, characteristic of the Yorick 
 school. But Macdonald, who stood steady- 
 ing himself by the capstan still retaining 
 his second pistol, on hearing the cheer, raised 
 the weapon, pointed it at our hero, who turn- 
 ing sharply round, received a ball through the 
 fleshy part of his left arm, which otherwise 
 probably would have passed through his 
 heart. The wretched man was immediately 
 secured, a handkerchief was bound tightly 
 round the wounded arm, and as the row- 
 boats still persevered in advancing, the men 
 went to the guns. But here another source 
 of difficulty was presented to our hero, as on
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 287 
 
 examination it was discovered that the French- 
 men, taking advantage of the confusion upon 
 deck, had cut nearly through the strands of 
 every breeching, and, in some instances, (no 
 doubt all would have been served the same 
 had time allowed,) nails were driven down into 
 the touch-holes. The craft, however, was as 
 steady as a castle on a rock, and four guns 
 were brought to bear ; but the shot-lockers 
 were empty, the Frenchmen having quietly 
 slid the shot overboard. Still the four effec- 
 tive guns were loaded, and with good marks- 
 men much might be done with a first dis- 
 charge. 
 
 " Send every rascal of the privateer's-men 
 on deck here," said Blocks ; and as soon as 
 they were mustered so that no one was miss- 
 ing, a rope was passed several turns round 
 the whole of them and hove pretty taut. The 
 marines, with their loaded firelocks, took them 
 under charge ; whilst the English seamen went 
 to the guns, and the Dutchmen were employ- 
 ed in reeving new breechings and endeavour- 
 ing to clear the spikes from the touch-holes. 
 The row-boats came on without any regular ox*- 
 der, and the first shot that was thrown from the 
 ship struck one of the headmost of them, and 
 tearing out two or three streaks between wind
 
 288 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 and water, she instantly sunk. The nearest 
 boats to her did not stay to pick up their 
 swimming companions, so eager were they to 
 board ; but a second boat sharing the fate of 
 the first, checked them in their progress, and 
 they lay for a few minutes upon their oars. 
 
 " Here's another enemy a-coming, Mr. 
 Blocks," said the quartermaster. " Them there 
 Mynheers must secure the guns the best way 
 they can, and skim aloft to roll up the canvass ; 
 there 's a heavy squall ull be down upon us di- 
 rectly from the nor'-west ;— not that I'm think- 
 ing it will give us anything of a lust to star- 
 board or to port, take us which way it comes ; 
 but the cloth arn''t none o' the best, and may- 
 hap it may turn to a summer gale. Them fellows 
 won't come nigh us again — they can read the 
 face of the heavens in their own latitude just 
 as well as a purser's steward surveys his mess- 
 books, and they see there 's heavier artillery 
 nor ours priming again' 'em.'*" 
 
 A distant flash of lightning and the bellow- 
 ing of thunder verified the old man's obser- 
 vation, and no time was lost in endeavours 
 to make everything snug. The row-boats 
 had had enough of it, and were retreating 
 from whence they came ; and the French- 
 men were liberated and compelled to assist
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 289 
 
 in shortening sail. At length, down came the 
 squall, lashing up the waters to a white foam, 
 and spreading a dark pall over the face of the 
 sky. The Jonge Vrow, of Amsterdam, scarce- 
 ly felt its effects on her hull, but her masts 
 trembled and quivered, and much of the gear 
 snapped like tow : heavier and heavier grew 
 the gale, and higher and higher rose the sea, 
 breaking over the unwieldy craft as if she had 
 been a half-tide rock. 
 
 " It ull be a sneezer, Mr. Blocks," said the 
 quartermaster ; " and as we are well down to 
 looard, a range of the cables would do no harm ; 
 — I '11 just go and overhaul the tier, for may- 
 hap the Crappoes have been playing the same 
 trick as they did upon the breechings." 
 
 The cables, however, were found perfect, 
 and preparations made for anchoring in case 
 of necessity. Night came on — a red-eyed, 
 fiery, tempestuous night : — it was not the 
 dreary, dark, and frowning gale of winter, 
 but the might and pageantry of power, priding 
 itself in its strength ; — it was not as the 
 sullen roar of December's storms, pouring 
 out destruction in its habitual rage; but it 
 was like the wild laugh of some bacchanalian 
 tyrant, spreading devastation to make him 
 sport.
 
