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I




JACK TIER;
OR,
THE FLORIDA REEF.


BY J. FENIMORE COOPER.
~ AV. now I am in Arden; the more fool
A; when I was at home I was in a better place; but
Travellers must be content."
As You LirV  I..


I N


COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME.


NEW EDITION.
NEW YORK:
PUBLISHED BY HURD AND HOUGHTON.
Camtrtltge: tfitertig 19res.
1871.




JACK TIER.
Entered, according to the Act of Congress, 'n the vear 1848, by
J. FENIMORE COOPER,
In the clerk's office of the District Court for the Nortbem DiSIVIC
of INew 'fork.




P-EFACE.


THiI work has already appeared in Graham's Mag.
azine, under the title of " Rose Budd." The change
of name is solely the act of the author, and arises from
a conviction that the appellation given in this pub.
lication is more appropriate than the one laid aside.
The necessity of writing to a name, instead of getting
it from the incidents of the book itself, has been the
cause of this departure from the ordinary rules.
When this book was commenced, it was generally
supposed that the Mexican war would end, after a few
months of hostilities. Such was never the opinion of
the writer. He has ever looked forward to a protracted struggle; and, now that Congress has begun
to interfere, sees as little probability of its termination,
as on the day it commenced. Whence honourable gentlemen have derived their notions of the constitution,
when they advance the doctrine that Congress is an
(iii)




A


IT                PREFACE.
American Aulic council, empowered to encumber the
movements of armies, and, as old Blucher expressed
it in reference to the diplomacy of Europe, " to spoil
with the pen the work achieved by the sword," it is
difficult to say more than this, that they do not. get
them from the constitution itself. It has generally
been supposed that the present executive was created
in order to avoid the very evils of a distracted and
divided council, which this new construction has a
direct tendency to revive. But a presidential election
has ever proved, and probably will ever prove, stronger
than any written fundamental law.
We have had occasion to refer often to Mexico in
these pages. It has been our aim to do so in a kind
spirit; for, while we have never doubted that the factions which have possessed themselves of the government in that country have done us great wrong, wrong
that would have justified a much earlier appeal to
arms, we have always regarded the class of Mexicans
who alone can properly be termed the 'people,' as mild,
amiable, and disposed to be on friendly terms with us.
Providence, however, directs all to the completion of
its own wise ends. If the crust which has so long
encircled that nation, enclosing it in bigotry and ignorance, shall now be irretrievably broken, letting in
light, even Mexico herself may have cause hereafter
to rejoice in her present disasters. It was in this way
that Italy has been, in a manner, regenerated; the


I




PREFACE.


V


conquests of the French carrying in their train the
means and agencies which have, at length, aroused
that glorious portion of che earth to some of its ancient
spirit. Mexico, in certain senses, is the Italy of this
continent; and war, however ruthless and much to be
deplored, may yet confer on her the inestimable blessings of real liberty, and a religion released from "feux
d'artifice," as well as all other artifices.
A word on the facts of our legend. The attentive
observer of men and things has many occasions to
note the manner in which ordinary lookers on deceive
themselves, as well as others. The species of treason
portrayed in these pages is no uncommon occurrence;
and it will often be found that the traitor is the loudest
in his protestations of patriotism. It is a pretty safe
rule to suspect the man of hypocrisy who makes a
parade of his religion, and the partisan of corruption
and selfishness, who is clamorous about the rights of
the people. Captain -Spike was altogether above the
first vice; though fairly on level, as respects the second,
with divers patriots who live by their deity.








JACK TIER.
CHAPTER 1.
Pros. Why, that's my spirit!
But was not this nigh shore
Ariel. Close by, my master.
Pros. But are they, Ariel, safe?
Ariel. Not a hair perished.
Tempest.
"D'YE here there, Mr. Mulford?" called out Capt. Stephen
Spike, of the half-rigged, brigantine Swash, or Molly Swash,
as was her registered name, to his mate-" we shall be drop.
ping out as soon as the tide makes, and I intend to get
through the Gate, at least, on the next flood. Waiting for
a wind in port is lubberly seamanship, for he that wants one
should go outside and look for it."
This call was uttered from a wharf of the renowned city
of Manhattan, to one who was in the trunk-cabin of a clipper-looking craft, of the name mentioned, and on the deck
of which not a soul was visible. Nor was the wharf, though
one of those wooden piers that line the arm of the sea that
is called the East River, such a spot as ordinarily presents
itself to the mind of the reader, or listener, when an allusion
is made to a wharf of that town which it is the fashion of
* the times to call the Commercial Emporium of Americaas if there might very well be an emporium of any other
character. The wharf in question had not a single vessel
of any sort lying at, or indeed very near it, with the exception of the Molly Swash. As it actually stood on the eastern
side of the town, it is scarcely necessary to say that such a
wharf could only be found high up, and at a considerable
distance from the usual haunts of commerce. The brig lay
(9)




10


JACK TIER;


more than a mile above the Hook (Corlaer's, of course, is
meant-not Sandy Hook) and quite near to the old Alms
House-far above the ship-yards, in fact. It was a solitary
place for a vessel, in the midst of a crowd. The grum top.
chain voice of Captain Spike had nothing there to mingle
with, or interrupt its harsh tones, and it instantly brought
on deck Harry Mulford, the mate in question, apparently
eager to receive his orders.
"Did you hail, Captain Spike?" called out the mate, a
tight, well-grown, straight-built, handsome sailor-lad of two
or three-and-twenty-one full of health, strength and manliness.
"Hail! If you call straining a man's throat until 'he's
hoarse, hailing, I believe I did. I flatter myself, there is not a
man north of Hatteras that can make himself heard further in
gale of wind than a certain gentleman who is to be found
within a foot of the spot where. stand. Yet, sir, I've been
hailing the Swash these five minutes; and thankful am I to
find some one at last who is on board to answer me."
" What are your orders, Capt. Spike?"
"To see all clear for a start as soon as the flood makes.
I shall go through the Gate on the next young flood, and I
hope you'll have all the hands aboard in time. I see two
or three of them up at that Dutch beer-house, this moment,
and can tell 'em, in plain language, if they come here with
their beer aboard them, they '11 have to go ashore again."
"You have an uncommonly sober crew, Capt. Spike,"
answered the young man, with great calmness. " During
the whole time I have been with them, I have not seen a
man among them the least in the wind."
" Well, I hope it will turn out that I 've an uncommonly
sober mate in the bargain. Drunkenness I abominate, Mr.
Mulford, and I can tell you, short metre, that I will not
stand it."
" May I inquire if you ever saw me, the least in the world,
under the influence of liquor, Capt. Spike?" demanded the
mate, rather than asked, with a very fixed meaning in his
manner.
"I keep no log-book of trifles, Mr. Mulford, and cannot
say. No man is the worse for bowsing out his jib w hen off
iuty, though a drunkard's a thing I despise. Well well —




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


11


remember, sir, that the Molly Swash casts off on the young
flood, and that Rose Budd and the good lady, her aunt, take
passage in her, this v'y'ge."
"Is it possible that you have persuaded them into that, a
last!" exclaimed the handsome mate.
' Persuaded! It takes no great persuasion, sir, to get
the ladies to try their luck in that brig. Lady Washington
herself, if she was alive and disposed to a sea-v'y'ge, might
be glad of the chance. We've a ladies' cabin, you know,
and it's suitable that it should have some one to occupy it.
Old Mrs. Budd is a sensible woman, and takes time by the
forelock. Rose is ailin'-pulmonary they call it. I believe,
and her aunt wishes to try the sea for her constitution-"
"Rose Budd has no more of a pulmonary constitution
than I have myself," interrupted the mate.
"Well, that's as people fancy. You must know, Mr.
Mulford, they 've got all sorts of diseases now-a-days, and
all sorts of cures for 'em. One sort of a cure for consumption is what they tarm the Hyder-Ally -"
" I think you must mean hydropathy, sir-"
"Well it's something of the sort, no matter what-but
cold water is at the bottom of it, and they do say it's a
good remedy. Now Rose's aunt thinks if cold water is
what is wanted, there is no place where it can be so plenty
as out on the ocean. Sea-air is good, too, and by taking a
v'y'ge her niece will get both requisites together, and cheap."
" Does Rose Budd think herself consumptive, Capt.
Spike?" asked Mulford, with interest.
" Not she-you know it will never do to alarm a pulmonary, so Mrs. Budd has held her tongue carefully on the
subject before the young woman. Rose fancies that her
aunt is out of sorts, and that the v'y'ge is tried on her account-but the aunt, the cunning thing, knows all about it."
Mulford almost nauseated the expression of his commander's countenance while Spike uttered the last words. At
no time was that countenance very inviting, the features be.
ing coarse and vulgar, while tile color of the entire face was
of an ambiguous red, in which liquor and the seasons would
seem to be blended in very equal quantities. Such a countenance, lighted up by a gleam of successful management,
uot to say with hopes and wishes that it will hardly do to




-12


JACK TIER;


dwell on, could not but be revolting to a youth of Harry
Mulford's generous feelings, and most of all to one who en.
tertained the sentiments which he was quite conscious of en.
tertaining for Rose Budd. The young man made no reply,
but turned his face toward the water, in order to conceal the
expression of disgust that he was sensible must be strongly
depicted on it.
The river, as the well-known arm of the sea in which the
Swash was lying is erroneously termed, was just at that
moment unusually clear of craft, and not a sail, larger than
that of a boat, was to be seen between the end of Blackwell's
Island and Corlaer's Hook, a distance of about a league.
This stagnation in the movement of the port, at that particular point, was owing to the state of wind and tide. Of the
first, there was little more than a southerly air, while the
last was about two-thirds ebb. Nearly everything that was
expected on that tide, coast-wise, and by the way of the
Sound, had already arrived, and nothing could go eastward,
with that light breeze and under canvas, until the flood made.
Of course it was different with the steamers, who were paddling about like so many ducks, steering in all directions,
though mostly crossing and re-crossing at the ferries. Just
as Mulford turned away from his commander, however, a
large vessel of that class shoved her bows into the view,
doubling the Hook, and going eastward. The first glance
at this vessel sufficed to drive even Rose Budd momentarily
out of the minds of both master and mate, and to give a new
current to their thoughts. Spike had been on the point of
walking up the wharf, but he now so far changed his purpose as actually to jump on board of the brig and spring up
alongside of his mate, on the taffrail, in order to get a better
look at the steamer. Mulford, who loathed so much in his
commander, was actually glad of this, Spike's rare merit as
a seaman forming a sort of attraction that held him, as it
might be against his own will, bound to his service.
"What will they do next, Harry?" exclaimed the master,
his manner and voice actually humanized, in air and sound
at least, by this unexpected view of something new in his
galling —"What will they do next?"
"I see no wheels, sir, nor any movement in the water
astern, as if she were a propeller," returned the young man.




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


13


"She's an out.of-the-way sort of a hussy!  She's a
man-of-war, too-one of Uncle Sam's new efforts."
"That can hardly be, sir.  Uncle Sam has but three
steamers, of any size or force, now the Missouri is burned;
and yonder is one of them, lying at the Navy Yard, while
another is, or was lately, laid up at Boston. The third is
in the Gulf. This must be an entirely new vessel, if she
belong to Uncle Sam."
" New! She's as new as a Governor, and they tell me
they 've got so now that they choose five or six of them, up
at Albany, every fall. That craft is sea-going, Mr. Mulford,
as any one can tell at a glance. She's none of your passenger-hoys."
"That's plain enough, sir-and she's armed. Perhaps
she's English, and they 've brought her here into this open
spot to try some new machinery. Ay, ay! she's about to
set her ensign to the navy men at the yard, and we shall see
to whom she belongs."
A long, low, expressive whistle from Spike succeeded this
remark, the colours of the steamer going up to the end of a
gaff on the sternmost of her schooner-rigged masts, just as
Mulford ceased speaking. There was just air enough, aided
by the steamer's motion, to open the bunting, and let the
spectators see the design. There were the stars and stripes,
as usual, but the last ran perpendicularly, instead of in a
horizontal direction.
"Revenue, by George!" exclaimed the master, as soon
as his breath was exhausted in the whistle  " Who would
have believed they could screw themselves up to doing
such a thing in that bloody service?"
" I now remember to have heard that Uncle Sam was
building some large steamers for the revenue service, and,
if I mistake not, with some new invention to get along with,
that is neither wheel nor propeller. This must be one of
these new craft, brought out here, into open water, just to
try her, sir."
" You're right, sir, you're right. As to the natur' of the
beast, you see her buntin', and no honest man can want
more. If there's anything I do hate, it is that flag, with its
unnat'ral stripes, up and down, instead of running in the
true old wav. I have heard a lawyer say, that the revenue
2




14


JACK TIER;


flag of this country is onconstitutional, and that a vesse
carrying it on the high seas might be sent in for piracy."
Although Harry Mulford was neither Puffendorf, nor Gro.
tius, he had too much common sense, and too little prejudice
in favour of even his own vocation, to swallow such a theory,
had fifty Cherry Street lawyers sworn to its justice. A
smile crossed his fine, firm-looking mouth, and something
very like a reflection of that smile, if smiles can be reflected
in one's own countenance, gleamed in his fine, large, dark
eye.
"It would be somewhat singular, Capt. Spike," he said,
"if a vessel belonging to any nation should be seized as a
pirate. The fact that she is national in character would
clear her."
"Then let her carry a national flag, and be d-d to her,"
answered Spike fiercely. " I can show you law for what I
say, Mr. Mulford. The American flag has its stripes fore
and aft by law, and this chap carries his stripes parpendic'lar. If I commanded a cruiser, and fell in with one of
these up and down gentry, blast me if I wouldn 't just send
him into port, and try the question in the old Alms-House."
Mulford probably did not think it worth while to argue
the point any further, understanding the dogmatism  and
stolidity of his commander too well to deem it necessary.
He preferred to turn to the consideration of the qualities of
the steamer in sight, a subject on which, as seamen, they
might better sympathize.
"That's a droll-looking revenue cutter, after all, Capt.
Spike," he said-" a craft better fitted to go in a fleet, as a
look-out vessel, than to chase a smuggler in-shore."
"And no goer in the bargain! I do not see how she gets
along, for she keeps all snug under water; but, unless she
can travel faster than she does just now, the Molly Swash
would soon lend her the Mother Carey's Chickens of her
own wake to amuse her."
" She has the tide against her, just here, sir; no doubt
she would do better in still water."
Spike muttered something between his teeth, and jumped
down on deck, seemingly dismissing the subject of the re
venue entirely from his mind. His old, coarse, authorita
tive manner returned, and he again spoke to his mate about




OR, THE FLORIDA        REEF. -1
Rose Budd, her aunt, the " ladies' cabin," the " young flood,'
and "casting off, " as soon as the last made. Mulford listened respectfully, though with a manifest distaste for the
instructions he was receiving. He knew his man, and a feelng of dark distrust came over him, as he listened to his
orders concerning the famous accommodations he intended
to give to Rose Budd and that " capital old lady, her aunt ':
his opinion of "the immense deal of good sea-air and a
v'y'ge would do Rose," and how " comfortable they both
would be on board the Molly Swash."
"' I honour and respect, Mrs. Budd, as my captain's lady,
you see, Mr. Mulford, and intend to treat her accordin'ly.
She knows it-and Rose knows it-and they both declare
they 'd rather sail with me, since sail they must, than with
any other ship-master out of America."
"You sailed once with Capt. Budd yourself, I think I have
heard you say, sir?"
"The old fellow brought me up. I was with him from
my tenth to my twentieth year, and then broke adrift to see
fashions. We all do that, you know, Mr. Mulford, when we
are young and ambitious, and my turn came as well as
another's."
"Capt. Budd must have been a good deal older than his
wife, sir, if you sailed with him when a boy," Mulford observed a little drily.
"Yes; I own to forty-eight, though no one would think
me more than five or six-and-thirty, to look at me. There
was a great difference between old Dick Budd and his wife,
as you say, he being about fifty, when he married, and she
less than twenty. Fifty is a good age for matrimony, in a
man, Mulford; as is twenty in a young woman."
" Rose Budd is not yet nineteen, I have heard her say,"
returned the mate, with emphasis.
" Youngish, I will own, but that's a fault a liberal-minded
man can overlook. Every day, too, will lessen it. Well,
look to the cabins, and see all clear for a start. Josh will
be down presently with a cart-load of stores, and you'll take
'em aboard without delay."
As Spike uttered this order, his foot was on the p.anksheer of the bulwarks, in the act of passing to the wharf
again. On reaching the shore, he turned and looked intent



16


JACK TIER;


ly at the revenue steamer, and his lips moved, as if he were
secretly uttering maledictions on her. We say maledictions,
as the expression of his fierce ill-favoured countenance too
plainly showed that they could not be blessings. As for
Mulford, there was still something on his mind, and he followed to the gangway ladder and ascended it, waiting for a
moment when the mind of his commander might be less oc.
cupied to speak. The opportunity soon occurred, Spike hav.
ing satisfied himself with the second look at the steamer.
" I hope you do n't mean to sail again without a second
mate, Capt. Spike?" he said.
" I do though, I can tell you. I hate Dickies-they are
always in the way, and the captain has to keep just as much
of a watch with one as without one."
" That will depend on his quality. You and I have both
been Dickies in our time, sir; and my time was not long
ago."
" Ay-ay-I know all about it-but you did n 't stick to
it long enough to get spoiled. I would have no man aboard
the Swash who made more than two v'y'ges as second officer.
As I want no spies aboard my craft, I '11 try it once more
without a Dicky."
Saying this in a sufficiently positive manner, Capt. Stephen Spike rolled up the wharf, much as a ship goes off
before the wind, now inclining to the right, and then again
to the left. The gait of the man would have proclaimed him
a sea-dog, to any one acquainted with that animal, as far
as he could be seen. The short squab figure, the arms
bent nearly at right angles at the elbow, and working like
two fins with each roll of the body, the stumpy, solid legs,
with the feet looking in the line of his course and kept wide
ajpart, would all have contributed to the making up of such
an opinion. Accustomed as he was to this beautiful sight,
Harry Mulford kept his eyes riveted on the retiring person
of his commander, until it disappeared behind a pile of lumber, waddling always in the direction of the more thickly
peopled parts of the town. Then he turned and gazed at
the steamer, which, by this time, had fairly passed the brig,
and seemed to be actually bound through the Gate. That
steamer was certainly a noble-looking craft, but our young
man fahcied she struggled along through the water heavily,




OR, TIHE FLORIDA i EEF.


17


She might be quick at need, but she di.i not promise as
much by her present rate of moving. Still, she was a no.
ble-looking craft, and, as Mulford descended to the deck
again, he almost regretted he did not belong to her; or, at
least, to anything but the Molly Swash.
Two hours produced a sensible change in and arouna
that brigantine. Her people had all corte back to duty, and
what was very remarkable among seafaring folk, sober to a
man. But, as has been said, Spike was a temperance man,
as respects all under his orders at least, if not strictly so in
practice himself. The crew of the Swash was large for a
half-rigged brig of only two hundred tons, but, as her spars
were very square, and all her gear as well as her mould
seemed constructed for speed, it was probable more hands
than common were necessary to work her with facility and
expedition. After all, there were not many persons to be
enumerated among the "people of the Molly Swash," as
they called themselves; not more than a dozen, including
those aft, as well as those forward. A peculiar feature of
this crew, however, was the circumstance that they were all
middle-aged men, with the exception of the mate, and all
thorough-bred sea-dogs. Even Josh, the cabin-boy, as he
was called, was an old, wrinkled, gray-headed negro, of near
sixty. If the crew wanted a little in the elasticity of youth,
it possessed the steadiness and experience of their time of
life, every man appearing to know exactly what to do, and
when to do it. This, indeed, composed their great merit;
an advantage that Spike well knew how to appreciate.
The stores had been brought alongside of the brig in a
cart, and were already stowed in their places. Josh had
brushed and swept, until the ladies' cabin could be made no
neater. This ladies' cabin was a small apartment beneath
X trunk, which was, ingeniously enough, separated from the
-abin by pantries and double doors. The arrange-,,sual, and Spike had several times hinted that
~ connected with that cabin; though what,ever could induce him to relate.
had been used for a forced
had heard something of her
i proscribed persons, at difof that part of the world,




18


JACK TIER;


and he had always understood that her present commandei
and owner had sailed in her, as mate, for many years before
he had risen to his present station. Now, all was regular
in the way of records, bills of sale, and other documents
Stephen Spike appearing in both the capacities just named.
The register proved that the brig had been built as far back
as the last English war, as a private cruiser, but recent and
extensive repairs had made her" better than new," as her
owner insisted, and there was no question as to her sea.
worthiness. It is true the insurance offices blew upon her,
and would have nothing to do with a craft that had seen her
two score years and ten; but this gave none who belonged
to her any concern, inasmuch as they could scarcely havebeen underwritten in their trade, let the age of the vessel be
what it might. It was enough for them that the brig was
safe and exceedingly fast, insurances never saving the lives
of the people, whatever else might be their advantages.
With Mulford it was an additional recommendation, that
the Swash was usually thought to be of uncommonly just
proportions.
By half-past two, P. M., everything was ready for get.
ting the brigantine under way. Her fore-topsail-or foretawsail as Spike called it-was loose, the fasts were singled,
and a spring had been carried to a post in the wharf, that
was well forward of the starboard bow, and the brig's head
turned to the southwest, or down the stream, and consequently facing the young flood. Nothing seemed to connect
the vessel with the land but a broad gangway plank, to which
Mulford had attached life-lines, with more care than it is
usual to meet with on board of vessels employed in short
voyages. The men stood about the decks with their arms
thrust into the bosoms of their shirts, and the whole picture
was one of silent, and possibly of somewhat uneasy exn,
tation. Nothing was said, however; Mulford wal'quarter-deck alone, occasionally looking un
tenanted streets of that quarter of the,,"
for a carriage- AC c, -  ---




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


19


over the low bulwarks of the vessel. " Yes, dat's dem, sir.
I know dat old gray horse dat carries his head so low and
sorrowful like, as a horse has a right to do dat has to drag
a cab about this big town. My eye! what a horse it is,
sir!"
Josh was right, not only as to the gray horse that carried
his head " sorrowful like," but as to the cab and its contents,
The vehicle was soon on the wharf, and in its door soon
appeared the short, sturdy figure of Capt. Spike, backing out,
much as a bear descends a tree. On top of the vehicle were
several light articles of female appliances, in the shape of
bandboxes, bags, &c., the trunks having previously arrived
in a cart. Well might that over-driven gray horse appear
sorrowful, and travel with a lowered head. The cab, when
it gave.up its contents, discovered a load of no less than four
persons besides the driver, all of weight, and of dimensions
in proportion, with the exception of the pretty and youthful
Rose Budd. Even she was plump, and of a well-rounded
person; though still light and slender. But her aunt was
a fair picture of a ship-master's widow; solid, comfortable
and buxom. Neither was she old, nor ugly. On the con.
trary, her years did not exceed forty, and being well preserved, in consequence of never having been a mother, she
might even have passed for thirty-five. The great objection
to her appearance was the somewhat indefinite character of
her shape, which seemed to blend too many of its charms
into one. The fourth person, in the fare, was Biddy Noon,
the Irish servant and factotum of Mrs. Budd, who was a
pock-marked, red-faced, and red-armed single woman, about
her mistress's own age and weight, though less stout to the
eye.
Of Rose we shall not stop to say much here. Her deep.
blue eye, which was equally spirited and gentle, if one can
use such contradictory terms, seemed alive with interest and
curiosity, running over the brig, the wharf, the arm of the
sea, the two islands, and all near her, including the AlmsHouse, with such a devouring rapidity as might be expected
in a town-bred girl, who was setting out on her travels for
the first time. Let us be understood; we say town bred,
because such was the fact; for Rose Budd had beer both
born and educated in Manhattan, though we are far from




20


JACK TI ER;


wishing to be understood that she was either very well-born
or highly educated. Her station in life may be inferred from
that of her aunt, and her education from her station. Of the
two, the last was, perhaps, a trifle the highest.
We have said that the fine blue eye of Rose passed swiftly
over the various objects near her, as she alighted from the
cab, and it naturally took in the form of Harry Mulford, as
he stood in the gangway, offering his arm to aid her aunt
and herself in passing the brig's side. A smile of recognition was exchanged between the young people, as their eyes
met, and the colour, which formed so bright a charm in Rose's
sweet face, deepened, in a way to prove that that colour spoke
with a tongue and eloquence of its own. Nor was Mulford's
cheek mute on the occasion, though he helped the hesitating,
half-doubting, half-bold girl along the plank with a steady
hand and rigid muscles. As for the aunt, as a c'aptain's
widow, she had not felt it necessary to betray any extraor.
dinary emotions in ascending the plank, unless, indeed, it
might be those of delight on finding her foot once more on
the deck of a vessel!
Something of the same feeling governed Biddy, too, for,
as Mulford civilly extended his hand to her also, she ex.
claimed" No fear of me, Mr. Mate-I came from Ireland by wa.
ther, and knows all about ships and brigs, I do. If you
could have seen the times we had, and the saas we crossed,
you 'd not think it nadeful to say much to the likes iv me."
Spike had tact enough to understand he would be out of
his element in assisting females along that plank, and he
was busy in sending what he called " the old lady's dunnage" on board, and in discharging the cabman. As soon
as this was done, he sprang into the main-channels, and
thence vid the bulwarks, on deck, ordering the plank to be
hauled aboard. A solitary labourer was paid a quarter to
throw off the fasts from the ring-bolts and posts, and everything was instantly in motion to cast the brig loose. Work
went on as if the vessel were in haste, and it consequently
went on with activity. Spike bestirred himself, giving his
orders in a way to denote he had been long accustomed to
exercise authority on the deck of a vessel, and knew his
calling to its minutia  The only ostensible difference be



OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


21


tween his deportment to-day and on any orainary occasion,
perhaps, was in the circumstance that he now seemed anxious
to get clear of the wharf, and that in a way which might
have attracted notice in any suspicious and attentive observer. It is possible that such a one was not very distant, and
that Spike was aware of his presence, for a respectable-looking, well-dressed, middle-aged man had come down one of
the adjacent streets, to a spot within a hundred yards of the
wharf, and stood silently watching the movements of the
brig, as he leaned against a fence. The want of houses in
that quarter enabled any person to see this stranger from
the deck of the Swash, but no one on board her seemed to
regard him at all, unless it might be the master.
Come, bear a hand, my hearty, and toss that bow-fast
clear," cried the captain, whose impatience to be off seemed
to increase as the time to do so approached nearer and nearer. " Off with it, at once, and let her go."
The man on the wharf threw the turns of the hawser clear
of the post, and the Swash was released forward. A smaller
line, for a spring, had been run some distance along the
wharves, ahead of the vessel, and brought in aft. Her people clapped on this, and gave way to their craft, which, being
comparatively light, was easily moved, and was very manageable. As this was done, the distant spectator who had
been leaning on the fence moved toward the wharf with a
step a little quicker than common. Almost at the same instant, a short, stout, sailor-like looking little person, waddled
down the nearest street, seeming to be in somewhat of a
hurry, and presently he joined the other stranger, and appeared to enter into conversation with him; pointing toward
the Swash as he did so. All this time, both continued to
advance toward the wharf.
In the meanwhile, Spike and his people were not idle.
The tide did not run very strong near the wharves and in
the sort of a bight in which the vessel had lain; but, such as
it was, it soon took the brig on her inner bow, and began to
cast her head off shore. The people at the spring pulled
away withball their force, and got sufficient motion on their
vessel to overcome the tide, and to give the rudder an influence. The latter was put hard a-starboard, and helped to
cast the brig's head to the southward.




22


JACK TIE.R;


Down to this moment, the only sail that was loose or
board the Swash was the fore-topsail, as mentioned. This
still hung in the gear, but a hand had been sent aloft to overhaul the buntlines and clewlines, and men were also at the
sheets. In a minute the sail was ready for hoisting. The
Swash carried a wapper of a fore-and-aft mainsail, and, what
is more, it was fitted with a standing gaff, for appearance in
port. At sea, Spike knew better than to trust to this arrangement; but in fine weather, and close in with the land, he
found it convenient to have this sail haul out and brail like
a ship's spanker. As the gaff was now aloft, it was only
necessary to let go the brails to loosen this broad sheet of
canvas, and to clap on the out-hauler, to set it. This was
probably the reason why the brig was so unceremoniously
cast into the stream, without showing more of her cloth.
The jib and flying-jibs, however, did at that moment drop
beneath their booms, ready for hoisting.
Such was the state of things as the two strangers came
first upon the wharf. Spike was- on the taffrail, overhauling
the main-sheet, and Mulford was near him, casting the fore.
topsail braces from the pins, preparatory to clapping on the
halyards.
" I say, Mr. Mulford," asked the captain, " did you ever
see either of them chaps afore? These jokers on the whaof,
I mean."
"Not to my recollection, sir," answered the mate, looking
over the taffrail to examine the parties. "The little one is
a burster! The funniest-looking little fat old fellow I 've
seen in many a day."
"Ay, ay, them fat little bursters, as you call 'em, are
sometimes full of the devil. I do n't like either of the chaps,
and am right glad we are well cast, before they got here."
"I do not think either would be likely to do us much
harm, Capt. Spike."
"There's no knowing, sir. The biggest fellow looks as
if he might lug out a silver oar at any moment."
"I believe the silver oar is no longer used, in this coun
try at least," answered Mulford, smiling. "And if it were,
what have we to fear from it? I fancy the bri has paid
her reckoning."
" She do n't owe a cent, nor ever shall for twenty-four




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


23


hours after the bill is made out, while I own her. They
call me ready-money Stephen, round among the ship-chan.
dlers and caulkers. But I do n't like them chaps, and what
I do n't relish I never swallow, you know."
"They 'll hardly try to get aboard us, sir; you see we
are quite clear of the wharf, and the mainsail will take now,
if we set it."
Spike ordered the mate to clap on the outhauler, and
spread that broad sheet of canvas at once to the little breeze
there was. This was almost immediately done, when the
sail filled, and began to be felt on the movement of the vessel. Still, that movement was very slow, the wind being so
light, and the vis inertice of so large a body remaining to be
overcome. The brig receded from the wharf, almost in a
line at right angles to its face, inch by inch, as it might be,
dropping slowly up with the tide at the same time. Mulford
now passed forward to set the jibs, and to get the topsail on
the craft, leaving Spike on the taffrail, keenly eyeing the
strangers, who, by this time, had got down nearly to the
end of the wharf, at the berth so lately occupied by the
Swash. That the captain was uneasy was evident enough,
that feeling being exhibited in his countenance, blended with
a malignant ferocity.
"Has that brig any pilot?" asked the larger and betterlooking of the two strangers.
" What 's that to you, friend?" demanded Spike, in return.
"Have you a Hell-Gate branch?"
"1 may have one, or I may not. It is not usual for so
large a craft to run the Gate without a pilot."
" Oh! my gentleman's below, brushing up his logarithms.
We shall have him on deck to take his departure before long,
when I '11 let him know your kind inquiries after his health."
The man on the wharf seemed to be familiar with this
sort of sea-wit, and he made no answer, but continued that
close scrutiny of the brig, by turning his eyes in all directions, now looking below, and now aloft, which had in truth
occasioned Spike's principal cause for uneasiness.
" Is not that Capt. Stephen Spike, of the brigantine Molly
Swash?" called out the little, dumpling-looking person, in a
cracked, dwarfish sort of a voice, that was admirably adapt
ed to his appearance. Our captain fairly started; turned




24


JACK  TIER;


full toward the speaker; regarded him intently for a moment;
and gulped the words he was about to utter, like one con
founded. As he gazed, however, at little dumpy, examining his bow-legs, red broad cheeks, and coarse snub nose,
he seemed to regain his self-command, as if satisfied the
dead had not really returned to life.
"Are you acquainted with the gentleman you have
named?" he asked, by way of answer. "You speak of him
like one who ought to know him."
" A body is apt to know a shipmate. Stephen Spike and
I sailed together twenty years since, and I hope to live to
sail with him again."
" You sail with Stephen Spike? when and where, may
I ask, and in what v'y'ge, pray?"
" The last time was twenty years since. Have you forgotten little Jack Tier, Capt. Spike?"
Spike looked astonished, and well he might, for he had
supposed Jack to be dead fully fifteen years. Time and
hard service had greatly altered him, but the general resemblance in figure, stature, and waddle, certainly remained.
Notwithstanding, the Jack Tier that Spike remembered was
quite a different person from this Jack Tier. That Jack
had worn his intensely black hair clubbed and curled, whereas this Jack had cut his locks into short bristles, which time
had turned into an intense gray. That Jack was short and
thick, but he was flat and square; whereas this Jack was
just as short, a good deal thicker, and as round as a dumpling. In one thing, however, the likeness still remained per.
fect. Both Jacks chewed tobacco, to a degree that became
a distinct feature in their appearance.
Spike had many reasons for wishing Jack Tier were not
resuscitated in this extraordinary manner, and some for be
ing glad to see him. The fellow had once been largely in
his confidence, and knew more than was quite safe for any
one to remember but himself, while he might be of great use
to him in his future operations. It is always convenient to
have one at your elbow who thoroughly understands you,
and Spike would have lowered a boat and sent it to the
wharf to bring Jack off, were it not for the gentleman who
was so inquisitive about pilots. Under the \circumstances,




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


25


ne determined to forego the advantages of Jack's presence,
reserving the right to hunt him up on his return.
The reader will readily enough comprehend, that the
Molly Swash was not absolutely standing still while the dialogue related was going on, and the thoughts we have recorded were passing through her master's mind. On the
iontrary, she was not only in motion, but that motion was
gradually increasing, and by the time all was said that has
been related, it had become necessary for those who spoke
to raise their voices to an inconvenient pitch in order to be
heard. This circumstance alone would soon have put an
end to the conversation, had not Spike's pausing to reflect
brought about the same result, as mentioned
In the mean time, Mulford had got the canvas spread.
Forward, the Swash showed all the cloth of a full-rigged
brig, even to royals and flying jib; while aft, her mast
was the raking, tall, naked pole of an American schooner.
There was a taunt topmast, too, to which a gaff-topsail was
set, and the gear proved that she could also show, at need,
a staysail in this part of her, if necessary. As the Gate was
before them, however, the people had set none but the plain,
manageable canvas.
The Molly Swash kept close on a wind, luffing athwart
the broad reach she was in, until far enough to weather
Blackwell's, when she edged off to her course, and went
through the southern passage. Although the wind remained
light, and a little baffling, the brig was so easily impelled,
and was so very handy, that there was no difficulty in keeping her perfectly in command. The tide, too, was fast increasing in strength and volocity, and the movement from
this cause alone was getting to be sufficiently rapid.
As for the passengers, of whom we have lost sight in order to get the brig under way, they were now on deck again.
At first, they had all gone below, under the care of Josh, a
somewhat rough groom of the chambers, to take possession
of their apartment, a sufficiently neat, and exceedingly comfortable cabin, supplied with everything that could be wanted
at sea, and, what was more, lined on two of its sides with
state-rooms.  It is true, all these apartments were small,
and the state-rooms were very low, but no fault could be
3




26                 JACK   TIER;
found with their neatness and general airangements, when
it was recollected that one was on board a vessel.
" Here ebbery t'ing heart can wish," said Josh, exultingly,
who, being an old-school black, did not disdain to use some
of the old-school dialect of his caste. " Yes, ladies, ebbery
t'ing.  Let Cap'n Spike alone for dat! He won'erful at
accommodation! Not a bed-bug aft-know better dan come
here; jest like de people, in dat respects, and keep deir
place forrard. Y^-u nebber see a pig come on de quarterdeck, nudder."
"You must maintain excellent discipline, Josh," cried
Rose, in one of the sweetest voices in the world, which was
easily attuned to merriment-" and we are delighted to
learn what you tell us. How do you manage to keep up
these distinctions, and make such creatures know their
places so well?"
" Nuttin easier, if you begin right, miss. As for de pig,
I teach dem wid scaldin' water. Wheneber I sees a pig
come aft, I gets a little water from de copper, and just scald
him wid it. You can't t'ink, miss, how dat mend his manners, and make him squeel fuss, and t'ink arter. In dat
fashion I soon get de ole ones in good trainin', and den I
has no more trouble with dem as comes fresh aboard; for
de ole hog tell de young one, and 'em won'erful cunnin', and
know how to take care of 'emself."
Rose Budd's sweet eyes were full of fun and expectation,
and she could no more repress her laugh than youth and
spirits can always be discreet.
"Yes, with the pigs," she cried, " that might do very well;
but how is it with those-other creatures?"
"Rosy, dear," interrupted the aunt, "I wish you would
say no more about such shocking things. It's enough for
us that Capt. Spike has ordered them all to stay forward
among the men, which is always done on board well disciplined vessels. I 've heard your uncle say, a hundred
times, that the quarter-deck was sacred, and that might be
enough to keep such animals off it."
It was barely necessary to look at Mrs. Budd in the face
to get a very accurate general notion of her character. She
was one of those inane, uncultivated beings who seem to
be protected by a benevolent Providence in their pilgrimage




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


27


on earth, for they do not seem to possess the power to pro.
tct themselves. Her very countenance expressed imbecility and mental dependence, credulity and a love of gossip.
Notwithstanding these radical weaknesses, the good woman
had some of the better instincts of her sex, and was never
guilty of anything that could properly convey reproach.
She was no monitress for Rose, however, the niece much
oftener influencing the aunt, than the aunt influencing the
niece.  The latter had been fortunate in having had an
excellent instructress, who, though incapable of teaching her
much in the way of accomplishments, had imparted a great
deal that was respectable and useful. Rose had character,
and strong character, too, as the course of our narrative will
show; but her worthy aunt was a pure picture of as much
mental imbecility as at all comported with the privileges of
self-government.
The conversation about "those other creatures" was
effectually checked by Mrs. Budd's horror of the "animals,"
and Josh was called on deck so shortly after as to prevent
its being renewed. The females staid below a few minutes,
to take possession, and then they re-appeared on deck, to
gaze at the horrors of the Hell Gate passage. Rose was
all eyes, wonder and admiration of everything she saw.
This was actually the first time she had ever been on the
water, in any sort of craft, though born and brought up in
sight of one of the most thronged havens in the world. But
there must be a beginning to everything, and this was Rose
Budd's beginning on the water. It is true the brigantine
was a very beautiful, as well as an exceedingly swift vessel;
but all this was lost on Rose, who would have admired a
horse-jockey bound to the West Indies, in this the incipient
state of her nautical knowledge. Perhaps the exquisite
neatness that Mulford maintained about everything that came
under his care, and that included everything on deck, or
above-board, and about which neatness Spike occasionally
muttered an oath, as so much senseless trouble, contributed. somewhat to Rose's pleasure; but her admiration would
carcely have been less with anything that had sails, and
seemed to move through the water with a power approaching
hat of volition.
It was very different with Mrs. Budd. She, good woman,




28


JACK  TIER;


had actually made one voyage with her late husband, and
she fancied that she knew all about a vessel. It was her
delight to talk on nautical subjects, and never did she really
feel her great superiority over her niece, so very unequivocally, as when the subject of the ocean was introduced, about
which she did know something, and touching which Rose
was profoundly ignorant, or as ignorant as a girl of ively
imagination could remain with the information gleaned from
others..
"I am not surprised you are astonished at the sight of
the vessel,Rosy," observed the self-complacent aunt at one
of her niece's exclamations of admiration. " A vessel is a
very wonderful thing, and we are told what extr'orny beings
they are that ' go down to the sea in ships.' But you are
to know this is not a ship at all, but only a half-jigger rigged, which is altogether a different thing."
" Was my uncle's vessel, The Rose In Bloom, then, very
different from the Swash?"
' Very different indeed, child! Why, The Rose In Bloom
was a full-jiggered ship, and had twelve masts-and this is
only a half-jiggered brig, and has but two masts. See, you
may count them-one-two!"
Harry Mulford was coiling away a top-gallant-brace,
directly in front of Mrs. Budd and Rose, and, at hearing this
account of the wonderful equipment of The Rose In Bloom,
he suddenly looked up, with a lurking expression about his
eye that the niece very well comprehended, while he exclaimed, without much reflection, under the impulse of surprise"Twelve masts! Did I understand you to say, ma'am,
that Capt. Budd's ship had twelve masts?"
"Yes, sir, twelve! and Ican tell you all their names, for
I learnt them by heart-it appearing to me proper that a
ship-master's wife should know the names of all the masts
in her husband's vessel. Do you wish to hear their names,
Mr. Mulford?"
Harry Mulford would have enjoyed this conversation to
the top of his bent, had it not been for Rose. She well knew.
her aunt's general weakness of intellect, and especially its
weakness on this particular subject, but she would suffer no
one to manifest contempt for either, if in her power to pre.
vent it. It is seldom one so young, so mirthful, so inge




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


29


nuous and innocent in the expression of her countenance,
assumed so significant and rebuking a frown as did pretty
Rose Budd when she heard the mate's involuntary exclamation about the "twelve masts." Harry, who was not easily
checked by his equals, or any of his own sex, submitted to
that rebuking frown with the meekness of a child, and stammered out, in answer to the well-meaning, but weak-minded
widow's question" If you please, Mrs. Budd-just as you please, ma'amonly twelve is a good many masts-" Rose frowned again
-" that is-more than I 'm used to seeing-that's all."
"I dare say, Mr. Mulford-for you sail in only a halfjigger; but Capt. Budd always sailed in a full-jigger-and
his full-jiggered ship had just twelve masts, and, to prove
it to you, I'll give you the names-first then, there were
the fore, main, and mizen masts-"
" Yes-yes-ma'am," stammered Harry, who wished the
twelve masts and The Rose In Bloom at the bottom of the
ocean, since her owner's niece still continued to look coldly
displeased-" that's right, I can swear!"
" Very true, sir, and you '11 find I am right as to all the
rest. Then, there we-re the fore, main, and mizen top-masts
-they make six, if I can count, Mr. Mulford'?"
" Ah!" exclaimed the mate, laughing, in spite of Rose's
frowns, as the manner in which the old sea-dog had quizzed
his wife became apparent to him. " I see how it is-you
are quite right, ma'am-I dare say The Rose In Bloom had
all these masts, and some to spare."
"Yes, sir-I knew you would be satisfied. The fore,
main and mizen top-gallant-masts make nine-and the fore,
main and mizen royals make just twelve. Oh, I'm never
wrong in anything about a vessel, especially if she is a fulljiggered ship."
Mulford had some difficulty in restraining his smiles each
time the full-jigger was mentioned, but Rose's expression of
countenance kept him in excellent order-and she,.innocent
creature, saw nothing ridiculous in the'term, though the
twelve masts had given her a little alarm. Delighted that
he old lady had got through her enumeration of the spars
with so-much success, Rose cried, in the exuberance of her
spirits3,




30


JACK TIER


"Well, aunty, for my part, I find a half-jigger vessel sc
very, very beautiful, that I do not know how I should behave were I to go on board a full-jigger."
Mulford turned abruptly away, the circumstance of Rose's
making herself ridiculous giving him sudden pain, though
he could have laughed at her aunt by the hour.
" Ah, my dear, that is on account of your youth and inex.
perience-but you will learn better in time. I was just so
myself, when I was of your age, and thought the fore-rafters
were as handsome as the squared-jiggers, but soon after I
married Capt. Budd I felt the necessity of knowing more
than I did about ships, and I got him to teach me.  He
did n't like the business, at first, and pretended I would
never learn; but, at last, it came all at once like, and then
he used to be delighted to 'hear me 'talk ship,' as he called
it. I've known him laugh, with his cronies, as if ready to
die, at my expertness in sea-terms, for half an hour together
-and then he would swear-that was the worst fault your
uncle had, Rosy-he would swear, sometimes, in a way
that frightened me, I do declare!"
"But he never swore at you, aunty?"
"1 can't say that he did exactly do that, but he would
swear all round me, even if he did n't actually touch me,
when things went wrong-but it would have done your heart
good to hear him laugh! he had a most excellent heart, just
like your own, Rosy dear; but, for that matter, all the
Budds have excellent hearts, and one of the commonest
ways your uncle had of showing it was to laugh, particularly when we were together and talking. Oh, he used to
delight in hearing me converse, especially about vessels, and
never failed to get me at it when he had company. I see
his good-natured, excellent-hearted countenance at this mo.
ment, with the tears running down his fat, manly cheeks,
as he shook his very sides with laughter. I may live a
hundred years, Rosy, before I meet again with your uncle's
equal.",
This was a suoject that invariably silenced Rose. She
remembered her uncle, herself, and remembered his affectionate manner of laughing at her aunt, and she always
wished the latter to get through her eulogiums on her married happiness, as soon as possible, whenever the subject
was introduced.




OR, 'IHE FLORI)I)A R E F.


31


All this time the Molly Swash kept in motion. Spike
never took a pilot when he could avoid it, and his mind was
too much occupied with his duty, in that critical navigation,
to share at all in the conversation of his passengers, though
he did endeavour to make himself agreeable to Rose, by an
occasional remark, when a favourable opportunity offered.
As soon as he had worked his brig over into the south or
weather passage of Blackwell's, however, there remained
little for him to do, until she had drifted through it, a distance of a mile or more; and this gave him leisure to do the
honours. He pointed out the castellated edifice on Black.
well's as the new penitentiary, and the hamlet of villas, on
the other shore, as Ravenswood, though there is neither wood
nor ravens to authorize the name. But the " Sunswick,"
which satisfied the Delafields and Gibbses of the olden time,
and which distinguished their lofty halls and broad lawns,
was not elegant enough for the cockney tastes of these latter
days, so " wood" must be made to usurp the place of cherries and apples, and "ravens" that of gulls, in order to
satisfy its cravings. But all this was lost on Spike. He
remembered the shore as it had been twenty years before,
and he saw what it was now, but little did he care for the
change. On the whole, he rather preferred the Grecian
Temples, over. which the ravens would have been compelled
to fly, had there been any ravens in that neighbourhood, to
the old-fashioned and highly respectable residence that once
alone occupied the spot. The point he did understand, however, and on the merits of which he had something to say,
was a little farther ahead. That, too, had been re-christened-the Hallet's Cove of the mariner being converted into
Astoria-not that bloody-minded place at the mouth of the
Oregon, which has come so near bringing us to blows with
our " ancestors in England," as the worthy denizens of that
quarter choose to consider themselves still, if one can judge
by their language. This Astoria was a very different place,
and is one of the many suburban villages that are shooting
up, like mush-rooms in a night, around the great Commercial Emporium. This spot Spike understood perfectly, and
it was not likely that he should pass it without communi3ating a portion of his knowledge to Rose.
"' There, Miss Rose," he said, with a didactic sort of air,




32


JACK TIER;


pointing with his short, thick finger at the little bay which
was just opening to their view; " there 's as neat a cove as
a craft need bring up in. That used to he a capital place
to lie in, to wait for a wind to pass the Gate; but it has got
to be most too public for my taste. I 'm rural, I tell Mulford,
and love to get in out-of-the-way berths with my brig, where
she can see salt-meadows, and smell the clover. You nevei
catch me down in any of the crowded slips, around the markets, or anywhere in that part of the town, fr I do love
country air. That's Hallet's Cove, Miss Rose, and a pretty
anchorage it would be for us, if the wind and tide didn't
sarve to take us through the Gate."
"Are we near the Gate, Capt. Spike?" asked Rose, the
fine bloom on her cheek lessening a little, under the apprehension that formidable name is apt to awaken in the breasts
of the inexperienced.
" Half a mile, or so. It begins just at the other end of
this island on our larboard hand, and will be all over in
about another half mile, or so. It's no such bad place, a'ter
all, is Hell-Gate, to them that's used to it. I call myself a
pilot in Hell-Gate, though I have no branch."
" I wish, Capt. Spike, I could teach you to give that place
its proper and polite name. We call it Whirl-Gate altogether now," said the relict.
" Well, that's new to me," cried Spike. "I have heard
some chicken-mouthed folk say Hurl-Gate, but this is the
first time I ever heard it called Whirl-Gate-they'll get it
to Whirligig-Gate next. I don't think that my old commander, Capt. Budd, called the passage anything but honest
up and down Hell-Gate."
" That he did-that he did-and all my arguments and
reading could not teach him any better. I proved to him
that it was Whirl-Gate, as any one can see that it ought to
be. It is full of whirlpools, they say, and that shows what
Nature meant the name to be."
"But, aunty," put in Rose, half reluctantly, half anxious
o speak, " what has gate to do with whirlpools? You will
remember it is called a gate-the gate to that wicked place
I suppose is meant."
" Rose, you amaze me! How can you, a young woman:f only nineteen, stand up for so vulgar a name as Hell-Gate!'




O R, T HE F L () R I D A R  E EF.


33


"Do you think it as vulgar as Hurl-Gate, aunty?"  To
me it always seems the most vulgar to be straining at gnats.'
"Yes," said Spike sentimentally, "I'm quite of Miss
Rose's way of thinking-straining at gnats is very ill-manners, especially at table. I once knew a man who strained
in this way, until I thought he would have choked, though it
was with a fly to be sure; but gnats are nothing but small
flies, you know, Miss Rose. Yes, I'm quite of your way
of thinking, Miss Rose; it is very vulgar to be straining at
gnats and flies, more particularly at table. But you 'll find
no flies or gnats aboard here, to be straining at, or brushing
away, or to annoy you. Stand by there, my hearties, and see
all clear to run through Hell-Gate. Do n't let me catch you
straining at anything, though it should be the fin of a whale!"
The people forward looked at each other, as they listened
to this novel admonition, though they called out the customary " ay, ay, sir," as they went to the sheets, braces and
bowlines. To them the passage of no Hell-Gate conveyed
the idea of any particular terror, and with the one they were
about to enter, they were much too familiar to care anything
about it.
The brig was now floating fast, with the tide, up abreast
of the east end of Blackwell's, and in two or three more
minutes she would be fairly in the Gate. Spike was aft,
where he could command a view of everything forward, and
Mulford stood on the quarter-deck, to look after the headbraces. An old and trustworthy seaman, who acted as a
sort of boatswain, had the charge on the forecastle, and was
to tend the sheets and tack. His name was Rove.
"See all clear," called out Spike. "D'ye hear there
for ard! I shall make a half-board in the Gate, if the wind
favour us, and the tide prove strong enough to hawse us to
wind'ard sufficiently to clear the Pot-so mind your-"
The captain breaking off in the middle of this harangue,
Mulford turned his head, in order to see what might be the
matter. There was Spike, levelling a spy-glass at a boat
that was pulling swiftly out of the north channel, and shooting like an arrow directly athwart the brig's bows into the
main passage of the Gate. He stepped to the captain's elbow.
" Just take a look at them chaps, Mr. Mulford," said Spike,
nanding his mate the glass.




34


JACK TIER;


"They seem in a hurry," answered Harry, as he adjust
ed the glass to his eye, c" and will go through the Gate in
less time than it will take to mention the circumstance."
" What do you make of them, sir?"
"The little man who called himself Jack Tier is in the
stern-sheets of the boat, for one," answered Mufford.
"And the other, Harry-what do you make of the other?"
"It seems to be the chap who hailed to know if we had a
pilot. He means to board us at Riker's Island, and make
us pay pilotage, whether we want his services or not."
"jlast him and his pilotage too! Give me the glass "taking another long look at the boat, which by this time was
glancing, rather than pulling, nearly at right angles across
his bows. " I want no such pilot aboard here, Mr. Mulford.
Take another look at him-here, you can see him, away on
our weather bow, already."
Mulford did take another look at him, and this time his
examination was longer and more scrutinizing than before.
" It is not easy to cover him with the glass," observed
the young man-" the boat seems fairly to fly."
"We're forereaching too near the Hog's Back, Capt.
Spike," roared the boatswain, from forward.
" Ready about-hard a lee," shouted Spike. " Let all fly,
for'ard-help her round, boys, all you can, and wait for no
orders! Bestir yourselves-bestir yourselves."
It was time the crew should be in earnest. While Spike's
attention had been thus diverted by the boat, the brig had
got into the strongest of the current, which, by setting her
fast to windward, had trebled the power of the air, and this
was shooting her over toward one of the greatest dangers of
the passage on a flood tide. As everybody bestirred themselves, however, she was got round and filled on the oppo.
site tack, just in time to clear the rocks. Spike breathed
again, but his head was still full of the boat. The danger
he had just escaped as Scylla met him as Charybdis. The
boatswain again roared to go about. The order was given,s the vessel began to pitch in a heavy swell. At the next
instant she rolled until the water came on deck, whirled with
her stern down the tide, and her bows rose as if she were
about to leap out of water. The Swash had hit the Pot Rock




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


35


CHAPTER II.
WathA. If we know him to be a thief, shall we not lay nands on
nim?
Dogb. Truly, by your office, you may; but I think they that touch
pitch will be defiled; the most peaceable way for you, if you do take
a thief, is, to let him show himself what he is, and steal out of your
company.
Much Ado About Nothing.
WE left the brigantine of Capt. Spike in a very critical
situation, and the master himself in great confusion of mind.
A thorough seaman, this accident would never have happened, but for the sudden appearance of the boat and its passengers; one of whom appeared to be a source of great
uneasiness to him. As might be expected, the circumstance
of striking a place as dangerous as the Pot Rock inr HellGate, produced a great sensation on board the vessel. This
sensation betrayed itself in various ways, and according to
the characters, habits, and native firmness of the parties. As
for the ship-master's relict, she seized hold of the main-mast,
and screamed so loud and perseveringly, as to cause the
sensation to extend itself into the adjacent and thriving village of Astoria, where it was distinctly heard by divers of
those who dwelt near the water. Biddy Noon had her share
in this clamour, lying down on the deck in order to prevent
rolling over, and possibly to scream more at her leisure, while
Rose had sufficient self-command to be silent, though her
cheeks lost their colour.
Nor was there anything extraordinary in females betraying this alarm, when one remembers the somewhat astounding signs of danger by which these persons were surrounded.
There is always something imposing in the swift movement
of a considerable body of water. When this movement is
aided by whirlpools and the other similar accessories of an
interrupted current, it frequently becomes startling, more
especially to those who happen to be on the element itself.
This is peculiarly the case with the Pot Rock, where, not
only does the water roll and roar as if agitated by a mighty




36


JACK TIER,


wind, but where it even breaks, the foam seeming to glance
up stream, in the rapid succession of wave to wave. Had
the Swash remained in her terrific berth more than a sec.
ond or two, she would have proved what is termed a i' total
loss;" but she did not. Happily, the Pot Rock lies so low
that it is not apt to fetch up anything of a light draught of
water, and the brigantine's fore-foot had just settled on its
summit, long enough to cause the vessel to whirl round and
make her obeisance to the place, when a succeeding swell
lifted her clear,, and away she went down stream, rolling as
if scudding in a gale, and, for a moment, under no command
whatever. There lay another danger ahead, or it would be
better to say astern, for the brig was drifting stern foremost
and that was in an eddy under a bluff, which bluff lies at an
angle in the reach, where it is no uncommon thing for craft
to be cast ashore, after they have passed all the more imposing and more visible dangers above. It was in escaping
this danger, and in recovering the command of his vessel,
that Spike now manifested the sort of stuff of which he was
really made, in emergencies of this sort. The yards were
all sharp up when the accident occurred, and springing to
the lee braces, just as a man winks when his eye is menaced,
he seized the weather fore-brace with his own hands, and
began to round in the yard, shouting out to the man at the
wheel to " port his helm " at the same time. Some of the
people flew to his assistance, and the yards were not only
squared, but braced a little up on the other tack, in much
less time than we have taken to relate the evolution. Mulford attended to the main-sheet, and succeeded in getting
the boom out in the right direction. Although the wind was
in truth very light, the velocity of the drift filled the canvas,
and taking the arrow-like current on her lee bow, the Swash
like a frantic steed that is alarmed with the wreck made by
his own madness, came under command, and sheered out
into the stream again, where she could drift clear of the
apprehended danger astern.
" Sound the pumps!" called out Spike to Mulford, the
instant he saw he had regained his seat in the saddle. Harry
sprang amidships to obey, and the eye of every mariner in
that vessel was on the young man, as, in the midst of a
death-like silence, he performed this all-important duty. It




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


37


was like the physician's feeling the pulse of his patient be.
fore he pronounces on the degree of his danger.
s" Well, sir?" cried out Spike, impatiently, as the rod reappeared.
" All right, sir," answered Harry, cheerfully —" the well
is nearly empty."
" Hold on a moment longer, and give the water time to
find its way amidships, if there be any."
The mate remained perched up on the pump, in order to
comply, while Spike and his people, who now breathed more
freely again, improved the leisure to brace up and haul aft,
to the new course.
" Biddy," said Mrs. Budd considerately, during this pause
in the incidents, " you need n't scream any longer. The
danger seems to be past, and you may get up off the deck
now. See, I have let go of the mast. The pumps have
been sounded, and are found tight."
Biddy, like an obedient and respectful servant, did as directed, quite satisfied if the pumps were tight. It was some
little time, to be sure, before she was perfectly certain whe.
ther she were alive or not-but, once certain of this circumstance, her alarm very sensibly abated, and she be
came reasonable. As for Mulford, he dropped the sound
ing rod again, and had the same cheering report to make.
"The brig is as tight as a bottle, sir."
"So much the better," answered Spike. "I never had
such a whirl in her before in my life, and I thought she was
going to stop and pass the night there. That's the very
spot orr which 'The Hussar' fiigate was wrecked."
" So I have heard, sir. But she drew so much water that
she hit slap against the rock, and started a butt. We
merely touched on its top with our fore-foot, and slid off."
This was the simple explanation of the Swash's escape,
and, everybody being now well assured that no harm had
been done, things fell into their old and regular train again.
As for Spike, his gallantry, notwithstanding, was upset for
some hours, and glad enough was he when he saw all three
of his passengers quit the deck to go below. Mrs. Budd's
spirits had been so much agitated that she told Rose she
would go down into the cabin and rest a few minutes on its
sofa.  We say sofa, for that article of furniture, now-a-days
4




38


JACK  TIER;


is far more common in vessels than it was thirty years age
in the dwellings of the country.
" There, Mulford," growled Spike, pointing ahead of the
brig, to an object on the water that was about half a mile
ahead of them, "there's that bloody boat-d'ye see? I
should like of all things to give it the slip. There's a chap
in that boat I do n't like."
" I do n't see how that can be very well done, sir, unless
we anchor, repass the Gate at the turn of the tide, and go to
sea by the way of Sandy Hook."
" That will never do. I've no wish to be parading the
brig before the town. You see, Mulford, nothing can be
more innocent and proper than the Molly Swash, as you
know from having sailed in her these twelve months. You '11
give her that character, I '11 be sworn?"
" I know no harm of her, Capt. Spike, and hope I never
shall."
" No, sir-you know no harm of her, nor does any one
else. A nursing infant is not more innocent than the Molly
Swash, or could have a clearer character if nothing but
truth was said of her. But the world is so much given to
lying, that one of the old saints, of whom we read in the
good book, such as Calvin and John Rogers, would be vil,
ified if he lived in these times. Then, it must be owned,
Mr. Mulford, whatever may be the raal innocence of the brig,
she has a most desperate wicked look."
" Why, yes, sir-it must be owned she is what we sailors
call a wicked-looking craft. But some of Uncle Sam's cruisers have that appearance, also."
" I know it-I know it, sir, and think nothing of looks
myself. Men are often deceived in me, by my looks, which
have none of your long-shore softness about 'em, perhaps;
but my mother used to say I was one of the most tender..
hearted boys she had ever heard spoken of-like one of
the babes in the woods, as it might be. But mankind go so
much by appearances that I do n't like to trust the brig too
much afore their eyes. Now, should we be seen in the low.
er bay, waiting for a wind, or for the ebb tide to make, to
carry us over the bar, ten to one but some philotropic or
other would be off with a complaint to the District Attorney
that we looked like a slaver, and have us all fetched up to be




OR, T  E FLORIDA REEF.


39


tried for oui lives as pirates. No, no — like to keep the
brig in out-of-the-way places, where she can give no offence
to your 'tropics, whether they be philos, or of any other
sort."
" Well, sir, we are to the eastward of the Gate, and all's
safe. That boat cannot bring us up."
"You forget, Mr. Mulford, the revenue-craft that steamed
up, on the ebb. That vessel must be off Sands' Point by
this time, and she may hear something to our disparagement
from the feller in the boat, and take it into her smoky head
to walk us back to town. I wish we were well to the eastward of that steamer! But there 's no use in lamentations.
If there is really any danger, it's some distance ahead yet,
thank Heaven '"
"You have no fears of the man who calls himself Jack
Tier, Capt. Spike?"
"None in the world. That feller, as I remember him,
was a little bustlin' chap that I kept in the cabin, as a sort
of steward's mate. There was neither good nor harm in
him, to the best of my recollection. But Josh can tell us
all about him-just give Josh a call."
The best thing in the known history of Spike was the fact
that his steward had sailed with him for more than twenty
years. Where he had picked up Josh no one could say,
but Josh and himself, and neither chose to be very communicative on the subject. But Josh had certainly been with
him as long as he had sailed the Swash, and that was from
a time actually anterior to the birth of Mulford. The mate
soon had the negro in the council.
" I say, Josh," asked Spike, " do you happen to remember such a hand aboard here as one Jack Tier?"
"Lor' bless you, yes sir-'members he as well as I do
the pea soup that was burnt, and ^hich you t'rowed all over
him, to scald him for punishment."
"I 've had to do that so often, to one careless fellow or
other, that the circumstance doesn't recall the man.  I
remember him-but not as clear as I could wish. How
ong did he sail with us?"
"Sebberal v'y'ge, sir, and got left ashore down on the
main, one night, when'e boat were obliged to shove off in
a hurry. Yes, 'members little Jack, right well I does."




40


JACK TIER;


" Did you see the man that spoke us from the wharf, and
nailed for this very Jack Tier?"
" I see'd a man, sir, dat was won'erful Jack Tier built
like, sir, but I did n't hear the conwersation, habbin' the
ladies to 'tend to. But Jack was oncommon short in his
floor timbers, sir, and had no length of keel at all. His beam
was won'erful for his length, altogedder-what you call
jolly-boat, or bum-boat build, and was only good afore'e
wind, Cap'n Spike."
" Was he good for anything aboard ship, Josh? Worth
heaving-to for, should he try to get aboard of us again?"
" Why, sir, can't say much for him in dat fashion. Jack
was handy in the cabin, and capital feller to carry soup from
the gally, aft. You see, sir, he was so low-rigged that the
brig's lurchin' and pitchin' could n't get him off his pins
and he stood up like a church in the heaviest wea'der. Yes
sir, Jack was right good for dat."
Spike mused a moment.-then he rolled the tobacco over
in his mouth, and added, in the way a man speaks when his
mind is made up"Ay ay! I see into the fellow. He'll make a handy
lady's maid, and we want such a chap just now. It's better
to have ap old friend aboard, than to be pickin' up strangers,
'long shore. So, should this Jack Tier come off to us, from
any of the islands or points ahead, Mr. Mulford, you'll
round to and take him aboard. As for the steamer, if she
will only pass out into the Sound where there's room, it
shall go hard with us but I get to the eastward of her, without speaking. On the other hand, should she anchor this
side of the fort, I '11 not attempt to pass her. There is deep
water inside of most of the islands, I know, and we'11'try
and dodge her in that way, if no better offer. I've no more
reason than another craft to fear a government'vessel, but
the sight of one of them makes me oncomfortable; that s
all."
Mulford shrugged his shoulders and remained silent, per.
ceiving that his commander was not disposed to pursue the
subject any further. In the mean time, the brig had passed
beyond the influence of the bluff, and was beginning to feel
a stronger breeze, that was coming down the wide opening
of Flushing Bay. As the tide still continued strong in her




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


41


favour, and her motion through the water was getting to be
four or five knots, there was every prospect of her soon
reaching Whitestone, the point where the tides meet, and
where it would become necessary to anchor; unless, indeed,
the wind, which was now getting to the southward and eastward, should come round more to the south. All this Spike
and his mate discussed together, while the people were clear.
ing the decks, and making the preparations that are customary on board a vessel before she gets into rough water.
By this time it was ascertained that the brig had received
no damage by her salute of the Pot Rock, and every trace
of uneasiness on that account was removed. But Spike kept
harping on the boat, and " the pilot-looking chap who was
in her." As they passed Riker's Island, all hands expected
a boat would put off with a pilot, or to demand pilotage; but
none came, and the Swash now seemed released from all
her present dangers, unless some might still be connected
with the revenue steamer. To retard her advance, however,
the wind came out a smart working breeze from the southward and eastward, compelling her to make " long legs and
short ones" on her way towards Whitestone.
"This is beating the wind, Rosy dear," said Mrs. Budd,
complacently, she and her niece having returned to the deck
a few minutes after this change had taken place. " Your
respected uncle did a great deal of this in his time, and was
very successful in it. I have heard him say, that in one of
his voyages between Liverpool and New York, he beat the
wind by a whole fortnight, everybody talking of it in the
insurance offices, as if it was a miracle."
" Ay, ay, Madam Budd," put in Spike, " I '11 answer for
that. They're desperate talkers in and about them there
insurance offices in Wall street. Great gossips be they,
and they think they know everything. Now just because
this brig is a little old or so, and was built for a privateer in
the last war, they 'd refuse to rate her as even B, No. 2,
and my blessing on 'em."
"Yes, B, No. 2, that's just what your dear uncle used
to call me, Rosy-his charming B, No. 2, or Betsy, No. 2;
particularly when he was in a loving mood. Captain Spike,
did you ever beat the wind in a long voyage?"
"I can't say I ever did, Mrs. Budd," answered Spike
4*




42


JACK TIER;


looking grimly around, to ascertain if any one dared to smile
at his passenger's mistake; "especially for so long a pil:
as from New York to Liverpool."
"Then your uncle used to boast of the Rose In Bloom's
wearing and attacking. She would attack anything that
came in her way, no matter who, and as for wearing, I
think he once told me she would wear just what she had a
mind to, like any human being."
Rose was a little mystified, but she looked vexed at the
same time, as if she distrusted all was not right.
" I remember all my sea education," continued the unsus.
pecting widow, " as if it had been learnt yesterday. Beating the wind and attacking ship, my poor Mr. Budd used
to say, were nice manoeuvres, and required most of his tactics, especially in heavy weather. Did you know, Rosy
dear, that sailors weigh the weather, and know when it is
heavy and when it is light?"
" I did not, aunt; nor do I understand now how it can
very well'be done."
"Oh! child, before you have been at sea a week, you will
_earn so many things that are new, and get so many ideas
of which you never had any notion before, that you '11 not
be the same person.  My captain had an instrument he
called a thermometer, and with that he. used to weigh the
weather, and then he would write down in the log-book ' today, heavy weather, or to-morrow, light weather,' just as it
happened, and that helped him mightily along in his voyages."
" Mrs. Budd has merely mistaken the name of the instru
nlent-the ' barometer' is what she wished to say," put in
Mulford, opportunely.
Rose looked grateful, as well as relieved. Though pro4oundly ignorant on these subjects herself, she had always
suspected her aunt's knowledge. It was, consequently,
grateful to her to ascertain that, in this instance, the old
lady's mistake had been so trifling.
"Well, it may have been the barometer, for I know he
had them both," resumed the aunt. " Barometer, or ther.
mometer, it do n't make any great difference; or quadrant,
or sextant. They are all instruments, and sometimes he
ised one, and sometimes another. Sailors take on board




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


43


the sun, too, and have an instrument for that, as well as
one to weigh the weather with. Sometimes they take on
board the stars, and the moon, and ' fill their ships with the
heavenly bodies,' as I 've heard my dear husband say, again
and again! But the most curious thing at sea, as all sailors
tell me, is crossing the line, and I do hope we shall cross
the line, Rosy, that you and I may see it."
" What is the line, aunty,.and how do vessels cross it."
"The line, my dear, is a place in the ocean where the
earth is divided into two parts, one part being called the
North Pole, and the other part the South Pole. Neptune
lives near this line, and he allows no vessel to go out of one
pole into the other, without paying it a visit. Never! never!
-he would as soon think of living on dry land as think of
letting even a canoe pass, without visiting it."
"Do you suppose there is such a being, really, as Nep
tune, aunty?"
" To be sure I do; he is king of the sea. Why should n't
there be? The sea must have a king, as well as the land.'
"The sea may be a republic, aunty, like this country;
then, no king is necessary. I have always supposed Neptune to be an imaginary being."
" Oh that's impossible-the sea is no republic; there are
but two republics, America and Texas. I've heard that the
sea is a highway, it is true-the 'highway of nations,' I
believe it is called, and that must mean something particular.
But my poor Mr. Budd always told me that Neptune was
king of the seas, and he was always so accurate, you might
depend on everything he said. Why, he called his last Newfoundland dog Neptune; and do you think, Rosy, that your
dear uncle would call his dog after an imaginary being -
and he a man to beat the wind, and attack ship, and take
the sun, moon and star.3 aboard! No, no, chilU; fanciful
folk may see imaginary beings, but solid folk see solid beings."
Even Spike was dumfounded at this, and there is no
knowing what he might have said, had not an old sea-dog,
who had just come out of the fore-topmast cross-trees, come
aft, and, hitching up his trowsers with one hand while he
touched his hat with the other, said with immoveable grav
*ty,




44


JACK T 1 EdR;


" The revenue-steamer has brought up just under the fort,
Capt. Spike."
"' How do you know that, Bill?" demanded the captain,
with a rapidity that showed how completely Mrs. Budd and
all her absurdities were momentarily forgotten.
"I was up on the fore-topgallant yard, sir, a bit ago, just
to look to the strap of the jewel-block, which wants some
sarvice on it, and I see'd her over the land, blowin' off steam
and takin' in her kites. Afore I got out of the cross-trees,
she was head to wind under bare-poles, and if she hadn't
anchored, she was about to do so. I 'm sartin 't was she,
sir, and that she was about to bring up."
Spike gave a long, low whistle, after his fashion, and he
walked away from the females, with the air of a man who
wanted room to think in. Half a minute later, he called
out"Stand by to shorten sail, boys. Man fore-clew-gar.
nets, flying jib down haul, topgallant sheets, and gaff-topsail
gear. In with 'em all, my lads-in with everything, with a
will."
An order to deal with the canvas in any way, on board
ship, immediately commands the whole attention of all whose
duty it is to attend to such matters, and there was an end
of all discourse while the Swash was shortening sail. Everybody understood, too, that it was to gain time, and prevent
the brig from reaching Throg's Neck sooner than was desirable.
" Keep the brig off," called out Spike, " and let her ware
-we 're too busy to tack just now."
The man at the wheel knew very well what was wanted,
and he put his helm up, instead of putting it down, as he
might have done without this injunction. As this change
brought the brig before the wind, and Spike was in no hurry
to luff up on the other tack, the Swash soon ran over a mile
of the distance she had already made, putting her back that
much on her way to the Neck. It is out of our power to
say what the people of the different craft in sight thought of
all this, but an opportunity soon offered of putting them on
a wrong scent. A large coasting schooner, carrying every..hing that would draw on a wind, came sweeping under the
stern of the Swash, and hailed.




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


45


" Has anything happened, on board that brig?" demanded
her master.
" Man overboard," answered Spike-" you hav'nt seen
his hat, have you?"
" No-no," came back, just as the schooner, in her on.
ward course, swept beyond the reach of the voice. Her
people collected together, and one or two ran up the rigging
a short distance, stretching their necks, on the look-out for
the " poor fellow," but they were soon called down to " 'bout
ship." In less than five minutes, another vessel, a rakish
coasting sloop, came within hail.
"Didn't that brig strike the Pot Rock, in passing the
Gate?" demanded her captain.
"Ay, ay!-and a devil of a rap she got, too."
This satisfied him; there being nothing remarkable in a
vessel's acting strangely that had hit the Pot Rock in passing Hell Gate.
"I think we may get in our mainsail on the strength of
this, Mr. Mulford," said Spike. " There can be nothing on.
common in a craft's shortening sail, that has a man overboard, and which has hit the -Pot Rock. I wonder I never
thought of all this before."
' Here is a skiff trying to get alongside of us, Capt. Spike,"
called out the boatswain.
' Skiff be d-d! I want no skiff here."
"The man that called himself Jack Tier is in her, sir."
"The d-1 he is!" cried Spike, springing over to the op.
posite side of the deck to take a look for himself. To his
infinite satisfaction he perceived that Tier was alone in the
skiff, with the exception of a negro, who pulled its sculls,
and that this was a very different boat from that which had
glanced through Hell Gate, like an arrow darting from its
bow.
" Luff, and shake your topsail," called out Spike. " Get
a rope there to throw to this skiff."
The orders were obeyed, and Jack Tier, with his clothesbag, was soorr on the deck of the Swash. As for the skiff
and the negro, they were cast adrift the instant the latter
had received his quarter. The meeting between Spike and
his quondam steward's mate was a little remarkable. Each
stood looking intently at the other, as if to note the changes




46


JACK TIER;


which time had made. We cannot say that Spike's hard
red, selfish countenance betrayed any great feeling, though
such was not the case with Jack Tier's. The last, a lymphatic, puffy sort of a person at the best, seemed really a
little touched, and he either actually brushed a tear from his
eye, or he affected so to do.
"So, you are my old shipmate, Jack Tier, are ye?'"
exclaimed Spike, in a half-patronizing, half-hesitating way
-and you want to try the old craft ag'in. Give u3 a leaf
of your log, and let me know where you have been this
many a day, and what you haVe been about? Keep the
brig off, Mr. Mulford. We are in no particular hurry to
reach Throg's, you '11 remember, sir."
Tier gave an account of his proceedings, which coula
have no interest with the reader. His narrative was any
thing but very clear, and it was delivered in a cracked,
octave sort of a voice, such as little dapper people not
unfrequently enjoy-tones between those of a man and a
boy. The substance of the whole story was this. Tier
had been left ashore, as sometimes happens to sailors, and,
by necessary connection, was left to shift for himself. After
making some vain endeavours to rejoin his brig, he had
shipped in one vessel after another, until he accidentally
found himself in the port of New York, at the same time as
the Swash. He know'd he never should be truly happy
ag'in until he could once more get aboard the old hussy, and
had hurried up to the wharf, where he understood the brig
was lying. As he came in sight, he saw she was about to
cast off, and, dropping his clothes-bag, he had made the best
of his way to the wharf, where the conversation passed that
has been related.
"The gentleman on the wharf was about to take boat,
to go through the Gate," concluded Tier, " and so I begs a
passage of him. He was good-natured enough to wait until
I could find my bag, and as soon a'terwards as the men
could get their grog we shoved off. The Molly was just
getting in behind Blackwell's as we left the wharf, and,
having four good oars, and the shortest road, we come out
into the Gate just ahead on you.  My eye: what a place
that is to go through in a boat, and on a strong flood! The
gentleman, who watched the brig as a cat watches a mouse,




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


47


says you struck on the Pot, as he called it, but I says 'no,'
for the Molly Swash was never know'd to hit rock or shoal
in my time aboard her."
"And where did you quit that gentleman, and what has
become of him?" asked Spike.
" He put me ashore on that point above us, where I see'd
a nigger with his skiff, who I thought would be willin' to 'arn
his quarter by giving me a cast alongside. So here I am,
and a long pull I 'e had to get here."
As this was said, Jack removed his hat and wiped his
brow with a handkerchief, which, if it had never seen better
days, had doubtless been cleaner. After this, he looked
about him, with an air not entirely free from exultation.
This conversation had taken place in the gangway, a
somewhat public place, and Spike beckoned to his recruit
to walk aft, where he might be questioned without being
overheard.
" What became of the gentleman in the boat, as you call
him?" demanded Spike.
"He putted ahead, seeming to be in a hurry."
"Do you know who he was?"
"Not a bit of it. I never saw the man before, and he
did n't tell me his business, sir."
"Had he anything like a silver oar about him."
"I saw nothing of the sort, Capt. Spike, and knows nothing consarning him."
"What sort of a boat was he in, and where did he get it?"
Well, as to the boat, sir, I can say a word, seein' it was
so much to my mind, and pulled so wonderful smart. It
was a light ship's yawl, with four oars, and came round the
Hook just a'ter you had got the brig's head round to the
eastward. You must have seen it, I should think, though
it kept close in with the wharves, as if it wished to be snug."
"Then the gentleman, as you call him, expected that
very boat to come and take him off?"
" I suppose so, sir, because it did come and take him off.
That's all I knows about it."
"Had you no jaw with the gentleman?   You was nt
mnm the whole time you was in the boat with him?"
" Not a bit of it, sir. Silence and I does n't agree together
ong, and so we talked most of the time."