 290 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 The lumbering ship made but little head- 
 way — she went bodily to leeward, when 
 Macdonald, having in a great measure reco- 
 vered from his intemperance, resumed the 
 command. He had but little recollection of 
 what had transpired, and Blocks forbore to 
 mention it whilst they were in difficulty. The 
 master's-mate was a thorough seaman, and a 
 good pilot ; the ship had settled down into the 
 bight near Treport, and he immediately wore 
 her round upon the starboard-tack, keeping 
 her a point off the wind to see if she would draw 
 ahead ; but nothing would make this mam- 
 moth move in any other direction than side- 
 ways, like a crab, and there seemed to be 
 every probability of going ashore. 
 
 Hour after hour, as they sounded, the Avater 
 got gradually shoaler, — the high land frowned 
 above their heads, whilst its base groaned be- 
 neath the heavy breakers that dashed and foamed 
 in hideous distortion below ; — still there were 
 the anchors, and men were stationed ready to 
 let them go. Unhappily, however, several of 
 the prize crew had taken advantage of the 
 inebriation of their officer, and liquor being 
 plentiful, they also had become intoxicated. 
 The Frenchmen entertained no hopes of re- 
 taking the ship; but, during the confusion
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 291 
 
 that prevailed, they lowered one of the quar- 
 ter-boats without its being perceived. 
 
 At this very instant a shift of wind took place 
 to the south-west, and whilst again wearing 
 the ship round. Blocks, who was standing in 
 a rather exposed situation, clearing tlie main- 
 brace from the davit, missed the boat. He was 
 about to shout to Macdonald, when a sud- 
 den blow sent him flying overboard, and he 
 fell just outside the yawl, into which several 
 of the Frenchmen had already got. Suppos- 
 ing it one of their party, the alarmed youth 
 was dragged in amongst them ; but when they 
 found he was an enemy, they were about to 
 commit him again to the deep. This, however, 
 was overruled ; he was told to remain quiet if 
 he valued his life ; in a few minutes the other 
 prisoners embarked, the towline was let go, 
 and the boat soon dropped out of sight astern. 
 
 At first the Frenclimen wished to make for 
 Treport ; but the tide was out and the sea 
 broke too heavy to attempt the beach — so 
 they out oars to pull for Boulogne or Calais, 
 and subsequently the latter harbour was de- 
 termined upon, as they would just reach it 
 by daylight, and in tide-time. The gale, 
 however, came down heavier tlian ever, and 
 the shift of wind had kicked up a nasty cross 
 
 o 2
 
 292 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 sea that several times had nearly filled the boat 
 so as to compel all hands to get to bailing. 
 
 It was whilst thus engaged off Cape Grisnez 
 that the yawl came broadside-to ; a recoiling 
 roller from the shore met the approaching 
 wave exactly at the spot ; — the concussion 
 nearly crushed the clumsy vessel and sent 
 it to the bottom. Blocks could swim ex- 
 tremely well ; but the awfulness of his situa- 
 tion when he rose from the dark grave of 
 waters that had engulphed most of his com- 
 panions smote fearfully upon his heart ; the 
 noise of the billows as they toppled and 
 threw their spray high above his head — the 
 howling of the wind as it swept over him — the 
 roaring of the breakers, was enough to appal 
 the boldest mind, and he who had been rescued 
 a helpless infant from the fury of the elements, 
 now that he was enabled to struggle for him- 
 self, quailed before it. Still he struck out, 
 and finding his hands hit against something 
 hard, he grasped at it, and seized one of the 
 oars that had floated ; — in a short time he 
 possessed himself of another, and placing them 
 under his arms, they buoyed him up with a 
 little assistance from his feet. To render him- 
 self as light as possible, Blocks parted with 
 his jacket and waistcoat, and subsequent-
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 293 
 
 ly, as the wash of the sea rendered his shirt 
 an enabarrassment, that also was abandoned. 
 The water was rather warm than otherwise ; 
 but the recoil of the swell frequently tum- 
 bled him over and over, though he still held 
 firmly by his friendly support. The wound 
 in his arm was very painful, and the blow 
 that knocked him overboard had stiffened 
 his back and neck ; — but, oh ! how inesti- 
 mable is life to one who feels and knows that 
 he is on the verge of eternity ! — the power 
 that is actuated by animal instinct may grow 
 weaker and weaker till it utterly fails, whilst 
 the mind remains strong in its reason though 
 increasing in its suffering. 
 
 Our hero's nervous system had undergone 
 great agitation from excitement during the pre- 
 vious day, and the labours of the night to 
 counteract the effects of the gale had rendered 
 him weary ; nor can it excite surprise that, now 
 he found himself alone and desolate on the tur- 
 bid waters, his spirit should be depressed or his 
 heart dejected. But the gale subsided as the 
 bright herald of the day gradually spread its 
 light over the face of the heavens ; and, oh ! 
 what tongue can tell — what language can de- 
 scribe the revival of hope in the breast of poor 
 Blocks as he saw the dimness of night yield-
 
 294 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 ing to the sweet influences of the early dawn ! 
 and yet how long — how very long it seemed to 
 linger, as if in mockery at his anxious longings 
 for help. 
 
 At length a flood of sunshine filled the 
 air, and shortly afterwards spread its warm 
 beams upon the waters. The breeze lulled, 
 the waves became smooth : Ten-thousand saw 
 the high cliffs towering above him. He was 
 about a mile from the shore, carried rather 
 rapidly along by a spring flood-tide. At every 
 rise of the swell he gazed ardently and anxious- 
 ly around, but no aid appeared : he beheld the 
 white cliffs of England gloriously lighted up 
 by the rays of the sun, but he feared his foot 
 would never again tread on British soil. The 
 swell and the indraught were hurrying him 
 towards the rocky shore, on which the breakers 
 dashed most fearfully, and he knew he had not 
 strength to resist them. Consciousness now 
 seemed to waver, and he clutched the oars 
 beneath his arms as with a death-grapple ; a 
 flickering mist was spread like a dark veil 
 before his eyes ; his senses became bewildered ; 
 a pleasing delirium crept upon him ; shadowy 
 forms flitted before his visionary view ; a deaf- 
 ening noise, like the shouts of a tumult, sounded 
 in his ears, and he sank into slumber. Horrible
 
 TOPSAIL SHEET BLOCKS. 2l)5 
 
 were his dreams; he might indeed exclaim 
 with Clarence, 
 
 " Ye gods ! methought what pain it was to drown." 
 
 Suddenly he awoke, but his eyes were still 
 closed ; his supporters were gone, and yet he 
 felt the agitation of the waves ; he stretched 
 out his hands, and they fell upon a human 
 face ! " Was he then among the dead at the 
 bottom of the sea ?" He shuddered and sprang 
 up, but a heavy blow instantly prostrated him 
 again ; he opened his eyes, and found himself 
 in the little bed-place on the starboard-side of 
 a small cabin, whilst the sleeper he had touched 
 lay on the lockers by his side, and the blow 
 was caused by his striking his head against a 
 beam. The fact was, that just as sensibility 
 was sinking into utter helplessness, a small 
 cutter privateer from Boulogne was running 
 along the coast for the North Sea, and passing- 
 close to our hero, had picked him up. Means 
 had been used to resuscitate with success ; he 
 had been put to bed in the captain's berth, 
 and recovered, as we have already seen. 
 
 Ten-thousand lay ruminating on his situ- 
 ation as he felt the little vessel dance lightly 
 along, and heard the voices of the crew on deck. 
 That he was in the hands of the French, he
 
 296 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 could tell by their language, and the questions 
 he debated in his mind were, to what cause 
 should he attribute the peril from which they 
 had, no doubt, rescued him, and whether he 
 should declare himself an English officer. He 
 had no papers — no certificates — no uniform to 
 show, and the dread of a prison wrought terror 
 in his heart ; whilst if it were only possible to 
 pass for a Frenchman, there were prospects of 
 escape. He spoke the language with all the 
 freedom and fluency of a native, and he might 
 represent himself as of English descent, born in 
 France. The story of the Dutchman would 
 do, making himself one of the prisoners who 
 had quitted her; his wound would be corro- 
 borative evidence. For the present, however, 
 he determined to lie perfectly still ; and soon 
 afterwards a seaman descended, and aroused 
 the sleeper, to say that " the Republican flag 
 was flying at Ostend." 
 
 " The English must have left it then, 
 
 and retreated ?"" said the awakened man ; " or 
 is it a ruse ? " 
 
 " You had better judge for yourself," re- 
 sponded the first. " There is heavy firing 
 along the coast ; and if the foutres have fled, 
 there will be something handsome in the way of 
 plunder."
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 297 
 
 The individual addressed arose from the 
 locker. Blocks heard him exclaim, " Pauvre 
 diable !" but he kept his eyes closed, and the 
 two immediately went on deck. For a full 
 hour he lay in torment of mind and in pain 
 of body. At the expiration of that time, the 
 movements of the vessel became steady, and he 
 was aware she was gliding along in smooth 
 water — probably had entered Ostend. This, in 
 fact, was the case; and Le Juliana (the name 
 of the cutter) in a very short time was lying 
 quietly moored at the platform. 
 