4    ~        JACK TIERi
"And what did the stranger say of the brig?"
"Lord, sir, he catechised me like as if I had been a child
at Sunday-school. He asked me how long I had sailed in
her; what ports we'd visited, and what trade we'd been in.
You can't think the sight of questions he put, and how
cur'ous he was for the answers."
"And what did you tell him in your answers? You said
nothin' about our call down on the Spanish Main, the time
you were left ashore, I hope, Jack?"
Not I, sir. I played him off surprisin'ly. He got nothin'
to count upon out of me. Though I do owe the Molly Swash
a grudge, I'm not goin' to betray her."
" You owe the Molly Swash a grudge! Have I taken an
enemy on board her, then?"
Jack started, and seemed' sorry he had said so much;
while Spike eyed him keenly. But the answer set all right.
It was not given, however, without a moment for recollection.
" Oh, you knows what I mean, sir. I owe the old hussy
a grudge for having desarted me like; but it's only a love
quarrel atween us. The old Molly will never come to harm
by my means."
"I hope not, Jack. The man that wrongs the craft he
sails in can never be a true-hearted sailor. Stick by your
ship in all weathers is my rule, and a good rule it is to go
by. But what did you tell the stranger?"
" Oh! I told him I'd been six v'y'ges in the brig. The
first was to Madagascar-"
"The d-1 you did? Was he soft enough to believe
that?"
"That's more than I knows, sir. I can only tell you
what I said; I don't pretend to know how much he believed."
"Heave ahead-what next?"
"Then I told him we went to Kamschatka for gold dust
and ivory."
"Whe-e-ew! What did the man say to that?"
"Why, he smiled a bit, and a'ter that he seemed more
cur'ous than ever to hear all about it. I told him my third
v'y'ge was to Canton, with a cargo of broom-corn, where
we took in salmon and dun-fish for home. A'ter that we




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


49


went to Norway with ice, and brought back silks and money.
Our next run was to the Havana, with salt and 'nips —"
"'Nips! what the devil be they?"
"Turnips, you knows, sir. We always calls 'em 'nips
in cargo. At the Havana I told him we took in leather and
jerked beef, and came home. Oh! he got nothin' from me,
Capt. Spike, that'll ever do the brig a morsel of harm!"
" I am glad of that, Jack. You must know enough of
the seas to understand that a close mouth is sometimes better for a vessel than a clean bill of health. Was there nothing said about the revenue-steamer?"
' Now you name her, sir, I believe there was-ay, ay,
sir, the gentleman did say, if the steamer fetched up to the
westward of the fort, that he should overhaul her without
difficulty, on this flood.
" That'll do, Jack; that'll do, my honest fellow. Go
below, and tell Josh to take you into the cabin again, as
steward's mate. You 're rather too Dutch built, in your old
age, to do much aloft."
One can hardly say whether Jack received this remark
as complimentary, or not. He looked a little glum, for a
man may be as round as a barrel, and wish to be thought
genteel and slender; but he went below, in quest of Josh,
without making any reply.
The succeeding movements of Spike appeared to be much
nfluenced by what he had just heard. He kept the brig under short canvas for near two hours, sheering about in the
same place, taking care to tell everything which spoke htim
that he had lost a man overboard. In this way, not only
the tide, but the day itself, was nearly spent. About the
time the former began to lose its strength, however, the
fore-course and the main-sail were got on the brigantine,
with the intention of working her up toward Whitestone,
where the tides meet, and near which the revenue-steamer
was known to be anchored. We say near, though it was,
in fact, a mile or two more to the eastward, and close to the
extremity of the Point.
Notwithstanding these demonstrations of a wish to work
to windward, Spike was really in no hurry. He had made
up his mind to pass the steamer in the dark, if possible, and
the night promised to favour him; but, in order to do this,
5




50


JACK  TIER;


it might be necessary not to come in sight of her at all; or,
at least, not until the obscurity should in some measure
conceal his rig and character. In consequence of this plan,
the Swash made no great progress, even after she had got
sail on her, on her old course. The wind lessened, too,
after the sun went down, though it still hung to the eastward, or nearly ahead. As the tide gradually lost its force,
moreover, the set to windward became less and less, until
ii finally disappeared altogether.
There is necessarily a short reach in this passage, where
it is always slack water, so far as current is concerned.
This is precisely where the tides meet, or, as has been intimated, at Whitestone, which is somewhat more than a mile
to the westward of Throgmorton's Neck, near the point of
which stands Fort Schuyler, one of the works recently
erected for the defence of New York. Off the pitch of the
point, nearly mid-channel, had the steamer anchored, a fact
of which Spike had made certain, by going aloft himself,
and reconnoitering her over the land, before it had got to be
too dark to do so. He entertained no manner of doubt that
this vessel was in waiting for him, and he well knew there
was good reason for it; but he would not return and attempt
the passage to sea by way of Sandy Hook. His manner of
regarding the whole matter was cool and judicious. The
distance to the Hook was too great to be made in such short
nigh'ts ere the return of day, and he had no manner of doubt
he was watched for in that direction, as well as in this.
Then he was particularly unwilling to show his craft at all
in front of the town, even in the night. Moreover, he had
ways of his own for effecting his purposes, and this was the
very spot and time to put them in execution.
While these things were floating in his mind, Mrs. Budd
and her handsome niece were making preparations for pass
ing the night, aided by Biddy Noon. The old lady was
factotum, or factota, as it might be most classical to call her,
though we are entirely without authorities on the subject
and was just as self-complacent and ambitious of seawoman.
ship below decks, as she had been above board. The effect,
however, gave Spike great satisfaction, since it kept her out
of sight, and left him more at liberty to carry out his own
plans. About nine, however, the good woman came on




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF..II


deck, intending to take a look at the weather, like a sklful
marineress as she was, before she turned in. Not a little
was she astonished at what she then and there beheld, as
she whispered to Rose and Biddy, both of whom stuck close
to her side, feeling the want of good pilotage, no doubt, in
strange waters.
The Molly Swash was still under her canvas, though very
little sufficed for her present purposes. She was directly off
Whitestone, and was making easy stretches across the passage, or river, as it is called, having nothing set but her huge
fore-and-aft mainsail and the jib.  Under this sail she
worked like a-top, and Spike sometimes fancied she travelled
too fast for his purposes, the night air having thickened the
canvas as usual, until it " held the wind as a bottle holds
water." There was nothing in this, however, to attract the
particular attention of the ship-master's widow, a sail, more
or less, being connected with observation much too critical
for her schooling, nice as the last had been. She was surprised to find the men stripping the brig forward, and converting her into a schooner. Nor was this done in a loose
and slovenly manner, under favour of the obscurity. On
the contrary, it was so well executed that it might have deceived even a seaman under a noon-day sun, provided the
vessel were a mile or two distant. The manner in which
the metamorphosis was made was as follows: the studding-sail booms had been taken off the topsail-yard, in order
to shorten it to the eye, and the yard itself was swayed up
about half-mast, to give it the appearance of a schooner's
fore-yard. The brig's real lower yard was lowered on the
bulwarks, while her royal yard was sent down altogether,
and the topgallant-mast was lowered until the heel rested on
the topsail yard, all of which, in the night, gave the gear
forward very much the appearance of that of a fore-topsail
schooner, instead of that of a half-rigged brig, as the craft
really was. As the vessel carried a try-sail on her foremast, it answered very well, in the dark, to represent a
schooner's foresail. Several other little dispositions of this
nature were made, about which it might weary the uninitiated
to read, but which will readily suggest themselves to the
mind of a sailor.
These alterations were far advanced when the females




52


JACK  TIER;


re-appeared on deck. They at once attracted their afterttion, and the captain's widow felt the imperative necessity,
as connected with her professional character, of proving the
same. She soon found Spike, who was bustling around the
deck, now looking around to see that his brig was kept in
the channel, now and then issuing an order to complete her
disguise.
"Captain Spike, what can be the meaning of all these
changes? The tamper of your vessel is so much altered
that I declare I should not have known her!"
"Is it, by George! Then she is just in the state I want
her to be in."
" But why have you done it-and what does it all mean?"
" Oh, Molly 's going to bed for the night, and she's only
undressing herself-that's all."
"Yes, Rosy dear, Captain Spike is right. I remember
that my poor Mr. Budd used to talk about The Rose In Bloom
having her clothes on, and her clothes off, just as if she was
a born woman! But do n't you mean to navigate at all in
the night, Captain Spike? Or will the brig navigate without sails?"
"That's it-she's just as good in the dark, under one
sort of canvas, as under another. So, Mr. Mulford, we '11
take a reef in that mainsail; it will bring it nearer to the
size of our new foresail, and seem more ship-shape and
Brister fashion-then I think she '11 do, as the night is getting to be rather darkish."
" Captain Spike," said the boatswain, who had been set
to look-out for that particular change —" the brig begins to
feel the new tide, and sets to windward."
"4 Let her go, then-now is as good a time as another.
We've got to run the gantlet, and the sooner it is done the
better."
As the moment seemed propitious, not only Mulford, but
all the people, heard this order with satisfaction. The night
was star-light, though not very clear at that. Objects on
the water, however, were more visible than those on the land,
while those on the last could be seen well enough, even from
the brig, though in confused and somewhat shapeless piles.
When the Swash was brought close by the wind, she had
just got into the last reach of the "river," or that which




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


53


runs paiallel with the Neck for near a mile, doubling where
the Sound expands itself, gradually, to a breadth of many
leagues. Still the navigation at the entrance of this end of
the Sound was intricate and somewhat dangerous, rendering
it indispensable for a vessel of any size to make a crooked
course. The wind stood at south-east, and was very scant
to lay through the reach with, while the tide was so slack
as barely to possess a visible current at that place. The
steamer lay directly off the Point, mid-channel, as mentioned
showing lights, to mark her position to anything which might
be passing in or out. The great thing was to get by her
without exciting her suspicion. As all on board, the females
excepted, knew what their captain was at, the attempt was
made amid an anxious and profound silence; or, if any one
spoke at all, it was only to give an order in a low tone, or
its answer in a simple monosyllable.
Although her aunt assured her that everything which had
been done already, and which was now doing, was quite in
rule, the quick-eyed and quick-witted Rose noted these unusual proceedings, and had an opinion of her own on the
subject. Spike had gone forward, and posted himself on the
weather-side of the forecastle, where he could get the clear.
est look ahead, and there he remained most of the time,
leaving Mulford on the quarter-deck, to work the vessel.
Perceiving this, she managed to get near the mate, without
attraciing her aunt's attention, and at the same time out of
ear-shot.
" Why is everybody so still and seemingly so anxious,
Harry Mulford?" she asked, speaking in a low tone herself,
as if desirous of conforming to a common necessity. " Is
there any new danger here? I thought the Gate had been
passed altogether, some hours ago?"
" So it has. D'ye see that large dark mass on the water,
off the Point, which seems almost as huge as the fort, with
lights above it? That is a revenue-steamer which came out
of York a few hours before us. We wish to get past her
without being troubled by any of her questions."
" And what do any in this brig care about her questions?
They can be answered, surely."
' Ay, ay, Rose-they may be answered, as you say, but
the answers sometimes are unsatisfactory. Captain Spike
5




54


JACK TIER;


for some reason or other, is uneasy, and would rathe, not
have anything to say to her. He has the greatest aversion
to speaking the smallest craft when on a coast."
" And that's the reason he has undressed his Molly, as
he calls her, that he might not be known."
Mulford turned his head quickly toward his companion,
as if surprised by her quickness of apprehension, but he
had too just a sense of his duty to make any reply. Instead
~of pursuing the discourse, he adroitly contrived to change
it, by pointing out to Rose the manner in which they were
getting on, which seemed to be very successfully.
Although the Swash was under much reduced canvas,
she glided along with great ease and with considerable rapidity of motion. The heavy night air kept her canvas
distended, and the weatherly set of the tide, trifling as it yet
was, pressed her up against the breeze, so as to turn all to
account. It was apparent enough, by the manner in which
objects on the land were passed, that the crisis was fast approaching. Rose rejoined her aunt, in order to await the
result, in nearly breathless expectation. At that moment,
she would have given the world to be safe on shore. This
wish was not the consequence of any constitutional timidity,
for Rose was much the reverse from timid, but it was the
fruit of a newly-awakened and painful, though still vague,
suspicion. Happy, thrice happy was it for one of her naturally confiding and guileless nature, that distrust was thus
opportunely awakened, for she was without a guardian competent to advise and guide her youth, as circumstances required.
The brig was not long in reaching the passage that
opened to the Sound. It is probable she did this so much
the sooner because Spike kept her a little off the wind, with
a view of not passing too near the steamer. At this point,
the direction of the passage changes at nearly a right angle,
the revenue-steamer lying on a line with the Neck, and
leaving a sort of bay, in the angle, for the Swash to enter.
The land was somewhat low in all directions but one, and
that was by drawing a straight line from the Point, through
the steamer, to the Long Island shore. On the latter, and
in that quarter, rose a bluff of considerable elevation, with
deep water quite near it; and, under the shadows of that




0~I
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353




0     0




lissing
Page




Missing
Page




Missing
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OR, T IE FLORIDA REEF.


61I


inited to her excellent sailing qualities, could have produced
with so light a breeze.
The first half hour took the Swash completely out of sight
of the steamer.' In that time, in truth, by actual superiority
in sailing, by her greater state of preparation, and by the
distance saved by a bold navigation, she had gained fully a
league on her pursuer. But, while the steamer had lost sight
of the Swash, the latter kept the former in view, and that
by means of a signal that was very.portentous. She saw
the light of the steamer's chimneys, and could form some
opinion of her distance and position.
It was about eleven o'clock when the Swash passed the
light at Sands' Point, close in with the land. The wind
stood much as it had been. If there was a change at all,
it was half a point more to the southward, and it was a little
fresher. Such as it was, Spike saw he was getting, in that
smooth water, quite eight knots out of his craft, and he made
his calculations thereon. As yet, and possibly for haif an
hour longer, he was gaining, and might hope to continue to
gain on the steamer. Then her turn would come. Though
no great traveller, it was not to be expected that, favoured
by smooth water and the breeze, her speed would be less
than ten knots, while there was no hope of increasing his
own without an increase of the wind. He might be five
miles in advance, or six at the most; these six miles would
be overcome in three hours of steaming, to a dead certainty,
and they might possibly be overcome much sooner. It was
obviously necessary to resort to some other experiment than
that of dead sailing, if an escape was to be effected.
The Sound was now several miles in width, and Spike,
at first, proposed to his mate, to keep off dead before the
wind, and by crossing over to the north shore, let the
steamer pass ahead, and continue a bootless chase to the
eastward. Several vessels, however, were visible in the
middle of the passage, at distances varying from  one to
three miles, and Mulford pointed out the hopelessness of
attempting to cross the sheet of open water, and expect
to go unseen by the watchful eyes of the revenue people.
" What you say is true enough, Mr. Mulford," answered
Spike, after a moment of profound reflection, " and every
foot that they come nearer, the less will be our chance.
6




62


JACK TIER;


But here is Hempstead Harbour a few leagues ahead  if we
can reach that before the blackguards close, we may do well
enough. It is a deep bay, and has high land to darken the
view. I don't think the brig could be seen at midnight by
anything outside, if she was once fairly up that water a mile
or two."
" That is our chance, sir!" exclaimed Mulfbrd cheerfully
" Ay, ay, I know the spot, and everything is favourable -
try that, Captain Spike; I'll answer for it that we go clear."
Spike did try it. For a considerable time longer he stood
on, keeping as close to the land as he thought it safe to run,
and carrying everything that would draw. But the steamer
was on his heels, evidently gaining fast. Her chimneys
gave out flames, and there was every sign that her people
were in earnest. To those on board the Swash these flames
seemed to draw nearer each instant, as indeed was the fact,
and just as the breeze came fresher out of the opening in
the hils, or the low mountains, which surround the place
of refuge in which they designed to enter, Mulford announced
that by aid of the night-glass he could distinguish both sails
and hull of their pursuer. Spike took a look, and throwing
down the instrument, in a way to endanger it, he ordered
the studding-sails taken in. The men went aloft like cats,
and worked as if they could stand in air. In a minute or
two the Swash was under what Mrs. Budd might have called
her " attacking " canvas, and was close by the wind, looking on a good leg well up the harbour. The brig seemed to
be conscious of the emergency, and glided ahead at capital
speed. In five minutes she had shut in the flaming chim.
neys of the steamer. In five minutes more Spike tacked,
to keep under the western side of the harbour, and out of
sight as long as possible, and because he thought the breeze
drew down fresher where he was than more out in the
bay.
All now depended on the single fact whether the brig had
been seen from the steamer or not, before she hauled into
the bay. If seen, she had probably been watched; if not
seen, there were strong grounds for hoping that she might
still escape. About a quarter of an hour after Spike hauled
up, the burning chimneys calne again into view. The brig
was then half a league within the bay, with a fine dark back.




OR, THE    FLORIDA      REEF.          63
ground of hills to throw her into shadow. Spike ordered
everything taken in but the trysail, under which the brig
was left to set slowly over toward the western side of the
harbour. He now rubbed his hands with delight, and
pointed out to Mulford the circumstance that the steamer
kept on her course directly athwart the harbour's mouth!
Had she seen the Swash, no doubt she would have turned
into the bay also. Nevertheless, an anxious ten minutes
succeeded, during which the revenue vessel steamed fairly
past, and shut in her flaming chimneys again by the eastern
headlands of the estuary.
CHAPTER III.
The western wave was all a flame,
The day was well nigh done,
Almost upon the western wave
Rested the broad bright sun;
When that strange ship drove suddenly
Betwixt us and the sun.
The Ancient Mariner.
AT that hour, on the succeeding morning, when the light
of day is just beginning to chase away the shadows of night,
the Molly Swash became visible within the gloom of the high
land which surrounds so much of the bay of Hempstead,
under easy sail, backing and filling, in order to keep within
her hiding-place, until a look could be had at the state of
things without. Half an hour later, she was so near the
entrance of the estuary, as to enable the look-outs aloft to
ascertain that the coast was clear, when Spike ordered the
helm to be put up, and the brig to be kept away to her
course. At this precise moment, Rose appeared on deck,
refreshed by the sleep of a quiet night, and with cheeks
tinged with a colour even more delicate than that which was
now glowing in the eastern sky, and which was almost as
vrilliant.




64


JACK  TIER;


"< We stopped in this bit of a harbour for the night, Miss
Rose, that is all;" said Spike, observing that his fair passenger was looking about her, in some little surprise, at
finding the vessel so near the land, and seemingly so much
out of her proper position. " Yes, we always do that, when
we first start on a v'y'ge, and before the brig gets used to
travelling-do n't we, Mr. Mulford?"
Mr. Mulfbrd, who knew how hopeless was the attempt to
mystify Rose, as one might mystify her credulous and weak
minded aunt, and who had no disposition to deal any way
but fairly by the beautifil, and in one sense now helpless
young creature before him, did not see fit to make any reply.
Offend Spike he did not dare to do, more especially under
present circumstances; and mislead Rose he would not do.
He affected not to hear the question, therefore, but issuing
an order about the head-sails, he walked forward as if to see
it executed. Rose herself was not under as much restrain!
as the young mate.
"It is convenient, Captain Spike," she coolly answered
for Mulford, " to have stopping-places, for vessels that are
wearied, and I remember the time when my uncle used to
tell me of such matters, very much in the same vein; but, it
was before I was twelve years old."
Spike hemmed, and he looked a little foolish, but Clench,
the boatswain, coming aft to say something to him in confidence, just at that moment, he was enabled to avoid the
awkwardness of attempting to explain. This man Clench,
or Clinch, as the name was pronounced, was deep in the
captain's secrets; far more so than was his mate, and would
have been filling Mulford's station at that very time, had he
not been hopelessly ignorant of navigation. On the present
occasion, his business was to point out to the taptain, two
or three lines of smoke, that were visible above the watei
of the Sound, in the eastern board; one of which he was
apprehensive might turn out to be the smoke of the revenue
craft, from which they had so recently escaped.
"Steamers are no rarities in Long Island Sound, Clench,"
observed the captain, levelling his glass at the most suspected of the smokes. " That must be a Providence, or
Stonington chap, coming west with the Boston train."
"Either of them would have been further west, by this




OR, THIE FLORIDA REEF.


65


time, Captain Spike," returned the doubting, but watchful
boatswain. "It's a large smoke, and I fear it is the revenue fellow coming back, after having had a look well to the
eastward, and satisfying himself that we are not to be had
in that quarter."
Spike growled out his assent to the possibility of such a
conjecture, and promised vigilance.  This satisfied his subordinate for the moment, and he walked forward, or to the
place where he belonged. In the mean time, the widow
came on deck, smiling, and snuffing the salt air, and ready
to be delighted with anything that was maritime.
"Good morning, Captain Spike," she cried —" Are we in
the offing, yet?-you know I desired to be told when we are
in the offing, for I intend to write a letter to my poor Mr.
Budd's sister, Mrs. Sprague, as soon as we get to the offing."
"What is the offing, aunt?" inquired the handsome
niece.
"Why you have hardly been at sea long enough to under.
stand me, child, should I attempt to explain. The offing,
however, is the place where the last letters are always written to the owners, and to friends ashore. The term comes,
I suppose, from the circumstance that the vessel is about to
be off, and it is natural to think of those we leave behind,
at such a moment. I intend to write to your aunt Sprague,
my dear, the instant I hear we are in the offing; and what
is more, I intend to make you my amanuensis."
" But how will the letter be sent, aunty?-I have no more
objections to writing than any one else, but I do not see how
the letter is to be sent. Really, the sea is a curious region,
with its stopping-places for the night, and its offings to write
letters at!"
"Yes, it's all as you say, Rose —a most remarkable
region is the sea! You'll admire it, as I admire it, when
you come to know it better; and as your poor uncle admired
it, and as Captain Spike admires it, too. As for the letters,
they can be sent ashore by the pilot, as letters are always
sent."
"But, aunty, there is no pilot in the Swash-for Captain
Spike refused to take one on board."
"'Rose!-you don't understand what you are talking
about! No vessel ever yet sailed without a pilot, if indeed
6 *




96


JACK  TIER;


any can. It's opposed to the law, not to have a pilot anu
now I remember to have heard your dear uncle say it wasn't
a voyage if a vessel didn't take away a pilot."
"But if they take them away, aunty, how can they send
the letters ashore by them?"
" Poh! poh! child; you don't know what you 're saying;
but you '11 overlook it, I hope, Captain Spike, for Rose is
quick, and will soon learn to know better. As if letters
couldn't be sent ashore by the pilot, though he was a hundred thousand miles from land! But, Captain Spike, you
must let me know when we are about to get off the Sound,
for I know that the pilot is always sent ashore with his letters, before the vessel gets off the Sound."
"Yes, yes," returned the captain, a little mystified by
the widow, though he knew her so well, and understood her
so well —" you shall know, ma'am, when we get off soundings, for I suppose that is what you mean."
"What is the difference?  Off the Sound, or off the
soundings, of course, must mean the same thing. But,
Rosy, we will go below and write to your aunt at once, for
I see a light-house yonder, and light-houses are always put
just off the soundings."
Rose, who always suspected her aunt's nautical talk,
though she did not know how to correct it, and was not
sorry to put an end to it, now, by going below, and spreading her own writing materials, in readiness to write, as the
other dictated. Biddy Noon was present, sewing on some
of her own finery.
"Now write, as I tell you, Rose," commenced the widow"My dear sister Sprague-Here we are at last, just off
the soundings, with light-houses all round us, and so many
capes and islands in sight, that it does seem as if the vessel
never could find its way through them all. Some of these
islands must be the West Indies"" Aunty, that can never be!" exclaimed Rose-" we left
New York only yesterday."
"What of that? Had it been old times, I grant you
several days might be necessary to get a sight of the West
'ndies, but, now, when a letter can be written to a friend in
Boston, and an answer received in half an hour, it requires
roe such time to go to the West Indies. Besides, what other




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


6"

islands are there in this part of the world? —they can't be
England-"
"No-no,"-said Rose, at once seeing it would be pre.
ferable to admit they were the West Indies; so the letter
went on:"' Some of these islands must be the West Indies, and it
is high time we saw some of them, for we are nearly off
the Sound, and the- light-houses are getting to be quite
numerous. I think we have already seen four since we left
the wharf. But, my dear sister Sprague, you will be delighted to hear how much better Rose's health is already
becoming-"
i" My health, aunty! Why, I never knew an ill day in
my life!"
" Don't tell me that, my darling; I know too well what
all these deceptive appearances of health amount to. I
would not alarm you for the world, Rosy dear, but a careful
parent-and I 'm your parent in affection, if not by naturebut a careful parent's eye is not to be deceived. I know
you look well, but you are ill, my child; though, Heaven
be praised, the sea air and hydropathy are already doing
you a monstrous deal of good."
As Mrs. Budd concluded, she wiped her eyes, and appeared really glad that her niece had a less consumptive
look than when she embarked. Rose sat, gazing at her
aunt, in mute astonishment. She knew how much and
truly she was beloved, and that induced her to be more
tolerant of her connection's foibles than even duty demanded.
Feeling was blended with her respect, but it was almost too
much for her, to learn that this long, and in some respects
painful voyage, was undertaken on her account, and without
the smallest necessity for it. The vexation, however, would
have been largely increased, but for certain free communi.
cations that had occasionally occurred between her and the
handsome mate, since the moment of her coming on board
the brig. Rose knew that Harry Mulford loved her, too,
for he had told her as much with a seaman's frankness;
and though she had never let him know that his partiality
was returned, her woman's heart was fast inclining toward
} im, with all her sex's tenderness. This made the mistake




68


JACK   rIER;


of her aunt tolerable, though Rose was exceedingly vexed
it should ever have occurred.
"Why, my dearest aunt," she cried, "they told me it
was on your account that this voyage was undertaken!"
" I know they did, poor, dear Rosy, and that was in order
not to alarm you. Some persons of delicate constitutions-"
"But my constitution is not in the least delicate, aunt;
on the contrary, it is as good as possible; a blessing for
which, I trust, I am truly grateful. I did not know but you
might be suffering, though you do look so well, for they all
agreed in telling me you had need of a sea-voyage."
"I, a subject for hydropathy! Why, child, water is no
more necessary to me than it is to a cat."
" But going to sea, aunty, is not hydropathy-"
" Don't say that, Rosy; do not say that, my dear. It is
hydropathy on a large scale, as Captain Spike says; and
when he gets us into blue water, he has promised that you
shall' have all the benefits of the treatment."
Rose was silent and thoughtful; after which she spoke
quickly, like one to whum an important thought had suddenly occurred.
" And Captain Spike, then, was consulted in my case?'
she asked.
"He was, my dear, and you have every reason to be
grateful to him. He was the first to discover a change in
your appearance, and to suggest a sea voyage. Marine
Hydropathy, he said, he was sure would get you up again;
for Captain Spike thinks your constitution good at the bottom
though the high colour you have proves too high a state of
habitual excitement."
"' Was Dr. Monson consulted at all, aunt?"
" Not at all. You know the doctors are all against hyIropathy, and mesmerism, and the magnetic telegraph, and
everything that is new; so we thought it best not to consult
him."
" And my aunt Sprague?"
" Yes, she was consulted alter everything was settled, and
when I knew her notions could not undo what had been
already done. But she is a seaman's widow, as well as
myself, and has a great notion of the virtue of sea air."




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


69


"Then it would seem that Doctor Spike was the prin.
cipal adviser in my case!"
"I own that he was, Rosy dear. Captain Spike was
brought up by your uncle, who has often told me what a
thorough seaman he was. ' There's Spike, now,' he said
to me one day, 'he can almost make his brig talk'- this
very brig too, your uncle meant, Rosy, and, of course, one
of the best vessels in the world to take hydropathy in."
" Yes, aunty," returned Rose, playing with the pen, while
her air proved how little her mind was in her words.
" Well, what shall I say next to my aunt Sprague?"
"Rose's health is already becoming confirmed," resumed
the widow, who thought it best to encourage her niece by
as strong terms as she could employ, "and I shall extol
hydropathy to the skies, as long as I live. As soon as we
reach our port of destination, my dear sister Sprague, I
shall write you a line to let you know it, by the magnetic
telegraph-"
"But there is no magnetic telegraph on the sea, aunty,"
interrupted Rose, looking up from the paper, with her clear,
serene, blue eyes, expressing even her surprise, at this touch
Of the relict's ignorance.
"Don't tell me that, Rosy, child, when everybody says
the sparks will fly round the whole earth, just as soon as
they will fly from New York to Philadelphia."
" But they must have something to fly on, aunty; and
the ocean will not sustain wires, or posts."
" Well, there is no need of being so particular; if there
is no telegraph, the letter must come by mail. You can say
telegraph, here, and when your aunt gets the letter, the post.
mark will tell her how it came. It looks better to talk
about telegraphic communications, child."
Rose resumed her pen, and wrote at her aunt's dictation,
as follows:-" By the magnetic telegraph, when I hope to
be able to tell you that our dear Rose is well. As yet, we
both enjoy the ocean exceedingly; but when we get off the
Sound, into blue water, and have sent the pilot ashore, or
discharged him, I ought to say, which puts me in mind of
elling you that a cannon was discharged at us only last
night, and that the ball whistled so near me, that I heard it
as plain as ever you heard Rose's piano."




70


JACK  TIER;


"Had I not better first tell my aunt Sprague what is to
be done when the pilot is discharged?"
"No; tell her about the cannon that was discharged,
first, and about the ball that I heard. I had almost forgot
that adventure, which was a very remarkable one, was it
not, Biddy?"
"Indeed, Missus, and it was! and Miss Rose might put
~in the letter how we both screamed at that cannon, and
might have been heard as plainly, every bit of it, as the
ball."
" Say nothing on the subject, Rose, or we shall never
hear the last of it. So,.darling, you may conclude in your
own way, for I believe I have told your aunt all that comes
to mind."
Rose did as desired, finishing the epistle in a very few
words, for, rightly enough, she had taken it into her head
there was no pilot to be discharged, and consequently that the
letter would never be sent. Her short but frequent conferences with Mulford were fast opening her eyes, not to say her
heart, and she was beginning to see Captain Spike in his true
character, which was that of a great scoundrel. It is true, that
the mate had not long judged his commander quite so harshly;
but had rather seen his beautiful brig, and her rare qualities,
in her owner and commander, than the man himself; but'
jealousy had quickened his observation of late, and Stephen
Spike had lost ground sensibly with Harry Mulford, within
the last week. Two or three times before, the young man
had thought of seeking another berth, on account of certain
distrusts of Spike's occupations; but he was poor, and so
long as he remained in the Swash, Harry's opportunities of
meeting Rose were greatly increased. This circumstance,
indeed, was the secret of his still being in the " Molly," as
Spike usually called his craft; the last voyage having excited suspicions that were rather of a delicate nature. Then
the young man really loved the brig, which, if she could
not be literally made to talk, could be made to do almost
everything else. A vessel, and a small vessel, too, is rather
contracted as to space, but those who wish to converse can
contrive to speak together often, even in such narrow limits.
Such had been the fact with Rose Budd and the handsome
mate. Twenty times since they sailed, short as that time




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


71


was, had Mulford contrived to get so near to. Rose, as to talk
with her, unheard by others. It is true, that he seldom
ventured to do this, so long as the captain was in sight, but
Spike was often below, and opportunities were constantly
occurring. It was in the course of these frequent but brief
conversations, that Harry had made certain dark hints
touching the character of his commander, and the known
recklessness of his proceedings. Rose had taken the alarm,
and fully comprehending her aunt's mental imbecility, her
situation was already giving her great uneasiness. She had
some undefined hopes from the revenue steamer; though,
strangely enough as it appeared to her, her youngest and
most approved suitor betrayed a strong desire to escape from
that craft, at the very moment he was expressing his apprehensions on account of her presence in the brig. This con.
tradiction arose from a certain esprit de corps, which seldom
fails, more or less, to identify the mariner with his ship.
But the writing was finished, and the letter sealed with
wax, Mrs. Budd being quite as particular in that ceremony
as Lord Nelson, when the females again repaired on deck.
They found Spike and his mate sweeping the eastern part
of the Sound with their glasses, with a view to look out for
enemies; or, what to them, just then, was much the same
thing, government craft. In this occupation, Rose was a
little vexed to see that Mulford was almost as much interested
as Spike himself, the love of his vessel seemingly overcoming his love for her, if not his love of the right-she
knew of no reason, however, why the captain should dread
any other vessel, and felt sufficiently provoked to question
him a little on the subject, if it were only to let him see that
the niece was not as completely his dupe as the aunt. She
had not been on deck five minutes, therefore, during which
time several expressions had escaped the two sailors touching
their apprehensions of vessels seen in the distance, ere she
commenced her inquiries.
" And why should we fear meeting with other vessels?"
Rose plainly demanded-" here in Long Island Sound, and
within the power of the laws of the country?"
"Fear?" exclaimed Spike, a little startled, and a good
deal surprised at this straight-forward question -- Fear,
Miss Rose! You do not think we are afraid, though there




72


JACK  TIER;


are many reasons why we do not wish to be spoken by certain craft that are hovering about. In the first place, you
know it is war time-I suppose you know, Madam Budd,
that America is at war with Mexico?"
"Certainly," answered the widow, with dignity-" and
that is a sufficient reason, Rose, why one vessel should
chase, and another should run. If you had heard your
poor uncle relate, as I have done, all his chasings and run.
nings away, in the war times, child, you would understand
these things better. Why, I've heard your uncle say that,
in some of his long voyages, he has run thousands and
thousands of miles, with sails set on both sides, and all over
his ship!"
" Yes, aunty, and so have I, but that was ' running before
the wind,' as he used to call it."
"I s'pose, however, Miss Rose," put in Spike, who saw
that the niece would soon get the better of the aunt;-" I
s'pose, Miss Rose, that you '11 acknowledge that America is
at war with Mexico?"
"I am sorry to say that such is the fact, but I remember
to have heard you say, yourself, Captain Spike, when my
aunt was induced to undertake this voyage, that you did not
consider there was the smallest danger from any Mexicans."
' Yes, you did, Captain Spike," added the aunt-" you
did say there was no danger from Mexicans."
" Nor is there a bit, Madam Budd, if Miss Rose, and
your honoured self, will only hear me. There is no danger,
because the brig has the heels of anything Mexico can send
to sea. She has sold her steamers, and, as for anything
else under her flag, I would not care a straw."
"The steamer from which we ran, last evening, and
which actually fired off a cannon at us, was not Mexican,
but American," said Rose, with a pointed manner that put
Spike to his trumps.
"; Oh! that steamer-" he stammered-" that was a race
-only a race, Miss Rose, and I wouldn't let her come near
me, for the world. I should never hear the last of it, in the
insurance offices, and on 'change, did I let her overhaul
us. You see, Miss Rose-you see, Madam Budd-" Spike
ever found it most convenient to address his mystifying discourse to the aunt, in preference to addressing it to the niece




OR, THE FLORIDA        REEF.           73
-" You see, Madam Budd, the master of that craft and I
are old cronies-sailed together when boys, and set great
store by each other. We met only last evening, just a'ter
I had left your own agreeable mansion, Madam Budd, and
says he, ' Spike, when do you sail?' 'To-morrow's flood,
Jones,' says I- his name is Jones;-Peter Jones, and as
good a fellow as ever lived. ' Do you go by the Hook, Or
by Hell-Gate-'""
"Hurl-Gate, Captain Spike, if you please —or WhirlGate, which some people think is the true sound; but the
other way of saying it is awful."
" Well, the captain, my old master, always called it Hell
Gate, and I learned the trick from him-"
" I know he did, and so do all sailors; but genteel people,
now-a-days, say nothing but Hurl-Gate, or Whirl-Gate."
Rose smiled at this, as did Mulford; but neither said anything, the subject having once before been up between them.
As for ourselves, we are still so old-fashioned as to say, and
write, Hell-Gate, and intend so to do, in spite of all the
Yankees that have yet passed through it, or who ever shall
pass through it, and that is saying a great deal. We do
not like changing names to suit their uneasy spirits.
" Call the place Hurl-Gate, and go on with your story,"
said the widow, complacently.
"Yes, Madam Budd-' Do you go by the Hook, or by
Whirl-Gate?' said Jones. 'By Whirl-a-Gig-Gate,' says I.
'Well,' says he,' I shall go through the Gate myself, in the
course of the morning. We may meet somewhere to the
eastward, and, if we do, I'11 bet you a beaver,' says he,
'that I show you my stern.' 'Agreed,' says I, and we
shook hands upon it.  That's the whole history of our
giving the steamer the slip, last night, and of my not wishing to let her speak me."
"But you went into a bay, and let her go past you," said
Rose, coolly enough as to manner, but with great point as
to substance. "Was not that a singular way of winning a
race?"
" It does seem so, Miss Rose, but it's all plain enough,
when understood. I found that steam was too much foi
sails, and I stood up into the bay to let them run past us,
In hopes they would never find out the trick. I care as little
7




74


JACK  TIER;


for a hat as any man, but I do care a good deal about having
it reported on 'change that the Molly was beat, by even a
steamer."
This ended the discourse for the moment, Clench again
having something to say to his captain in private.
"How much of that explanation am I to believe, and
how much disbelieve?" asked Rose, the instant she was left
alone with Harry. " If it be all invention, it was a ready
and ingenious story."
"No part of it is true. He no more expected that the
steamer would pass through Hell-Gate, than I expected it
myself. There was no bet, or race, therefore; but it was
our wish to avoid Uncle Sam's cruiser, that was all."
"And why should you wish any such thing?"
"On my honour, I can give you no better reason, so far
as I am concerned, than the fact that, wishing to keep clear
of her, I do not like to be overhauled. Nor can I tell you
why Spike is so much in earnest in holding the revenue
vessel at arm's length; I know he dislikes all such craft, as
a matter of course, but I can see no particular reason for it
just now. A more innocent cargo was never stuck into a
vessel's hold."
"What is it?"
"Flour; and no great matter of that. The brig is not
half full, being just in beautiful ballast trim, as if ready for
a race. I can see no sufficient reason, beyond native antipathy, why Captain Spike should wish to avoid any craft,
for it is humbug his dread of a Mexican, and least of all,
here, in LongIsland Sound. All that story about.Jones is
a tub for whales."
"Thank you for the allusion; my aunt and myself being
the whales."
" You know I do mean-can mean nothing, Rose, that is
disrespectful to either yourself or your aunt."
Rose looked up, and she looked pleased. Then she
mused in silence, for some time, when she again spoke.
" Why have you remained another voyage with such a
man, Harry?" she asked, earnestly.
"Because, as his first officer, I have had access to your
house, when I could not have had it otherwise; and because
I have apprehended that he might persuade Mrs. Budd, as




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


75.


he had boasted to me it was his intention to do, to make
this voyage."
Rose now looked grateful; and deeply grateful did she
feel, and had reason to feel. Harry had concealed no por
tion of his history from her. Like herself, he was a ship.
master's child, but one better educated and better connected
than was customary for the class.  His father had paid a
good deal of attention to the youth's early years, but had
made a seaman of him, out of choice. The father had lost
his all, however, with his life, in a shipwreck; and Harry
was thrown upon his own resources, at the early age of
twenty. He had made one or two voyages as a second
mate, when chance threw him in Spike's way, who, pleased
with some evidences of coolness and skill, that he had
shown in a foreign port, on the occasion of another loss,
took him as his first officer; in which situation he had remained ever since, partly from choice and partly from ne.
cessity. On the other hand, Rose had a fortune; by no
means a large one, but several thousands in possession, from
her own father, and as many more in reversion from her
uncle. It was this money, taken in connection with the
credulous imbecility of the aunt, that had awakened the
cupidity, and excited the hopes of Spike. After a life of
lawless adventure, one that had been chequered by every
shade of luck, he found himself growing old, with his brig
growing old with him, and little left beside his vessel and
the sort of half cargo that was in her hold. Want of means,
indeed, was the reason that the flour-barrels were not more
numerous.
Rose heard Mulford's explanation favourably, as indeed
she heard most of that which came from him, but did not
renew the discourse, Spike's conference with the boatswain
just then terminating.  The captain now came aft, and
oegan to speak of the performances of his vessel in a way
to show that he took great pride in them.
" We are travelling at the rate of ten knots, Madam Budd,"
he said exultingly, " and that will take us clear of the land,
before night shuts in ag'in. Montauk is a good place for
an offing; I ask for no better."
"Shall we then have two offings, this voyage, Captain
Spike?" asked Rose, a little sarcastically. " If we are in




.76


JACK TIER;


the offing now, and are to be in the offing when we reach
Montauk, there must be two such places."
"Rosy, dear, you amaze me!" put in the aunt. "There
is no offing until the pilot is discharged, and when he's discharged there is nothing but offing. It's all offing. On the
Sound, is the first great change that befalls a vessel as she
goes to sea; then comes the offing; next the pilot is discharged-then-then-what comes next, Captain Spike?"
" Then the vessel takes her departure-an old navigator
like yourself, Madam Budd, ought not to forget the departure."
"Quite true, sir.  The departure is a very important
portion of a seaman's life. Often and often have I heard
my poor dear Mr. Budd talk about his departures. His
departures, and his offings and his-"
"Land-falls," added Spike, perceiving that the ship.
master's relict was a little at fault.
"Thank you, sir; the hint is quite welcome. His land.
falls, also, were often in his mouth."
" What is a land-fall, aunty?" inquired Rose-" It appears a strange term to be used by one who lives on the
water."
" Oh! there is no end to the curiosities of sailors! A
'land-fall,' my dear, means a shipwreck, of course. To
fall on the land, and a very unpleasant fall it is, when a
vessel should keep on the water. I've heard of dreadful
land-falls in my day, in which hundreds of souls have been;wept into eternity, in an instant."
"Yes; yes, Madam    Budd -there are such accidents
truly, and serious things be they to encounter,"-answered
Spike, hemming a little to clear his throat, as was much his
practice whenever the widow ran into any unusually extravagant blunder; "yes, serious things to encounter. But
the land-fall that I mean is a different sort of thing; being,
as you well know, what we say when we come in sight of
land, a'ter a v'y'ge; or, meaning the land we may happen
first to see. The departure is the beginning of our cal
culation when we lose sight of the last cape or headland,
and the land-fall closes it, by letting us know where we are
at the other end of our journey, as you probably remember.'
"Is there not such a thing as clearing out in navigation?"




OR, THE FLORIDA REE kF.


77


asked Rose quickly, willing to cover a little confusion that
was manifest in her aunt's manner.
"Not exactly in navigation, Miss Rose, but clearing out,
with honest folk, ought to come first, and navigation a'terwards. Clearing out means going through the CustomHouse, accordin' to law."
"And the Molly Swash has cleared out, I hope?"
"Sartaii —a more lawful clearance was never given in
Wall Street; it's for Key West and a market. I did think
of making it Havana and a market, but port-charges are
lightest at Key West."
"Then Key West is the place to which we are bound?"
"It ought to be, agreeable to papers; though vessels
sometimes miss the ports for which they clear."
Rose put no more questions; and her aunt, being conscious that she had not appeared to advantage in the affair
of the "land-fall," was also disposed to be silent. Spike
and Mulford had their attention drawn to the vessel, and the
conversation dropped.
The reader can readily suppose that the Molly Swash
nad not been standing still all this time. So far from this,
she was running " down Sound," with the wind on her
quarter, or at south-west, making great head-way, as she
was close under the south shore, or on the island side of the
water she was in. The vessel had no other motion than
that of her speed, and the females escaped everything like
sea-sickness, for the time being. This enabled them to
attend to making certain arrangements necessary to their
comforts below, previously to getting into rough water. In
acquitting- herself of this task, Rose received much useful
advice from Josh, though his new assistant, Jack Tier,
turned out to be a prize indeed, in the cabins. The first
was only a steward; but the last proved himself not only
% handy person of his calling, but one full of resources-a
genius, in his way. Josh soon became so sensible of his
own inferiority, in contributing to the comforts of females,
that he yielded the entire management of the "ladies'
cabin," as a little place that might have been ten feet square,
was called, to his uncouth-looking, but really expert deputy.
Tack waddled about below, as if born and brought up in
suh a place, and seemed every way fitted for nis office. In
7*




78


JACK  TIER;


height, and in build generally, there was a surprising conformity between the widow and the steward's deputy,. a circumstance which might induce one to think they must often
have been in each other's way, in a space so small; though, in
point of fact, Jack never ran foul of any one. He seemed
to avoid this inconvenience by a species of nautical instinct.
Towards the turn of the day, Rose.had everything arranged, and was surprised to find how much room she had
made for her aunt and herself, by means of Jack's hints,
and how much more comfortable it was possible to be, in
that small cabin, than she had at first supposed.
After dinner, Spike took his siesta. He slept in a little
state-room that stood on the starboard side of the quarterdeck, quite.aft; as Mulford did in one on the larboard.
These two state-rooms were fixtures; but a light deck over
head, which connected them, shipped and unshipped, form.
ing a shelter for the man at the wheel, when in its place, as
well as for the officer of the watch, should he see fit to use
it, in bad weather. This sort of cuddy, Spike termed his
"coach-house."
The captain had no sooner gone into his state-room, and
closed its window, movements that were understood by
Mulford, than the latter took occasion to intimate to Rose,
by means of Jack Tier, the state of things on deck, when
the young man was favoured with the young lady's cornpany.
"He has turned in for his afternoon's nap, and will sleep
for just one hour, blow high, or blow low," said the mate,
placing himself at Rose's side on the trunk, which formed
the usual seat for those who could presume to take the
liberty of sitting down on the quarter-deck. " It's a habit
with him, and we can count on it, with perfect security."
"His doing so, now, is a sign that he has no immediate
fears of the revenue steamer?"
"The coast is quite clear of her. We have taken good
looks at every smoke, but can see nothing that appears like
our late companion. She has doubtless gone to the eastward, on duty, and merely chased us, on her road."
' But why should she chase us, at all?"
*' Because we ran. Let a dog run, or a man run, or a
cat run, ten to one but something starts in chase. It is




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


79


human nature, I believe, to give chase; though I will admit
there was something suspicious about that steamer's movements-her anchoring off the Fort, for instance. But let
her go, for the present; are you getting things right, and to
your mind, below decks?"
" Very much so. The cabin is small, and the two staterooms the merest drawers that ever were used, but, by putting everything in its place, we have made sufficient room,
and no doubt shall be comfortable."
"I am sorry you did not call on me for assistance. The
mate has a prescriptive right to help stow away."
" WVe made out without your services," returned Rose,
slightly blushing-" Jack Tier, as he is called, Josh's as.
sistant, is a very useful person, and has been our adviser
and manager. I want no better for such services."
"He is a queer fellow, all round. Take him altogether, I
hardly ever saw so droll a being! As thick as he's long,
with a waddle like a duck, a voice that is cracked, hair like
bristles, and knee high; the man might make a fortune as
a show. Tom Thumb is scarcely a greater curiosity."
"( He is singular in' build,' as you call it," returned Rose,
laughing, " but, I can assure you that he is a most excellent
fellow in his way-worth a dozen of Josh. Do you know,
Harry, that I suspect he has strong feelings towards Captain
Spike; though whether of like or dislike, friendship or enmity, I am at a loss to say."
" And why do you think that he has any feeling at all?
I have heard Spike say he left the fellow ashore, somewhere
down on the Spanish Main, or in the Islands, quite twenty
years since; but a sailor would scarce carry a grudge so
long a time, for such a thing as that."
"I do not know- but feeling there is, and much of it,
too, though, whether hostile or friendly, I will not under.
take to say."
" I '11 look to the chap, now you tell me this. It is a little
odd, the manner in which he got on board us, taken in con.
nection with the company he was in, and a discovery may
be made. Here he is, however; and, as I keep the keys of.he magazine, he can do us no great harm, unless he scut
ltes the brig."
Magazine! Is there such a thing here?"




80


J A CK TIEIt,


"To be sure there is, and ammunition etnough in it to
keep eight carronades in lively conversation for a couple of
hours."
"A carronade is what you call a gun, is it not?"
"A piece of a one —being somewhat short, like your
friend, Jack Tier, who is shaped a good deal like a carronade."
Rose smiled - nay, half laughed, for Harry's pleasantries almost took the character of wit in her eyes, but she
did not the less pursue her inquiries.
"Guns! And where are they, if they be on this vessel?"
"Do not use such a lubberly expression, my dear Rose,
if you respect your father's profession.  On a vessel, is a
new-fangled Americanism, that is neither fish, flesh, nor
red-herring, as we sailors say-neither English nor Greek."
" What should I say, then? My wish is not to parade
sea-talk, but to use it correctly, when I use it at all."
" The expression is hardly 'sea-talk,' as you call it, but
every-day English-that is, when rightly used. On a vessel
is no more English than it is nautical-no sailor ever used
such an expression."
"Tell me what I ought to say, and you will find me a
willing, if not an apt scholar. I am certain of having often
read it, in the newspapers, and that quite lately."
" I '11 answer for that, and it's another proof of its being
wrong. In a vessel is as correct as in a coach, and on a
vessel as wrong as can be; but you can say on board a
vessel, though not' on the boards of a vessel;' as Mrs. Budd
has it."
" Mr. Mulford!"
"I beg a thousand pardons, Rose, and will offend no
more-though she does make some very queer mistakes!"
" My aunt thinks it an honour to my uncle's memory, to
be able to use the language of his professional life, and if
she does sometimes make mistakes that are absurd, it is
with motives so respectable that no sailor should deride
them."
"I am rebuked for ever. Mrs. Budd may call the anchor
a silver spoon, hereafter, without my even smiling. But if
the aunt has this kind remembrance of a seaman's life, why
cannot the niece think equally well of it?"
"Perhaps she does," returned Rose, smiling again



OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


81


'seeing all its attractions through the claims of Captain
Spike."
" I think half the danger from him gone, now that you
seem so much on your guard. What an odious piece of
deception, to persuade Mrs. Budd that you were fast falling
into a decline!"
"One so odious that I shall surely quit the brig at the
first port we enter, or even in the first suitable vessel that
we may speak."
"And Mrs. Budd - could you persuade her to such a
course?"
"You scarce know us, Harry Mulford. My aunt commands, when there is no serious duty to perform, but we
change places when there is. I can persuade her to anything that is right, in ten minutes."
" You might persuade a world!" cried Harry, with strong
admiration expressed in his countenance; after which he
began to converse with Rose, on a subject so interesting to
themselves, that we do not think it prudent to relate any
more of the discourse, forgetting all about the guns.
About four o'clock, of a fine summer's afternoon, the
Swash went through the Race, on the best of the ebb, and
with a staggering south-west wind. Her movement by the
land, just at that point, could not have been less than at the
rate of fifteen miles in the hour. Spike was in high spirits,
for his brig had got on famously that day, and there was
nothing in sight to the eastward. He made no doubt, as he
had told his mate, that the steamer had gone into the Vineyard Sound, and that she was bound over the shoals.
"They want to make political capital out of her," he
added, using one of the slang phrases, that the " business
habits" of the American people are so rapidly incorporating
with the common language of the country —" They want
to make political capital out of her, Harry, and must show
her off to the Boston folk, who are full of notions. Well,
let them turn her to as much account in that way as they
please, so long as they keep her clear of the Molly. Your
sarvant, Madam Budd"-addressing the widow, who just at
that moment came on deck —" a fine a'ternoon, and likely
to be a clear nightto run off the coast in."
" Clear nights are desirable, and most of all at sea, Cap



82


JACK  TIER;


tain Spike," returned the relict, in her best, complacent
manner, " whether it be to run of a coast, or to run on a
coast. In either case, a clear night, or a bright moon nmust
be useful."
Captain Spike rolled his tobacco over in his mouth, and
cast a furtive glance at the mate, but he did not presume to
hazard any further manifestations of his disposition to laugh.
" Yes, Madam Budd," he answered, " it is quite as you
say, and I am only surprised where you have picked up so
much of what I call useful nautical knowledge."
" We live and learn, sir. You will recollect that this is
not rmy first voyage, having made one before, and that I
passed a happy, happy, thirty years, in the society of my
poor, dear husband, Rose's uncle. One must have been
dull, indeed, not to have picked up, from such a companion,
much of a calling that was so dear to him, and the particulars of which were so very dear to him. He actually gave
me lessons in the ' sea dialect,' as he called it, which propably is the true reason I am so accurate and general in
my acquisitions."
"Yes, Madam Budd-yes-hem-you are-yes, you are
wonderful in that way. We shall soon get an offing, now,
Madam Budd-yes, soon get an offing, now."
" And take in our departure, Captain Spike-" added the
widow, with a very intelligent-smile.
" Yes, take our departure.  Montauk is yonder, just
coming in sight; only some three hours' run from this spot.
When we get there, the open ocean will lie before us; and
give me the open sea, and I '11 not call the king my uncle."
" Was he your uncle, Captain Spike?"
"Only in a philanthropic way, Madam Budd. Yes, let
us get a good offing, and a rapping to'gallant breeze, and I
do not think I should care much for two of Uncle Sam's
new-fashioned revenue craft, one on each side of me."
" How delightful do I find such conversation, Rose! It's
as much like your poor, dear uncle's, as one pea is like another. 'Yes,' he used to say, tco, ' let me only have one
on each side of me, and a wrapper round the topgallant
sail to hold the breeze, and I'd not call the king my uncle.
Now I think of it, he used to talk about the king as his
uncle, too."




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


83


" It was all talk, aunty. He had no uncle, and, vwiat is
more, he had no king."
"That's quite true, Miss Rose," rejoined Spike, attempting a bow, which ended in a sort of jerk. " It is not very
becoming in us republicans to be talking of kings, but a
habit is a habit. Our forefathers had kings, and we drop
into their ways without thinking pf what we are doing.
Fore-topgallant yard, there?"
" Sir."
"Keep a bright look-out, ahead. Let me know the instant
you make anything in the neighbourhood of Montauk."
"Ay, ay, sir."
"As I was saying, Madam Budd, we seamen drop into
our forefathers' ways. Now, when I was a youngster, I
remember, one day, that we fell in with a ketch-you know,
Miss Rose, what a ketch is, I suppose?"
I have not the least notion of it, sir."
"Rosy, you amaze me!" exclaimed the aunt-" and you
a ship-master's niece, and a ship-master's daughter! A
catch is a trick that sailors have, when they quiz landsmen."
" Yes, Madam Budd, yes; we have them sort of catches,
too; but I now mean the vessel with a peculiar rig, which
we call a ketch, you know."
"Is it the full-jigger, or the half-jigger sort, that you
mean?"
Spike could hardly stand this, and he had to hail the topgallant-yard again, in order to keep the command of his
muscles, for he saw by the pretty frown that was gathering
on the brow of Rose, that she was regarding the matter a
little seriously. Luckily, the answer of the man on the
yard diverted the mind of the widow from the subject, and
prevented the necessity of any reply.
"There's a light, of course, sir, on Montauk, is there
not, Captain Spike?" demanded the seaman who was aloft.
"To be sure there is-every head-land, hereabouts, has
ts light; and some have two."
"Ay, ay, sir-it's that which puzzles me; I think I see
one light-house-, and I 'm not certain but I see two."
" If there is anything like a second, it must be a sail.
Montauk has but one light."
Mulford sprang into the fore-rigging, and in a minute was




84


JACK TIER;


on the yard. He soon came down, and reported the light
house in sight, with the afternoon's sun shining on it, but no
sail near.
"My poor, dear Mr. Budd used to tell a story of his being
cast away on a light-house, in the East Indies," put in the
relict, as soon as the mate had ended his report, "which
always affected me. It seems there were three ships of
them together, in an awful tempest directly off the land-"
"That was comfortable, any how," cried Spike; —" if it
must blow hard, let it come off the land, say I."
"Yes, sir, it was directly off the land, as my poor husband always said, which made it so much the worse you
must know, Rosy; though Captain Spike's gallant spirit
would rather encounter danger than not. It blew what they
call a Hyson, in the Chinese seas-"
"A what, aunty? - Hyson is the name of a tea, you
know."
"A Hyson, I'm pretty sure it was; and I suppose the
wind is named after the tea, or the tea after the wind."
" The ladies do get in a gale, sometimes, over their tea,"
said Spike gallantly. "But I rather think Madam Budd
must mean a Typhoon."
" That's it-a Typhoon, or a Hyson-there is not much
difference between them, you see. Well, it blew a Typhoon,
and they are always mortal to somebody. This my poor
Mr. Budd well knew, and he had set his chronometer for
that Typhoon-"
" Excuse me, aunty, it was the barometer that he was
watching-the chronometer was his watch."
"So it was-his watch on deck was his chronometer, I
declare. I am forgetting a part of my education. Do you
know the use of a chronometer, now, Rose? You have
seen your uncle's often, but do you know how he used it?"
" Not in the least, aunty. My uncle often tried to explain it, but I sever could understand him."
"It must have been, then, because Captain Budd did not
try to make himself comprehenrded," said Mulford, " for I
feel certain nothing would be easier than to make you under.
stand the uses of the chronometer."
' I should like to learn it from you, Mr. Mulford," answered the charming girl, with an emphasis so slight on the




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


85


you,' that no one observed it but the mate, but which wa;
clear enough to him, and caused every nerve to thrill.
"I can attempt it," answered the young man, " if it be
agreeable to Mrs. Budd, who would probably like to heal it
herself."
"Certainly, Mr. Mulford; though I fancy you can say
liti'e on such a subject that I have not often heard already,
from my poor, dear Mr. Budd."'
"This was not very encouraging, truly; but Rose con.
tinuingto look interested, the mate proceeded.  o
"The use of the chronometer is to ascertain the longitude," said Harry, " and the manner of doing it is, simply
this: A chronometer is.nothing more nor less than a watch,
made with more care than usual, so as to keep the most
accurate time. They are of all sizes, from that of a clock,
down to this which I wear ih my fob, and which is a watch
in size and appearance. Now, the nautical almanacs are all
calculated to some particular meridian-"
"Yes," interrupted the relict, "Mr. Budd had a great
deal to say about meridians."
" That of London, or Greenwich, being the meridian
used by those who use the English Almanacs, and those of
Paris or St. Petersburg, by the French and Russians. Each
of these places has an observatory, and chronometers that
are kept carefully regulated, the year round. Every chro.
nometer is set by the regulator of the particular observatory
or place to which the almanac used is calculated."
- " How wonderfully like my poor, dear Mr. Budd, all this
is, Rosy!  Meridians, and calculated, and almanacs! 1
could almost think I heard your uncle entertaining me with
one of his nautical discussions, I declare!"
" Now the sun rises earlier in places east, than in places
west of us."
" It rises earlier in the summer, but later in the winters
everywhere, Mr. Mulford."
" Yes, my dear Madam; but the sun rises earlier every
day, in London, than it does in New York."
" That is impossible," said the widow, dogmatically —
"Why should not the sun rise at the same time in England
and America?"
"Because England is east of America, aunty. The sun
8




6o


J A C'   1 'I L '


does not move. you know, but only appears to us to move
because the earth turns round from west to east, which
causes those who are farthest east to see it first. That is
what Mr. Mulford means."
"Rose has explained it perfectly well," continued the
mate. " Now the earth is divided into 360 degrees, and
the day is divided into 24 hours. If 360 be divided by 24,
the quotient will be 15. It follows that, for each fifteen
degrees of longitude, there is a difference of just one hour
in the rising of the sun, all over the earth, where it rises at
all. New York is near five times 15 degrees west of Greenwich, and the sun consequently rises five hours later at
New York than at London."
"( There must be a mistake in this, Rosy," said the relict,
in a tone of desperate resignation, in which the desire to
break out in dissent, was struggling oddly enough with an
assumed dignity of deportment. "I 've always heard that
the people of London are some of the latest in the world.
Then, 1 've been in London, and know that the sun rises in
New York, in December, a good deal earlier than it does in
London, by the clock-yes, by the clock."
"True enough, by the clock, Mrs. Budd, for London is
more than ten degrees north of New York, and the farther
north you go, the later the sun rises in winter, and the
earlier in summer."
The relict merely shrugged her shoulders, as much as to
say that she knew no such thing; but Rose, who had beoui
well taught, raised her serene eyes to her aunt's face, and
mildly said" All true, aunty, and that is owing to the fact that the
earth is smaller at each end than in the middle."
"Fiddle faddle with your middles and ends, Rose-I've
been in London, dear, and know that the sun rises later
there than in New York, in the month of December, and
that I know by the clock, I tell you."
"The reason of which is," resumed Mulford, "because
the clocks of each place keep the time of that place. Now,
lt is different with the chronometers; they are set in the ob.;ervatory of Greenwich, and keep the time of Greenwich.
This watch chronometer was set there, only six mounts




OR, THE tFLORIDA REEF.


87


since; and this time, as you see, is near nine o'clock, when
in truth it is only about four o'clock here, where we are."
" I wonder you keep such a watch, Mr. Mulford!"
"I keep it," returned the mate, smiling, " because I know
it to keep good time. It has the Greenwich time; and, as
your watch has the New York time, by comparing them together, it is quite easy to find the longitude of New York."
" Do you, then, keep watches to compare with your chro.
nometers?" asked Rose, with interest.
" Certainly not; as that would require a watch for every
separate part of the ocean, and then we should only get
known longitudes. It would be impracticable, and load a
ship with nothing but watches. What we do is this: We
set our chronometers at Greenwich, and thus keep the
Greenwich true time wherever we go. The greatest attention is paid to the chronometers, to see that they receive no
injuries; and usually there are two, and often more of them,
to compare one with another, in order to see that they go
well. When in the middle of the ocean, for instance, we
find the true time of the day at that spot, by ascertaining
the height of the sun. This we do by means of our quadrants, or sextants; for, as the sun is always in the zenith
at twelve o'clock, nothing is easier than to do this, when the
sun can be seen, and an arc of the heavens measured. At
the instant the height of the sun is ascertained by one observer, he calls to another,' who notes the time on the chro.
nometer. The difference in these two times, or that of the
chronometer and that of the sun, gives the distance in de.
grees and minutes, between the longitude of Greenwich and
that of the place on the ocean where the observer is; and
that gives him his longitude. If the difference is three hours
and twenty minutes, in time, the distance from Greenwich
is fifty degrees of longitude, because the sun rises three hours
and twenty minutes sooner in London, than in the fiftieth
degree of west longitude."
"A watch is a watch, Rosy," put in the aunt, doggedly
-" and time is time.-When it's four o'clock at our house,
it's four o'clock at your aunt Sprague's, and it's so all over
he world. The world may turn round-II'II not deny it,
for your uncle often said as much as that, but it cannot turn
tn the way Mr. Mulford says, or we should all fall off it, at




88


JACK  TIER;


night, when it was bottom upwards. No, sir, no; )ou 've
started wrong. My poor, dear, late Mr. Budd, always admitted that the world turned round, as the books say; but
when I suggested to him the difficulty of keeping things in
their places, with the earth upside down, he acknowledged
candidly-for he was all candour, I must say that for himand owned that he had made a discovery by means of his
barometer, which showed that the world did not turn round
in the way you describe, or by rolling over, but by whirling
about, as one turns in a dance. You must remember your
uncle's telling me this, Rose?"
Rose did remember her uncle's telling her aunt this, as
well as a great many other similar prodigies. Captain Budd
had married his silly wife on account of her pretty face, and
when the novelty of that was over, he often amused himself
by inventing all sorts of absurdities, to amuse both her and
himself. Among other things, Rose well remembered his
quieting her aunt's scruples about falling off the earth, by
laying down the theory that the world did not " roll over,"
but " whirl round." But Rose did not answer the question.
"Objects are kept in their places on the earth by means
of attraction," Mulford ventured to say, with a great deal
of humility of manner. "I believe it is thought there is no
-up or down, except as we go from or towards the earthi
and that would make the position of the last a matter of
indifference, as respects objects keeping on it."
" Attractions are great advantages, I will own, sir, especially to our sex. I think it will be acknowledged there has
been no want of them in our family, any more than there
has been of sense and information. Sense and information
we pride ourselves on; attractions being gifts from God,
we try to think less of them. But all the attractions in the
world could not keep Rosy, here, from falling off the earth,
did it ever come bottom upwards. And, mercy on me,
where would she fall to!"
Mulford saw that argument was useless, and he confined
his remarks, during the rest of the conversation, to showing
Rose the manner in which the longitude of a place might be
ascertained, with the aid of the chronometer, and by means
of observations to get the true time of day, at the particular
place itself. Rose was so quick-witted, and already so well




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


89


instructed, as easily to comprehend the principles; the details being matters of no great moment to one of her sex
and habits. But Mrs. Budd remained antagonist to the last.
She obstinately maintained that twelve o'clock was twelve
o'clock; or, if there was any difference, " London hours
were notoriously later than those of New York."
Against such assertions arguments were obviously useless, and Mulford, perceiving that Rose began to fidget, had
sufficient tact to change the conversation altogether.
And still the Molly Swash kept in swift motion. Montauk
was by this time abeam, and the little brigantine began to
rise and fall, on the long swells of the Atlantic, which now
opened before her, in one vast sheet of green and rolling
waters. On her right lay the termination of Long Island;
a low, rocky cape, with its light, and a few fields in tillage,
for the uses of those who tended it. It was the " land's end'
of New York, while the island that was heaving up out of
the sea, at a distance of about twenty miles to the eastward, was the property of Rhode Island, being called Blok
Island. Between the two, the Swash shaped hpr course for
the ocean.
Spike had betrayed uneasiness, as his brig came up with
Montauk; but the coast seemed clear, with not even a dis.
tant sail in sight, and he came aft, rubbing his hands with
delight, speaking cheerfully.
"All right, Mr. Mulford," he cried-" everything ship.
shape and brister-fashion-not even a smack fishing here.
away, which is a little remarkable.  Ha!-what are you
staring at, over the quarter, there?'.'
"Look here, sir, directly in the wake of the setting sun,
which we are now opening from the land- is not that a
sail?"
" Sail! Impossible, sir. What should a sail be doing in
there, so near Montauk-no man ever saw a sail there in
his life. It's a spot in the sun, Madam Budd, that my mate
has got a glimpse at, and, sailor-like, he mistakes it for a
sail! Ha-ha-ha-yes, Harry, it's a spot in the sun."
" It is a spot on the sun, as you say, but it 's a spot made
by a vessel-and here is a boat pulling towards her, might
%nd main; going from the light, as if carrying news."
It was no longer possible for Spike's hopes co deceive
8*




90


JACK  TIER;


him. There was a vessel, sure enough; though, when firs\
seen, it was so directly in a line with the fiery orb of the
setting sun, as to escape common observation. As the brig
went foaming on towards the ocean, however, the black
speck was soon brought out of the range of the orb of day,
and Spike's glass was instantly levelled at it.
"Just as one might expect, Mr. Mulford," cried the captain, lowering his glass, and looking aloft to see what could
be done to help his craft along; "a bloody revenue cutter,
as I'm a wicked sinner! There she lies, sir, within musket
shot of the shore, hid behind the point, as it might be in
waiting for us, with.her head to the southward, her helm
hard down, topsail aback, and foresail brailed; as wicked
looking a thing as Free Trade and Sailor's Rights ever ran
from. My life on it, sir, she's been put in that precise spot,
in waiting for the Molly to arrive. You see, as we stand
on, it places her as handsomely to windward of us, as the
heart of man could desire."
" It is a revenue cutter, sir; now she's out of the sun's
wake, that is plain enough. And that is her boat, which
has been sent to the light to keep a look-out for us. Well,
sir, she's to windward; but we have everything set for our
course, and as we are fairly abeam, she must be-a great
traveller to overhaul us."
"I thought these bloody cutters were all down in the
Gulf," growled the captain, casting his eyes aloft again, to
see that everything drew. " I'm sure the newspapers have
mentioned as many as twenty that are down there, and here
is one, lying behind Montauk, like a snake in the grass!"
"At any rate, by the time he gets his boat up we shall
get the start of him-ay, there he fills and falls off, to go
and meet her. He'll soon be after us, Captain Spike, at
racing speed."
Everything occurred as.those two mariners had foreseen.
The revenue cutter, one of the usual fore-top-sail schooners
- hat are employed in that service, up and down the coast,
had no sooner hoisted up her boat, than she made sail, a
little off the wind, on a line to close with the Swash. As
for tie brig, she had hauled up to an easy bowline, as she
came round Montauk, and was now standing off south south.
east, still having the wind at south-west. The weatnerly




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


91


pcsition of the cutter enabled her to steer rather more than
one point freer. At the commencement of this chase, the
vessels were about a mile and a half apart, a distance too
great to enable the cutter to render the light guns she carried available, and it was obvious from the first, that everything depended on speed. And speed it was, truly; both
vessels fairly flying; the Molly Swash having at last Inet
with something very like her match. Half an hour satisfied both Spike and Mulford that, by giving the cutter the
advantage of one point in a freer wind, she would certainly
get alongside of them, and the alternative was therefore to
keep off.
' A starn chase is a long chase, all the world over," cried
Spike   " edge away, sir; edge away, sir, and bring the
cutter well on our quarter."
This order was obeyed; but to the surprise of those in
the Swash, the cutter did not exactly follow, though she
kept off a little more. Her object seemed to' be to maintain
her weatherly position, and in this manner the two vessels
ran on for an hour longer, until the Swash had made most
of the distance between Montauk and Blok Island. Objects
were even becoming dimly visible on the last, and the light
on the point was just becoming visible, a lone star above a
waste of desert, the sun having been down now fully a
quarter of an hour, and twilight beginning to draw the curtain of night over the waters.
"A craft under Blok," shouted the look-out, that was
still kept aloft as a necessary precaution.
" What sort of a craft?" demanded Spike, fiercely; for
the veoy mention of a sail, at that moment, aroused all his
ire.  Arn't you making a frigate out of an apple-orchard?"
"It's the steamer, sir. I can now see her smoke. She's
just clearing the land, on the south side of the island, and
seems to be coming round to meet us."
A long, low, eloquent whistle from the captain, succeeded
this announcement. The man aloft was right. It was the
teamer, sure enough; and she had been lying hid behind
Blok Island, exactly as her consort had been placed behind
Montauk, in waiting for their chase to arrive. The result
was, to put the Molly Swaslp in exceeding jeopardy, and the




92


JACK TIE Ri;


reason why the cutter kept so well to windward was fully
explained. To pass out to sea between these two craft was
hopeless. There remained but a single alternative from
capture by one or by the other, -and that Spike adopted
instantly. He kept his brig dead away, setting studding.
sails on both sides. This change of course brought the
cutter nearly aft, or somewhat on the other quarter, and
laid the brig's head in a direction to carry her close to the
northern coast of the island. But the principal advantage
was gained over the steamer, which could not keep off,
without first standing- a mile or two, or even more, to the
westward, in order to clear the land. This was so much
clear gain to the Swash, which was running off at racing
speed, on a north-east course, while her most dangerous
enemy was still heading to the westward. As for the cutter,
she kept away; but it was soon apparent that the brig had
the heels of her, dead before the wind.
Darkness now began to close around the three vessels;
the brig and the schooner soon becoming visible to each
other principally by means of their night-glasses; though
the steamer's position could be easily distinguished by means
of her flaming chimney. This latter vessel stood to the
westward for a quarter of an hour, when her commander
appeared to become suddenly conscious of the ground he
was losing, and he wore short round, and went off before
the wind, under steam and canvas; intending to meet the
chase off the northern side of the island. The very person
who had hailed the Swash, as she was leaving the wharf,
who had passed her in Hell-Gate, with Jack Tier in his
boat, and who had joined her off Throgmorton's, was now
on her deck, urging her commander by every consideration
not to let the brig escape. It was at his suggestion that the
course was changed. Nervous, and eager to seize the brig,
he prevailed on the commander of the steamer to alter
his course. Had he done no more than this, all might have
been well; but so exaggerated were his notions of the
Swash's sailing, that, instead of suffering the steamer to
keep close along the eastern side of the island, he persuaded
her commander of the necessity of standing off a long distance to the northward and eastward, with a view to get
ahead of the chase. This was not bad advice, were there




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


93


any certainty that Spike would stand on, of which, how.
ever, he had no intention.
The night set in dark and cloudy; and, the instant that
Spike saw, by means of the flaming chimney, that the
steamer had wore, and was going to the eastward of Blok,
his plan was laid. Calling to Mulford, he communicated it
to him, and was glad to find that his intelligent mate was of
his own way of thinking.   The necessary orders were
given, accordingly, and everything was got ready for its
execution.
In the meantime, the two revenue craft were much in
earnest. The schooner was one of the fastest in the service,
and had been placed under Montauk, as described, in the
confident expectation of her being able to compete with even
the Molly Swash successfully, more especially if brought
upon a bowline.  Her commander watched the receding
form of the brig with the closest attention, until it was entirely swallowed up in the darkness, under the land, towards
which he then sheered himself, in order to prevent the
Swash from hauling up, and turning to windward, close in
inder the shadow of the island. Against this manceuvre,
however, the cutter had now taken an effectual precaution,
and her people were satisfied that escape in that way was
impossible.
(n the other hand, the steamer was doing very well.
Driven by the breeze, and propelled by her wheels, away
she went, edging further and further from the island, as the
person from the Custom-House succeeded, as it might be,
inch by inch, in persuading the captain of the necessity of
his so doing. At length. a sail was dimly seen ahead, and
then no doubt was entertained that the brig had got to the
northward and eastward of them. Half an hour brought
the steamer alongside of this sail, which turned out to be a
brig that had come over the shoals, and was beating into
the ocean, on her way to one of the southern ports. Her
captain said there had nothing passed to the eastward.
Round went the steamer, and in went all hercanvas.
Ten minutes later the look-out saw a sail to the westward,
standing before the wind.  Odd as it might seem, the
steamer's people now fancied they were sure of the Swash.
' here she was, coming directly for them. with squared yards I




94


JACK TIER;


The distance was short, or a vessel could not have been
seen by that light, and the two craft were soon near each
other. A gun was actually cleared on board the steamer,
ere it was ascertained that the stranger was the schooner!
It was now midnight, and nothing was in sight but the
coasting brig. Reluctantly, the revenue people gave the
matter up; the Molly Swash having again eluded them,
though by means unknown.
CHAPTER IV.
Leander dived for love. Leucadia's cliff
The Lesbian Sappho leap'd from in a miff,
To punish Phaon; Icarus went dead,
Because the wax did not continue stiff;
And, had he minded what his father said,
He had not given a name unto his watery bed.
SANDS.
WE must now advance the time several days, and change
the scene to a distant part of the ocean; within the tropics
indeed. The females had suffered slight attacks of sea.
sickness, and recovered from them, and the brig was safe
from all her pursuers. The manner of Spike's escape was
simple enough, and without any necromancy. While the
steamer, on the one hand, was standing away to the north.
ward and eastward, in order to head him off, and the
schooner was edging in with the island, in order to prevent
his beating up to windward of it, within its shadows, the
brig had run close round the northern margin of the land,
and hauled up to leeward of the island, passing between it
and the steamer. All this time, her movements were concealed from the schooner by the island itself, and from the
steamer, by its shadow and dark back-ground, aided by the
distance. By making short tacks, this expedient answered
perfectly well; and, at the very moment when the two
revenue vessels met, at midnight, about three leagues to




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


95


leeward of BIok Island, the brigantine, Molly Swash, was
just clearing its most weatherly point, on the larboard tack,
and coming out exactly at the spot where the steamer was
when first seen that afternoon. Spike stood to the west.
ward, until he was certain of having the island fairly be.
tween him and his pursuers, when he went about, and filled
away on his course, running out to sea again on an easy
bowline. At sunrise the next day he was fifty miles to the
southward and eastward of Montauk; the schooner was
going into New London, her officers and people quite chopfallen; and the steamer was paddling up the Sound, her
captain being fully persuaded that the runaways had returned
in the direction from which they had come, and might yet
be picked up in that quarter.
The weather was light, just a week after the events rejated in the close of the last chapter. By this time the
brig had got within the influence of the trades; and, it
being the intention of Spike to pass to the southward of
Cuba, he had so far profited by the westerly winds, as to
get well to the eastward of the Mona Passage, the strait
through which he intended to shape his course on making
the islands. Early on that morning Mrs. Budd had taken
her seat on the trunk of the cabin, with a complacent air,
and arranged her netting, some slight passages of gallantry,
on the part of the captain, having induced her to propose
netting him a purse. Biddy was going to and fro, in quest
of silks and needles, her mistress having become slightly
capricious in her tastes of late, and giving her, on all such.
occasions, at least a double allowance of occupation. As
for Rose, she sat reading beneath the shade of the coachnouse deck, while the handsome young mate was within
three feet of her, working up his logarithms, but within the
sanctuary of his own state-room; the open door and window
of which, however, gave him every facility he could desire
to relieve his mathematics, by gazing at the sweet countenance of his charming neighbor. Jack Tier and Josh were
both passing to and fro, as is the wont of stewardsbetween
the camboose and the cabin, the breakfast table being just
then in the course of preparation. In ail other respects,
always excepting the man at the wheel, who stood within a
fathom of Rose, Spike had the quarter-deck to himself, and




96


JACK TIER;


did not fail to pace its weather-side with an air that denoted
the master and owner. After exhibiting his sturdy, but
short, person in this manner, to the admiring eyes of al,
beholders, for some time, the captain suddenly took a seat
at the side of the relict, and dropped into the following
discourse.
" The weather is moderate, Madam Budd; quite moderate," observed Spike, a sentimental turn coming over him
at the moment. "What I call moderate and agreeable."
"So much the better for us; the ladies are fond of
moderation, sir."
"Not in admiration, Madam Budd —ha! ha! ha! no,
not in admiration. Immoderation is what they like when
it comes to that. I'm a single man, but I know that the
ladies like admiration-mind where you're sheering to,'
the captain said, interrupting himself a little fiercely, considering the nature of the subject, in consequence of Jack
Tier's having trodden on his toe in passing-" or I '1 teach
you the navigation of the quarter-deck, Mr. Burgoo 1"
"Moderation-moderation, my good captain," said the
sinmpering relict. "As to admiration, I confess- that it is
agreeable to us ladies; more especially when it comes from
gentlemen of sense, and intelligence, and experience."
Rose fidgeted, having heard every word that was said,
and her face flushed; for she doubted not that Harry's
ears were as good as her own. As for the man at the
wheel, he turned the tobacco over in his mouth, hitched up
his trousers, and appeared interested, though somewhat
mystified —the conversation was what he would have
termed " talking dictionary," and he had some curiosity to
learn how the captain would work his way out of it. It
is probable that Spike himself had some similar gleamings
of the difficulties of his position, for -he looked a little
troubled, though still resolute. It was the first time he had
ever lain yard-arm and yard-arm with a widow, and he had
long entertained a fancy that such a situation was trying to
the best of men.
" Yes, Madam Budd, yes," he said, "exper'ence and sense
carry weight with 'em, wherever they go. I'm glad to find
that you entertain these just notions of us gentlemen, and
make a difference between boys and them that's seen and




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


97


known exper'ence. For my part, I count youngsters under
forty as so much lumber about decks, as to any comfort and
calculations in keepin' a family, as a family ought to be
kept."
Mrs. Budd looked interested, but she remained silent on
hearing this remark, as became her sex.
" Every man ought to settle in life, some time or other,
Madam Budd, accordin' to my notion, though no man ought
to be in a boyish haste about it," continued the captain.
"Now, in my own case, 've been so busy all my youthnot that I'm very old now, but I'm no boy —but all my
younger days have been passed in trying to make things
meet, in a way to put any lady who might take a fancy to
me-"
"Oh! captain-that is too strong! The-ladies do not
take fancies for gentlemen, but the gentlemen take fancies
for ladies!"
"Well, well, you know what I mean, Madam Budd; and
so long as the parties understand each other, a word dropped, or a word put into a charter-party, makes it neither
stronger nor weaker. There's a time, howsomever, in every
man's life, when he begins to think of settling down, and
of considerin' himself as a sort of mooring-chain, for
children and the likes of them to make fast to. Such is
my natur', I will own; and ever since I 've got to be intimate in your family, Madam Budd, that sentiment has
grown stronger and stronger in me, till it has got to be
uppermost in all my idees. Bone of my bone, and flesh of
my flesh, as a body might say."
Mrs. Budd now looked more than interested, for she
looked a little confused, and Rose began to tremble for her
aunt. It was evident that the parties most conspicuous in
this scene were not at all conscious that they were overheard, the intensity of their attention being too much concentrated on what was passing to allow of any observation
without their own narrow circle. What may be thought
still more extraordinary, but what in truth was the most
natural of all, each of the parties was so intently bent on
his, or her, own train of thought, that neither in the least
suspected any mistake.
"Grown with your growth, and strengthened with your
9




98


JACK TIER;


strength," rejoined the relict, smiling kindly enough on the
captain to have encouraged a much more modest man than
he happened to be.
"Yes, Madam Budd-very just that remark; grown
with my strength, and strengthened with my growth, as
one might say; though I've not done much at growing for
a good many years. Your late husband, Captain Budd, often
remarked how very early I got my growth; and rated me
as an 'able-bodied' hand, when most lads think it an honour
to be placed among the ' or'naries.' "
The relict looked grave; and she wondered at any man's
being so singular as to allude to a first husband, at the very
moment he was thinking of offering himself for a second.
As for herself, she had not uttered as many words in the
last four years, as she had uttered in that very conversation,
without making some allusion to her " poor dear Mr. Budd."
The reader is not to do injustice to the captain's widow,
however, by supposing for a moment that she was actually
so weak as to feel any tenderness for a man like Spike,
which would be doing a great wrong to both her taste and
her judgment, as Rose well knew, even while most annoyed
by the conversation she could not but overhear. All that
influenced the good relict was that besetting weakness of
her sex, which renders admiration so universally acceptable;
and predisposes a female, as it might be, to listen to a suitor
with indulgence, and some little show of kindness, even
when resolute to reject him. As for Rose, to own the truth,
her aunt did not give her a thought, as yet, notwithstanding
Spike was getting to be so sentimental.
" Yes, your late excellent and honourable consort always
said that I got my growth sooner than any youngster he
ever fell in with," resumed the captain, after a short pause;
exciting fresh wonder in his companion, that he would persist in lugging in the " dear departed" so very unseasonably.
" I am a great admirer of all the Budd family, my good
lady, and only wish my connection with it had never tarmi.
nated; if tarminated it can be called."
"It need not be terminated, Captain Spike, so long as
friendship exists in the human heart."
"Ay, so it is always with you ladies; when a man is
bent on suthin' closer and more interestin' like, you 're for




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


99


putting it off on friendship. Now friendship is good enough
in its way, Madam Budd, but friendship is n't love."
"Love!" echoed the widow, fairly starting, though she
looked down at her netting, and looked as confused as she
knew how. "That is a very decided word, Captain Spike,
and should never be mentioned to a woman's ear lightly."
So the captain now appeared to think, too, for no soonei
had he delivered himself of the important monosyllable,
than he left the widow's side, and began to pace the deck,
as it might be to moderate his own ardour. As for Rose,
she blushed, if her more practised aunt did not; while Harry
Mulford laughed heartily, taking good care, however, not
to be heard. The man at the wheel turned the tobacco
again, gave his trousers another hitch, and wondered anew
whither the skipper was bound. But the drollest manifestation of surprise came from Josh, the steward, who was
passing along the lee-side of the quarter-deck, with a teapot in his hand, when the energetic manner of the captain
sent the words " friendship is n't love" to his ears. This
induced him to stop for a single instant, and to cast a wondering glance behind him; after which he moved on toward
the galley, mumbling as he went —" Lub! what he want
of lub, or what lub want of him! Well, I do t'ink Captain
Spike bowse his jib out pretty 'arly dis mornin'."
Captain Spike soon got over the effects of his effort, and
the confusion of the relict did not last any material length
of time. As the former had gone so far, however, he
thought the present an occasion as good as another to bring
matters to a crisis.
"Our sentiments sometimes get to be so strong, Madam
Budd," resumed the lover, as he took his seat again on the
trunk, " that they run away with us. Men is liable to be
run away with as well as ladies. I once had a ship run
away with me, and a pretty time we had of it. Did you
ever hear of a ship's running away with her people, Madam
Budd, just as your horse ran away with your buggy?"
"I suppose I must have heard of such things, sir, my
education having been so maritime, though just at this mo.
ment I cannot recall an instance. When my horse ran
away, the buggy was cap-asided. Did your vessel capaside on the occasion you mention?"




100


JACK  TIER;


"No, MIadam Budd, no. The ship was off the wind at
the time I mean, and vessels do not capsize when off the
wind. I'11 tell you how it happened  We was a scuddin'
under a goose-wing foresail-"
" Yes, yes," interrupted the relict, eagerly. "I 've often
heard of that sail, which is small, and used only in tempests."
" Heavy weather, Madam Budd-only in heavy weather."
" It is amazing to me, captain, how you seamen manage
to weigh the weather. I have often heard of light weather
and heavy weather, but never fairly understood the manner
of weighing it."
"Why we do make out to ascertain the difference," replied the captain, a little puzzled for an answer; "and 1
tuppose it must be by means of the barometer, which goes
up and down like a pair of scales. But the time I mean,
we was a scuddin' under a goose-wing foresail-"
"A sail made of goose's wings, and a beautiful object it
must be; like some of the caps and cloaks that come from
the islands, which are all of feathers, and charming objects
are they.  I beg pardon —you had your goose's wings
spread-"
"Yes, Madam Budd, yes; we was steering for a Mediterranean port, intending to clear a mole-head, when a sea
took us under the larboard-quarter, gave us such a sheer
to-port as sent our cat-head ag'in a spile, and raked away
the chain-plates of the top-mast back-stays, bringing down
all the forrard hamper about our ears."
This description produced such a confusion in the mind
of the widow, that she was glad when it came to an end.
As for the captain, fearful that the "goose's wings" might
be touched upon again, he thought it wisest to attempt
another flight on those of Cupid.
"As I was sayin', Madam Budd, friendship is n't love; no,
not a bit of it! Friendship is a common sort of feelin':
but love, as you must know by exper'enee, Madam Budd, is
an uncommon sort of feelin'."
" Fie, Captain Spike, gentlemen should never alludeto
ladies knowing any thing about love. Ladies respect, and:xdmire, and esteem, and have a regard for gentlemen; but
It is almost too strong to talk about their love."