 Blocks could hear the roaring of artillery 
 and the shouts of many voices ; but they were 
 distant, whilst near at hand all was sullen silence. 
 There was no tread of feet upon the deck, no 
 hum of conversation, and, unable any longer 
 to resist curiosity, he arose and ascended the 
 companion ; but it was locked, and egress in 
 that direction was denied. Mounting the table, 
 he removed the skylight with as little noise as 
 possible, but no one appeared to prevent his 
 operations ; he climbed on deck, but not a soul 
 was to be seen. Again descending, he slipped 
 on a pair of canvass trowsers, — he already hod 
 been supplied with a shirt ; a pair of shoes, 
 somewhat too large, were made free with ; and 
 mounting a red cap with a cockade in it over 
 
 o5
 
 ^8 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 all, he quitted the cutter, passed through the 
 heavy barricades that had been recently erected, 
 walked stealthily along the quay, and then 
 boldly entered the town. 
 
 The musketry was still ringing forth their 
 death-peals. Blocks heard the balls whistle past 
 him, but he had no shelter to fly to ; for should 
 he return to the cutter, it was more than proba- 
 ble that his fate would be sealed. The wound- 
 ed and dead were lying in the streets ; the Re- 
 publican troops, like infuriated demons, were 
 smearing their faces with the blood of the slain ; 
 brutal intoxication heightened the ingenuity of 
 hellish cruelty ; and Ten-thousand was nearly 
 betraying himself, on seeing a young mother, 
 with her infant in her arms, surrounded by the 
 monsters, and supplicating mercy on her bended 
 knees. The baby crowed and laughed as if 
 pleased with the melee ; its looks and innocence 
 might have softened an obdurate heart, but 
 these devils knew no pity. One of them thrust 
 his bayonet through the delighted child, and 
 whilst thus impaled, he shouldered his fusee 
 amidst the shouts of his companions. But oh 
 that wretched mother ! — she sprang upon her 
 feet ; she gazed at her writhing and yet 
 screaming babe ; her eyes seemed starting from 
 their sockets ; a rigid sternness came upon her
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 299 
 
 features; her arms were immovably out- 
 stretched, her fingers were curved and fixed, 
 her under jaw dropped ; there was a deep 
 hollow groan, — and the woman was a corpse ! 
 But she did not instantly fall ; in all the dis- 
 tortion of death she stood for upwards of a 
 minute in the same attitude, and then came 
 heavily to the ground. 
 
 So horrible a spectacle nearly maddened our 
 hero. He had heard and read of such atroci- 
 ties, and shuddered at the contemplation of 
 man becoming a wolf to his fellow- creatures; 
 but now the evidence was practically before his 
 eyes — he had himself witnessed it, and rushing 
 from the spot, he fled he knew not whither. 
 
 In one of the deserted streets, the door of a 
 handsome house stood open, and he entered, 
 hoping to find shelter; but, alas ! the sounds of 
 lamentation were also here. In a large apartment 
 of which he commanded a view from an ante- 
 room, sat a French ofllicer writing ; an orderly 
 Serjeant was at a short distance from the table : 
 groans and sobs proceeded from the interior, 
 but Blocks could not tell from whence, though 
 they appeared to be the bitter wailings of 
 females. Our hero, conjecturing that the Ser- 
 jeant would soon withdraw, noiselessly crept 
 to a spacious closet in the ante- room, where he
 
 300 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 concealed himself. He was right : the orderly 
 received the paper and departed. The officer 
 remained ; but almost immediately afterwards 
 nearly a dozen soldiers rushed in, and, in de- 
 fiance of the officer's commands, two young 
 ladies were dragged out by these brutes, shout- 
 ing " Vive la Republique ! — Mort aux emi- 
 gres." 
 
 " Arr^tez, arretez !" cried the officer, fol- 
 lowing them. " They are my sisters ; I am 
 their brother. You will not shed the blood of 
 friends ?" 
 
 " Vive la Republique ! — Mort aux emi- 
 gres !'' was the response, and the sounds grew 
 into confusion as the party receded. 
 
 Blocks entered the room in which the officer 
 had been sitting, and stretched upon a table 
 in one corner lay the bloody body of an aged 
 man. His dress was of a superior kind ; — 
 black silk knee-breeches and silk stockings of 
 the same colour, a white satin embroidered 
 waistcoat, and a black coat with the insignia 
 of nobility on the left breast. His hair was 
 silvery white, and even in death there was a 
 look of sorrowful placidity on the features. 
 Blocks readily read the tale. The corpse had 
 been one of the noblesse, who with his daugh- 
 ters had quitted Paris at the Revolution,
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 301 
 
 leaving his son behind. The latter, either to 
 save his patrimonial estates, or from choice or 
 necessity, had joined the Republicans, and at- 
 tained the rank of colonel in the army, under 
 Jourdan and Pichegru. The father had been 
 unable to retreat with the English when Lord 
 Moira retired from Ostend, and had fallen a 
 victim to the sanguinary forces ; and now the 
 daughters — but their fate was not yet known. 
 
 On the table at which the officer had been 
 sitting lay a light hussar's jacket ; removing 
 which, Blocks beheld a brace of pocket-pistols, 
 a gold watch, and a silk purse, which had 
 been concealed under it. He found the pistols 
 were both loaded and primed, and the purse 
 was heavy with louis-d'ors. What should he 
 do with them ? He was destitute of money, 
 he was without arms, and both were now 
 before him. The deliberation was sliort ; they 
 were speechly secured about his person. But 
 the watch ? — if any one entered, he would 
 certainly take it ; and perhaps by doing the 
 same himself, he might restore it to the owner. 
 Scarcely had he appropriated the articles, when 
 he heard approaching footsteps. To retreat to 
 the closet was impossible ; he therefore hastily 
 crawled beneath the table on which lay the 
 dead body, and the long side-flap descending
 
 302 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 to the ground, entirely screened him from 
 observation. The individual entered the apart- 
 ment and groaned most heavily. Blocks cau- 
 tiously peeped out, and saw the young officer 
 sitting at the table, his face concealed by his 
 hands, but every limb gave indication of con- 
 siderable agitation. In a few minutes he arose 
 and stood over the corpse. 
 
 " Father !" he uttered in a tone of melan- 
 choly entreaty, as if the dead could hearken to 
 his voice, — " Father ! it is Eugene that calls.'' 
 He paused about the space of a minute, and 
 then added in a deep sepulchral murmur, " He 
 will never answer more ! And I ?"" he sud- 
 denly ejaculated, " leagued with devils who 
 have dishonoured those grey hairs and shed 
 this blood — ay, my blood, for the same vital 
 stream flows in my veins. — Father! Eugene 
 implores you— say that you forgive me! I 
 did it for the best, and it had your sanction. 
 If thy blessed spirit is yet hovering over the 
 frail clay, give some token of pardon to a 
 distracted son." He knelt and bowed his head 
 upon the corpse ; when Blocks heard a light 
 noiseless step enter the room, and a voice 
 exclaimed, " C'est vrai ! — my enemy is here 
 before me." 
 
 The officer started to his feet, and would
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 303 
 
 have sprung to the other table, no doubt ex- 
 pecting to find his pistols, but his opponent 
 barred the way. *' What would you now, in- 
 fernal fiend .?" demanded he. 
 
 " You mouth it well, monsieur," responded 
 the other. " Nay, put up your sword. It 
 was I who taught your arm the fence ; and 
 though you 've been a clever pupil, you are 
 not yet a master. There lies my ancient foe, 
 who drove me forth upon the world, and made 
 me what I am. Monsieur Eugene, I will tell 
 you a secret : it was my hand that stretched 
 him there." And the wretch laughed. 
 
 " Monster ! — villain ! — murderer !" screamed 
 Eugene, making a desperate but useless pass 
 at his antagonist : he was instantly disarmed, 
 and at the mercy of his enemy. 
 
 " You had better have kept your temper. 
 Monsieur Eugene !" tauntingly exclaimed the 
 other. " That pass was worthy of the teacher, 
 however, and I am proud of my instruction. 
 But you would stab your friend — the friend 
 who has made you a marquis ; — though, I for- 
 got all titles were abolished ; but, at all events, 
 there are the estates, young man. It would 
 sound badly at the Convention, that Monsieur 
 Du Fay had attempted to assassinate a com- 
 patriot, and his equal in rank ; — yes, the poor
 
 304 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 Serjeant of chasseurs is now a colonel; and he 
 who was spurned from the chateau for loving 
 your sister Pauline, has now the power of life 
 and death in his hands. That pass, however, 
 was well made, and " 
 
 " What is your object in seeking me here ?*" 
 inquired the officer who had been styled Du 
 Fay : '* is it to exult over your murdered 
 victim, once your benefactor and friend? Re- 
 member, sir, I am not without influence — my 
 services demand " 
 
 "Tush — folly, man!" returned the other, 
 laughing : " you — I — the whole army are but 
 tools — mere instruments in the hands of one 
 whom I could name ; nay, why should I fear 
 to name him ? — it is Robespierre. He needs 
 our swords ; but were they laid aside, he 
 would be just as likely to require our heads, 
 and roll them on the scaffold. 1 am here to 
 serve you, and to save your sisters. Are you 
 ready to sanction my union with Pauline .''" 
 