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF


101


"Yes, Madam Budd, yes; I dare say it is so, and ought
to be so; and I ask pardon for having said as much as I
did. But my love for your niece is of so animated and
lastin' a natur', that I scarce know what I did say."
"Captain Spike, you amaze me! I declare I can hardly
breathe for astonishment. My niece! Surely you do not
mean Rosy!"
"Who else should I m(an? My love for Miss Rose is
so very decided and animated, I tell you, Madam Budd,
that I will not answer for the consequences, should you not
consent to her marryin' me."
" I can scarce believe my ears! You, Stephen Spike,
and an old friend of her uncle's, wishing to marry his
niece!"
"Just so, Madam Budd; that's it, to a shavin'. The
regard I have for the whole family is so great, that nothin'
less than the hand of Miss Rose in marriage can, what 1
call, mitigate my feelin's."
Now the relict had not one spark of tenderness herself
in behalf of Spike; while she did love Rose better than
any human being, her own self excepted. But she had
viewed all the sentiment of that morning, and all the fine
speeches of the captain, very differently from what the present state of things told her she ought to have viewed them;
and she felt the mortification natural to her situation. The
captain was so much bent on the attainment of his own
object, that he saw nothing else, and was even unconscious
that his extraordinary and somewhat loud discourse had
been overheard. Least of all did he suspect that his adniration had been mistaken; and that in what he called
"courtin'" the niece, he had been all the while "courtin'"
the aunt. But little apt as she was to discover any thing,
Mrs. Budd had enough of her sex's discernment in a matter
of this sort, to percei Ye that she had fallen into an awkward
mistake, and enough of her sex's pride to resent it. Taking
her work in her hand, she left her seat, and descended to
the cabin, with quite as much dignity in her manner as it
was in the power of one of her height and " build" to express. What is the most extraordinary, neither she nor
Spike ever ascertained that their whole dialogue had been
overheard. Spike continued to pace the quarter-deck for
9*




1 m2


JACK  TIER;


several miriutes, scarce knowing what to think of the relict't
manner, when his attention was suddenly drawn to other
matters by the familiar cry of" sail-ho!"
This was positively the first vessel with which the Molly
Swash had fallen in since she lost sight of two or three craft
that nad passed her in the distance, as she left the American
coast. As usual, this cry brought all hands on deck, and
Mulford out of his state-room.
It has been stated already that the brig was just beginning
to feel the teades, and it might have been added, to see the
mountains of San Domingo. The winds had been variable
for the last day or two, and they still continued light, and
disposed to be unsteady, ranging from north-east to southeast, with a preponderance int favuur of the first point. At
the cry of "sail-ho 1" everybody looked in the indicated
direction, which was west, a little northerly, but for a long
time without success. The cry had coine from aloft, and
Mulford went up as high as the fore-top before he got any
glimpse of the stranger at all. He had slung a glass, and
Spike was unusually anxious to know the result of his exa.
mrination.
"Well, Mr. Mulford, what do you make of her?" he
called out as soon as the mate announced that he saw the
strange vessel.
" Wait a moment, sir, till I get a look,-she's a long way
off, and hardly visible."
"Well, sir, well?"
"I can only see the heads of her top-gallant sails. She
seems a ship steering to the southward, with as many kites
flying as an Indiaman in the trades. She looks as if she
were carrying royal stun'-sails, sir."
" The devil she does! Such a chap must not only be in
a hurry, but he must be strong-handed to give himself all
this trouble in such light and var'able winds. Are his yards
square?-Is he man-of-war-ish?"
"'There's no telling, sir, at this distance; though I rather
think its stun'-sails that I see. Go down and get your
breakfast, and in half an hour I'll give a better account of
him."
This was done, Mrs. Budd appearing at the table with
great dignity in her manner. Although she had so natu




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


103


rally supposed that Spike's attentions had been intended for
herself, she was rather mortified than hurt on discovering
her mistake. Her appetite, consequently, was not impaired,
though her stomach might have been said to be very full.
The meal passed off without any scene, notwithstanding,
and Spike soon re-appeared on deck, still masticating the
last mouthful like a man in a hurry, and a good deal d
'Americaine.  Mulford saw his arrival, and immediately
levelled his glass again.
"Well, what news now, sir?" called out the captain.
"You must have a better chance at him by this time, for I
can see the chap from off the coach-house here."
"Ay, ay, sir; he's a bit nearer, certainly. I should say
that craft is a ship under stun'-sails, looking to the eastward
of south, and that there are caps with gold bands on her
quarter-deck."
"How low down can you see her?" demanded Spike, in
a voice of thunder.
So emphatic and remarkab'e was the captain's manner in
putting this question, that the mate cast a look of surprise
beneath him ere he answered it. A look with the glass succeeded, when the reply was given.
"Ay, ay, sir; there can be no mistake- it's a cruiser,
you may depend on it. I can see the heads of her topsails
now, and they are so square and symmetrical, that gold
bands are below beyond all doubt."
"Perhaps he's a Frenchman- Johnny Crapaud keeps
cruisers in these seas as well as the rest on 'em."
'"Johnny Crapaud's craft don't spread such arms, sir.
The ship is either English or American; and he's heading
for the Mona Passage as well as ourselves."
"Come down, sir, come down-there's work to be done
as soon as you have breakfasted."
Mulford did come down, and he was soon seated at the
table, with both Josh and Jack Tier for attendants. The
aunt and the niece were in their own cabin, a few yards distant, with the door open.
" What a fuss 'e cap'in make 'bout dat sail," grumbled
Tosh, who had been in the brig so long that he sometimes
rook liberties with even Spike himself. " What good he
i'ink t'will do to measure him inch by inch? Bye'm by he




104


JACK TIER;


get alongside, and den 'e ladies even can tell all about
him."
" He nat'rally wishes to know who gets alongside," put
in Tier, somewhat apologetically.
"What matter dat. All sort of folk get alongside of Molly
Swash; and what good it do 'em?  Yoh! yoh! yoh! I do
remem'er sich times vid 'e ole hussy!"
" What old hussy do you mean?" demanded Jack Tier a
little fiercely, and in a way to draw Mulford's eyes from the
profile of Rose's face to the visages of his two attendants.
"Come, come, gentlemen, if you please; recollect where
you are," interrupted the mate authoritatively. "You are
not now squabbling in your galley, but are in the cabin.
What is it to you, Tier, if Josh does call the brig an old
hussy; she is old, as we all know, and years are respectable; and as for her being a 'hussy,' that is a term of en..
dearment sometimes. I've heard the captain himself call
the Molly a 'hussy,' fifty times, and he loves her as he
does the apple of his eye."
This interference put an end to the gathering storm as a
matter of course, and the two disputants shortly after passed
on deck. No sooner was the coast clear than Rose stood
in the door of her own cabin.
" Do you think the strange vessel is an American?" she
asked eagerly.
"It is impossible to say-English or American I make
no doubt. But why do you inquire?"
"Both my aunt and myself desire to quit the brig, and if
the stranger should prove to be an American vessel of war,
might not the occasion be favourable?"
"And what reason can you give for desiring to do so?"
"What signifies a reason," answered Rose with spirit.
"' Spike is not our master, and we can come and go as we
may see fit."
"But a reason must be given to satisfy the commander
of the vessel of war. Craft of that character are very particular about the passengers they receive; nor would it be
altogether wise in two unprotected females to go on board
a cruiser, unless in a case of the most obvious necessity."
" Will not what has passed this morning be thought a
sufficient reason," added Rose, drawing nearer to the mate,




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


105


and dropping her voice so as not to be heard by her
aunt.
Mulford smiled as he gazed at the earnest but attractive
countenance of his charming companion.
" And who could tell it, or how could it be told? Would
the commander of a vessel of war incur the risk of receiving
such a person as yourself on board his vessel, for the reason
that the master of the craft she was in when he fell in with
her desired t6 marry her?"
Rose appeared vexed, but she was at once made sensible
that it was not quite as easy to change her vessel at sea, as
to step into a strange door in a town. She drew slowly
back into her own cabin silent and thoughtful; her aunt
pursuing her netting the whole time with an air of dignified
industry.
" Well, Mr. Mulford, well," called out Spike at the head
of the cabin stairs, " what news from the coffee?"
" All ready, sir," answered the mate, exchanging significant glances with Rose. " I shall be up ic a moment."
That moment soon came, and Mulford was ready for
duty. While below, Spike had caused certain purchases
to be got aloft, and the main-hatch was open and the men
collected around it, in readiness to proceed with the work.
Harry asked no questions, for the preparations told him
what was about to be done, but passing below, he. took
charge of the duty there, while the captain superintended
the part that was conducted on deck. In the course of the
next hour eight twelve-pound carronades were sent up out
of the hold, and mounted in as many of the ports which
lined the bulwarks of the brigantine. The men seemed to
be accustomed to the sort of work in which they were now
engaged, and soon had their light batteries in order, and
ready for service. In the mean time the two vessels kept
on their respective courses, and by the time the guns were
mounted, there was a sensible difference in their relative
positions. The stranger had drawn so near the brigantine
as to be very obvious from the latter's deck; while the brigantine had drawn so much nearer to the islands of San
Domingo and Porto Rico, as to render the opening between
hem, the well-known Mona Passage, distinctly visible.
Of all this Spike appeared to be fully aware, for he quitted




106


JACK TIER;


the work several times before it was finished, in order to
take a look at the stranger, and at the land. When the
batteries were arranged, he and Mulford, each provided with
a glass, gave a few minutes to a more deliberate examination of the first.
" That's the Mona ahead of us," said the captain; " of
that there can be no question, and a very pretty land-fall
you 've made of it, Harry. I'11 allow you to be as good a
navigator as floats."
" Nevertheless, sir, you have not seen fit to let me know
whither the brig is really bound this voyage."
"No matter for that, young man-no matter, as yet.
All in good time. When I tell you to lay your course for
the Mona, you can lay your course for the Mona; and, as
soon as we are through the passage, I'll let you know what
is wanted next-if that bloody chap, who is nearing us,
will let me."
"And why should any vessel wish to molest us on our
passage, Captain Spike?"
"Why, sure enough! It's war-times, you know, and
war-times always bring trouble to the trader-though it
sometines brings profit, too."
As Spike concluded, he gave his mate a knowing wink
which the other understood to mean that he expected hirn
self some of the unusual profit to which he alluded. Mulford did not relish this secret communication, for the past
had induced him to suspect the character of the trade in
which his commander was accustomed to engage. Without
making any sort of reply, or encouraging the confidence by
even a smile, he levelled his glass at the stranger, as did
Spike, the instant he ceased to grin.
"That's one of Uncle Sam's fellows!" exclaimed the
captain, dropping the glass. "I'd swear to the chap in
any admiralty court on 'arth."
"'T is a vessel of war, out of all doubt," returned the
mate, " and under a cloud of canvas. I can make out the
heads of her courses now, and see that she is carrying hard,
for a craft that is almost close-hauled."
"Ay, ay; no merchantmen keeps his light stun'-sails
set, as near the wind as that fellow's going. He s a big
chap, too-a frigate, at least, by his canvas."




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


107


"I do not know, sir-they build such heavy corvettes
now-a-days, that I should rather. take her for one of them.
They tell me ships are now sent to sea which mount only
two-and-twenty guns, but which measure quite a thousand
tons."
"With thunderin' batteries, of course."
"With short thirty-twos and a few rapping sixty-eight
Paixhans-or Columbiads, as they ought in justice to be
called."
"And you think this chap likely to be a craft of that sort?"
' Nothing is more probable, sir. Government has seve
ral, and, since this war has commenced, it has been sending
off cruiser after cruiser into the Gull. The Mexicans dare
not send a vessel of war to sea, which would be sending
them to Norfolk, or New York, at once; but no one can
say when they may begin to make a prey of our commerce."
" They have taken nothing as yet, Mr. Mulford, and, to
tell you the truth, I 'd much rather fall in with one of Don
Montezuma's craft than one of Uncle Sam's."
"That is a singular taste, for an American, Captain
Spike, unless you think, now our guns are mounted, we
can handle a Mexican," returned Mulford coldly. " At all
events, it is some answer to those who ask ' What is the
navy about?' that months of war have gone by, and not an
American has been captured. Take away that navy, and
the insurance offices in Wall-street would tumble like a New
York party-wall in a fire."
"Nevertheless, I 'd rather take my chance, just now,
with Don Montezuma than with Uncle Sam."
Mulford did not reply, though the earnest manner in
which Spike expressed himself, helped to increase his dis
trust touching the nature of the voyage. With him the
captain had no further conference, but it was different as
respects the boatswain. That worthy was called aft, and
for half an hour he and Spike were conversing apart, keeping their eyes fastened on the strange vessel most of the
time.
It was noon before all uncertainty touching the character
of the stranger ceased. By that time, however, both vessels
were entering the Mona Passage; the brig well to windward, on the Porto Rico side - while the ship was so far to




108


JACK TIER;


Leeward as to be compelled to keep everything close-hauled,
in order to weather the island. The hull of the last could
now be seen, and no doubt was entertained about her being
a cruiser, and one of some size, too. Spike thought she
was a frigate; but Mulford still inclined to the opinion that
she was one of the new ships; perhaps a real corvette, or
with a light spar-deck over her batteries. Two or three of
the new vessels were known to be thus fitted, and this might
be one. At length all doubt on the subject ceased, the
stranger setting an American ensign, and getting so near as
to make it apparent that she had but a single line of guns.
Still she was a large ship, and the manner that she ploughed
through the brine, close-hauled as.she was, extorted admiration even from Spike.
" We had better begin to shorten sail, Mr. Mulford," the
captain at length most reluctantly remarked. "We might
give the chap the slip, perhaps, by keeping close in under
Porto Rico, but he would give us a long chase, and might
drive us away to windward, when I wish to keep off between
Cuba and Jamaica. He's a traveller; look, how he stands
up to it under that cloud of canvas!"
Mulford was slow to commence on the studding-sails, and
the cruiser was getting nearer and nearer. At length a gun
was fired, and a heavy shot fell about two hundred yards
short of the brig, and a little out of line with her. On this
hint, Spike turned the hands up, and began to shorten sail.
In ten minutes the Swash was under her topsail, mainsail
and jib, with her light sails hanging in the gear, and all the
steering canvas in. In ten minutes more the cruiser was
so near as to admit of the faces of the three or four men
whose heads were above the hammock-cloths being visible,
when she too began to fold her wings. In went her royals,
topgaliant-sails, and various kites, as it might be by'some
common muscular agency; and up went her courses.
Everything was done at once. By this time she was crossing the brig's wake, looking exceedingly beautiful, with her
topsails lifting, her light sails blowing out, and even her
heavy courses fluttering in the breeze. There flew the
glorious stars and stripes also; of brief existence, but full
of recollections! The moment she had room, her helm
went up, her bows fell off, and down she came, on the




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


109


weather quarter of the Swash, so near as to render a trumpet
nearly useless.
On board the brig everybody was on deck; even the
relict having fbrgotten her mortification in curiosity. On
board the cruiser no one was visible, with the exception of
a few men in each top, and a group of gold-banded caps on
the poop. Among these officers stood the captain, a red.
faced, middle-aged man, with the usual signs of his rank
about him; and at his side was his lynx-eyed first lieutenant. The surgeon and purser were also there, though they
stood a little apart from the more nautical dignitaries. The
hall that followed came out of a trumpet that was thrust
through the mizzen-rigging; the officer who used it taking
his cue from the poop.
"What brig is that?" commenced the discourse.
"The Molly Swash, of New     York, Stephen Spike,
master."
"Where from, and whither bound?"
"From New York, and bound to Key West and a market."
A pause succeeded this answer, during which the officers
on the poop of the cruiser held some discourse with him of
the trumpet. During the interval the cruiser ranged fairly
up abeam.
" You are well to windward of your port, sir," observed
he of the trumpet significantly.
"I know it; but it's war times, and 1 didn't know but
there might be piccaroons hovering about the Havanna."
" The coast is clear, and our cruisers will keep it so. I
see you have a battery, sir!"
"Ay, ay; some old guns that I've had aboard these ten
years: they're useful, sometimes, in these seas."
"Very true. I'11 range ahead of you, and as soon as
you've room, I'll thank you to heave-to. I wish to send a
boat on board you."
Spike was sullen enough on receiving this order, but there
was no help for it. He was now in the jaws of the lion, and
nis wisest course was to submit to the penalties of his posi.
tion with the best grace he could. The necessary orders
were consequently given, and the brig no sooner got room
than she came by the wind and backed her topsail. The
cruiser went about, and passing to windward, backed her
10




,10


JACK TIER;


main-topsail just forward of the Swash's oeam. Then the
latter lowered a boat, and sent it, with a lieutenant and a
midshipman in its stern-sheets, on board the brigantine. As
the cutter approached, Spike went to the gangway to receive
the strangers.
Although there will be frequent occasion to mention this
cruiser, the circumstances are of so recent occurrence, that
we do not choose to give either her name, or that of any
one belongin g,to her. We shall, consequently, tell the
curious, who may be disposed to turn to their navy-lists and
blue-books, that the search will be of no use, as all the
names we shall use, in reference to this cruiser, will be fictitious. As much of the rest of our story as the reader please
may be taken for gospel; but we tell him frankly, that we
have thought it most expedient to adopt assumed names, in
connection with this vessel and all her officers. There are
good reasons for so doing; and, among others, is that of
abstaining from arming a clique to calumniate her commander, (who, by the way, like another commander in the
Gulf that might be named, and who has actually been exposed to the sort of tracasserie to which there is allusion, is
one of the very ablest men in the service,) in order to put
another in his place.
The officer who now came over the side of the Swash
we shall call Wallace; he was the second lieutenant of the
vessel of war. He was about thirty, and the midshipman
who followed him was a well-grown lad of nineteen. Both
had a decided man-of-war look, and both looked a little
curiously at the vessel they had boarded.
" Your servant, sir," said Wallace, touching his cap in
reply to Spike's somewhat awkward bow. "Your brig is
the Molly Swash, Stephen Spike, bound from New York to
Key West and a market."
" You 've got it all as straight, lieutenant, as if you was
a readin' it from the log."
" lThe next thing, sir, is to know of what your cargo is
composed?"
"Flour; eight hundred barrels of flour."
"Flour! Would you not do better to carry that to Liver.
pool? The Mississippi must be almost turned into paste by
the quantity of flour it floats to market."




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


11 -

"Notwithstanding that, lieutenant, I know Uncle Sam's
economy so well, as to believe I shall part with every barrel
of my flour to his contractors, at a handsome profit."
"You read Whig newspapers principally, I rather think,
Mr. Spike," answered Wallace, in his cool, deliberate way,
smiling, however, as he spoke.
We may just as well say here, that nature intended this
gentleman for a second lieutenant, the very place he filled.
He was a capital second lieutenant, while he would not have
earned his rations as first. So well was he assured of this
peculiarity in his moral composition, that he did not wish
to be the first lieutenant of anything in which he sailed. A
respectable seaman, a well-read and intelligent man, a capi.
tal deck officer, or watch officer, he was too indolent to
desire to be anything more, and was as happy as the day
was long, in the easy berth he filled. The 'first lieutenant
had been his messmate as a midshipman, and ranked him
but two on the list in his present commission; but he did
not envy him in the least. On the contrary, one of his
greatest pleasures was to get " Working Willy," as he called
his senior, over a glass of wine, or a tumbler of " hot stuff,"
*and make him recount the labours of the day. On such
occasions, Wallace never failed to compare the situation of
"Working Willy" with his own gentlemanlike ease and
independence. As second lieutenant, his rank raised him
above most of the unpleasant duty of the ship, while it did
not raise him' high enough to plunge him into the neverending labours of his senior. He delighted to call himself
the " ship's gentleman," a sobriquet he well deserved, on
more accounts than one.
"You read Whig newspapers principally, I rather think,
Mr. Spike," answered the lieutenant, as has been just men.
tioned, "while we on board the Poughkeepsie indulge in
looking over the columns of the Union, as well as over those
of the Intelligencer, when by good luck we can lay our
hands on a stray number."
"That ship, then, is called the Poughkeepsie, is she, sir?"
nquired Spike.
"' Such is her name, thanks to a most beneficent and sage
provision of Congress, which has extended its parental care
over the navy so far as to imagine that a man chosen by the




112


JACK  TIER:


people to exercise so many of the functions of a sovereign,
is not fit to name a ship. All our two and three deckers
are to be called after states; the frigates after rivers; and
the sloops after towns. Thus it is that our craft has the
honour to be called the United States ship the ' Poughkeepsie,' instead of the ' Arrow,' or the ' Wasp,' or the 'Curlew,'
or the ' Petrel,' as might otherwise have been the case. But
the wisdom of Congress is manifest, for the plan teaches us
sailors geography."
"Yes, sir, yes, one can pick up a bit of l'arnin' in that
way cheap. The Poughkeepsie, Captain —?"
"The United States' ship Poughkeepsie, 20, Captain
Adam Mull, at your service. But, Mr. Spike, you will
allow me to look at your papers. It is a duty I like, for it
can be performed quietly, and without any fuss."
Spike looked distrustfully at his new acquaintance, but
went for his vessel's papers without any very apparent hesitation. Every thing was en regle, and Wallace soon got
through with the clearance, manifest, &c. Indeed the car.
go, on paper at least, was of the simplest and least complicated character, being composed of nothing but eight
hundred barrels of flour.
"It all looks very well on paper, Mr. Spike," added the
boarding officer. " With your permission, we will next see
how it looks in sober reality. I perceive your main hatch
is open, and I suppose it will be no difficult matter just to
take a glance at your hold."
"Here is a ladder, sir, that will take us at once to the
half-deck, for I have no proper 'twixt decks in this craft;
she 's too small for that sort of outfit."
" No matter, she has a hold, I suppose, and that can contain cargo. Take me to it by the shortest road, Mr. Spike,
for I am no great admirer of trouble."
Spike now led the way below, Wallace following, leaving
the midshipman on deck, who had fallen into conversation
with the relict and her pretty niece. The half-deck of the
prigantine contained spare sails, provisions, and water, as
usual, while quantities of old canvas lay scattered over the
cargo; more especially in the wake of the hatches, of which
there were two besides that which led from the quarter-deck.
~4 Flour to the number of eight hundred barrels," said




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


113


Wallace, striking his foot against a barrel that lay within
his reach. " The cargo is somewhat singular to come from
New York, going to Key West, my dear Spike?"
" I suppose you know what sort of a place Key West is,
sir; a bit of an island in which there is scarce so much as
a potatoe grows."
"Ay, ay, sir; I know Key West very well, having been
in and out a dozen times. All eatables are imported, turtle
excepted. But flour can be brought down the Mississippi so
much cheaper than it can be brought from New York."
"Have you any idee, lieutenant, what Uncle Sam's men
are paying for it at New Orleens, just to keep soul and
bodies together among the so'gers?"
"That may be true, sir- quite true, I dare say, Mr.
Spike. Have n't you a bit of a chair that a fellow can sit
down on-this half-deck of yoftr's is none of the most comfortable places to stand in. Thank you, sir- thank you
with all my heart. What lots of old sails you have scattered
about the hold, especially in the wake of the hatches!"
" Why, the craft being little more than in good ballast
trim, I keep the hatches off to air her; and the spray might
spit down upon the flour at odd times but for them 'ere sails."
"Ay, a prudent caution. So you think Uncle Sam's
people will be after this flour as soon as they learn you have
got it snug in at Key West?"
"What more likely, sir?  You know how it is with our
government- always wrong, whatever it does! and I can
show you paragraphs in letters written from New Orleens,
which tell us that Uncle Sam is paying seventy-five and
eighty per cent. more for flour than anybody else."
"He must be a flush old chap to be able to do that, Spike."
"Flush! I rather think he is. Do you know that he is
spendin', accordin' to approved accounts, at this blessed moment, as much as half a million a day? I own a wish to be
pickin' up some of the coppers while they are scattered about
so plentifully."
"Halfa million a day! why that is only at the rate of
$187,000,000 per annum; a mere trifle, Spike, that is scarce
worth mentioning among us mariners."
" It's so in the newspapers, I can swear, lieutenant.
"Ay, ay, and the newspapers will swear to it, too and
10*




114


JACK TIER;


they that gave the newspapers their cue. But no lratter,
our business is with this flour. Will you sell us a barrel
or two for our mess?  I heard the caterer say we should
want flour in the course of a week or so."
Spike seemed embarrassed, though not to a degree to
awaken suspicion in his companion.
"I never sold cargo at sea, long as I 've sailed and owned
a craft," he answered, as if uncertain what to do. "If
you'll pay the price I expect to get in the Gulf, and will
take ten barrels, I do n't know but we may make a trade
on 't. I shall only ask expected prices."
"Which will be?"
" Ten dollars a barrel. For one hundred silver dollars I
will put into your boat ten barrels of the very best brand
known in the western country."
"This is dealing rather sore extensively than I antici.
pated, but we will reflect on it."  4
Wallace now indolently arose and ascended to the quar.
ter-deck, followed by Spike, who continued to press the flour
on him, as if anxious to make money. But the lieutenant
hesitated about paying a price as high as ten dollars, or to
take a quantity as large as ten barrels.
"Our mess is no great matter after all," he said carelessly.
"Four lieutenants, the purser, two doctors, the master, and
a marine officer, and you get us all. Nine men could
never eat ten barrels of flour, my dear Spike, you will see
for yourself, with the quantity of excellent bread we carry.
You forget the bread."
" Not a bit of it, Mr. Wallace, since that is your name.
But such flour as this of mine has not been seen in the Gulf
this many a day. I ought in reason to ask twelve dollars
for it, and insist on such a ship as your'n 's taking twenty
instead of the ten barrels."
"I thank you, sir, the ten will more than suffice; unless,
indeed, the captain wants some for the cabin.  How is it
with your steerage messes, Mr. Archer-do you want any
four?"
'" We draw a little from the ship, according to rule, sir,
but we can't go as many puddings latterly as we could before we touched last at the Havanna," answered the laugh.
ing midshipman. " There is n't a fellow among us, sir, that




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


115


could pay a shore-boat for landing him, should we go in
again before the end of another month. I never knew such
a place as Havanna. They say midshipmen's money melts
there twice as soon as lieutenants' money."
"It's clear, then, you 'll not take any of the ten. I am
afraid after all, Mr. Spike, we cannot trade, unless you will
consent to let me have two barrels. I 'II venture on two at
en dollars, high as the price is."
"I should n't forgive myself in six months for making so
bad a bargain, lieutenant, so we'll say no more about it if
you please."
" Here is a lady that wishes to say a word to you, Mr.
Wallace, before we go back to the ship, if you are at leisure to hear her, or them-for there are two of them," put
in Archer.
At this moment Mrs. Budd was approaching with a dignified step, while Rose followed timidly a little in the rear.
Wallace was a good deal surprised at this application, and
Spike was quite as much provoked. As for Mulford, he
watched the interview from a distance, a great deal more
interested in its result than he cared to have known, more
especially to his commanding officer. Its object was to get
a passage in the vessel of war.
"' You are an officer of that Uncle Sam vessel," commenced Mrs. Budd, who thought that she would so much
the more command the respect and attention of her listener,
by showing him early how familiar she was with even the
slang dialect of the seas.
" I have the honour, ma'am, to belong to that Uncle Sam
craft," answered Wallace gravely, though he bowed politely
at the same time, looking intently at the beautiful girl in the
back-ground as he so did.
" So I 've been told, sir. She's a beautiful vessel, lieutenant, and is full jiggered, I perceive."
For the first time in his life, or at least for the first time
since his first cruise, Wallace wore a mystified look, being
absolutely at a loss to imagine what " full jiggered" could
mean. He only looked, therefore, for he did not answer.
"' Mrs. Budd means that you've a full rigged craft," put
in Spike, anxious to have a voice in the conference, " this
eessql being only a half-riggea brig.'




116


JACK TIER;


"Oh! ay; yes, yes-the lady is quite right. We are
full jiggered from our dead-eyes to our eye-bolts."
"I thought as much, sir, from your ground hamper and
top.tackles," added the relict smiling. " For my part there
is nothing in nature that I so much admire as a full jiggered
ship, with her canvas out of the bolt-ropes, and her clewlines and clew-garnets braced sharp, and her yards all
abroad."
"Yes, ma'am, it is just as you say, a very charming
spectacle. Our baby was born full grown, and with all her
hamper aloft just as you see her. Some persons refer vessels to art, but I think you are quite right in referring them
to nature."
" Nothing can be more natural to me, lieutenant, than a
fine ship standing on her canvas. It's an object to improve
the heart and to soften the understanding."
"So I should think, ma'am," returned Wallace, a little
quizzically, "judging from the effect on yourself."
This' speech, unfortunately timed as it was, wrought a
complete change in Rose's feelings, and she no longer
wished to exchange the Swash for the Poughkeepsie. She
saw that her aunt was laughed at in secret, and that was a
circumstance that never failed to grate on every nerve in
her system. She had been prepared to second and sustain
the intended application-she was now determined to oppose it.
"Yes, sir," resumed the unconscious relict, "and to
soften the understanding. Lieutenant, did you ever cross
the Capricorn?"
"No less than six times; three going and three returning, you know."
"And did Neptune come on board you, and were you
shaved?"
"Everything was done secundem artem, ma'am. The
razor was quite an example of what are called in poetry
'thoughts too deep for tears.' "
" That must have been delightful. As for me, I'm quite
a devotee of Neptune's; but I'm losing time, for no doubt
your ship is all ready to pull away and carry on sail-"
"Aunt, may I say a word to you before you go any fur.
ther," put in Rose in her quiet but very controlling way.




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


117


The aunt complied, and Wallace, as soon as left alone,
felt like a man who was released fiom a quick-sand, into,
which every effort to extricate himself only plunged him
so much the deeper. At this moment the ship hailed, and
the lieutenant took a hasty leave of Spike, motidned to the
midshipman to precede him, and followed the latter into his
boat. Spike saw his visiter off in person, tending the side
and offering the man-ropes with his own hands. For this
civility Wallace thanked him, calling out as his boat pulled
him from the brig's side —" If we 'pull away,' " accenting
the " pull" in secret derision of the relict's mistake, " you
can pull away; our filling the topsail being a sign for you
to do the same."
"There you go, and joy go with you," muttered Spike,
as he descended from the gangway. " A pretty kettle of
fish would there have been cooked had I let him have his
two barrels of flour."
The man-of-war's cutter was soon under the lee of the
ship, where it discharged its freight, when it was immediately run up. During the whole time Wallace had been
absent, Captain Mull and his officers remained on the poop
principally occupied in examining and discussing the merits
of the Swash. No sooner had their officer returned, however, than an order was given to fill away, it being supposed that the Poughkeepsie had no further concern with
the brigantine. As for Wallace, he ascended to the poop
and made the customary report.
"It's a queer cargo to be carrying to Key West from
the Atlantic coast," observed the captain in a deliberating
sort of manner, as if the circumstance excited suspicion;
"Yet the Mexicans can hardly be in want of any such supplies."
"Did you see the flour, Wallace?" inquired the first lieutenant, who was well aware of his messmate's indolence.
" Yes, sir, and felt it too. The lower hold of the brig
is full of flour, and of nothing else."
"Ware round, sir —ware round and pass athwart the
brig's wake," interrupted the captain. " There's plenty of
room now, and I wish to pass as near that craft as we can."
This manoeuvre was executed. The sloop-of-war no
sooner filled her maintop-sail than she drew ahead, leaving




118


JACK TIER',


plenty of room for the brigantine to make sail on her course.
Spike did not profit by this opening, however, but he sent
several men aloft forward, where they appeared to be get.
ting ready to send down the upper yards and the topgallant-mast. No sooner was the sioop-of-war's helm put up
than that vessel passed close along the brigantine's weather
side, and kept off across her stern on her course. As she
did this the canvas was fluttering aboard her, in the process
of making sail, and Mull held a short discourse with Spike.
" Is anything the matter aloft?" demanded the man-of.
war's man.
"Ay, ay; I've sprung my topgallant-mast, and think
this a good occasion to get another up in its place."
' Shall I lend you a carpenter or two, Mr. Spike?"
"Thank'ee, sir, thank'ee with all my heart; but we can
do without them. It's an old stick, and it's high time a
better stood where it does. Who knows but I may be
chased and feel the want of reliable spars."
Captain Mull smiled and raised his cap in the way of an
adieu, when the conversation ended; the Poughkeepsie
sliding off rapidly with a free wind, leaving the Swash
nearly stationary. In ten minutes the two vessels were
more than a mile apart; in twenty, beyond the reach of shot.
Notwithstanding the natural and common-place manner
in which this separation took place, there was much distrust
on board each vessel, and a good deal of consummate management on the part of Spike. The latter knew that every
foot the sloop-of-war went on her course, carried her just
so far to leeward, placing his own brig, in-so-much, dead to
windward of her. As the Swash's best point of sailing,
relatively considered, was close-hauled, this was giving to
Spike a great security against any change of purpose on
the part of the vessel of war. Although his people wert
aloft and actually sent down the topgallant-mast, it wai
only to send it up again, the spar being of admirable tough
ness, and as sound as the day it was cut.
" I don't think, Mr. Mulford," said the captain sarcasmr,
cally, " that Uncle Sam's glasses are good enough to tei
the difference in wood at two leagues' distance, so we ll
trust to the old stick a little longer. Ay, ay, let 'em run odf
before it, we'll find another road by which to reach our port.'




OR, TIIE FLORIDA REEF.               119
"The sloop.of-war is going round the south side of Cuba,
Captain Spike," answered the mate, "and I have understood you to say that you intended to go by the same passage."
"A body may change his mind, and no murder. Only
consider, Harry, how common it is for folks to change their
minds. I did intend to pass between Cuba and Jamaica,
but I intend it no longer. Our run from Montauk has been
oncommon short, and I 'e time enough to spare to go to the
southward of Jamaica too, if the notion takes me."
" That would greatly prolong the passage, Captain Spike,
-a week at least."
"What if it does-I've a week to spare; we're nine
days afore our time."
"Our time for what, sir? Is there any particular time
- vessel's going into Key West?". —manish and over-cur'ous, Mulford. I sail
' -hen we get well to windward of'
- nen them."
-an as he '




120.               JACK TIER;
Spike's tastes," answered the " ship's gentleman." " In my
judgment, the reluctance he showed to letting us have any
of his flour, is much the most suspicious circumstance in the
whole affair."
These two speeches were made on the poop, in the pre.
sence of the captain, but in a sort of an aside that admitted
of some of the ward-room familiarity exhibited. Captain
Mull was not supposed to hear what passed, though hear it
he in fact did, as was seen by his own remarks, which immediately succeeded.
"I understood you to say, Mr. Wallace," observed the
captain, a little drily, " that you saw the flour yourself?"
" I saw the flour-barrels, sir; and as regularly built were
they. as any barrels that ever were branded. But a flourbarrel may have contained something beside flour."
"Flour usually makes itself visible in the handll:
these barrels quite clean?"
", Far from it. sir. Thev sh^



OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


121


the most easily blockaded, by a superior naval power. By
maintaining a proper force between Key West and the
Havanna, and another squadron between Cape St. Antonio
and Loggerhead Key, the whole country, the Bay of Honduras excepted, is shut up, as it might be in a band-box. It
is true the Gulf would be left open to the Mexicans, were
not squadrons kept nearer in; but, as for anything getting
out into the broad Atlantic, it would be next to hopeless.
The distance to be watched between the Havanna and Key
West is only about sixty miles, while that in the other direction is not much greater.
While the Swash was making the circuit of Jamaica, as
described, her captain had little communication with his passengers. The misunderstanding with the relict embarrassed
him as much as it embarrassed her; and he was quite willing to let time mitigate her resentment. Rose would be
just as much in his power a fortnight hence as she was today. This cessation in the captain's attentions gave the
females greater liberty, and they improved it, singularly
enough as it seemed to Mulford, by cultivating a strange
sort of intimacy with Jack Tier. The very day that succeeded the delicate conversation with Mrs. Budd, to a part
of which Jack had been an auditor, the uncouth-looking
steward's assistant was seen in close conference with the
pretty Rose; the subject of their conversation being, apparently, of a most engrossing nature. From that hour, Jack
got to be not only a confidant, but a favourite, to Mulford's
great surprise. A less inviting subject for t~te-d-tUtes and
confidential dialogues, thought the young man, could not
well exist; but so it was; woman's caprices are inexplicable; and not only Rose and her aunt, but even the captious
and somewhat distrustful Biddy, manifested on all occasions
not only friendship, but kindness and consideration for Jack.
" You quite put my nose out o' joint, you Jack Tier, with
e lady," grumbled Josh, the steward dejure, if not now de
facto, of the craft, " and I neber see nuttin' like it! I s'pose
you expect ten dollar, at least, from dem passenger, when
we gets in. But I'd have you to know, Misser Jack, if you
please, dat a steward be a steward, and he do n't like to hab
trick played wid him, afore he own face."
"Poh! poh! Joshua," answered Jack good-naturedly,
11




122


JACK  TIER;


"' do n't distress yourself on a consait. In the first place,
you 've got no nose to be put out of joint; or, if you have
really a nose, it has no joint. It's nat'ral for folks to like
their own colour, and the ladies prefar me, because I' n
white."
"No so werry white as all dat, nudder," grumbled Josh.
"I see great many whiter dan you. But, if dem lady like
you so much as to gib you ten dollar, as I expects, when
we gets in, I presumes you '11 hand over half, or six dollar,
of dat money to your superior officer, as is law in de case."
"Do you call six the half of ten, Joshua, my scholar, eh?"
"Well, den, seven, if you like dat better. I wants just
nalf, and just half I means to git."
"And half you shall have, maty. I only wish you would
just tell me where we shall be, when we gets in."
"How I know, white man? Dat belong to skipper, and
letter ask him. If he do n't gib you lick in de chop, p'rhaps
ie tell you."
As Jack Tier had no taste for " licks in the chops," he
lid not follow Josh's advice. But his agreeing to give half
)f the ten dollars to the steward kept peace in the cabins.
He was even so scrupulous of his word, as to hand to Josh
a half-eagle that very day; money he had received from
Rose; saying he would trust to Providence for his own half
of the expected douceur. This concession placed Jack Tier
on high grounds with his " superior officer," and from that
time the former was left to do the whole of the customary
service of the ladies' cabin.
As respects the vessel, nothing worthy of notice occurred
until she had passed Loggerhead Key, and was fairly
launched in the Gulf of Mexico. Then, indeed, Spike took
a step that greatly surprised his mate. The latter was di.
rected to bring all his instruments, charts, &c., and place
them in the captain's state-room, where it was understood
they were to remain until the brig got into port. Spike
was but an indifferent navigator, while Mulf6rd was one of
a higher order than common. So much had the former
been accustomed to rely on the latter, indeed, as they ap.
proached a strange coast, that he could not possibly have
taken any step, that was not positively criminal, which
would have given his mate more uneasiness than this.




OIL, THE FLORIDA REEF.


123


At first, Mulford naturally enough suspected that Spike
intended to push fbr some Mexican port, by thus blinding
his eyes as to the position of the vessel. The direction
steered, however, soon relieved the mate from this apprehension. From the eastern extremity of Yucatan, the Mexican coast trends to the westward, and even to the south of
west, for a long distance, whereas the course steered by
Spike was north, easterly. This was diverging from the
enemy's coast instead of approaching it, and the circumstance
greatly relieved the apprehensions of Mulford.
Nor was the sequestration of the mate's instruments the
only suspicious act of Spike. He caused the brig's paint to
be entirely altered, and even went so far toward disguising
her, as to make some changes aloft. All this was done as
the vessel passed swiftly on her course, and everything had
been effected, apparently to the captain's satisfaction, when
the cry of "land-ho!" was once more heard. The land
proved to be a cluster of low, small islands, part coral, part
sand, that might have been eight or ten in number, and the
largest of which did not possess a surface of more than a
very few acres. Many were the merest islets imaginable,
and on one of the largest of the cluster rose a tall, gaunt
light-house, having the customary dwelling of its keeper at
its base. Nothing else was visible; the broad expanse of
the blue waters of the Gulf excepted. All the land in sight
would not probably have made one field of twenty acres in
extent, and that seemed cut off from the rest of the world,
by a broad barrier of water. It was a spot of such singular
situation and accessories, that Mulford gazed at it with a
burning desire to know where he was, as the brig steered
through a channel between two of the islets, into a capacious
and perfectly safe basin, formed by the group, and dropped
her anchor in its centre.




124


JACK TIER


CHAPTER V.
He sleeps; but dreams of massy gold,
And heaps of pearl. He stretch'd his handsHe hears a voice- " Ill man withhold!"
A pale one near him stands.
DANA.
IT was near night-fall when the Swash anchored among
the low and small islets mentioned. Rose had been on
deck, as the vessel approached this singular and solitary
haven, watching the movements of those on board, as well
as the appearance of objects on the land, with the interest
her situation would be likely to awaken. She saw the light
and manageable craft glide through the narrow and crooked
passages that led into the port, the process of anchoring,
and the scene of tranquil solitude that succeeded; each following the other as by a law of nature. The light-house
next attracted her attention, and, as soon as the sun disappeared, her eyes were fastened on the lantern, in expectation of beholding the watchful and warning fires gleaming
there, to give the mariner notice of the position of the dangers that surrounded the place. Minute went by after
minute, however, and the customary illumination seemed tc
be forgotten.
" Why is not this light shining?" Rose asked of Mulford,
as the young man came near her, after having discharged
his duty in helping to moor the vessel, and in clearing the
decks. " All the light-houses we have passed, and they
have been fifty, have shown bright lights at this hour, but
this."
"I cannot explain it; nor have I the smallest notion
where we are. I have been aloft, and there was nothing
in sight but this cluster of low islets, far or near. I did
fancy, for a moment, I saw a speck like a distant sail, off
here, to the northward and eastward, but I rather think it
was a gull, or some other sea-bird glancing upward on the
wing. I mentioned it to the captain when I'came down,




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


125


and he appeared to believe it a mistake. I have watched
that light-house closely, too, ever since we came in, and I
have not seen the smallest sign of life about it. It is altogether an extraordinary place!"
"One suited to acts of villany, I fear, Harry!"
"Of that we shall be better judges to-morrow. You, at
least, have one vigilant friend, who will die sooner than
harm shall come to you. I believe Spike to be thoroughly
unprincipled; still he knows he can go so far and no further, and has a wholesome dread of the law. But the circumstance that there should be such a port as this, with a
regular light-house, and no person near the last, is so much
out of the common way, that I do not know what to make
of it."
" Perhaps the light-house keeper is afraid to show himself,
in the presence of the Swash?"
" That can hardly be, for vessels must often enter the
port, if port it can be called. But Spike is as much concerned at the circumstance that the lamps are not lighted,
as any of us can be. Look, he is about to visit the building in the boat, accompanied by two of his oldest sea-dogs."
" Why might we not raise the anchor, and sail out of this
place, leaving Spike ashore?" suggested Rose,.with more
decision and spirit than discretion.
"For the simple reason that the act would be piracy,
even if I could get the rest of the people to obey my orders,
as certainly I could not. No, Rose: you, and your aunt,
and Biddy, however, might land at these buildings, and
refuse to return, Spike having no authority over his passengers."
" Still he would have the power to make us come back to
his brig. Look, he has left the vessel's side, and is going
directly toward the light-house."
Mulford made no immediate answer, but remained at
Rose's side, watching the movements of the captain. The
last pulled directly to the islet with the buildings, a distance
of only a few hundred feet, the light-house being constructed
on a rocky island that was nearly in the centre of the cluster, most probably to protect it from the ravages of the
waves. The fact, however, proved, as Mulford did not fail
to suggest t) his companion, that the beacon had been
11




126


JACK TIER;


erected less to guide vessels into the haven, than to warn
mariners at a distance, of the position of the whole group.
In less than five minutes after he had landed, Spike himself was seen in the lantern, in the act of lighting its lamps,
In a very short time the place wa~ in a brilliant blaze,
reflectors and all the other parts of the machinery of the
place performing their duties as regularly as if tended by.
the usual keeper. Soon after Spike returned on board, and
the anchor-watch was set. Then everybody sought the
rest that it was customary to take at that hour.
Mulford was on deck with the appearance of the sun;
but he found that Spike had preceded him, had gone ashore
again, had extinguished the lamps, and was coming along.
side of the brig on his return. A minute later the captain
came over the side.
"You were right about your sail, last night, a'ter all,
Mr. Mulford," said Spike, on coming aft. "There she is,
sure enough; and we shall have her alongside to strike
cargo out and in, by the time the people have got their
breakfasts."
As Spike pointed toward the light-house while speaking
tne mate changed his position a little, and saw that a
schooner was coming down toward the islets before the
wind. Mulford now began to understand the motives of the
captain's proceedings, though a good deal yet remained
veiled in mystery. He could not tell where the brig was,
nor did he know precisely why so many expedients were
adopted to conceal the transfer of a cargo as simple as that
of flour. But he who was in the secret left but little time
for reflection; for swallowing a hasty breakfast on- deck,
he issued orders enough to his mate to give him quite as
much duty as he could perform, when he again entered the
yawl, and pulled toward the stranger.
Rose soon appeared on deck, and she naturally began to
question Harry concerning their position and prospects.
He was confessing his ignorance, as well as lamenting it,
when his companion's sweet face suddenly flushed. She
advanced a step eagerly toward the open window of Spike's
state-room, then compressed her full, rich under-lip with the
ivory of her upper teeth, and stood a single instant, a beau.
iful statue of irresolution instigated by spirit. The last




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


127


quality prevailed; and Mulbrd was really startled when he
saw Rose advance quite to the window, thrust in an arm,
and turn toward him with his own sextant in her hand.
During the course of the passage out, the young man had
taught Rose to assist him in observing the longitude; and
she was now ready to repeat the practice. Not a moment
was lost in executing her intention. Sights were had, and
the instrument was returned to its place without attracting
the attention of the men, who were all busy in getting up
purchases, and in making the other necessary dispositions
for discharging the flour. The observations answered the
purpose, though somewhat imperfectly made. Mulford had
a tolerable notion of their latitude, having kept the brig's
run in his head since quitting Yutacan; and he now found
that their longitude was about 83~ west from Greenwich.
After ascertaining this fact, a glance at the open chart,
which lay on Spike's desk, satisfied him that the vessel was
anchored within the group of the Dry Tbrtugas, or at the
western termination of the well-known, formidable, and ex.
tensive Florida Reef. Hle had never been in that part of the
world before, but had heard enough in sea-gossip, and had
read enough in books, to be at once apprised of the true
character of their situation. The islets were American;
the light-house was American; and the haven in which the
Swash lay was the very spot in the contemplation of govern.
ment for an outer man-of-war harbour, where fleets might
rendezvous in the future wars of that portion of the world.
He now saw plainly enough the signs of the existence of a
vast reef, a short distance to the southward of the vessel,
that formed a species of sea-wall, or mole, to protect the
port against the waves of the gulf in that direction. This
reef he knew to be miles in width.
There was little time for speculation, Spike soon bringing
the strange schooner directly alongside of the brig. The
two vessels immediately became a scene of activity,- one
-discharging, and the other receiving the flour as fast as it
could be struck out of the hold of the Swash and lowered
upon the deck of the schooner. Mulford, however, had
practised a little artifice, as the stranger entered the haven,
which drew down upon him an anathema or two from
Spike, as soon as they were alone. The mate had set the




128


JACK TIER;


brig's ensign, and this compelled the stranger to be mark
edly rude, or to answer the compliment. Accordingly ho
had shown the ancient flag of Spain. For thus extorting
a national symbol from the schooner, the mate was sharply
rebuked at a suitable moment, though nothing could have
been more forbearing than the deportment of his commander
when they first met.
When Spike returned to his own vessel, he was accompanied by a dark-looking, well-dressBd, and decidedly gentleman-like personage, whom he addressed indifferently, in
his very imperfect Spanish, as Don Wan, (Don Juan, or
John,) or Sefor Montefalderon. By the latter appellation
he even saw fit to introduce the very respectable-looking
stranger to his mate. This stranger spoke English well,
though with an accent.
"Don Wan has taken all the flour, Mr. Mulford, and
intends shoving it over into Cuba, without troubling the
custom-house, I believe; but that is not a matter to give us
any concern, you know."
The wink, and the knowing look by which this speech
was accompanied, seemed particularly disagreeable to Don
Juan, who now paid his compliments to Rose, with no little
surprise betrayed in his countenance, but with the ease and
reserve of a gentleman. Mulford thought it strange that a
smuggler of flour should be so polished a personage, though
his duty did not admit of his bestowing much attention on
the little trifling of the interview that succeeded.
For about an hour the work went steadily and rapidly
on. During that time Mulford was several times on board
the schooner, as, indeed, was Josh, Jack Tier, and others
belonging to the Swash. The Spanish vessel was Baltimore, or clipper built, with a trunk-cabin, and had every
appearance of sailing fast. Mulford was struck with her
model, and, while on board of her, he passed both forward
and aft to examine it. This was so natural in a seaman,
that Spike, while he noted the proceeding, took it in good
part. He even called but to his mate, from his own quarter-deck, to admire this or that point in the schooner's construction. As is customary with the vessels of southern
nations, this stranger was full of men, but they continued at
their work, some half dozen of brawny negroes among




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


129


them, shouting their songs as they swayed at the falls, no
one appearing to manifest jealousy or concern. At length
Tier came near the mate, and said,
" Uncle Sam will not be pleased when he hears the rea.
son that the keeper is not in his light-house."
" And what is that reason, Jack? If you know it, tell it to
me."
" Go aft and look down the companion-way, maty, and
see it for yourself."
Mulford did go aft, and he made an occasion to look down
into the schooner's cabin, where he caught a glimpse of the
persons of a man and a boy, whom he at once supposed had
been taken from the light-house. This one fact of itself
doubled his distrust of the character of Spike's proceedings.
There was no sufficient apparent reason why a mere s
gler should care about the presence of an individual rr
less in a foreign port. Everything that had occurred
like pre-concert between the brig and the schooner,
mate was just beginning to entertain the strongest dist
that their vessel was holding treasonable communication
with the enemy, when an accident removed all doubt on the
subject, from his own mind at least. Spike had, once or
twice, given his opinion that the weather was treacherous,"
and urged the people of both crafts to extraordinary exertions,
in order that the vessels might get clear of each other as
soon as possible. This appeal had set various expedients in
motion to second the more regular work of the purchases.
Among other things, planks had been laid from one vessel
to the other, and barrels were rolled along them with very
little attention to the speed or the direction. Several hbd
fallen on the schooner's deck with rude shocks, but no damage was done, until one, of which the hoops had not been
properly secured, met with a fall; and burst nearly at Mulford's feet. It was at the precise moment when the mate
was returning, from taking his glance into the cabin, toward.4e side of the Swash. A white cloud arose, and half a
dozen of the schooner's people sprang for buckets, kids, or
dishes, in order to secure enough of the contents of the broken barrel to firnish them with a meal. At first nothing
was visible but the white cloud that succeeded the fall, and
the scrambling sailors in its midst. No sooner, however, had




130


JACK TIER;


the air got to be a little clear, than Mulford saw an object lying
in centre of the wreck, that he at once recognised for a keg o
the gunpowder! 'he captain of the schooner seized this keg
gave a knowing look at Mulford, and disappeared in the hold
of his own vessel, carrying with him, what was out of all
question, a most material part of the true cargo of the Swash
At the moment when the flour-barrel burst, Spike was be
low, in close conference with his Spanish, or Mexican guest,
and the wtack being so soon cleared away, it is probable
that he never heard of the accident. As for the two crews,
they laughed a little among themselves at the revelation
which had been made, as well as at the manner; but to old
sea-dogs like them, it was a matter of very little moment,
whether the cargo was, in reality, flour or gunpowder. In a
ninutes the affair seemed to be forgotten. In the course of
er hour the Swash was light, having nothing in her but
ig-lead, which she used for ballast, while the schooner.Jed to her hatches, and full. Spike now sent a boat,., orders to drop a kedge about a hundred yards from the
place where his own brig lay. The schooner warped up to
this kedge, and dropped an anchor of her own, leaving a very
short range of cable out, it being a flat calm. Ordinarily,
the trades prevail at the Dry Tortugas, and all along the
Florida Reef. Sometimes, indeed, this breeze sweeps across
the whole width of the Gulf of Mexico, blowing home, as it
is called-reaching even to the coast of Texas. It is subject,
however, to occasional interruptions everywhere, varying
many points in its direction, and occasionally ceasing entirely. The latter was the condition of the weather about
noon on this day, or when the schooner hauled off from the
orig, and was secured at her own anchor.
" Mr. Mulford," said Spike, " I do not like the state of the
atmosphere. D'ye see that fiery streak along the western
horizon-well, sir, as the sun gets nearer to that streak,.here 'll be trouble, or I'm no judge of weather."
" You surely do not imagine, Captain Spike, that the sun
wjll be any nearer to that fiery streak, as you call it, when
he is about to set, than he is at this moment?" answered the
mate, smiling.
" I'm sure of one thing, young man, and that is, that old
heads are better than young ones. What a man has once




.R, THE FLORIDA RE]jF.


131


seen, he may expect to see again, if the same leading signs
offer. Man the boat, sir, and carry out the kedge, which is
still in it, and lay it off here, about three p'ints on our lar
board bow."
Mulford had a profound respect for Spike's seamanship,
whatever he might think of his principles. The order was
consequently obeyed. The mate was then directed to send
down various articles out of the top, and to get the top-gal.
lant and royal yards on deck. Spike carried his precautions
so far, as to have the mainsail lowered, it ordinarily brailing at that season of the year, with a standing gaff. With
this disposition completed, the captain seemed more at his
ease, and went below to join Sefor Montefalderon in a siesta.
The Mexican, for such, in truth, was the national character
of the owner of the schooner, had preceded him in this indulgence; and most of the people of the brig having laid themselves down to sleep under the heat of the hour, Mulford
soon enjoyed another favourable opportunity for a private
conference with Rose.
"Harry," commenced the latter, as soon as they were
alone; " I have much to tell you. While you have been
absent I have overheard a conversation between this Spanish gentleman and Spike, that shows the last is in treaty
with the other for the sale of the brig. Spike extolled his
vessel to the skies, while Don Wan, as he calls him, com.
plains that the brig is old, and cannot last long; to which
Spike answered ' to be sure she is old, Senor Montefalderon,
but she will last as long as your war, and under a bold captain might be made to return her cost a hundred fold!'
What war can he mean, and to what does such a discourse
tend?"
" The war alludes to the war now existing between America and Mexico, and the money to be made is to be plundered at sea, from our own merchant-vessels. If Don Juan
Montefalderon is really in treaty for the purchase of the brig,
it is to'convert her into a Mexican cruiser, either public or
private."
"But this would be treason on the part of Spike!"
"Not more so than supplying the enemy with gunpowder, as he has just been doing. I have ascertained the reason he was so unwilling to be overhauled by the revenue




132


JACK TIER


steamer, as well as the reason why the revenue steamne
wished so earnestly to overhaul us. Each barrel of flour
contains another of gunpowder, and that has been sold to
this Sefior Montefalderon, who is doubtless an officer of the
Mexican government, and no smuggler."
"He has been at New York, this very summer, I know,'
continued Rose, " for he spoke of his visit, and made such
other rematrks, as leaves no doubt that Spike expected to
find him here, on this very day of the month. He also paid
Spike a large sum of money in doubloons, and took back
the bag to his schooner, when he had done so, after showing the captain enough was left to pay for the brig could
they only agree on the terms of their bargain."
"Ay, ay; it is all plain enough now, Spike has deter.
mined on a desperate push for fortune, and foreseeing it
might not soon be in his power to return to New York in
safety, he has included his designs on you and your fortune,
in the plot."
"My fortune! the trifle I possess can scarcely be called
a fortune, Harry!"
"It would be a fortune to Spike, Rose; and I shall be
honest enough to own it would be a fortune to me. I say
this frankly, for I do believe you think too well of me to
suppose that I seek you for any other reason than the ar
dent love I bear your person and character; but a fact is
not to be denied because it may lead certain persons to dis.
trust our motives. Spike is poor, like myself; and the brig
is not only getting to be very old, but she has been losing
money for the last twelve months."
Mulford and Rose now conversed long and confidentially,
on their situation and prospects. Tihe mate neither magnified' nor concealed the dangers of both; but freely pointed
out the risk to himself, in being on board a vessel that was
aiding and comforting the enemy. It was determined between them that both would quit the brig the moment an
opportunity offered; and the mate even went so far as to
propose an attempt to escape in one of the boats, although.
he might incur the hazards of a double accusation, those of
mutiny and larceny, for making the experiment. Unfor
unately, neither Rose, nor her aunt, nor Biddy, nor Jack
Tier had seen the barrel of powder, and neither could testify




R, THE FLORIDA REEF.


133


as to thu true character of Spike's connection with the
schooner. It was manifestly necessary, therefore, indepen.
dently of the risks that might be run by " bearding the lion
in his den," to proceed with great intelligence and caution,,
This dialogue between Harry and Rose, occurred just
after the turn in the day, and lasted fully an hour. Each
had been too much interested to observe the heavens, but,
as they were on the point of separating, Rose pointed out to
her companion the unusual and most menacing aspect of
the sky in the western horizon. It appeared as if a fiery
heat was glowing there, behind a curtain of black vapour;
and what rendered it more remarkable, was the circumstance
that ah extraordinary degree of placidity prevailed in all
other parts of the heavens. Mulford scarce knew what to
make of it; his experience not going so far as to enable him
to explain the novel and alarming appearance. He stepped
on a gun, and gazed around him for a moment. There lay
the schooner, without a being visible on board of her, and
there stood the light-house, gloomy in its desertion and solitude. The birds alone seemed to be alive and conscious of
what was approaching. They were all on the wing, wheeling wildly in the air, and screaming discordantly, as belonged to their habits. The young man leaped off the gun,
gave a loud call to Spike, at the companion-way, and sprang
forward to call all hands.
One minute only was lost, when every seaman on board
the Swash, from the captain to Jack Tier, was on deck.
Mulford met Spike at the cabin door, and pointed toward the
fiery column, that was booming down upon the anchorage,
with a velocity and direction that would now admit of no
misinterpretation. For one instant that sturdy old seaman
stood aghast; gazing at the enemy as one conscious of his
impotency might have been supposed to quail before an assault that he foresaw must prove irresistible. Then his
native spirit, and most of all the effects of training, began
to show themselves in him, and he became at once, not only
the man again, but the resolute, practised, and ready commander.
"Come aft to the spring, men-" he shouted —" clap on
the spring, Uir. Mulford, and bring the brig head to wind."
This order was obeyed as seamen best obey, in cases of
12




134


JACK TIER;


sudden and extreme emergency; or with intelligence, apti.
tude and pover. The brig had swung nearly round, in the
desired direction, when the tornado struck her. It will be
difficult, we do not know but it is impossible, to give a clear ana
accurate account of what followed. As most of our readers
have doubtless felt how great is the power of the wind, whiffling and pressing different ways, in sudden and passing
gusts, they have only to imagine this power increased many,
many fold, and the baffling currents made furious, as it
might be, by meeting with resistance, to form some notion
of the appalling strength and frightful inconstancy with
which it blew for about a minute.
Notwithstanding the circumstance of Spike's precaution
had greatly lessened the danger, every man on the deck of
the Swash believed the brig was gone when the gust struck
her. Over she went, in fact, until the water came pouring
in above her half-ports, like so many little cascades, and
spouting up through her scupper-holes; resembling the blow.
ing of young whales. It was the whiffling energy of the
tornado that alone saved her. As if disappointed in not
destroying its intended victim at one swoop, the tornado " let
up" in its pressure, like a dexterous wrestler, making a fresh
and desperate effort to overturn the vessel, by a slight variation in its course. That change saved the Swash. She
righted, and even rolled in the other direction, or what might
be called to windward, with her decks full of water. For a
minute longer these baffling, changing gusts continued, each
causing the brig to bow like a reed to their power, one lift.
ing as another pressed her down, and then the weight, or
the more dangerous part of the tornado was passed, though
it continued to blow heavily, always in whiffling blasts,
several minutes longer.
During the weight of the gust, no one had leisure, or indeed inclination to look to aught beyond Its effect on the brig.
Had one been otherwise disposed, the attempt would have
been useless, for the wind had filled the air with spray, and
near the islets even with sand. The lurid but fiery tinge,
too, interposed a veil that no human eye could penetrate.
As the tornado passed onward, however, and the winds
lulled, the air again became clear, and in five minutes after
the moment when the Swash lay nearly on her side, with




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


135


her lower yard-arm actually within a few feet of the water,
all was still and placid around her, as one is accustomed to
see the ocean in a calm, of a summer's afternoon. Then it
was that those who had been in such extreme jeopardy
could breathe freely and look about them. On board the
Swash all was well-not a rope-yarn had parted, or an eyebolt drawn. The timely precautions of Spike had saved
his brig, and great was his joy thereat.
In the midst of the infernal din of the tornado, screams
had ascended from the cabin, and the instant he could quit
the deck with propriety, Mulford sprang belcw, in order to
ascertain their cause. He apprehended that some of the
females had been driven to leeward when the brig went
over, and that part of the luggage or furniture had fallen
on them. In the main cabin, the mate found Sefior Mon.
tefalderon just quitting his berth, composed, gentleman-like,
and collected. Josh was braced in a corner nearly grey
with fear, while Jack Tier still lay on the cabin floor, at the
last point to which he had rolled. One word sufficed to let
Don Juan know that the gust had passed, and the brig was
safe, when Mulford tapped at the door of the inner cabin.
Rose appeared, pale, but calm and unhurt.
"Is any one injured?" asked the young man, his mind
relieved at once, as soon as he saw that she who most occu.
pied his thoughts was safe; " we heard screams from this
cabin."
"My aunt and Biddy have been frightened," answered
Rose, " but neither has been hurt. Oh, Harry, what terrible thing has happened to us? I heard -the roaring of-"
"'T was a tornado," interrupted Mulford eagerly, " but
't is over. 'T was one of those sudden and tremendous gusts
that sometimes occur within the tropics, in which the danger
is usually in the first shock. If no one is injured in this
cabin, no one is injured at all."
"Oh, Mr. Mulford -dear Mr. Mulford!" exclaimed the
relict, from the corner into which she had been followed
and jammed by Biddy, " Oh, Mr. Mulford, are we foundered
or not?"
" Heaven be praised, not, my dear ma'am, though we
came nearer to it than I ever was before."
"Are we cap-asided?"




136


JACK TIER;


" Nor that, Mrs. Budd; the brig is as upright as a church."
"Upright!" repeated Biddy, in her customary accent," is it as a church? Sure, then, Mr. Mate, 't is a Presbyterian church that you mane, and that is always totterin'."
"( Catholic, or Dutch- no church in York is more corn.
pletely up and down than the brig at this moment."
"Get off of me - get off of me, Biddy, and let me rise,"
said the widow, with dignity. "The danger is over I see,
and, as we return our thanks for it, we have the consolation
of knowing that we have done our duty. It is incumbent
on all, at such moments, to be at their posts, and to set
examples of decision and prudence."
As Mulford saw all was well in the cabin, he hastened on
deck, followed by Sefior Montefalderon.  Just as they
emerged from the companion-way, Spike was hailing the
forecastle.
"Forecastle, there," he cried, standing on the trunk himself as he did so, and moving from side to side, as if to catch
a glimpse of some object ahead.
" Sir," came back from an old salt, who was coiling up
rigging in that seat of seamanship.
" Where-away is the schooner? She ought to be dead
ahead of us, as we tend now-but blast me if I can see as
much as her mast-heads."
At this suggestion, a dozen men sprang upon guns or
other objects, to look for the vessel in question. The old
salt forward, however, had much the best chance, for he
stepped on the heel of the bowsprit, and walked as far out
as the knight-heads, to command the whole view ahead of
the brig. There he stood half a minute, looking first on
one side of the head-gear, then the other, when he gave his
trousers a hitch, put a fresh quid in his mouth, and called
out in a voice almost as hoarse as the tempest, that had just
gone by,
"The schooner has gone down at her anchor, sir.
There's her buoy watching still, as if nothing had happened:
but as for the craft itself, there's not so much as a bloody
yard-arm, or mast-head of her to be seen!"
This news produced a sensation in the brig at once, as
may be supposed.   Even Sefior Montefalderon, a quiet,
gentlenaii-like person, altogether superior in ceportment to




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


- 137


the bustle and fuss that usually marks the manners of per.
sons in trade, was disturbed; for to him the blow was heavy
indeed. Whether he were acting for himself, or was an
agent of the Mexican government, the loss was much the
same.
"Tom   is right enough," put in Spike, rather coolly for
the circumstances-" that there schooner of yourn has foundered, Don Wan, as any one can see. She must have cap.
sized and filled, for I obsarved they had left the hatches off,
meaning, no doubt, to make an end of the storage as soon
as they had done sleeping."
"And what has become of all her men, Don Esteban 7"
for so the Mexican politely called his companion. "Have
all my poor countrymen perished in this disaster?"
J fear they have, Don Wan; for I see no head, as of
any one swimming. The vessel lay so near that island
next to it, that a poor swimmer would have no difficulty in
reaching the place; but there is no living thing to be seen.
But man the boat, men; we will go to the spot, Sefior, and
examine for ourselves."
There were two boats in the water, and along-side of the
brig. One was the Swash's yawl, a small but convenient
craft, while the other was much larger, fitted with a sail,
and had all the appearance of having been built to withstand
breezes and seas. Mulford felt perfectly satisfied, the moment he saw this boat, which had come into the haven in
tow of the schooner, that it had been originally in the service of the light-house keeper. As there was a very general
desire among those on the quarter-deck to go to the assist.
ance of.the schooner, Spike ordered both boats manned,
jumping into the yawl himself, accompanied by Don Juan
Montefalderon, and telling Mulford to follow with the largei
craft, bringing with him as many of the females as might
choose to accompany him. As Mrs. Budd thought it in
cumbent on her to be active in such a scene, all did go
including Biddy, though with great reluctance on the par
of Rose.
With the buoy for a guide, Spike had no difficulty in
ending the spot where the schooner lay. She had scarcely
shifted her berth in the least, there having been no time fo
her even to swing to the gust, but she had probably cap
12*


I




138


JACK TIER;


sized at the first blast, filled, and gone down instantly
The water was nearly as clear as the calm, mild atmosphere
of the tropics; and it was almost as easy to discern the
vessel, and all her hamper,,as if she lay on a beach. She
had sunk as she filled, or on her side, and still continued in
that position. As the water was little more than three
fathoms deep, the upper side was submerged but a few
inches, and her yard-arms would have been out of the
water, but for the circumstance that the yards had canted
under the pressure.
At first, no sign was seen of any of those who had been
on board this ill-fated schooner when she went down. It
was known that twenty-one souls were in her, including the
man and the boy who had belonged to the light-house. As
the boat moved slowly over this sad ruin, however, a horrible and startling spectacle came in view. Two bodies were
seen, within a few feet of the surface of the water, one
grasped in the arms of the other, in the gripe of despair.
The man held in the grasp, was kept beneath the water
solely by the death-lock of his companion, who was himself
held where he floated, by the circumstance that one of his
feet was entangled in a rope. The struggle could not have
been long over, for the two bodies were slowly settling
toward the bottom when first seen. It is probable that both
these men had more than once risen to the surface in their
dreadful struggle. Spike seized a boat-hook, and made an
effort to catch the clothes of the nearest body, but ineffectually, both sinking to the sands beneath, lifeless, and without
motion. There being no sharks in sight, Mulford volunteered to dive and fasten a line to one of these unfortunate
mr-m, whom Don Juan declared at once was the schooner's
captidn. Some little time was lost in procuring a lead-line
from the brig, when the lead was dropped alongside of the
drowned. Provided with another piece of the same sort of
line, which had a small running bowline around that which
was fastened to the lead, the mate made his plunge, and
went down with great vigour of arm. It required resolution
and steadiness to descend so far into salt water; but Harry
succeeded, and rose with the bodies, which came up with
the slightest impulse. All were immediately got into the




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


139


boat, and away the latter went toward the light-house, which
was nearer and more easy of access than the brig.
It is probable that one of these unfortunate men might
have been revived under judicious treatment; but he was
not fated to receive it. Spike, who knew nothing of such
matters, undertook. to direct everything, and, instead of
having recourse to warmth and gentle treatment, he ordered
the bodies to be rolled on a cask, suspended them by the
heels, and resorted to a sort of practice that might have destroyed well men, instead of resuscitating those in whom
the vital spark was dormant, if not actually extinct.
Two hours later, Rose, seated in her own cabin, unavoidably overheard the following dialogue, which passed in
English, a language that Sefior Montefalderon spoke perfectly well, as has been said.
"Well, Sefior," said Spike, "I hope this little accident
will not prevent our final trade. You will want the brig
now, to take the schooner's place."
" And how am I to pay you for the brig, Sefior Spike,
even if I buy her?"
I '11 ventur to guess there is plenty of money in Mexi.
co. Though they do say the government is so backward
about paying, I have always found you punctual, and am
not afraid to put faith in you ag'in."
" But I have no longer any money to pay you half in
hand, as I did for the powder, when last in New York."
"The bag was pretty well lined with doubloons when I
saw it last, Seior."
" And do you know where that bag is; and where there
is another that holds the same sum?"
Spike started, and he mused in silence some little time,
ere he again spoke.
" I had forgotten," he at length answered. "The gold
must have all gone down in the schooner, along with the
powder!"
"And the poor men!"
"Why, as for the men, Sefior, more may be had for the
asking; but powder and doubloons will be hard to find,
when most wanted. Then the men werepoor men, accord.
in' to my idees of what an able seaman should be, or they




140


JACK TIER;


never would have let their schooner turn turtle with them
as she did."
4" We will talk of the money, Don Esteban, if you please,"
said the Mexican, with reserve.
"< With all my heart, Don Wan-nothing is more agreeable to me than money. How many of them doubloons
shall fall to my share, if I raise the schooner and put you
in possession of your craft again?"
"Can that be done, Sefior?" demanded Don Juan earnestly.
"A seaman can do almost anything, in that way, Don
Wan, if you will give him time and means. For one-half
the doubloons I can find in the wrack, the job shall be
done."
"You can have them," answered Don Juan, quietly, a
good deal surprised that Spike should deem it necessary to
offer him any part of the sum he might find. "As for the
powder, I suppose that is lost to my country."
" Not at all, Don Wan. The flour is well packed around
it, and I don't expect it would take any harm in a month.
I shall not only turn over the flour to you, just as if nothing
had happened, but I shall put four first-rate hands aboard
your schooner, who will take her into port for you, with a
good deal more sartainty than forty of the men you had.
My mate is a prime navigator."
This concluded the bargain, every word of which was
heard by Rose, and every word of which she did not fail to
communicate to Mulford, the moment there was an opportunity. - The young man heard it with great interest, telling
Rose that he should do all he could to assist in raising the
schooner, in the hope that something might turn up to enable him to escape in her, taking off Rose and her aunt. As
for his carrying her into a Mexican port, let them trust him
for that! Agreeably to the arrangement, orders were given
that afternoon to commence the necessary preparations for
the work, and considerable progress was made in them by
the time the Swash's people were ordered to knock off work
for the night.
After the sun had set, the reaction in the currents again
commenced, and it blew for a few hours heavily, during the
uight. Toward morning, however, it moderated, and when




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


141


the sun re-appeared it scarcely ever diffused its rays over a
more peaceful or quiet day. Spike caused all hands to be
called, and immediately set about the important business he
had before him.
In order that the vessel might be as free as possible,
Jack Tier was directed to skull the females ashore, in the
brig's yawl; Sefor Montefalderon, a man of polished man.
ners, as we maintain is very apt to be the case with Mexican gentlemen, whatever may be the opinion of this good
republic on the subject just at this moment, asked permis.
sion to be of the party.  Mulford found an opportunity to
beg Rose, if they landed at the light, to reconnoitre the
place well, with a view to ascertain what facilities it could
afford in an attempt to escape. They did land at the light,
and glad enough were Mrs. Budd, Rose and Biddy to place
their feet on terra firmd after so long a confinement to the
narrow limits of a vessel.
" Well," said Jack Tier, as they walked up to the spot
where the buildings stood, "this is a rum place for a light'us,
Miss Rose, and I don't wonder the keeper and his messmates has cleared out."
"I am very sorry to say," observed Sefior Montefalderon,
whose counltetince expressed the concern he really felt,
" that the keeper and his only companion, a boy,. were on
board the schooner, and have perished in her, in common
with so many of my poor countrymen. There are the
graves of two whom we buried here last evening, after vain
efforts to restore them to life!"
"What a dreadful catastrophe it has been, Sefior," said
Rose, whose sweet countenance eloquently expressed the
horror and regret she so naturally felt —" Twenty fellow.
beings hurried into eternity without even an instant for
prayer!"
"You feel for them, Sefiorita-it is natural you should,
and it is natural that I, their countryman and leader, should
feel for them, also. I do not know what God has in reserve
for my unfortunate country! We may have cruel and unscrupulous men among us, Sefiorita, but we have thousands
who are just, and brave, and honourable."
" So Mr. Mulford tells me, Sefior; and he has been much
in your ports, on the west coast."




142


JACK TIER;


"I like that young man, and wonder not a little at his
and your situation in this brig-" rejoined the Mexican,
dropping his voice so as not to be heard by their companions,
as they walked a little ahead of Mrs. Budd and Biddy.
" The Sefior Spike is scarcely worthy to be his commander
or your guardian."
"Yet you find him worthy of your intercourse and trust,
Don Juan?"
The Mexican shrugged his shoulders, and smiled equivocally; still, in a melancholy manner. It would seem he
did not deem it wise to push this branch of the subject further, since he turned to another.
"I like the Sefior Mulford," he resumed, " for his gene.
ral deportment and principles, so far as I can judge of him
on so short an acquaintance."
" Excuse me, Sefior," interrupted Rose, hurriedly-(" but
you never saw him until you met him here."
"Never-I understand you, Sefiorita, and can do full
justice to the young man's character. I am willing to think
he did not know the errand of his vessel, or I should not
have seen him now. But what I most like him for, is this:
Last night, during the gale, he and I walked the deck to.
gether, for an hour. We talked of Mexico, and of this war,
so unfortunate for my country already, and which may become still more so, when he uttered this noble sentiment'My country is more powerful than yours, Sefior Montefal.
deron,' he said, 'and in this it has been more favoured by
God. You have suffered from ambitious rulers, and from
military rule, while we have been advancing under the arts
of peace, favoured by a most beneficent Providence. As
for this war, I know but little about it, though I dare say
the Mexican government may have been wrong in some
things that it might have controlled and some that it might
not-but let right be where it will, I am sorry to see a
nation that has taken so firm a stand in favour of popular
government, pressed upon so hard by another that is sup.
posed to be the great support of such principles. America
and Mexico are neighbours, and ought to be friends; and
while I do not, cannot blame my own country for pursuing
the war with vigour, nothing would please me more than to
hear peace proclaimed.'"




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


143


"That is just like Harry Mulford," said Rose, thoughtfully, as soon as her companion ceased to speak. " ] do
wish, Sefior, that there could be no use for this powder, that
is now buried in the sea."
Don Juan Montefalderon smiled, and seemed a little surprised that the fair young thing at his side should have
known of the treacherous contents of the flour-barrels. No
doubt he found it inexplicable, that persons like Rose and
Mulford should, seemingly, be united with one like Spike;
but he was too well bred, and, indeed, too effectually mysti
fled, to push the subject further than might be discreet.
By this time they were near the entrance of the lighthouse, into which the whole party entered, in a sort of mute
awe at its silence and solitude. At Sefior Montefalderon's
invitation, they ascended to the lantern, whence they could
command a wide and fair view of the surrounding waters.
The reef was much more apparent from that elevation than
from below; and Rose could see that numbers of its rocks
were bare, while on other parts of it there was the appear.
ance of many feet of water. Rose gazed at it with longing
eyes, for, from a few remarks that had fallen from Mulford,
she suspected he had hopes of escaping among its channels
and coral.
As they descended and walked through the buildings,
Rose also took good heed of the supplies the place afforded.
There were flour, and beef, and pork, and many other of the
common articles of food, as well as water in a cistern, that
caught it as it flowed from the roof of the dwelling. Water
was also to be found in casks-nothing like a spring or a
well existing among those islets. All these things Rose
noted, putting them aside in her memory for ready reference
heraeafter.
In the mean time the mariners were not idle. Spike
moved his brig, and moored her, head and stern, alongside
of the wreck, before the people got their breakfasts. As
soon as that meal was ended, both captain and mate set
about their duty in earnest. Mulford carried out an anchoi
on the off-side of the Swash, and dropped it at a distance of
about eighty fathoms from the vessel's beam. Purchases
were brought from both mast-heads of the brig to the chain
of this anchor, and were hove upon until the vessel was




144


JACK TIER;


given a heel of more than a streak, and the cable was tolerably taut. Other l)ulchases were got up opposite, and
overhauled down, n readiness to take hold:f the schooner's
masts. The anchor of the schooner was weighed by its
buoy-rope, and the chain, after being rove through the
upper or opposite hawse-hole, brought in on board the
Swash. Another chain was dropped astern, in such a way,
that when the schooner came upright, it would be sure to
pass beneath her keel, some six or eight feet from the rudder. Slings were then sunk over the mast-heads, and the
purchases were hooked on. Hours were consumed in these
preliminary labours, and the people went to dinner as soon
as they were completed.
When the men had dined, Spike brought one of his purchases to the windlass, and the other to the capstan, though
not until each was bowsed taut by hand; a few minutes
having brought the strain so far on everything, as to enable
a seaman, like Spike, to form some judgment of the likeli'hood that his preventers and purchases would stand. Some
changes were found necessary to equalize the strain, but,
on tie whole, the captain was satisfied with his work, and
the crew were soon ordered to " heave-away; the windlass
best."
In the course of half an hour the hull of the vessel, which
lay on its bilge, began to turn on its keel, and the heads of
the spars to rise above the water. This was the easiest
part of the process, all that was required of the purchases
being to turn over a mass which rested on the sands of the
bay. Aided by the long levers afforded by the spars, the
work advanced so rapidly, that, in just one hour's time after
his people had begun to heave, Spike had the pleasure to
see the schooner standing upright, alongside of his own brig,
though still sunk to the bottom. The wreck was secured
in this position, by means of guys and preventers, in order
that it might not again cant, when the order was issued to
hook on the slings that were to raise it to the surface.
These slings were the chains of the schooner, one of which
went under her keel, while for the other the captain trusted
to the strength of the two hawse-holes, having passed the
cable out of one and in at the other, in a way to serve his
purposes, as has just been stated.




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


145


When ali was ready, Spike mustered his crew, and made
* a speech. He told the men that he was about a job that
was out of the usual line of their duty, and that he knew
they had a right to expect extra pay for such extra work.
The schooner contained money, and his object was to get
at it. If he succeeded, their reward would be a doubloon a
man, which would be earning more than a month's wages
by twenty-four hours' work. This was enough. The men
wanted to hear no more; but they cheered their conmander,
and set about their task in the happiest disposition possible.
The reader will understand that the object to be first
achieved, was to raise a vessel, with a hold filled with flour
and gunpowder, from off the bottom of the bay to its surface.
As she stood, the deck of this vessel was about six feet under water, and every one will understand that her weight,
so long as it was submerged in a fluid as dense as that of
the sea, would be much more manageable than if suspended
in air. The barrels, for instance, were not much heavier
than the water they displaced, and the wood work of the
vessel itself, was, on the whole, positively lighter than the
element in which it had sunk. As for the water in the hold,
that was of the same weight as the water on the outside of
tne craft, and there had not been much to carry the schooner
down, beside her iron, the spars that were out of water, and
her ballast. This last, some ten or twelve tons in weight,
was in fact the principal difficulty, and alone induced Spike
to have any doubts about his eventual success. There was
no foreseeing the result until he had made a trial, however;
and the order was again given to " heave away."
To the infinite satisfaction of the Swash's crew, the weight
was found quite manageable, so long as the hull remained
beneath the water. Mulford, with three or four assistants,
was kept on board the schooner lightening -her, by getting
the other anchor off her bows, and throwing the different
objects overboard, or on the decks of the brig. By the time
the bulwarks reached the surface, as much was gained in
this way, as was lost by having so much of the lighter woodwork rise above the water. As a matter of course, however, the weight increased as the vessel rose, and more especially as the lower portion of the spars, the bowsprit, boom,
13




146


JACK TIER;


&c., from being buoyant assistants, became so much dead
weight to be lifted.
Spike kept a watchful eye on his spars, and the extra sup.
ports he had given them. He was moving, the whole time,
from point to point, feeling shrouds and back-stays, and preventers, in order to ascertain the degree of strain on each,
or examining how the purchases stood. As for the crew,
they cheered at their toil, incessantly, passing from capstan
bars to the handspikes, and vice versa. They, too, felt that
their task was increasing in resistance as it advanced, and
now found it more difficult to gain an inch, than it had been
at first to gain a foot. They seemed, indeed, to be heaving their own vessel out, instead of heaving the other craft
up, and it was not long before they had the Swash heeling
over toward the wreck several streaks. The strain, moreover, on everything, became not only severe, but somewhat
menacing. Every shroud, back-stay, and preventer was as
taut as a bar of iron, and the chain-cable that led to the
anchor planted off abeam, was as straight as if the brig were
riding by it in a gale of-wind. One or two ominous surges
aloft, too, had been heard, and, though no more than straps
and slings settling into their places under hard strains, they
served to remind the crew that danger might come from that
quarter. Such was the state of things, when Spike called
out to " heave and pall," that he might take a look at the
condition of the wreck.
Although a great deal remained to be done, in order to
get the schooner to float, a great deal had already been done.
Her precise condition was as follows: Having no cabin windows, the water had entered her, when she capsized, by the
only four apertures her construction possessed. These were.he companion-way, or cabin-doors; the sky-light;:he
main-hatch, or the large inlet amid-ships, by which cargo
went up and down; and the booby-hatch, which was the
counterpart of the companion-way, forward; being intended
to admit of ingress to the forecastle, tle apartment of the
crew. Each of these hatch-ways, or orifices, had the usual
defences of "coamings," strong frame-work around their
margins. These coamings rose six or eight inches above
the deck, and answered the double purpose of strengthening
the vessel, in a part, that without them would be weaker




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


147


than common, and of preventing any water that might be
washing about the decks from running below. As soon,
therefore, as these three apertures, or their coamings, could
be raised above the level of the water of the basin, all dan.
ger of the vessel's receiving any further tribute of that sort
from the ocean would be over. It was to this end, consequently, that Spike's efforts had been latterly directed,
though they had only in part succeeded. The schooner
possessed a good deal of sheer, as it is termed; or, her two
extremities rose nearly a foot above her centre, when on an
even keel. This had brought her extremities first to the
surface, and it was the additional weight which had consequently been brought into the air that had so much increased
the strain, and induced Spike to pause. The deck forward,
as far aft as the foremast, and aft as far forward as the
centre of the trunk, or to the sky-light, was above the water,
or at least awash; while all the rest of it was covered. In
the vicinity of the main-hatch there were several inches of
water; enough indeed to leave the upper edge of the coamings submerged by about an inch. To raise the keel that
inch by means of the purchases, Spike well knew would
cost him more labour, and would incur more risk than all
that had been done previously, and he paused before he
would attempt it.
The men were now called from the brig and ordered to
come on board the schooner. Spike ascertained by actual
measurement how much was wanted to bring the coamings
of the main-hatch above the water, until which, he knew,
pumping and bailing would be useless. He found it was
quite an inch, and was at a great loss to know how that
inch should be obtained. Mulford advised another trial with
the handspikes and bars, but to this Spike would not consent. He believed that the masts of the brig had already as
much pressure on them as they would bear. The mate
next proposed getting the main boom off the vessel, and to
lighten the craft by cutting away her bowsprit and masts.
The captain was well enough disposed to do this, but he
doubted whether it would meet with the approbation of" Don
Wan," who was still ashore with Rose and her aunt, and
who probably looked forward to recovering his gunpowder




148


JACK TIER;


by means o' those very spars. At length the carpenter hit
upon a plan that was adopted.
This plan was very simple, though it had its own ingenuity. It will be remembered that water could now only
enter the vesse!'s hold at the main-hatch, all the other
hatchways having their coamings above the element. The
carpenter proposed, therefore, that the main-hatches, which
had been off when the tornado occurred, but which had been
found on deck when the vessel righted, should now be put
on, oakum being first laid along in their rabbetings, and
that the cracks should be stuffed with additional oakum, to
exclude as much water as possible. He thought that two
or three men, by using caulking irons for ten minutes, would
make the hatch-way so tight that very little water would
penetrate.  While this was doing, he himself would bore as
many holes forward.and aft as he could, with a two inch
auger, out of which the water then in the vessel would be
certain to run. Spike was delighted with this project, and
gave the necessary orders on the spot.
This much must be said of the crew of the Molly Swash
-whatever they did in their own profession, they did intelligently and well. On the present occasion they maintained
their claim to this character, and were both active and expert. The hatches were soon on, and, in an imperfect
manner, caulked. While this was doing, the carpenter got
into a boat, and going under the schooner's bows, where a
whole plank was out of water, he chose a spot between two
of the timbers, and bored a hole as near the surface of the
water as he dared to do. Not satisfied with one hole, however, he bored many-choosing both sides of the vessel to
make them, and putting some aft as well as forward.  In a
word, in the course of twenty minutes the schooner was
tapped in at least a dozen places, and jets of water, two
inches in diameter, were spouting from her on each bow,
and under each quarter.
Spike and Mulford noted the effect. Some water, doubtless, still worked itself into the vessel about the main-hatch,
but that more flowed from her by means of the outlets just
named, was quite apparent. After close watching at the
outlets for some time, Spike was convinced that the schooner
was slowly rising, the intense strain that still came from the




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


1n9


brig producing that effect as the vessel gradually became
lighter. By the end of half an hour, there could be no
longer any doubt, the holes, which had been bored within an
inch of the water, being now fully two inches above it. The
auger was applied anew, still nearer to the surface of the
sea, and as fresh outlets were made, those that began to
manifest a dulness in their streams were carefully plugged.
Spike now thought it was time to take a look at the state
of things on deck. Here, to his joy, he ascertained that the
coamings had actually risen a little above the water. The
reader is not to suppose by this rising of the vessel, that she
had become sufficiently buoyant, in consequence of the
water that had run out of her, to float of herself. This was
far from being the case; but the constant upward pressure
from the brig, which, on mechanical principles, tended constantly to bring that craft upright, had the effect to lift the
schooner as the latter was gradually relieved from the
weight that pressed her toward the bottom.
The hatches were next removed, when it was found that
the water in the schooner's hold had so far lowered, as to
leave a vacant space of quite a foot between the lowest part
of the deck and its surface. Toward the two extremities
of the vessel this space necessarily was much increased, in
consequence of the sheer. Men were now sent into the
hatchway with orders to hook on to the flour-barrels-a
whip having been rigged in readiness to hoist them on deck.
At the same time gangs were sent to the pumps, though
Spike still depended for getting rid of the water somewhat
on the auger-the carpenter continuing to bore and plug
his holes as new opportunities offered, and the old outlets
became useless. It was true this expedient would soon
cease, for the water having found its level in the vessel's
hold, was very nearly on a level also with that on the outside. Bailing also was commenced, both forward and aft.
Spike's next material advantage was obtained by means
of the cargo. By the time the sun had set, fully two hundred barrels had been rolled into the hatchway, and passed
on deck, whence about half of them were sent in the light.
house boat to the nearest islet, and the remainder were
ransferred to the deck of the brig. These last were placed
on thbc off side of the Swabh, and a;ded in bringing her
13 *




150


JACK TIER,


nearer uprighit. A great deal was gained in getting rid of
these barrels. The water in the schooner lowered just as
much as the space they had occupied, and the vessel was
relieved at once of twenty tons in weight.
Just after the sun had set, Sefor Don Juan Montefalderon
and his party returned on board. They had staid -on the
island to the last moment, at Rose's request, for she had
taken as close an observation of everything as possible, in
order to ascertain if any means of concealment existed, in
the event of her aunt, Biddy, and herself quitting the brig.
The islets were all too naked and too small, however; and
she was compelled to return to the Swash, without any hopes
derived from this quarter.
Spike had just directed the people to get their suppers as
the Mexican came on board.  Together they descended to
the schooner's deck, where they had a long but secret conference.  Sefor Montefalderon was a calm, quiet and reasonable man, and while he felt as one would be apt to feel
who had recently seen so many associates swept suddenly
out of existence, the late catastrophe did not- in the least unman him. It is too much the habit of the American people
to receive their impressions from newspapers, which throw
off their articles unreflectingly, and often ignorantly, as
crones in petticoats utter their gossip. In a word, the opinions thus obtained are very much on a level, in value, with
the thoughts of those who are said to think aloud, and who
give utterance to all the crudities and trivial rumours that
may happen to reach their ears. In this manner, we apprehend, very false notions of our neighbours of Mexico have
become circulated among us. That nation is a mixed race,
and has necessarily the various characteristics of such an
origin, and it is unfortunately little influenced by the diffusion of intelligence which certainly exists here. Although
an enemy, it ought to be acknowledged, however, that even
Mexico has her redeeming points. Anglo-Saxons as we
are, we have no desire unnecessarily to illustrate that very
marked feature in the Anglo-Saxon character, whicn prompts
the mother stock to calumniate all who oppose it, but would
rather adopt some of that chivalrous courtesy of which so
much that is lofty and commendable is to be found among
the descendants of Old Spain.




OR, THE FLORID. REEF.


151


The Sefior Montefalderon was earnestly engaged in what
f}e conceived to be the cause of his country. It was scarcely
possible to bring together two men impelled by motives more
distinct than Spike and this gentleman. The first was acting under impulses of the lowest and most grovelling nature;
while the last was influenced by motives of the highest.
However much Mexico may, and has, weakened her cause
by her own punic faith, instability, military oppression, and
political revolutions, giving to the Texans in particular ample justification for their revolt, it was not probable that Don
Juan Montefalderon saw the force of all the arguments that
a casuist of ordinary ingenuity could certainly adduce
against his country; for it is a most unusual thing to find a
man anywhere, who is willing to admit that the positions of
an opponent are good. He saw in the events of the day, a
province wrested from his nation; and, in his reasoning on
the subject, entirely overlooking the numerous occasions on
which his own fluctuating government had given sufficient
justification, not to say motives, to their powerful neighbours
to take the law into their own hands, and redress tbhemselves,
he fancied all that has occurred was previously planned;
instead of regarding it, as it truly is, as merely the result
of political events that no man could have foreseen, that no
man had originally imagined, or that any man could control.
Don Juan understood Spike completely, and quite justly
appreciated not only his character, but his capabilities.
Their.acquaintance was not of a day, though it had ever
been marked by that singular combination of caution and
reliance that is apt to characterize the intercourse between
the knave and the honest man, when circumstances compel
not only communication, but, to a certain extent, confidence.
They now paced the deck of the schooner, side by side, for
fully an hour, during which time the price of the vessel, the
means, and the mode of payment and transfer, were fully
settled between them.
" But what will you do with your passengers, Don Este.
ban?" asked the Mexican pleasantly, when the more mate.
rial points were adjusted. "I feel a great interest in the
young lady in particular, who is a charming senorita, and
vho tells me that her aunt brought her this voyage on account of her health. She looks much too blooming to be




152


JACK TIER;


out of health, and if she were, this is a singular voyage for
an invalid to make!"
"You do n't understand human natur' yet, altogether, I
see, Don Wan," answered Spike, chuckling and winking.
"As you and I are not only good friends, but what a body
may call old friends, I '11 let you into a secret in this affair,
well knowing that you '11 not betray it. It's quite true that
the old woman thinks her niece is a pulmonary, as they call
it, and that this v'y'ge is recommended for her, but the gal
is as healthy as she's handsom'."
" Her constitution, then, must be very excellent, for it is
seldom I have seen so charming a young woman. But if
the aunt is misled in this matter, how has it been with the
niece?"
Spike did not answer in words, but he leered upon his
companion, and he winked.
" You mean to be understood that you are in intelligence
with each other, I suppose, Don Esteban," returned the
Sefior Montefalderon, who did not like the captain's manner,
and was willing to drop the discourse.
Spike then informed his companion, in confidence, that
he and Rose were affianced, though without the aunt's knowledge,-that he intended to marry thQ niece the moment he
reached a Mexican port with the brig, and that it was their
joint intention to settle in the country. He added that the
affair required management, as his intended had property,
and expected more, and he begged Don Juan to aid him, as
things drew near to a crisis. The Mexican evaded'an answer, and the discourse dropped.
The moon was now shining, and would continue to throw
its pale light over the scene for two or three hours longer.
Spike profited by the circumstance to continue the work of
lightening the schooner. One of the first things done next
was to get up the dead, and to remove them to the boat.
'This melancholy office occupied an hour, the bodies being
landed on the islet, near the powder, and there interred in
the sands. Don Juan Montefalderon attended on this occa.
sion, and repeated some prayers over the graves, as he had
done in the morning, in the cases of the two who had been
buried near the light-house.
While this melancholy duty was in the course of perform




153


OR, THE I.iL R IDA REEF.


ance, that of pumping and bailing was continued, under the
immediate personal superintendence of Mulford. It woula
not be easy to define, with perfect clearness, the conflicting
feelings by which the mate of the Swash was now impelled.
He had no longer any doubt on the subject of Spike's treason, and had it not been for Rose, he would not have hesitated a moment about making off in the light-house boat for
Key West, in order to report all that had passed to the au
thoi ties. But not only Rose was thpe, and to be cared for
but what was far more difficult to g^t along with, her aunt
was with her. It is true, Mrs. Budd was no longer Spike's
dupe; but under any circumstances shs was a difficult subject to manage, and most especially so in all matters that
related to the sea. Then the young man submitted, more
or less, to the strange influence which a fine craft almost
invariably obtains over those that belong to her.  He did
not like the idea of deserting the Swash, at the very moment
he would not have hesitated about punishing her owner for
his many misdeeds. In a word, Harry was too much of a
tar not to feel a deep reluctance to turn against his cruise,
or his voyage, however much either might be condemned by
his judgment, or even by his principles.
It was quite nine o'clock when the Sefior Montefalderon
and Spike returned from burying the dead. No sooner did
the last put his foot on the deck of his own vessel, than he
felt the fall of one of the purchases which had been employed in raising the schooner. It was so far slack as to
satisfy him that the latter now floated by her own buoyancv
though it might be well to let all stand until morning. for
the purposes of security. Thus apprised of the condition
of the two vessels, he gave the welcome order to " knock
off for the night."




154


JACK TIER;


CHAPTER VI.
At the piping of all hands,
When the judgment signal's spreadWhen the islands and the land,
And the seas give up their dead,
And the south and the north shall come;
When the sinner is dismayed,
And the just man is afraid,
Then heaven be thy aid,
Poor Tom.
BRAINARD.
THE people had now a cessation from their toil. Of all
the labour known to sea-faring men, that of pumping is
usually thought to be the most severe. Those who work
at it have to be relieved every minute, and it is only by
having gangs to succeed each other, that the duty can be
done at all with anything like steadiness. In the present
intaqce, it is true, that the people of the Swash were sustainedby the love of gold, but glad enough were tley when
Mulford called out to them to " knock off, and turn in for
the night." It was high time this summons should be made,
for not only were the people excessively wearied, but the
customary hours of labour were so far spent, that the light
of the moon had some time before begun to blend with the
little left by the parting sun. Glad enough were all hands
to quit the toil; and two minutes were scarcely elapsed ere
most of the crew had thrown themselves down, and were
buried in deep sleep. Even Spike and Mulford took tne
rest they needed, the cook alone being left to look out for
the changes in the weather. In a word, everybody but this
idler was exhausted with pumping and bailing, and even
gold had lost its power to charm, until nature was recruited
by rest.
The excitement produced by the scenes through which
they had so lately passed, caused the females to sleep
soundly too. The death-like stillness which pervaded the




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


155


vessel contributed to their rest, and Rose never woke, from
the first few minutes after her head was on her pillow, until
near four in the morning. The deep quiet seemed ominous
to one who had so lately witnessed the calm which precedes
the tornado, and she arose.  In that low latitude and warm
season, few clothes were necessary, and our heroine was on
deck in a very few minutes. Here she found the same
grave-like sleep pervading everything. There was not a
breath of air, and the ocean seemed to be in one of its pro.
foundest slumbers. The hard-breathing of Spike could be
neard through the open windows of his state-room, and this
was positively the only sound that was audible. The common men, who lay scattered about the decks, more especially from the mainmast forward, seemed to be so many
logs, and from Mulford no breathing was heard.
The morning was neither very dark nor very light, it
being easy to distinguish objects that were near, while those
at a distance were necessarily lost in obscurity.  Availing
herself of the circumstance, Rose went as far as the gangway, to ascertain if the cook were at his post. She saw
him lying near his galley, in as profound a sleep as any of
the crew. This she felt to be wrong, and she felt alarmed,
though she knew not why. Perhaps it was the consciousness of being the only person up and awake at that hour of
deepest night, in a vessel so situated as the Swash, and in
a climate in which hurricanes seem to be the natural off.
spring of the air. Some one must be aroused, and her
tastes, feelings, and judgment, all pointed to Harry Mulford
as the person she ought to awaken. He slept habitually in
his clothes-the lightest summer dress of the tropics; and
the window of his little state-room was always open for air.
Moving lightly to the place, Rose laid her own little, soft
hand on the arm of the young man, when the latter was on
his feet in an instant. A single moment only was necessary to regain his consciousness, when Mulford left the
state-room and joined Rose on the quarter-deck.
" Why am I called, Rose," the young man asked, attempering his voice to the calm that reigned around him; " and
why am I called by you?"
Rose explained the state of the brig, and the feeling which
arduced her to awaken him. With woman's gentleness she




156


JACK TIER;


now expressed her regret for having robbed Harry of his
rest; had she reflected a moment, she might have kept
watch herself, and allowed him to obtain the sleep he must
surely so much require.
But Mulford laughed at this; protested he had never
been awakened at a more favourable moment, and would
have sworn, had it been proper, that a minute's further sleep
would have been too much for him. After these first explanations, Mulford walked round the decks, carefully felt how
much strain there was on the purchases, and rejoined Rose
to report that all was right, and that he did not consider it
necessary to call even the cook. The black was an idler
in no sense but that of keeping watch, and he had toiled the
past day as much as any of the men, though'it was not
exactly at the pumps.
A long and semi-confidential conversation now occurred
between Iarry and Rose. They talked of Spike, the brig,
and her cargo, and of the delusion of the captain's widow.
It was scarcely possible that powder should be so much
wanted at the Havanna as to render smuggling, at so much
cost, a profitable adventure; and Mulford admitted his convictions that the pretended flour was originally intended for
Mexico. Rose related the tenor of the conversation she
had overheard between the two parties, Don Juan and Don
Esteban, and the mate no longer doubted that it was Spike's
intention to sell the brig to the enemy. She also alluded
to what had passed between herself and the stranger.
Mulford took this occasion to introduce the subject of
Jack Tier's intimacy and favour with Rose. He even professed to feel some jealousy on account of it, little as there
might be to alarm most men in the rivalry of such a competitor. Rose laughed, as girls will laugh when there is
question of their power over the other sex, and she fairly
shook her rich tresses as she declared her determination to
continue to smile on Jack to the close of the voyage. Then,
as if she had said more than she intended, she added with
woman's generosity and tenderness,"After all, Harry, you know how much I promised to
you even before we sailed, and how much more since, and
have no just cause to dread even Jack. There is another
reason, however, that ought to set your mind entirely at




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


157


case on his account. Jack is married, and has a partner
living at this very moment, as he does not scruple to avow
himself."
A hissing noise, a bright light, and a slight explosion, interrupted the half-laughing girl, and Mulford, turning on his
heel, quick as thought, saw that a rocket had shot into the
air, from a point close under the bows of the brig. He was
still in the act of moving toward the forecastle, when, at the
distance of several leagues, he saw the explosion of another
rocket high in the air. He knew enough of the practices
of vessels of war, to feel certain that these were a signal
and its answer from some one in the service of government.
Not at all sorry to have the career of the Swash arrested,
before she could pass into hostile hands, or before evil could
befall Rose, M'ulfbrd reached the forecastle just in time to
answer the inquiry that was immediately put to him, in the
way of a hail. A gig, pulling four oars only, with two
officers in its stern-sheets, was fairly under the vessel's
bows, and the mate could almost distinguish the countenance
of the officer who questioned him, the instant he showed his
head and shoulders above the bulwarks.
" What vessels are these?" demanded the stranger,
speaking in the authoritative manner of one who acted for
the state, but not speaking much above the usual conversational tone.
" American and Spanish," was the answer. "This brig
is American —the schooner alongside is a Spaniard, that
turned turtle in a tornado, about six-and-thirty hours since,
and on which we have been hard at work trying to raise
her, since the gale which succeeded the tornado has blown
its pipe out."
" Ay, ay, that's the story, is it? I did rot know what
to make of you, lying cheek by jowl, in this fashion. Was
anybody lost on board the schooner?"
';All hands, including every soul aft and forward, the
supercargo excepted, who happened to be aboard here.
We buried seventeen bodies this afternoon on the smallest
of the Keys that you see near at hand, and two this morning
alongside of the light. But what boat is that, and where
are you from, and whom are you signalling?"
"The boat is a gig," answered the stranger, deliberately,
14




158


JACK TIER;


" and she belongs to a cruiser of Uncle Sam's, that is off
the reef, a short bit to the eastward, and we signalled our
captain. But I'll come on board you, sir, if you please."
Mulford walked aft to meet the stranger at the gangway,
and was relieved, rather than otherwise, at finding that
Spike was already on the quarter-deck. Should the vessel
of war seize the brig, he could rejoice at it, but so strong
were his professional ideas of duty to the craft he sailed in,
that he did not find it in his heart to say aught against her.
Were any mishap to befall it, or were justice to be done, he
preferred that it might be done under Spike's own super.
vision, rather than under his.
"' Call all hands, Mr. Mulford," said Spike, as they met.
' I see a streak of day coming yonder in the east-let all
hands be called at once. What strange boat is this we have
alongside?"
This question was put to the strangers, Spike standing
on his gangway-ladder to ask it, while the mate was summoning the crew. The officer saw that a new person was
to be dealt with, and in his quiet,.easy way, he answered,
while stretching out his hands to take the man-rope"Your servant, sir-we are man-of-war's men, belonging
to one of Uncle Sam's craft, outside, and have just come in
to pay you a visit of ceremony. I told one, whom I suppose was your mate, that I would just step on board of you."
" Ay, ay-one at a time, if you please. It's war-time,
and I cannot suffer armed boat's crews to board me at
night, without knowing something about them..Come up
yourself, if you please, but order your people to stay in the
boat. Here, muster about this gangway, half a dozen of
you, and keep an eye on the crew of this strange boat."
These orders had no effect on the cool and deliberate lieu.
tenant, who ascended the brig's side, and immediately stood
on her deck. No sooner had he and Spike confronted each
other, than each gave a little start, like that of recognition,
and the lieutenant spoke.
"Ay, ay-I believe I know this vessel now. It is the
Molly Swash, of New York, bound to Key West, and a
market; and I have the honour to see Captain Stephen Spike
again."
It was Mr. Wallace, the second lieutenant of the sloop-of




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


159


war that had boarded the brig in the Mona Passage, and to
avoid whom Spike had gone to the southward of Jamaica.
The meeting was very mal-d-propos, but it would not do to
betray that the captain and owner of the vessel thought as
much as this; on the contrary, Wallace was warmly welcomed, and received, not only as an old acquaintance, but
as a very agreeable visiter. To have seen the two, as they
walked aft together, one might have supposed that the meet.
ing was conducive of nothing but a very mutual satisfaction,
it was so much like that which happens between those who
keep up a hearty acquaintance.
" Well, I'm glad to see you again, Captain Spike," cried
Wallace, after the greetings were passed, " if it be only to
ask where you flew to, the day we left you in the Mona
Passage? We looked out for you with all our eyes, expecting you would be down between San Domingo and
Jamaica, but I hardly think you got by us in the night.
Our master thinks you must have dove, and gone past loonfashion. Do you ever perform that manoeuvre?"
"No, we 've kept above water the whole time, lieutenant,"
answered Spike, heartily; "and that is more than can be
said of the poor fellow alongside of us. I was so much
afraid of the Isle of Pines, that I went round Jamaica."
"You might have given the Isle of Pines a berth, and
still have passed to the northward of the Englishmen," said
Wallace, a little drily. " However, that island is somewhat
of a scarecrow, and we have been to take a look at it ourselves. All's right there, just now. But you seem light;
what have you done with your flour?"
"Parted with every barrel of it. You may remember
I was bound to Key West, and a market. Well, I found
my market here, in American waters."
"You have been lucky, sir. This 'emporium' does not
seem to be exactly a commercial emporium."
" The fact is, the flour is intended for the Havanna; and
I fancy it is to be shipped for slavers. But I am to know
nothing of all that, you '11 understand, lieutenant. If I sell
my flour in American waters, at two prices, it's no concern
Df mine what becomes of it a'terwards."
" Unless it happen to pass into enemy's hands, certainly
not; and you are too patriotic to deal with Mexico, just now




160


JACK  TIER;


I 'm sure. Pray, did that flour go down when the schooner
turned turtle?"
"Every barrel of it; but Don Wan, below there, thinks
that most of it may yet be saved, by landing it on one of
those Keys to dry. Flour, well packed, wets in slowly.
You see we have some of it on deck."
"And who may Don Wan be, sir, pray? We are sent
here to look after Dons and Donas, you know."
"Don Wan is a Cuban merchant, and deals in such arti.
cles as he wants. I fell in with him among the reefs here,
where he was rummaging about in hopes of meeting with
a wrack, he tells me, and thinking to purchase something
profitable in that way; but finding I had flour, he agreed
to take it out of me at this anchorage, and send me away
in ballast at once. I have found Don Wan Montefalderon
ready pay, and very honourable."
Wallace then requested an explanation of the disaster, to
the details of which he listened with a sailor's interest. He
asked a great many questions, all of which bore on the
more nautical features of the event; and, day having now
fairly appeared, he examined the purchases and backings
of the Swash with professional nicety. The schooner was
no lower in the water than when the men had knocked off
work the previous night; and Spike set the people at the
pumps and their bailing again, as the most effectual method
of preventing their making any indiscreet communications
to the man-of-war's men.
About this time the relict appeared on deck, when Spike
gallantly introduced the lieutenant anew to his passengers.
It is true he knew no name to use, but that was of little
moment, as he called the officer "the lieutenant," and
nothing else.
Mrs. Budd was delighted with this occasion to show-off;
and she soon broke out on the easy, indolent, but waggish
Wallace, in a strain to surprise him, notwithstanding the
specimen of the lady's skill from which he had formerly
escaped.
"Captain Spike is of opinion, lieutenant, that our castanchor here is excellent, and I know the value of a good
east-anchor place; for my poor Mr. Budd was a sea-faring




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


161


rian, and taught me almost as much of your noble profession as he knew himself."
"And he taught you, ma'am," said Wallace, fairly opening his eyes, under the influence of astonishment, "to be
very particular about cast-anchor places!"
"Indeed he did. He used to say, that roads-instead were
never as good, for such purposes, as land that's locked
havens, for the anchors would return home, as he called it,
in roads-instead."
"Yes, ma'am," answered Wallace, looking very queer
at first, as if disposed to laugh outright, then catching a
glance of Rose, and changing his mind; " I perceive that
Mr. Budd knew what he was about, and preferred an
anchorage where he was well land-locked, and where there
was no danger of his anchors coming home, as so often
happens in your open roadsteads."
" Yes, that's just it! That was just his notion! You
cannot feel how delightful it is, Rose, to converse with one
that thoroughly understands such subjects! My poor Mr.
Budd did, indeed, denounce roads-instead, at all times calling
them ' savage.' "
"Savage, aunt," put in Rose, hoping to stop the good
relict by her own interposition-" that is a strange word to
apply to an anchorage!"
" Not at all, young lady," said Wallace gravely. " They
are often wild berths, and wild berths are not essentially
different from wild beasts. Each is savage, as a matter of
course."
"I knew I was right!" exclaimed the widow. "Savage
cast-anchors come of wild births, as do savage Indians.
Oh! the language of the ocean, as my poor Mr. Budd used
to say, is eloquence.tempered by common sense!"
Wallace stared again, but his attention was called to other
things, just at that moment. The appearance of Don Juan
Montefalderon y Castro on deck, reminded him of his duty,
and approaching that gentleman he condoled with him on.ne grave loss he had sustained. After a few civil expres.
sions on both sides, Wallace made a delicate allusion to the
character of the schooner.
"Under other circumstances," he said, "it might be my
duty to inquire a little particularly as to the nationality of
14*




162


JACK TIER;


your vessel, Sefior, for we are at war with the Mexicans, as
you doubtless know."
" Certainly," answered Don Juan, with an unmoved air
and great politeness of manner, " though it would be out of
my power to satisfy you. Everything was lost in the
schooner, and I have not a paper of any sort to show you.
If it be your pleasure to make a prize of a vessel in this
situation, certainly it is in your power to do it. A few barrels of wet flour are scarce worth disputing about."
Wallace now seemed a little ashamed, the sang froid of
the other throwing dust in his eyes, and he was in a hurry
to change the subject. Sefior Don Juan was very civilly
condoled with again, and he was made to repeat the incidents of the loss, as if his auditor took a deep interest in
what he said, but no further hint was given touching the
nationality of the vessel. The lieutenant's tact let him see
that Senor Montefalderon was a person of a very different
calibre from Spike, as well as of different habits; and he did
not choose to indulge in the quiet irony that formed so large
an ingredient in his own character, with this new acquaintance. He spoke Spanish himself, with tolerable fluency,
and a conversation now occurred between the two, which
was maintained for some time with spirit and a very manifest courtesy.
This dialogue between Wallace and the Spaniard gave
Spike a little leisure for reflection. As the day advanced
the cruiser came more and more plainly in view, and his
first business was to take a good survey of her. She might
have been three leagues distant, but approaching with a very
light breeve, at the rate of something less than two knots in
the hour. Unless there was some one on board her who
was acquainted with the channels of. the Dry Tortugas,
*Spike felt little apprehension of the ship's getting very near
to him; but he very well understood that, with the sort of
artillery that was in modern use among vessels of war, he
would hardly be safe could the cruiser get within a league.
That near Uncle Sam's craft might certainly come without
encountering the hazards of the channels, and within that
distance she would be likely to get in the course of the
morning,, should he have the complaisance to wait for her.
lIe determined, therefore, not to be guilty of that act of folly




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


163


All this time the business of lightening the schooner pro.
ceeded. Although Mulford earnestly wished that the manof-war might get an accurate notion of the true character
and objects of the brig, he could not prevail on himself to
become an informer. In order to avoid the temptation so
to do, he exerted himself in keeping the men at their tasks,
and never before had pumping and bailing been carried on
with more spirit. The schooner soon floated of herself, and
he purchases which led to the Swash were removed. Near
a hundred more barrels of the flour had been taken out of
the hold of the Spanish craft, and had been struck on the
deck of the brig, or sent to the Key by means of the boats.
This made a material change in the buoyancy of the vessel,
and enabled the bailing to go on with greater facility. The
pumps were never idle, but two small streams of water were
running the whole time toward the scuppers, and through
them into the sea.
At length the men were ordered to knock off, and to get
their breakfasts. This appeared to arduse Wallace, who
had been chatting, quite agreeably to himself, with Rose,
and seemed reluctant to depart, but who now became sensible that he was neglecting his duty. He called away his
boat's crew, and took a civil leave of the passengers; after
which he went ever the side. The gig was some little distance from the Swash, when Wallace rose and asked to see
Spike, with whom he had a word to say at parting..
" I will soon return," he said, " and bring you forty or
fifty fresh men, who will make light work with your wreck.
I am certain our commander will consent to my doing so,
and will gladly send on board you two or three boat's
crews."
"If I let him," muttered Spike between his teeth, " I shall
be a poor, miserable cast-anchor devil, that's all."
To Wallace, however, he expressed his hearty acknow.
ledgments; begged him not to be in a hurry, as the worst
was now over, and the row was still a long one. If he got
back toward evening it would be all in good time. Wallace
waved his hand, and the gig glided away. As for Spike,
he sat down on the plank-sheer where he had stood, and
remained there ruminating intently for two or three minutes.
When he descended to the deck his mind was fully made




164


JACK TIER;


up. His first act was to give some private orders to the
boatswain, after which he withdrew to the cabin, whither he
summoned Tier, without delay.
" Jack," commenced the captain, using very little circumlocution in opening his mind, " you and I are old shipmates,
and ought to be old friends, though I think your natur' has
undergone some changes since we last met. Twenty years
ago there was no man in the ship on whom I could so certainly depend as on Jack Tier; now, you seem given up
altogether to the women. Your mind has changed even
more than your body."
"Time does that for all of us, Captain Spike," returned
Tier coolly. " I am not what I used to be, I'll own, nor
are you yourself, for that matter. When I saw you last,
noble captain, you were a handsome man of forty, and
could go aloft with any youngster in the brig; but, now,
you 're heavy, and not over-active."
" I!-Not a bit o; change has taken place in me for the
last thirty years.' I defy any man to show the contrary.
But that's neither here nor there; you are no young woman, Jack, that I need be boasting of my health and beauty
before you. I want a bit of real sarvice from you, and
want it done in old-times fashion; and I mean to pay for
it in old-times fashion, too."
As Spike concluded, he put into Tier's hand one of the
doubloons that he had received from Sefior Mbntefalderon,
in payment for the powder. The doubloons, for which so
much pumping and bailing were then in process, were still
beneath the waters of the gulf.
" Ay, ay, sir," returned Jack, smiling and pocketing the
gold, with a wink of the eye, and a knowing look; " this
does resemble old times sum'at. I now begin to know
Captain Spike, my old commander again, and see that he's
more like himself than I had just thought him. What am
I to do for this, sir? speak plain, that I may be sartain to
steer the true course."
"Oh, jus.t a trifle, Jack-nothing that will break up the
ground-tier of your wits, my old shipmate. You see the
state of the brig, and know that she is in no condition for
ladies."




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


165


"'T would have been better all round, sir, had they never
come aboard at all," answered Jack, looking dark.
Spike was surprised, but he was too much bent on his
projects to heed trifles.
" You know what sort of flour they 're whipping out of the
schooner, and must understand that the brig will soon be in
a pretty litter. I do not intend to let them send a single
barrel of it beneath my hatches again, but the deck and the
islands must take it all. Now I wish to relieve my passen.
gers from the confinement this will occasion, and I have
ordered the boatswain to pitch a tent for them on the largest
of these here Tortugas; and what I want of you, is to mus.
ter food and water, and other women's knicknacks, and go
ashore with them, and make them as comfortable as you
can for a few days, or until we can get this schooner loaded
and off:"
Jack Tier looked at his commander as if he would pene.
trate his most secret thoughts. A short pause succeeded, during which the steward's mate was intently musing, then his
countenance suddenly brightened; he gave the doubloon a
fillip, and caught it on the palm of his hand as it descended,
and he uttered the customary " Ay, ay, sir," with apparent
cheerfulness. Nothing more passed between these two worthies, who now parted, Jack to make his arrangements, and
Spike to "tell 'his yarn," as he termed the operation in his
own mind, to Mrs. Budd, Rose, and Biddy. The widow
listened complacently, though she seemed half doubting,
half ready to comply. As for Rose, she received the proposal with delight-The confinement of the vessel having
become irksome to her. The principal obstacle was in over.
coming the difficulties made by the aunt, Biddy appearing to
like the notion quite as much as " Miss Rosy." As for the
light-house, Mrs. Budd had declared nothing would induce
her to go there; for she did not doubt that the place would
soon be, if it were not already, haunted. In this opinion
she was sustained by Biddy; and it was the knowledge of
this opinion that induced Spike to propose the tent.
"' Are you sure, Captain Spike, it is not a desert island?"
asked the widow; " I remember that my poor Mr. Budd al.
ways spokeof desert islands as horrid places, and spots that
every one should avoid."




166


JACK TIER;


" What if it is, aunty," said Rose eagerly, " while we
have the brig here, close at hand. We shall suffer none of
the wants of such a place, so long as our friends can supply
us."
" And such friends, Miss Rose," exclaimed Spike, a little
sentimentally for him, " friends that would undergo hunger
and thirst themselves, before you should want for any
comforts."
"Do, now, Madam Budd," put in Biddy in her hearty
way, " it's an island, ye '1 remimber: and sure that's just
what ould Ireland has ever 'been, God bless it! Islands
make the pleasantest risidences."
" Well I'1 venture to oblige you and Biddy, Rosy, dear,"
returned the aunt, still half reluctant to yield; " but you '11
remember, that if I find it at all a desert island, I '11 not pass
the night on it on any account whatever."
With this understanding the party was transferred to the
shore. The boatswain had already erected a sort of a tent,
on a favourable spot, using some of the. old sails that had
covered the flour-barrels, not only for the walls, but for a
carpet of some extent also. This tent was ingeniously
enough contrived. In addition to the little room that was
entirely enclosed, there was a sort of piazza, or open verandah, which would enable its tenants to enjoy the shade in
the open air. Beneath this verandah, a barrel of fresh water
was placed, as well as three or four ship's stools, all of
which had been sent ashore with the materials for constructing the tent. The boat had been going and coming
for some time, and the distance being short, the " desert island " was soon a desert no longer. It is true that the supplies necessary to support three women for as many days,
were no great matter, and were soon landed, but Jack Tier
had made a provision somewhat more ample. A capital
caterer, he had forgotten nothing within the compass of his
means, that could contribute to the comfort of those who had
been put especially under his care. Long before the people
' knocked off" for their dinners, the arrangements were
completed, and the boatswain was ready to take his leave.
"Well, ladies," said that grum old salt, "I can do no
more for you, as I can see. This here island is now almost
as comfortable as a ship that has been in blue water for a




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


167


month, and I do n't know how it can be made more eomfortabler."
This was only according to the boatswain's notion of
comfort; but Rose thanked him for his care in her winning
way, while her aunt admitted that, " for a place that was
almost a desert island, things did look somewhat promising."
In a few minutes the men were all gone, and the islet was
left to the sole possession of the three females, and their constant companion, Jack Tier. Rose was pleased with the
novelty of her situation, though the islet certainly did deserve the opprobrium of being a "desert island."  There
was no shade but that of the tent, and its verandah-like
covering, though the last, in particular, was quite extensive.
There was no water, that in the barrel and that of the
ocean excepted. Of herbage there was very little on this
islet, and that was of the most meagre and coarse character,
being a long wiry grass, with here and there a few stunted
bushes. The sand was reasonably firm, however, more
especially round the shore, and the walking was far from
unpleasant. Little did Rose know it, but a week earlier, the
spot would have been next to intolerable to her, on account
of the musquitoes, gallinippers, and other similar insects of
the family of tormentors; but everything of the sort had temporarily disappeared in the currents of the tornado. To do
Spike justice, he was aware of this circumstance, or he
might have hesitated about exposing females to the ordinary
annoyances of one of these spots. Not a musquito, or anything of the sort was left, however, all having gone to leeward, in the vortex which had come so near sweeping off
the Mexican schooner.
" This place will do very well, aunty, for a day or two,"
cried Rose cheerfully, as she returned from a short excursion, and threw aside her hat, one made to shade her face
from the sun of a warm climate, leaving the sea-breeze that
was just beginning to blow, to fan her blooming and sunny
cheeks. " It is better than the brig. The worst piece of
land is better than the brig."
" Do not say that, Rose-not if it's a desert island, dear;
and this is desperately like a desert island; ILam almost
sorry I ventured on it."
" It will not be deserted by us, aunty, until we shall see




168


JACK TIER;


occasion to do so. Why inot endeavour to get on board of
yonder ship, and return to New York in her; or at least induce her captain to put us ashore somewhere near this, and
go home by land. Your health never seemed better than it
is at this moment; and as for mine, I do assure you, aunty,
dear, I am as perfectly well as I ever was in my life."
" All from this voyage. I knew it would set you up, and
am delighted to hear you say as much. Biddy and I were
talking of you this very morning, my child, and we both
agreed that you were getting to be yourself again. Oh,
ships, and brigs, and schooners, full-jigger or half-jigger, for
pulmonary corplaints, say I! My poor Mr. Budd always
maintained that the ocean was the cure for all diseases, and
I determined that to sea you should go, the moment I be.
came alarmed for your health."
The good widow loved Rose most tenderly, and she was
obliged to use her handkerchief to dry the tears from her
eyes as she concluded. Those tears sprung equally from a
past feeling of apprehension, and a present feeling of gratitude. Rose saw this, and she took a seat at her aunt's side,
touched herself, as she never failed to be on similar occasions with this proof of her relative's affection. At that
moment even Harry Mulford would have lost a good deal
in her kind feelings toward him, had he so much as smiled
at one of the widow's nautical absurdities. At such times,
Rose seemed to be her aunt's guardian and protectress, instead
of reversing the relations, and she entirely forgot herself the
many reasons which existed for wishing that she had been
placed in childhood, under the care of one better qualified
than the well-meaning relict of her uncle, for the perform.
ance of her duties.
"Thank you, aunty-thank'ee, dear aunty," said Rose,
kissing the widow affectionately. " I know that you mean
the best for me, though you are a little mistaken in sup.
posing me ill. I do assure you, dear," patting her aunt's
cheek, as if she herself had been merely a playful child, "I
never was better; and if I have been pulmonary, I am entirely cured, and am now ready to return home."
" God be praised for this, Rosy. Under His divine providence, it is all owing to the sea. If you really feel so much
restored, however, I do not wish to keep you a moment




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


169


longer on a ship's board than is necessary.  We owe
something to Captain Spike's care, and cannot quit him too
unceremoniously; but as soon as he is at liberty to go into
a harbour, I will engage him to do so, and we can return
home by land-unless, indeed, the brig intends to make the
home voyage herself."
"I do not like this brig, aunty, and now we are out of
her, I wish we could keep out of her. Nor do I like your
Captain Spike, who seems to me anything but an agree.
able gentleman."
"That's because you arn't accustomed to the sea. My
poor Mr. Budd had his ways, like all the rest of them; it
takes time to get acquainted with them. All sailors are so."
Rose bent her face involuntarily, but so low as to conceal
the increasing brightness of her native bloom, as she answered,
"Harry Mulford is not so, aunty, dear-and he is every
inch a sailor."
"Well, there is a difference, I must acknowledge, though
I dare say Harry will grow every day more and more like
all the rest of them. In the end, he will resemble Captain
Spike."
"Never," said Rose, firmly.
"You can't tell, child. I never saw your uncle when he
was Harry's age, for I was n't born till he was thirty, but
often and often has he pointed out to me some slender, genteel youth, and say, 'just such a lad was I at twenty,' though
nothing could be less alike, at the moment he was speaking,
than they two. We all change with our years. Now I
was once as slender, and almost-not quite, Rosy, for few
there are that be-but almost as handsome as you yourself."
"Yes, aunty, I've heard that before," said Rose, springing up, in order to change the discourse; "but Harry Mulford will never become like Stephen Spike. I wish we had
never known the man, dearest aunty."
"It was all your own doings, child. He's a cousin of
your most intimate friend, and she brought him to the house;
and one could n't offend Mary Mulford, by telling her we
did n't like her cousin.'
Rose seemed vexed, and she kept her little foot in motion,
patting the sail that formed the carpet, as girls will pat the
15




170


JACK TIER;


ground with their feet when vexed. This gleam of displea
sure was soon over, however, and her countenance became
as placid as the clear, blue sky that formed the vault of the
heavens above her head. As if to atone for the passing re.
bellion of her feelings, she threw her arms around her aunt's
neck; after which she walked away, along the beach, ruminating on her present situation,.and of the best means of
extricating their party from the power of Spike.
It requires great familiarity with vessels and the seas, for
one to think, read, and pursue the customary train of rea.
soning on board a ship that one has practised ashore. Rose
had felt this embarrassment during the past month, for the
whole of which time she had scarcely been in a condition to
act up to her true character, suffering her energies, and in
some measure her faculties, to be drawn into the vortex produced by the bustle, novelties, and scenes of the vessel and
the ocean. But, now she was once more on the land, dimin.
utive and naked as was the islet that composed her present
world, and she found leisure and solitude for reflection and
decision. She was not ignorant of the nature of a vessel of
war, or of the impropriety of unprotected females placing
themselves on board of one; but gentlemen of character,
like the officers of the ship in sight, could hardly be wanting
in the feelings of their caste; and anything was better than
to return voluntarily within the power of Spike. -She deter.
mined within her own mind that voluntarily she would not.
We shall leave this young girl, slowly wandering along the
beach of her islet, musing on matters like these, while we
return to the vessels and the mariners.
A good breeze had come in over the reef from the Gulf,
throwing the sloop-of-war dead to leeward of the brigantine's anchorage. This was the reason that the former had
closed so slowly. Still the distance between the vessels
was so small, that a swift cruiser, like the ship of war,
would soon have been alongside of the wreckers, but for the
intervening islets and the intricacies of their channels. She
had made sail on the wind, however, and was evidently dis.
posed to come as near to the danger as her lead showed
would be safe, even if she did not venture among them.
Spike noted all these movements, and he took his measures accordingly. The pumping and bailing had been go.




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


171


ing on since the appearance of light, and the flour had been
quite half removed from the schooner's hold. That vessel
consequently floated with sufficient buoyancy, and no further
anxiety was felt on account of her sinking. Still, a great
deal of water remained in her, the cabin itself being nearly
haJlf full. Spike's object was to reduce this water sufficiently to enable him to descend into the state-room which
Sefior Montefalderon had occupied, and bring away the doub.
loons that alone kept him in the vicinity of so ticklish a
neighbour as the Poughkeepsie. Escape was easy enough to
one who knew the passages of the reef and islets; more especially since the wind had so fortunately brought the cruis
er to leeward. Spike jnost apprehended a movement upon
him in the boats, and he had almost made up his mind, should
such an enterprise be attempted, to try his hand in beating it
off with his guns.  A good deal of uncertainty on the subject of Mulford's consenting to resist the recognised author
ities of the country, as well as some doubts of a similai
nature in reference to two or three of the best of the foremast
hands, alone left him at all in doubt as to the expediency of
such a course. As no boats were lowered from the cruiser,
however, the necessity of resorting to so desperate a measure,
did not occur, and the duty of lightening the schooner had proceeded without interruption. As soon as the boatswain
came off from the islet, he and the men with him were di.
rected to take the hands and lift the anchors, of which it
will be remembered the Swash had several down. Even
Mulford was shortly after set at work ~n the same duty;
and these expert and ready seamen soon had the brig clear
of the ground. As the schooner was anchored, and floated
without assistance, the Swash rode by her.
Such was the state of things when the men turned to,
after having had their dinners. By this time, the sloop-of.
war was within half a league of the bay, her progress
having been materially retarded by the set of the current,
which was directly against her. Spike saw that acollision
of some sort or other must speedily occur, and he deter.
mined to take the boatswain with him, and descend into the
cabin of the schooner in quest of the gold. The boatswain
was summoned, and Seior Montefalderon repeated in this
man's presence the instructions that he thought it necessary




1i/ lJACK TIER:
for the adventurers to follow, in order to secure the prize.
Knowing how little locks would avail on board a vessel,
were the men disposed to rob him, that gentleman had
trusted more to secreting his treasure, than to securing it in
the more ordinary way. When the story had again been
told, Spike and his boatswain went on board the schooner,
and, undressing, they prepared to descend into the cabin.
The captain paused a single instant to take a look at the
sloop-of-war, and to examine the state of the weather. It
is probable some new impression was made on him by this
inquiry, for, hailing Mulford, he ordered him to loosen the
sails, and to sheet home, and hoist the foretopsail. In a
word, to " see all ready to cast off,.and make sail on the
brig at the shortest notice." With this command he disappeared by the schooner's companion-way.
Spike and his companion found the water in the cabin
very much deeper than they had supposed. With a view
to comfort, the cabin-floor had been sunk much lower than
is usual on board American vessels, and this brought the
water up nearly to the arm-pits of two men as short as our
captain and his sturdy little boatswain. The former grumbled a good deal, when he ascertained the fact, and said
something about the mate's being better fitted to make a
search in such a place, but concluding with the remark,
that " the man who wants ticklish duty well done, must see
to it himself."
The gold-hunters groped their way cautiously about the
cabin for some time, feeling for a drawer, in which they
had been told they should find the key of Sefior Montefalderon's state-room door. In this Spike himself finally sucA.eeded, he being much better acquainted with cabins and
their fixtures, than the boatswain.
"Here it is, Ben," said the captain, " now for a dive
among the Don's val'ables. Should you pick up anything
worth speaking of, you can condemn it for salvage, as 1
mean to cast off, and quit the wrack the moment we've made
sure of the doubloons."
"And what will become'of all the black flour that Is lying about, sir?" asked the boatswain with a grin.
It may take care of itself. My agreement will be up as
uoon as he doubloons are found. If the Don will cons,




OR, THE FLORIDA R EEF.


173


lown lhandsomely with his share of what will be left, I may
be bought to put the kegs we have in the brig ashore for him
somewhere in Mexico; but my wish is to get out of the
neighbourhood of that bloody sloop-of-war, as soon as possible."
"She makes but slow headway ag'in the current, sir; but
a body would think she might send in her boats."
" The boats might be glad to get back again," muttered
Spike. "Ay, here is the door unlocked, and we can now
fish for the money."
Some object had rolled against the state-room door, when
the vessel wascapsized, and there was a good deal of diffi.
culty in forcing it open.  They succeeded at last, and
Spike led the way by wading into the small apartment.
Here they began to feel about beneath the water, and by a
very insufficient light, in quest of the hidden treasure.
Spike and his boatswain differed as to the place which had
just been described to them, as men will differ even in the
account of events that pass directly before their eyes. While
thus employed, the report of a heavy gun came through the
doors of the cabin, penetrating to the recess in which they
were thus employed.
" Ay, that's the beginning of it!" exclaimed Spike.  I
wonder that the fool has put it off so long."
" That gun was a heavy fellow, Captain Spike," returned
the boatswain; "and it sounded in my ears as if't was shot.
ted."
" Ay, ay, I dare say you 're right enough in both opinions.
They put such guns on board their sloops-of-war, now-adays, as a fellow used to find in the lower batteries of a twodecker only in old times; and as for shot, why Uncle Sam
pays, and they think it cheaper to fire one out of a gun,
than to take the trouble of drawing it."
" I believe here's one of the bags, Captain Spike," said
the boatswain, making a dip, and coming up with one-half
of the desired treasure in his fist.  " By George, I've
grabbed him, sir; and the other bag can't be far off."
"Hand that over to' me," said the captain, a little authori.
tatively, " and take a dive for the next."
As the boatswain was obeying this order, a second gun
was heard, and Spike thought that the noise made by the
15




174


JACK  TIER;


near passage of a large shot was audible also. He called
out to Ben to " bear a hand, as the ship seems in 'arnest."
But the head of the boatswain being under water at the time,
the admonition was thrown away. The fellow soon came
up, however, puffing like a porpoise that has risen to the surface to blow.
" Hand it over to me at once," said Spike, stretching out
his unoccupied hand to receive the prize; " we have little
time to lose."
"That's sooner said than done, sir," answered the boatswain; "a box has driven down upon the bag, and there's
a tight jam. I got hold of the neck of the bag, and pulled
like a horse, but it wouldn't come no how."
"Show me the place, and let me have a drag at it.
There goes another of his bloody guns!"
Down went Spike, and the length of time he was under
water, proved how much he was in earnest. Up he came at
length, and with no better luck than his companion. He
had got hold of the bag, satisfied himself by feeling its outside that it contained the doubloons, and hauled with all his
strength, but it would not come. The boatswain now propostd to take a jamming hitch with a rope around the neck
of the bag, which was long enough to admit of such a fastening, and then to apply their united force. Spike assented,
and the boatswain rummaged about for a piece of small rope
to suit his purpose. At this moment Mulford appeared at
the companion-way to announce the movements on the part
of the sloop-of-war. He had been purposely tardy, in order
to give the ship as much time as possible; but he saw by the
looks of the men that a longer delay might excite suspicion.
"Below there!" called out the mate.
"What's wanting, sir?-what's wanting, sir?" answered
Spike; " let's know at once."
" Have you heard the guns, Captain Spike?"
"Ay, ay, every grumbler of them. They've done no
mischief, I trust, Mr. Mulford?"
"None as yet, sir; though the last shot, and it was a heavy
fellow, passed just above the schooner's deck. I 've the
topsail sheeted hdme and hoisted, and it's that which has set
them at work. If I clewed up again I dare say they'd not
fire another gun."




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


175


" Cle; up nothing, sir, but see all clear for casting off and
making sail through the South Pass. What do you say,
Ben, are you ready for a drag?". All ready, sir," answered the boatswain, once more
coming up to breathe. "Now for it, sir; a steady pull, and
a pull all together."
They did pull, but:he hitch slipped, and both went down
beneath the water. In a moment they were up again, puffing
a little and swearing a great deal. Just then another gun,
and a clatter above their heads, brought them to a stand.
"What means that, Mr. Mulford?" demanded Spike, a
good deal startled.
It means that the sloop-of-war has shot away the head of
this schooner's foremast, sir, and that the shot has chipp'd a
small piece out of the heel of our maintop-mast-that's all."
Though excessively provoked at the mate's cool manner
of replying, Spike saw that he might lose all by being too
tenacious about securing the remainder of the doubloons.
Pronouncing in very energetic terms on Uncle Sam, and all
his cruisers, an anathema that we do not care to repeat, he
gave a surly order to Ben to "knock-off," and abandoned
his late design. In a minute he was on deck and dressed.
"Cast off, lads," cried the captain, as soon as on the deck
of his own brig again, "and four of you man that boat. We
have got half of your treasure, Sefior Wan, but have been
driven from the rest of it, as you see. There is the bag;
when at leisure we'll divide it, and give the people their
share. Mr. Mulford, keep the brig in motion, hauling up
toward the South Pass, while I go ashore for the ladies. I '11
meet you just in the throat of the passage."
This said, Spike tumbled into his boat, and was pulled
ashore. As for Mulford, though he cast many an anxious
glance toward the islet, he obeyed his orders, keeping the
brig standing off and on, under easy canvas, but working
her up toward the indicated passage.
Spike was met by Jack Tier on the beach of the little
island.
" Muster the women at once," ordered the captain, "we
have no time to lose, for that fellow will soon be firing broadaides, and his shot now range half a mile beyond us."




176


JACK TIER;


"You'll no more move the widow and her mani, than
you 'l move the island," answered Jack, laconically.
"Why should I not move them? Do they wish to stay
here and starve?"
" It's little that they think of that. The sloop-of-war no
sooner begun to fire than down went Mrs. Budd on the can.
vas floor of the tent, and set up just such a screaming as
you may remember she tried her hand at the night the revenue craft fired into us. Biddy lay down alongside of her
mistress, and at every gun, they just scream as loud as they
can, as if they fancied they might frighten off Uncle Sam's
men from their duty."
" Duty!-You little scamp, do you call tormenting honest
traders in this fashion the duty of any man?"
"Well, captain, I'm no ways partic'lar about a word or
two. Their 'ways,' if you like that better than duty, sir."
" Where's Rose? Is she down too, screaming and squalling?"
"No, Captain Spike, no. Miss Rose is endeavouring, like
a handsome young Christian lady as she is, to pacify and
mollify her aunt and Biddy; and right down sensible talk
does she give'them."
"Then she at least can go aboard the brig," exclaimed
Spike, with a sudden animation, and an expression of countenance that Jack did not at all like.
"I ray-y-ther think she'll wish to hold on to the old
lady," observed the steward's-mate, a little emphatically.
"You be d —d," cried Spike, fiercely; " when your opinion is wanted, I '11 ask for it. If I find you've be en setting
that young woman's mind ag'in me, I '1l toss you overboard,
as I would the offals of a shark."
"Young women's minds, when they are only nineteen,
get set ag'in boys of fifty-six without much assistance."
"Fifty-six yourself."
"I m fifty-three-that I '11 own without making faces at
it," returned Jack, meekly; "and, Stephen Spike, you logged fifty-six your last birthday, or a false entry was made."
This conversation did not take place in the presence of
the boat's crew, but as the two walked together toward the
tent. They were now in the verandah, as we have called
the shaded opening in front, and actually within sound of




GC, THE FLORIDA REEF.


177


the sweet voice of Rose, as she exhorted her aunt, in tones
a little louder than usual for her to use, to manifest more
fortitude. Under such circumstances Spike did not deem it
expedient to utter that which was uppermost in his mind, but,
turning short upon Tier, he directed a tremendous blow di.
rectly between his eyes. Jack saw the danger and dodged,
falling backward to avoid a concussion which he knew would
otherwise be fearful, coming as it would from one of the best
forecastle boxers of his time. The full force of the blow was
avoided, though Jack got enough of it to knock him down,
and to give him a pair of black eyes. Spike did not stop to
pick the assistant steward up, for another gun was fired at
that very instant, and Mrs. Budd and Biddy renewed their
screams. Instead of pausing to kick the prostrate Tier, at
had just before been his intention, the captain entered the
tent.
A scene that was sufficiently absurd met the view of Spike,
when he found himself in the presence of the females. The
widow had thrown herself on the ground, and was grasping
the cloth of the sail on which the tent had been erected with
both her hands, and was screaming at the top of her voice.
Biddy's imitation was not exactly literal, for she had taken
a comfortable seat at the side of her mistress, but in the way
of cries, she rather outdid her principal.
"We must be off," cried Spike, somewhat unceremoni
ously. "The man-of-war is blazing away, as if she was a
firin' minute-guns over our destruction, and I can wait no
longer."
"I'11 not stir," answered the widow-" I can't stir-I shall
be shot if I go out. No, no, no-I'11 not stir an inch."
" We'll be kilt!-we'll be kilt!" echoed Biddy, "and a
wicket murther 't will be in that same man, war or no war."
The captain perceived the uselessness of remonstrance at
such a moment, and perhaps he was secretly rejoiced thereat;
but it is certain that he whipped Rose up under his arm,
and walked away with her, as if she had been a child of two
or three years of age. Rose did not scream, but she strug.
gled and protested vehemently. It was in vain. Already
the captain had carried her half the distance between the
tent and the boat, in the last of which, a minute more would
have deposited his victim, when a severe blow on the back




178


JACK TIER;


of his head caused Spike to stumble, and he permitted Rose
to escape from his grasp, in the effort to save himself from
a fall. Turning fiercely toward his assailant, whom he suspected to be one of his boat's crew, he saw Tier standing
within a few yards, levelling a pistol at him.
"Advance a step, and you 're a dead man, villain!"
screamed Jack, his voice almost cracked with rage, and the
efiort he made to menace.
Spike muttered an oath too revolting for our pages; but
it was such a curse as none but an old salt could give vent
to, and that in the bitterness of his fiercest wrath. At that
critical moment, while Rose was swelling with indignation
and wounded maiden pride, almost within reach of his arms,
looking more lovely than ever, as the flush of anger deepened the colour in her cheeks, a fresh and deep report from
one of the guns of the sloop-of-war drew all eyes in her direction. The belching of that gun seemed to be of double
the power of those which had preceded it, and jets of water,
that were twenty feet in height, marked the course of the
formidable missile that was projected from the piece. The
ship had, indeed, discharged one of those monster-cannons
that bear the name of a distinguished French engineer, but
which should more properly be called by the name of the
ingenious officer who is at the head of our own ordnance,
as they came originally from his inventive faculties, though
somewhat improved by their European adopter. Spike suspected the truth, for he had heard of these " Pazans," as he
called them, and he watched the booming, leaping progress
of the eight-inch shell that this gun threw, with the apprehension that unknown danger is apt to excite. As jet suc.
ceeded jet, each rising nearer and nearer to his brig, the
interval of time between them seeming fearfully to diminish,
he muttered oath upon oath. The last leap that the shell
made on the water was at about a quarter of a mile's distance
of the islet on which his people had deposited at least a hun.
dred and fifty barrels of his spurious flour: thence it flew,
as it might be without an effort, with a grand and stately
bound into the very centre of the barrels, exploding at the
moment it struck. All saw the scattering of flour, which
was instantly succeeded by the heavy though slightly straggling explosion of all the powder on the island. A hundred


V




Ot, THE FLORIDA REEF.


179


kegs were lighted, as it might be, in a common flash, and a
cloud of white smoke poured out and concealed the whole
islet, and all near it.
Rose stood confounded, nor was Jack Tier in a much
better state of mind, though he still kept the pistol levelled,
and menaced Spike. But the last was no longer dangerous
to any there. He recollected that piles of the barrels en.
cumbered the decks of his vessel, and he rushed to the boat,
nearly frantic with has.te, ordering the men to pull for their
lives. In less than five minutes he was alongside, and on
the deck of the Swash-his first order being to —" Tumble
every barrel of this bloody powder into the sea, men. Over
with it, Mr. Mulford, clear away the midship ports, and
launch as much as you can through them."
Remonstrance on the part of Sefor Montefalderon would
have been useless, had he been disposed to make it; but,
sooth to say, he was as ready to get rid of the powder as
any there, after the specimen he had just witnessed of the
power of a Paixhan gun.
Thus it is ever with men. Had two or three of those
shells been first thrown without effect, as might very well
have happened under the circumstances, none there would
have cared for the risk they were running; but the chance
explosion which had occurred, presented so vivid a picture
of the danger, dormant and remote as it really was, as to
throw the entire crew of the Swash into a frenzy of exertion.
Nor was the vessel at all free from danger. On the contrary, she ran very serious risk of being destroyed, and in
some degree, in the very manner apprehended. Perceiving
that Spike was luffing up through one of the passages nearest
the reef, which would carry him clear of the group, a long
distance to windward of the point where he could only effect
the same object, the commander of the sloop-of-war opened
his fire in good earnest, hoping to shoot away something
material on board the Swash, before she could get beyond
the reach of his shot. The courses steered by the two vessels,
just at that moment, favoured such an attempt, though they
made it necessarily very short-lived. While the Swash was
near the wind, the sloop-of-war was obliged to run off to
avoid islets ahead of her, a circumstance which, while it
brought the brig square with the ship's broadside, compelled




180


JACK   rlfiR;


the latter to steer on a diverging line to the course of her
chase. It was in consequence of these facts, that the sloop.
of-war now opened in earnest, and was soon canopied in the
smoke of her own fire.
Great and important changes, as has been already men.
tioned, have been made in the armaments of all the smaller
cruisers within the last few years. Half a generation since,
a ship of the rate-we do not say of the size-of the vessel
which was in chase of Spike and his craft, would not have
had it in her power to molest an enemy at the distance these
two vessels were now apart. But recent improvements have
made ships of this nominal force formidable at nearly a
league's distance; more especially by means of their Paixhans and their shells.
For some little time the range carried the shot directly
over the islet of the tent; Jack Tier and Rose, both of whom
were watching all that passed with intense interest, standing
in the open air the whole time, seemingly with no concern
for themselves, so absorbed was each, notwithstanding all
that had passed, in the safety of the brig. As for Rose, she
thought only of Harry Mulford, and of the danger he was
in by those fearful explosions of the shells. Her quick intellect comprehended the peculiar nature of the risk that was
incurred by having the flour-barrels on deck, and she could
not but see the manner in which Spike and his men were
tumbling them into the water, as the quickest manner of
getting rid of them. After what had just passed between
Jack Tier and his commander, it might not be so easy to
account for his manifest, nay, intense interest in the escape
of the Swash. This was apparent by his troubled countenance, by his exclamations, and occasionally by his openly
expressed wishes for her safety. Perhaps it was no more
than the interest the seaman is so apt to feel in the craft in
which he has so long sailed, and which to him has been a
home, and of which Mulford exhibited so much, in his strug
gles between feeling and conscience-between a true and a
false duty.
As for Spike and his people, we have already mentioned
Iheir efforts to get rid of the powder. Shell after shell ex.
ploded, though none very near the brig, the ship working
her guns as if in action. At length the officers of the sloop.




9


OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.                181
of-war detected a source of error in their aim, that is of very
common occurrence in sea-gunnery. Their shot had been
thrown to ricochet, quartering a low, but very regular succession of little waves. Each shot striking the water at an
acute angle to its agitated surface, was deflected from a
straight line, and described a regular curve toward the end
of its career; or, it might be truer to say, an irregular
curvature, for the deflection increased as the momentum of
the missile diminished.
No sooner did the commanding officer of the sloop-of-war
discover this fact, and it was easy to trace the course of the
shots by the jets of water they cast into the air, and to see
as well as to hear the explosions of the shells, than he ordered the guns pointed more to windward, as a means of
counteracting the departure from the straight lines. This
expedient succeeded in part, the solid shot falling much nearer
to the brig the moment the practice was resorted to. No
shell was fired for some little time after the new order was
issued, and Spike and his people began to hope these terrific
missiles had ceased their annoyance. The men cheered,
finding their voices for the first time since the danger had
seemed so imminent, and Spike was heard animating them
to their duty. As for Mulford, he was on the coach-house,
deck, working the brig, the captain having confided to him
that delicate duty, the highest proof he could furnish of confidence in his seamanship. The handsome young mate had
just made a half-board, in the neatest manner, shoving the
brig by its means through a most difficult part of the passage, and had got her handsomely filled again on the same
tack, looking right out into open water, by a channel through
which she could now stand on a very easy bowline.
Everything seemed propitious, and the sloop-of-war's solid
shot began to drop into the water, a huhdred yards short
of the brig. In this state of things one of the Paixhans
belched forth its angry flame and sullen roar again. There
was no mistaking the gun. Then came its mass of iron, a
globe that would have weighed just sixty-eight pounds, had
not sufficient metal been left out of its interior to leave a
"avity to contain a single pound of powder. Its course, as
tLsual, was to be marked by its path along the sea, as it
bounded, half a mile at a time, from wave to wave. Spike
16




182


JACK TIER;


saw by its undeviating course that this shell was booming
terrifically toward his brig, and a cry to " look out for the
shell," caused the work to be suspended. That shell struck
the water for the last time, within two hundred yards of the
brig, rose dark and menacing in its furious leap, but exploded at the next instant. The fragments of the iron were
scattered on each side, and ahead. Of the last, three or
four fell into the water so near the vessel as to cast their
spray on her decks.
" Overboard with the rest of the powder!" shouted Spike.
"Keep the brig off a little, Mr. Mulford-keep her off, sir;
you luff too much, sir."
"Ay, ay, sir," answered the mate. " Keep her off, it is."
"There comes the other shell!" cried Ben, but the men
did not quit their toil to gaze this time. Each seaman
worked as if life and death depended on his single exertions.
Spike alone watched the course of the missile. On it came,
booming and hurtling through the air, tossing high the jets,
at each leap it made from the surface, striking the water
for its last bound, seemingly in a line with the shell that had
just preceded it. From that spot it made its final leap.
Every hand in the brig was stayed and every eye was raised
as the rushing tempest was heard advancing. The mass
went muttering directly between the masts of the Swash.
It had scarcely seemed to go by when the fierce flash of fire
and the sharp explosion followed. Happily for those in the
brig, the projectile force given by the gun carried the fragments from them, as in the other instance it had brought
them forward; else would few have escaped mutilation, or
death, among their crew.
The flashing of fire so near the barrels of powder that
still remained on their deck, caused the frantic efforts to be
renewed, and barrel after barrel was tumbled overboard,
amid the shouts that were now raised to animate the people
to their duty.
"Luff, Mr. Mulford-luff you may, sir," -ried Spike.
No answer was given.. D've hear there, Mr. Mulford?-it is luff you may,
sir."
"Mr. Mulford is not aft, sir," called out the man at the
helm-" but luff it is, sir."




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


183


"Mr. Mulford not aft! Where's the mate, man? Tcil
him he is wanted."
No Mulford was to be found.! A call passed round
the decks, was sent below, and echoed through the entire
brig, but no sign or tidings could be had of the handsome
mate. At that exciting moment the sloop-of-war seemed te
cease her firing, and appeared to be securing her guns
CHAPTER VII.
Thou art the same, eternal sea!
The earth has many shapes and forms,
Of hill and valley, flower and tree;
Fields that the fervid noontide warms,
Or winter's rugged grasp deforms,
Or bright with autumn's golden store;
Thou coverest up thy face with storms,
Or smilest serene, —but still thy roar
And dashing foam go up to vex the sea-beat shore.
LuVT.
WE shall now advance the time eight-and-forty hour,
The baffling winds and calms that succeeded the tornado
had gone, and the trades blew in thetr stead. Both vessels
had disappeared, the brig leading, doubling the western
extremity of the reef, and going off before both wind and
current, with flowing sheets, fully three hours before the
sloop-of-war could beat up against the latter, to a point that
enabled her to do the same thing. By that time, the Swash
was five-and-twenty miles to the eastward, and consequently
but just discernible in her loftiest sails, from the ship's royal
yards.  Still, the latter continued the chase; and that even.
ing both vessels were beating down along the southern mar
gin of the Florida Reef, against the trades, but favoured by
a three or four knot current, the brig out of sight to windward. Our narrative leads us to lose sight of both these
vessels, for a time, in order to return to the islets of the
Gulf. Eight-and-forty hours had made some changes in




184


JACK TIER;


and around the haven of the Dry Tortugas. The tent still
stood, and a small fire that was boiling its pot and its kettle,
at no great distance from it, proved that the tent was still
inhabited. The schooner also rode at her anchors, very
much as she had been abandoned by Spike. The bag of
doubloons, however, had been found, and there it lay, tied
but totally unguarded, in the canvas verandah of Rose
Budd's habitation. Jack Tier passed and repassed it with
apparent indifference, as he went to and fro, between his
pantry and kitchen, busy as a bee in preparing his noontide
meal for the day. This man seemed to have the islet all to.
himself, however, no one else being visible on any part of
it. He sang his song, in a cracked, contre alto voice, and
appeared to be happy- in his solitude.  Occasionally he
talked to himself aloud, most probably because he had no
one else to speak to. We shall record one of his recitatives,
which came in between the strains of a very inharmonious
air, the words of which treated of the seas, while the
steward's assistant was stirring an exceedingly savoury
mess that he had concocted of the ingredients to be found
in the united larders of the Swash and the Mexican schooner.
" Stephen Spike is a capital willian!"exclaimed.ack, smell.
ing at a ladle filled with his soup-" a capital willian, I call
him. To think, at his time of life, of such a handsome
and pleasant young thing as this Rose Budd; and then to
try to get her by underhand means, and by making a fool.
of her silly old aunt. It's wonderful what fools some old
aunts be! Quite wonderful! If I was as great a simpleton
as this Mrs. Biidd, I'd never cross my threshhold. Yes,
Stephen Spike is a prodigious willian, as his best friend
must own! Well, I gave him a thump on the head that
he'll not forget this v'y'ge. To think of carryin' off that
pretty Rose Budd in his very arms, in so indecent a manner!
Yet, the man has his good p'ints, if a body could only for.
get his bad ones.  He's a first-rate seaman.  How he
worked the brig till he doubled the reef, a'ter she got into
open water; and how he made her walk off afore the wind,
with stun'sails alow and aloft, as soon as ever he could
make 'em draw! My life for it, he 'll tire the legs of Uncle
Sam's man, afore he can fetch up with him. For running
away, when hard chased, Stephen Spike hasn't his equal




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


185


on 'arth. But, he's a great willian-a prodigious willian'
I cannot say I actually wish him hanged; but I would
rather have him hanged than see him get pretty Rose in his
power. What has he to do with girls of nineteen? If the
rascal is one year old, he's fifty-six. I hope the sloop-of.
war will find her match, and I think she will. The Molly's
a great traveller, and not to be outdone easily. 'T would
be a thousand pities so lovely a craft should be cut off in
the flower of her days, as it might be, and I do hope she'll
lead that bloody sloop on some sunken rock.
"Well, there's the other bag of doubloons. It seems
Stephen could not get it. That's odd, too, for he's great
at grabbin' gold. The man bears his age well; but he's a
willian! I wonder whether he or Mulford made that halfboard in the narrow channel. It was well done, and Ste.
phen is a perfect sailor; but he says Mulford is the same.
Nice young man, that Mulford; just fit for Rose, and Rose
for him. Pity to part them. Can find no great fault with
him, except that he has too much conscience. There's
such a thing as having too much, as well as too little conscience. Mulford has too much, and Spike has too little.
For him to think of carryin' off a gal of nineteen! I say
he's fifty-six, if he's a day. How fond he used to be of
this very soup! If I 've seen him eat a quart of it, I 've
seen him eat a puncheon full of it, in my time. What an
appetite the man has when he's had a hard day's duty on 't!
There 's a great deal to admire, and a great deal to like in
Stephen Spike, but he's a reg'lar willian. I dare say he
fancies himself a smart, jaunty youth ag'in, as I can remember him; a lad of twenty, which was about his years
when I first saw him, by the sign that I was very little
turned of fifteen myself. Spike was comely then, though
I acknowledge he's a willian. I can see him now, with his
deep blue roundabout, his bell-mouthed trowsers, both of
fine cloth-too fine for such a willian-but fine it was, and
much did it become him."
Here Jack made a long pause, during which, though he
may have thought much, he said nothing. Nevertheless,
he wasn't idle the while. On the contrary, he passed no
ess than three several times from the fire to the tent, and
returned. Each time in going and coming, he looked in16 *




186                JACK TIER;
tently at the bag of doubloons, though he did not stop at it
or touch it. Solme associations connected with Spike's fruit.
less attempts to obtain it must have formed its principal in.
terest with this singular being, as he muttered his captain's
name each time in passing, though he said no more audibly.
The concerns of the dinner carried him back and forth; and
in his last visit to the tent, he began to set a small table —
one that had been brought for the convenience of Mrs. Budd
and her niece, from the brig, and which of course still remained on the islet. It was while thus occupied, that Jack
Tier recommenced his soliloquy.
" I hope that money may do some worthy fellow good
yet. It's Mexican gold, and that's inemy's gold, and might
be condemned by law, I do suppose. Stephen had a hankerin' a'ter it, but he did not get it. It come easy enough to
the next man that tried. That Spike 's a willian, and the
gold was too good for him. He has no conscience at all to
think of a gal of nineteen! And one fit for his betters, in
the bargain. The time has been when Stephen Spike might
have pretended to Rose Budd's equal. That much I '11 ever
maintain, but that time's gone; and, what is more, it will
never come again. I should like Mulford better if he had a
little less conscience. Conscience may do for Uncle Sam's
ships, but it is sometimes in the way aboard a trading craft.
What can a fellow do with a conscience when dollars is to
be smuggled off, or tobacco smuggled ashore? I do suppose I've about as much conscience as it is useful to have,
and I've got ashore in my day twenty thousand dollars'
worth of stuff, of one sort or another, if I 've got ashore the
valie often dollars. But Spike carries on business on too
large a scale, and many's the time I've told him so. I
could have forgiven him anything but this attempt on Rose
Budd; and he's altogether too old for that, to say nothing
of other people's rights. He's an up-and-down willian, and
an9dy can make no more, nor any less of him. That soup
must be near done, and I '11 hoist the signal for grub."
This signal was a blue-peter of which one had been
brought ashore to signal the brig; and with which Jack now
signalled the sthooner. If the reader will turn uis eyes to-.vard the last named vessel, he will find the guests whom
Tier expected to surround his table. Rose, her aunt, and




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


187


Biddy were all seated, under an awning made by a sail, on
the deck of the schooner, which now floated so buoyantly
as to show that she had materially lightened since last seen.
Such indeed was the fact, and he who had been the instrument of producing this change, appeared on deck in the per.
son of Mulford, as soon as he was told that the blue-peter of
Jack Tier was flying.
The boat of the light-house, that in which Spike had
anded in quest of Rose, was lying alongside of the schooner,
and sufficiently explained the manner in which the mate had
left the brig. This boat, in fact, had been fastened astern,
in the hurry of getting from under the sloop-of-war's fire;
and Mulford had taken the opportunity of the consternation
and frantic efforts produced by the explosion of the last shell
thrown, to descend from his station on the coach-house into
this boat, to cut the painter, and to let the Swash glide away
from him. This the vessel had done with great rapidity,
leaving him unseen under the cover of her stern. As soon
as in the boat, the mate had seized an oar, and sculled to an
islet that was within fifty yards, concealing the boat behind
a low hummock that formed a tiny bay. All this was done
so rapidly, that united to the confusion on board the Swash,
no one discovered the mate or the boat. Had he been seen.
". it is very little probable that Spike would have'
'r time, in the attempt to recover either.., and it was the general opinion
jite an hour. that hp




188


JACK  TIER;


trusts as to any other man. But Spike thought differently
of the cause of Mulford's disappearance, from his crew. He
ascribed it altogether to love for Rose, when, in truth, it
ought in justice to have been quite as much imputed to a
determination to sail no longer with a man who was clearly
guilty of treason. Of smuggling, Mulford had long suspect.
ed Spike, though he had no direct proof of the fact; but now
he could not doubt that he was not only engaged in supply.
ing the enemy with the munitions of war, but was actually
bargaining to sell his brig for a hostile cruiser, and possibly to transfer himselfand crew along with her.
It is scarcely necessary to speak of the welcome Mulford
received when he reached the islet of the tent. He and
Rose had a long private conference, the result of which was
to let the handsome mate into the secret of his pretty,ompanion's true feelings toward himself. She had received
him with tears, and a betrayal of emotion that gave him
every encouragement, and now she did not deny her prefer.
ence. In that interview the young people plighted to each
other their troth. Rose never doubted of obtaining her
aunt's consent in due time, all her prejudices being in favour
of the sea and sailors; and should she not, she would soon
be her own mistress, and at liberty to dispose of herself and
-r pretty lite fortune as she might choose. But a  'r
was, in all questions of real moment, Mrlikely to throw any real obstac
shes; the true grot
all to be refer-'
C~?'"'




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


189


parties should reappear at the scene of their recent interview
as the other.
Bearing all these things in mind, Mulford had lost no
time in completing his own arrangements. He felt that he
had-some atonemient to make to the country, for the part
he had seemingly taken in the late events, and it occurred
to him, could he put the schooner in a state to be moved,
then place her in the hands of the authorities, his own peace
would be made, and his character cleared. Rose no sooner
understood his plans and motives, than she entered into
them with all the ardour and self-devotion of her sex; for
the single hour of confidential and frank communication
which had just passed, doubled the interest she felt in Mulford and in all that belonged to him. Jack Tier was useful
on board a vessel, though his want of stature and force ren.
dered him less so than was common with sea-faring men.
His proper sphere certainly had been the cabins, where his
usefulness was beyond all cavil; but he was now very serviceable to Mulford on the deck of the schooner. The first
two days, Mrs. Budd had been left on the islet, to look to
the concerns-of the kitchen, while Mulford, accompanied by
Rose, Biddy and Jack Tier, had gone off to the schooner,
and set her pumps in motion again. It was little that Rose
could do, or indeed attempt to do, at this toil, but the pumps
being small and easily worked, Biddy and Jack were of
great service. By the end of the second day the pumps
sucked; the cargo that remained in the schooner, as well
as the form of her bottom, contributing greatly to lessen the
quantity of the water that was to be got out of her.
Then it was that the doubloons fell into Mulford's hands,
along with everything else that remained below decks. It
was perhaps fortunate that the vessel was thoroughly puri.
fled by her immersion, and the articles that were brought
on deck to be dried were found in a condition to give no
great offence to those who removed them. By leaving the
hatches off, and the cabin doors open, the warm winds of
she trades effectually dried the interior of the schooner in
he course of a single night; and when Mulford repaired oil
ooard of her, on the morning of the third day, he found her
in a condition to be fitted for his purposes. On this occasion Mrs. Budd had expressed a wish to go off to look at




190


JACXI, TIER;


her future accommodations, and Jack was left on the islet
to cook the dinner, which will explain the actual state of
things as described in the opening of this chapter.
As those who toil usually have a relish for their food, the
appearance of the blue-peter was far from being unwelcome
to those on board of the schooner. They got into the boat,
and were sculled ashore by Mulford, who, seaman-like, used
only one hand in performing this service. In a very few
minutes they were all seated at the little table, which was
brought out into the tent-verandah for the enjoyment of the
breeze.
"So far, well," said Mulford, after his appetite was
mainly appeased; Rose picking crumbs, and affecting to
eat, merely to have the air of keeping him company; one
of the minor proofs of the little attentions that spring from
the affections. "So far, well. The sails are bent, and
though they might be newer and better, they can be made
to answer. It was fortunate to find anything like a second
suit on board a Mexican craft of that size at all. As it is,
we have foresail, mainsail, and jib, and with that canvas I
think we might beat the schooner down to Key West in the
course of a day and a night. If I dared to venture outside
of the reef, it might be done sooner even, for they tell me
there is a four-knot current sometimes in that track; but I
do not like to venture outside, so short-handed. The cur.
rent inside must serve our turn, and we shall get smooth
water by keeping under the lee of the rocks. I only hope
we shall not get into an eddy as we go further from the end
af the reef, and into the bight of the coast."
" Is there danger of that?" demanded Rose, whose quick
intellect had taught her many of these things, since her
acquaintance with vessels.
"There may be, looking at the formation of the reef and
islands, though I know nothing of the fact by actual obser
vation. This is my first visit in this quarter."
"Eddies are serious matters," put in Mrs. Budd, " and
my poor husband could not abide them. Tides are good
things; but eddies are very disagreeable."
"Well, aunty, I should think eddies might sometimes be
as welcome as tides. It must depend, however, very much
Dn the way one wishes to go."




OR, TIE FLORIDA REEF.


191


"Rose, you surprise me! All that you have read, and
all that you have heard, must have shown you the difference. Do they not say 'a man is floating with the tide,'
when things are prosperous with him-and don't ships drop
down with the tide, and beat the wind with the tide? And
don't vessels sometimes ' tide it up to town,' as it is called,
and is n't it thought an advantage to have the tide with you?"
" All very true, aunty; but I do not see how that makes
eddies any the worse."
" Because eddies are the opposite of tides, child. When
the tide goes one way, the eddy goes another-is n't it so,
Harry Mulford? You never heard of one's floating in an
eddy."
"That's what we mean by an eddy, Mrs. Budd," answered the handsome mate, delighted to hear Rose's aunt
call him by an appellation so kind and familiar,-a thing
she had never done previously to the intercourse which had
been the consequence of their present situation. " Though
I agree with Rose in thinking an eddy may be a good or a
bad thing, and very much like a tide, as one wishes to
steer."
"You amaze me, both of you! Tides are always spoken
of favourably, but eddies never. If a ship gets ashore, the
tide can float her off; that I've heard a thousand times.
Then, what do the newspapers say of President --, and
Governor -, and Congressman --?* Why, that
they all ' float in the tide of public opinion,' and that must
mean something particularly good, as they are always in
office.' No, no, Harry; I '11 acknowledge that you do know
something about ships; a good deal, considering how young
you are; but you have something to learn about eddies.
Never trust one as long as you live."
Mulford was silent, and Rose took the occasion to change
the discourse.
"I hope we shall soon be able to quit this place," she
said; "for I confess to some dread of Captain Spike's return."
" Captain Stephen Spike has greatly disappointed me,"


* We suppress the names used by Mrs. Budd, out of delicacy to
the individuals mentioned, who are still living.




192


JACK TIER;


observed the aunt, gravely. "I do not know that I was
ever before deceived in judging a person. I could have, sworn he was an honest, frank, well-meaning sailor-a
character, of all others, that I love; but it has turned out
otherwise."
" He's a willian!" mutttered Jack Tier.
Mulford smiled; at which speech we must leave to con.
jecture; but he answered Rose, as he ever did, promptly
and with pleasure.
" The schooner is ready, and this must be our last meal
ashore," he said. " Our outfit will be no great matter; but
if it will carry us down to Key West, I shall ask no more
of it. As for the return of the Swash, I look upon it as
certain. She could easily get clear of the sloop-of-war,
with the start she had, and Spike is a man that never yet
abandoned a doubloon, when he knew where one was to be
found."
" Stephen Spike is like all his fellow-creatures," put in
Jack Tier, pointedly. "He has his faults, and he has his
virtues."
"Virtue is a term I should never think of applying to
such a man," returned Mulford, a little surprised at the fellow's earnestness. "The word is a big one, and belongs
to quite another class of persons." Jack muttered a few
syllables that were unintelligible, when again the conversa.
tion changed.
Rose now inquired of Mulford as to their prospects of
getting to Key West. He told her that the distance was
about sixty miles; their route lying along the north or inner
side of the Florida Reef. The whole distance was to be
made against the trade-wind, which was then blowing about
an eight-knot breeze, though, bating eddies, they might expect to be favoured with the current, which was less strong
inside than outside of the reef. As for handling the schooner,
Mulford saw no great difficulty in that. She was not large,
and was both lightly sparred and lightly rigged. All her
top-hamper had been taken down by Spike, and nothing
remained but the plainest and most readily-managed gear.
A fore-and-aft vessel, sailing close by the wind, is not difficult to steer; will almost steer herself, indeed, in smooth
water. Jack Tier could take his trick at the helm, in any




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


193


weatner. even in running before the wind, the time when it
is most difficult to guide a craft, and Rose might be made to
understand the use of the tiller, and taught to govern the
motions of a vessel so small and so simply rigged, when on
a wind and in smooth water. On the score of managing
the schooner, therefore, Mulford thought there would be
little cause for apprehension. Should the weather continue
settled, he had little doubt of safely landing the whole party
at Key West, in the course of the next four-and-twenty
hours. Short sail he should be obliged to carry, as well on
account of the greater facility of managing it, as on account
of the circumstance that the schooner was now in light ballast trim, and would not bear much canvas. He thought
that the sooner they left the islets the better, as it could not
be long ere the brig would be seen hovering around the
spot. All these matters were discussed as the party still sat
at table; and when they left it, which was a few minutes
later, it was to remove the effects they intended to carry
away to the boat. This was soon done, both Jack Tier and
Biddy proving very serviceable, while Rose tripped backward and forward, with a step elastic as a gazelle's, carrying light burdens. In half an hour the boat was ready.
"Here lies the bag of doubloons still," said Mulford, smiling.
"Is it to be left, or shall we give it up to the admiralty court
at Key West, and put in a ciaim forsalvage?"
"Better leave it for Spike," said Jack unexpectedly.
"Should he come back, and find the doubloons, he may be
satisfied, and not look for the schooner. On the other hand,
when the vessel is missing, he will think that the money is
in her. Better leave it for old Stephen."
"I do not agree with you, Tier," said Rose, though she
looked as amicably at the steward's assistant, as she thus
opposed his opinion, as if anxious to persuade rather than
coerce. "I do not quite agree with you. This money belongs to the Spanish merchant; and, as we take away with
us his vessel, to give it up to the authorities at Key West, I
do not think we have a right to put his gold on the shore
and abandon it."
This disposed of the question. Mulford took the bag, and
carried it to the boat, without waiting to ascertain if Jack
had any objection; while the whole party followed. In a
17




194


JACK TIER;


few minutes everybody and everything in the boat were
transferred to the deck of the schooner. As for the tent,
the old sails of which it was made, the furniture it contained,
and such articles of provisions as were not wanted, they
were left on the islet, without regret. The schooner had
several casks of fresh water, which were found in her hold,
and she had also a cask or two of salted meats, besides
several articles of food more delicate, that had been provided
by Seiior Montefalderon for his own use, and which had not
been damaged by the water. A keg of Boston crackers
were among these eatables, quite half of which were still in
a state to be eaten. They were Biddy's delight; and it was
seldom that she could be seen when not nibbling at one of
them. The bread of the crew was hopelessly damaged.
But Jack had made an ample provision of bread when sent
ashore, and there was still a hundred barrels of the flour in
the schooner's hold. One of these had been hoisted on deck
by Mulford, and opened. The injured flour was easily removed, leaving a considerable quantity fit for the uses of the
kitchen. As for the keg of gunpowder, it was incontinently
committed to the deep.
Thus provided for, Mulford decided that the time had ar.
rived when he ought to quit his anchorage. He had been
employed most of that morning in getting the schooner's
anchor. a work of great toil to him, though everybody had
assisted. He had succeeded, and the vessel now rode by a
kedge, that he could easily weigh by means of a deck tackle.
It remained now, therefore, to lift this kedge and to stand
out of the bay of the islets. No sooner was the boat secured
astern, and its freight disposed of, than the mate began to
make sail. In order to hoist the mainsail well up, he was
obliged to carry the halyards to the windlass. Thus aided,
he succeeded without much difficulty. He and Jack Tier
and Biddy got the jib hoisted by hand; and as for the foresail, that would almost set itself. Of course, it was not
(ouched until the kedge was aweigh. Mulford found little
difficulty in lifting the last, and he soon had the satisfaction
of finding his craft clear of the ground. As Jack Tier was
every way competent to take charge of the forecastle, Mul.
ford now sprang aft, and took his own station at the helm,
Rose acting as his pretty assistant on the quarter-deck.