 " Horrible audacity !" exclaimed Du Fay ; 
 " what! marry the daughter, with the blood 
 of the father still red upon your hands ? 
 Think you Pauline is so utterly lost to feel- 
 ing and to honour .?" — An involuntary groan, 
 arising from exhaustion and pain, issued from 
 poor Blocks : it was heard by the other parties.
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 305 
 
 "' Hark !" exclaimed Eugene, " the very dead 
 protests against it ;"" and he returned to the 
 side of the corpse. 
 
 " Either she is mine, or dies ! " said the 
 other determinedly ; " nor can all your boasted 
 influence save her. The terrorists will have 
 their way — the trenches are prepared — the 
 general will spare no one." 
 
 " And I remain here idly," exclaimed Du 
 Fay, " whilst perhaps they perish. The ge- 
 neral wars not against women : he will, he must 
 listen to my entreaties, — and what power can 
 you possess superior to mine ?" 
 
 Blocks heard the rustling of some paper, 
 as the other replied, " Here is the warrant for 
 their execution. I am commissioned to see 
 its performance." 
 
 " Colonel Tiercelin !" returned Du Fay, his 
 energies subdued, " can you — dare you con- 
 sign my sisters to a death of outrage ? Think 
 of the chateau — think of earlier days — think — 
 oh God ! 'tis horrible to think ! for the me- 
 mory floats onward like the tide, filling up 
 the after history with deeds of blood. Yet 
 you cannot — you dare not murder the children 
 of your benefactor." 
 
 " My benefactor?" uttered the person ad- 
 dressed. " Twice have you taunted me with
 
 806 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 the term. Your father found me an exile, 
 and I might have lived and died in humble 
 obscurity (if my fiery nature would have per- 
 mitted), but that he ascertained the royal 
 blood was flowing in my veins. They may 
 talk of legitimacy and the marriage contract ! 
 — tush ! I am not less the son of a king for 
 being born out of wedlock ; nor will I ever 
 forget, that whilst my unfortunate mother ex- 
 pired in a convent, her child was banished and 
 abandoned to penury and want. Your father 
 gave me shelter, brought me up, and educated 
 me ; we lived together — I dared to love your 
 sister, and was driven from the only home I 
 ever knew. The marquis had only eclat in 
 view — he cared not for the bar sinister then, 
 and "" 
 
 " Hold, Tiercelin !" said Du Fay ; " you 
 Avell know, that it was not till you had out- 
 raged every moral feeling, and shown your- 
 self capable of the vilest ingratitude, that you 
 were sent from the chateau. — But I cannot stay 
 longer here ; I must seek the general."" 
 
 " You do not stir from this place, Du Fay, 
 until you have sealed the fate of Pauline," 
 returned the other firmly. " Your rejection 
 of my alliance shall be her death — no power 
 on earth can save her ; for if not mine, no
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 307 
 
 created being shall enjoy the woman I have 
 loved to madness." 
 
 " By what authority, sir, do you oppose my 
 departure?" demanded Du Fay, who sprang 
 to the table, lifted up his jacket — the weapons 
 were gone. " Nay, then I dare you !" he ex- 
 claimed ; " I defy your sword !" and he rush- 
 ed upon his merciless opponent, who received 
 the shock as if he had been a statue of marble. 
 
 Blocks peeped out and beheld the strife. 
 The antagonist of Du Fay was splendidly 
 dressed, a strong muscular man, tall and stout, 
 who hurled the young officer back into the 
 apartment, wounded. 
 
 " I am resolved, monsieur !" exclaimed the 
 wretch, coolly wiping and putting up his sword. 
 " Write to Pauline your sanction to our union 
 — she will not disregard the request of her 
 brother, and all may yet be well. Refuse, and 
 she — ay, you also must die ! I am here the 
 stronger of the two — you are at my disposal — 
 and do you suppose I would suffer a babbler 
 to talk of what has happened ? — no, no !" 
 
 " Villain !" indignantly uttered Du Fay, 
 " and can you think so meanly of my intel- 
 lect as to suppose I do not penetrate your 
 designs? My consent once in your hands, 
 you, who have murdered the father, would
 
 308 TOPSAIL SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 assassinate the son, to prevent its being known. 
 Come on, thou bastard !" — he seized a chair 
 and aimed a blow ; " at least I will sell my 
 life at hazard." 
 