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


195,There is little mystery in getting a fore-and-aft vessel
ander way. Her sails fill almost as a matter of dourse, and
motion follows as a necessary law. Thus did it prove with
the Mexican schooner, which turned out to be a fast-sailing
and an easily-worked craft. She was, indeed, an American
bottom, as it is termed, having been originally built for the
Chesapeake; and, though not absolutely what is understood
by a Baltimore clipper, so nearly of that mould and nature
as to possess some of the more essential qualities. As usu.
ally happens, however, when a foreigner gets hold of an
American schooner, the Mexicans had shortened her masts
and lessened her canvas. This circumstance was rather an
advantage to Mulford, who would probably have had more
to attend to than he wished under the original rig of the
craft.
Everybody, even to the fastidious Mrs. Budd, was delighted with the easy and swift movement of the schooner.
Mulford, now he had got her under Canvas, handled her
without any difficulty, letting her stand toward the channel
through which he intended to pass, with her sheets just taken
in, though compelled to keep a little off, in order to enter
between the islets. No difficulty occurred, however, and in
less than ten minutes the vessel was clear of the channels,
and in open water. The sheets were now flattened in, and
the schooner brought close by the wind. A trial of the vessel on this mode of sailing was no sooner made, than Mulford was induced to regret he had taken so many precautions
against any increasing power of the wind. To meet emergencies, and under the notion he should have his craft more
under command, the young man had reefed his mainsail,
and taken the bonnets off of the foresail and jib. As the
schooner stood up better than he had anticipated, the mate
felt as all seamen are so apt to feel, when they see that their
vessels might be made to perform more than is actually got
out of them.. As the breeze was fresh, however, he deter.
mined not to let out the reef; and the labour of lacing on
the bonnets again was too great to be thought of just at that
moment.
We all find relief on getting in motion, when pressed by
circumstances. Mulford had been in great apprehension
of the re-appearance of the Swash all that day; for it was




196


JACK TIER;


about the time when Spike would be apt to return, in the
event of his escaping from the sloop-of-war, and he dreaded
Rose's again falling into the hands of a man so desperate.
Nor is it imputing more than a very natural care to the.
young man, to say that he had some misgivings concerning
himself. Spike, by this time, must be convinced t;'at his
business in the Gulf was known; and one who had openly
thrown off his service, as his mate had done, would unquestionably be regarded aE a traitor to his interests, whatever
might be the relation in which he would stand to the laws
of the country. It was probable such an alleged offender
would not be allowed to appear before the tribunals of the
land, to justify himself and to accuse the truly guilty, if it
were in the power of the last to prevent it. Great, therefore, was the satisfaction of our handsome young mate when
he found himself again fairly in motion, with a craft undei
him, that glided ahead in a way to prove that she might
give even the Swaslt some trouble to catch her, in the event
of a trial of speed.
Everybody entered into the feelings of Mulford, as the
schooner passed gallantly out from between the islets, and
entered the open water. Fathom by fathom did her wake
rapidly increase, until it could no longer be traced back as
far as the sandy beaches that had just been left. In a quarter of an hour more, the vessel had drawn so far from the
land, that some of the smaller and lowest of the islets were
getting to be indistinct. At that instant everybody had
come aft, the females taking their seats on the trunk, which,
in this vessel as in the Swash herself, gave space and height
to the cabin.
"Well," exclaimed Mrs. Budd, who found the freshness
of the sea air invigorating, as well as their speed exciting,
"this is what I call maritime, Rosy, dear. This is what is
meant by the Maritime States, about which we read so
nuch, and which are commonly thought to be so important.
We are now in a Maritime State, and I feel perfectly happy
after all our dangers and adventures!"
"Yes, aunty, and I am delighted that you are happy,"
answered Rose, with frank affection. " We are now rid of
that infamous Spike, ant may hope never to see his face
more."




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


197


"Stephen Spike has his good p'ints as well as another,"
said Jack Tier, abruptly.
"I know that he is an old shipmate of yours, Tier, and
that,ou cannot forget how he once stood connected with
you, and am sorry I have said so much against him," an
swered Rose, expressing her concern even more by hei
looks and tones, than by her worda.
Jack was mollified by this, and he let his feeling be seen,
though he said no more than to mutter, " He's a willian!"
words that had frequently issued from his lips within the
last day or two.
" Stephen Spike is a capital seaman, and that is some.
thing in any man," observed the relict of Captain Budd.
" He learned his trade from one who was every way quali.
fied to teach him, and it's no wonder he should be expert.
Do you expect, Mr. Mulford, to beat the 'wind the whole
distance to Key West?"
It was not possible for any one to look more grave than
the mate did habitually, while the widow was floundering
through her sea-terms. Rose had taught him that respect
for her aunt was to be one of the conditions of her own
regard, though Rose had never opened her lips to him on
the subject.                         v
" Yes, ma'am," answered the mate, respectfully, " we are
in the trades, and shall have to turn to windward, every
inch of the way to Key West."
"Of what lock is this place the key, Rosy?" asked the
aunt, innocently enough. " I know that forts and towns
are sometimes called keys, but they always have locks of
some sort or other. Now, Gibraltar is the key of the Medi..
terranean, as your uncle has told me fifty times; and I
have been there, and can understand why it should be,but I do not know of what lock this West is the key."
" It is net that sort of key which is meant, aunty, at allbut quite a different thing. The key meant is an island."
"And why should any one be so silly as to call an island
a key?"
"The place where vessels unload is sometimes called a
key," answered Mulford; --   the French calling it a quai,
and the Dutch kaye. I suppose our English word is derived.rom these. Now, a low, sandy island, looking somewhat
17 *




198


JACK TIER;


like keys, or wharves, seamen have given them this name
Key West is merely a low island."
"Then there is no lock to it, or anything to be unfas.
toned," said the widow, in her most simple manner.
"It may turn out to be the key to the Gulf of Mexico
one of these days, ma'am. Uncle Sam is surveying thi
reef, and intends to do something here, I believe. When
Uncle Sam is really in earnest, he is capable of performing
great things."
Mrs. Budd was satisfied with this explanation, though she
told Biddy that evening, that " locks and keys go together,
and that the person who christened the island to which they
were going, must have been very weak in his upper story."
But these reflections on the intellects of her fellow-creatures
were by no means uncommon with the worthy relict; and
we cannot say that her remarks made any particular impression on her Irish maid.
In the mean time, the Mexican schooner behaved quite
to Mulford's satisfaction. He thought her a little tender in
the squalls, of which they had several that afternoon; but
he remarked to Rose, who expressed her uneasiness at the
manner in which the vessel lay over in one of them, that
"she comes down quite easy to her bearings, but it is hard
forcing her beyond them. The vessel needs more cargo to
ballast her, though, on the whole, I find her as stiff as one
could expect. I am now glad that I reefed, and reduced
the head sails, though I was sorry at having done so when
we first came out. At this rate of sailing, we ought to be
up with Key West by morning."
But that rate of sailing did not continue. Toward evening, the breeze lessened almost to a calm again, the late
tornado appearing to have quite deranged the oidinary stability of the trades. When the sun set, and it went down
into the broad waters of the Gulf a flood of flame, there was
barely a tw^-knot breeze, and Mulford had no longer any
anxiety on the subject of keeping his vessel on her legs.
His solicitude, now, was confined to the probability of falling
in with the Swash. As yet, nothing was visible, either in
the shape of land or in that of a sail. Between the islets
of the Dry Tortugas and the next nearest visible keys, there
is a space of open water, of some forty miles in width. The




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


199


reef extends across it, of course; but nowhere does the
rock protrude itself above the surface of the sea. The
depth of water on this reef varies essentially. In some
places, a.ship of size might pass on to it, if not across it;
while In others a man could wade for miles. There is one
deep and safe channel- safe to those who are acquainted
with it-through the centre of this open space, and which is
sometimes used by vessels that wish to pass from one side
to the other; but it is ever better for those whose business
does not call them in that direction, to give the rocks a good
berth, more especially in the night.
Mulford had gleaned many of the leading facts connected
with the channels, and the navigation of those waters, from
Spike and the older seamen of the brig, during the time
they had been lying at the Tortugas. Such questions and
answers.are common enough on board ships, and, as they
are usually put and given with intelligence, one of our
mate's general knowledge of his profession, was likely to
carry away much useful information. By conversations
of this nature, and by consulting the charts, which Spike
did not affect to conceal after the name of his port became
known, the young man, in fact, had so far made himself
master of the subject, as to have tolerably accurate notions
of the courses, distances, and general peculiarities of the
reef. When the sun went down, he supposed himself to be
about half-way across the space of open water, and some
five-and-twenty miles dead to windward of his port of departure. This was doing very well for the circumstances,
and Mulford believed himself and his companions clear of
Spike, when, as night drew its veil over the tranquil sea,
nothing was in sight.
A very judicious arrangement was made for the watches
on board the Mexican schooner, on this important night.
Mrs. Budd had a great fancy to keep a watch, for once in
her life, and, after the party had supped, and the subject
came up in the natural course of things, a dialogue like this
occurred:
" Harry must be fatigued," said Rose, kindly, " and must
want sleep. The wind is so light, and the weather appears.o be so settled, that I think it would be better for him to
turn in,' as he calls it;" - here Rose laughed so prettily




200


JAC  TIER;


that the handsome mate wished she would repeat the words,
— " better that he should 'turn in' now, and we can call
him, should there be need of his advice or assistance. I
dare say Jack Tier and I can take very good care of the
schooner until daylight."
Mrs. Budd thought it would be no more than proper for
one of her experience and years to rebuke this levity, as
well as to enlighten the ignorance her niece had betrayed.
"You should be cautious, my child, how you propose
anything to be done on a ship's board," observed the aunt.
"It requires great experience and a suitable knowledge of
rigging to give maritime advice. Now, as might have been
expected, considering your years, and the short time you
have been at sea, you have made several serious mistakes
in what you have proposed. In the.first place, there should
always be a mate on the deck, as I have heard your dear
departed uncle say, again and again; and how can there be
a mate on the deck if Mr. Mulford ' turns in,' as you pro.
pose, seeing that he's the only mate we have. Then you
should never laugh at any maritime expression, for each
and all are, as a body might say, solemnized by storms and
dangers. That Harry is fatigued I think is very probable;
and he must set our watches, as they call it, when he can
make his arrangements for the night, and take his rest as is
usual. Here is my watch to begin with; and I '11 engage
he does not find it two minutes out of the way, though yours,
Rosy dear, like 'most girl's time-pieces, is, I '11 venture to
say, dreadfully wrong. Where is your chronometer, Mr.
Mulford? let us see how this excellent watch of mine, which
was once my poor departed Mr. Budd's, will agree with that
piece of your's, which I have heard you say is excellent."
Here was a flight in science and nautical language that
poor Mulford could not have anticipated, even in the cap.
tain's relict! That Mrs. Budd should mistake "setting the
watch" for " setting our watches," was not so very violent
a blunder that one ought to be much astonished at it in her;
but that she should expect to find a chronometer that was
intended to keep the time of Greenwich, agreeing with a
watch that was set for the time of New York, betrayed a
degree of ignorance that the handsome mate was afraid
Rose would resent on him, when the mistake was made to




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


201


appear. As the widow held out her own watch for the
comparison, however, he could not refuse to produce his
own. By Mrs. Budd's watch it was past seven o'clock, while
by his own, or the Greenwich-set chronometer, it was a little
past twelve.
" ow very wrong your watch is, Mr. Mulford," cried
the good lady, " notwithstanding all you have said in its
ahvour. It's quite five hours too fast, I do declare; and
now, Rosy dear, you see the importance of setting watches
on a ship's board, as is done every evening, my departed
husband has often told me."
"Harry's must be what he calls a dog-watch, aunty," said
Rose, laughing, though she scarce knew at what.
'The watch goes, too," added the widow, raising the
chronometer to her ear, " though it is so very wrong. Well,
set it, Mr. Mulford; then we will set Rose's, which I '11 engage is half an hour out of the way, though it can never be
as wrong as yours."
Mulford was a good deal embarrassed, but he gained
courage by looking at Rose, who appeared to him to be
quite as much mystified as her aunt. For once he hoped
Rose was ignorant; for nothing would be so likely to diminish the feeling produced by the exposure of the aunt's
mistake, as to include the niece in the same category.
"My watch is a chronometer, you will recollect, Mrs.
Budd," said the young man.
"I know it; and they ought to keep the very best timethat I 've always heard. My poor Mr. Budd had two, and
they were as large as compasses, and sold for hundreds after
his lamented decease."
" They were ship's chronometers, but mine was made for
the pocket. It is true, chronometers are intended to keep
the most accurate time, and usually they do; this of mine,
in particular, would not lose ten seconds in a twelvemonth,
did I not carry it on my person."
" No, no, it does not seem to lose any, Harry; it only
gains," cried Rose, laughing.
Mulford was now satisfied, notwithstanding all that had
passed on a previous occasion, that the laughing, brighteyed, and quick-witted girl at his elbow, knew no more of
he uses of a chronometer than her unusually dull and igno



202


JACK TIER;


rant aunt; and he felt himself relieved from all embarrass
ment at once. Though he dared not even seem to distrust
Mrs. Budd's intellect or knowledge before Rose, he did not
scruple to laugh at Rose herself, to Rose.  With her there
was no jealousy on the score of capacity, her quickness
being almost as obvious to all who approached her as her
beauty.
" Rose Budd, you do not understand the uses of a chronometer, I see," said the mate, firmly, " notwithstanding all I
have told you concerning them."
"It is to keep time, Harry Mulford, is it not?"
"True, to keep time-but to keep the time of a particular
meridian; you know what meridian means, I hope?"
Rose looked intently at her lover, and she looked singularly lovely, for she blushed slightly, though her smile was
as open and amicable as ingenuousness and affection could
make it.
"A meridian means a point over our heads — the spot
where the sun is at noon," said Rose, doubtingly.
" Quite right; but it also means longitude, in one sense.
If you draw a line from one pole to the other, all the places
it crosses are on the same meridian. As the sun first ap.
pears in the east, it follows that he rises sooner in places
that are east, than in places that are further west. Thus it
is, that at Greenwich, in England, where there is an obser.
vatory made for nautical purposes, the sun rises about five
hours sooner than it does here. All this difference is subject
to rules, and we know exactly how to measure it."
"How can that be, Harry?   You told me this but the
other day, yet have I forgotten it."
" Quite easily. As the earth turns round in just twenty.
four hours, and its circumference is divided into three hun.
dred and sixty equal parts, called degrees, we have only to
divide 360 by 24, to know how many of these degrees are
included in the difference produced by one hour of tirne.
There are just fifteen of them, as you will find by multiply.
ing 24 by 15. It follows that the sun rises just one hour.ater, each fifteen degrees of longitude, as you go west, or
one hour earlier each fifteen degrees of longitude as you go
east. Having ascertained the difference by the hour, it is
easy enough to calculate for the minutes and seconds."




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


203


" Yes, yes," said Rose, eagerly, "I see all that-go on."
" Now a chronometer is nothing but a watch, made with
great care, so as not to lose or gain more than a few seconds
in a twelvemonth. Its whole merit is in keeping time accu.
rately."
"Still I do not see how that can be anyt' ing more than
a very good watch."
" You will see in a minute, Rose. For purposes that you
will presently understand, books are calculated for certain
meridians, or longitudes, as at Greenwich and Paris and
those who use the books calculated for Greenwich, get their
chronometers set at Greenwich, and those who use the
Paris, get their chronometers set to Paris time. When I
was last in England, I took this watch to Greenwich, and
had it set at the Observatory by the true solar time. Ever
since it has been running by that time, and what you see
here is.the true Greenwich time, after allowing for a second
or two that it may have lost or gained."
"All that is plain enough," said the much interested
Rose-" but of what use is it all?"
" To help mariners to find their longitude at sea, and thus
know where they are. As the sun passes so far north, and
so far south of the equator each year, it is easy enough to
find the latitude, by observing his position at noon-day; but
for a long time seamen had great difficulty in ascertaining
their longitudes. That, too, is done by observing the different heavenly bodies, and with greater accuracy than by
any other process; but this thought of measuring the time
is very simple, and so easily put in practice, that we all run
by it now."
"' Still I cannot understand it," said Rose, looking so intently, so eagerly, and so intelligently into the handsome
mate's eyes, that he found it was pleasant to teach her other
things besides how to love.
"I will explain it. Having the Greenwich time in the
watch, we observe the sun, in order to ascertain the true
time, wherever we may happen to be. It is a simple thing
to ascertain the true time of day by an observation of the
sun, which marks the hours in his track; and when we get
our observation, we have some one to note the time at a
particular instant on the chronometer. By noting the hour,




204


JACK TIERj


minutes, and seconds, at Greenwich, at the very instant we
observe here, when we have calculated from that observation the time here, we have only to add, or subtract, the
time here from that of Greenwich, to know precisely how
far east or west we are from Greenwich, which gives us
our longitude."
" I begin to comprehend it again," exclaimed Rose, de.
lighted at the acquisition in knowledge she had just made.
" How beautiful it is, yet how simple-but why do I forget
it?"
" Perfectly simple, and perfectly sure, too, when the
chronometer is accurate, and the observations are nicely
made. It is seldom we are more than eight or ten miles
out of the way, and for them we keep a look-out. It is only
to ascertain the time where you are, by means that are easily
used, then look at your watch to learn the time of day at
Greenwich, or any other meridian you may have selected,
and to calculate your distance, east or west, from that meridian, by the difference in the two times."
Rose could have listened all night, for her quick mind
readily comprehended the principle which lies at the bottom
of this useful process, though still ignorant of some of the
details. This time she was determined to secure her acquisition,. though it is quite probable that, woman-like, they
were once more lost, almost as easily as made. Mulford,
however, was obliged to leave her, to look at the vessel,
before he stretched himself on the deck, in an old sail; it
having been previously determined that he should sleep first,
while the wind was light, and that Jack Tier, assisted by the
females, should keep the first watch. Rose would not detain
the mate, therefore, but let him go his way, in order to see
that all was right before he took his rest.
Mrs. Budd had listened to Mulford's second explanation
of the common mode of ascertaining the longitude, with all
the attention of which she was capable; but it far exceeded
the powers of her mind to comprehend it. There are persons who accustom themselves to think so superficially, that
it becomes a painful process to attempt to dive into any of.he arcana of nature, and who ever turn from such investigations wearied and disgusted.  Many of these persons,
perhaps most of them, need only a little patience and perse



OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


205


verance to comprehend all the more familiar phenomena,
but they cannot command even that much of the two quali.
ties named to obtain the knowledge they would fain wish to
possess. Mrs. Budd did not belong to a division as high in
the intellectual scale as even this vapid class. Her intellect
was unequal to embracing anything of an abstracted cha.
racter, and only received the most obvious impressions, and
those quite half the time it received wrong. The mate's
reasoning, therefore, was not only inexplicable to her, but it
sounded absurd and impossible.
" Rosy, dear," said the worthy relict, as soon as she saw
Mulford stretch his fine frame on his bed of canvas, speak.
ing at the same time in a low, confidential tone to her niece,
" what was it that Harry was telling you a little while ago?
It sounded to me like rank nonsense; and men will talk
nonsense to young girls, as I have so often warned you,
child. You must never listen to their nonsense, Rosy; but
remember your catechism and confirmation vow, and be a
good girl."
To how many of the feeble-minded and erring do those
offices of the church prove a stay and support, when their
own ordinary powers of resistance would fail them! Rose,
however, viewed the matter just as it was, and answered
accordingly.
"But this was nothing of that nature, aunty," she said,
" and only an account of the mode of finding out where a
ship is, when out of sight of land, in the middle of the ocean.
We had the same subject up the other day."
"And how did Harry tell you, this time, that was done,
my dear?"
" By finding the difference in the time of day between
two places-just as he did before."
" But there is no difference in the time of day, child, when
the clocks go well."
"' Yes, there is, aunty dear, as the sun rises in one place
before it does in another."
"Rose, you 've been listening to nonsense now! Remem.
ber what I have so often told you about young men, and
their way of talking. I admit Harry Mulford is a respect.
able youth, and has respectable connections, and since you
like one another, you may have him, with all my heart, as
18




206


JACK TIER;


soon as he gets a full-jiggered ship, for I am resolved no
niece of my poor dear husband's shall ever marry a mate,
or a captain even, unless he has a full-jiggered ship under
his feet. But do not talk nonsense with him. Nonsense
is nonsense, though a sensible man talks it. As for all this
stuff about the time of day, you can see it is nonsense, as
the sun rises but once in twenty-four hours, and of course
there cannot be two times, as you call it."
"But, aunty dear, it is not always noon at London when
it is noon at New York."
"Fiddle-faddle, child; noon is noon, and there are no.
more two noons than two suns, or two times. Distrust
what young men tell you, Rosy, if you would be safe, though
they should tell you you are handsome."
Poor Rose sighed, and gave up the explanation in despair.
Then a smile played around her pretty mouth. It was not
at her aunt that she smiled; this she never permitted herself to do, weak as was that person, and weak as she saw
her to be; she smiled at the recollection how often Mulford
had hinted at her good looks-for Rose was a female, and
had her own weaknesses, as well as another. But the ne.
cessity of acting soon drove these thoughts from her mind,
and Rose sought Jack Tier, to confer with him on the sub.
ject of their new duties.
As for Harry Mulford, his head was no sooner laid on its
bunch of sail than he fell into a profound sleep. There he
lay, slumbering as the seaman slumbers, with no sense of
surrounding things. The immense fatigues of that and of
the two preceding days,-for he had toiled at the pumps
even long after night had come, until the vessel was clear,weighed him down, and nature was now claiming her influence, and taking a respite fiom exertion. Had he been left
to himself, it is probable the mate would not have arisen
until the sun had reappeared some hours.
It is now necessary to explain more minutely the precise
condition, as well as the situation of the schooner. On
quitting his port, Mulford had made a stretch of some two
leagues in length, toward the northward and eastward, when
he tacked and stood to the southward. There was enough
of southing in the wind, to make his last course nearly due
south. As he neared the reef, he found that he fell in some




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


207


miles to the eastward of the islets,-proof that he was doing
very well, and that there was no current to do him any
material harm, if, indeed, there were not actually a current
in his favour. He next tacked to the northward again, and
stood in that direction until near night, when he once more
went about. The wind was now so light that he saw little
prospect of getting in with the reef again, until the return
of day; but as he had left orders with Jack Tier to be called
at twelve o'clock, at all events, this gave him no uneasiness.
At the time when the mate lay down to take his rest, therefore, the schooner was quite five-and-twenty miles to wind.
ward of the Dry Tortugas, and some twenty miles to the
northward of the Florida Reef, with the wind quite light at
east-south-east. Such, then, was the position or situation
of the schooner.
As respects her condition, it is easily described. She had
but the three sails bent, —mainsail, foresail, and jib. Her
topmasts had been struck, and all the hamper that belonged
to them was below. The mainsail was single reefed, and
the foresail and jib were without their bonnets, as has already
been mentioned. This was somewhat short canvas, but
Mulford knew that it would render his craft more manageable in the event of a blow. Usually, at that season and
in that region, the east trades prevailed with great steadiness, sometimes diverging a little south of east, as at present,
and generally blowing fresh. But, for a short time previously to, and ever since the tornado, the wind had been
unsettled, the old currents appearing to regain their ascendancy by fits, and then losing it, in squalls, contrary currents,
and even by short calms.
The conference between Jack Tier and Rose was frank
and confidential.
"( We must depend mainly on you," said the latter, turning to look toward the spot where Mulford lay, buried in
the deepest sleep that had ever gained power over him.
Harry is so fatigued! It would be shameful to awaken
lurn a moment sooner than is necessary."
"Ay, ay; so it is always with young women, when they
lets a young man gain their ears," answered Jack, without
the least circumlocution; "so it is, and so it always will
be, I 'm afeard. Nevertheless, men is willians."




208


JACK TIER;


Rose was not affronted at this plain allusion to the power
that Mulford had obtained over her feelings. It would seem
that Jack had got to be so intimate in the cabins, that his
sex was, in a measure, forgotten; and it is certain that his
recent services were not. Without a question, but for his
interference, the pretty Rose Budd would, at that moment,
have been the prisoner of Spike, and most probably the victim of his design to compel her to marry him.
"All men are not Stephen Spikes," said Rose, earnestly,
"and least of all is Harry Mulford to be reckoned as one
of his sort. But, we must manage to take care of the
schooner the whole night, and let Harry get his rest. He
wished to be called at twelve, but we can easily let the hour
go by, and not awaken him."
" The commanding officer ought not to be sarved so, Miss
Rose. What he says is to be done."
"I know it, Jack, as to ordinary matters; but Harry left
these orders that we might have our share of rest, and for
no other reason at all. And what is to prevent our having
it? We are four, and can divide ourselves into two watches;
one watch can sleep while the other keeps a look-out."
"Ay, ay, and pretty watches they would be! There's
Madam Budd, now; why, she's quite a navigator, and
knows all about weerin' and haulin', and I dares to say could
put the schooner about, to keep her off the reef, on a pinch;
though which way the craft would come round, could best
be told a'ter it has been done. It's as much as I'd undertake myself, Miss Rose, to take care of the schooner, should
it come on to blow; and as for you, Madam Budd, and that
squalling Irishw9man, you'd be no better than so many
housewives ashore."
"We have strength, and we have courage, and we can
pull, as you have seen. I know very well which way to put
the helm now, and Biddy is as strong as you are yourself,
and could help me all I wished. Then we could always
call you, at need, and have your assistance. Nay, Harry
himself can be called, if there should be a real necessity for
it, and I do wish he may not be disturbed until there is that
nocessitv."
It was with a good deal of reluctance that Jack allowed
himself to be persuaded into this sc'heme. He insisted, for




0R, THE FLORIDA REEF.


209


a long time, that an officer should be called at the hour
mentioned by himself, and declared he had never known
such an order neglected, " marchant-rnan, privateer, or maiiof-war." Rose prevailed over his scruples, however, and there
was a meeting of the three females to make the final ar.
rangements. Mrs. Budd, a kind hearted woman, at the worst,
gave her assent most cheerfully,. though Rose was a little
startled with the nature of the reasoning, with which it was
accompanied.
"You are quite right, Rosy dear," said the aunt, "and
the thing is very easily done. I've long wanted to keep ons
watch, at sea; just one watch; to complete my maritime
education. Your poor uncle used to say, ' Give my wife
but one night-watch, and you'd have as good a seaman in
her as heart could wish.' I'm sure I've had night-watches
enough with him and his ailings; but it seems that they were
not the sort of  artches he meant. Indeed, I did n't know
till tlis evening there were so many watches in the world,
at all. But this is just what I want, and just what I 'm resolved to have. Tier shall command one watch and I'1l
command the other. Jack's shall be the 'dog-watch,' as
they call it, and mine shall be the 'middle-watch,' and last
till morning. You shall be in Jack's watch, Rose, and
Biddy shall be in mine. You know a good deal that Jack
do n't know, and Biddy can do a good deal I'm rather too
stout to do. I do n't like pulling ropes, but as for ordering,
I '11 turn my back on no captain's widow out of York."
Rose had her own misgivings on the subject of her aunt's
issuing orders on such a subject to any one, but she made
the best of necessity, and completed the arrangements without further discussion.  Her great anxiety was to secure a
good night's rest for Harry, already feeling a woman's care
in the comfort and ease of the man she loved. And Rose
did love Harry Mulford warmly and sincerely. If the very
decided preference with which she regarded him before they
sailed, had not absolutely amounted to passion, it had come
so very near it as to render that access of feeling certain.
winder the influence of the association and events which succeeded.  We have not thought it necessary to relate a tithe
of the interviews and intercourse that had taken place be —
tween the handsome mate and the pretty Rose Budd, during
18*




210


JACK TIER;


the month they had now been shipmates, having left the
reader to imagine the natural course of things, under such
circumstances. Nevertheless, the plighted troth had not been
actually given until Harry joined her on the islet, at a moment when she fancied herself abandoned to a fate almost
as serious as death. Rose had seen Mulford quit the brig,
had watched the mode and manner of his escape, and in
almost breathless amazement, and felt how dear to her he
had become, by the glow of delight which warmed her heart,
when assured that he could not, would not, forsake her, even
though he remained at the risk of life. She was now, true
to the instinct of her sex, mostly occupied in making such a
return for an attachment so devoted as became her tender.
ness and the habits of her mind.
As Mrs. Budd chose what she was pleased to term the
'middle-watch,' giving to Jack Tier and Rose her 'dogwatch,' the two last were first on duty. It is scarcely ne.
cessary to say, the captain's widow got the names of the
watches all wrong, as she got the names of everything else
about a vessel; but the plan was to divide the night equally
between these quasi mariners, giving the first half to those
who were first on the look-out, and the remainder to their
successors. It soon became so calm, that Jack left the helm,
and came and sat by Rose, on the trunk, where they con.
versed confidentially for a long time. Although the reader
will, hereafter, be enabled to form some plausible conjectures
on the subject of this dialogue, we shall give him no part
of it here. All that need now be said, is to add, that Jack
did most of the talking, that his past life was the principal
theme, and that the terrible Stephen Spike, he from whom
they were now so desirous of escaping, was largely mixed
up with the adventures recounted. Jack found in his companion a deeply interested listener, although this was by no
means the first time they had gone over together the same
story and discussed the same events. The conversation lasted
until Tier, who watched the glass, seeing that its sands had
run out for the last time, announced the hour of midnight,
This was the moment when Mulford should have been called
but when Mrs. Budd and Biddy Noon were actually awak.
~ened in his stead.
"Now, dear aunty," said Rose as she parted from tho




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


211


new watch to go and catch a little sleep herself, " remembez
you are not to awaken Harry first, but to call Tier and
nmyself. It would have done your heart good to have seer
how sweetly he has been sleeping all this time. I do not
think he has stirred once since his head was laid on that
bunch of sails, and there he is, at this moment, sleeping like
an infant!"
" Yes," returned the relict, " it is always so with your
true maritime people. I have been sleeping a great deal
more soundly, the whole of the dog-watch, than I ever slept
at home, in my own excellent bed. But it's your watch
below, Rosy, and contrary to rule for you to stay on the
deck, after you 've been relieved. I 've heard this a thousand
times."
Rose was not sorry to lie down; and her head was scarcely
on its pillow, in the cabin, before she was fast asleep. As
for Jack, he found a place among Mulford's sails, and was
quickly in the same state.
To own the truth, Mrs. Budd was not quite as much at
ease, in her new station, for the first half hour, as she had
fancied to herself might prove to be the case. It was a flat
calm, it is true; but the widow felt oppressed with responsibility and the novelty of her situation. Time and again
had she said, and even imagined, she should be delighted to
fill the very station she then occupied, or to be in charge of
a deck, in a "middle watch." In this instance, however,
as in so many others, reality did not equal anticipation.
She wished to be doing everything, but did not know how
to do anything. As for Biddy, she was even worse off than
her mistress. A month's experience, or for that matter a
twelvemonth's, could not unravel to her the mysteries of
even a schooner's rigging. Mrs. Budd had placed her " at
the wheel," as she called it, though the vessel had no wheel,
being steered by a tiller on deck; in the 'long-shore fashion.
In stationing Biddy, the widow told her that she was to play
"tricks at the wheel," leaving it to the astounded Irish
woman's inmagination to discover what those tricks were.
Failing in ascertaining what might be the nature of her
"tricks at the wheel," Biddy was content to do nothing, and
nothing, under the circumstances, was perhaps the very best
thing she coulld have done.




212


JACK TIER,


Little was required to be done for the first four hours of
Mrs. Budd's watch. All that tine, Rose slept in her berth,
and Mulford and Jack Tier on their sail, while Biddy had.
played the wheel a " trick," indeed, by lying down on deck,
and sleeping, too, as soundly as if she were in the county
Down itself. But there was to be an end of this tranquillity.
Suddenly the wind began to blow.   At first, the breeze
came in fitful puffs, which were neither very strong nor very
lasting. This induced Mrs. Budd to awaken Biddy. Luckily,
a schooner without a topsail could not very well be taken
aback, especially as the head-sheets worked on travellers,
and Mrs. Budd and her assistant contrived to manage the
tiller very well for the first hour that these varying puffs of
wind lasted. It is true, the tiller was lashed, and it is also
true, the schooner ran in all directions, having actually
headed to all the cardinal points of the compass, under her
present management. At length, Mrs. Budd became alarmed.
A puff of wind came so strong, as to cause the vessel to lie
over so far as to bring the water into the lee scuppers. She
called Jack Tier herself, therefore, and sent Biddy down to
awaken Rose. In a minute, both these auxiliaries appeared
on deck. The wind just then lulled, and Rose, supposing
her aunt was frightened at trifles, insisted on it that Harry
should be permitted to sleep on. He had turned over once,
in the course of the night, but not once had he raised his
head from 'his pillow.
As soon as reinforced, Mrs. Budd began to bustle about,
and to give commands, such as they were, in order to prove
that she was unterrified. Jack Tier gaped at her elbow,
and by way of something to do, he laid his hand on the
painter of the Swash's boat, which boat was towing astern,
and remarked that "some know-nothing had belayed it with
three half-hitches." This was enough for the relict. She
had often heard the saying that "three half-hitches lost the
king's long-boat," and she busied herself, at once, in repairing
so imminent an evil. It was far easier for the good woman
to talk than to act; she became what is called  all fingers
and thumbs," and in loosening the third half-hitch, she cast
off the two others. At that instant, a puff of wind struck
the schooner again, and the end of the painter got away
from the widow, who had a last glimpse at the boat, as the




OR, THE FLORIDA \REEF.


213


vessel darted.ahead, leaving its little tender to vanish in the
gloom of the night.
Jack was excessively provoked at this accident, for he
had foreseen the possibility of having recourse to that boat
yet, in order to escape from Spike. By abandoning the
schooner, and pulling on to the reef, it might have been
possible to get out of their pursuer's hands, when all other
means should fail them. As he was at the tiller, he put his
helm up, and ran off, until far enough to leeward to be to
the westward of the boat, when he might tack, fetch and
recover it. Nevertheless, it now blew much harder than he
liked, for the schooner seemed to be unusually tender. Had
he had the force to do it, he would have brailed the foresail.
He desired Rose to call Mulford, but she hesitated about
complying.
"Call him-call the mate, I say," cried out Jack, in a
voice that proved how much he was in earnest. " These
puffs come heavy, I can tell you, and they come often, too.
Call him-call him, at once, Miss Rose, for it is time to
tack if we wish to recover the boat. Tell him, too, to brail
the foresail, while we are in stays-that's right; another
call will start him up."
The other call was given, aided by a gentle shake from
Rose's hand. Harry was on his feet in a moment. A passing instant was necessary to clear his faculties, and to recover
the tenor of his thoughts. During that instant, the mate
heard Jack Tier's shrill cry of " Hard a-lee-get in that
foresail-bear a-hand-in with it, I say!"
The wind came rushing and roaring, and the flaps of the
canvas were violent and heavy.
" In with the foresail, I say," shouted Jack Tier. "She
flies round like a top, and will be off the wind on the other
tack presently. Bear a-hand!-bear a-hand! It looks black
as night to windward."
Mulford then regained all his powers. He sprang to the
fore-sheet, calling on the others for aid. The violent surges
produced by the wind prevented his grasping the sheet as
soon as he could wish, and the vessel whirled round on
her heel, like a steed that is frightened. At that critical and
dangerous instant, when the schooner was nearly without
motion through the water, a squall struck the flattened sails,
27




214


JACK TIER;


and bowed her down as the willow bends to the gale. Mrs.
Budd and Biddy screamed as usual, and Jack shouted until
his voice seemed cracked, to " let go the head-sheets."
Mulford did make one leap forward, to execute this necessary
office, when the inclining plane of the deck told him it was
too late. The wind fairly howled for a minute, and over
went the schooner, the remains of her cargo shifting as she
capsized, in a way to bring her'very nearly bottom upward.
CHAPTER VIII.
Ay, fare you well, fair gentleman.-As Yolt Like zt.
WHILE the tyro believes the vessel is about to capsize at
every puff of wind, the practised seaman alone knows when
danger truly besets him in this particular form. Thus it
was with Harry Mulford, when the Mexican schooner went
over, as related in the close of the preceding chapter. He
felt no alarm until the danger actually came. Then, indeed, no one there was so quickly, or so thoroughly apprized
of what the result would be, and he directed all his exertions
to meet the exigency. While there was the smallest hope
of success, he did not lessen, in the least, his endeavours to
save the vessel; making almost superhuman efforts to cast
off the fore-sheet, so as to relieve the schooner from the
pressure of one of her sails. But, no sooner did he hear
the barrels in the hold surging to leeward, and feel by the
inclination of the deck beneath his feet, that nothing could
save the craft, than he abandoned the sheet, and sprang to
the assistance of Rose. It was time he did; for, having followed him into the vessel's lee-waist, she was the first to
be submerged in the sea, and would have been hopelessly
drowned, but for Mulford's timely succour. Women might
swim more readily than men, and do so swim, in those por.
tions of the world where the laws of nature are not counter.
acted by human conventions. Rose Budd, however, had re.
weived the vicious education which civilized society inflicts on




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


215


her sex, and, as a matter of course, was totally helpless in an
element in which it was the design of Divine Providence she
should possess the common means of sustaining herself, like
every other being endued with animal life. Not so with
Mulford: he swam with ease and force, and had no difficulty
in sustaining Rose until the schooner had settled into her
new berth, or in hauling her on the vessel's bottom immediately after.
Luckily, there was no swell, or so little as not to endan.
ger those who were on the schooner's bilge; and Mulford
had no sooner placed her in momentary safety at least,
whom he prized far higher than his own life, than he bethought him of his other companions. Jack Tier had hauled
himself up to windward by the rope that steadied the tiller,
and he had called on Mrs. Budd to imitate his example. It
was so natural for even a woman to grasp anything like a
rope at such a moment, that the widow instinctively obeyed,
while Biddy seized, at random, the first thing of the sort
that offered. Owing to these fortunate chances, Jack and
Mrs. Budd succeeded in reaching the quarter of the schooner, the former actually getting up on the bottom of the
wreck, on to which he was enabled to float the widow, who
was almost as buoyant as cork, as indeed was the case with
Jack himself. All the stern and bows of the vessel were
under water, in consequence of her leanness forward and
aft; but though submerged, she offered a precarious footing,
even in these extremities, to such as could reach them. On
the other hand, the place where Rose stood, or the bilge of
the vessel, was two or three feet above the surface of the
sea, though slippery and inclining in shape.
It was not half a minute from the time that Mulford sprang
to Rose's succour, ere he had her on the vessel's bottom.
In another half minute, he had waded down on the schooner's
counter, where Jack Tier was lustily calling to him for
" help!" and assisted the widow to her feet, and supported
her until she stood at Rose's side. Leaving the last in her
aunt's arms, half distracted between dread and joy, he turned
to the assistance of Biddy. The rope at which the Irisl
woman had caught, was a straggling end that had been
made fast to the main channels of the schooner, for the support of a fender, and had been hauled partly in-board te




216


JACK TIER;


keep it out of the water. Biddy had found no difficulty in
dragging herself up to the chains, therefore; and had she
been content to sustain herself by the rope, leaving as much
of her body submerged as comported with breathing, her
task would have been easy. But, like most persons who do
not know how to swim, the good woman was fast exhausting her strength, by vain efforts to walk on the surface of
an element that was never made to sustain her. Unpractised persons, in such situations, cannot be taught to believe
that their greatest safety is in leaving as much of' their bodies as possible beneath the water, keeping the mouth and
nose alone free for breath. But we have seen even instances in which men, who were in danger of drowning,
seemed to believe it might be possible for them to crawl over
the waves on their hands and knees. The philosophy of
the contrary course is so very simple, that one would fancy
a very child might be made to comprehend it; yet, it is rare
to find one unaccustomed to the water, and who is suddenly
exposed to its dangers, that does not resort, under the pressure of present alarm, to the very reverse of the true means
to save his or her life.
Mulford had no difficulty in finding Bridget, whose excla
mations of" murther!" " help!" " he-l-lup!" "Jasus!" and
other similar cries, led him directly to the spot, where she
was fast drowning herself by her own senseless struggles.
Seizing her by the arm, the active young mate soon placed
her on her feet, though her cries did not cease until she
was ordered by her mistress to keep silence.
Having thus rescued the whole of his companions from
immediate danger, Mulford began to think of the future.
He was seized with sudden surprise that the vessel did not
sink, and for a minute he was unable to account for the unusual fact. On the former occasion, the schooner had gone
down almost as soon as she fell over; but now she floated
with so much buoyancy as to leave most of her keel and all
of h'er bilge on one side quite clear of the water. As one
of the main hatches was off, and the cabin-doors, and boobyhatch doors forward were open, and all were under water,
it required a little reflection on the part of Mulford to understand on what circumstance all their lives now depended.
The mate soon ascertained the truth, however, and we may




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


217


as well explain it to the reader in our own fashion, in order
to put him on a level with the young seaman.
The puff of wind, or little squall, had struck the schooner
at the most unfavourable moment for her safety. She had
just lost her way in tacking, and the hull not moving ahead,
as happens when a craft is thus assailed with the motion on
her, all the power of the wind was expended in the direction
necessary to capsize her. Another disadvantage arose from
the want of motion. The rudder, which acts solely by
pressing against the water as the vessel meets it, was use.
less, and it was not possible to luff, and throw the wind from
the sails, as is usually practised by fore-and-aft rigged craft,
in moments of such peril. In consequence of these united
difficulties, the shifting of the cargo in the hold, the tenderness of the craft itself, and the force of the squall, the
schooner had gone so far over as to carry all three of the
openings to her interior suddenly under water, where they
remained, held by the pressure of the cargo that had rolled
to leeward. Had not the water completely covered these
openings, or hatches, the schooner must have sunk in a
minute or two, or by the time Mulford had got all his companions safe on her bilge. But they were completely submerged, and so continued to be, which circumstance alone
prevented the vessel from sinking, as the following simple
explanation will show.
Any person who will puz an empty tumbler, bottom up.
wards, into a bucket of water, will find that the water will
got rise within the tumbler more than an inch at most. At
that point it is arrested by the resistance of the air, which,
unable to escape, and compressed into a narrow compass,
forms a body that the other fluid cannot penetrate. It is on
this simple and familiar principle, that the chemist keeps his
gases, in inverted glasses, placing them on shelves, slightly
submerged in water. Thus it was, then, that the schooner
continued to float, though nearly bottom upward, and with
three inlets open, by which the water could and did penetrate. A considerable quantity of the element had rushed
in at the instant of capsizing, but meeting with resistance
from the compressed and pent air, its progress had been arrested, and the wreck continued to float, sustained by the
buoyancy that was imparted to it, in containing so large a
19




218


JACK TIER;


body of a substance no heavier than atmospheric air. After
displacing its weight of water, enough of buoyancy remained
to raise the keel a few feet above the level of the sea.
As soon as Mulford had ascertained the facts of their sit.
uation, he communicated them to his companions, encouraging them to hope for eventual safety. It was true, their
situation was nearly desperate, admitting that the wreck
should continue to float for ever, since they were almost
without food, or anything to drink, and had no means of
urging the hull through the water. They must float, too,
at the mercy of the winds and waves, and should a sea get
up, it might soon be impossible for Mulford himself to maintain his footing on the bottom of the wreck. All this the
young man had dimly shadowed forth to him, through his
professional experience; but the certainty of the vessel's not
sinking immediately had so far revived his spirits, as to
cause him to look on the bright side of the future, pale as
that glimmering of hope was made to appear whenever reason cast one of its severe glances athwart it.
Harry had no difficulty in making Rose comprehend their
precise situation. Her active and clear mind understood at
once the causes of their present preservation, and most of
the hazards of the future. It was not so with Jack Tier.
He was composed, even resigned; but he could not see the
reason why the schooner still floated.
"I know that the cabin-doors were open," he said, " and
if they was n't, of no great matter would it be, since the
joints ar'n't caulked, and the water would run through them
as through a sieve. I 'm afeard, Mr. Mulford, we shall find
the wreck going from under our feet afore long, and when
we least wish it, perhaps."
" I tell you the wreck will float so long as the air remains
in its hold," returned the mate, cneerfully. "Do you not
see how buoyant it is?-the certain proof that there is plenty
of air within. So long as that remains, the hull must float."
"I've always understood," said Jack, sticking to his
opinion, "that wessels floats by vartue of water, and not by
vartue of air; and, that when the water gets on the wrong
side on 'em, there's little hope left of keepin' 'em up."
"What has become of the boat?" suddenly cried the
mate. "I have been so much occupied as to have forgotten




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


219


tne boat. In that boat we might all of us still reach Key
West. I see nothing of the boat!"
A profound silence succeeded this sudden and unexpected
question. All knew that the boat was gone, and all knew
that it had been lost by the widow's pertinacity and clumsiness; but no one felt disposed to betray her at that grave
moment. Mulford left the bilge, and waded as far aft as
it was at all prudent for him to proceed, in the vain hope
that the boat might be there, fastened by its painter to the
schooner's tafferel, as he had left it, but concealed from
view by the darkness of the night. Not finding what he
was after, he returned to his companions, still uttering exclamations of surprise at the unaccountable loss of the boa'
Rose now told him that the boat had got adrift some ten or
fifteen minutes before the accident befell them, and that
they were actually endeavouring to recover it when the
squall which capsized the schooner struck them.
"And why did you not call me, Rose?" asked Harry,
with a little of gentle reproach in his manner. "It must
have soon been my watch on deck, and it would have been
better that I should lose half an hour of my watch below,
than that we should lose the boat."
Rose was now obliged to confess that the time for calling
him had long been past, and that the faint streak of light,
which was just appearing in the east, was the near approach
of day. This explanation was made gently, but frankly;
and Mulford experienced a glow of pleasure at his heart,
even in that moment of jeopardy, when he understood
Rose's motive for not having him disturbed. As the boat
was gone, with little or no prospect of its being recovered
again, no more was said about it; and the widow, who had
stood.on thorns the while, had the relief of believing that
her awkwardness was forgotten.
It was such a relief from an imminent danger to have
escaped from drowning when the schooner capsized, that
those on her bottom did not, for some little time, realize
all the terrors of their actual situation. The inconvenience
of being wet was a trifle not to be thought of, and, in fact,
the light summer dresses worn by all, linen or cotton as
hJey were entirely, were soon effectually dried in the wind.
The keel made a tolerably convenient seat, and the whole




2'20


JACK  TIER;


party placed themselves on it to await the return of day. in
order to obtain a view of all that their situation offered in
the way of a prospect. While thus awaiting, a broken and
short dialogue occurred.
"Had you stood to the northward the whole night?"
asked Mulford, gloomily, of Jack Tier; for gloomily he
began to feel, as all the facts of their case began to press
more closely on his mind. " If so, we must be well off the
reef, and out of the track of wreckers and turtlers. How
had you the wind, and how did you head before the accident happened?"
"The wind was light the whole time, and for some hours
it was nearly calm," answered Jack, in the same vein; "I
kept the schooner's head to the nor'ard, until I thought we
were getting too far off our course, and then I put her
about. I do not think we could have been any great distance from'the reef, when the boat got away from us, and
I suppose we are in its neighbourhood now, for I was tacking to fall in with the boat when the craft went over."
" To fall in with the boat! Did you keep off to leeward
of it, then, that you expected to fetch it by tacking?"
"Ay, a good bit; and I think the boat is now away here
to windward of us, drifting athwart our bows."
This was important news to Mulford. Could he only
get that boat, the chances of being saved would be increased
a hundred fold, nay, would almost amount to a certainty;
whereas, so long as the wind held to the southward and
eastward, the drift of the wreck must be toward the open
water, and consequently so much the further removed from
the means of succor. The general direction of the trades,
in that quarter of the world, is east, and should they get
round into their old and proper quarter, it would not -benefit
them much; for the reef running south-west, they could
scarcely hope to hit the Dry Tortugas again, in their drift,
were life even spared them sufficiently long to float the distance. Then there might be'currents, about which Muiford knew nothing with certainty; they might set them in
any direction; and did they exist, as was almost sure to be
the case, were much more powerful than the wind in controlling the movements of a wreck.
The mate strained his eyes in the direction pointed out




OR, TI E FLORIDA R.EEF.


221


by Jack Tier, in the hope of discovering the boat through
the haze of the morning, and he actually did discern something that, it appeared to him, might be the much desired
little craft. If he were right, there was every reason to
think the boat would drift down so near them as to enable
him to recover it by swimming. This cheering intelligence
was communicated to his companions, who received it with
gratitude and delight. But the approach of day gradually
dispelled that hope, the object which Mulford had mistaken
for the boat, within two hundred yards of the wreck, turning out to be a small, low, but bare hummock of the reef,
at a distance of more than two miles.
"That is a proof that we are not far from the reef, at
least," cried Mulford, willing to encourage those around
him all he could, and really much relieved at finding himself so near even this isolated fragment of terra Jirma.
"This fact is the next encouraging thing to finding ourselves near the boat, or to falling in with a sail."
"Ay, ay," said Jack, gloomily; " boat or no boat, 't will
make no great matter of difference now.  There's customers that'll be sartain to take all the grists you can send
to their mill."
"What things are those glancing about the vessel?"
cried Rose, almost in the same breath; " those dark, sharplooking sticks-see, there are five or six of them! and they
move as if fastened to something under the water that pulls
them about."
"Them's the customers I mean, Miss Rose," answered
Jack, in the same strain as that in which he had first
spoken; "they're the same thing at sea as lawyers be
ashore, and seem made to live on other folks.  Them's
sharks."
"And yonder is truly the boat!" added Mulford, with a
sigh that almost amounted to a groan. The light had, by
this time, so far returned as to enable the party not only
to see the fins of half a dozen sharks, which were already
prowling about the wreck, the almost necessary consequence
of their proximity to a reef in that latitude, but actually to
discern the boat drifting down toward them, at a distance
that promised to carry it past, within the reach of Mulford's
powers of swimming, though not as near as he could have
19 *




Z.'Z       ' JACK TIER;
wished, even under more favourable circumstances. HIad
their extremity been greater, or had Rose begun to suffer
from hunger or thirst, Mulford might have attempted the
experiment of endeavoring to regain the boat, though the
chances of death by means of the sharks would be more
than equal to those of escape; but still fresh, and not yet
feeling even the heat of the sun of that low latitude, he was
not quite goaded into such an act of desperation. All that
remained for the party, therefore, was to sit on the keel of
the wreck, and gaze with longing eyes at a little object
floating past, which, once at their command, might so
readily be made to save them from a fate that already began
to appear terrible in the perspective. Near an hour was
thus consumed, ere the boat was about half a mile to leeward; during which scarcely an eye was turned from it for
one instant, or a word was spoken.
"It is beyond my reach now," Mulford at length exclaimed, sighing heavily, like one who became conscious
of some great and irretrievable loss. "Were there no
sharks, I could hardly venture to attempt swimming so far,
with the boat drifting from me at the same time."
" I should never consent to let you make the trial, Harry,"
murmured Rose, " though it were only half as far."
Another pause succeeded.
" We have now the light of day," resumed the mate, a
minute or two later, "and may see our true situation. No
sail is in sight, and the wind stands steadily in its old quarter. Still I do not think we leave the reef. There, you
may see breakers off here at the southward, and it seems as
if more rocks rise above the sea, in that direction. I do
not know that our situation would be any the better, however, were we actually on them,' instead of being on this
floating wreck."
"The rocks will never sink," said Jack Tier, with so
much emphasis as to startle the listeners.
"I do not think this hull will sink until we are taken
nff it, or are beyond caring whether it sink or swim," returned Mulford.
" I do not know that, Mr. Mulford. Nothing keeps us
up but the air in the hold, you say."




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.               232
"Certainly not; but that air will suffice as long as it
remains there."
"And what do you call these things?" rejoined the assistant steward, pointing at the water near him, in or on
which no one else saw anything worthy of attention.
Mulford, however, was not satisfied with a cursory glance,
but went nearer to the spot where Tier was standing.
Then, indeed, he saw to what the steward alluded, and was
impressed by it, though he said nothing. Hundreds of
little bubbles rose to the surface of the water, much as one
sees them rising in springs. These bubbles are often met
with in lakes and other comparatively shallow waters, but
they are rarely seen in those of the ocean. The mate understood, at a glance, that those he now beheld were produced by the air which escaped from the hold of the wreck;
in small quantities at a time, it was true, but by a constant
and increasing process. The great pressure of the water
forced this air through crevices so minute that, under ordinary circumstances, they would have proved impenetrable
to this, as they were still to the other fluid, though they
now permitted the passage of the former. It might take a
long time to force the air from the interior of the vessel by
such means, but the result was as certain as it might be
slow. As constant dropping will wear a stone, so might
the power that kept the wreck afloat be exhausted by the
ceaseless rising of these minute air-bubbles.
Although Mulford was entirely sensible of the nature of
this new source of danger, we cannot say he was much
affected by it at the moment. It seemed to him far more
probable that they must die of exhaustion, long before the
wreck would lose all of its buoyancy by this slow process,
than that even the strongest of their number could survive
for such a period. The new danger, therefore, lost most
of its terrors under this view of the subject, though it certainly did not add to the small sense of security that
remained, to know that inevitably their fate must be sealed
through its agency, %hould they be able to hold out for a
sufficient time against hunger and thirst. It caused-Mul.
ford to muse in silence for many more minutes.
"I hope we are not altogether without food," the mate
at length said. " It sometimes happens that persons at sea




t'24


JACK  TIER;


carry pieces of biscuit in their pockets, especially those
who keep watch at night. The smallest morsel is now of
the last importance."
At this suggestion, every one set about an examination.
The result was, that neither Mrs. Budd nor Rose had a
particle of food, of any sort, about their persons. 'Biddy
produced from her pockets, however, a whole biscuit, a
large bunch of excellent raisins that she had filched from
the steward's stores, and two apples, - the last being the
remains of some fruit that Spike had procured a month
earlier in New York. Mulford had half a biscuit, at which
he had been accustomed to nibble in his watches; and
Jack lugged out, along with a small plug of tobacco, a
couple of sweet oranges. Here, then, was everything in
the shape of victuals or drink, that could be found for the
use of five persons, in all probability for many days. The
importance of securing it for equal distribution, was so
obvious, that Mulford's proposal to do so met with a common assent. The whole was put in Mrs. Budd's bag, and
she was intrusted with the keeping of this precious store.
"It may be harder to abstain from food at first, when
we have not suffered from its want, than it will become
after a little endurance," said the mate. "We are now
strong, and it will be wiser to fast as long as we conve.
niently can, to-day, and relieve our hunger by a moderate
allowance toward evening, than to waste our means by too
much indulgence at a time'when we are strong. Weak
ness will. be sure to come if we remain long on the wreck.'
" Have you ever suffered in this way, Harry?" demanded
Rose, with interest.
" I have, and that dreadfully. But a merciful Providence
came to my rescue then, and it may not fail me now. The
seaman is accustomed to carry his life in his hand, and to
live on the edge of eternity."
The truth of this was so apparent as to produce a thoughtful silence. Anxious glances were cast around the horizon
from time to time, in quest of any sail that might come in
sight, but uselessly. None appeared, and the day advanced
without bringing the slightest prospect of relief. Mulford
could see, by the now almost sunken hummocks, that they
were slowly drifting along the reef, toward the southward




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


225


and eastward, a current no doubt acting slightly from the
north-west. Their proximity to the reef, however, was of
no advantage, as the distance was still so great as to render
any attempt to reach it, even on the part of the mate, unavailable. Nor would he have been any better off could
he have gained a spot on the rocks that was shallow enough
to admit of his walking, since wading about in such a place
would have been less desirable than to be floating where
he was.
The want of water to drink threatened to be the great
evil. Of this, the party on the wreck had not a single
drop! As the warmth of the day was added to the feverish
feeling produced by excitement, they all experienced thirst,
though no one murmured. So utterly without means of
relieving this necessity did each person know them all to
be, that no one spoke on the subject at all. In fact, shipwreck never produced a more complete destitution of all
the ordinary agents of helping themselves, in any form or
manner, than was the case here. So sudden and complete
had been the disaster, that not a single article, beyond those
on the persons of the sufferers, came even in view. The
masts, sails, rigging, spare spars, in a word, everything
belonging to the vessel was submerged and hidden from
their sight, with the exception of a portion of the vessel's
bottom, which might be forty feet in length, and some ten
or fifteen in width, including that which was above water
on both sides of the keel, though one only of these sides
was available to the females, as a place to move about on.
Had Mulford only a boat-hook, he would have felt it a relief; for not only did the sharks increase in number. but
they grew more audacious, swimming so near the wreck
that, more than once, Mulford apprehended that some one
of the boldest of them might make an effort literally to
board them. It is true, he had never known of one of these
fishes attempting to quit his own element in pursuit of his
prey; but such things were reported, and those around the
wreck swam so close, and seemed so eager to get at those
who were on it, that there really might be some excuse for
fancying they might resort to unusual means of effecting
their object. It is probable that, like all other animals,
hey were emboldened by their own numbers, and were




226


JACK TIER:


acting in a sort of concert, that was governed by some of
the many mysterious laws of nature that have still escaped
human observation.
Thus passed the earlier hours of that appalling day.
Toward noon, Mulford had insisted on the females dividing
one of the oranges between them, and extracting its juice
by way of assuaging their thirst. The effect was most
grateful, as all admitted, and even Mrs. Budd urged Harry
and Tier to take a portion of the remaining orange; but
this both steadily refused. Mulford did consent to receive
a small portion of one of the apples, more with a view of
moistening his throat than to appease his hunger, though
it had, in a slight degree, the latter effect also. As for
Jack Tier, he declined even the morsel of apple, saying
that tobacco answered his purpose, as indeed it temporarily
might.
It was near sunset, when the steward's assistant called
Mulford aside, and whispered to him that he had something
private to communicate. The mate bade him say on, as
they were out of ear-shot of their companions.
" I've been in sitiations like this afore," said Jack, "and
one l'arns exper'ence by exper'ence. I know how cruel it
is on the feelin's to have the hopes disapp'inted in these
cases, and therefore shall proceed with caution. But, Mr.
Mulford, there 's a sail in sight, if there is a drop of water
in the Gulf!"
"A sail, Jack! I trust in Heaven you are not deceived!"
"Old eyes are true eyes in such matters, sir. Be care.
ful not to start the women. They go off like gunpowder,
and, Lord help 'em! have no more command over themselves, when you loosen 'em once, than so many flying-fish
with a dozen dolphins a'ter them. Look hereaway, sir,
just clear of the Irishwoman's bonnet, a little broad off the
spot where the reef was last seen -if that an't a sail, my
name is not Jack Tier."
A sail there was, sure enough! It was so very distant,
however, as to render its character still uncertain, though
Mulford fancied it was a square-rigged vessel heading to
the northward. By its position, it must be in one of the
channels of the reef, and by its course, if he were not de.
ceived, it was standing through, from the main passage




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


227


along the southern side of the rocks, to come out on the
northern. All this was favourable, and at first the young
mate felt such a throbbing of the heart as we all experience
when great and unexpected good intelligence is received.
A moment's reflection, however, made him aware how little
was to be hoped for from this vessel. In the first place,
her distance was so great as to render it uncertain even
which way she was steering. Then, there was the probability that she would pass at so great a distance as to render
it impossible to perceive an object as low as the wreck, and
the additional chance of her passing in the night. Under
all the circumstances, therefore, Mulford felt convinced
that there was very little probability of their receiving any
succour from the strange sail; and he fully appreciated Jack
Tier's motive in forbearing to give the usual call of " Sail,
ho!" when he made this discovery. Still, he could not
deny himself the pleasure of communicating to Rose the
cheering fact that a vessel was actually in sight.  She
could not reason on the circumstances as he had done, and
might at least pass several hours of comparative happiness
by believing that there was some visible chance of delivery.
The females received the intelligence with very different
degrees of hope. Rose was delighted. To her their rescue
appeared an event so very probable now, that Harry Mulford almost regretted he had given rise to an expectation
which he himself feared was to be disappointed. The feelings of Mrs. Budd were more suppressed. The wreck and
her present situation were so completely at variance with
all her former notions of the sea and its incidents, that she
was almost dumb-founded, and feared either to speak or to
think. Biddy differed from either of her mistresses - the
young or the old; she appeared to have lost all hope, and
her physical energy was fast giving way under her profound
moral debility.
From the return of light that day, Mulford had thought,
if it were to prove that Providence had withdrawn its protecting hand from them, Biddy, who to all appearance
ought to be the longest liver among the females at least,
would be the first to sink under her sufferings. Such is
the influence of moral causes on the mere animal.
Rose saw the night shut in around them, amid the solemn




228


JACK TIER;


solitude of the ocean, with a mingled sensation of awe and
hope. She had prayed devoutly, and often, in thp course
of the preceding day, and her devotions had contributed to
calm her spirits. Once or twice, while kneeling with her
head bowed to the keel, she had raised her eyes toward
Harry with a look of entreaty, as if she would implore him
to humble his proud spirit and place himself at her side,
and ask that succour from God which was so much needed,
and which indeed it began most seriously to appear that
God alone could yield. The young mate did not comply,
for his pride of profession and of manhood offered themselves as stumbling-blocks to prevent submission to his
secret wishes. Though he rarely prayed, Harry Mulford
was far from being an unbeliever, or one altogether regard
less of his duties and obligations to his Divine Creator
On the contrary, his heart was more disposed to resort to
such means of self-abasement and submission, than he put
in practice, and this because he had been taught to believe
that the Anglo-Saxon mariner did not call on Hercules, on
every occasion of difficulty and distress that occurred.
as was the fashion with the Italian and Romish seamen,
but he put his own shoulder to the wheel, confident that
Hercules would not forget to help him who knew how to
help himself. But Harry had great difficulty in withstanding Rose's silent appeal that evening, as she knelt at the
keel for the last time, and turned her gentle eyes upward
at him, as if to ask him once more to take his place at her
side. Withstand the appeal he did, however, though in his
inward spirit he prayed fervently to God to put away this
dreadful affliction from the young and innocent creature
before him. When these evening devotions were ended.
the whole party became thoughtful and silent,
It was necessary to sleep, and arrangements were made
to do so, if possible, with a proper regard for their security.
Mulford and Tier were to have the look-out, watch and
watch. This was done that no vessel might pass near them
unseen, and that any change in the weather might be noted
and looked to. As it was, the wind had fallen, and seemed
about to vary, though it yet stood in its old quarter, or a
little more easterly, perhaps. As a consequence, the drift
of the wreck, insomuch as it depended on the currents of




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


229


the air, was more nearly in a line with the direction of the
reef, and there was little ground for apprehending that they
might be driven further from it in the night. Although
that reef offered in reality no place of safety, that was
available to his party, Mulford felt it as a sort of relief, to
be certain that it was not distant, possibly influenced by a
vague hope that some passing wrecker or turtler might yet
pick them up.
The bottom of' the schooner and the destitute condition of
the party admitted of only very simple arrangements for the
night. The females placed themselves against the keel in
the best manner they could, and thus endeavoured to get a
little of the rest they so much needed. The day had been
warm, as a matter of course, and the contrast produced by
the setting of the sun was at first rather agreeable than
otherwise.  Luckily Rose had thrown a shawl over her
shoulders, not long before the vessel capsized, and in this
shawl she had been saved. It had been dried, and it now
served for a light covering to herself and her aunt, and added
essentially to their comfort. As for Biddy, she was too hardy
to need a shawl, and she protested that she should not think
of using one, had she been better provided. The patient,
meek manner in which that humble, but generous-hearted
creature submitted to her fate, and the earnestness with which
she had begged that " Miss Rosy" might have her morsel
of the portion of biscuit each received for a supper, had sen.
siblyimpressedMulford in her favour; and knowing how much
more necessary food was to sustain one of her robust frame
and sturdy habits, than to Rose, he had contrived to give
the woman, unknown to herself, a double allowance. Nor
was it surprising that Biddy did not detect this little act of
fraud in her favour, for this double allowance was merely a
single mouthful. The want of water had made itself much
more keenly felt than the want of food, for as yet anxiety,
excitement and apprehension prevented the appetite from
being much awakened, while the claims of thirst were increased rather than the reverse, by these very causes. Still,
no one had complained, on this or any other account, throughout the whole of the long and weary day which had passed.
Mulford took the first look-out, with the intention of catch.
ing a little sleep, if possible, during the middle hours of the
20




230


JACK TIER;


night, and of returning to his duty as morning approached
For the first hour nothing occurred to divert his attention
from brooding on the melancholy circumstances of their
situation. It seemed as ii' all around him had actually lost
the sense of their cares in sleep, and no sound was audible
amid that ocean waste, but the light washing of the water,
as the gentle waves rolled at intervals against the weather
side of the wreck. It was now that Mulford found a moment for prayer, and seated on the keel, that he called on
the Divine aid, in a fervent but silent petition to God, to put
away this trial from the youthful and beautiful Rose, at least,
though he himself perished. It was the first prayer that
Mulford had made in many months, or since he had joined
the Swash-a craft in which that duty was very seldom
thought of.
A few minutes succeeded this petition, when Biddy spoke.
"Missus-Madam Budd-dear Missus"-half whispered
the Irish woman, anxious not to disturb Rose, who lay furthest from her —" Missus, bees ye asleep at sich a time as
this?"
"No, Biddy; sleep and I are strangers to each other, and
are likely to be till morning. What do you wish to say?"
"Anything is betther than my own t'oughts, missus dear,
and I wants to talk to ye. Is it no wather at all they'll
give us so long as we stay in this place?"
"There is no one to give it to us but God, poor Biddy,
and he alone can say what, in his gracious mercy, it may
please him to do. Ah! Biddy, I fear me that I did an unwise and thoughtless thing, to bring my poor Rose to such
a place as this. Were it to be done over again, the riches
of Wall Street would not tempt me to be guilty of so wrong
a thing!"
The arm of Rose was thrown around her aunt's neck
and its gentle pressure announced how completely the offend
er was forgiven.
" I's very sorry for Miss Rose," rejoined Biddy " and I
suffers so much the more meself in thinking how hard it
must be for the like of her to be wantin' in a swallow of
fresh wather."
"It is no harder for me to bear it, poor Biddy," answered
the gentle voice of our heroine, " than it is for yourself."




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


'231


"Is it meself then? Sure am I, that ii I had a quar-r-t
of good, swate wather from our "own pump, and that's far
betther is it than the Crothon the best day the Crothon ever
seed-but had I a quar-r-t of it, every dhrap would I give
to you, Miss Rose, to app'ase your thirst, I would."
"Water would be a great relief to us all, just now, my
excellent Biddy," answered Rose, " and I wish we had but
a tumbler full of that you name, to divide equally among
the whole five of us."
"Is it divide? Then it would be ag'in dividin' that my
voice would be raised, for that same ra'son that the tumbler
would never hcld as much as you could dhrink yourself,
Miss Rose."
"Yet the tumbler full would be a great blessing for us all,
Just now," murmured Mrs. Budd.
' And is n't mutthon good 'atin', ladies! Och! if I had
but a good swate pratie, now, from my own native Ireland,
and a dhrap of milk to help wash it down! It 's mighty
little that a body thinks of sich thrifles when there's abundance of them; but when there 's none at all, they get to be
stronger in the mind than riches and honours."
" You say the truth, Biddy," rejoined the mistress, "and
there is a pleasure in talking of them, if one can't enjoy
them. I've been thinking all the afternoon, Rose, what a
delicious food is a good roast turkey, with cranberry sauce;
and I wonder, now, that I have not been more grateful for the
very many that Providence has bestowed on me in my time.
My poor Mr. Budd was passionately fond of mutton, and I
used wickedly to laugh at his fondness for it, sometimes,
when he always had his answer ready, and that was that
there are no sheep at sea. How true that is, Rosy dear!
there are indeed no sheep at sea!"
" No, aunty," answered Rose's gentle voice from beneath
the shawl;- " there are no such animals on the ocean, but
God is with us here as much as he would be in New York."
A long silence succeeded this simple remark of his well
beloved, and the young mate hoped that there would be no
more of a dialogue, every syllable of which was a dagger t6
his feelings. But nature was stronger than reflection in
Mrs. Budd and Biddy, and the latter spoke again, after a
pause of near a quarter of an hour




232


JACK  TIER;


"Pray for me, Missus," she said, moaning!y, " that I
may sleep. A bit of sleep would do a body almost as much
good as a bit of bread-I won't say as much as a dhrap of
wather."
" Be quiet, Biddy, and we will pray for you," answered
Rose, who fancied by her.breathing that her aunt was about
to forget her sufferings for a brief space, in broken slumbers
" Is it for you I '1 do that —nd sure will I, Miss Rose
Niver would I have quitted Ireland, could I have thought
there was sich a spot on this earth as a place where no
wather was to be had."
This was the last of Biddy's audible complaints, for the
remainder of this long and anxious watch of Mulford. He
then set himself about an arrangement which shall be menti-,ned in its proper place. At twelve o'clock, or when he
thought it was twelve, he called Jack Tier, who in turn
called the mate again at four.
" It looks dark and threatening," said Mulford, as he rose
to his feet'and began to look about him once more, " though
there does not appear to be any wind."
"It's a flat calm, Mr. Mate, and the darkness comes
from yonder cloud, which seems likely to bring a little rain."
" Rain! Then God is indeed with us here. You are
right, Jack; rain must fall from that cloud. We must catch
some of it, if it be only a drop to cool Rose's parched
tongue."
"In what?" answered Tier, gloomily; " She may wring
her clothes when the shower is over, and in that way get a
drop. I see no other method."
" I have bethought me of all that, and passed most of my
watch in making the preparations."
Mulford then showed Tier what he had been about, in
the long and solitary hours of the first watch. It would
seem that the young man had dug a little trench with his
knife, along the schooner's bottom, commencing two or
three feet from the keel, and near the spot where Rose was
lying, and carrying it as far as was convenient toward the
'run, until he reached a point where he had dug out a sort
of reservoir to contain the precious fluid, should any be sent
them by Providence. While doing this, there were no signs
of rain; but the young man knew that a shower alone could




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


233


save them from insanity, if not from death; and in speculating on the means of profiting by one, should it come, he
had bethought him of this expedient. The large knife of
a seaman had served him a good turn, in carrying on his
work, to complete which there remained now very little to
do, and that was in enlarging the receptacle for the water.
The hole was already big enough to contain a pint, and it
might easily be sufficiently enlarged to hold double that
quantity.
Jack was no sooner made acquainted with what had been
done, than he out knife and commenced tearing splinter
after splinter from the planks, to help enlarge the reservoir.
This could only be done by cutting on the surface, for the
wood was not three inches in thickness, and the smallest
hole through the plank, would have led to the rapid escape
of the air and to the certain sinking of the wreck. It required a good deal of judgment to preserve the necessary
level also, and Mulford was obliged to interfere more than
once to prevent his companion from doing more harm than
good. He succeeded, however, and had actually made a
cavity that might contain more than a quart of water, when
the first large drop fell from the heavens. This cavity was
not a hole, but a long, deep trench-deep for the circumstances-so nicely cut on the proper level, as to admit of
its holding a fluid in the quantity mentioned.
"Rose — dearest- rise, and be ready to drink," said
Mulford, tenderly disturbing the uneasy slumbers of his
beloved. " It is about to rain, and God is with us here, as
he might be on the land."
" Wather!" exclaimed Biddy, who was awoke with the
same call. "What a blessed thing is good swate wather,
and sure am I we ought all to be thankful that there is such
a precious gift in the wor-r-ld."
"Come, then," said Mulford, hurriedly," it will soon rain
-I hear it pattering on the sea. Come hither, all of you,
and drink, as a merciful God furnishes the means."
This summons was not likely to be neglected. All arose
in haste, and the word " water" was murmured from every
lip. Biddy had less self-command than the others, and she
was heard saying aloud,-" Och! and did n't 1 dhrame of
the blessed springs and wells of Ireland the night, and
20*




234               JACK    TIER;
have n't I dlrunk at 'em all? but now it's over, and I am
awake, no good has't done me, and I'm ready to die for
one dhrap of wather."
That drop soon came, however, and with it the blessed
relief which such a boon bestows. Mulford had barely time
to explain his arrangements, and to place the party on their
knees, along his little reservoir and the gutter which led to
it, when the pattering of the rain advanced along the sea,
with a deep rushing sound. Presently, the uplifted faces
and open mouths caught a few heavy straggling drops, to
cool the parched tongues, when the water came tumbling
down upon them in a thousand little streams. There was
scarcely any wind, and merely the skirt of a large black
cloud floated over the wreck, on which the rain fell barely
one minute. But it fell as rain comes down within the
tropics, and in sufficient quantities for all present purposes.
Everybody drank, and found relief, and, when all was over,
Mulford ascertained by examination that his receptacle for
the fluid was still fill to overflowing. The abstinence had
not been of sufficient length, nor the quantity taken of large
enough amount, to produce injury, though the thirst was
generally and temporarily appeased. It is probable that the
coolness of the hour, day dawning as the cloud moved past,
and the circumstance that the sufferers were wetted to their
skins, contributed to the change.
" Oh, blessed, blessed wather!" exclaimed Biddy, as she
rose from her knees; " America, afther all, is n't as dhry
a country as some say. I 've niver tasted swater wather in
Ireland itself!"
Rose murmured her thanksgiving in more appropriate
language. A few exclamations also escaped Mrs. Budd,
and Jack Tier had his sententious eulogy on the precious
qualities of sweet water.
The wind rose as the day advanced, and a swell began
to heave the wreck with a power that had hitherto been
dormant. Mulford understood this to be a sign that there
had been a blow at some distance from them, that had
thrown the sea into a state of agitation, which extended
itself beyond the influence of the wind. Eagerly did the
young mate examine the horizon, as the curtain of night
arose, inch by inch, as it might be, on the watery pano



OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


235


rama, in the hope that a vessel of some sort or other might
be brought within the view. Nor was he wholly disap.
pointed. The strange sail seen the previous evening was
actually there; and what was more, so near as to allow her
hull to be distinctly visible. It was a ship, under her square
canvas, standing from between divided portions of the reef,
as if getting to the northward, in order to avoid the opposing current of the Gulf Stream. Vessels bound to Mobile,
New Orleans, and other ports along the coast of the Republic, in that quarter of the ocean, often did this; and
when the young mate first caught glimpses of the shadowy
outline of this ship, he supposed it to be some packet, or
cotton-droger, standing for her port on the northern shore.
But a few minutes removed the veil, and with it the error
of this notion. A seaman could no longer mistake the craft.
Her length, her square and massive hamper, with the symmetry of her spars, and the long, straight outline of the hull,
left no doubt that it was a cruiser, with her hammocks unstowed. Mulford now cheerfully announced to his companions, that the ship they so plainly saw, scarcely a
gun-shot distant from them, was the sloop-of-war which had
already become a sort of an acquaintance.
" If we can succeed in making them see our signal,"
cried Mulford, "all will yet be well. Come, Jack, and
help me to put abroad this shawl, the only ensign we can
show."
The shawl of Rose was the signal spread. Tier and
Mulford stood on the keel, and holding opposite corners,
let the rest of the cloth blow out with the wind. For near
an hour did these two extend their arms, and try all possible expedients to make their signal conspicuous. But, unfortunately, the wind blew directly toward the cruiser, and
instead of exposing a surface of any breadth to the vision
of those on board her, it must, at most, have offered little
more than a flitting, waving line.
As the day advanced, sail was made on the cruiser. She
had stood through the passage, in which she had been be.
calmed most of the night, under short canvas; but now she
threw out fold after fold of her studding-sails, and moved
away to the westward, with the stately motion of a ship be.
tore the wind. No sooner had she got far enough to the




4


236                JACK TIER;
northward of the reef, than she made a deviation from he
course as first seen, turning her stern entirely to the wreck,
and rapidly becoming less and less distinct to the eyes ot
those who floated on it.
Mulford saw the hopelessness of their case, as it respected relief from this vessel; still, he persevered in maintaining
his position on the keel, tossing and waving the shawl, in
all the variations that his ingenuity could devise. He well
knew, however, that their chances of being seen would
have been trebled could they have been ahead instead of
astern of the ship. Mariners have few occasions to look behind them, while a hundred watchful eyes are usually turned
ahead, more especially when running near rocks and shoals.
Mrs. Budd wept like an infant when she saw the sloop-ofwar gliding away, reaching a distance that rendered sight
useless, in detecting an object that floated as low on the
water as the wreck. As for Biddy, unable to control her
feelings, the poor creature actually called to the crew of the
departing vessel, as if her voice had the power to make itself
-heard, at a distance which already exceeded two leagues.
It was only by means of the earnest remonstrances of Rose,
that the faithful creature could be quieted.
"Why will ye not come to our relaif?" she cried at the
top of her voice. "Here are we, helpless as new-born babies, and ye sailing away from us in a conthrary way!
D'ye not bethink you of the missus, who is much of a sailor, but not sich a one as to sail on a wrack; and poor Miss
Rose, who is the char-rm and delight of all eyes. Only
come and take off Miss Rose, and lave the rest of us, if ye
so likes; for it's a sin and a shame to lave the likes of her
to die in the midst of the ocean, as if she was no betther
nor a fish. Then it will be soon that we shall ag'in feel
the want of wather, and that, too, with nothing but wather
to be seen on all sides of us."
" It is of no use," said Harry, mournfully, stepping down
from the keel, and laying aside the shawl. "They cannot
see us, and the distance is now so great as to render it
certain they never will. There is only one hope left. We
are evidently set to and fro by the tides, and it is possible
that by keeping in or near this passage, some other craft
may appear, and we be more fortunate. The relief of the




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


237


rainl is a sign that we are not forgotten by Divine Provi.
dence, and with such a protector we ought not to despair."
A gloomy and scanty breaking of the fast succeeded.
Each person had one large mouthful of bread, which was
all that prudence would authorize Mulford to distribute.
He attempted a pious fraud, however, by placing his own
allowance along with that of Rose's, under the impression
that her strength might not endure privation as well as his
own. But the tender solicitude of Rose was not to be thus
deceived. Judging of his wishes and motives by her own,
she at once detected the deception, and insisted on retaining no more than her proper share. When this distribution
was completed, and the meagre allowance taken, only sufficient bread remained to make one more similar scanty
meal, if meal a single mouthful could be termed. As for
the water, a want of which would be certain to be felt as
soon as the sun obtained its noon-day power, the shawl was
extended over it, in a gay to prevent evaporation as much
as possible, and at the same time to offer some resistance
to the fluid's being washed from its shallow receptacle by
the motion of the wreck, which was sensibly increasing
with the increase of the wind and waves.
Mulford had next an anxious duty to perform. Throughout the whole of the preceding day he had seen the air es.
caping from the hull, in an incessant succession of small
bubbles, which were formidable through their numbers, if
not through their size. The mate was aware that this unceasing loss of the buoyant property of the wreck, must
eventually lead to their destruction, should no assistance
come, and he had marked the floating line, on the bottom
of the vessel with his knife, ere darkness set in, on the previous evening. No sooner did his thoughts recur to this
fact, after the excitement of the first hour of daylight was
over, than he stepped to the different places thus marked,
and saw, with an alarm that it would be difficult to describe, that the wreck had actually sunk into the water
several inches within the last few hours. This was, indeed,
menacing their security in a most serious manner, setting
a limit to their existence, which rendered all precaution on
the subject of food and water useless. By the calculations
of the mate, the wreck could not float more than eight-and.