 Blocks again looked out, and saw the tall 
 officer struck heavily by the chair — his sword 
 was immediately drawn, and in all probability 
 Du Fay in a few minutes would have been 
 laid by the side of his father; but Ten-thou- 
 sand's finger was on the trigger of the pistol — 
 he trembled lest he should be foiled in his 
 aim, but, mustering all his resolution, he fired : 
 the smoke prevented his witnessing the effect, 
 but the cry of " Ha, treachery !"" induced 
 him to hope that it had been sure. Firmly 
 he grasped the other pistol, the emergency of 
 the moment steadying all his nerves — the smoke 
 cleared, and the officer stood with his hand 
 to his head, apparently unharmed. Du Fay 
 had taken advantage of the firing, and rush- 
 ed through the door-way : his antagonist did 
 not follow, but staggeringly approached the 
 table ; he removed his hand, and a stream of 
 blood gushed down his face. Blocks sprang 
 from his concealment, — he snapped the other 
 pistol — it missed fire, and the sword of the 
 wounded man passed just above his shoulder; 
 but the force of the thrust overpowered the
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 309 
 
 Colossus, — his eye became dim, his brain 
 reeled, and he fell prostrate on the young mid- 
 shipman, forcing him beneath his weight to the 
 ground. 
 
 Expecting immediate death, and unable to 
 extricate himself. Ten-thousand felt the giant 
 hand of the colonel on his throat : the com- 
 pression was like a vice — strangulation pro- 
 ceeded — life was fast fading, when the hold 
 suddenly relaxed, a convulsive tremour shook 
 his foe, the body sprang from the ground and 
 then rolled over, leaving the youth at liberty. 
 It was several minutes, however, before Blocks 
 could take advantage of his release: when he 
 did, he found the strong man a corpse. His 
 first impulse was to escape ; but remembering 
 the warrant of execution, he felt the pockets 
 of the enemy, possessed himself of every paper, 
 and then hastened to quit the house, — but he 
 found the door secured, and all egress that way 
 prevented. Whilst debating in his mind what 
 course to pursue, he heard the noise of many 
 voices advancing, singing and shouting, and at 
 intervals the firing of musketry. A strong iron 
 bar upon a central pivot was affixed to the door, 
 and this Ten-thousand succeeded in throwing 
 across, — he also closed the bolts, and had scarce- 
 ly finished, when the muzzle of a musket was
 
 310 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 inserted in the key-hole and discharged. The 
 lock was shattered, but it did not give way ; a 
 second and a third were fired, but still the 
 door remained unmoved, and the plunderers, 
 after uttering a few " sacres," proceeded on- 
 ward in their career. A large hole, however, 
 had been perforated, through which Blocks 
 could see into the street. The noise died away, 
 and silence again resumed her absolute domi- 
 nion — but the youth hesitated to depart ; the 
 bars and bolts had resisted the attack, and 
 where could he be more safe .'' besides, he trust- 
 ed to Du Fay's return, whom he determined 
 to acquaint with his real situation, and to crave 
 his protection. The wound in his arm was 
 extremely troublesome, and hunger began to 
 prey upon his stomach ; he sought for food, 
 and he found it; — to be sure, it was nothing 
 but brown bread and hard cheese, — still it was 
 dainty fare to the half-starved young man, who 
 ate with appetite, and a flask of brandy re- 
 cruited his spirits. Having finished his meal, 
 he laid himself in a corner near the door, and 
 was soon in a profound sleep, from which he 
 was awoke by the sounds of some one trying 
 to get in. The daylight was gone, the shades 
 of evening had closed over, but, softly creeping 
 to the perforation. Ten-thousand was able to dis- 
 tinguish Monsieur Du Fay : watching a few
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 311 
 
 moments to ascertain, and finding he was 
 alone, the youth drew the bolts and unbarred 
 the door. 
 
 " Who is there ?" exclaimed the officer, he- 
 sitating to enter : " are the inhabitants re- 
 turned? Speak, who's within?" 
 
 " The friend who rendered you such signal 
 service to-day," answered our hero. " You 
 have nothing now to apprehend." 
 
 " And Colonel Tiercelin .^" said the other, 
 as Ten thousand emerged from the gloom and 
 presented himself to view. 
 
 " — Is dead ! " responded Blocks. 
 
 " And you ?" said the officer. 
 
 " Am the individual who fired," returned the 
 midshipman. 
 