238


JACK TIER;


forty ilours, should it continue to lose the air at the rate at
which it had been hitherto lost. Bad as all this appeared,
things were fated to become much more serious. The mo.
tion of the water quite sensibly increased, lifting the wreck
at times in a way greatly to increase the danger of their
situation. The reader will understand this movement did
not proceed from the waves of the existing wind, but from
what is technically called a ground-swell, or the long, heavy
undulations that are left by the tempest that is past, or by
some distant gale. The waves of the present breeze were
not very formidable, the reef making a lee; though they
might possibly become inconvenient from breaking on the
weather side of the wreck, as soon as the drift carried the
latter fairly abreast of the passage already mentioned. But
the dangers that proceeded from the heavy ground-swell,
which now began to give a considerable motion to the
wreck, will best explain itself by narrating the incidents as
they occurred.
Harry had left his marks, and had taken his seat on the
keel at Rose's side, impatiently waiting for any turn that
Providence might next give to their situation, when a heavy
roll of the wreck first attracted his attention to this new circumstance.
" If any one is thirsty," he observed quietly, " he or she
had better drink now, while it may be done. Two or three
more such rolls as this last will wash all the water from our
gutters."
"Wather is a blessed thing," said Biddy, with a longing
expression of the eyes, " and it would be betther to swallow
it than to let it be lost."
"Then drink, for Heaven's sake, good woman-it may
be the last occasion that will offer."
"Sure am I that I would not touch a dhrap, while the
missus and Miss Rosy was a sufferin'."
"I have no thirst at all," answered Rose, sweetly, " and
have already taken more water than was good for me, with
so little food on my stomach."
"Eat another morsel of the bread, beloved," whispered
Harry, in a manner so urgent that Rose gratefully complied.
"Drink, Biddy, and we will come and share with yoen he
fore the water is wasted by this increasing motion "




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


239


Biddy did as desired, and each knelt in turn and took a
little of the grateful fluid, leaving about a gill in the gutters
for the use of those whose lips might again become parched.
"Wather is a blessed thing," repeated Biddy, for the
twentieth time —" a blessed, blessed thing is wather!"
A little scream  from Mrs. Budd, which was dutifully
taken up by the maid, interrupted the speech of the latter,
and every eye was turned on Mulford, as if to ask an explanation of the groaning sound that had been heard within
the wreck. The young mate comprehended only too well.
The rolling of the wreck had lifted a portion of the open
hatchway above the undulating surface of the sea, and a
large quantity of the pent air withinthe hold had escaped
in a body. The entrance of water to supply the vacuum
had produced the groan. Mulford had made new marks
on the vessel's bottom with his knife, and he stepped down
to them, anxious and nearly heart-broken, to note the effect.
That one surging of the wreck had permitted air enough
to escape to lower it in the water several inches. As yet,
however, the visible limits of their floating foundation had
not been sufficiently reduced to attract the attention of the
females; and the young man said nothing on the subject.
He thought that Jack Tier was sensible of the existence of
this new source of.danger, but if he were, that experienced
mariner imitated his own reserve, and made no allusion to
it. Thus passed the day. Occasionally the wreck rolled
heavily, when more air escaped, the hull settling lower and
lower in the water as a necessary consequence. The little
bubbles continued incessantly to rise, and Mulford became
satisfied that anotler day must decide their fate. Taking
this view of their situation, he saw no use in reserving their
food, but encouraged his companions to share the whole of
what remained at sunset. Little persuasion was necessary,
and when night once more came to envelope them in darkness, not a mouthful of food or a drop of water remained
to meet the necessities of the coming morn. It had rained
again for a short time, in the course of the afternoon, when
enough water had been caught to allay their thirst, and
what was almost of as much importance to the females now,
a sufficiency of sun had succeeded to dry their clothes, thus
enabling them to sleep without enduring the chilling damps




240


JACK TIER;


that might otherwise have prevented it. The wind ha,
sensibly fallen, and the ground-swell was altogether gone,
but Muiford was certain that the relief had come too late.
So much air had escaped while it lasted as scarce to leave
him the hope that the wreck could float until morning.
The rising of the bubbles was now incessant, the crevices
by which they escaped having most probably opened a little,
in consequence of the pressure and the unceasing action
of the currents, small as the latter were.
Just as darkness was shutting in around them for the
second time, Rose remarked to Mulford that it seemed to
her that they had not as large a space for their little world
as when they were first placed on it. The mate, however,
successfully avoided an explanation; and when the watch
was again set for the night, the females lay down to seek
their repose, more troubled with apprehensions for a morrow
of hunger and thirst, than by any just fears that might so
well have arisen from the physical certainty that the body
which alone kept them from being engulfed in the sea, could
float but a few hours longer. This night Tier kept the
look-out until Jupiter reached the zenith, when Mulford
was called to hold the watch until light returned.
It may seem singular that any could sleep at all in such
a situation. But we get accustomed, in an incredibly short
time, to the most violent changes; and calamities that seem
insupportable, when looked at from a distance, lose half
their power if met and resisted with fortitude. The last
may, indeed, be too insignificant a word to be applied to
all of the party on the wreck, on the occasion of which we
are writing, though no one of them all betrayed fears that
were troublesome. Of Mulford it is unnecessary to speak.
His deportment had been quiet, thoughtful, and full of a
manly interest in the comfort of others, from the first mo.
ment of the calamity. That Rose should share the largest
in.his attentions was natural enough, but he neglected no
essential duty to her companions. Rose, herself, had little
hope of being rescued. Her naturally courageous character,
however, prevented any undue exhibitions of despair, and
now it was that the niece became the principal support of
the aunt, completely changing the relations that had formerly existed between them. Mrs. Budd had lost all the




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


241.lttle buoyancy of her mind. Not a syllable did she now
utter concerning ships and their manoeuvres. She had
been, at first, a little disposed to be querulous and despairing,
but the soothing and pious conversation of Rose awakened
a certain degree of resolution in her, and habit soon exercised its influence over even her inactive mind. Biddy war
a strange mixture of courage, despair, humility, and consideration for others. Not once had she taken her small
allowance of food without first offering it, and that, too, in
perfect good faith, to her " Missus and Miss Rosy;" yet
her moanings for this sort of support, and her complaints
of bodily suffering much exceeded that of all the rest of the
party put together. As for Jack Tier, his conduct singularly belied his appearance. No one would have expected
any great show of manly resolution from the little rotund,
lymphatic figure of Tier; but he had manifested a calmness
that denoted either gre't natural courage, or a resolution
derived from familiarity with danger. In this particular,
even Mulford regarded his deportment with surprise, not
unmingled with respect.
" You have had a tratiqutil watch, Jack," said Harry,
when he was called by the person named, and had fairly
aroused himself from his slumbers. "Has the wind stood
as it is since sunset? "
" No change whateverfsir. It has blown a good working
breeze the whole watch, and what is surprising not as much
lipper has got up as would frighten a colt on a sea-beach."
" We must be neai the reef, by that. I think the only
currents we feel come from the tide, and they seem to be
setting us back and forth, instead of carrying us in any one
settled direction."
" Quite likely, sir; and this makes my opinion of what
I saw an hour since all the more probable."
" What you saw! In the name of a merciful Providence,
Tier, do not trifle with me! Has any thing been seen
near by ". "Don't talk to me of your liquors and other dhrinks,"
murmured Biddy in her sleep. "It's wather that is a
blessed thing; and I wish I lived, the night and the day,
by the swate pump that's in our own yard, I do."; The woman has been talking in her sleep, in this fashion,
21.




242


JACK  TIER;


most of the watch," observed Jack, coolly, and perhaps a
little contemptuously. " But, Mr. Mulford, unless my eyes
have cheated me, we are near that boat again. The passage
through the reef is close aboard us, here, on our larboard
bow, as it might be, and the current has sucked us in it in.a fashion to bring it in a sort of athw-art-hawse direction
to us."
"If that boat, after all, should be sent by Providence to
our relief! How long is it since you saw it, Jack."
" But a bit since, sir; or, for that matter, I think I see
it now. Look hereaway, sir, just where the dead-eyes of
the fore-rigging would bear from us, if the craft stOod upon
her legs, as she ought to do. I that isn't a boat, it's a rock
nut of water."
Mulford gazed through the Loom of midnight, and saw,
or fancied he saw, an object that might really be the boat.
It could not be very distant citheI; and his mind was instantly made up as to the course be would pursue. Should
it actually turn out to be that which he now so much hoped
for, and its distance in the morning did not prove too great
for human powers, he was resolved to swim for it at the
hazard of his life. In the meantime, or until light should
return, there remained nothing to do but to exercise as
much patience as could be summoned, and to confide in
God, soliciting his powerful s.lcour by secret prayer.
Mulford was no sooner left alone, as it might be, by
Tier's seeking a place in which to take his rest, than he
again examined the state of the wrack. Little as he had
hoped from its long-continued buoyancy, he found matters
even worse than he apprehended they would be. The hull
had lost much air, and had consequently sunk in the water
in an exact proportion to this loss. The space that was
actually above the water, was reduced to an area not more
than six or seven feet in one direction, by some ten or
twelve in the other. This was reducing its extent, since
the evening previous, by fully one half; and there could be
no doubt that the air was escaping, in consequence of the
additional pressure, in a ratio that increased by a sort of
arithmetical. progression. The young man knew that the
whole/ wreck, under its peculiar circumstances, might sink
entirely;beneath 'the surface, and yet possess sufficient




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


243


buoyancy to sustain those that were on it for a time longer,
but this involved the terrible necessity of leaving the females
partly submerged themselves.
Our mate heard his own heart beat, as he became satisfied
of the actual condition of the wreck, and of the physical
certainty that existed of its sinkiug, at least to the point
last mentioned, ere the sun came to throw his glories over
the last view that the sufferers would be permitted to take
of the face of day. It appeared to him that no time was to
be lost. There lay the dim and shapeless object that seemed
to be the boat, distant, as he thought, about a mile. It
would not have been visible at all but for the perfect smoothness of the sea, and the low position occupied by the observer. At times it did disappear altogether, when it would
rise again, as if undulating in the ground-swell. This last
circumstance, more than any other, persuaded Harry that
it was not a rock, but some floating object that he beheld.
Thus encouraged, he delayed no longer. Every moment
was precious, and all might be lost by indecision. He did
not like the appearance of deserting his companions, but,
should he fail, the motive would appear in the act. Should
he fail, every one would alike soon be beyond the reach of
censure, and in a state of being that would do full justice
to all.
Harry threw off most of his clothes, reserving only his
shirt and a pair of light summer trowsers. He could not
quit the wreck, however, without taking a sort of leave of
Rose. On no account would he awake her, for he appre.
ciated the agony she would feel during the period of his
struggles. Kneeling at her side, he made a short prayer,
then pressed his lips to her warm cheek, and left her. Rose
murmured his name at that instant, but it was as the inno.
cent and young betray their secrets in their slumbers.
Neither of the party awoke.
It was a moment to prove the heart of man, that in which
Harry Mulford, in the darkness of midnight, alone, tnsustained by any encouraging eye, or approving voice, with
no other aid than his own stout arm, and the unknown
designs of a mysterious Providence, committed his form to
the sea. For an instant he paused, after he had waded
iown on the wreck to a spot where the water already




244.ACK    TIER.
mounted to his breast, but it was not in misgivings. He
calculated the chances, and made an intelligent use of such
assistance as could be had.  There had been no sharks
near the wreck thay day, but a splash in the water might
bring them back again in a crowd. They were probably
prowling over the reef, near at hand. The mate used great
care, therefore, to make no noise. There was the distant
object, and he set it by a bright star, that wanted about an
hour before it would sink beneath the horizon. That star
was his beacon, and muttering a few words in earnest prayer,
the young man threw his body forward, and left the wreck
swimming lightly but with vigor.




OR; THE FLORIDA REEF.


245


CHAPTER IX.
The night has been unruly: where we lay,
Our chimneys were blown down: and, as they say,
Lamentings heard i' the air; strange screams of death
And prophesying, with accents terriblei
Of dire combustion, and confused events,
New hatched to the woful time.
Macbeth.
IT is seldom that man is required tc make an exertion
as desperate and appalling, in all its circumstances, as that
on which Harry Mulford was now bent. The night was
starlight, it was true, and it was possible to see objects
near by with tolerable distinctness; still, it was midnight,
and the gloom of that hour rested on the face of the sea,
lending its solemn mystery and obscurity to the other trying features of the undertaking.  Then there was the
uncertainty whether it was the boat at all, of which he
was in pursuit; and, if the boat, it might drift away from
him as fast as he could follow it. Nevertheless, the per
feet conviction that, without some early succour, the party
on the wreck, including Rose Budd, must inevitably perish,
stimulated him to proceed, and a passing feeling of doubt,
touching the prudence of his course, that came over the
young mate, when he was a few yards from the wreck,
vanished under a vivid renewal of this last conviction. On
he swam, therefore, riveting his eye on the "thoughtful
star' that guided his course, and keeping his mind as
tranquil as possible, in order that the exertions of his body
might be the easier.
Mulford was an excellent swimmer. The want of food
was a serious obstacle to his making one of his best efforts,
21 *




246


JACK TIER;


but, as yet, he was not. very sensible of any great loss ot
strength. Understanding fully the necessity of swimming
easily, if he would swim long, he did not throw out all his
energy at first, but made the movements of his limbs as
regular, continued, and skilful as possible. No strength
was thrown away, and his progress was in proportion to
the prudence of this manner of proceeding. For some
twenty minutes he held on his course, in this way, when
he began to experience a little of that weariness which is
apt to accompany an unremitted use of the same set of
muscles, in a monotonous and undeviating mode. Accustomed to all the resources of his art, he turned on his back,
for the double purpose of relieving his arms for a minute,
and of getting a glimpse of the wreck, if possible, in order to ascertain  he distance he had overcome.  Swim
long in this new manner, however, he could not with
prudence, as the star was necessary in order to keep the
direct line of his course. It may be well to explain to
some of our readers, that, though the surface of tne
ocean may be like glass, as sometimes really happens, it is
never absolutely free from the long, undulating motion that
is known by the name of a " ground swell." This swell,
on the present occasion, was not very heavy, but it was
sufficient to place our young mate, at moments, between
two dark mounds of water, that limited his view in either
direction to some eighty or a hundred yards; then it raised
him on the summit of a rounded wave, that enabled him
to see, far as his eye could reach under that obscure light.
Profiting by this advantage, Mulford now looked behind
him, in quest of the wreck, but uselessly. It might have
been in the trough, while he was thus on.the summit of
the waves, or it might be that it floated so low as to be
totally lost to the view of one whose head was scarcely
above the surface of the water. For a single instant, the
young man felt a chill at his heart, as he fancied that the
wreck had already sunk; but it passed away when he recalled the slow progress by which the air escaped, and he
saw the certainty that the catastrophe, however inevitable,
could not yet have really arrived. He waited for another
swell to lift him on its summit, when, by "treading water,"
he raised his head and shoulders fairly above the surface




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


24


of the sea, and strained his eyes in another vain effort to
catch a glimpse of the wreck. He could not see it. In
point of fact, the mate had swum much further than he had
supposed, and was already so distant as to render any such
attempt hopeless. He was fully a third of a mile distant
from the point of his departure.
Disappointed, and in a slight degree disheartened,-Mul.
ford turned, and swam in the direction of the sinking star.
He now looked anxiously for the boat. It was time that it
came more plainly into view, and a new source of anxiety
beset him, as he could discover no signs of its vicinity.
Certain that he was on the course, after making a due allowance for the direction of the wind, the stout-hearted
young man swam on. He next determined not to annoy
himself by fruitless searches, or vain regrets, but to swim
steadily for a certain time, a period long enough to carry
him a material distance, ere he again looked for the object
of his search.
For twenty minutes longer did that courageous and active youth struggle with the waste of waters, amid the obscurity and solitude of midnight. He now believed himself
near a mile from the wreck, and the star which had so long
served him for a beacon was getting near to the horizon.
He took a new observation of another of the heavenly
bodies nigh it, to serve him in its stead when it should disappear altogether, and then he raised himself in the water,
and looked about again for the boat. The search was in
vain. No boat was very near him, of a certainty, and the
dreadful apprehension began to possess his mind, of perishing uselessly in that waste of gloomy waters. While thus
gazing about him, turning his eyes in every quarter, hoping
intently to catch some glimpse of the much-desired object
in the gloom, he saw two dark, pointed objects, that resem-.
bled small stakes, in the water within twenty feet of him.
Mulford knew them at a glance, and a cold shudder passed
through his frame, as he recognised them. They were,
out of all question, the fins of an enormous shark; an animal that could not measure less than eighteen or twenty
eet in length.
It is scarcely necessary to say, that when our young mate
discovered the proximity of this dangerous animal, situated




248


JACK  TIER;


as he was, he gave himself up for lost. He possessed his
knife, however, and had heard of the manner in which even
sharks were overcome, and that too in their own element,
by the skilful and resolute. At first, he was resolved to
make one desperate effort for life, before he submitted to a
fate as horrible as that which now menaced him; but the
movements of his dangerous neighbour'induced him to wait.
It did not approach any nearer, but continued swimming
back and fro, on the surface of the water, according to the
known habits of the fish, as if watching his own movements.
There being no time to be wasted, our young mate turned
on his face, and began again to swim in the direction of
the setting star, though nearly chilled by despair. For ten
minutes longer did he struggle on, beginning to feel exhaustion, however, and always accompanied by those two
dark, sharp and gliding fins. There was no difficulty in
knowing the position of the animal, and Mulford's eyes
were oftener on those fins than on the beacon before him.
Strange as it may appear, he actually became accustomed
to the vicinity of this formidable creature, and soon felt his
presence a sort of relief against the dreadful solitude of his
situation. He had been told by seamen of instances, and
had once witnessed a case himself, in which a shark had
attended a swimming man for a long distance, either forbearing to do him harm, from repletion, or influenced by
that awe which nature has instilled into all of the inferior,
for the highest animal of the creation. He began to think
that he was thris favoured, and really regarded the shark as
a friendly neighbour, rather than as a voracious foe. In
this manner did the. two proceed, nearly another third of a
mile, the fins sometimes in sight ahead, gliding hither and
thither, and sometimes out of view behind the swimmer,
leaving him in dreadful doubts as to the movements of the
fish, when Mulford suddenly felt something hard hit his
foot. Believing it to be the shark, dipping for his prey, a
slight exclamation escaped him. At the next instant both
feet hit the unknown substance again, and he stood erect,
the water no higher than his waist! Quick, and comprehending everything connected with the sea, the young man
at once understood that he was on a part of the reef where
the water was so shallow as to admit of his wading




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


249


Mulford felt that he had been providentially rescued from
death. His strength had been about to fail him, when he
was thus led, unknown to himself, to a spot where his life
might yet be possibly prolonged for a few more hours, or
days. He had leisure to look about him, and to reflect on
what was next to be done. Almost unwittingly, he turned
in quest of his terrible companion, in whose voracious
mouth he had actually believed himself about to be immolated, a few seconds before. There the two horn-like fins
still were, gliding about above the water, and indicating
the smallest movement of their formidable owner. The
mate observed that they went a short distance ahead of him,
describing nearly a semi-circle, and then returned, doing
the same thing in his rear, repeating the movements incessantly, keeping always on his right. This convinced him
that shoaler water existed on his left hand, and he waded
in that direction, until he reached a small spot of naked
rock.
For a time, at least, he was safe! The fragment of coral
on which the mate now stood, was irregular in shape, but
might have contained a hundred feet square in superficial
measurement, and was so little raised above the level of
the water as not to be visible, even by daylight, at the distance of a hundred yards. Mulford found it was perfectly
dry, however, an important discovery to him, as by a close
calculation he had made of the tides, sincequitting the Dry
Tortugas, he knew it must be near high water. Could he
have even this small portion of bare rock secure, it made
him, for the moment, rich as the most extensive landholder
living. A considerable quantity of sea-weed had lodged
on the rock, and, as most of this was also quite dry, it convinced the young sailor that the place was usually bare.
But, though most of this sea-weed was dry, there were portions of the more recent accessions there that still lay in,
or quite near to the water, which formed exceptions. In
handling these weeds, in order to ascertain the facts, Mulford caught a small shell-fish, and finding it fresh and easy
to open, he swallowed it with the eagerness of a famishing
man. Never had food proved half so grateful to him as
tnat single swallow of a very palatable testaceous animal.
By feeling further, he found several others of the same




250


JACK TIER;


family, and made quite as large a meal, as, under the cir.
cumstances, was probably good for him. Then, grateful
for his escape, but overcome by fatigue, he hastily arranged
a bed of sea-weed, drew a portion of the plant over his body,
to keep him warm, and fell into a deep sleep that lasted for
hours.
Mulford did not regain his consciousness until the rays
of the rising sun fell upon his eye-lids, and the genial
warmth of the great luminary shed its benign influence
over his frame. At first his mind was confused, and it required a few seconds to bring a perfect recollection of the
past, and a true understanding of his real situation. They
came, however, and the young man moved to the highest
part of his little domain, and cast an anxious, hurried look
around in quest of the wreck. A knowledge of the course
in which he had swum, aided by the position of the sun,
told him on what'part of the naked waste to look for the
object he sought. God had not yet forsaken them! There
was the wreck; or, it might be more exact to say, there
were those whom the remaining buoyancy of the wreck
still upheld from sinking into the depths of the gulf. In
point of fact, but a very little of the bottom of the vessel
actually remained above water, some two or three yards
square at most, and that little was what seamen term nearly
awash. Two or three hours must bury that small portion
of the still naked wood beneath the surface of the sea,
though sufficient buoyancy might possibly remain for the
entire day still to keep the living from death.
There the wreck was, however, yet floating; and, though
not visible to Mulford, with a small portion of it above
water. He saw the four persons only; and what was more,
they saw him. This was evident by Jack Tier's waving
his hat like a man cheering. \hen Mulford returned this
signal, the shawl of Rose was tossed into the air, in a way
to leave no doubt that he was seen and known. The explanation of this early recognition and discovery of the
young mate was very simple. Tier was not asleep when
Harry left the wreck, though, seeing the importance of the
step the other was taking, he had feigned to be so. When
Rose awoke, missed her lover, and was told what had happened, her heart was kept from sinking by his encouraging.




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


251


tale and hopes. An hour of agony had succeeded, nevertheless, when light returned and no Mulford was to be seen
The despair that burst upon the heart of our heroine was
followed by the joy of discovering him on the rock.
It is scarcely necessary to say how much the parties were
relieved on ascertaining their respective positions. Faint
as were the hopes of each of eventual delivery, the two or
three minutes that succeeded seemed to be minutes of perfect happiness. After this rush of unlooked-for joy, Mulford continued his intelligent examination of surrounding
objects.
The wreck was fully half a mile from the rock of the
mate, but much nearer to the reef than it had been the
previous night. "Could it but ground on the rocks,"
thought the young man, "it would be a most blessed
event."  The thing was possible, though the first half hour
of his observations told him that its drift was in the direc.
tion of the open passage so often named, rather than toward
the nearest rocks. Still, that drift brought Rose each
minute nearer and nearer to himself again. In looking
round, however, the young man saw the boat. It was a
quarter of a mile distant, with open water between them,
apparently grounded on a rock, for it was more within the
reef than he was himself. He must have passed it in the
dark, and the boat had been left to obey the wind and currents, and to drift to the spot where it then lay.
Mulford shouted aloud when he saw the boat, and at
once determined to swim in quest of it, as soon as he had
collected a little refreshment from among the sea-weed. On
taking a look at his rock by daylight, he saw that its size
was quadrupled to the eye by the falling of the tide, and
that water was lying in several of the cavities of its uneven
surface. At first he supposed this to be sea-water, left by
the flood; but, reflecting a moment, he remembered the
rain, and hoped it might be possible that one little cavity,
containing two or three gallons of the fluid, would turn out
to be fresh. Kneeling beside it, he applied his lips in feverish haste, and drank the sweetest draught that had ever
passed his lips. Slaking his thirst, which had begun again
to be painfully severe, he arose with a heart overflowing
with gratitude-could he only get Rose to that narrow ana




~.~)~             JACK TIER;
barren rock, it would seem to be an earthly paradise. Muil
ford next made his scanty, but, all things considered, sufficient meal, drank moderately afterward, and then turned
his attention and energies toward the boat, which, though
now aground and fast, might soon float on the rising tide,
and drift once more beyond his reach. It was his first in.
tention to swim directly for his object; but, just when about
to enter the water, he saw with horror the fins of at least a
dozen sharks, which were prowling about in the deeper water
of the reef, and almost encircling his hold. To throw himself in the midst of such enemies would be madness, and
he stopped to reflect, and again to look about him. For
the first time that morning, he took a survey of the entire
horizon, to see if anything were in sight; for, hitherto, his
thoughts had been too much occupied with Rose and her
companions, to remember anything else. To the northward and westward he distinctly saw the upper sails of a
large ship, that was standing on a wind to the northward
and eastward. As there was no port to which a vessel of
that character would be likely to be bound in the quarter
of the Gulf to which such a course would lead, Mulford at
once inferred it was the sloop-of-war, which, after having
examined the islets, at the Dry Tortugas, and finding them
deserted, was beating up, either to go into Key West, or
to pass to the southward of the reef again, by the passage
through which she had come as lately as the previous day.
This was highly encouraging; and could he only get to the
boat, and remove the party from the wreck before it sunk,
there was now every prospect of a final escape.
To the southward, also, the mate fancied he saw a sail.
It was probably a much smaller vessel than the ship in the
north-west, and at a greater distance. It might, however,
be the lofty sails of some large craft, standing along the
reef, going westward, bound to New Orleans, or to that
new and important port, Point Isabel: or it might be some
wrecker, or other craft, edging away into the passage. As
it was, it appeared only as a speck in the horizon, and was
too far off to offer much prospect of succour.
Thus acquainted with the state of things around him,
Mulford gave his attention seriously to his duties. He was
chiefly afraid that the returning tide might lift the boat




OR, TIE FLORIDA  REEF.


253


irom the rock on which it had grounded, and that it would
float beyond his reach. Then there was the frightful and
ever-increasing peril of the wreck, and the dreadful fate
that so inevitably menaced those that it held, were not relief prompt. This thought goaded him nearly to desperation, and he felt at moments almost ready to plunge into
the midst of the sharks, and fight his way to his object.
But reflection showed him a less hazardous way of mak
ing an effort to reach the boat. The sharks' fins described
a semicircle only, as had been the case of his single attend.
ant during the night, and he thought that the shealness of
the water prevented their going further than they did, in a
south-easterly direction, which was that of the boat. He
well knew that a shark required sufficient water to sink
beneath its prey, ere it made its swoop, and that it uniformly turned on its back, and struck upward whenever it
gave one of its voracious bites. This was owing to the
greater length of its upper than of its lower jaw, and Mulford had heard it was a physical necessity of its formation.
Right or wrong, he determined to act on this theory, and
began at once to wade along the part of the reef that his
enemies seemed unwilling to approach.
Had our young mate a weapon of any sort larger than
his knife, he would have felt greater confidence in his success. As it was, however, he drew' that knife, and was
prepared to sell his life dearly should a foe assail him. No
sooner was his step heard in the water, than the whole
group of sharks were set in violent motion, glancing past,
and frequently quite near him, as if aware their intended
prey was about to escape. Had the water deepened much,
Harry would have returned at once, for a conflict with such
numbers would have been hopeless; but it did not; on the
contrary, it shoaled again, after a very short distance, at
which it had been waist-deepi and Mulford found himself
wading over a long, broad surface of rock, and that directly
toward the boat, through water that seldom rose above his
knees, and which, occasionally, scarce covered his feet.
There was no absolutely naked rock near him, but there,eemed to be acres of that which might be almost said to
be awash. Amid the greedy throng that endeavoured to
accompany him, the mate even fancied he recognised the
22




d54


JACK r TIER:


enormous fins of his old companion, who sailed to and fro
in the crowd in a stately manner, as if merely a curious
looker-on of his own movements. It was the smaller, and
probably the younger sharks, that betrayed the greatest
hardihood and voracity  One or two of these made fierce
swoops toward Harry, as if bent on having him at every
hazard; but they invariably glided off when they found
their customary mode of attack resisted by the shoalness
of the water.
Our young mate got ahead but slowly, being obliged to
pay a cautious attention to the movements of his escort.
Sometimes' he was compelled to wade up to his arms in
order to cross narrow places, that he might get on portions
of the rock that were nearly bare; and once he was actually compelled to swim eight or ten yards. Nevertheless,
he did get on, and after an hour of this sort of work, he
found himself within a hundred yards of the boat, which
lay grounded near a low piece of naked rock, but separated
from it by a channel of deep water, into which all the
sharks rushed in a body, as if expressly to cut off his escape. Mulford now paused to take breath, and to consider
what ought to be done. On the spot where he stood he
was quite safe, though ancle-deep in the sea, the shallow
water extending to a considerable distance on all sides of
him, with the single exception of the channel in his front.
He stood on the very verge of that channel, and could see
in the pellucid element before him, that it was deep enough
to float a vessel of some size.
To venture into the midst of twenty sharks required
desperation, and Harry was not yet reduced to that. He
had been so busy in making his way to the point where he
stood as to have no leisure to look for the wreck; but he
now turned his eyes in quest of that all-interesting object.
He saw the shawl fluttering in the breeze, and that was all
he could see. Tier had contrived to keep it flying as a
signal where he was to be found, but the hull of the schooner
had sunk so low in the water that they who were seated
on its keel were not visible even at the short distance which
now separated them from Mulford. Encouraged by this
signal, and animated by the revived hope of still saving his
companions, Harry turned toward the channel, half inclined




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


25.5


to face every danger rather than to wait any longer.  At
that moment the fins were all gliding along the channel
from him, and in the same direction. Some object drew
the sharks away in a body, and the young mate let himself
easily into the water, and swam as noiselessly as he could
toward the boat.
It was a fearful trial, but Mulford felt that everything
depended on his success. Stimulated by his motive, and
strengthened by the food and water taken an hour before,
never had he shown so much skill and power in the water.
In an incredibly short period he was half-way across the
channel, still swimming strong and unharmed.  A few
strokes more sent him so near the boat that hope took full
possession of his soul, and he shouted in exultation. That
indiscreet but natural cry, uttered so near the surface of
the sea, turned every shark upon him, as the pack springs
at the fox in view. Mulford was conscious of the folly of
his cry the instant it escaped him, and involuntarily he
turned his head to note the effect on his enemies.. Every
fin was gliding toward him-a dark array of swift and furi.
ous foes. Ten thousand bayonets, levelled in their line
could not have been one-half as terrible, and the efforts of
the young man became nearly frantic. But strong as he
was, and ready in the element, what is the movement of a
man in the water compared to that of a vigorous and
voracious fish? Mulford could see those fins coming on like
a tempest, and he had just given up all hope, and was feel
ing his flesh creep with terror, when his foot hit the rock.
Giving himself an onward plunge, he threw his body
upward toward the boat, and into so much shoaler water,
at least a dozen feet by that single effort. Recovering his
legs as soon as possible, he turned to look behind him.
The water seemed alive with fins, each pair gliding back
and forth, as the bull-dog bounds in front of the ox's muzzle. Just then a light-coloured object glanced past the
young man, so near as almost to touch him. It was a
shark that had actually turned on its back to seize its prey,
and was only prevented from succeeding by being driven
from the line of its course by hitting the slimy rock, over
which it was compelled to make its plunge. The momen.
tum with which it came on, added to the inclination of the




256


JACK TIER;


rock, forced the head and half of the body of this terrible
assailant into the air, giving the intended victim an opportunity of seeing from what a fate he had escaped. Mulford
avoided this fish without much trouble, however, and the
next instant he threw himself into the boat, on the bottcm
of which he lay panting with the violence of his exertions,
and unable to move under the reaction which now came
over his system.
The mate lay in the bottom of the boat, exhausted and
unable to rise, for several minutes; during that space he
devoutly returned thanks to God for his escape, and be
thought him of the course he was next to pursue, in order
to effect the rescue of his companions. The boat was
larger than common. It was also well equipped-a mast
and sail lying along with the oars, on its thwarts. The
rock placed Harry to windward of the wreck, and by the
time he felt sufficiently revived to rise and look about him,
his plan of proceeding was fully arranged in his own mind.
Among other things that he saw, as he still lay in the bottom of the boat, was a breaker which he knew contained
fresh water, and a bread-bag. These were provisions that
it was customary for the men to make, when employed on
boat duty; and the articles had been left where he now
saw them, in the hurry of the movements, as the brig quitted
the islets.
Harry rose the instant he felt his strength returning.
Striking the breaker with his foot, and feeling the basket
with a hand, he ascertained that the one held its water, and
the other its bread. This was immense relief, for by this
time the sufferings of the party on the wreck must be returning with redoubled force. The mate then stepped the
mast, and fitted the sprit to the sail, knowing that the latter
would be seen fluttering in the wind by those on the wreck,
and carry joy to their hearts. After this considerate act,
he began to examine into the position of the boat. It was
still aground, having been left by the tide; but the water
had already risen several inches, and by placing himself
on a gunwale, so as to bring the boat on its bilge, and pushing with an oar, he soon got it into deep water. It only
~emained to haul aft the sheet, and right the helm, to be
standing through the channel, a) a rate that promised a




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


257


speedy deliverance to his friends, and, most of all, to
Rose.
Mulford glanced past the rocks and shoals, attended by
the whole company of the sharks. They moved before,
behind, and on each side of him, as if unwilling to abandon their prey, even after he had got beyond the limits of
their power to do him harm. It was not an easy thing to
manage the boat in that narrow and crooked channel, with
no other guide for the courses than the eye, and it required
so much of the mate's vigilance to keep clear of the sharp
angles of the rocks, that he could not once cast his eyes
aside, to look for the fluttering shawl, which now composed
the standing signal of the wreck. At length the boat shot
through the last passage of the reef, and issued into open
water. Mulford knew that he must come out half a miie
at least to leeward of his object, and, without even raising
his head, he flattened in the sheet, put his helm down, and
luffed close to the wind. Then, and then only, did he venture to look around him.
Our mate felt his heart leap toward his mouth, as he
observed the present state of the wreck. It was dead to
windward of him, in the first place, and it seemed to be
entirely submerged. He saw the shawl fluttering as before;
for Tier had fastened one corner to a button-hole of his
own jacket, and another to the dress of Biddy, leaving the
part which might be called the fly, to rise at moments
almost perpendicularly in the air, in a way to render it
visible at some distance. He saw also the heads and the
bodies of those on the schooner's bottom, but to him they
appeared to be standing in, or on, the water. The distance may have contributed a little to this appearance, but
no doubt remained that so much air had escaped from the
hold of the vessel, as to permit it to sink altogether beneath
the surface of the sea. It was time, indeed, to proceed to
the relief of the sufferers.
Notwithstanding the boat sailed particularly fast, and
worked beautifully, it could not equal the impatience of
Mulford to get on. Passing away to the north-east a sufficient distance, as he thought, to weather on the wreck,
the young man tacked at last, and had the happiness to see
that every foot he proceeded was now in a direct line toward Rose. It was only while tacking he perceived that
22 *




J)Co              JACK TIER;
all the fins had disappeared. He felt little doubt that they
had deserted him, in order to push for the wreck, which
offered so much larger, and so much more attainable prey.
This increased his feverish desire to get on, the boat seeming to drag, in his eyes, at the very moment it was leaving
a wake full of eddies and little whirlpools. The wind was
steady, but it seemed to Mulford that the boat was set to
leeward of her course by a current, though this could
hardly have been the case, as the wreck, the sole mark of
his progres, would have had at least as great a drift as the
boat. At length Mulford-to him it appeared to be an age;
in truth it was after a run of about twenty minutes-came
near the goal he so earnestly sought, and got an accurate
view of the state of the wreck, and of those on it. The
hull of the schooner had, in truth, sunk entirely beneath
the surface of the sea; and the party it sustained stood
already knee-deep in the water. This was sufficiently appalling; but the presence of the sharks, who were crowding
around the spot, rendered the whole scene frightful. To
the young mate it seemed as if he must still be too late to
save Rose from a fate more terrible than drowning, for his
boat fell so far to leeward as to compel him to tack once
more. As he swept past the wreck, he called out to encourage his friends, begging them to be of good heart for
five minutes longer, when he should be able to reach them.
Rose held out her arms entreatingly, and the screams of
Mrs. Budd and Biddy, which were extorted by the closer
and closer approach of the sharks, proclaimed the imminency of the danger they ran, and the importance of not
losing a moment of time.
Mulford took his distance with a seaman's eye, and the
boat went about like a top. The latter fell off, and the sail
filled on the other tack. Then the young mariner saw,
with a joy no description can pourtray, that he looked to
windward of the fluttering shawl, toward which his little
craft was already flying. He afterward believed that shawl
alone prevented the voracious party of fish from assailing
those on the wreck, for, though there might not yet be suf-,icient depth of water to allow of their customary mode of
attack, creatures of their voracity did not always wait for
such conveniences. But the boat was soon in the midst




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


259


of the fins, scattering them in all directions; and Mulford
let go his sheet, put his helm down, and sprang forward to
catch the extended arms of Rose.
It might have been accident, or it might have been the
result of skill and interest in our heroine, but oertain it is,
that the bows of the boat came on the wreck precisely at
the place where Rose stood, and her hand was the first object that the young man touched.
"Take my aunt first," cried Rose, resisting Mulford's
efforts to lift her into the boat; " she is dreadfully alarmed,
and can stand with difficulty."
Although two of Rose's activity and lightness might have
been drawn into the boat, while the process was going on
in behalf of the widow, Mulford lost no time in discussion,
but did as he was desired. First directing Tier to hold on
to the painter, he applied his strength to the arms of Mrs.
Budd, and, assisted by Rose and Biddy, got her safely into
the boat, over its bows. Rose now waited not for assistance, but followed her aunt with a haste that proved fear
lent her strength in despite her long fast. Biddy came
next, though clumsily, and not without trouble, and Jack
Tier followed the instant he was permitted so to do. Of
course, the boat, no longer held by its painter, drifted away
from the spot, and the hull of the schooner, relieved from
the weight of four human beings, rose so near the surface
again as to bring a small line of its keel out of water. No
better evidence could have been given of the trifling power
which sustained it, and of the timely nature of the succour
brought by Mulford. Had the boat remained near the
schooner, it would have been found half an hour later that
the hull had sunk slowly out of sight, finding its way,
doubtless, inch by inch, toward the bottom of the Gulf.
By this time the sun was well up, and the warmth of the
dour, season, and latitude, was shed on the sufferers
There was an old sail in the boat, and in this the party
dried their limbs and feet, which were getting to be numb
by their long immersion. Then the mate produced the
bag and opened it, in quest of bread. A small portion was
given to each, and, on looking farther, the mate discovered
that a piece of boiled ship's beef had been secreted in this
receptacle. Of this also he gave each a moderate slice,




260


JACK  TIEIt;


taking a larger portion for himself, as requiring less precau
tion. The suffering of the party from hunger was far less
than that they endured from thirst. Neither had been
endured long enough seriously to enfeeble them or render
a full mealvery dangerous, but the thirst had been much
the hardest to be borne. Of this fact Biddy soon gave
audible evidence.
" The mate is good," she said, " and the bread tastes
swate and refreshing, but wather is a blessed thing. Can
you no give us one dhrap of the wather that falls from heaven, Mr. Mulford; for this wather of the saa is of no use
but to drown Christians in?"
In an instant the mate had opened a breaker, and filled
the tin pot which is almost always to be found in a boat.
Biddy said no more, but her eyes pleaded so eloquently,
that Rose begged the faithful creature might have the first
drink. One eager swallow went down, and then a cry of
disappointment succeeded. The water was salt, and had
been put in the breaker for ballast. The other breaker
was tried with the same success.
"It is terrible to be without one drop of water," mur.
inured Rose, "and this food makes it more necessary than
ever."
"Patience, patience, dearest Rose —patience for ten
minutes, and you shall all drink," answered the mate, filling
the sail and keeping the boat away while speaking. " There
is water, God be praised, on the rock to which I first swam,
and we will secure it before another day's sun help to make
it evaporate."
This announcement quieted the longings of those who
endured a thirst which disappointment rendered doubly
hard to bear; and away the boat glided toward the rock.
As he now flew over the distance, lessened more than onehalf by the drift of the wreck, Mulford recalled the scene
through which he had so painfully passed the previous night.
As often happens, he shuddered at the recollection of things
which, at the moment, a desperate resolution had enabled
him to encounter with firmness. Still, he thought nothing
less than the ardent desire to save Rose could have carried
him through the trial with the success which attended his
struggles. The dear being at his side asked a few expla




UR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


261


nations of what had passed; and she bowed her head and
wept, equally with pain and delight, as imagination pictured
to her the situation of her betrothed, amid that waste of
water, with his fearful companions, and all in the hours of
deep night.
But that was over now. There was the rock-the blessed
rock on which Mulford had so accidentally struck, close
before them-and presently they were all on it. The mate
took the pot and ran to the little reservoir, returning with
a sweet draught for each of the party.
" A blessed, blessed thing, is wather!" exclaimed Biddy.
this time finding the relief she sought, " and a thousand
blessings on you, Mr. Mulford, who have niver done us
anything but good."
Rose looked a still higher eulogy on the young man,
and even Mrs. Budd had something commendatory and
grateful to say. Jack Tier was silent, but he had all his
eyes about him, as he now proved.
" We've all on us been, so much taken up with our own
affairs," remarked the steward's assistant, "that we've
taken but little notice of the neighbourhood. If that is n't
the brig, Mr. Mulford, running through this very passage,
with stun'sails set alow and aloft, I do n't know the Molly
Swash when I see her!"
"The brig!" exclaimed the mate, recollecting the vessels
he had seen at the break-of-day, for the first time in hours.
" Can it be possible that the craft I made out to the southward, is the brig?"
"Look, and judge for yourself, sir. There she comes,
like a race-horse, and if she holds her present course, she
must pass somewhere within a mile or so of us, if we stay
where we are."
Mulford did look, as did all with him. There was the
Swash, sure enough, coming down before the wind, and
under a cloud of canvas. She might be still a league, or
a league and a half distant, but, at the rate at which she
was travelling, that distance would soon be past. She was
running through the passage, no doubt with a view to proseed to the Dry Tortugas, to look after the schooner, Spike
having the hope that he had dodged his pursuers on the
coast of Cuba. The mate now looked for the ship, in the




262                JACK TIER;
north-weste:n board, believing, as he did, that she was the
sloop-of-war. That vessel had gone about, and was standing to the southward, on a taut bowline. She was still a
long way off, three or four leagues at least, but the change
she had made in her position, since last seen, proved that
she was a great sailer. Then she was more than hull down,
whereas, now, she was near enough to let the outline of a
long, straight fabric be discovered beneath her canvas.
" It is hardly possible that Spike should not see the vessel
here in the northern board," Mulford cbserved to Tier,
who had been examining the ship with him. "The lookout is usually good on board the Swash, and, just now,
should certainly be as good as common. Spike is no dawdler with serious business before him."
" He's a willain!" muttered Jack Tier.
The mate regarded his companion with some surprise.
Jack was a very insignificarit-looking personage in common,
and one would scarcely pause to give him a second look,
unless it might be to laugh at his rotundity and little waddling legs. But, now, the mate fancied he was swelling
with feelings.that actually imparted somewhat more than
usual stature and dignity to his appearance. His face was
full of indignation, and there was something about the eye,
that to Mulford was inexplicable. As Rose, however, had
related to him the scene that took place on the islet, at the
moment when Spike was departing, the mate supposed that
Jack still felt a portion of the resentment that such a collision would be apt to create. From the expression of
Jack's countenance at that instant, it struck him Spike
might not be exactly safe, should accident put it in the
power of the former to do him an injury.
It was now necessary to decide on the course that ought
to be pursued. The bag contained sufficient food to last
the party several days, and a gallon of water still remained
an the cavity of the rock. This last was collected and put
in one of the breakers, which was emptied of the salt water
in order to receive it. As water, however, was the great
necessity in that latitude, Mulford did not deem it prudent
to set sail with so small a supply, and he accordingly commenced a search, on some of the adjacent rocks, Jack Tier
accompanying him. They succeeded in dot bling their stock




OR, TIIE FLORIDA  REEF.


263


of water, and collected several shell-fish, that the females
found exceedingly grateful and refreshing. On the score of
hunger and thirst, indeed, no one was now suffering. By
judiciously sipping a little water at a time, and retaining it
in the mouth before swallowing, the latter painful feeling
had been gotten rid of; and as for food, there was even
more than was actually needed, and that of a very good
quality. It is probable that standing in the water for hours,
as Rose, and her aunt, and Biddy had been obliged to do,
had, contributed to lessen the pain endured from thirst,
though they had all suffered a good deal from that cause,
especially while the sun shone.
Mulford and Tier were half an hour in obtaining the
water. By the end of that period the brigantine was so
near as to render her hull distinctly visible. It was high
time to decide on their future course. The sail had been
brailed when the boat reached the rock, and the boat itself
lay on the side of the latter opposite to the brig, and where
no part of it could be seen to those on board the Swash,
with the exception of the mast. Under the circumstances,
therefore, Mulford thought it wisest to remain where they
were, and let the vessel pass, before they attempted to pro.
ceed toward Key West, their intended place of refuge. In
order to do this, however, it was necessary to cause the
whole party to lie down, in such a way as to be hid by
the inequalities in the rock, as it was now very evident the
brig would pass within half a mile of them. Hitherto, it
was not probable that they had been seen, and by using due
caution, the chances of Spike's overlooking them altogether
amounted nearly to certainty.
The necessary arrangements were soon made, the boat's
masts unstepped, the party placed behind their covers, and
the females comfortably bestowed in the spare sail, where
they might got a little undisturbed sleep after the dreadful
night, or morning, they had passed. Even Jack Tier lay
down to catch his nap, as the most useful manner of bestowing himself for a couple of hours; the time Mulford had
mentioned as the period of their stay where they were.
As for the mate, vigilance was his portion, and he took
his position, hid like all the rest, where he could watch the
movements of his old craft. In about twenty minutes, the




I., (         JACK TIER;
brig was quite near; so near that M2 ulford not only saw
he people on board her, who showed themselves in the
'igging, but fancied he could recognise their persons. As
et, nothing had occurred in the way of change, but, just
as the Swash got abreast of the rock, she began to take in
ter studding-sails, and that hurriedly, as is apt to occur on
Board a vessel in sudden emergencies. Our young man
was a little alarmed at first, believing that they might have
been discovered, but he was soon induced to think that the
crew of the brigantine had just then begun to suspect the
character of the ship to the northward. That vessel had
been drawing near all this time, and was now only some
three leagues distant. Owing to the manner in which she
headed, or bows on, it was not a very easy matter to tell
the character of this stranger, though the symmetry and
squareness of his yards rendered it nearly certain he was
a cruiser. Though Spike could not expect to meet his old
acquaintance here, after the chase he had so lately led her,
down on the opposite coast, he might and would have his
misgivings, and Mulford thought it was his intention to
haul up close round the northern angle of the reef, and
maintain his advantage of the wind, over the stranger. If
this were actually done, it might expose the boat to view,
for the brig would pass within a quarter of a mile of it, and
on the side of the rock on which it lay. It was too late,
however, to attempt a change, since the appearance of
numan beings in such a place would be certain to draw the
brig's glasses on them, and the glasses must at once let
Spike know who they were. It remained, therefore, only
to await the result as patiently as possible.
A very few minutes removed all doubt. The brig hauled
as close round the reef as she dared to venture, and in a
rery short time the boat lay exposed to view to all on board
6er. The vessel was now so near that Mulford plainly saw
he boatswain get upon the coach-house, or little hurricanehouse deck, where Spike stood examining the ship with
nis glass, and point out the boat, where it lay at the side
of the rock. In an instant, the glass was levelled at the
spot, and the movements on board the brig immediately
betrayed to Mulford that the boat was recognised. Sail
was shortened on board the Swash, and men were seen




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.               265
preparing to -lower her stern boat, while everything indi.
cated that the vessel was about to be hove-to. There was
ro time now to be lost, but the young man immediately
gave the alarm.
No sooner did the party arise and show themselves, than
the crew of the Swash gave three cheers. By the aid of
the glass, Spike doubtless recognised their persons, and
the fact was announced to the men, by way of stimulating
their exertions. This gave an additional spur to the movements of those on the rock, who hastened into their own
boat, and made sail as soon as possible.
It was far easier to do all that has been described, than
to determine on the future course. Capture was certair
if the fugitives ventured into. the open water, and their
only hope was to remain on the reef. If channels for the
passage of the boat could be found, escape was highly probable, as the schooner's boat could sail much faster than
he brig's boat could row, fast as Mulford knew the last to
be. But the experience of the morning had told the mate
hat the rock rose too near the surface, in many places, for
the boat, small as it was, to pass over it; and he must trust
a great deal to chance. Away he went, however, standing along a narrow channel, through which the wind just
permitted him to lay, with the sail occasionally shaking.
By this time the Swash had her boat in the water,
manned with four powerful oars, Spike steering it in his
own person. Our young mate placed Tier in the bows, to
point out the deepest water, and kept his sail a rap full, in
order to get ahead as fast. as possible. Ahead he did get,
but it was on a course that soon brought him out in the
open water of the main passage through the seef, leaving
Spike materially astern. The latter now rose in his boat,
and made a signal with his hat, which the boatswain perfectly understood. The latter caused the brig to ware short
round on her heel, and boarded his foretack in chase, hauling up into the passage as soon as he could again round
the reef. Mulford soon saw that it would never do for him
to venture far from the rocks, the brig going two feet to
his one, though not looking quite as high as he did in the
boat. But the Swash had her guns, and it was probable
they would be used rather than he should escape. When
2'>




266


JACK TIER; R


distant two hundred yards from the reef, therefore, he
tacked. The new course brought the fugitives nearly at
right angles to that steered by Spike, who stood directly on,
as if conscious that, sooner or later, such a rencounter
must occur. 'It would seem that the tide was setting through
the passage, for when the boat of Mulford again reached
the reef, it was considerably to windward of the channel
out of which she had issued, and opposite to another which
offered very opportunely for her entrance. Into this new
channel, then, the mate somewhat blindly ran, feeling the,
necessity of getting out of gun-shot of the brig at every
hazard. She at least could not follow him among the rocks,
let Spike, in his boat, proceed as he might.
According to appearances, Spike was not likely to be
very successful. He was obliged to diverge from his course,
in order to go into the main passage at the very point
where Mulford had just before done the same thing, and
pull along the reef to windward, in order to get into the
new channel, into which the boat he was pursuing had just
entered. This brought him not only astern again, but a
long bit astern, inasmuch as he was compelled to make the
circuit described. On he went, however, as eager in the
chase as the hound with his game in view.
Mulford's boat seemed to fly, and glided ahead at least
three feet to that of Spike's two. The direction of the
channel it was in, brought it pretty close to the wind, but
the water was quite smooth, and our mate managed to keep
the sail full, and his little craft at the same time quite near
the weatherly side of the rocks. In the course of ten
minutes the fugitives were fully a mile from the brig, which
was unable,to follow them, but kept standing off and on,
in the main passage, waiting the result. At one time Mulford thought the channel would bring him out into open
water again, on the northern side of the reef, and more
than a mile to the eastward of the point where the ship.
channel in which the Swash was plying commenced; but
an accidental circumstance prevented his standing in far
enough to ascertain the fact. That circumstance was as
'ollows:
In running a mile and a half over the reef, in the man.
ner described, Mulford had left the boa2 of Spike quite half




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.

267


a mile astern. He was now out of gun-shot from the brig,
or at least beyond the range of her grape, the only missile
he feared, and so far to windward that he kept his eye on
every opening to the southward, which he fancied might
allow of his making a stretch deeper into the mazes of the
reef, among which he believed it easiest for him to escape,
and to weary the oarsmen of his pursuers. Two or three
of these openings offered as he glided along, but it struck
him that they all looked so.high that the boat would not
lay through them-an opinion in which he was right. At
iength he came abreast of one that seemed straight aild
clear of obstacles as far as he could see, and through which
he might run with a flowing sheet. Down went his helm,
and about went his boat, running away to the southward as
fast as ever.
Had Spike followed, doubled the same shoal, and kept
away again in the same channel as had been done by the
boat he chased, all his hopes of success must have vanished
at once. This he did not attempt, therefore; but, sheering
into one of the openings which the mate had rejected, he
cut off quite half a mile in his distance. This was easy
enough for him to accomplish, as a row-boat would pull
even easier, near to the wind, than with the wind broad on
its bow. In consequence of this short cut, therefore, Spike
was actually crossing out into Mulford's new channel, just
as the latter had handsomely cleared the mouth of the
opening through which he effected his purpose.
It is scarcely necessary to say that the two boats must
have been for a few minutes quite near to each other; so
near, indeed, did the fugitives now pass to their pursuers,
that it would have been easy for them to have conversed,
had they been so disposed. Not a word was spoken, however, but Mulford went by, leaving Spike about a hundred
yards astern. This was a trying moment to the latter, and
the devil tempted him to seek his revenge. He had not
come unarmed on his enterprise, but three or four loaded
muskets lay in the stern-sheets of his yawl. He looked at
his men, and saw that they could not hold out much longer
to pull as they had been pulling. Then he looked at Mulford's boat, and saw it gliding away from him at a rate that
would shortly place it another half mile in advance. He




:26


JACK  TIER;


seized a musket, and raised it to his shoulder, nay, was in
the act of taking aim at his mate, when Rose, who watched
his movements, threw herself before Harry, and if she did
not actually save his life, at least prevented Spike's attempt
on it for that occasion. In the course of the next ten
minutes the fugitives had again so far gained on their pursuers, that the latter began to see that their efforts were
useless. Spike muttered a few bitter curses, and told his
men to lay on their oars.
" It's well for the runaway," he added, " that the gal put
herself between us, else would his grog have been stopped
for ever. I've long suspected this; but had I been sure
of it, the Gulf Stream would have had the keeping of his
body, the first dark night we were in it together. Lay on
your oars, men, lay on your oars; I'm afeared the villian
will get through our fingers, a'ter all."
The men obeyed, and then, for the first time, did they
<urn their heads, to look at those they had been so vehemently pursuing. The other boat was quite half a mile
from them, and it had again tacked. This last occurrence
induced Spike to pull slowly ahead, in quest of another
short passage to cut the fugitives off; but no such opening
offered.
"There he goes about again, by George!" exclaimed
Spike. "Give way, lads -give way; an easy stroke, for
if he is embayed, he can't escape us!"
Sure enough, poor Mulford was embayed, and could see
no outlet by which to pass ahead. He tacked his boat two
or three times, and he wore round as often; but on every
side shoals, or rocks that actually rose above the surface
of the water, impeded his course. The fact was not to be
concealed; after all his efforts, and so many promises of
success, not only was his further progress ahead cut off,
but equally so was retreat. The passage was not wide
enough to admit the hope of getting by his pursuers, and
the young man came to the conclusion that his better course
was to submit with dignity to his fate. For himself he had
uo hope-he knew Spike's character too well for that; but
ie did not apprehend any great immediate danger to his
companions. Spike had a coarse, brutal admiration for
Kloe! but her expected fortune,'which was believed to be




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


269


of more amount than was actually the case, was a sort of
pledge that he would not willingly put himself in a situation
that would prevent the possibility of enjoying it. Strange,
hurried, and somewhat confused thoughts passed through
Harry Mulford's mind, as he brailed his sail, and waited
for his captors to approach and take possession of his boat
and himself. This was done quietly, and with very few
words on the part of Spike.
Mulford would have liked the appearance of things better
had his old commander cursed him, and betrayed other
signs of the fury that was bailing in his very soul. On the
contrary, never had Stephen Spike seemed more calm, or
under better self-command. He smiled, and saluted Mrs.
Budd, just as if nothing unpleasant had occurred, and alluded to the sharpness of the chase with facetiousness and
seeming good-humour. The females were deceived by this
manner, and hoped, after all, that the worst that would
happen would be a return to their old position on board the
Swash. This was being so much better off than their horrible situation on the wreck, that the change was not
frightful to them.
"What has become of the schooner, Mr. Mulford?"
asked Spike, as the boats began to pass down the channel
to return to the brig-two of the Swash's men taking their
seats in that which had been captured, along with their
commander, while the other two got a tow from the use
of the sail. "I see you have the boat here that we used
alongside of her, and suppose you know something of the
craft itself."
" She capsized with us in a squall," answered the mate,
"and we only left the wreck this morning."
" Capsized!-hum-that was a hard fate, to be sure, and
denotes bad seamanship. Now I've sailed all sorts of craft
these forty years, or five-and-thirty at least, and never capsized anything in my life. Stand by there for'ard to hold
on by that rock."
A solitary cap of the coral rose above the water two or
three feet, close to the channel, and was the rock to which
Spike alluded. It was only some fifty feet in diameter, and
of an oval form, rising quite above the ordinary tides, as
was apparent by its appearance. It is scarcely necessary
23 *




270


JACK  TIER;


to say it had no other fresh water than that which occasionally fell on its surface, which surface being quite smooth,
retained very little of the rain it received. The boat was
soon alongside of this rock, where it was held broadside-to
by the two seamen.
i' Mr. Mulford, do me the favour to step up here," said
Spike, leading the way on to the rock himself. " I have a
word to say to you before we get on board the old Molly
once more."
Mulford silently complied, fully expecting that Spike
intended to blow his brains out; and willing the bloody
deed should be done in a way to be as little shocking to
Rose as circumstances would allow. But Spike manifested
no such intention. A more refined cruelty was uppermost
in his mind; and his revenge was calculated, and took care
to fortify itself with some of the quibbles and artifices of
the law. He might not be exactly right in his legal reservations, but he did not the less rely on their virtue.
" Hark 'e, Mr. Mulford," said Spike, sharply, as soon as
both were on the rock, "you have run from my brig,
thereby showing your distaste for her; and I've no disposition to keep a man who wishes to quit me. Here you
are, sir, on terrum firm, as the scholars call it; and here
you have my full permission to remain. I wish you a good
morning, sir; and will not fail to report, when we get in,
that you left the brig of your own pleasure."
"You will not have the cruelty to abandon me on this
naked rock, Captain Spike, and that without a morsel of
food, or a drop of water."
" Wather is a blessed thing!" exclaimed Biddy. " Do not
think of lavin' the gentleman widout wather."
" You left me, sir, without food or water, and you can
fit out your own rock-yes, d-e, sir, you left me under fire,
and that is a thing no true-hearted man would have thought
of. Stand by to make sail, boys; and if he offer to enter
the boat, pitch him out with the boat-hooks."
Spike was getting angry, and he entered the boat again
without perceiving that Rose had left it. Light of foot,
and resolute of spirit, the beautiful girl, handsomer than
ever perhaps, by her exc ted feelings and dishevelled hair
had sprung on the rock, as Spike stepped into the boat




Oft, THE FLORIDA REEF.


271


forward, and when the latter turned round, after loosening
the sail, he found he was drifting away from the very being
who was the object of all his efforts. Mulford, believing
that Rose was to be abandoned as well as himself, received
the noble girl in his arms, though ready to implore Spike,
on his knees, to return and at least to take her off. But
Spike wanted no solicitation on that point. He returned
of his own accord, and had just reached the rock again,
when a report of a gun drew all eyes toward the brig.
The Swash had again run out of the passage, and was
heating up, close to the reef as she dared to go, with a
signal flying. All the seamen at once understood the cause
of this hint. The strange sail was getting too near, and
everybody could see that it was the sloop-of-war. Spike
looked at Rose, a moment, in doubt. But Mulford raised
his beloved in his arms, and carried her to the side of the
rock, stepping on board the boat.
Spike watched the movements of the young man with
jealous vigilance, and no sooner was Rose placed on her
seat, than he motioned significantly to the mate to quit the
boat.
"I cannot and will not voluntarily, Captain Spike,"
answered Harry, calmly. "It would be committing a sort
of suicide."
A sign brought two of the men to the captain's assistance.
While the latter held Rose in her place, the sailors shoved
Harry on the rock again. Had Mulford been disposed to
resist, these two men could not very easily have ejected him
from the boat, if they could have done it at all; but he knew
there were others in reserve, and feared that blood might
be shed, in the irritated state of Spike, in the presence of
Rose. While, therefore, he would not be accessary to his
own destruction, he would not engage in what he knew.
would prove not only a most harassing, but a bootless resistance. The consequence was that the boats proceeded,
leaving him alone on the rock.
It was perhaps fortunate for Rose that she fainted. Her.
condition occupied her aunt and Biddy, and Spike was
enabled to reach his brig without any further interruption.
Rose was taken on board still nearly insensible, while her
wo female companions were so much confused and dis.




e


272               JACK TI1 E R;
tressed, that neither could have given a reasonably cleat
account of what had just occurred. Not so with Jack
Tier, however. That singular being noted all that passed
seated in the eyes of the boat, away from the confusion
that prevailed in its stern-sheets, and apparently undisturbed
by it.
As the party was sailing back toward the brig, the lighthouse boattowing the Swash's yawl, Jack took as good an
observation of the channels of that part of the reef as his
low position would allow. He tried to form in his mind a
sort of chart of the spot, for, from the instant Mulford was
thus deserted, the little fellow had formed a stern resolution
to attempt his rescue. How that was to be done, however,
was more than he yet knew; and when they reached the
brig's side, Tier may be said to have been filled with good
intentions, rather than with any very available knowledge
to enable him to put them in execution.
As respects the two vessels, the arrival of Spike on board
his own was not a moment too soon. The Poughkeepsie,
for the stranger to the northward was now ascertained to
be that sloop-of-war, was within long gun-shot by this time,
and near enough to make certain, by means of her glasses,
of the character of the craft with which she was closing.
Luckily for the brig she lay in the channel so often mentioned, and through which both she and her present pursuer
had so lately come, on their way to the northward. This
brought her. to windward, as the wind then stood, with a
clear passage before her. Not a moment was lost. No
sooner were the females sent below, than sail was made on
the brig, and she began to beat through the passage, making
long legs and short ones  She was chased, as a matter of
course, and that hard, the difference in sailing between the
two crafts not being sufficiently great to render the brigantine's escape by any means certain, while absolutely within
the range of those terrible missiles that were used by the
man-of-war's men.
But Spike soon determined not to leave a point so delicate
as that of his own and his vessel's security to be decided
by a mere superiority in the way of heels. The Florida
Reef, with all its dangers, windings, and rocks, was as well
known to him as the entrances to the port of New York




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


27'


In addition to its larger channels, of which there are three
or four, through which ships of size can pass, it had many
others that would admit only vessels of a lighter draught
of water. The brig was not flying light, it is true, but she
was merely in good ballast trim, and passages would be
available to her, into which the Poughkeepsie would not
dare to venture. One of these lesser channels was favourably
placed to further the escape of Spike, and he shoved the
brig into it after the struggle had lasted less than an hour.
This passage offered a shorter cut to the south side of the
reef than the main channel, and the sloop-of-war, doubtless
perceiving the uselessness of pursuit, under such circumstances, wore round on her heel, and came down through
the main channel again, just entering the open water, near
the spot where the schooner had sunk, as the sun was setting
CHAPTER X.
Shallow. Did her grandsire leave her seven hundred pound 1
Evans. Ay, and her father is make her a petter penny.
Shallow. I know the young gentlewoman; she has good gifts
Evans. Seven hundred pounds, and possibilities, is good gifts.
'SHAKSPEARX.
As for Spike, he had no intention of going to the southward of the Florida Reef again until his business called
him there. The lost bag of doubloons was still gleaming
before his imagination, and no sooner did the Poughkeepsie
bear up, than he shortened sail, standing back and forth
ill his narrow and crooked channel, rather losing ground
than gaining, though he took great pains not to let his artifice
be seen. When the Poughkeepsie was so far to the northward as to render it safe, he took in everything but one or
two of his lowest sails, and followed easily in the same
direction. As the sloop-of-war carried her light and loftier
sails, she remained visible to the people of the Swash long
after the Swash had ceased to be visible to her. Profiting




274 '


JACK TIER:


by this circumstance, Spike entered the main channel again
some time before it was dark, and selected a safe anchorage
there that was well known to him; a spot where sufficient
sand had collected on the coral to make good holding
ground, and where a vessel would be nearly embayed,
though always to windward of her channel- going out, by
the formation of the reef. Here he anchored, in order to
wait until morning ere he ventured further north. During
the whole of that dreadful day, Rose had remained in her
cabin, disconsolate, nearly unable, as she was absolutely
unwilling to converse. Now it was that she felt the total
insufficiency of a mind feeble as that of her aunt's to
administer consolation to misery like her own. Nevertheless,
the affectionate solicitude of Mrs. Budd, as well as that of
the faithful creature, Biddy, brought some relief, and reason
and resignation began slowly to resume their influence.
Yet was the horrible picture of Harry, dying by inches,
deserted in the midst of the waters on his solitary rock,
ever present to her thoughts, until, once or twice, her feelings
verged on madness. Prayer brought its customary relief,
however; and we do not think that we much exaggerate
the fact, when we say that Rose passed fully one-half of
that terrible afternoon on her knees.
As for Jack Tier, he was received on board the brig
much as if nothing had happened.   Spike passed and
repassed him fifty times, without even an angry look, or a
word of abuse; and the deputy-steward dropped quietly into
the duties of his office, without meeting with either reproach
or hindrance. The only allusion, indeed, that was made
to his recent adventures, took place in a conversation that
was held on the subject in the galley, the interlocutors being
Jack himself, Josh, the steward, and Simon, the cook.
" Where you been scullin' to, 'bout on dat reef, Jack,
wid dem 'ere women, I won'er now?" demanded Josh, after
tasting the cabin soup, in order to ascertain how near it
was to being done. " I t'ink it no great fun to dodge 'bout
among dem rock in a boat, for anudder hurricane might
come when a body least expeck him."
"Oh," said Jack, cavalierly, "two hurricanes no more
come in one month, than two shot in the same hole. We 've




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF


275


been turtlin', that's all. I wish we had in yotir coppers,
cook, some of the critturs that we fell in with in our cruise."
" Wish 'e had, master steward, wid all my heart," answered
the fat, glistening potentate of the galley. " But, hark'ee,
Jack; what became of our young mate, can 'e tell? Some
say he get kill at 'e Dry Tortugas, and some say he war'
scullin' round in dat boat you hab, wid 'e young woman,
eh?"
"Ah, boys," answered Jack, mournfully, "sure enough,
what has become of him?"
"You know, why can't you tell? What good to hab
secret among friend."
' Are ye his friends, lads? Do you really feel as if you
could give a poor soul in its agony a helpin' hand?"
"Why not?" said Josh, in a reproachful way. "Misser
Mulford 'e bess mate dis brig ebber get; and I do n't see why
Cap'in Spike want to be rid of him."
"Because he's a willian!" returned Jack between his
grated teeth. "D'ye know what that means in English,
master Josh; and can you and cook here, both of whom
have sailed with the man years in and years out, say whether
my words be true or not?"
"Dat as a body understand 'em. Accordin' to some
rule, Stephen Spike not a werry honest man; but accordin'
to 'nudder some, he as good as any body else."
" Yes, dat just be upshot of de matter," put in Simon,
approvingly. "De whole case lie in dat meanin'."
" D' ye call it right to leave a human being to starve, or
to suffer for water, on a naked rock, in the midst of the
ocean?"
"Who do dat?"
" The willian who is captain of this brig; and all because
he thinks young eyes and bloomin' cheeks prefar young
eyes and bloomin' cheeks to his own grizzly beard and old
look-outs."
" Dat bad; dat werry bad," said Josh, shaking his head,
a way of denoting dissatisfaction, in which Simon joined
him; for no crime appeared sufficiently grave in the eyes
of these two sleek and well-fed officials to justify such a
punishment. " Dat mons'ous bad, and cap'in ought to know
better dan do dat. I nebber starves a mouse. if I catches




27.6


JACK TIER;


him in de bread-locker. Now, dat a sort of reason'ble
punishment, too; but I nebber does it. If mouse eat my
bread, it do seem right to tell mouse dat he hab enough,
and dat he must not eat any more for a week, or a mont',
but it too cruel for me, and I nebber does it; no, I t'rows
de little debil overboard, and lets him drown like a gentle'em."
" Y-e-s," drawled out Simon, in a philanthropical tone of
voice, dat 'e best way. What good it do to torment a
fellow critter? If Misser Mulford run, why put him down
run, and let him go, I say, on'y mulk his wages; but what
good it do anybody to starve him? Now dis is my opinion
gentle'em, and dat is, dat starwation be wuss dan choleric.
Choleric kill, I knows, and so does starwation kill; but of
de two, gib me de choleric fuss; if I gets well of dat, den
try starwation if you can."
" I'm glad to hear you talk in this manner, my hearties,"
put in Jack; " and I hope I may find you accommodatin'
in a plan I've got to help the maty out of this difficulty. Ae
a friend of Stephen Spike's I would do it; for it must be a
terrible thing to die with such a murder on one's soul
Here's the boat that we pick'd up at the light-house, yonder,
in tow of the brig at this minute; and there's everything
in her comfortable for a good long run, as I know from
having sailed in her; and what I mean is this: as we left
Mr. Mulford, I took the bearings and distance of the rock
he was on, d' ye understand, and think I could find my way
back to it. You see the brig is travelin' slowly north ag'in,
and afore long we shall be in the neighbourhood of that
very rock. We, cook and stewards, will be called on to
keep an anchor-watch, if the brig fetches up, as I heard the
captain tell the Spanish gentleman he thought she would'
and then we can take the boat that's in the water and go
and have a hunt for the maty."
The two blacks looked at Tier earnestly; then they
turned their heads to look at each other. The idea struck
each as bold and novel, but each saw serious difficulties in
it. At length Josh, as became his superior station, took
on himself the office of expressing the objections that occurred to his mind.
"Dat nebber do!" exclaimed the steward. "We be's




I, TH E FLORIDA R E F.


'2 - 1


quite willin' to sarve'e mate, who's a good'gentle'em, and
as nice a young man as ever sing out,' hard a-lee, but we
must t'ink little bit of number one; or, for dat matter, of
number two, as Simon would be implercated as well as
myself. If Cap'in Spike once knew we've lent a hand in
sich a job, he'd never overlook it. I knows him, well;
and that is sayin' as much as need be said of any man's
character. You nebber catch me runnin' myself into his
jaws; would rather fight a shark widout any knife. No,
no —I knows him well. Den comes anudder werry unanswerable objecsh'un, and dat is, dat 'e brig owe bot'
Simon and I money. Fifty dollars, each on us, if she owe
one cent. Now, do you t'ink in cander, Jack, dat two
colour' gentle'em, like us, can t'row away our fortins like
two sons of a York merchant dat has inherited a hundred
t'ousand dollar tudder day?"
"There is no occasion for running at all, or for losing
your wages."
" How you get'e mate off, den? Can he walk away on
de water? If so, let him go widout us. A werry good
gentle'em is Misser Mulford, but not good enough to mulk
Simon and me out of fifty dollar each."
" You will not hear my project, Josh, and so will never
know what I would be at."
" Well, come, tell him jest as you surposes him. Now
listen, Simon, so dat not a word be loss."
" My plan is to take the boat, if we anchor, as anchor
I know we shall, and go and find the rock and bring Mr.
Mulford off; then we can come back to the brig, and get
on board ourselves, and let the mate sail away in the boat
by himself. On this plan nobody will run, and no wages
be mulcted."
"But dat take time 'and an anchor-watch last but two
hour, surposin' even dat 'ey puts all t'ree of us in de same
watch."
"Spike usually does that, you know. 'Let the cook
and the stewards keep the midnight watch,' he commonly
says,' and that will give the foremost hands a better snooze.''
" Yes, he do say dat, Josh," put in Simon, " most ebbery
time we comes-to."
"I know he does, and surposes he will say it to-night, ii
24




278


JACK  TIER;


he conies-to to-night. But a two hour watch may not be
long enough to do all you wants; and den, jest t'ink for a
moment, should 'e cap'in come on deck and hail 'e forecastle, and find us all gone, I wouldn't be in your skin,
Jack, for dis brig, in sich a kerlamity. I knows Cap'in
Spike well; t'ree time I endebber to run myself, and each
time he bring me up wid a round turn; so, now-a-days, 1
nebber t'inks of sich a projeck any longer."
"But I do not intend to leave the forecastle without
some one on it to answer a hail. No, all I want is a companion; for I do not like to go out on the reef at midnight,
all alone. If one of you will go with me, the other can
stay and answer the captain's hail, should he really come
on deck in our watch-a thing very little likely to happen.
When once his head is on his pillow, a'ter a hard day's
work, it's not very apt to be lifted ag'in without a call, or
a squall. If you do know Stephen Spike well, Josh, I know
him better."
"Well, Jack, dis here is a new idee, d'ye see, and a body
must take time to consider on it. If Simon and I do ship
for dis v'y'ge, 't will be for lub of Mr. Mulford, and not for
his money or your'n."
This was all the encouragement of his project Jack Tier
could obtain, on that occasion, from either his brother
steward, or from the cook. These blacks were well enough
disposed to rescue an innocent and unoffending man from
the atrocious death to which Spike had condemned his
mate, but neither lost sight of his own security and interest.
They promised Tier not to betray him, however; and he
had the fullest confidence in their pledges. They who live
together in common, usually understand the feeling that
prevails, on any given point, in their own set; and Jack
felt pretty certain that Harry was a greater favourite in and
about the camboose than the captain. On that feeling he
relied, and he was fain to wait the course of events, ere hbe
came to any absolute conclusion as to his own course.
The interview in the galley took place about half an
hour before the brig anchored for the night. Tier, who
often assisted on such occasions, went aloft to help secure
the royal, one of the gaskets of which had got loose, and
from the yard he had an excellent opportunity to take a




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


27.)

look at the reef, the situation of the vessel, and the probable bearings of the rock on which poor Mulford had been
devoted to a miserable death. 'I'his opportunity was much
increased by Spike's hailing him, while on the yard, and
ordering him to take a good look at the sloop-of-war, and
at the same time to ascertain if any boats were " prowlin'
abot.t, in order to make a set upon us in the night."  On
receiving this welcome order, Jack answered with a cheerful "Ay, ay, sir," and standing up on the yard, he placed
an arm around the mast, and remained for a long time
making his observations. The command to look-out for
boats would have been a sufficient excuse had he continued
on the yard as long as it was light.
Jack had no difficulty in finding the Poughkeepsie, which
was already through the passage, and no longer visible
from the deck. She appeared to be standing to the north.
ward and westward, under easy canvas, like a craft that
was in no hurry. This fact was communicated to Spike in
the usual way. The latter seemed pleased, and he answered
in a hearty manner, just as if no difficulty had ever occurred
between him and the steward's assistant.
" Very well, Jack! bravo, Jack!-now take a good look
for boats; you '11 have light enough for that this half hour,'
cried the captain. " If any are out, you 'll find them pulling down the channel, or maybe they'll try to shorten the
cut, by attempting to pull athwart the reef. Take a good
and steady look for them, my man."
"Ay, ay, sir; I'll do all I can with naked eyes," answered Jack, "but I could do better, sir, if they would only
send me up a glass by these here signal-halyards.  With a
glass, a fellow might speak with some sartainty."
Spike seemed struck with the truth of this suggestion;
and he soon sent a glass aloft by the signal-halyards. Thus
provided, Jack descended as low as the cross-trees, where
he took his seat, and began a survey at his leisure. While
thus employed, the brig was secured for the night, her
decks were cleared, and the people were ordered to get
heir suppers, previously to setting an anchor-watch, and
turning-in for the night. No one heeded the movements
of Tier,-for Spike had gone into his own state-room,with the exception of Josh and Simon. Those two worthies




280               JACK TIER;
were still in the galley, conversing on the subject of Jack's
recent communications; and ever and anon one of them
would stick his head out of the door and look aloft, withdrawing it, and shaking it significantly, as soon as his observations were ended.
As for Tier, he was seated quite at his ease; and having
slung his glass to one of the shrouds, in a way to admit of
its being turned as on a pivot, he had every opportunity
for observing accurately, and at his leisure.  The first
thing Jack did, was to examine the channel very closely,
in order to make sure that no boats were in it, after which
he turned the glass with great eagerness toward the reef,
in the almost hopeless office of ascertaining something concerning Mulford. In point of fact, the brig had anchored
quite three leagues from the solitary rock of the deserted
mate, and, favoured as he was by his elevation, Jack could
hardly expect to discern so small and low an object as that
rock at so great a distance. Nevertheless, the glass was
much better than common. It had been a present to Spike
from one who was careful in his selections of such objects,
and who had accidentally been under a serious obligation
to the captain. Knowing the importance of a good look,
as regards the boats, Spike had brought this particular instrument, of which, in common, he was very chary, from
his own state-room, and sent it aloft, in order that Jack
might have every available opportunity of ascertaining his
facts. It was this glass, then, which was the means of the
important discoveries the little fellow, who was thus perched
on the fore-topmast cross-trees of the Swash, did actually
succeed in making.
Jack actually started, when he first ascertained how distinctly and near the glass he was using brought distant
objects. The gulls that sailed across its disk, though a
league off, appeared as if near enough to be touched by the
hand, and even their feathers gave out not only their hues,
but their forms. Thus, too, was it with the surface of the
ocean, of which the little waves that agitated the water of
the reef, might be seen tossing up and down, at more than
twice the range of the Poughkeepsie's heaviest gun. Naked
rocks, low and subdued as they were in colour, too, were
to be. noted, scattered up and down in the panorama. At




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


281


length Tier fancied his glass covered a field that he recog
nized. It was distant, but might be seen from his present
elevation. A second look satisfied him he was right; and
he next clearly traced the last channel in which they had
endeavoured to escape from Spike, or that in which the
boat had been taken. Following it along, by slowly moving
tie glass, he actually hit the rock on which Mulford had
been deserted. It was peculiar in shape, size, and elevation above the water, and connected with the circumstance
of the channel, which was easily enough seen by the colour
of the water, and more easily from his height than if he
had been in it, he could not be mistaken. The little fellow's heart beat quick as he made the glass move slowly
over its surface, anxiously searching for the form of the
mate. It was not to be seen. A second, and a more careful s.weep of the glass, made it certain that the rock was
deserted.
Although a little reflection might have satisfied any one
Mulford was not to be sought in that particular spot, so
long after he had been left there, Jack Tier felt grievously
disappointed when he was first made certain of the accuracy of his observations. A minute later he began to reason on the matter, and he felt more encouraged. The
rock on which the mate had been abandoned was smooth,
and could not hold any fresh water that might have been left
by the late showers. Jack also remembered that it had
neither sea-weed nor shell-fish. In short, the utmost malice
of Spike could not have selected, for the immolation of his
victim, a more suitable place.  Now Tier had heard
Harry's explanation to Rose, touching the manner in whicl
he had waded and swum about the reef that very morning,
and it at once occurred to him that the young man had too
much energy and spirit to remain helpless and inactive to
perish on a naked rock, when there might be a possibility
of at least prolonging existence, if not of saving it. This
induced the steward to turn the glass slowly over the water,
and along all the ranges of visible rock that he could find
in that vicinity. For a long time the search was useless,
the distance rendering such an examination not only difficult but painful. At length Jack, about to gire up the
matter in despair, took one sweep with the glass nearer to
24 *




282


JACK TIER;


the brig, as much to obtain a general idea of the boat.
channels of the reef, as in any hope of.finding Mulford,
when an object moving in the water came within the field
of the glass. He saw it but for an instant, as the glass
swept slowly past, but it struck him it was something that
had life, and was in motion. Carefully going over the same
ground again, after a long search, he again found what he
so anxiously sought. A good look satisfied him that he
was right. It was certainly a man wading along the shallow water of the reef, immersed to his waist- and it must
be Mulford.
So excited was Jack Tier by this discovery that he trembled like a leaf. A minute or two elapsed before he could
again use the glass; and when he did, a long and anxious
search was necessary before so small an object could be
once more found. Find.it he did, however, and then he
got its range by the vessel, in a way to make sure of it.
Yes, it was a man, and it was Mulford.
Circumstances conspired to aid Jack in the investigation
that succeeded. The sun was near setting, but a stream
of golden light gleamed over the waters, particularly illuminating the portion which came within the field of the
glass. It appeared then that Harry, in his efforts to escape
from the rock, and to get nearer to the edge of the main
channel, where his chances of being seen and rescued
would be ten-fold what they were on his rock, had moved
south, by following the naked reef and the shallow places,
and was actually more than a league nearer to the brig than
he would have been had he remained stationary. There
had been hours in which to make this change, and the
young man had probably improved them to the utmost.
Jack watched the form that was wading slowly along
with an interest he had never before felt in the movements
of any human being. Whether Mulford saw the brig or
not, it was difficult to say. She was quite two leagues
from him, and, now that her sails were furled, she offered
but little for the eye to rest on at that distance. At first,
Jack thought the young man was actually endeavouring to
get nearer to her, though it must have been a forlorn hope
that should again place him in the hands of Spike. It was,
towever, a more probable conjecture that the young man




OR, THE FL)RIDA REEF.


283


was endeavouring to reach the margin of the passage,
where a good deal of rock vas above water, and near to
which he had already managed to reach. At one time
Jack saw that the mate was obliged to swim, and he actually lost sight of him for a time.  His form, however, reappeared, and then it slowly emerged from the water, and
stood erect on a bare rock of some exteAt. Jack breathed
freer at this; for Mulford was now on the very margin of
the channel, and might be easily reached by the boat, should
he prevail on Josh, or Simon, to attempt the rescue.
At first, Jack Tier fancied that Mulford had knelt to return thanks on his arrival at a place of comparative safety;
but a second look satisfied him that Harry was drinking
from one of the little pools of fresh water left by the late
shower. When he rose from drinking, the young man
walked about the place, occasionally stooping, signs that
he was picking up shell-fish for his supper. Suddenly.
Mulford darted forward, and passed beyond the field of the
glass. When Jack found him again, he was in the act of
turning a small turtle, using his knife on the animal immediately after. Had Jack been in danger of starvation himself, and found a source of food as ample and as grateful
as this, he could scarcely have been more delighted. 'rhe
light now began to wane perceptibly, still Harry's move.
ments could be discerned. The turtle was killed and
dressed, sufficiently at least for the mate's purposes, and
the latter was seen collecting sea-weed, and bits of plank,
boards, and sticks of wood, of which more or less, in drifting past, had lodged upon the rocks. "Is it possible,"
thought Jack, "that he is so werry partic'lar he can't eat
his turtle raw! \Will he, indeed, venture to light a fire, or
has he the means?"  Mulford was so particular, however,
he did venture to light a fire, and he had the means. This
may be said to be the age of matches-not in a connubial,
though in an inflammatory sense-and the mate had a small
stock in a tight box that he habitually carried on his person. Tier saw him at work over a little pile he had made
for a long time, the beams of day departing now so fast as
to make him fearful he should soon lose his object in the
increasing obscurity of twilight. Suddenly a light gleamed,
and the pile sent forth a clear flame. Mulford went to and




284


JACK  TIER;


fro, collecting materials to feed his fire, and was soon busied
in cooking his turtle. All this Tier saw and understood,
the light of the flames coming in proper time to supply the
vacuum left by the departure of that of day.
In a minute Tier had no difficulty in seeing the fire that
Mulford had lighted on his low and insulated domains with
the naked eye. It gleamed brightly in that solitary place;
and the steward was much afraid it would be seen by some
one on deck, get to be reported to Spike, and lead to
Harry's destruction after all. The mate appeared to be
insensible to his danger, however, occasionally casting piles
of dry sea-weed on his fire, in a way to cause the flames
to flash up, as if kindled anew by gunpowder. It now occurred toTier that the young man had a double object in
lighting this fire, which would answer not only the purposes
of his cookery, but as a signal of distress to anything passing near. The sloop-of-war, though more distant than the
brig, was in his neighbourhood; and she might possibly
yet send relief. Such was the state of things when Jack
was startled by a sudden hail from below. It was Spike's
voice, and came up to him short and quick.
" Fore-topmast cross-trees, there! What are ye about
all this time, Master Jack Tier, in them fore-topmast crosstrees, I say?" demanded Spike.
"Keeping a look-out for boats from the sloop-of-war, as
you bade me, sir," answered Jack, coolly.
"D' ye see any, my man? Is the water clear ahead of
us, or not?"
"It's getting to be so dark, sir, I can see no longer.
While there was day-light, no boat was to be seen."
" Come down, man-come down; I've business for you
below. The sloop is far enough to the nor'ard, and we
shall neither see nor hear from her to-night. Come down,
I say, Jack-come down."
Jack obeyed, and securing the glass, he began to descend
the rigging. He was soon as low as the top, when he
paused a moment to take another look. The fire was still
visible, shining like a torch on the surface of the water,
casting its beams abroad like " a good deed in a nauighty
world." Jack was sorry to see it, though he once more
took its bearing from the brig, in order that he might know




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


285


where to find the spot, in the event of a search for it When
on the stretcher of the fore-rigging, Jack stopped and again
looked for his beacon. It had disappeared, having sunk
below the circular formation of the earth. By ascending
two or three ratliis, it came into view, and by going down
as low as the stretcher again, it disappeared. Trusting
that no one, at that hour, would have occasion to go aloft,
Jack now descended to the deck, and went aft with the
spy-glass.
Spike and the Sefnor Montefalderon were under the
coach-house, no one else appearing on any part of the quarter-deck. The people were eating their suppers, and Josh
and Simon were busy in the galley. As for the females,
they chose to remain in their own cabin, where Spike was
well pleased to leave them.
"Come this way, Jack," said the captain, in his besthumoured tone of voice, " I've a word to say to you. Put
the glass in at my state-room window, and come hither."
Tier did as ordered.
" So you can make out no boats to the nor'ard, ha, Jack!
nothing to be seen thereaway?"
"Nothing in the way of a boat, sir."
"Ay, ay, I dare say there's plenty of water, and some
rock. The Florida Reef has no scarcity of either, to them
that knows where to look for one, and to steer clear of the
other. Hark'e, Jack; so you got the schooner under way
from the Dry Tortugas, and undertook to beat her up to
Key West, when she fancied herself a turtle, and over she
went with you-is that it, my man?"
"The schooner turned turtle with us, sure enough, sir;
and we all came near drowning on her bottom."
"No sharks in that latitude and longitude, eh Jack?"
" Plenty on 'em, sir; and I thought they would have got
us all, at one time. More than twenty set of fins were in
sight at once, for several hours."
"You could hardly have supplied the gentlemen with a
leg, or an arm, each. But where was the boat all this time
-you had the light-house boat in tow, I suppose?"
"She had been in tow, sir; but Madam Budd talked sa
'nuch dictionary to the painter that it got adrift."
"Yet I found you all in it."