 Du Fay entered, and soon convinced himself 
 of the fact. His gratitude to the young man 
 was expressed in warm acknowledgments as he 
 wept over the body of his murdered parent. A 
 lingering beam of light still forced its way into 
 the apartment, and threw a shadowy mistiness 
 over every object. On the table was extend- 
 ed the corpse of the Marquis Du Fay ; on the 
 floor lay the body of his murderer : a channt?! 
 of blood running for nearly two feet away from 
 his head, and then extending into a circular 
 pool, formed a dark coagulated mass that 
 made the spectator shudder.
 
 312 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 " My brave young friend," exclaimed Du 
 Fay, " you have acted nobly — may I tres- 
 pass still further on your aid ? My sisters — " 
 
 " Are they safe, monsieur ? " eagerly in- 
 quired Blocks. 
 
 " Thank Heaven, they are," returned the 
 marquis. 
 
 " And released?" said Blocks. 
 
 " Yes, and released," answered Du Fay ; 
 " but they insist on returning hither to per- 
 form the last rites to our lamented parent. 
 Have you been disturbed during my absence ? 
 — do you think that we can barricade so as to 
 prevent intrusion .'' " 
 
 " You must be the best judge of probabili- 
 ties from without, monsieur^" returned Blocks. 
 " The bolts and bar have resisted violent shocks 
 to-day, and we might hold out, — but let us 
 have fire-arms. — Mais, monsieur, the body of 
 the colonel ?" 
 
 " We must remove it," rejoined the other. 
 
 Ten-thousand remembered the closet, and 
 thither they dragged the corpse from observa- 
 tion. " And now,"" continued the marquis, " I 
 hasten to the prison." 
 
 " For what purpose .'*" demanded Blocks. 
 
 " To fetch my sisters," returned Du Fay. 
 " The general granted my requests for their re-
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 313 
 
 lease, but I durst not bring them through an 
 infuriated rabble, — even our own men would 
 have massacred them, and I should have been 
 expected to look on with satisfaction." 
 
 " This is horrible !" said Blocks : " can hu- 
 man nature be so utterly depraved ? I now 
 can well believe the atrocities which almost 
 stunned the intellect to read — the bloody 
 Robespierre, the sanguinary Danton. Men 
 must have tigers' hearts within their breasts 
 when the weak and the defenceless become 
 their prey ! And you, monsieur, — you too 
 have joined them !" 
 
 " How ""s that?" sharply exclaimed the 
 other ; " you of the canaille, who are here 
 for plunder, dare to arraign the proceedings 
 of authority !" 
 
 " The proceedings of murderers and assas- 
 sins," returned Blocks, — " men who usurp the 
 powers of authority by setting the principles 
 and attributes of the laws at utter defiance. 
 — But we will not enter upon that now. I 
 am not of the canaille, nor am I a merce- 
 nary plunderer." 
 
 " What arc you then ?" demanded Du Fay. 
 " In these times it is necessary a man should 
 know his compatriots." 
 
 " True, monsieur," returned Blocks, whose 
 
 VOL. I. p
 
 314 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 
 
 spirit seemed to soar beyond his own compre- 
 hension ; " you have a specimen of your know- 
 ledge in yonder closet. But I scorn deceit ; — 
 I am an officer, — an English naval officer, 
 forced hither by circumstances that appear 
 almost miraculous. I have done you some 
 service to-day, and crave your protection in 
 return." 
 
 " This is indeed strange !" rejoined Du 
 Fay ; " and how am I to be convinced of 
 this, or that you really are the individual 
 who fired at Tiercelin ?" 
 
 " I have the death-warrant for your sisters 
 in my possession," quietly returned Blocks. 
 
 " You have reminded me," exclaimed the 
 marquis, — " I am now convinced. But your 
 knowledge of the language." 
 
 " — Is the effect of education and practice," 
 answered Ten-thousand. *' You may safely 
 trust we, monsieur; but what bond have I 
 that you will not at least surrender me as a 
 prisoner ?" 
 
 " My word of honour, young man," re- 
 turned Du Fay, — *' the parole of the last 
 scion of one of the most ancient houses in 
 the kingdom. Oh God ! that it should have 
 ever suffered this deep humiliation ! I go, 
 then, — do you await my return, — the kennels
 
 TOPSAIL-SHEET BLOCKS. 315 
 
 are running blood — night may relax the 
 slaughter."" 
 
 He departed, and nearly two hours elapsed 
 before the preconcerted signal was heard an- 
 nouncing his return. Blocks unbarred the 
 door, and the young marquis and his sisters 
 entered. A light was procured, and they 
 repaired to the scene of the conflict, to " sor- 
 row o'er the dead."" 
 
 END OF THE FIRST VOLUME. 
 
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