^-{i!


JACK TIER;


"Very true, sir. Mr. Mulford swam quite a mile t~
reach the rocks, and found the boat aground on one on 'em.
As soon as he got the boat, he made sail, and came and
took us off. We had reason to thank God he could do
so."
Spike looked dark and thoughtful. He muttered the
words " swam," and " rocks," but was too cautious to al.
low any expressions to escape him, that might betray to the
Mexican officer that which was uppermost in his mind.
He was silent, however, for quite a minute, and Jack saw
that he had awakened a dangerous source of distrust in the
captain's breast.
"Well, Jack," resumed Spike, after the pause, "can
you tell us anything of the doubloons? I nat'rally expected
to find them in the boat, but there were none to be seen.
You scarcely pumped the schooner out, without overhauling her lockers, and falling in with them doubloons."
"We found them, sure enough, and had them ashore
with us, in the tent, down to the moment when we sailed."
"When you took them off to the schooner, eh? My life
for it, the gold was not forgotten."
"It was not, sure enough, sir; but we took it off with
us to the schooner, and it went down in her when she
finally sunk."
Another pause, during which Sefior Montefalderon and
Captain Spike looked significantly at each other.." Do you think, Jack, you could find the spot where the
schooner went down?"
"' I could come pretty near it, sir, though not on the very
spot itself. Water leaves no mark over the grave of a
sunken ship."
"If you can take us within a reasonable distance, we
might find it by sweeping for it. Them doubloons are
worth some trouble; and their recovery would be better
than a long v'y'ge to us, any day."
" They would, indeed, Don Esteban," observed the Mexican; " and my poor country is not in a condition to bear
heavy losses. If Sefor Jack Tier can find the wreck, and
we regain the money, ten of those doubloons shall be his
reward, though I take them from my own share, much di.
minished as it will be."




O R, T I E F LOR I DA R E EF.


287


"You hear, Jack-here is a chance to make your fortune! You say you sailed with me in old times-and old
times were good times with this brig, though times has
changed; but if you sailed with me, in old times, you must
remember that whatever the Swash touched she turned to
gold."
"I hope you don't doubt, Captain Spike, my having
sailed in the brig, not only in old times, but in her best
times."
Jack seemed hurt as he put this question, and Spike appeared in doubt. The latter gazed at the little, rotund,
queer-looking figure before him, as if endeavouring to recognise him; and when he had done, he passed his hand
over his brow, like one who endeavoured to recall past objects by excluding those that are present.
"You will then show us the spot where my unfortunate
schooner did sink, Senor Jack Tier?" put in the Mexican.
" With all my heart, sefior, if it is to be found. I think
I could take you within a cable's length of the place, though
hunger, and thirst, and sharks, and the fear of drowning,
will keep a fellow from having a very bright look-out for
such a matter."
" In what water do you suppose the craft to lie, Jack?"
demanded the captain.
"You know as much of that as I do myself, sir. She
went down about a cable's length from the reef, toward
which she was a settin' at the time; and had she kept afloat
an hour longer, she might have grounded on the rocks."
"She's better where she is, if we can only find her by
sweeping. On the rocks we could do nothing with her but
break her up, and ten to one the doubloons would be lost.
By the way, Jack, do you happen to know where that
scoundrel of a mate of mine stowed the money?"
" When we left the island, I carried it down to the boat
myself-and a good lift I had of it. As sure as you are
there, sefior, I was obliged to take it on a shoulder. When
it came out of the boat, Mr. Mulford carried it below; and
I heard him tell Miss Rose, a'terwards that he had thrown
it into a bread-locker."
"Where we shall find it, Don Wan, notwithstanding all
'his veering and hauling. The old brig has luck when,




288


JACK 1 IER;


doubloons are in question, and ever has had since I've
commanded her. Jack, we shall have to call on the cook
and stewards for an anchor-watch to-night. The people
are a good deal fagged with boxing about this reef so much,
and I shall want 'em all as fresh to-morrow as they can be
got. You idlers had better take the middle watches, which
will give the fore-castle chaps longer naps.;'
" Ay, ay, sir; we 'll manage that for 'em. Josh and Simon can go on at twelve, and I will take the watch at two,
which will give the men all the rest they want, as I can
hold out for four hours full. I'm as good for an anchorwatch as any man in the brig, Captain Spike."
"That you are, Jack, and better than some on 'em.
Take you all round, and round it is, you're a rum 'un, my
lad-the queerest little jigger that ever lay out on a royalyard."
Jack might have been a little offended at Spike's compliments, but he was certainly not sorry to find him so goodnatured, after all that had passed. He now left the captain,
and his Mexican companion, seemingly in close conference
together, while he went below himself, and dropped as
naturally into the routine of his duty, as if he had never
left the brig. In the cabin he found the females, of course.
Rose scarce raising her face from the shawl which lay on
the bed of her own berth. Jack busied himself in a locker
near this berth, until an opportunity occurred to touch
Rose, unseen by her aunt or Biddy.  The poor heartstricken girl raised her face, from which all the colour
had departed, and looked almost vacantly at Jack, as if to
ask an explanation. Hope is truly, by a most benevolent
provision of Providence, one of the very last blessings to
abandon us. It is probable that we are thus gifted, in order
to encourage us to rely on the great atonement to the last
moment, since, without this natural endowment to cling to
hope, despair might well be the fate of millions, who, there
is reason to think, reap the benefit of that act of divine
mercy. It would hardly do to say that anything like hope
was blended with the look Rose now cast on Jack, but it
was anxious and inquiring.
The steward bent his head to the locker, bringing his
face quite near to that of Rose, and whispered —" There
is hope, Miss Rose-but do not betray me."




( 0R, THE FLORIDA REEF.


289


These were blessed words for our heroine to hear, and
they produced an immediate and great revolution in her
feelings. Commanding herself, however, she looked her
questions, instead of trusting even to a whisper. Jack did
not say any more, just then; but, shortly after, he called
Rose, whose eyes were now never off him, into the main
cabin, which was empty. It was so much pleasanter to
sleep in an airy state-room on deck, that Senor Montefalderon, indeed, had given up the use of this cabin, in a
great measure, seldom appearing in it, except at meals,
having taken possession of the deserted apartment of Mulford. Josh was'in the galley, where he spent most of his
time, and Rose and Jack had no one to disturb their conference.
"He is safe, Miss Rose-God be praised!" whispered '
Jack. "Safe for the present, at least; with food, and
water, and fire to keep him warm at night."
It was impossible for Rose not to understand to whom
there was allusion, though her head became dizzy under
the painful confusion that prevailed in it. She pressed her
temples with both hands, and asked a thousand questions
with her eyes. Jack considerately handed her a glass of
water before he proceeded. As soon as he found her a
little more composed, he related the facts connected with
his discovery of Mulford, precisely as they had occurred.
" He is now on a large rock-a little island, indeedwhere he is safe from the ocean unless it comes on to blow
a hurricane," concluded Jack, " has fresh water and fresh
turtle in the bargain. A man might live a month on one
such turtle as I saw Mr. Mulford cutting up this evening."
"Is there no way of rescuing him from the situation
you have mentioned, Jack? In a year or two I shall be
my own mistress, and have money to do as I please with;
put me only in the way of taking Mr. Mulford from that
rock, and I will share all I am worth on earth with you,
dear Jack."
"Ay, so it is with the whole sex," muttered Tier; " let
them only once give up their affections to a man, and he
becomes dearer to them than pearls and rubies! But you
know me, Miss Rose, and know why and how well I would
sarve you. My story and my feelin's are as much your
25




290


JACK TIER;


secret, as your story and your feelin's is mine. We shall
pull together, if we do n't pull so very strong. Now, hearken
to me, Miss Rose, and I will let you into the secret of my
plan to help Mr. Mulford make a launch."
Jack then communicated to his companion his whole
project for the night. Spike had, of his own accord, given
to him and his two associates, Simon and Josh, the care
of the brig between midnight and morning. If he could
prevail on either of these men to accompany him, it was
his intention to take the light-house boat, which was riding
by its painter astern of the brig, and proceed as fast as
they could to the spot whither Mulford had found his way.
By his calculations, if the wind stood as it then was, little
more than an hour would be necessary to reach the rock,
and about as much more to return. Should the breeze
lull, of which there was no great danger, since the easterly
trades were again blowing, Jack thought he and Josh might
go over the distance with the oars in about double the time.
Should both Josh and Simon refuse to accompany him, he
thought he should attempt the rescue of the mate alone,
did the wind stand, trusting to Mulford's assistance, should
he need it, in getting back to the brig.
"You surely would not come back here with Harry,
did you once get him safe from off that rock!" exclaimed
Rose.
"Why, you know how it is with me, Miss Rose," answered Jack. " My business is here, on board the Swash
and I must attend to it. Nothing shall tempt me to give
up the brig so long as she floats, and sartain folk float in
her, unless it might be some such matter as that which
happened on the bit of an island at the Dry Tortugas. Ah!
he's a willian! But if I do come back, it will be only to
get into my own proper berth ag'in, and not to bring Mr.
Mulford into the lion's jaws. He will only have to put me
back on board the Molly here, when he can make the best
of his own way to Key West. Half an houi would place
him out of harm's way; especially as I happen to know
the course Spike means to steer in the morning."
"I will go with you, Jack," said Rose, mildly, but with
great firmness.
" You, Miss Rose! But why should I show surprise?




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


291


It's like all the sex, when they have given away their
affections. Yes, woman will be woman, put her on a naked
rock, or put her in silks and satins in her parlour at home.
How different is it with men! They dote for a little while,
and turn to a new face. It must be said, men's willians!"
" Not Mulford, Jack-no, not Harry Mulford! A truer
or a nobler heart never beat in a human breast; and you
and I will drown together, rather than he should not be
taken from that rock."
" It shall be as you say," answered Jack, a little thoughtfully. " Perhaps it would he best that you should quit the
brig altogether. Spike is getting desperate, and you will
be safer with the young mate than with so great an old(
willian. Yes, you shall go with me, Miss Rose; and if
Josh and Simon both refuse, we will go alone."
" With you, Jack, but not with Mr. Mulford. I cannot
desert my aunt, nor can I quit the Swash alone in company
with her mate. As for Spike, I despise him too much to
fear him. He must soon go into port somewhere, and at
the first place where he touches we shall quit him. He
dare not detain us-nay, he cannot-and I do not fear him.
We will save Harry, but I shall remain with my aunt."
"We'll see, Miss Rose, we'll see," said Tier, smiling.
"Perhaps a handsome young man, like Mr. Mulford, will
have better luck in persuading you than an old fellow like
me. If he should fail, 't will be his own fault."
So thought Jack Tier, judging of women as he had found
them, but so did not think Rose Budd. The conversation
ended here, however, each keeping in view its purport,
and the serious business that was before them.
The duty of the vessel went on as usual. The night
promised to be clouded, but not very dark, as there was a
moon. When Spike ordered the anchor-watches, he had
great care to spare his crew as much as possible, for the
next day was likely to be one of great toil to them. He
intended to get the schooner up again, if possible; and
though he might not actually pump her out so as to cause
her to float, enough water was to be removed to enable
him to get at the doubloons. The situation of the breadlocker was known, and as soon as the cabin was sufficiently
freed from water to enable one to move about in it, Spike




2)2              J.ACK TIER;
did not doubt his being able to get at the gold. With his
resources and ingenuity, the matter in his own mind was
reduced to one of toil and time. Eight-and-forty hours,
and some hard labour, he doubted not would effect all he
X cared for.
In setting the anchor-watches for the night, therefore,
Stephen Spike bethought him as much of the morrow as
of the present moment. Don Juan offered to remain on
(leck until midnight, and as he was as capable of giving an:l!arm as any one else, the offer was accepted. Josh and
Simon were to succeed the Mexican, and to hold the lookout for two hours, when Jack was to relieve them, and to
continue on deck until light returned, when he was to give
the captain a call. This arrangement made, Tier turned
in at once, desiring the cook to call him half an hour
before the proper period of his watch commenced. That
half hour Jack intended to employ in exercising his eloquence in endeavouring to persuade either Josh or Simon
to be of his party. By eight o'clock the vessel lay in a
profound quiet, Sefor Montefalderon pacing the quarterdeck alone, while the deep breathing of Spike was to be
heard issuing through the open window of his state-room;
a window which it may be well to say to the uninitiated,
opened in-board, or toward the deck, and not outboard, or
t( ward the sea.
For four solitary hours did the Mexican pace the deck
of the stranger, resting himself for a few minutes at a time
only, when wearied with walking. Does the reader fancy
that a man so situated had not plenty of occupation for his
thoughts? Don Juan Montefalderon was a soldier and a
gallant cavalier; and love of country had alone induced
him to engage in his present duties. Not that patriotism
which looks to political preferment through a popularity
purchased by the vulgar acclamation which attends success
in arms, even when undeserved, or that patriotism which
induces men of fallen characters to endeavour to retrieve
former offences by the shortest and most reckless mode, or
that patriotism which shouts " our country right or wrong,"
regardless alike of God and his eternal laws, that are never
to be forgotten with impunity; but the patriotism which
would defend his home and fi-e-side, his altars and the




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


293


gravea of his fathers, from the ruthless steps of the invader.
We shall not pretend to say how far this gentleman entered
into the merits of the quarrel between the two republics,
which no arts of European jealousy can ever conceal from
the judgment of truth, for, with him, matters had gone
beyond the point when men feel the necessity of reasoning,
and when, perhaps, if such a condition of the mind is ever
to be defended, he found his perfect justification in feeling.
He had travelled, and knew life by observation, and not
through traditions and books. He had never believed,
therefore, that his countrymen could march to Washington,
or even to the Sabine; but he had hoped for better things
than had since occurred. The warlike qualities of the
Americans of the North, as he was accustomed to call
those who term themselves, par excellence, Americans, a
name they are fated to retain, and to raise high on the scale
of national power and national pre-eminence, unless they
fall by their own hands, had taken him by surprise, as
they have taken all but those who knew the country well,
and who understood its people.  Little had he imagined
that the small, widely-spread body of regulars, that figured
in the blue books, almanacs and army-registers of America,
as some six or seven thousand men, scattered along frontiers
of a thousand leagues in extent, could, at the beck of the
government, swell into legions of invaders, men able to
carry war to the capitals of his own states, thousands of
miles from their doors, and formidable alike for their energy,
their bravery, their readiness in the use of arms, and their
numbers. He saw what is perhaps justly called the boasting
of the American character, vindicated by their.exploits;
and marches, conquests and victories that, if sober truth
were alone to cover the pages of history, would far outdo
in real labour and danger the boasted passage of the Alps
under Napoleon, and the exploits that succeeded it.
Don Juan Montefalderon was a grave and thoughtful
man, of pure Iberian blood. He might have had about
him a little of the exaltation of the Spanish character; the
nverflowings of a generous chivalry at the bottom; and,
under its influence, he may have set too high an estimate
on Mexico and her sons, but he was not one to shut his
eyes to the truth. He saw plainly that the northern neigh25 *




294


JACK  TIER;


bours of his country were a race formidable and enterprising
and that of all the calumnies that had been heaped upon
them by rivalries and European superciliousness, that of
their not being military by temperament was, perhaps, the
most absurd of all. On the contrary, he had himself, though
anticipating evil, been astounded by the suddenness and
magnitude of their conquests, which in a few short months
after the breaking out of hostilities, had overrun regions
larger in extent than many ancient empires. All this had
been done, too, not by cisorderly and barbarous hordes,
seeking in other lands the abundance that was wanting
at home; but with system and regularity, by men who
had turned the ploughshare into the sword for the occasion, quitting abundance to encounter fatigue, famine,
and danger. In a word, the Sefior Montefalderon saw
all the evils that environed his own land, and foresaw
others, of a still graver character that wenaced the future.
On matters such as these did he brood in his walk, and
'bitter did he find the minutes of that sad and lonely watch.
Although a Mexican, he could feel; although an avowed
foe of this good republic of ours, he had his principles, his
affections, and his sense of right. Whatever may be the
merits of the quarrel, and we are not disposed to deny that
our provocation has been great, a sense of right should
teach every man that what may be patriotic in an American,
would not be exactly the same thing in a Mexican, and
that we ought to respect in others sentiments that are so
much vaunted among ourselves. Midnight at length arrived,
and, calling the cook and steward, the unhappy gentleman
was relieved, and went to his berth to dream, in sorrow,
over the same pictures of national misfortunes, on which,
while waking, he had brooded in such deep melancholy.
The watch of Josh and Simon was tranquil, meeting
with no interruption until it was time to summon Jack.
One thing these men had done, however, that was of some
moment to Tier, under a pledge given by Josh, and which
had been taken in return for a dollar in hand. They had
managed to haul the light-house Loat alongside. from its
position astern, and this so noiselessly as not to give the
alarm to any one. There it lay, when Jack appeared,
ready at the main-rigging, to receive him at any moment
he might choose to enter it.




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


295


A few minutes after Jack appeared on deck, Rose and
Biddy came stealthily out of the cabin, the latter carrying
a basket filled with bread and broken meat, and not wanting
in sundry little delicacies, such as woman's hands prepare,
and, in this instance, woman's tenderness had provided.
The whole party met at the galley, a place so far removed
from the state-rooms aft as to be out of ear-shot. Here
Jack renewed his endeavours to persuade either Josh or
Simon to go in the boat, but without success. The negroes
had talked the matter over in their watch, and had come
to the conclusion the enterprise was too hazardous.
"I tell you, Jack, you does n't know Cap'in Spike as well
as I does," Josh said, in continuance of the discourse. " No,
you does n't know him at all as well as I does. If he finds
out that anybody has quit dis brig dis werry night, woful
will come! It no good to try to run; I run t'ree time, an'
Simon here run twice. What good it all do? We got
cotched, and here we is, just as fast as ever. I knows
Cap'in Spike, and does n't want to fall in athwart his hawse
any more."
" Y-e-s, dat my judgment too," put in the cook. "We
wishes you well, Jack, and we wishes Miss Rose well, and
Mr. Mulford well, but we can't, no how, run ath'art hawse,
as Josh says. Dat is my judgment, too."
"Well, if your minds are made up to this, my darkies,
I s'pose there'll be no changing them," said Jack. "At
all ewents you'll lend us a hand, by answering any hail
that may come from aft, in my watch, and in keepin' our
secret. There's another thing you can do for us, which
may be of sarvice. Should Captain Spike miss the boat,
and lay any trap to catch us, you can just light this here
bit of lantern and hang it over the brig's bows, where he 'll
not be likely to see it, that we may know matters are going
wrong, and give the craft a wide berth."
" Sartain," said Josh, who entered heartily into the affair,
so far as good wishes for its success were concerned, at
the very moment when he had a most salutary care of his
own back. " Sartain; we do all dat, and no t'ank asked.
It no great matter to answer a hail, or to light a lantern
and sling him over de bows; and if Captain Spike want to
know who did it, let him find out."




296


JACK TIER;


Here both negroes laughed heartily, manifesting so little
care to suppress their mirth, that Rose trembled lest their
noise should awaken Spike. Accustomed sounds, however,
seldom produce this effect on the ears of the sleeper, and
the heavy breathing from the state-room, succeeded the
merriment of the blacks, as soon as the latter ceased.
Jack now announced his readiness to depart. Some little
care and management were necessary to get into the boat
noiselessly, more especially with Biddy. It was done however, with the assistance of the blacks, who cast off the
painter, when Jack gave the boat a shove to clear the brig,
and suffered it to drift astern for a considerable distance
before he ventured to cast loose the sail.,
"J know Spike well," said Jack, in answer to a remonstrance from the impatient Rose concerning his delay: " A
single flap of that canvas would wake him up, with the
brig anchored, while he would sleep through a salute of
heavy guns if it came in regular course. Quick ears has
old Stephen, and it's best to humour them. In a minute
more we'll set our canvas and be off."
All was done as Jack desired, and the boat got away
from the brig unheard and undetected. It was blowing a
good breeze, and Jack Tier had no sooner got the sail on
the boat, than away it started at a speed that would have
soon distanced Spike in his yawl, and with his best oarsmen.
The main point was to keep the course, though the direction of the wind was a great assistant. By keeping the
wind abeam, Jack thought he should be going toward the
rock of Mulford. In one hour, or even in less time, he
expected to reach it, and he was guided by time, in his
calculations, as much as by any other criterion. Previously
to quitting the brig, he had gone up a few ratlins of the
fore-rigging to take the bearings of the fire on Mulford's
rock, but the light was no longer visible. As no star was
to be seen, the course was a little vague, but Jack was
navigator enough to understand that by keeping on the
weather side of the channel he was in the right road, and
that his great danger of missing his object was in overrunning it.
So much of the reef was above water, that it was not
lifficult to steer a boat along its margin. The darkness,




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


297


to be sure, rendered it a little uncertain how near they
were running to the rocks, but, on the whole, Jack assured
Rose he had no great difficulty in getting along.
"These trades are almost as good as compasses," he
said, "and the rocks are better, if we can keep close aboard
them without going on to them. I do not know the exact
distance of the spot we seek from the brig, but I judged it
to be about two leagues, as I looked at it from aloft. Now,
this boat will travel them two leagues in an hour, with
this breeze and in smooth water."
"I wish you had seen the fire again before we left the
brig," said Rose, too anxious for the result not to feel
uneasiness on some account or other.
"The mate is asleep, and the fire has burned down;
that's the explanation. Besides, fuel is not too plenty on
a place like that Mr. Mulford inhabits just now. As we
get near the spot, I shall look out for embers, which may
sarve as a light-house, or beacon, to guide us into port."
"' Mr. Mulford will be charmed to see us, now that we
take him wather!" exclaimed Biddy. " Wather is a blessed
thing, and it's hard will be the heart that does not fale
gratitude for a plenty of swate wather."
" The maty has plenty of food and water where he is,"
said Jack. "I 'll answer for both them sarcumstances. 1
saw him turn a turtle as plain as if I had been at his elbow,
and I saw him drinking at a hole in the rock, as heartily
as a boy ever pulled at a gimblet-hole in a molasses hogshead."
"But the distance was so great, Jack, I should hardly
think you could have distinguished objects so small."
" I went by the motions altogether. I saw the man, and
I saw the movements, and I knowed what the last meant
It's true I could n't swear to the turtle, though I saw some
thing on the rock that I knowed, by the way in which it
was handled, must be a turtle. Then I saw the mate kneel,
and put his head low, and then I knowed he was drinking."
"Perhaps he prayed," said Rose, solemnly.
"Not he. Sailors is n't so. apt to pray, Miss Rose; not
as apt as they ought to be. Women for prayers, and men
for work. Mr. Mulford is no worse than many others, but
[ doubt if he be much given to that."




298


JACK TIER,


To this Rose made no answer, but Biddy took the matter
up, and, as the boat went briskly ahead, she pursued the
subject.
"Then more is the shame for him," said the Irish woman,
"and Miss Rose, and missus, and even I prayin' for him,
all as if he was our own brudder. It's seldom I ask anything for a heretic, but I could not forget a fine young man
like Mr. Mulford, and Miss Rose so partial to him, and he
in so bad a way. He ought to be ashamed to make his
brags that he is too proud to pray."
" Harry has made no such wicked boast," put in Rose,
mildly; "nor do we know that he has not prayed for us,
as well as for himself. It may all be a mistake of Jack's,
you know."
"Yes," added Jack, coolly, " it may be a mistake, a'ter
all, for I was lookin' at the maty six miles off, and through
a spy-glass. No one can be sure of anything at such a
distance. So overlook the matter, my good Biddy, and
carry Mr. Mulford the nice things you've mustered in that
basket, all the same as if he was pope."
"This is a subject we had better drop," Rose quietly
observed.
"Anything to oblige you, Miss Rose, though religion is
a matter it would do me no harm to talk about once and
awhile. It's many a long year since I've had time and
opportunity to bring my thoughts to dwell on holy things.
Ever since I left my mother's side, I've been a wanderer
in my mind, as much as in my body."
"Poor Jack! I understand and feel for your sufferings;
but a better time will come, when you may return to the
habits of your youth, and to the observances of your church."
"I do n't know that, Miss Rose; I do n't know that,"
answered Tier, placing the elbow of his short arm on the
seemingly shorter leg, and bending his head so low as to
lean his face on the palm of the hand, an attitude in which
he appeared to be suffering keenly through his recollections. "Childhood and innocence never come back to us
in this world. What the grave may do, we shall all learn
in time."
"Innocence can return to all with repentance, Jack;
and the heart that prompts you to do acts as generous as




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


299


this you are now engaged in, must contain some good seed
yet."
" If Jack will go to a praste and just confess, when he
can find a father, it will do his sowl good," said Biddy,
who was touched by the mental suffering of the strange
little being at her side.
But the necessity of managing the boat soon compelled
its coxswain to raise his head, and to attend to his duty.
The wind sometimes came in puffs, and at such moments
Jack saw that the large sail of the light-house boat required
watching, a circumstance that induced him to shake off his
melancholy, and give his mind more exclusively to the business before him. As for Rose, she sympathised deeply
with Jack Tier, for she knew his history, his origin, the
story of his youth, and the well-grounded causes of his
contrition and regrets. From her, Jack had concealed nothing, the gentle commiseration of one like Rose being a
balm to wounds that had bled for long and bitter years.
'The great poet of our language, and the greatest that ever
lived, perhaps, short of the inspired writers of the Old Testament, and old Homer and Dante, has well reminded us
that the "little beetle," in yielding its breath, can " feel a
pang as great as when a giant dies."  Thus is it, too, in
morals. Abasement, and misery, and poverty, and sin,
may, and all do, contribute to lower the tone of our moral
existence; but the principle that has been planted by nature, can be eradicated by nature only. It exists as long
as we exist; and if dormant for a time, under the pressure
of circumstances, it merely lies, in the moral system, like
the acorn, or the chestnut, in the ground, waiting its time
and season to sprout, and bud, and blossom. Should that
time never airive, it is not because the seed is not-there,
but because it is neglected. Thus was it with the singular
being of whose feelings we have just spoken. The germ
of goodness had been implanted early in him, and was
nursed with tenderness and care, until, self-willed, and governed by passion, he had thrown off the connections-of
youth and childhood, to connect himself with Spike-a
connection that had left him what he was. Before closing
our legend, we shall have occasion to explain it.
"We have run our hour, Miss Rose," resumed Jack,




300


JACK TIER;


breaking a continued silence, during which the boat had
passed through a long line of water; "we have run our
hour, and ought to be near the rock we are in search of.
But the morning is so dark that I fear we shall have difficulty in finding it. It will never do to run past it, and we
must haul closer into the reef, and shorten sail, that we
may be sartain to make no such mistake."
Rose begged her companion to omit no precaution, as
it would be dreadful to fail in their search, after incurring
so much risk in their own persons.
"Harry may be sleeping on the sea-weed of which you
spoke," she added, ~" and the danger of passing him will be
much increased in such a case. What a gloomy and frightful spot is this, in which to abandon a human being! I fear,
Jack, that we have come faster than we have supposed, and
may already have passed the rock."
"I hope not, Miss Rose-it seemed to me a good two
leagues to the place where I saw him, and the boat is fast
that will run two leagues in an hour."
"We do not know the time, Jack, and are obliged to
guess at that as well as at the distance. How very dark it
is!"
Dark, in one sense, it was not, though Rose's apprehensions, doubtless, induced her to magnify every evil. The
clouds certainly lessened the light of the moon; but there
was still enough of the last to enable one to see surrounding objects; and most especially to render distinct -the
character of the solitude that reigned over the place.
The proximity of the reef, which formed a weather shore
to the boat, prevented anything like a swell on the water,
notwithstanding the steadiness and strength of the breeze,
which had now blown for near twenty-four hours. The
same wind, in open water, would have raised sea enough
to cause a ship to pitch, or roll; whereas, the light-house
boat, placed where she was, scarce rose and fell under the
undulations of the channel through which she was glanc
ing.
"This is a good boat, and a fast boat too," observed
Jack Tier, after he had luffed up several minutes, in order
to make sure of his proximity to the reef; ' and it might
carry us all safe enough to Key West, or certainly back to




OR, THE FLORIDA REEP.


301


the Dry Tortugas, was we inclined to try our hands at
either."
"' I cannot quit my aunt," said Rose, quickly, " so we
will not even think of any such thing."
"No, 'twould never do to abandon the missus," said
Biddy, " and she on the wrack wid us, and falin' the want
of wather as much as ourselves."
"We three have sartainly gone through much in company," returned Jack, " and it ought to make us friends
for life."
"I trust it will, Jack; I hope, when we return to New
York, to see you among us, anchored, as you would call
it, for the rest of your days under my aunt's roof, or under
my own, should I ever have one."
"No, Miss Rose, my business is with the Swash and
her captain. I shall stick by both, now I've found 'em
again, until they once more desart me. A man's duty is
his duty, and a woman's duty is her duty."
" You same to like the brig and her captain, Jack Tier,"
observed Biddy, " and there's no use in gainsaying such a
likin'. What will come to pass, must come to pass. Cap.
tain Spike is a mighty great sailor, anyway."
"He's a willian!" muttered Jack.
"There!" cried Rose, almost breathless, "there is a
rock above the water, surely. Do not fly by it so swiftly,
Jack, but let us stop and examine it."
"There is a rock, sure enough, and a large piece it is,"
answered Tier. "We will go alongside of it, and see what
it is made of. Biddy shall be boat-keeper, while you and
I, Miss Rose, explore."
Jack had thrown the boat into the wind, and was shooting close alongside of the reef, even while speaking. The
party found no difficulty in landing; the margin of the rock
admitting the boat to lie close alongside of it, and its surface being even and dry. Jack had brailed the sail, and
he brought the painter ashore, and fastened it securely tc,
a fragment of stone, that made a very sufficient anchor. In
addition to this precaution, a lazy painter was put into
Biddy's hands, and she was directed not to let go of it
while her companions were absent. These arrangements
26




s02               JACK TIER;
concluded, Rose and Jack commenced a hurried examina
lion of the spot.
A few minutes sufficed to give our adventurers a tolera.
bly accurate notion of the general features of the place on
which they had landed. It was a considerable portion of
the reef that was usually above water, and which had even
some fragments of soil, or sand, on which was a stinted
growth of bushes. Of these last, however, there were very
few, nor were there many spots of the sand. Drift-wood
and sea-weed were lodged in considerable quantities about
its margin, and, in places, piles of both had been tossed
upon the rock itself, by the billows of former gales of wind.
Nor was it long before Jack discovered a turtle that had
been up to a hillock of sand, probably to deposit its eggs.
There was enough of the sportsman in Jack, notwithstanding the business he was on, to turn this animal; though
with what object, he might have been puzzled himself to
say. This exploit effected, Jack followed Rose as fast as
his short legs would permit, our heroine pressing forward
eagerly, though almost without hope, in order to ascertain
if Mulford were there.
"I am afraid this is not the rock," said Rose, nearly
breathless with her own haste, when Jack had overtaken
her. (' I see nothing of him, and we have passed over most
of the place."
" Very true, Miss Rose," answered her companion, who
was in a good humour on account of his capture of the turtle; "but there are other rocks besides this. Ha! what
was that, yonder," pointing with a finger, " here, more toward the brig. As I'm a sinner, there was a flashing, as
of fire."
" If a fire, it must be that made by Harry. Let us go
to the spot at once."
Jack led the way, and, sure enough, he soon reached a
place where the embers of what had been a considerable
body of fire, were smouldering on the rock. The wind had
probably caused some brand to kindle momentarily, which
was the object that had caught Tier's eye. No doubt any
longer remained of their having found the very place where
the mace had cooked his supper, and lighted his beacon,
though he himself was not near it. Around these embers




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


30:J


were all the signs of Mulford's having made the meal, of
which Jack had seen the preparations. A portion of the
turtle, much the greater part of it, indeed, lay in its shell;
and piles of wood and sea-weed, both dry, had been placed
at hand, ready for use. A ship's topgallant-yard, with most
of its rope attached, lay with a charred end near the fire,
or where the fire had been, the wood having burned until
the flames went out for want of contact with other fuel.
There were many pieces of boards of pitch-pine in the ad.
jacent heap, and two or three beautiful planks of the same
wood, entire. In short, from the character and quantity
of the materials of this nature that had thus been heaped
together, Jack gave it as his opinion that some vessel,
freighted with lumber, had been wrecked to windward, and
that the adjacent rocks had been receiving the tribute of
her cargo. Wrecks are of very, very frequent occurrence
on the Florida Reef; and there are always moments when
such gleanings are to be made in some part of it or other.
" I see no better way to give a call to the mate, Miss
Rose, than to throw some of this dry weed, and some of
this lumber on the fire," said Jack, after he had rummaged
about the place sufficiently to become master of its condition. " There is plenty of amunition, and here goes for a
broadside."
Jack had no great difficulty in effecting his object. In
a few minutes he succeeded in obtaining a flame, and then
he fed it with such fragments of the brands and boards as
were best adapted to his purpose. The flames extended
gradually, and by the time Tier had dragged the topgallantyard over the pile, and placed several planks, on their edges,
alongside of it, the whole was ready to burst into a blaze.
The light was shed athwart the rock for a long distance,
and the whole place, which was lately so gloomy and obscure,. now became gay, under the bright radiance of a blazing fire.
" There is a beacon-light that might almost be seen on
board!" said Jack, exulting in his success. If the mate
is anywhere in this latitude, he will soon turn up."
" I see nothing of him," answered Rose, in a melancholy
voice. " Surely, surely, Jack; he cannot have left the rock
just as we have come to rescue him!"




30-4


JACK TIER;


Rose and her companion had turned their faces from the
fire to look in an opposite direction in quest of him they
sought. Unseen by them, a human form advanced swiftly
toward the fire, from a point on its other side. It advanced
nearer, then hesitated, afterward rushed forward with a
tread that caused the two to turn, and at the next moment,
Rose was clasped to the heart of Mulford.
CHAPTER XI.
I might have pass'd that lovely cheek,
Nor, perchance, my heart have left me;
But the sensitive blush that came trembling there,
Of my heart it for ever bereft me.
Who could blame had I loved that face,
Ere my eyes could twice explore her;
Yet it is for the fairy intelligence there,
And her warm, warm heart I adore her.
WOLFZ.
TimE stories of the respective parties who had thus so
strangely met on that barren and isolated rock, were soon
told. Harry confirmed all of Jack's statements as to his
own proceedings, and Rose had little more to say than to
add how much her own affections had led her to risk in
his behalf.  In a word, ten minutes made each fully acquainted with the other's movements. Then Tier considerately retired to the boat, under the pretence of minding
it, and seeing everything ready for a departure, but as much
to allow the lovers the ten or fifteen minutes of uninterrupt& discourse that they now enjoyed, as for any other reason.
It was a strange scene that now offered on the rock.. By
this time the fire was burning not only brightly, but fiercely,
shedding its bright light far and near.  Under its irost
brilliant rays stood Harry and Rose, both smiling and happy, delighted in their meeting, and, for the moment, forgetful of all but their present felicity.  Never, indeed, had
Rose appeared more lovely than under these circumstances




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


305


Her face was radiant with those feelings which had so recently changed from despair to delight-a condition that
is ever most propitious to beauty; and charms that always
~appeared feminine and soft, now seemed elevated to a bright
benignancy that might best be likened to our fancied images
of angels. The mild, beaming, serene and intelligent blue
eyes, the cheeks flushed with happiness, the smiles that
came so easily, and were so replete with tenderness, and
the rich hair, deranged by the breeze, and moistened by the
air of the sea, each and all, perhaps, borrowed some additional lustre from the peculiar light under which they were
exhibited. As for Harry, happiness had thrown all the disadvantages of exposure, want of dress, and a face that had not
felt the razor for six-and-thirty hours, into the back-ground.
When he left the wreck, he had cast aside his cap and his
light summer jacket, in order that they might not encumber him in swimming, but both had been recovered when
he returned with the boat to take off his friends. In his
ordinary sea attire, then, he now stood, holding Rose's two
hands in front of the fire, every garment clean and white
as the waters of the ocean could make them, but all betray
ing some of the signs of his recent trials. His fine. countenance was full of the love he bore for the intrepid and
devoted girl who had risked so much in his behalf; and a
painter might have wished to preserive the expression of
ardent, manly admiration which glowed in his face, answering to the gentle sympathy and womanly tenderness it met
in that of Rose.
The back-ground of this picture was the wide, even surface of the coral reef, with its exterior setting of the dark
and gloomy sea. On the side of the channel, however, appeared the boat, already winded, with Biddy still on the
rock, looking kindly at the lovers by the fire, while Jack
was holding the painter, beginning to manifest a little impatience at the delay.
"' They '11 stay there an hour, holding each other's hands,
and looking into each other's faces," half grumbled the
little, rotund, assistant-steward, anxious o be on his way
oack to the brig, " unless a body gives 'em a call. Captain
Spike will be in no very good humour to receive you and
26 *




30ti              JACK TIER;
me on board ag'in, if he should find out what sort of a trip
we've been making hereaway."
( Let 'ern alone-let 'em alone, Jacky," answered the
good-natured and kind-hearted Irish woman. "It's happy
they bees, jist now, and it does my eyes good to look at
'em."
"Ay, they're happy enough, now; I only hope it may
last."
"Last! what should help its lasting? Miss Rose is so
good, and so handsome-and she's a fortin', too; and the
mate so nice a young man. Think of the likes of them,
Jack, wantin' the blessed gift of wather, and all within one
day and two nights. Sure it's Providence that takes care
of, and not we ourselves! Kings on their thrones is n't as
happy as them at this moment."
" Men's willians!" growled Jack; " and more fools women for trustin' 'em."
"Not sich a nice young man as our mate, Jacky; no,
not he. Now the mate of the ship I came from Liverpool
in, this time ten years agone, he was a villain. He grudged
us our potaties, and our own bread; and he grudged us
every dhrap of swate wather that went into our mouths.
Call him a villain, if you will, Jack; but niver call the
likes of Mr. Mulford by so hard a name."
"I wish him well; and nothing else; and for that very
reason must put a stop to his looking so fondly into that
young woman's face. Time wont stand still, Biddy, to suit
the wishes of lovers; and Stephen Spike is a man not to
be trifled with. Halloo, there, maty! It's high time to
think of getting under way."
At this summons both Harry and Rose started, becoming
aware of the precious moments they were losing. Carrying
a large portion of the turtle, the former moved toward the
craft, in which all were seated in less than three minutes,
with the sail loose, and the boat in motion. For a few
moments the mate was so much occupied with Rose, that
he did not advert to the course; but one of his experience
could not long be misled on such a point, and he turned
suddenly to Tier, who was steering, to remonstrate.
" How's this, Jack!" cried Mulford; "you've got the
boat's head the wrong way."




OR, TIIE FLORIDA REEF.


307


"Not I, sir. She's heading for the brig as straight as
she can go. This wind favours us on both legs; and it's
lucky it does, for 't will be hard on upon daylight afore we
are alongside of her. You'll want half an hour of dark,
at the very least, to get a good start of the Swash, in case
she makes sail a'ter you."
"Straight for the brig!-what have we to do with the
brig? Our course is for Key West, unless it might be
better to run down before the wind to the Dry Tortugas
again, and look for the sloop-of-war. Duty, and perhaps
my own safety, tells me to let Captain Mull know what
Spike is about with the Swash; and I shall not hesitate a
moment about doing it, after all that has passed. Give me
the helm, Jack, and let us ware short round on our heel."
" Never, master maty-never. I must go back to the
brig. Miss Rose, there, knows that my business is with
Stephen Spike, and with him only."
" And I must return to my aunt, Harry," put in Rose,
herself. "It would never do for me to desert my aunt, you
know."
"And I have been taken from that rock, to be given up
to the tender mercies of Spike again?"
This was said rather in surprise, than in a complaining
way; and it at once induced Rose to tell the young man
the whole of their project.
" Never, Harry, never," she said firmly. " It is our intention to return to the brig ourselves, and let you escape in the
boat afterwards. Jack Tier is of opinion this can be done
without much risk, if we use proper caution and do not
lose too much time. On no account would I consent to
place you in the hands of Spike again-death would be
preferable to that, Harry!"
" And on no account can or will I consent to place you
again in the hands of Spike, Rose," answered the young
man. "Now that we know his intentions, such an act
would be almost impious."
" Remember my aunt, dear Harry. What would be her
situation in the morning, when she found herself deserted
by her niece and Biddy-by me, whom she has nursed and
watched from childhood, and whom she loves so well."
" I shall not deny your obligations to your aunt, Rose,




308


JACK TIER


and your duty to her under ordinary cir atinstances. But
these are not ordinary circumstances; and it would be
courting the direst misfortunes, nay, almost braving Providence, to place yourself in the hands of that scoundrel
again, now that you are clear of them."
"Spike's a willian!" muttered Jack.
" And my desartin' the missus would be a sin that no
praste would overlook aisily," put in Biddy.  "When,
Miss Rose told me of this v'y'ge that she meant to make in
the boat wid Jack Tier, I asked to come along, that I
might take care of her, and see that there was plenty of
wather; but ill-luck befall me if I would have t'ought of
sich a thing, and the missus desarted."
" We can then run alongside of the brig, and put Biddy
and Jack on board of her," said Mulford, reflecting a moment on what had just been said, " when you and I can
make the best of our way to Key West, where the means
of sending government vessels out after the Swash will
soon offer. In this way we can not only get our friends out
of the lion's jaws, but keep out of them ourselves."
"Reflect a moment, Harry," said Rose, in a low voice,
but not without tenderness in its tones; " it would not do
for me to go off alone with you in this boat."
"Not when you have confessed your willingness to go
over the wide world with me, Rose-with me, and with
me only?"
"Not even then, Harry. I know you will think better
of this, when your generous nature has time to reason with
your heart, on my account."
"I can only answer in your own words, Rose-never.
If you return to the Swash, I shall go on board with you,
and throw defiance into the very teeth of Spike. I know
the men do not dislike me, and, perhaps, assisted by Sefor
Montefalderon, and a few friends among the people, I can
muster a force that will prevent my being thrown into the
sea.,'
Rose burst into tears, and then succeeded many minutes,
during which Mulford was endeavouring, with manly tenderness, to soothe her. As soon as our heroine recovered
her self-command, she began to discuss the matter at issue
between them more coolly. For half an hour everything




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


309


~wa, urged by each that feeling, affection, delicacy, or distrust of Spike could well urge, and Mulford was slowly getting the best of the argument, as well he might, the truth
being mostly of his side. Rose was bewildered, really
feeling a strong reluctance to quit her aunt, even with so
justifiable a motive, but principally shrinking from the appearance of going off alone in a boat, and almost in the
open sea, with Mulford. Had she loved Harry less, her
scruples might not have been so active, but the consciousness of the strength of her attachment, as well as her fixed
intention to become his wife the moment it was in her
power to give him her hand with the decencies.of her sex,
contributed strangely to prevent her yielding to the young:uan's reasoning. On the subject of the aunt, the mate
made out so good a case, that it was apparent to all in the
boat Rose would have to abandon that ground of refusal.
Spike had no object to gain by ill-treating Mrs. Budd  and
the probability certainly was that he would get rid of her
as soon as he could, and in the most easy manner. This
was so apparent to all, that Harry had little difficulty in
getting Rose to assent to its probability. But there remained the reluctance to go off alone with the mate in a
boat. This part of the subject was more difficult to manage than the other; and Mulford betrayed as much by the
awkwardness with which he managed it. At length the
discussion was brought to a close by Jack Tier suddenly
saying,"Yonder is the brig; and we are heading for her as
straight as if she was the pole, and the keel of this boat was a
compass. I see how it is, Miss Rose, and a'ter all, I must
give in. I suppose some other opportunity will offer for
me to get on board of the brig ag'in, and I 'I trust to that.
If you won't go off with the mate alone, I suppose you ll
not refuse to go off in my company."
"Will you accompany us, Jack? This is more than I
-ad hoped for! Yes, Harry, if Jack Tier will be of the.,arty, I will trust my aunt to Biddy, and go with you to
ieey West, in order to escape from Spike."
This was said so rapidly, and so unexpectedly, as to take
Mitlford completely by surprise. Scarce believing what he
heard, the young man was disposed' at first, to feel hurt,




310


JACK TIER;


though a moment's reflection showed him that he ought to
rejoice in the result let the cause be what it might.
" More than I had hoped for!" he could not refrain from
repeating a little bitterly; " is Jack Tier, then, of so much
importance, that his company is thought preferable to
mine!"
"Hush, Harry!" said Rose, laying her hand on Muil
ford's arm, by way of strengthening her appeal. "Do not
say that. You are ignorant of circumstances; at another
time you shall know them, but not now. Let it be enough
for the present, that I promise to accompany you if Jack
will be of our party."
"Ay, ay, Miss Rose, I will be of the party, seeing there
is no other way of getting the lamb out of the jaws of the
wolf.. A'ter all, it may be the wisest thing I can do, though
back to the Swash I must and will come, powder or no.
powder, treason or no treason, at the first opportunity. Yes,
my business is with the Molly, and to the Molly I shall return. It's lucky, Miss Rose, since you have made up vour
mind to ship for this new cruise, that. I bethought me of
telling Biddy to make up a bundle of duds for you. This
carpet-bag has a change or two in it, and all owing to my
forethought. Your woman said ' Miss Rose will come
back wid us, Jack, and what's the use of rumplin' the
clothes for a few hours' sail in the boat;' but I knew womankind better, and foreseed that if master mate fell in
alongside of you ag'in, you would not be apt to part company very soon."
" I thank you, Jack, for the provision made for my comfort; though some money would have added to it materially. My purse has a little gold in it, but a very little,
and I fear you are not much better off, Harry. It will be
awkward to find ourselves in Key West penniless."
" We shall not be quite that. I left the brig absolutely
without a cent, but foreseeing that necessity might make
them of use, I borrowed half a dozen of the doubloons from
the bag of Sefior Montefalderon, and, fortunately, they are
still in my pocket. All I am worth in the world is in a
bag of half-eagles, rather more than a hundred altogether,
which I left in my chest, in my own state-room aboard the
brig."




OR, r E FLORIDA REEF.


311


"You '11 find that in the carpet-bag too, master mate,"
said Jack, coolly.
"Find what, man-not my money, surely?"
"Ay, every piece of it. Spike broke into your chest
this a'ternoon, and made me hold the tools while he was
doing it. He found the bag, and overhauled it-a hundred
and seven half, eleven quarter, and one full-grown eagle,
was the count. When he had done the job, he put all
back ag'in, a'ter giving me the full-grown eagle for my
share of the plunder, and told me to say nothing of what
I had seen. I did say nothing, but I did a good bit of
work, for, while he was at supper, I confiserated that bag,
as they call it-and you will find it there among Miss
Rose's clothes, with the full-grown gentleman back in his
nest ag'in."
"This is being not only honest, tier," cried Mulford,
heartily, " but thoughtful. One-half that money shall be
yours for this act."
" I thank 'e, sir; but I '11 not touch a cent of it. It cane
hard, I know, Mr. Mulford; for my own hands have smarted too much with tar, not to know that the seaman ' earns
his money like the horse.'"
"Still it would not be 'spending it like an ass,' Jack,
to give you a portion of mine. But there will be other opportunities to talk of this. It is a sign of returning to the
concerns of life, Rose, that money begins to be of interest
to us. How little did we think of the doubloons, or halfeagles, a few hours since, when on the wreck!"
" It was wather that we t'ought of then," put in Biddy.
"Goold is good in a market, or in a town, or to send back
to Ireland, to help a body's aged fader or mudder in comfort wid; but wather is the blessed thing on a wrack!"
"The brig is coming quite plainly into view, and you
had better give-me the helm, Jack. It is time to bethink
us of the manner of approaching her, and how we are to
proceed when alongside."
This was so obviously true, that everybody felt disposed
io forget all other matters, in order to conduct the proceedings of the next twenty minutes, with the necessary prudence and caution. When Mulford first took the helm,
ts1 brig was just coming clearly into view, though stil




3.12


JACK TIER;


looking a little misty and distant. She might then have
been half a league distant, and would not have been visible
at all by that light, but for the circumstance that she had
no back-ground to swallow up her outlines. Drawn against
clouds, above which the rays of the moon were shed, her
tracery was to be discerned, however, and, minute by
minute, it was getting to be more and more distinct, until
it was now so plainly to be seen as to admonish the mate
of the necessity of preparation in the manner mentioned.
Tier now communicated to the mate his own proposed
manner of proceeding. The brig tended to the trades, the
tides having very little influence on her, in the bight of the
reef where she lay. As the wind stood at about east southeast, the brig's stern pointed to about west north-west,
while the boat was coming down the passage from a direc.
tion nearly north frocm her, having, as a matter of course,
the wind just free enough to lay her course. Jack's plan
was to pass the brig to windward, and having got well on
her bow, to brail the sail, and drift down upon her, expecting to fall in alongside, abreast of the fore-chains, into
which he had intended to help Biddy, and to ascend himself, when he supposed that Mulford would again make
sail, and carry off his mistress. To this scheme the mate
objected that it was awkward, and a little lubberly. He
substituted one in its place that differed in seamanship, and
which was altogether better. Instead of passing to windward, Mulford suggested the expediency of approaching
to leeward, and of coming alongside under the open bowport, letting the sheet fly and brailing the sail, when the
boat should be near enough to carry her to the point of
destination without further assistance from her canvass.
Jack Tier took his officer's improvement on his own
plan in perfect good part, readily and cheerfully expressing
his willingness to aid the execution of it all that lay in his
power. As the boat sailed unusually well, there was barely
time to explain to each individual his or her part in the approaching critical movements, ere the crisis itself drew
near; then each of the party became silent and anxious,
and events were regarded rather than words.
It is scarcely necessary to say that Mulford sailed a boat
well. He held the sheet in his hand, as the little craft




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


313


came up under the lee-quarter of the brig, while Jack stood
by the brail. The eyes of the mate glanced over the hull
of the vessel to ascertain, if possible, who might be stirring;
but not a sign of life could he detect on board her. This
very silence made Mulford more distrustful and anxious,
for he feared a trap was set for him. He expected to see
the head of one of the blacks at least peering over the bulwarks, but nothing like a man was visible. It was too late
to pause, however, and the sheet was slowly eased off, Jack
hauling on the brail at the same time; the object being to
prevent the sail's flapping, and the sound reaching the ears
of Spike. As Mulford used great caution, and had previously schooled Jack on the subject, this important point
was successfully achieved. Then the mate put his helm
down, and the boat shot up under the brig's lee.bow. Jack
was ready to lay hold of one of the bow-sprit shrouds, and
presently the boat was breasted up under the desired port,
and secured in that position. Mulford quitted the sternsheets, and cast a look in upon deck. Nothing was to be
seen, though he heard the heavy breathing of the blacks,
both of whom were sound asleep on a sail that they had
spread on the forecastle.
The mate whispered for Biddy to come to the port. This
the Irishwoman did at once, having kissed Rose, and
taken her leave of her previously. Tier also came to the
port, through which he passed, getting on deck with a view
to assist Biddy, who was awkward, almost as a matter of
course, to pass through the same opening. He had just
succeeded, when the whole party was startled, some of them
almost petrified, indeed, by a hail from the quarter-deck
in the well-known, deep tones of Spike.
"For'ard, there?" hailed the captain. Receiving no
answer, he immediately repeated, in a shorter, quicker
call, "Forecastle, there?"
" Sir," answered Jack Tier, who by this time had come
to his senses.
"Who has the look-out on that forecastle?"
"I have it, sir-I, Jack Tier. You know, sir, I was to
have it from two 'till daylight."
" Ay, ay, I remember now. How does the brig ride to
her anchor?"
27




ACK TIER;
" As steady as a church, sir. She's had no more sheet
ihe whole watch than if she was moored head and starn."
"Does the wind stand as it did?"
"No change, sir. As dead a trade wind as ever blowed.'
"What hard breathing is that I hear for'ard?"
"'T is the two niggers, sir.  They've turned in on
deck, and are napping it off at the rate of six knots.
There's no keepin' way with a nigger in snorin'."
"I thought I heard loud whispering, too, but I suppose
it was a sort of half-dream. I'm often in that way now-adays. Jack!"
"Sir."
".Go to the scuttle-butt and get me a pot of fresh water
-my coppers are hot with hard thinking."
Jack did as ordered, and soon stood beneath the coachhouse deck with Spike, who had come out of his state-room,
heated and uneasy at he knew not what. The captain
drank a full pint of water at a single draught.
" That's refreshing," he said, returning Jack the tinpot, " and I feel the cooler for it. How much does it want
of daylight, Jack?"
"Two hours, I think, sir. The order was passed to me
to have all hands called as soon as it was broad day."
" Ay, that is right. We must get our anchor and be off
as soon as there is light to do it in. Doubloons may melt
as well as flour, and are best cared for soon when cared
for at all."
"I shall see and give the call as soon as it is day. I
hope, Captain Spike, I can take the liberty of an old shipmate, however, and say one thing to you, which is thislook out for the Poughkeepsie, which is very likely to be
on your heels when you least expect her."
"That's your way of thinking, is it, Jack. Well, I
thank you, old one, for the hint, but have little fear of that
craft. We've had our legs together, and I think the brig
has the longest."
As the captain said this, he gaped like a hound, and
went into his state-room. Jack lingered on the quarterdeck, waiting to hear him fairly in his berth, when he made
a sign to Biddy, who had got as far aft as the galley, where
she was secreted, to pass down into the cabin, as silently




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


315


as possible. In a minute or two more, he moved forward,
singing in a low, cracked voice, as was often his practice,
and slowly made his way.) the forecastle.  Mulford was
just beginning to think the fellow had changed his mind,
and meant to stick by the brig, when the little, rotund figure of the assistant-steward was seen passing through the
port, and to drop noiselessly on a thwart. Jack then moved
to the bow, and cast off the painter, the head of the boat
slowly falling off under the pressure of the breeze on that
part of her mast and sail which rose above the hull of the
Swash. Almost at the same moment, the mate let go the
stern-fast, and the boat was free.
It required some care to set the sail without the canvas
flapping. It was done, however, before the boat fairly took
the breeze, when all was safe. In half a minute the wind
struck the sail, and away the little craft started, passing
swiftly ahead of the brig. Soon as far enough off, Mulford
put up his helm and wore short round, bringing the boat's
head to the northward, or in its proper direction; after
which they flew along before the wind, which seemed to
be increasing in force, with a velocity that really appeared
to defy pursuit.  All this time the brig lay in its silence
and solitude, no one stirring on board her, and all, in fact,
Biddy alone excepted, profoundly ignorant of what had just
been passing alongside of her. Ten minutes of running
off with a flowing sheet, caused the Swash to look indistinct
and hazy again; in ten minutes more she was swallowed
up, hull, spars, and all, in the gloom of night.
Mulford and Rose now felt something like that security,
without the sense of which happiness itself is but an uneasy feeling, rendering the anticipations of evil the more
painful by the magnitude of the stake. There they sat,
now, in the stern-sheets by themselves, Jack Tier having
placed himself near the bows of the boat, to look out fo.
rocks, as well as to trim the craft. It was not long before
Rose was leaning on Harry's shoulder, and ere an hour
was past, she had fallen into a sweet sleep in that attitude,
the young man having carefully covered her person with a
Capacious shawl, the same that had been used on the wreckAs for Jack, he maintained his post in silence, sitting with
bis arms crossed. and the hands thrust into the breast of




316t


JACK TIER;


his jacket, sailor fashion, a picture of nautical vigilance
It was some time after Rose had fallen asleep, that this
singular being spoke for the first time.
"Keep her away a bit, maty," he said, " keep her away,
half a point or so. She's been travelin' like a racer since
we left the brig; and yonder's the first streak of day."
" By the time we have been running," observed Mulford,
"I should think we must be getting near the northern side
of the reef:"
"All of that, sir, depend on it. Here 's a rock close
aboard on us, to which we're comin' fast-just off here,
on our weather-bow, that looks to me like the place where
you landed a'ter that swim, and where we had stowed ourselves when Stephen Spike made us out, and gave chase."
" It is surprising to me, Jack, that you should have any
fancy to stick by a man of Spike's character. He is a
precious rascal, as we all can see, now, and you are rather
an honest sort of fellow."
"Do you love the young woman there, that's lying in
your arms, as it might be, and whom you say you wish to
marry."
" The question is a queer one, but it is easily answered.
More than my life, Jack."
" Well, how happens it that you succeed, when the world
has so many other young men who might please her as
well as yourself."
"It may be that no other loves her as well, and she has
had the sagacity to discover it."
"Quite likely. So it is with me and Stephen Spike. I
fancy a man whom other folk despise and condemn. Why
I stand by him is my own secret; but stand by him I do
and will."
" This is all very strange, after your conduct on the
island, and your conduct to-night. I shall not disturb your
secret, however, Jack, but leave you to enjoy it by yourself. Is this the rock of which you spoke, that we are now
pa.ssing?"
"The same; and there's the spot in which we was
stowed when they made us out from the brig; and here.
away, a cable's length, more or less, the wreck of that
Mexican craft must lie."




OR, THE FLORIDA BEEF.


317


~' What is that rising above the water, thereaway, Jack;
more on our weather-beam?"
"I see what you mean, sir; it looks like a spar. By
George! there's two on 'em; and they do seem to be the
schooner's masts."
Sure enough! a second look satisfied Mulford that two
mast-heads were out of water, and that within a hundred
yards of the place the boat was running past. Standing
on a short distance, or far enough to give himself room,
the mate put his helm down, and tacked the boat. The
flapping of the sail, and the little movement of shifting over
the sheet, awoke Rose, who was immediately apprized of
the discovery. As soon as round, the boat went glancing
up to the spars, and presently was riding by one, Jack Tier
having caught hold of a topmast-shroud, when Mulford let
fly his sheet again, and luffed short up to the spot. By
this time the increasing light was sufficiently strong to render objects distinct, when near by, and no doubt remained
any longer in the mind of Mulford about the two mastheads being those of the unfortunate Mexican schooner.
" Well, of all I have ever seen I've never see'd the like
of this afore!" exclaimed Jack.  When we left this here
craft, sir, you'll remember, she had almost turned turtle,
laying over so far as to bring her upper coamings under
water; now she stands right side up, as erect as if docked!
My navigation can't get along with this, Mr. Mulford, and
it does seem like witchcraft."
"It is certainly a very singular incident, Jack, and I have
been trying to come at its causes."
i Have you succeeded, Harry?" asked Rose, by this
time wide awake, and wondering like the others.
"It must have happened in this wise. The wreck was
abandoned by us some little distance out here, to windward.
The schooner's masts, of course, pointed to leeward, and
when she drifted in here, they have first touched on a
shelving rock, and as they have been shoved up, little by;ttle, they have acted as levers to right the hull, until the
zargo has shifted back into its proper berth, which has
suddenly set the vessel up again."
" Ay, ay, sir," answered Jack, " all that might have hapoened had she been above water, or any part of her above
27 *




318


JACK TIER;


water;' but you 'II remember, maty, that soon after we left
her she went down."
" Not entirely. The wreck settled in the water no faster
after we had left it, than it had done before. It continued
to sink, inch by inch, as the air escaped, and no faster
after it had gone entirely out of sight than before; not as
fast, indeed, as the water became denser the lower it got.
The great argument against my theory, is the fact, that
after the hull got beneath the surface, the wind could not
act on it. This is true in one sense, however, and not in
another. The waves, or the pressure of the water produced
by the wind, might act on the hull for some time after we
ceased to see it. But the currents have set the craft in
here, and the hull floating always, very little force would
cant the craft. If the rock were shelving and slippery, 1
see no great difficulty in the way; and the barrels may
have been so lodged, that a trifle would set them rolling
back again, each one helping to produce a change that
would move another. As for the ballast, that, I am certain,
could not shift, for it was stowed with great care. As the
vessel righted, the air still in her moved, and as soon as
the water permitted, it escaped by the hatches, when the
craft went down, as a matter of course. This air may
have aided ill bringing the hull upright by its movements
in the water."
This was the only explanation to which the ingenuity
of 1Mulford could help him, under the circumstances, and
it may have been the right one, or not. There lay the
schooner, however, in some five or six fathoms of water,
with her two topmasts, and lower mast-heads out of the
element, as upright as if docked! It may all have occurred as the mate fancied, or the unusual incident may have
been owing to some of the many mysterious causes which
baffle inquiry, when the agents are necessarily hidden from
examination.
"Spike intends to come and look for this wreck, you
tell me, Jack; in the hope of getting at the doubloons it
contains?" said Mulford, when the boat had lain a minute
)r two longer, riding by the mast-head.
" Ay, ay, sir; that's his notion, sir, and he'll be in a
great stew, as soon as he turns out, which must be about




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


319


this time, and finds me missing; for I was to pilot him to
the spot."
" He'll want no pilot now. It will be scarcely possible
to pass anywhere near this and not see these spars. But
this discovery almost induces me to change my own plans.
What say you, Rose? We have now reached the northern
side of the reef, when it is time to haul close by the wind,
if we wish to beat up to Key West. There is a moral certainty, however, that the sloop-of-war is somewhere in the
neighbourhood of the Dry Tortugas, which are much the
most easily reached, being to leeward. We might run
down to the light-house by mid-day, while it is doubtful if
we could reach the town until to-morrow morning. I
should Pike exceedingly to have five minutes conversation
with the commander of the Poughkeepsie."
"Ay, to let him know where he will be likely to fall in
with tlh  Molly Swash and her traitor master, Stephen
Spike," cried Jack Tier. "Never mind, maty; let 'em
come on; both the Molly and her master have got long
legs and clean heels. Stephen Spike will show 'em how
to thread the channels of a reef."
"It is amazing to me, Jack, that you should stand by
your old captain in feeling, while you are helping to thwart
him, all you can, in his warmest wishes."
"He's a willian!" muttered Jack-" a reg'lar willian is
Stephen Spike!"
" If a villain, why do you so evidently wish to keep him
out of the hands of the law? Let him be captured and punished, as his crimes require."
"Men's willians, all round," still muttered Jack.
" Hark 'e Mr. Mulford, I've sailed in the brig longer than
you, and know'd her in he.r comeliest and best days-when
she was young, and blooming, and lovely to the eye, as the
young creature at your side-and it would go to my heart
to have anything happen to her. Then, I've know'd Stephen a long time, too, and old shipmates get a feelin' for
each other, sooner or later. I tell you now, honestly, Mr.
Mulford, Captain Adam Mull shall never make a prisoner
of Stephen Spike, if I can prevent it."
The mate laughed at this sally, but Rose appeared
apyous to change the conversation, and she managed to




4JV AJACK TIER;
open a discussion on the subject of the course it might be
best to steer. Mulford had several excellent reasons to urge
for wishing to run down to the islets, all of which, with a
single exception, he laid before his betrothed. The concealed reason was one of the strongest of them all, as usually happens when there is a reason to conceal, but of that
he took care to say nothing. The result was an acquiescence on the part of Rose, whose consent was yielded
more to the influence of one particular consideration than
to all the rest united. That one was this: Harry had
pointed out to her the importance to himself of his appearing early to denounce the character and movements of the
brig, lest, through his former situation in her, his own conduct might be seriously called in question.
As soon as the matter was determined, Jack was told to
let go his hold, the sheet was drawn aft, and away sped the
boat. No sooner did Mulford cause the little craft to keep
away than it almost flew, as if conscious it were bound to
its proper home, skimming swiftly over the waves, like a
bird returning eagerly to its nest. An hour later the party
breakfasted. While at this meal, Jack Tier pointed out
to the mate a white speck, in the south-eastern board, which
he took to be the brig coming through the passage, on her
way to the wreck.
" No matter," returned the mate. "Though we can see
her, she cannot see us. There is that much advantage in
our being small, Rose, if it do prevent our taking exercise
by walking the deck."
Soon after, Mulford made a very distant sail in the northwestern board, which he hoped might turn out to be thb
Poughkeepsie. It was but another speck, but its position
was somewhat like that in which he had expected to meet
the sloop-of-war. The two vessels were so far apart that
one could not be seen from the other, and there was little
hope that the Poughkeepsie would detect Spike at his toil
on the wreck; but the mate fully expected that the ship
would go into the anchorage, among the islets, in order to
ascertain what had become of the schooner. If she did not
go in herself, she would be almost certain to send in a
boat.
The party from the brigantine had run down before the




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


321


wind more than two hours before the light-house began to
show itself, just rising out of the waves. This gave them
the advantage of a beacon, Mulford having steered hitherto
altogether by the sun, the direction of the wind, and the
trending of the reef. Now he had his port in sight, it being his intention to take possession of the dwelling of the
light-house keeper, and to remain in it, until a favourable
opportunity occurred to remove Rose to Key West. The
young man had also another important project in view,
which it will be in season to mention as it reaches the moment of its fulfilment.
The rate of sailing of the light-house boat, running before a brisk trade wind, could not be much less than nine
miles in the hour. About eleven o'clock, therefore, the
lively craft shot through one of the narrow channels of the
islets, and entered the haven. In a few minutes all three
of the adventurers were on the little wharf where the lighthouse people were in the habit of landing. Rose proceeded
to the house, while Harry and Jack renained to secure the
boat. For the latter purpose a sort of slip, or little dock,
had been made, and when the boat was hauled into it, it
lay so snug that not only was the craft secure from injury,
but it was actually hid from the view of all but those who
stood directly above it.
" This is a snug berth for the boat, Jack," observed the
mate, when he had hauled it into the place mentioned,
" and by unstepping the mast, a passer-by would not suspect such a craft of lying in it. Who knows what occasion there may be for concealment, and I'll e'en do that
thing."
To a casual listener, Harry, in unstepping the mast,
might have seemed influenced merely by a motiveless impulse; but, in truth, a latent suspicion of Jack's intentions
instigated him, and as he laid the mast, sprit and sail on
the thwarts, he determined, in his own mind, to remove
them all to some other place, as soon as an opportunity for
doing so unobserved should occur. He and Jack now foloowed Rose to the house.
The islets were found. deserted and tenantless. Not a
human being had entered the house since Rose left it, the
evening she had remained so long ashore, in company with


e




322


JACK TIER;


her aunt and the Seior Montefalderon. This our heroine
knew from the circumstance of finding a slight fastening
of the outer door in the precise situation in which she had
left it with her own hands. At first a feeling of oppression
and awe prevailed with both Harry and Rose, when they
recollected the fate of those who had so lately been tenants
of the place; but this gradually wore off, and each soon got
to be more at home. As for Jack, he very coolly rummaged the lockers, as he called the drawers and closets of
the place, and made his preparations for cooking a very delicious repast, in which callipash and callipee were to be
material ingredients. The necessary condiments were
easily enough found in that place, turtle being a common
dish there, and it was not long before steams that might
have quickened the appetite of an alderm'an filled the
kitchen. Rose rummaged, too, and found a clean tablecloth, plates, glasses, bowls, spoons, and knives; in a
word, all that was necessary to spread a plain but plentiful
board. While all this was doing, Harry took some fishingtackle, and proceeded to a favourable spot among the rocks.
In twenty minutes he returned with a fine mess of tha.
most delicious little fish that goes by the very unpoetical
name of " hog-fish," from the circumstance of its giving a
grunt not unlike that of a living porker, when rudely drawn
from its proper element. Nothing was now wanting to
not only a comfortable, but to what was really a most epicurian meal, and Jack just begged the lovers to have patience for an hour or so, when he promised them dishes
that even New York could not furnish.
Harry and Rose first retired to pay a little attention to
their dress, and then they joined each other in a walk.
The mate had found some razors, and was clean shaved.
He had also sequestered a shirt, and made some other little
additions to his attire, that contributed to give him the ap.
pearance of being, that which he really was, a very gentleman-like looking young sailor. Rose had felt no necessity
for taking liberties with the effects of others, though a good
deal of female attire was found in the dwelling. As was
afterward ascertained, a family ordinarily dwelt there, but
most of It had gone to Key West, on a visit, at the moment
when the man and boy left in charge had fallen into the




OR, TIIE FLORIDA REEF.


323


hands of the Mexicans, losing their lives in the manner
mentioned.
While walking together, Harry opened his mind to Rose,
on the subject which lay nearest to his heart, and which'
had been at the bottom of this second visit to the islets of
the Dry Tortugas. During the different visits of Wallace
to the brig, the boat's crew of the Poughkeepsie had held
more or less discourse with the people of the Swash. This
usually happens on such occasions, and although Spike had
endeavoured to prevent it, when his brig lay in this bay,
he had not been entirely successful. Such discourse is
commonly jocular, and sometimes witty; every speech,
coming from which side it may, ordinarily commencing
with " shipmate," though the interlocutors never saw each
other before that interview. In one of the visits an allusion was made to cargo, when " the pretty gal aft," was mentioned as being a part of the cargo of the Swash. In answer
-to this remark, the wit of the Poughkeepsie had told the
brig's man, " you had better send her on board us, for we
carry a chaplain, a regular-built one, that will be a bishop
some day or other,perhaps, and we can get her spliced to
one of our young officers." This remark had induced the
sailor of the Molly to ask if a sloop-of-war really carried
such a piece of marine luxury as a chaplain, and the explanation given went to say that the clergyman in question
did not properly belong to the Poughkeepsie, but was to be
put on board a frigate, as soon as they fell in with one that
he named. Now, all this Mulford overheard, and he re
membered it at a moment when it might be of use. Situated as he and Rose were, he felt the wisdom and propriety
of their being united, and his present object was to persuade his companion to be of the same way of thinking.
He doubted not that the sloop-of-war would come in, ere
long, perhaps that very day, and he believed it would be an
easy matter to induce her chaplain to perform the ceremony. America is a country in which every facility exists,
with the fewest possible impediments, to getting married;
and, we regret to be compelled to add, to getting unmaried also. There are no banns, no licenses, no consent of
parents even, usually necessary, and persons who are of
he age of discretion, which, as respects females and matri.




324


JACK TIER;


mony, is a very tender age indeed, may be married, if they
see fit, almost without form or ceremony. There existed,
therefore, no legal impediment to the course Mulford desired to take; and his principal, if not his only difficulty,
would be with Rose. Over her scruples he hoped to prevail, and not without reason, as the case he could and did
present, was certainly one of a character that entitled him
to be heard with great attention.
In the first place, Mrs. Budd had approved of the connection, and it was understood between them, that the
young people were to be united at the first port in which a
clergyman of their own persuasion could be found, and
previously to reaching home. This had been the aunt's
own project, for, weak and silly as she was, she relict had
a woman's sense of the proprieties. It had occured to her
that it would be more respectable to make the long journey
which lay before them, escorted by a nephew and husband,
than escorted by even an accepted lover. It is true thatshe had never anticipated a marriage in a light-house, and
under the circumstances in which Rose was now placed,
though it might be more reputable that her niece should
quit the islets as the wife of Harry than as his betrothed.
Then Mulford still apprehended Spike. In that remote
part of the world, almost beyond the confines of society, it
was not easy to foretell what claims he might set up, in the
event of his meeting them there. Armed with the authority of a husband, Mulford could resist him, in any such
case, with far better prospects of success than if he should
appear only in the character of a suitor.
Rose listened to these arguments, ardently and somewhat eloquently put, as a girl of her years and habits would
be apt to listen to a favoured lover. She was much too
sincere to deny her own attachment, which the events of
the last few days had increased almost to intenseness, so
apt is our tenderness to augment in behalf of those for
whom we feel solicitude; and her judgment told her that
the more sober part of Harry's reasoning was entitled to
consideration.  As his wife, her situation would certainly
be much less equivocal and awkward, than while she bore
a different name, and was admitted to be a single woman,
and it might yet be weeks before the duty she owed her
x




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.           o    40
aunt would allow her to proceed to the north  But, after
all, Harry prevailed more through the influence of his hold
on Rose's affections, as would have been the case with almost every other woman, than through any force of reasoning. He truly loved, and that made him eloquent when
he spoke of love; -sympathy in all he uttered being his
great ally. When summoned to the house, by the call of
Jack, who announced that the turtle-soup was ready, they
returned with the understanding that the chaplain of the
Poughkeepsie should unite them, did the vessel come in,
and would the functionary mentioned consent to.perform
the ceremony.
"'It would be awkward-nay, it would be distressing,
Harry, to have him refuse," said the blushing Rose, as they
walked slowly back to the house, more desirous to prolong
their conversation than to partake of the bountiful provision
of Jack Tier. The latter could not but be acceptable,.nevertheless, to a young man like Mulford, who was in
robust health, and who had fared so badly for the last eightand-forty hours. When he sat down to the table, therefore, which was covered by a snow-white cloth, with smoking and most savoury viands on it, it will not be surprising
if we say it was with a pleasure that was derived from one
of the great necessities of our nature.
Sancho calls for benediction "on the man who invented
sleep." It would have been more just to have asked this
boon in behalf of him who invented eating and turtle-soup.
The wearied fall into sleep, as it might be unwittingly;
sometimes against their will, and often against their interests; while many a man is hungry without possessing the
means of appeasing his appetite. Still more daily feel
hunger without possessing turtle-soup. Certain persons
impute this delicious compound to the genius of some London alderman, but we rather think unjustly. Aldermanic
genius is easily excited and rendered active, no doubt, by
strong appeals on such a theme, but our own experience
nclines us to believe that the tropics usually send their inventions to the less fruitful regions of the earth along
with their products. We have little doubt, could the fact
be now ascertained, that it would be found turtle-soup was
originally invented by just some such worthy as Jack Tier,
28




O4D               JACK TIER;
who in filling his coppers to tickle the captain's appetite,
had used all the condiments within his reach; ventured on
a sort of Regent's punch; and, as the consequence, had
brought forth the dish so often eulogized, and so well beloved. It is a little extraordinary that in Paris, the seat of
gastronomy, one rarely, if ever, hears of or sees this dish;
while in London it is to be met in almost as great abundance as in one of our larger commercial towns. But so
it is, and we cannot say we much envy a cuisine its pates,
and soujflets, and its d la this and a la thats, but which
was never redolent with the odours of turtle-soup.
" Upon my word, Jack, you have made out famously
with your dinner, or supper, whichever you may please
to call it," cried Mulford gaily, as he took his seat at table, after having furnished Rose with a chair. "Nothing
appears to be wanting; but here is good pilot bread, potatoes even. and other little niceties, in addition to the turtle
and the fish. These good people of the light seem to havelived comfortably, at any rate."
"Why should they not, maty?" answered Jack, beginning to help to soup. "Living on one of these islets is
like living afloat. Everything is laid in, as for an outward
bound craft; then the reef must always furnish fish and
turtle. I've overhauled the lockers pretty thoroughly, and
find a plenty of stores to last us a month. Tea, sugar,
coffee, bread, pickles, potatoes, onions, and all other knickknacks."
" The poor people who own these stores will be heavyhearted enough when they come to learn the reason why
we have been put in undisturbed possession of their property," said Rose. "We must contrive some means of
repaying them for such articles as we may use, Harry."
"That's easily enough done, Miss Rose. Drop one of,he half-eagles in a tea-pot, or a mug, and they 'II be certain to fall in with it when they come back. Nothin' is
easier'than to pay a body's debts, when a body has the will
and the means. Now, the worst enemy of Stephen Spike
must own that his brig never quits port with unsettled bills.
Stephen has his faults, like other mortals; but he has his
good p'ints, too."
"Still praising Spike, my good Jack," cried the mate,




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


327


a little provoked at this pertinacity in the deputy-steward
in sticking to his ship and his shipmate. "1 should have
thought that you had sailed with him long enough to have
found him out, and to wish never to put your foot in his
cabin again."
"WAhy, no, maty, a craft is a craft, and a body gets to
like even the faults of one in which a body has gone through
gales, and squalls, with a whole skin. I like the Swash,
and, for sartain things I like her captain."
" Meaning by that, it is your intention to get on board
of the one, and to sail with the other, again, as soon as you
can."
"I do, Mr. Mulford, and make no bones in telling on't.
You know that I came here without wishing it."
" Well, Jack, no one will attempt to control your movements, but you shall be left your own master. I feel it to
be a duty, however, as one who may know more of the law
than yourself, as well as more of Stephen Spike, to tell you
that he is engaged in a treasonable commerce with the enemy, and that he, and all who voluntarily remain with him,
knowing this fact, may be made to swing for it."
"Then I'11 swing for it," returned Jack, sullenly.
"There is a little obstinacy in this, my good fellow, and
you must be reasoned out of it. I am under infinite obligations to you, Jack, and shall ever be ready to own them.
Without you to sail the boat, J might have been left to
perish on that rock,-for God only knows whether any
vessel would have seen me in passing. Most of those who
go through that passage keep the western side of the reef
aboard, they tell me, on account of there being better
water on that side of the channel, and the chance of a
man's being seen on a rock, by ships a league or two off,
would be small indeed. Yes, Jack, I owe my life to you,
and am proud to own it."
" You owe it to Miss Rose, maty, who put me up to the
enterprise, and who shared it with me."
" To her I owe more than life," answered Harry, looking at his beloved as she delighted in being regarded by
him, " but even she, with all her wishes to serve me, would
have been helpless without your skill in managing a boat.
t owe also to your good-nature the happiness of having




328


JACK TIER;


Rose with me at this moment; for without you she would
not have come."
' I'1 not deny it, maty-take another ladle-full of the
s tup, Miss Rosy: a quart of it would n't hurt an infantI'll not deny it, Mr. Mulford-I know by the way you've
got rid of the first bowl-full that you are ready for another,
and there it is-I '11 not deny it, and all I can say is that
y u are heartily welcome to my sarvices."
"I thank you, Jack; but all this only makes me more
desirous of being of use to you, now, when it's in my
power. I wish you to stick by me, and not to return to
the Swash   As soon as I get to New York I shall build
or buy a ship, and the berth of steward in her shall always
be open to you."
"thank'e, maty; thank'e, with all my heart. It's
something to know that a port'is open to leeward, and,
though I cannot now accept your offer, the day may come
when I shall be glad to do so."
"If you like living ashore better, our house will always
be ready to receive you. I should be glad to leave as
handy a little fellow as yourself behind me whenever I went
to sea. There are a hundred things in which you might
be useful, and fully earn your biscuit, so as to have no
qualms about eating the bread of idleness."
rhank'e, thank'e, maty," cried Jack, dashing a tear
3UL of his eye with the back of his hand, "thank'e, sir,
from the bottom of my heart. The time may come, but
not now. My papers is signed for this v'y'ge. Stephen
Spike has a halter round his neck, as you say yourself, and
it's necessary for me to be there to look to't. We all
Lave our callin's and duties, and this is mine. I stick by:he Molly and her captain until both are out of this scrape,:-r both are condemned. I know nothin' of treason; but
I the law wants another victim, I must take my chance."
Mulford was surprised at this steadiness of Jack's, in
wha' he thought a very bad cause, and he was quite as
much surprised that Rose did not join him, in his endeavours to persuade the steward not to be so foolhardy, as to
endeavour to go back to the brig. Rose did not, however;
sitting silently eating her dinner the whole time, though,he occasionally cast glances of interest at both the speak.




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


329


ers the while. In this state of things the mate abandoned
the attempt, for the moment, intending to return to the
subject, after having had a private conference with his betrothed.
Notwithstanding the little drawback just related, that
was a happy as well as a delicious repast. The mate did
full justice to the soup, and afterward to the fish with the
unpoetical name; and Rose ate more than she had done in
the last three days. The habits of discipline prevented
Jack from taking his seat at table, though pressed by both
Rose and Harry to do so, but he helped himself to the contents of a bowl, and did full justice to his own art, on one
aside. 'I'he little fellow was delighted with the praises
that were bestowed on his dishes; and for the moment, the
sea, its dangers, its tornadoes, wrecks and races, were all
forgotten in the security and pleasures of so savoury a
repast.
" Folk ashore do n't know how sailors sometimes live,"
said Jack, holding a large spoon filled with the soup ready
to plunge into a tolerably capacious mouth.
" Or how they sometimes starve," answered Rose. "Remember our own situation, less than forty-eight hours
since!"
" All very true, Miss Rose; yet, you see, turtle-soup
brings us up, a'ter all. Would you like a glass of wine,
maty?"
" Very much indeed, Jack, after so luscious a soup; but
wishing for it will not bring it here."
"That remains to be seen, sir. I call this a bottle of
something that looks wery much like a wine."
"Claret, as I live! Why, where should light-house
keepers get the taste for claret?"
"I've thought of that myself, Mr. Mulford, and have
supposed that some of Uncle Sam's officers have brought
the liquor to this part of the world. I understand a party
on 'em was here surveyin' all last winter. It seems they
come in the cool weather, and get their sights and measure
their distances, and go home in the warm weather, and
work out their traverses in the shade, as it might be."
"This seems likely, Jack; but, come whence it may it
js welcome, and we will taste it."
28 *




330


JACK TIER;


Mulford then drew the cork of this mild and grateful
liquor, and helped his companions and himself. In this
age of moral tours deforce, one scarcely dare say anything
favourable of a liquid that even bears the name of wine, or
extol the shape of a bottle. It is truly the era of exaggeration. Nothing is treated in the old-fashioned, natural, cornmon sense way. Virtue is no longer virtue, unless it get
upon stilts; and, as for sin's being confined to "transgression against the law of God," audacious would be the
wretch who should presume to limit the sway of the societies by any dogma so narrow! A man may be as abstemious as an anchorite and get no credit for it, unless " he
sign the pledge;" or, signing the pledge, he may get fuddled in corners, and be cited as a miracle of sobriety. The
test of morals is no longer in the abuse of the gifts of Providence, but in their use; prayers are deserting the closet
for the corners of streets, and charity (not the giving of
alms) has got to be so earnest in the demonstration of its
nature, as to be pretty certain to " begin at.ome," and to
end where it begins. Even the art of mendacity has been
aroused by the great progress which is making by all around
it, and many manifest the strength of their ambition by
telling ten lies where their fathers would have been satisfied with telling only one. This art has made an extraor.
dinary progress within the last quarter of a century, aspiring
to an ascendency that was formerly conceded only to truth,
until he who gains his daily bread by it has some such
contempt for the sneaking wretch who does business on
the small scale, as the slayer of his thousands in the field
is known to entertain for him who kills only a single man
in the course of a long life.
At the risk of damaging the reputations of our hero and
heroine, we shall frankly aver the fact that both Harry and
Rose partook of the vin de Bordeaux, a very respectable
bottle of IMedoc, by the way, which had been forgotten by
Uncle Sam's people, in the course of the preceding winter,
agreeably to Jack Tier's conjecture. One glass sufficed
for Rose, and, contrary as it may be to all modern theory,
she was somewhat the better for it; while the mate and
Jack Tier quite half emptied the bottle, being none the
worse. There they sat, enjoying the security and abunr




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


331'


dance which had succeeded to their late danger, happy in
that security, happy in themselves, and happy in the pros.
pects of a bright future. It was just as practicable for
tiem to remain at the Dry Tortugas, as it was for the family which ordinarily dwelt at the light. The place was
amply supplied with everything that would be necessary
for their wants, for months to come, and Harry caused his
betrothed to blush, as he whispered to her, should the
chaplain arrive, he should delight in passing the honey-moon
where they then were.
"I could tend the light," he added, smiling, "which
would be not only an occupation, but a useful occupation;
you could read all those books from beginning to end, and
Jack could keep us supplied with fish. By the way, master steward, are you in the humour for motion, so soon
after your hearty meal?"
"Anything to be useful," answered Jack, cheerfully.
"Then do me the favour to go up into the lantern of the
light-house, and take a look for the sloop-of-war. If she's
in sight at all, you '11 find her off here to the northward;
and while you are aloft you may as well make a sweep of
the whole horizon. There hangs the light-house keeper's
glass, which may help your eyes, by stepping into the gallery outside of the lantern."
Jack willingly complied, taking the glass and proceeding forthwith to the other building. Mulford had two objects in view in giving this commission to the steward. He
really wished to ascertain what was the chance of seeing
the Poughkeepsie, in the neighbourhood of the islets, and
felt just that indisposition to move himself, that is apt to
come over one who has recently made a very bountiful
meal, while he also desired to have another private conversation with Rose.
A good portion of the time that Jack was gone, and he
stayed quite an hour in the lantern, our lovers conversed as
lovers are much inclined to converse; that is to say, of
themselves, their feelings, and their prospects. Mulford
told Rose of his hopes and fears, while he visited at the
house of her aunt, previously to sailing, and the manner in
which his suspicions had been first awakened in reference
to the intentions of Spike-intentions, so far as they were




332


JACK TIER;


connected with an admiration of his old commander's niece,
and possibly in connection also with the little fortune she
was known to possess, but not in reference to the bold pro.
ject to which he had, in fact, resorted. No distrust of tAe
scheme finally put in practice had ever crossed the mind
of the young mate, until he received the unexpected order.
mentioned in our opening chapter, to prepare the brig for
the reception of Mrs. Budd and her party. Harry confessed
his jealousy of one youth whom he dreaded far more even
than he had ever dreaded Spike, and whose apparent favoui
with Rose, and actual favour with her aunt, had given him
many a sleepless night.
They next conversed of the future, which to them seemed
full of flowers. Various were the projects startei, discussed, and dismissed, between them, the last;aLi.;st as
soon as proposed. On one thing they were of a mind, as soon
as proposed. Harry was to have a ship as quick as one
could be purchased by Rose's means, and the promised
bride laughingly consented to make one voyage to Europe
along with her husband.
" I wonder, dear Rose, my poverty has never presented
any difficulties in the way of our union," said Harry, sensibly touched with the free way his betrothed disposed of
her own money in his behalf; "but neither you nor Mrs.
Budd has ever seemed to think of the difference there is
between us in this respect."
" What is the trifle I possess, Harry, set in the balance
against your worth? My aunt, as you say, has thought I
might even be the gainer by the exchange."
"I am sure I feel a thousand times indebted to Mrs.
Budd-"
"Aunt Budd. You must learn to say, 'my Aunt Budd,'
Mr. Henry Mulford, if you mean to live in peace with her
unworthy niece."
"Aunt Budd, then," returned Harry, laughing, for the
laugh came easily that evening; "Aunt Budd, if you wish
it, Rose. 1 can have no objection to call any relative of
yours, uncle or aunt."
"I think we are intimate enough, now, to ask you a
question or two, Harry, touching my aunt," continued
Rose, looking stealthily over her shoulder, as if apprehen




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


3<33


give of being overheard. "You know how fond she is of
speaking of the sea, and of indulging in nautical phrases?"
"Any one must have observed that, Rose," answered
the young man, gazing up at the wall, in order not to be
compelled to look the beautiful creature before him in the
eyes —" Mrs. Budd has very strong tastes that way."
"Now tell me, Harry-that is, answer me frankly-I
mean-she is not always right, is she?"
"Why, no; not absolutely so —that is, not absolutely
always so-few persons are always right, you know."
Rose remained silent and embarrassed for a moment,
after which she pursued the discourse.
" But aunty does not know as much of the sea and of
ships as she thinks she does?"; Perhaps not.  We all overrate our own acquirements.
1 dare say that even I am not as good a seaman as I fancy
myself to be."
"Even Spike admits that you are what he calls ' a prime
seaman.' But it is not easy for a woman to get a correct
knowledge of the use of all the strange, and sometimes uncouth, terms that you sailors use."
"Certainly not, and for that reason I would rather you
should never attempt it, Rose. We rough sons of the
ocean would prefer to hear our wives make divers pretty
blunders, rather than to be swaggering about like so many
old salts.' "
" Mr. Mulford! Does Aunt Budd swagger like an old
salt?"
' Dearest Rose, I was not thinking of your aunt, but of
you.  Of you, as you are, feminine, spirited, lovely alike
in form and character, and of you a graduate of the ocean,
and full of its language and ideas."
It was probable Rose was not displeased at this allusion
to herself, for a smile struggled around her pretty mouth,
and she did not look at all angry. After another short
pause, she resumed the discourse.
"My aunt did not very clearly comprehend those expla.
nations of yours about the time of day, and the longitude,"
he said, "nor am I quite certain that I did myself."
" You understood them far better than Mrs. Budd, Rose.
Women are so little accustomed to think on such subjects




334


JACK TIER;


at all, that it is not surprising they sometimes get confused..
I do wish, however, that your aunt could be persuaded to
be more cautious in the presence of strangers, on the sub.
ject of terms she does not understand."
"I feared it might be so, Harry," answered Rose, in a
low voice, as if unwilling even he should know the full extent of her thoughts on this subject; "' but my aunt's heart
is most excellent, though she may make mistakes occasionally. I owe her a great deal, if not absolutely my education, certainly my health and comfort through childhood,
and more prudent, womanly advice than you may suppose,
perhaps, since I have left school. How she became the
dupe of Spike, indeed, is to me unaccountable; for in al
that relates to health, she is, in general, both acute and
skilful."
" Spike is a man of more art than he appears to be to
superficial observers. On my first acquaintance with him,
I mistook him for a frank, fearless but well-meaning sailor,
who loved hazardous voyages and desperate speculation —
a sort of innocent gambler; but I have learned to know
better. His means are pretty much reduced to his brig,
and she is getting old, and can do but little more service.
His projects are plain enough, now. By getting you into
his power, he hoped to compel a marriage, in which case
both your fortune and your aunt's would contribute to repair his."
"He might have killed me, but I never would have married him," rejoined Rose, firmly. "Is not that Jack coming down the steps of the light-house?"
"It is. I find that fellow's attachment to Spike very
extraordinary, Rose. Can you, in any manner, account
for it?"
Rose at first seemed disposed to reply. Her lips parted,
as if about to speak, and closed again, as glancing her eyes
toward the open door, she seemed to expect the appearance
of the steward's little, rotund form on its threshold, which
held her tongue-tied. A brief interval elapsed, however,
ere Jack actually arrived, and Rose, perceiving that Harry
was curiously expecting her answer, said hurriedly —" It
may be hatred, not attachment."
The next instant Jack Tier entered the room. IIe had




OR, TlHE FLORIDA REEF.


335


been gone rather more than an hour, not returning until
just as the sun was about to set in a flame of fire.
" Well, Jack, what news from the Poughkeepsie?" demanded the mate. " You have been gone long enough to
make sure of your errand. Is it certain that we are not
to see the man-of-war's-men to-night."
" Whatever you see, my advice to you is to keep close,
and to be on your guard," answered Jack, evasively.
" I have little fear of any of Uncle Sam's craft. A plain
story, and an honest heart, will make all clear to a welldisposed listener. We have not been accomplices in
Spike's treasons, and cannot be made to answer for them."
"Take my advice, maty, and be in no hurry to hail
every vessel you see. Uncle Sam's fellows may not always
be at hand to help you. Do you not know that this island
will be tabooed to seamen for some time to come?"
" Why so, Jack? The islet has done no harm, though
others may have performed wicked deeds near it."
"Two of the drowned men lie within a hundred yards
of this spot, and sailors never go near new-made graves, if
they can find any other place to resort to."
" You deal in enigmas, Jack; and did I not know that
you are very temperate, I might suspect that the time you
have been gone has been passed in the company of a bottle
of brandy."
"That will explain my meanin'," said Jack, laconically,
pointing as he spoke seemingly at some object that was to
be seen without.
The door of the house was wide open, for the admission
of air. It faced the haven of the islets, and just as the
mate's eyes were turned to it, the end of a flying-jib-boom,
with the sail down, and fluttering beneath it, was coming
into the view. " The Poughkeepsie!" exclaimed Mulford,
in delight, seeing all his hopes realized, while Rose blushed to the eyes. A pause succeeded, during which Mulford
drew aside, keeping his betrothed in the back-ground, and
as much out of sight as possible. The vessel was shooting
swiftly into view, and presently all there could see it was
the Swash.




.g36


JACK TI E I


CHAPTER XII.
But no-he surely is not dreaming.
Another minute makes it clear,
A scream, a rush, a burning tear,
From Inez' cheek, dispel the fear
That bliss like his is only seeming.
WASHINGTON ALSTOlN.
A MOMENT of appalled surprise succeeded the instant
when Harry and Rose first ascertained the real character
of the vessel that had entered the haven of the Dry Tortugas. Then the first turned toward Jack Tier, and sternly
demanded an explanation of his apparent faithlessness.
"Rascal," he cried, " has this treachery been intended?
Did you not see the brig and know her?"
" Hush, Harry-dear Harry," exclaimed Rose, entreatingly. " My life for it, Jack has not been faithless."
" Why, then, has he not let us know that the brig was
coming? For more than an hour has he been aloft, on
the look-out, and here are we taken quite by surprise.
Rely on it, Rose, he has seen the approach of the brig, and
might have sooner put us on our guard."
"' Ay, ay, lay it on, maty," said Jack, coolly, neither
angry nor mortified, so far as appearances went, at these
expressions of dissatisfaction; "my back is used to it. If
I did n't know what it is to get hard raps on the knuckles,
I should be but a young steward. But, as for this business, a little reflection will tell you I am not to blame."
"Give us your own explanations, for without them I
shall trust you no longer."
" Well, sir, what good would it have done, had I told
you the brig was standing for this place? There she came
down, like a race-horse, and escape for you was impossible.
As the wind is now blowin', the Molly would go two feet
to the boat's one, and a chase would have been madness."
" I do n't know that, sirrah," answered the mate. " The




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


337


boat might have got into the smaller passages of the reef,
where the brig could not enter, or she might have dodged
about among these islets, until it was night, and then escaped in the darkness."
" I thought of all that, Mr. Mulford, but it came too late.
When I first went aloft, I came out on the north-west side
of the lantern, and took my seat, to look out for the sloopof-war, as you bade me, sir.  Well, there I was sweepin'
the horizon with the glass for the better part of an hour,
sometimes fancyin' I saw her, and then givin' it up; for to
this moment I am not sartain there is n't a sail off here to
the westward, turning up toward the light on a bowline;
but if there be, she's too far off to know anything partic'lar about her. Well, sir, there I sat, looking for the
Poughkeepsie, for the 'better part of an hour, when I
thought I would go round on t' other side of the lantern
and take a look to windward. My heart was in my mouth,
I can tell you, Miss Rose, when I saw the brig; and I felt
both glad and sorry. Glad on my own account, and sorry
on your'n. There she was, however, and no help for it,
within two miles of this very spot, and coming down as if
she despised touching the water at all. Now, what could
I do? There was n't time, Mr. Mulford, to get the boat
out, and the mast stepped, afore we should have been within reach of canister, and Stephen Spike would not have
spared that, in order to get you again within his power."
"Depend on it, Harry, this is all true," said Rose, earnestly. " I know Jack well, and can answer for his fidel.
ity. He wishes to, and if he can he will return to the brig,
whither he thinks his duty calls him, but he will never
willingly betray us-least of all, me. Do I speak as I ought,
Jack?"
"Gospel truth, Miss Rose, and Mr. Mulford will get
over this squall, as soon as he comes to think of matters as
he ought. There's my hand, maty, to show I bear no
malice."
"I take it, Jack, for I must believe you honest, after all
you have done for us. Excuse my warmth, which, if i little unreasonable, was somewhat natural under the circumstances. I suppose our case is now hopeless, and that we
shall all be soon on board the brig again; for Spike will
29




338


JACK TIER;


hardly think of abandoning me again on an island provi
sioned and fitted as is this!"
"It's not so sartain, sir, that you fall into his hands at
all," put in Jack. "The men of the brig will never come
here of their own accord, depend on that, for sailors do n t
like graves. Spike has come in here a'ter the schooner's
chain, that he dropped into the water when he made sail
from the sloop-of-war, at the time he was here afore, and
is not expectin' to find us here. No-no-he thinks we
are beatin' up toward Key West this very minute, if, indeed, he has missed us at all. 'T is possible he believes
the boat has got adrift by accident, and has no thought of
our bein' out of the brig."
"That is impossible, Jack. Do you suppose he is ignorant that Rose is missing?"
"Sartaill of it, maty, if Mrs. Budd has read the letter
well that Miss Rose left for her, and Biddy has obeyed orders. If they've followed. instructions, Miss Rose is
thought to be in her state-room, mournin' for a young man
who was abandoned on a naked rock, and Jack Tier, havin'
eat somethin' that has disagreed with him, is in his berth.
Recollect, Spike will not be apt to look into Miss Rose's
state-room or my berth, to see if all this is true. The
cook and Josh are both in my secret, and know I mean to
come back, and when the fit is over I have only to return
to duty, like any other hand. It is my calculation that
Spike believes both Miss Rose and myself on board the
Molly at this very moment."
" And the boat-what can he suppose has become of the
boat?"
" Sartainly, the boat makes the only chance ag'in.us.
But the boat was ridin' by its painter astarn, and accidents
sometimes hippen to such craft. Then we two are the
wery last he will suspect of havin' made off in the boat by
ourselves. There 'll be Mrs. Budd and Biddy as a sort of
pledge that Miss Rose is aboard, and as for Jack Tier, he
is too insignificant to occupy the captain's thoughts just
now. He will probably muster the people for'ard, when
he finds the boat is gone, but I do not think he'll trouble
the cabins or state-rooms."
Mulford admitted that this was possible, though it




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


339


scarcely seemed probable to him. There was no help,
however, for the actual state of things, and they all now
turned their attention to the brig, and to the movements
of those on board her. Jack Tier had swung-to the outerdoor of the house, as soon as the Swash came in view
through it, and fortunately none of the windows on that
side of the building had been opened at all. The air entered to windward, which was on the rear of the dwelling,
so that it was possible to be comfortable and yet leave the
front, in view from the vessel, with its deserted air. As
for the brig, she had already anchored and got both her
boats into the water. The yawl was hauled alongside, in
readiness for any service that might be required of it, while
the launch had been manned at once, and was already
weighing the anchor, and securing the chain to which Tier
had alluded. All this served very much to lessen the uneasiness of Mulford and Rose, as it went far to prove that
Spike had not come to the Dry Tortugas in quest of them,
as, at first, both had very naturally supposed. It might,
indeed, turn out that his sole object was to obtain this anchor and chain, with a view to use them in raising the illfated vessel that had now twice gone to the bottom.
"I wish an explanation with you, Jack, on one other
point," said the mate, after all three had been for sometime
observing the movements on board and around the Swash.
"Do you actually intend to get on board the brig?"
" If it's to be done, maty. My v'y'ge is up with you
and Miss Rose. I may be said to have shipped for Key
West and a market, and the market's found at this port."
" You will hardly leave us yet, Jack," said Rose, with a
manner and emphasis that did not fail to strike her betrothed lover, though he could in no way account for either.
That Rose should not wish to be left alone with him in
that solitary place was natural enough; or, might rather
be referred to education and the peculiar notions of her
sex; but he could not understand why so much importance
should be attached to the presence of a being of Jack Tier's
mould and character. It was true, that there was little
choice, under present circumstances, but it occurred to
Mulford that Rose had manifested the same strange predi'ection when there might have been something nearer to a




340


JACK TIER;


selection. The moment, however, was not one foi much
reflection on the subject.
"You will hardly leave us yet, Jack?" said Rose, in
the manner related.
"It's now or never, Miss Rose. If the brig once gets
away from this anchorage without me, I may never lay eyes
on her ag'in. Her time is nearly up, for wood and iro:i
wont hold together always, any more than flesh and blood.
Consider how many years I've been busy in huntin' her
up, and how hard 't will be. to lose that which has given
me so many weary days and sleepless nights to find."
Rose said no more. If not convinced, she was evidently
silenced, while Harry was left to wonder and surmise, as
best he might. Both quitted the subject, to watch the
people of the brig. By this time the anchor had been lifted, and the chain was heaving in on board the vessel, by
means of a line that had been got around its bight. The
work went on rapidly, and Mulford observed to Rose that
he did not think it was the intention of Spike to remain
long at the Tortugas, inasmuch as his brig was riding by
a very short range of cable. This opinion was confirmed,
half an hour later, when it Was seen that the launch was
hooked on and hoisted in again, as soon as the chain and
anchor of the schooner were secured.
Jackl Tier watched every movement with palpable uneasiness. His apprehensions that Spike would obtain all he
wanted, and be off before he could rejoin him, increased
at each instant, and he did not scruple to announce an intention to take the boat and go alongside of the Swash at
every hazard, rather than be left.
" You do not reflect on what you say, Jack," answered
Harry; " unless, indeed, it be your intention to betray us.
How could you appear in the boat, at this place, without
letting it be known that we must be hard by?"
"That don't follow at all, maty," answered Jack.
"Suppose I go alongside the brig and own to the captain
that I took the boat last night, with the hope of findin' you,
and that failin' to succeed, I bore up for this port, to look
for provisions and water. Miss Rose he thinks on board
at this moment, and in my judgment he would take me at
my word, give me a good cursing, and think no more about
it."




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


341


"' It' would never do, Jack," interposed Rose, instantly
It would cause the destruction of Harry, as Spike would
not believe you had not found him, without an examination
of this house."                          I
"What are they about with the yar, Mr. Mulford?"
asked Jack, whose eye was never off the vessel for a single
moment. "It's gettin' to be so dark that one can hardly
see the boat, but it seems as if they're about to man the
yawl."
"They are, and there goes a lantern into it. And that
is Spike himself coming down the brig's side this instant."
"They can only bring a lantern to search this house,"
exclaimed Rose. "Oh! Harry, you are lost!"
"I rather think the lantern is for the light-house," answered Mulford, whcse coolness, at what was certainly a
most trying moment, did not desert him. "Spike may
wish to keep the light burning, for once before, you will
remember, he had it kindled after the keeper was removed.
As for his sailing, he would not be apt to sail until the
moon rises; and in beating back to the wreck the light
may serve to let him know the bearings and position of the
reef."
"There they come," whispered Rose, half breathless
with alarm. "The boat has left the brig, and is coming
directly hither!"
All this was true enough. The yawl had shoved off,
and with two men to row it, was pulling for the wharf in
front of the house, and among the timbers of which lay the
boat, pretty well concealed beneath a sort of bridge. Mulford would not retreat, though he looked to the fastenings
of the door as a means of increasing his chances of defence.
In the stern-sheets of the boat sat two men, though it was
not easy to ascertain who they were by the fading light.
One was known to be Spike, however, and the other, it
was conjectured, must be Don Juan Montefalderon, from the
circumstance of his being in the place of honour. Three
minutes solved this question, the boat reaching the wharf
by that time. It was instantly secured, and all four of the
Len left it. Spike was now plainly to be discerned by
means of the lantern which he carried in his own hands.
He gave some orders, in his customary authoritative way.
9) *




42            JACK   TIER;
and in a high key, after which he led the way from the
wharf, walking side by side with the Senor Montefalderon.
These two last came up within a yard of the door of the
house, where they paused, enabling those within not only
to see their persons and the working of their countenances,
but to hear all that was said; this last the more especially,
since Spike never thought it necessary to keep his powerful voice within moderate limits.
"It's hardly worth while, Don Wan, for you to go into
the light-house," said Spike. "'T is but a greasy, dirty
place at the best, and one's clothes are never the better for
dealin' with ile. Here, Bill, take the lantern, and get a
filled can, that we may go up and trim and fill the lamp,
and make a blaze. Bear a hand, lads, and I'll be a'ter
ye afore you reach the lantern. Be careful with the flame
about the ile, for seamen ought never to wish to see a lighthouse destroyed."
"What do you expect to gain by lighting the lamps
above, Don Esteban?" demanded the Mexican, when the
sailors had disappeared in the light-house, taking their own
lantern with them.
" It's wisest to keep things reg'lar about this spot, Don
Wan, which will prevent unnecessary suspicions. But, as
the brig stretches in toward the reef to-night, on our way
back, the light will be a great assistance. I am short of
officers you know, and want all the help of this sort I can
get."
"To be sincere with you, Don Esteban, I greatly regret
you are so short of officers, and do not yet despair of inducing you to go and take off the mate, whom I hear you
have left on a barren reck. He was a fine young fellow,
Sefor Spike, and the deed was not one that you will wish
to remember a few years hence."
" The fellow run, and I took him at his word, Don Wan.
I'm not obliged to receive back a deserter unless it suits
me."
"We are all obliged to see we do not cause a fellow
creature the loss of life. This will prove the death of the
charming young woman who is so much attached to him,
unless you relent and are merciful!"
" Women have tender looks but tough hearts," answered




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


343


Spike, carelessly, though Mulford felt certain, by the tone
of his voice, that great bitterness of feeling lay smothered
beneath the affected indifference of his manner; " few die
of love."
" The young lady has not been on deck all day; and the
Irish woman tells me that she does nothing but drink water
-the certain proof of a high fever."
" Ay, ay, she keeps her room if you will, Don Wan, but
she is not about to make a dupe of me by any such tricks.
I must go and look to the lamps, however, and you will
find the graves you seek in the rear of this house, about
thirty yards behind it, you'll remember. That's a very
pretty-cross you've made, senor, and the skipper of the
schooner's soul will be all the better for settin' it up at the
head of his grave."
" It will serve to let those who come after us know that
a Christian sleeps beneath the sand, Don Esteban," answered -the Mexican, mildly. "I have no other expectation from this sacred symbol."
The two now separated, Spike going into the light-house,
little in a hurry, while Don Juan Montefalderon walked
round the building to its rear in quest of the grave. Mulford waited a moment for Spike to get a short distance up
the stairs of the high tower he had to ascend, when placing
the arm of Rose within his own, he opened the door in
the rear of the house, and walked boldly toward the Mexican. Don Juan was actually forcing the pointed end of
his little cross into the sand, at the head of his countryman's grave, when Mulford and his trembling companion
reached the spot. Although night had shut in, it was not
so dark that persons could not be recognised at small distances. The Sefor Montefalderon was startled at an apparition so sudden and unexpected, when Mulford saluted
him by name; but recognising first the voice of Harry,
and then the persons of himself and his companion, surprise, rather than alarm, became the emotion that was uppermost. Notwithstanding the strength of the first of these
feelings, he instantly saluted the young couple with the
polished ease that marked his manner, which had much of
the courtesy of a Castilian in it, tempered a little, perhaps,
by the greater flexibility of a Southern American.




344


JACK TIER;


"1 see you," exclaimed Don Juan, "and must believe
my eyes. Without their evidence, however, I could scarce
believe it can be you two, one of whom I thought on board
the brig, and the other suffering a most miserable death on
a naked rock."
"I am aware of your kind feelings in our behalf, Don
Juan," said Mulford, "and it is the reason I now confide
in you. I was taken off that rock by means of the boat,
which you doubtless have missed; and this is the gentle
being who has been the means of saving my life. To her
and Jack Tier, who is yonder, under the shadows of the
house, I owe my not being the victim of Spike's cruelty."
"I now comprehend the whole matter, Don Henriquez.
Jack Tier has managed the boat for the senorita; and
those whom we were told were too ill to be seen on deck,
have been really out of the brig!"
"Such are the facts, senor, and from you there is no
wish to conceal them. We are then to understand that
the absence of Rose and Jack from the brig is not known
to Spike."
"I believe not, senor. He has alluded to both, once or
twice to-day, as being ill below; but would you not da
well to retire within the shade of the dwelling, lest a glance
from the lantern might let those in it know that I am not
alone."
"There is little danger, Don Juan, as they who stand
near a light cannot well see those who are in the darkness.
Beside, they are high in the air, while we are on the
ground, which will greatly add to the obscurity down here.
We can retire, nevertheless, as I have a few questions to
ask, which may as well be put in perfect security, as put
where there is any risk."
The three now drew near the house, Rose actually stepping within its door, though Harry remained on its exterior, in order to watch the proceedings of those in the
light-house. Here the Sefior Montefalderon entered into
% more detailed explanation of what had occurred on board
the brig, since the appearance of day, that very morning.
According to his account of the matter, Spike had immediately called upon the people to explain the loss of the
Doat. Tier was not interrogated on this occasion, it being




OR, THIE FLORIDA REEF.


34a5


understood he had gone below and turned in, after having
the look-out for fully half the night. As no one could, or
would, give an account of the manner in which the boat
was missing, Josh was ordered to go below and question
Jack on the subject. Whether it was from consciousness
of his connection with the escape of Jack, and apprehensions of the consequences, or from innate good-nature, and
a desire to befriend the lovers, this black now admitted
that Jack confessed to him that the boat had got away from
him while endeavouring to shift the turns of its painter from
a cleet where they ought not to be, to their proper place.
This occurred early in Jack's watch, according to Josh's
story, and had not been reported, as the boat did not properly belong to the brig, and was an incumbrance rather
than an advantage. The mate admired the negro's cunning, as Don Juan related this part of his story, which put
him in a situation to throw all the blame on Jack's mendacity in the event of a discovery, while it had the effect to
allow the fugitives more time for their escape. The result
was, that Spike bestowed a few hearty curses, as usual, on
the clumsiness of Jack Tier, and seemed to forget all about
the matter. It is probable he connected Jack's abstaining
from showing himself on deck, and his alleged indisposition, with his supposed delinquency in this matter of the
boat. From that moment the captain appeared to give
himself no further concern on the subject, the boat having
been, in truth, an incumbrance rather than a benefit, as
stated.
" As for Rose, her keeping her room, under the circumstances, was so very natural, that the Sefior Montefalder-n
had been completely deceived, as, from his tranquillity on
this point, there was no question was the case with Spike
also. Biddy appeared on deck, though the widow did not,
and the Irish woman shook her head anxiously when questioned about her young mistress, giving the spectators rea
son to suppose that the latter was in a very bad way.
As respects the brig and her movements, Spike had got
under way as soon as there was light enough to find his
course, and had run through the passage. It is probable
that the boat was seen; for something that was taken for
a small sail had just been made out for a single instant, and




346


JACK TIE R;


then became lost again. This little sail was made, if made
at all, in the direction of the Dry Tortugas, but so completely was all suspicion at rest in the minds of those on
the quarter-deck of the Swash, that neither Spike nor the
Mexican had the least idea what it was. When the circumstance was reported to the former, he answered that it
was probably some small wrecker, of which many were
hovering about the reef, and'added, laughingly, though in
a way to prove how little he thought seriously on the subject at all, " who knows but the light-house boat has fallen
into their hands, and that they've made sail on her; if
they have, my word for it, that she goes, hull, spars, rigging,
canvas, and cargo, all in a lump, for salvage."
As the brig came out of the passage, in broad day, the
heads of the schooner's masts were seen, as a matter of
course. This induced Spike to heave-to, lower a boat, and
to go in person to examine the condition of the wreck.
It will be seen that Jack's presence could now be all the better dispensed with. The examination, with the soundings,
and other calculations connected with raising the vessel,
occupied hours. When they were completed, Spike returned on board, run up his boat, and squared away for the
Dry Tortugas. Sefior Montefalderon confirmed the justice
of Jack Tier's surmises, as to the object of this unexpected visit. The brig had come solely for the chain and anchor mentioned, and having secured them, it was Spike's
intention to get under way and beat up to the wreck again
as soon as the moon rose. As for the sloop-of-war, he believed she had given him up; for by this time she must
know that she had no chance with the brig, so long as the
latter kept near the reef, an'd that she ran the constant
hazard of shipwreck, while playing so near the dangers
herself.
Before the Senor Montefalderon exhausted all he had to
communicate, he was interrupted by Jack Tier with a singular proposition. Jack's great desire was to get on board
the Swash; and he now begged the Mexican to let Mulford
take the yawl and scull him off to the brig, and return to
the islet before Spike and his companions should descend
from the lantern of the light-house. The little fellow insisted there was sufficient time for such a purpose, as the




OR, TIHE FLOR1DA REEF.


347


three in the lantern had not yet succeeded in filling the
lamps with the oil necessary to their burning for a nighta duty that usually occupied the regular keeper for an hour.
Five or six minutes would suffice for him; and if he were
seen going up the brig's side, it would be easy for him to
maintain that he had come ashore in the boat. No one
took such precise note of what was going on, as to be able
to contradict him; -.nd as to Spike and the men with him,
they would probably never hear anything about it.
Don Juan Montefalderon was struck with the boldness
of Jack Tier's plan, but refused his assent to it. He deemed it too hazardous, but substituted a project of his own.
The moon would not rise until near eleven, and it wanted
several hours before the time of sailing. When they returned to the brig, he would procure his cloak, and scull
himself ashore, being perfectly used to managing a boat in
this way, under the pretence of wishing to pass an hour
longer near the grave of his countryman. At the expiration of that hour he would take Jack off, concealed beneath
his cloak-an exploit of no great difficulty in the darkness,
especially as no one would be on deck but a hand or two
keeping the anchor-watch. With this arrangement, therefore, Jack Tier was obliged to be content.
Some fifteen or twenty minutes more passed, during
which the Mexican again alluded to his country, and his
regrets at her deplorable situation. The battles of the 8th
and 9th of May, two combats that ought to, and which will
reflect high honour on the little army that won them, as
well as on that hardly worked, and in some respects hardly
used, service to which they belong, had been just fought.
Don Juan mentioned these events without reserve, and frankly admitted that success had fallen to the portion of much the
weaker party. He ascribed the victory to the great superiority of the American officers of inferior rank; it being
well known that in the service of the "Republic of the
North," as he termed America, men who had been regu-.arly educated at the military academy, and who had reached the period of middle life, were serving in the stations
of captains, and sometimes in that of lieutenants; men who,
in many cases, were fitted to command regiments and brigades, having been kept in these lower stations by the tar



348


JACK  TIER;


diness with whict promotion comes in an army like that
of this country.
Don Juan Montefalderon was not sufficiently conversant
with the subject, perhaps, else he might have added, that
when occasions do offer to bestow on these gentlemen the
preferment they have so hardly and patiently earned, they
are too often neglected, in order to extend the circle of
vulgar political patronage. He did not know that when a
new regiment of dragoons was raised, one permanent in
its character, and intended to be identified with the army
in all future time, that, instead of giving its commissions
to those who had fairly earned them by long privations and
faithful service, they were given, with one or two excep.
tions, to strangers.
No government trifles more with its army and navy than
our own. So niggardly are the master-spirits at Washing.
ton of the honours justly earned by military men, that we
have fleets still commanded by captains, and armies by officers whose regular duty it would be to command brigades.
The world is edified with the sight of forces sufficient, in
numbers, and every ether military requisite, to make one
of Napoleon's corps de armee, led by one whose commission
would place him properly at the head of a brigade, and
nobly led, too. Here, when so favourable an occasion offers to add a regiment or two to the old permanent line of
the army, and thus infuse new life into its hope deferred,
the opportunity is overlooked, and the rank and file are to
be obtained by cramming, instead of by a generous regard
to the interests of the gallant gentlemen who have done so
much for the honour of the American name, and, unhappily, so little for themselves. The extra-patriots of the
nation, and they form a legion large enough to trample the
" Halls of the Montezumas" under their feet, tell us that
the reward of those other patriots beneath the shadows of
the Sierra Madre, is to be in the love and approbation ot
their fellow citizens, at the very moment when they are
giving the palpable proof of the value of this esteem, and
of the inconstancy of popular applause, by pointing their
fingers, on account of an inadvertent expression in a letter,
at the gallant soldier who taught, in our own times, the
troops of this country to stand up to the best appointed re,




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


o -19(


giments of England, and to carry off victory from the pride
of Europe, in fair field-fights. Alas! alas! it is true of
iiations as well as of men, in their simplest and earliest
forms of association, that there are "' secrets in all families;"
and it will no more do to dwell on our own, than it would
edify us to expose those of poor Mexico.
The discourse between the Sefior Montefalderon and
Mulford was interesting, as it ever has been when the for.
mer spoke of his unfortunate country. On the subject of
the battles of May he was candid, and admitted his deep
mortification and regrets. He had expected more from the
force collected on the Rio Grande, though, understanding
the northern character better than most of his countrymen,
he had not been as mulh taken by surprise as the great
bulk of his own nation.
"Nevertheless, Don Henrique," he concluded, for the
voice of Spike was just then heard as he was descending
the stairs of the light-house, "nevertheless, Don Henrique
there is one thing that your people, brave, energetic, and
powerful as I acknowledge them to be, would do well to
remember, and it is this-no nation of the numbers of ours
can be, or ever was conquered, unless by the force of political combinations. In a certain state of society a government may be overturned, or a capital taken, and carry a
whole country along with it, but. our condition is one not
likely to bring about such a result. We are of a race different from the Anglo-Saxon, and it will not be easy. either
to assimilate us to your own, or wholly to subdue us. In
those parts of the country, where the population is small,
in time, no doubt, the Spanish race might be absorbed,
and your sway established; but ages of war would be necessary entirely to obliterate our usages, our language, and
our religion from the peopled portions of Mexico."
It might be well for some among us to reflect on these
matters. The opinions of Don Juan, in our judgment,
being entitled to the consideration of all prudent and considerate men.
As Spike descended to the door of the light-house, Harry, Rose, and Jack Tier retired within that of the dwelling.
Presently the voice of the captain was heard hailing the
Mexican, and together they walked to the wharf, the
30




350


JACK  TIER;


former boasting to the latter of his success in making a
brilliant light. Brilliant it was, indeed; so brilliant as to
give Mulford many misgivings on the subject of the boat.
The light from the lantern fell upon the wharf, and he
could see the boat from the window where he stood, with
Spike standing nearly over it, waiting for the men to get
his own yawl ready. It is true, the captain's back was
toward the dangerous object, and the planks of the bridge
were partly between him and it; but there was a serious
danger that was solely averted by the circumstance that
Spike was so earnestly dilating on some subject to Don
Juan, as to look only at that gentleman's face. A minute
later they were all in the yawl, which pulled rapidly toward
the brig.
Don Juan Montefalderon was not long absent. Ten
minutes sufficed for the boat to reach the Swash, for him
to obtain his cloak, and to return to the islet alone, no one
in the vessel feeling a desire to interfere with his imaginary
prayers. As for the people, it was not probable that one
in the brig could have been induced to accompany him to
the graves at that hour; though everybody but Josh had
turned-in, as he informed Mulford, to catch short naps previously to the hour of getting the brig under way. As for
he steward, he had been placed on the look-out as the
greatest idler on board. All this was exceedingly favourable to Jack Tier's project, since Josh was already in the
secret-of his absence, and would not be likely to betray his
return. After a brief consultation, it was agreed to wait
half an hour or an hour, in order to let the sleepers lose all
consciousness, when Don Juan proposed returning to the
vessel with his new companion.
The thirty or forty minutes that succeeded were passed
in general conversation. On this occasion the Sefor Montefalderon spoke more freely than he had yet done of recent
events. He let it be plainly seen how much he despised
Spike, and how irksome to him was the intercourse he was
obliged to maintain, and to which he only submitted
through a sense of duty. The money known to be in the
schooner, was of a larger amount than had been supposed;
and every dollar was so important to Mexico, at that moment, that he did not like to abandon it, else, did he de



OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.               351
dare, that he would quit the brig at once, and share in the
fortunes of Harry and Rose. He courteously expressed
his best wishes for the happiness of the young couple, and
delicately intimated that, under the circumstances, he supposed that they would be united as soon as they could
reach a place where the marriage rite could be celebrated.
This was said in the most judicious way possible; so delicately as not to wound any one's feelings, and in a way to
cause it to resemble the announcement of an expectation,
rather than the piece of paternal advice for which it was
really intended. Harry was delighted with this suggestion
of his Mexican friend-the most loyal American may still
have a sincere friend of Mexican birth and Mexican feelings, too-since it favoured not only his secret wishes, but
his secret expectations also.
At the appointed moment, Don Juan Montefalderon and
Jack Tier took their leave of the two they left behind them.
Rose manifested what to Harry seemed a strange reluctance to part with the little steward; but Tier was bent on
profiting by this excellent opportunity to get back to the
brig. They went, accordingly, and the anxious listeners,
who watched the slightest movement of the yawl, from the
shore, had reason to believe that Jack was smuggled in
without detection. They heard the familiar sound of the
oar falling in the boat, and Mulford said that Josh's voice
might be distinguished, answering to a call from Don Juan.
No noise or clamour was heard, such as Spike would certainly have made, had he detected the deception that had
been practised on himself.
Harry and Rose were now alone. The former suggested that the latter should take possession of one of the little
bed-rooms that are usually to be found in American dwellings of the dimensions and humble character of the lighthouse abode, while he kept watch until the brig should sail.
Until Spike was fairly off, he would not trust himself to
sleep; but there was no sufficient reason why Rose should
not endeavour to repair the evil of a broken night's rest,
like that which had been passed in the boat. With this
understanding, then, our heroine took possession of her
little apartment, where she threw herself on the bed in her




35.2


JACK TIER;


clothes, while Mulford walked out into the air, as the most
effective means of helping to keep his eyes open.
It was now some time past ten, and before eleven the
moon would rise. The mate consequently knew that his
watch could not be long before Spike would quit the neighbourhood-a circumstance pregnant with immense relief
to him, at least. So long as that unscrupulous, and now
nearly desperate, man remained anywhere near Rose, he
felt that she could not be safe; and as he paced the sands,
on the off, or outer side of the islet, in order to be beyond
the influence of the light in the lantern, his eye was scarcely a moment taken away from the Swash, so impatiently
and anxiously did he wait for the signs of some movement
on board her.
The moon rose, and Mulford heard the well-known raps
on the booby-hatch, which precedes the call of " all hands,"
on board a merchant-man. " All hands up anchor, ahoy!"
succeeded, and in less than five minutes the bustle on
board the brig announced the fact, that her people were
"getting the anchor."  By this time it had got to be so
light that the mate deemed it prudent to return to the
house, in order that he might conceal his person within its
shadows. Awake Rose he would not, though he knew she
would witness the departure of the Swash with a satisfaction little short of his own. He thought he would wait,
that when he did speak to her at all, it might be to announce their entire safety. As regarded the aunt, Rose
was much relieved on her account, by the knowledge that
Jack Tier would not fail to let Mrs. Budd know everything
connected with her own situation and prospects. The desertion of Jack, after coming so far with her, had pained
our heroine in a way we cannot at present explain; but go
he would, probably feeling assured there was no longer any
necessity for his continuance with the lovers,. in order to
prevail on Rose to escape from Spike.
The Swash was not long in getting her ground-tackle,
and the brig was soon seen with her topsail aback, waiting
to cat the anchor. This done, the yards swung round, and
the topsail filled. It was blowing just a good breeze for
such a craft to carry whole sail on a bow-line with, and
away the light and active craft started, like the racer that




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


353


is galloping for daily exercise. Of course there were several passages by which a vessel might quit the group of islets, some being larger, and some smaller, but all having
sufficient water for a brigantine of the Molly's draught.
Determined not to lose an inch of distance unnecessarily,
Spike luffed close up to the wind, making an effort to pass
out to windward of the light. In order to do this, however, it became necessary for him to make two short tacks
within the haven, which brought him far enough to the
southward and eastward to effect his purpose. While this
was doing, the mate, who perfectly understood the object
of the maneuvres, passed to the side of the light-house that
was opposite to that on which the dwelling was placed,
with a view to get a better sight of the vessel as she stood
out to sea. In order to do this, however, it was necessary
for the young man to pass through a broad bit of moonlight.
but he trusted for his not being seen, to the active manner
in which all hands were employed on board the vessel. It
would seem that, in this respect, Mulford trusted without
his host, for as the vessel drew near, he perceived that six
or eight figures were on the guns of the Swash, or in her
rigging, gesticulating eagerly, and. seemingly pointing to
the very spot where he stood. When the brig got fairly
abeam of the light, she would not be a hundred yards distant from it, and fearful to complete the exposure of his
person, which he had so inadvertently and unexpectedly
commenced, our mate drew up close to the wall of the
light-house, against which he sustained himself in a position as immovable as possible. This movement had been
seen by a single seaman on board the Swash, and the man
happened to be one of those who had landed with Spike
only two hours before. His name was Barlow.
" Captain Spike, sir," called out Barlow, who was coiling up rigging on the forecastle, and was consequently
obliged to call out so loud as to be heard by all on board,
" yonder is a man at the foot of the light-house."
By this time, the moon coming out bright through an
opening in the clouds, Mulford had become conscious of
he risk he ran, and was drawn up, as immovable as the
pile itself, against the stones of the light-house. Such an
anncuncement brought everybody to leeward, and every
30 *




351


JACK TIER;


head over the bulwarks. Spike himself sprang into the lee
main-chains, where his view was unobstructed, and where
Mulford saw and recognised him, even better than he was
seen and recognised in his own person. All this time the
brig was moving ahead.
"A man, Barlow!" exclaimed Spike, in the way one a
little bewildered by an announcement expresses his surprise. "A man! that can never be. There is no one at
the light-house, you know."
"'l'here he stands, sir, with his back to the tower, and
his face this way. His dark figure against the whitewashed stones is plain enough to be seen. Living, or dead,
sir, that is the mate!"
"Living it cannot be," answered Spike, though he
gulped at the words the next moment.
A general exclamation now showed that everybody recognised the mate, whose figure, stature, dress, and even
features, were by this time all tolerably distinct. The
fixed attitude, however, the immovable statue-like rigidity
of the form, and all the other known circumstances of
Harry's case, united to produce a common and simultaneous impression among the superstitious mariners, that
what they saw was but the ghostly shadow of one lately departed to the world of spirits. Even Spike was not free
from this illusion, and his knees shook beneath him, there
where he stood, in the channels of a vessel that he had
handled like a top in so many gales and tempests. With
him, however, the illusion was neither absolute nor lasting.
A second thought told him it could scarcely be so, and
then he found his voice. By this time the brig was nearly
abreast of where Harry stood.
"You Josh!" called out Spike, in a voice of thunder,
loud enough to startle even Mrs. Budd and Biddy in their
berths.
"Lor' help us all!" answered the negro, "what will
come next t'ing aboard dis wessel! Here I be, sir."
" Pass the fowling-piece out of my state-room. Both
barrels are loaded with ball; I'11 try him, though the bullets are only lead."
A common exclamation of dissatisfaction escaped the
mnen, while Josh was obeying the order. "It's no use"




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


355


*' You never can hurt one of them things," "Something will
befall the brig on account of this," and "It's the mate's
sperit, and sperits can't be harmed by lead or iron," were
the sort of remarks made by the seamen, during the short
interval between the issuing the order for the fowling-piece
and its execution.
" There 't is, Cap'in Spike," said Josh, passing the piece
up through the rigging, "but 't will no more shoot that
hing, than one of our carronades would blow up Gibraltar.'
By this time Spike was very determined, his lips being
compressed and his teeth set, as he took the gun and
cocked it. Then he hailed. As all that passed occurred,
as it might be, at once, the brig even at that moment was
little more than abreast of the immovable mate, and about
eighty yards from him.
"Light-house, there!" cried Spike-" Living or dead.
answer or I fire."
No answer came, and no motion appeared in the dark
figure that was now very plainly visible, under a bright
moon, drawn in high relief against the glittering white of
the tower. Spike dropped the muzzle to its aim, and fired.
So intense was the attention of all in the Swash, that a
wink of Harry's could almost have been seen, had he betrayed even that slight sign of human infirmity at the flash
and the report. The ball was flattened against a stone of
the building, within a foot of the mate's body; but he did
not stir. All depended now on his perfect immovability,
as he well knew; and he so far commanded himself, as to
remain rigid as if of stone himself.
" There! one can see how it is-no life in that being,"
said one. "I know'd how it would end," added another.
"Nothing but silver, and that cast on purpose, will ever
lay it," continued a third. But Spike disregarded all.
This time he was resolved that his aim should be better,
and he was inveterately deliberate in getting it. Just as he
pulled the trigger, however, Don Juan Montefalderon
touched his elbow, the piece was fired, and there stood the
immovable figure as before, fixed against the tower. Spike
was turning angrily to chide his Mexican friend for deranging his aim, when the report of an answering musket came
back like an echo. Every eye was turned toward the




358


JACK TIER;


figure, but it moved not. Then the humming sound of an
advancing ball was heard, and a bullet passed, whistling
hoarsely, through the rigging, and fell some distance to
windward. Every head disappeared below the bulwarks.
Even Spike was so far astonished as to spring in upon'deck,
and, for a single instant, not a man was to be seen above
the monkey-rail of the brig. Then Spike recovered himself and jumped upon a gun. His first look was toward
the light-house, now on the vessel's lee-quarter; but the
spot where had so lately been seen the form of Mulford,
showed nothing but the glittering brightness of the whitewashed stones!
The reader will not be surprised to learn that all these
events produced a strange and deep impression on board
the Molly Swash. The few who might have thrown a little
light on the matter were discreetly silent, while all that
portion of the crew which was in the dark, firmly believed
that the spirit of the murdered mate was visiting them, in
order to avenge the wrongs inflicted on it in the flesh.
The superstition of sailors is as deep as it is general. All
those of the Molly, too, were salts of the old school, seadogs of a past generation, properly speaking, and mariners
who had got their notions in the early part of the century,
when the spirit of progress was less active than it is at
present.
Spike himself might have had other misgivings, and believed that he had seen the living form of his intended victim, but for the extraordinary and ghost-like echo of his
last discharge. There was nothing visible, or intelligible,
from which that fire could have come, and he was perfectly
bewildered by the whole occurrence. An intention to
round-to, as soon as through the passage, down boat and
land, which had been promptly conceived when he found
that his first aim had failed, was as suddenly abandoned,
and he gave the command to board fore-tack;" immediately after, his call was to " pack on the brig," and not without a little tremour in his voice, as soon as he perceived
that the figure had vanished. The crew was not slow to
obey these orders, and in ten minutes, the Swash was *a
mile from the light, standing to the northward and eastward,
under a press of canvas, and with a freshening breeze




OR, T IE FLORID1A REEF


357


To return to the islets. Harry, from the first, had seen
that everything depended on his remaining motionless. As
the people of the brig were partly in shadow, he could not,
and did. not, full'y understand how completely he was himself exposed, in consequence of the brightness of all around
him, and he had at first hoped to be mistaken for some accidental resemblance to a man. His nerves were well
tried by the use of the fowling-piece, but they proved equal
to the necessities of the occasion. But, when an answering report came from the rear, or from the opposite side of
the islet, he darted round the tower, as much taken by surprise, and overcome by wonder, as any one else who heard
it. It was this rapid movement which caused his flight to
be unnoticed, all the men of the brig dodging below their
own bulwarks at that precise instant.
As the light-house was now between the mate and the
brig, he had no longer any motive for trying to conceal
himself. His first thought was of Rose, and, strange as it
may seem, for some little time he fancied that she had
found a musket in the dwelling, and discharged it, in order
to aid his escape. The events had passed so swiftly, that
there was no time for the cool consideration of anything,
and it is not surprising that some extravagances mingled
with the first surmises of all these.
On reaching the door of the house, therefore, Harry was
by no means surprised at seeing Rose standing in it, gazing
at the swiftly receding brigantine. He even looked for the
musket, expecting to see it lying at her feet, or leaning
against the wall of the building. Rose, however, was entirely unarmed, and as dependent on him for support, as
when he had parted from her, an hour or two before.
" Where did you find that musket, Rose, and what have
you done with it?" inquired Harry, as soon as he had
looked in every place he thought likely to hold such an
implement.
"Musket, Harry! I have had no musket, though the
report of fire-arms, near by, awoke me from a sweet sleep."
"Is this possible! I had imprudently trusted myself on.he other side of the light-house, while the moon was behind clouds, and when they broke suddenly away, its light
oetrayed me to those on board the brig. Spike fired at me




358


JACK TIER;


twice, without injuring me; when, to my astonishment, an
answering report was heard from the islet. What is more,
the piece was charged with a ball-cartridge, for I heard the
whistling of the bullet as it passed on its way to the brig."
"And you supposed I had fired that musket?"
"Whom else could I suppose had done it? You are
not a very likely person to do such a thing, I will own,- my
love; but there are none but us two here."
"It must be Jack Tier," exclaimed Rose suddenly.
"That is impossible, since he has left us."
~'One never knows. Jack understood how anxious I
was to retain him with us, and he is so capricious and full
of schemes, that he may have contrived to get out of the
brig, as artfully as he got on board her."
"If Jack Tier be actually on this islet, I shall set him
down as little else than a conjuror."
' Hist,!" interrupted Rose, " what noise is that in the
direction of the wharf? It sounds like an oar falling in a
boat."
Mulford heard that well-known sound, as well as his
companion, and, followed by Rose, he passed swiftly
through the house, coming out at the front, next the wharf.
The moon was still shining bright, and the mystery of the
echoing report, and answering shot, was immediately explained. A large boat, one that pulled ten oars, at least,
was just coming up to the end of the wharf, and the manner in which its oars were unshipped and tossed, announced
to the mate that the crew were man-of-war's men. He
walked hastily forward to meet them.
Three officers first left the boat together. The gold
bands of their caps showed that they belonged to the quarter-deck, a fact that the light of the moon made apparent
at once, though it was not strong enough to render features
distinct. As Mulford continued to advance, however, the
three officers saluted him.
" I see you have got the light under way once more,"
observed the leader of the party. "Last night it was as
dark as Erebus in your lantern."
" The light-house keeper and his assistant have both
been drowned," answered Mulford. "The lamps have




OR, TIlE FLORIDL REEF.


359


been lit to-night by the people of the brig which has just
gone out."
"Pray, sir, what brig may that be?"
"The Molly Swash, of New York; a craft that I lately
belonged to myself, but which I have left on account of her
evil doings."
"The Molly Swash, Stephen Spike master and owner,
Dound to Key West and a market, with a cargo of eight
nundred barrels of flour, and that of a quality so lively and
pungent that it explodes like gunpowder! I beg your pardon, Mr. Mate, for not recognising you sooner. Have you
forgotten the Poughkeepsie, Captain Mull, and her farreaching Paixhans?"
"I ought to ask your pardon, Mr. Wallace, for not recognising you sooner, too. But one does not distinguish
well by moonlight. I am delighted to see you, sir, and
now hope that, with my assistance, a stop cal be put to
the career of the brig."
"What, Mr. Mate, do you turn against your craft?"
said Wallace, under the. impulsive feeling which induces
all loyal men to have a distaste for treachery of every sort,
"the seaman should love the very planks of his vessel."
".I fully understand you, Mr. Wallace, and will own
that, for a long time, I was tied to rascality by the opinions
to which you allude. But, when you come to hear my explanation, I do not fear your judgment in the least."
Mulford now led the way into the house, whither Rose
had already retreated, and where she had lighted candles,
and made other womanly arrangements for receiving her
guests. At Harry's suggestion, some of the soup was
placed over coals, to warm up for the party, and our heroine Ilade her preparations to comfort them also with a cup
of tea. While she was thus employed, Mulford gave the
whole history of his connection with the brig, his indisposition to quit the latter, the full exposure of Spike's treason,
his own desertion, if desertion it could be called, the loss
of the schooner, and his abandonment on the rock, and the
manner in which he had been finally relieved. It was
scarcely possible to relate all these matters, and altogether
avoid allusions to the schemes of Spike in connection with
Rose, and the relation in which our young man himself




; 6U


JACK TIER;


stood toward her. Although Mulford touched or these
points with great delicacy, it was as a seaman talking to
seamen, and he could not entirely throw aside the frankness of the profession. Ashore, men live in the privacy of
their own domestic circles, and their secrets, and secret
thoughts, are " family secrets," of which it has passed into
a proverb to say, that there are always some, even in the
best of these communities. On shipboard, or in the camp,
it is very different. The close contact in which men are
brought with each other, the necessity that exists for opening the heart and expanding the charities, gets in time to
influence the whole character, and a certain degree of
frankness and simplicity, takes the place of the reserve and
acting that might have been quickened in the same individual, under a different system of schooling. But Mulford
was frank by nature, as well as by his sea-education, and
his companions on this occasion were pretty well possessed
of all his wishes and plans, in reference to Rose, even to
his hope of falling in with the chaplain of the Poughkeepsie, by the time his story was all told. The fact that Rose
was occupied in another room, most of the time, had made
these explanations all the easier, and spared her many a
blush. As for the man-of-war's men, they listened to the
tale, with manly interest and a generous sympathy.
"I am glad to hear your explanation, Mr. Mate," said
Wallace, cordially, as soon as Harry had done, "and
there's my hand, in proof that I approve of your course. I
own to a radical dislike of a turncoat, or a traitor to his
craft, Brother Hollins"-looking at the elder of his two
companions, one of whom was the midshipman who had
originally accompanied him on board the Swash —" and am
glad to find that our friend Mulford here is neither. A
true-hearted sailor can be excused for deserting even his
own ship, under such circumstances."
"I am glad to hear even this little concession from you,
Wallace," answered Hollins, good-naturedly, and speaking
with a mild expression of benevolence, on a very calm and
thoughtful countenance. "Your mess is as heteredox as
any I ever sailed with, on the subject of our duties, in this
respect."




OR, TIlE FPLORIDA REEF.


361


" I hold it to be a sailor's duty to stick by his ship, reverend and dear sir."
This mode of address, which was used by the "ship's
gentleman" in the cant of the ward-room, as a pleasantry of
an old shipmate, for the two had long sailed together in
other vessels, at once announced to Harry that he saw the
very chaplain for whose presence he had been so anxiously
wishing. The " reverend and dear sir' smiled at the sally
of his friend, a sort of thing to which he was very well accustomed, but he answered with a gravity and point that,
it is to be presumed, he thought befitting his holy office.
It may be well to remark here, that the Rev. Mr. Hollins
was not one of the "launch'd chaplains," that used to do
discredit to the navy of this country, or a layman dubbed
with such a title, and rated that he might get the pay and
become a boon companion of the captain, at the table and
in his frolics ashore. Those days are gone by, and min(sters of the gospel are now really employed to care for the
souls of the poor sailors, who so long have been treated by
others, and have treated themselves, indeed, as if they were
oeings without souls, altogether. In these particulars, the
world has certainly advanced, though the wise and the
good, in looking around them, may feel more cause for astonishment in contemplating what it once was, than to rejoice in what it actually is. But intellect has certainly
improved in the aggregate, if not in its especial dispensations, and men will not now submit to abuses that, within
the recollections of a generation, they even cherished. In
reference to the more intellectual appointments of a ship
of war, the commander excepted, for we contend he who
directs all, ought to possess the most capacity, but, in reference to what are ordinarily believed to be the more intellectual appointments of a vessel of war, the surgeon and
the chaplain, we well recollect opinions that were expressed
to us, many years since, by two officers of the highest rank
known to the service. "When I first entered the navy,"
said one of these old Benbows, " if I had occasion for the
amputation of a leg, and the question lay between the carpenter and the doctor, d-e, but I would have tried the
carpenter first, for I felt pretty certain he would have been
the most likely to get through with the job."  "In old
31




362


JACK  TIER;


times,' said the other," when a chaplain joined a ship, the
question immediately arose, whether the mess were to con.
vert the chaplain, or the chaplain the mess; and the mess
generally got the best of it."  There was very little exaggeration in either of these opinions. But, happily, all this
is changed vastly for the better, and a navy-surgeon is necessarily a man of education and experience; in very many
instances, men of high talents are to be found among them;
while chaplains can do something better than play at back
gammon, eat terrapins, when in what may be called terrapin-ports, and drink brandy and water, or pure Bob Smith.*
" It is a great mistake, Wallace, to fancy that the highest duty a man owes, is either to his ship or to his country," observed the Rev. Mr. Hollins, quietly. " The highest
duty of each and all of us, is to God; and whatever conflicts with that duty, must be avoided as a transgression of
his laws, and consequently as sin."
"You surprise me, reverend and dear sir! I do not remember ever to have heard you broach such opinions before, which might be interpreted to mean that a fellow
might be disloyal to his flag."
"Because the opinion might be liable to misinterpretation. Still, I do not go as far as many of my friends on
this subject. If Decatur ever really said, ' Our country,
right or wrong,' he said what might be just enough, and
creditable enough, in certain cases, and taken with the fair
limitations that he probably intended should accompany
the sentiment; but, if he meant it as an absolute and controlling principle, it was not possible to be more in error.
In this last sense, such a rule of conduct might, and in old
times often would, have justified idolatry; nay, it is a species of idolatry in itself, since it is putting country before
God. Sailors may not always be able to make the just distinctions in these cases, but the quarter-deck should be so,
irreverend and dear sir."
Wallace laughed, and then he turned the discourse to
the subject more properly before them.
"I understand you to say, Mr. Mulford," he remarked,
* In the palmy days of the service, when Robert Smith was so
long Secretary of the Navy, the ship's whisky went by tJis familiar sobriquet.




Of., THE FLORIDA  REEF.


3(;3


*; tiat, in your opinion, the Swash has gone to try to raise
the unfortunate Mexican schooner, a second time, from the
depths of the ocean?"
"From the rock on which she lies. Under the circumstances, I hardly think he would have come hither for the
chain and cable, unless with some such object. We know,
moreover, thut such was his intention when we left the
brig."
" And you can take us to the very spot where that wreck
lies?"
" Without any difficulty. Her masts are partly out of
water, and we hung on to them, in our boat, no later than
last night, or this morning rather."
" So far, well. Your conduct in all this affair will be
duly appreciated, and Captain Mull will not fail to repre.
sent it in a right point of view to the government."
" Where is the ship, sir? I looked for her most anxious.
ly, without success, last evening; nor had Jack Tier, the
little fellow I have named to you, any better luck; though
I sent him aloft, as high as the lantern in the light-house,
for that purpose."
"The ship is off here to the northward and westward,
some six leagues or so. At sunset she may have been a
little further. We have supposed that the Swash would be
coming back hither, andshad laid a trap for her, which
came very near taking her alive."
" What is the trap you mean, sir-though taking Stephen Spike alive, is sooner said than done."
" Our plan has been to catch him with our boats. With
the greater draft of water of tie Poughkeepsie, and the
heels of your brig, sir, a regular chase about these reefs, as
we knew from experience, would be almost hopeless. It
was, therefore, necessary to use head-work, and some manof-war traverses, in order to lay hold of him. Yesterday
afternoon we hoisted out three cutters, manned them, and
made sail in them all, under our luggs, working up against
the trades. Each boat took its own course, one going off
the west end of the reef, one going more to the eastward,
while I came this way, to look in at the Dry Tortugas.
Spike will be lucky if he do not fall in with our third cutter, which is under the fourth lieutenant, should he stand




8:64


JACK  TIER;


on far on the same tack as that on which he left this place
Let him try his fortune, however. As for our boat, as soon
as I saw the lamps burning in the lantern, I made the best
of my way hither, and got sight of the brig, just as she
loosened her sails. Then I took in my own luggs, and
came on with the oars. Had we continued under our canvas, with this breeze, I almost think we might have overhauled the rascal."
" It would have been impossible, sir. The momrnnt he
got a sight of your sails, he would have been off in a contrary direction, and that brig really seems to fly, whenever
there is a pressing occasion for her to move. You did the
wisest thing you could have done, and barely missed him,
as it was. He has not seen you at all, as it is, and will be
all the less on his guard, against the next visit from the
ship."
"Not seen me! Why, sir, the fellow fired at us twice
with a musket; why he did not use a carronade, is more
than I can tell."
"Excuse me, Mr. Wallace; those two shots were intended for me, though I now fully comprehend why you
answered them."
" Answered them! yes, indeed; who would not answer
such a salute, and gun for gun, if he had a chance. I certainly thought he was firing at-us, and having a musket
between my legs, I let fly in return, and even the chaplain
here will allow that was returning 'good for evil.' But
explain your meaning."
Mlulford now went into the details of the incidents connected with his coming into the moon-light, at the foot of
the light-house. That he was not mistaken as to the party
for wh6m the shots were intended, was plain enough to him.
from the words that passed aloud among the people of the
Swash, as well as from the circumstance that both balls
struck the stones of the tower quite near him. This statement explained everything to Wallace, who now fully comprehended the cause and motive of each incident.
It was now near eleven, and Rose had prepared the table
for supper. The gentlemen of the Poughkeepsie manifested great interest in the movements of the Hebe-like little
attendant who was caring for their wants. When the cloth




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


3t15


was to be laid, the midshipman offered his assistance, but
his superior directed him to send a hand or two up from
the wharf, where the crew of the cutter were lounging or
sleeping after their cruise. These men had been thought
of, too; and a vessel filled with smoking soup was taken to
them, by one of their own number.
The supper was as cheerful as it was excellent. The
dry humour of Wallace, the mild intelligence of the chaplain, the good sense of Harry, and the spirited information
of Rose, contributed, each in its particular way, to make
the meal memorable in more senses than one. The laugh
came easily at that table, and it was twelve o'clock, before
the party thought of breaking up.
The dispositions for the night were soon made. Rose
returned to her little room, where she could now sleep in
comfort, and without apprehension. The gentlemen made
the disposition of their persons, that circumstances allowed; each finding something on which to repose, that was
preferable to a plank. As for the men, they were accustomed to hard fare, and enjoyed their present good-luck, to
the top of their bent. It was quite late, before they haa
done " spinning their yarns," and " cracking their jokes "
around the pot of turtle-soup, and the can of grog that
succeeded it. By half-past twelve, however, everybody
was asleep.
Mulford was the first person afoot the following morning.
He left the house just as the sun rose, and perceiving that
the " coast was clear" of sharks, he threw off his light attire, and plunged into the sea. Refreshed with this indulgence, he was returning toward the building, when he met
the chaplain coming in quest of him. This gentleman, a
man of real piety, and of great discretion, had been singularly struck, on the preceding night, with the narrative of
our young mate; and he had not failed to note the allu.
sions, slight as they were, and delicately put as they had
been to himself. He saw, at once, the propriety of mar-.ying a couple so situated, and now sought Harry, with a
view to bring about so desirable an event, by intimating his
entire willingness to officiate. It is scarcely necessary to
say that very few words were wanting, to persuade the
young man to fall into his views; and as to Rose, he had
31 *




.366


JACK TIER


handed her a short note on the same subject, which he was
of opinion, would be likely to bring her to the same way
of thinking.
An hour later, all the officers, Harry and Rose, were as.
sembled in what might be termed the light-house parlour.
The Rev. Mr. Hollins had neither band, gown, nor surplice; but he had what was far better, feeling and piety.
Without a prayer-book he never moved; and he read the
marriage ceremony with a solemnity that was communicated to all present. The ring was that which had been
used at the marriage of Rose's parents, and which she wore
habitually, though not on the left hand. In a word, Harry
and Rose were as firmly and legally united, on that solitary
and almost unknown islet, as could have been the case,
had they stood up before the altar of mother Trinity itself,
with a bishop to officiate, and a legion of attendants. After
the compliments which succeeded the ceremony, the whole
party sat down to breakfast.
If the supper had been agreeable, the morning meal was
not less so. Rose was timid and blushing, as became a
bride, though she could not but feel how much more respectable her position became under the protection of Harry
as his wife, than it had been while she was only his betrothed. The most delicate deportment, on the part of her
companions, soon relieved her embarrassment however, and
the breakfast passed off without cause for an unhappy moment.
"The ship's standing in toward the light, sir," reported
tho. cockswain of the cutter, as the party was still lingering
around the table, as if unwilling to bring so pleasant a meal
to a close. " Since the mist has broke away, we see her,
sir, even to her ports and dead-eyes."
" In that case, Sam, she can't be very far off," answered
Wallace. " Ay, there goes a gun from her, at this moment, as much as to say, ' what has become of all of my
boats?' Run down and let off a musket; perhaps she will
make out to hear that, as we must be rather to windward
if anything."
The signal was given and understood. A quarter of an
nour later, the Poughkeepsie began to shorten sail. Then
Wallace stationed himself in the cutter, in the centre of




367


OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


one of the passages, signalling the ship to come on. Ten
minutes later still, the noble craft came into the haven,
passing the still burning light, with her topsails just lifting,
and making a graceful sweep under very reduced sail, she
came to the wind, very near the spot where the Swash had
lain only ten hours before, and dropped an anchor.
CHAPTER XIII.
The gull has found her place on shore;
The sun gone down again to rest;
And all is still but ocean's roar;
There stands the man unbless'd.
*But see, he moves-he turns, as asking where
His mates Why looks he with that piteous stare?
DANA.
SUPERSTITION would seem to be a consequence of a state
of being, in which so much is shadowed forth, while so little is accurately known. Our far-reaching thoughts range
over the vast fields of created things, without penetrating
to the secret cause of the existence of even a blade of grass.
We can analyze all substances that are brought into our
crucibles, tell their combinations and tendencies, give a
scientific history of their formation, so far as it is connected with secondary facts, their properties, and their uses;
but in each and all, there is a latent natural cause, that
baffles all our inquiries, and tells us that we are merely
men. This is just as true in morals, as in physics-no
man living being equal to attaining the very faith that is
necessary to his salvation, without the special aid of the
spirit of the godhead; and even with that mighty support,
trusting implicitly for all that is connected with a future
that we are taught to believe is eternal, to " the substance
of things hoped for, and the evidence of things unseen."
In a word, this eardily probation of ours, was intended for
finite beings, in the sense of our present existence, leaving
far more to be conjectured, than is understood.




368


JACK TIER;


Ignorance and superstition ever bear a close, and eveni
a mathematical relation to each other. The degrees of the
one, are regulated by the degrees of the other. He who
knows the least believes the most; while he who has seen
the most, without the intelligence to comprehend that
which he has seen, feels, perhaps, the strongest inclination
to refer those things which to him are mysteries, to the supernatural and marvellous. Sailors have been, from time
immemorial, more disposed than men of their class on the
land, to indulge in this weakness, which is probably heightened by the circumstance of their living constantly and
vividly in the presence of powers that menace equally their
lives and their means, without being in any manner subject.
to their control.
Spike, for a seaman of his degree of education, was not
particularly addicted to the weakness to which we have
just alluded. Nevertheless, he was not altogether free from
it; and recent circumstances contributed to dispose him so
much the more to admit a feeling which, like sin itself, is
ever the most apt to insinuate itself at moments of extraordinary moral imbecility, and through the openings left by
previous transgression. As his brig stood off from the
light, the captain paced the deck, greatly disturbed by what
had just passed, and unable to account for it. The boat
of the Poughkeepsie was entirely concealed by the islet,
and there existing no obvious motive for wishing to return,
in order to come at the truth, not a thought to that effect,
for one moment, crossed the mind of the smuggler. So far
from this, indeed, were his wishes, that the Molly did not
seem to him to go half as fast as usual, in his keen desire
to get further and further from a spot where such strange
incidents had occurred.
As for the men forward, no argument was wanting to
make them believe that something supernatural had just
passed before their eyes. It was known to them all, that
Mulford had been left on a naked rock, some thirty miles
from that spot; and it was not easy to understand how he
could now be at the Dry Tortugas, planted, as it might be,
on purpose to show himself to the brig, against the tower,
in the bright moonlight, " like a pictur' hung up for his
old shipmates to look at."




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


369


Sombre were the tales that were related that night
among them, many of which related to the sufferings of
men abandoned on desert islands; and all of which bordered, more or less, on the supernatural. The crew connected the disappearance of the boat with Mulford's apparition,
though the logical inference would have been, that the
body which required planks to transport it, could scarcely
be classed with anything of the world of spirits. The links
in arguments, however, are seldom respected by the illiterate and vulgar, who jump to their conclusions, in cases of
the marvellous, much as politicians find an expression of
the common mind in the prepared opinions of the few who
speak for them, totally disregarding the dissenting silence
of the million. While the men were first comparing their
opinions on that which, to them, seemed to be so extraordinary, the Sefior Montefalderon joined the captain in his
walk, and dropped into a discourse touching the events
which had attended their departure from the haven of the
Dry Tortugas. In this conversation, Don Juan most admirably preserved his countenance, as well as his self-command, effectually preventing the suspicion of any knowledge on his part, that was not common to them both.
" You did leave the port with the salutes observed," the
Mexican commenced, with the slightest accent of a foreigner, or just enough to show that he was not speaking in his
mother tongue; "salutes paid and returned."
"Do you call that saluting, Don Wan? To me, that
infernal shot sounded more like an echo, than anything
else."
" And to what do you ascribe it, Don Esteban?"
"I wish I could answer that question. Sometimes I
begin to wish I had not left my mate on that naked rock."
"There is still time to repair the last wrong; we shall
go within a few miles of the place where the Sefior Enrique was left; and I can take the yawl, with two men,
and go in search of him, while you are at work on the
wreck."
" Do you believe it possible that he can be still there?"
demanded Spike, looking suddenly and intently at his companion, while his mind was strangely agitated between ha



370


JACK TIER;


tred and dread. " If he is there, who and what was he that
we all saw so plainly at the foot of the light-house?"
" How should he have left the rock? He was without
food or water; and no man, in all his vigour, could swim
this distance. I see no means of his getting here."
" Unless some wrecker, or turtler, fell in with him, and
took him off. Ay, ay, Don Wan; I left him that much
of a chance, at least. No man can say I murdered my
mate."
"I am not aware, Don Esteban, that any one has said
so hard a thing of you. Still, we have seen neither wrecker nor turtler since we have been here; and that lessens
the excellent chance you left Don Enrique."
"There is no occasion, seiior, to be so particular,"
growled Spike, a little sullenly, in reply. "The chance,
I say, was a good one, when you consider how many of
them devils of wreckers hang about these reefs. Let this
brig only get fast on a rock, and they would turn up, like
sharks, all around us, each with his maw open for salvage.
But this is neither here nor there; what puzzles me, was
what we saw at the light, half an hour since, and the musket that was fired back at us! I know that the figure at the
foot of the tower did not fire, for my eye was on him from
first to last; and he had no arms. You were on the island
a good bit, and must have known if the light-house keeper
was there or not, Don Wan?"
"The light-house keeper was there, Don Esteban-but
he was in his grave."
" Ay, ay, one, I know, was drowned, and buried with
the rest of them; there might, however, have been more
than one. You saw none of the people that had gone to
Key West, in or about the house, Don Wan?"
" None. If any persons have left the Tortugas to go to
Key West, within a few days, not one of them has yet returned."
" So I supposed. No, it can be none of them. Then I
saw his face as plainly as ever I saw it by moon-light, from
aft. for'ard. What is your opinion about seeing the dead
walk on the 'arth,.Don Wan?"
"That I have never seen any such thing myself, Don
Esteban, and consequently know nothing about it."




OR THE FLORIDA REEF.


371


' So I supposed; I find it hard to believe it, I do. It
may be a warning to keep us from coming any more to the
Dry Tortugas; and I must say I have little heart for re.
turning to this place, after all that has fell out here. We
can go to the wreck, fish up the doubloons, and be off fol
Yucatan. Once in one of your ports, I make no question
that the merits of the Molly will make themselves understood, and that we shall soon agree on a price."
" What use could we put the brig to, Don Esteban, if
we had her all ready for sea?"
" That is a strange question to ask in time of war! Give
me such a craft as the Molly, with sixty or eighty men on
board her, in a war like this, and her 'arnin's should not
fall short of half a million within a twelvemonth."
"Could we engage you to take charge of her, Don Esteban?"
" That would be ticklish work, Don Wan. But we can
see. No one knows what he will do until he is tried. In
for a penny, in for a pound. A fellow never knows! Ha!
ha! ha! Don Wan, we live in a strange world-yes, in a
strange world."
" We live in strange times, Don Esteban, as the situation
of my poor country proves. But let us talk this matter
over a little more in confidence."    \
And they did thus discuss the subject. It was a singular spectacle to see an honourable man, one full of zeal of
the purest nature in behalf of his own country, sounding a
traitor as to the terms on which he might be induced to do
all the harm he could, to those who claimed his allegiance.
Such sights, however, are often seen; our own especial
objects too frequently blinding us to the obligations that we
owe morality, so far as not to be instrumental in effecting
even what we conceive to be good, by questionable agencies. But the Sefior Montefalderon kept in view, principally, his desire to be useful to Mexico, blended a little too
strongly, perhaps, with the wishes of a man who was born
near the sun, to avenge his wrongs, real or fancied.
While this dialogue was going on between Spike and
his passenger, as they paced the quarter-deck, one quite as
characteristic occurred in the galley, within twenty feet of
tiem —Simon, the cook, and Josh, the steward, being the




372


JACK TIER;


interlocutors  As they talked secrets, they conferred to.
gether with closed doors, though few were ever disposed
to encounter the smoke, grease, and fumes of their narrow
domains, unless called thither by hunger.
" Whatyou t'ink of dis matter, Josh?" demanded Simon,
whose skull having the well-known density of his race, did
not let internal ideas out, or external ideas in as readily as
most men's. "Our young mate was at de light-house beyond all controwersy; and how can he be den on dat rock
over yonder, too?"
" Dat is imposserbul," answered Josh; " derefore I says
it is n't true. I surposes you know dat what is imposserbul is n't true, Simon. Nobody can't be out yonder and
down here at de same time. Dat is imposserble, Simon.
But what I wants to intermate to you, will explain all dis
difficulty; and it do show de raal super'ority of a coloured
man over de white poperlation. Now, you mark my
words, cook, and be full of admiration! Jack Tier came
back along wid de Mexican gentle'em, in my anchor-watch,
tis very night! You see, in de first place, ebbery t'ing
come to pass in nigger's watch."
Here the two dark-skinned worthies haw-haw'd to their
heart's content; laughing very much as a magistrate or a
minister of the gospel might be fancied to laugh, the first
time'he saw a clown at a circus. The merriment of a negro will have its course, in spite of ghosts, or of anything
else; and neither the cook nor the steward dreamed of puting in another syllable, until their laugh was fairly and duly
ended. Then the cook made his remarks.
"How Jack Tier comin' back explain der differculty,
Josh?" asked Simon.
"Did n't Jack go away wid Miss Rose and de mate, in
de boat dat got adrift, you know, in Jack's watch or.
deck?"
Here the negroes laughed again, their imaginations happening to picture to each, at the same instant, the mystification about the boat; Biddy having told Josh in confidence, the manner in which the party had returned to the
brig, while he and Simon were asleep; which fact the steward had already communicated to the cook. To these two
beings, of an order in nature different from all around




' R, TIIE  FLORIDA  REEF.


373


theml, alnd cf a simplicity and of habits that scarce placed
them (in a level with the intelligence of the humblest white
man, all these circumstances had a sort of mysterious connection, out of which peeped much the most conspicuous
ly to their faculties, the absurdity of the captain's imagining
that a boat had got adrift, which had, in truth, been taken
away by human hands. Accordingly, they laughed it out;
and when they had done laughing, they returned again to
the matter before them with renewed interest in the sub.
ject.
"Well, how all dat explain dis differculty?" repeated
Simon.
" In dis wery manner, cook," returned the steward, with
a little dignity in his manner. " Ebbery t'ing depend on
understandin', I s'pose you know. If Mr. Mulford got
taken off dat rock by Miss Rose and Jack Tier, wid de
boat, and den dey comes here altogedder; and den Jack
Tier, he get on board and tell Biddy all dis matter, and
den Biddy tell Josh, and den Josh tell de cook-what for
you surprise, you black debbil, one bit?"
"Dat all!" exclaimed Simon.
"Dat just all-dat ebbery bit of it, do n't I say."
Here Simon burst into such a fit of loud laughter, that
it induced Spike himself to shove aside the galley-door,
and thrust his own frowning visage into the dark hole within, to inquire the cause.
"What's the meaning of this uproar?" demanded the
captain, all the more excited because he felt that things
had reached a pass that would not permit him to laugh
himself. " Do you fancy yourself on the Hook, or at the
Five Points?"
The Hook and the Five Poifts are two pieces of tabooed
territory within the limits of the good town of Manhattan,
that are getting to be renowned for their rascality and or.
gies. They probably want nothing but the proclamation
of a gov.rnor in vindication of their principles, annexed to
a pardon of some of their unfortunate children, to render
both classical. If we continue to make much further progress in political logic, and in the same direction as that
in which we have already proceeded so far, neither will
probably long be in want of this illustration. Votes can
32




' l1               JACK TIER;
be given by the virtuous citizens of both these purlieus, as,
well as by the virtuous citizens of the anti-rent districts,
and votes contain the essence of all such principles, as well
as of their glorification.
"Do you fancy yourselves on the Hook, or at the Five
Points?" demanded Spike, angrily.
"Lor', no sir!" answered Simon, laughing at each pause
with all his heart. "Only laughs a little at ghost-dat
all, sir."
"Laugh at ghost! Is that a subject to laugh at? Have
a care, you black rascal, or he will visit you in your galley
here, when you will least want to see him."
" No care much for him, sir," returned Simon, laughing
away as hard as ever. "Sich a ghost ought n't to skear
little baby."
"Such a ghost? And what do you know of this ghost
more than any other?"
" Well, I seed him, Cap'in Spike; and what a body sees,
he is acquainted wid."
"You saw an image that looked as much like Mr. Mulford, my late mate, as one timber-head in this brig is like
another."
" Yes, sir, he like enough-must say dat-so wery like,
could n't see any difference."
As Simon concluded this remark, he burst out into another fit of laughter, in which Josh joined him, heart and
soul, as it might be. The uninitiated reader is not to imagine the laughter of those blacks to be very noisy, or to be
raised on a sharp, high key. They could make the welkin
ring, in sudden bursts of merriment, on occasion; but, at a
time like this, they rather caused their diversion to be developed by sounds that came from the depths of their
chests. A gleam of suspicion that these blacks were acquainted with some fact that it might be well for him to
know, shot across the mind of Spike; but he was turned
From further inquiry by a remark of Don Juan, who intimated that the mirth of such persons never had much
meaning to it, expressing at the same time a desire to pursue the more important subject in which they were engaged.
Admonishing the blacks to be more guarded in their manifestdtions of merriment, the captain closed the door on




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


375


them, and resumed his walk up and down the quarter-deck
As soon as left to themselves, the blacks broke out afresh,
though in a way so guarded, as to confine their mirth to
the galley.
"Cap'in Spike t'ink dat a ghost!" exclaimed Simon,
with contempt,
"Guess if he see raal ghost, he find 'e difference," answered Josh. "One look at raal sperit wort' two at dis
object."
Simon's eyes now opened like two saucers, and they
gleamed, by the light of the lamp they had, like dark balls
of condensed curiosity, blended with awe, on his companion.
" You ebber see him, Josh?" he asked, glancing over
each shoulder hurriedly, as it might be, to make sure that
he could not see " him," too.
" How you t'ink I get so far down the wale of life, Simon,
and nebber see sich a t'ing? I seed t'ree of the crew of the
' Maria Sheffington,' that was drowned by deir boat's capsizin', when we lay at Gibraltar, jest as plain as I see you
now. Then-"
But it is unnecessary to repeat Josh's experiences in this
way, with which he continued to entertain and terrify Simon for the next half-hour. This is just the difference between ignorance and knowledge. While Spike himself,
and every man in his brig who belonged forward, had
strong misgivings as to the earthly character of the figure
they had seen at the foot of the light-house, these negroes
laughed at their delusion, because they happened to be in
the secret of Mulford's escape from the rock, and of that
of his actual presence at the Tortugas. When, however,
the same superstitious feeling was brought to bear on circumstances that lay without the sphere of their exact information, they became just as 'dependent and helpless as all
around them; more so, indeed, inasmuch as their previous
habits and opinions disposed them to a more profound credulity.
It was midnight before any of the crew of the Swash
sought their rest that night. The captain had to remind
them that a day of extraordinary toil was before them, ere
lie could get one even to quit the deck; and when they did




376


JACK TIER;


go below, it was to continue to discuss the subject of what
they had seen at the Dry Tortugas. It appeared to be the
prevalent opinion among the people, that the late event
foreboded evil to the Swash, and long as most of these men
had served in the brig, and much as they had become attached to her, had she gone into port that night, nearly
every man forward would have run before morning. But
fatigue and wonder, at length, produced their effect, and
the vessel was silent as was usual at that hour. Spike himself lay down in his clothes, as he had done ever since
Mulford had left him; and the brig continued to toss the
spray from her bows, as she bore gallantly up against the
trades, working her way to windward. The light was
found to be of great service, as it indicated the position of
the reef, though it gradually sunk in the western horizon,
until near morning it fell entirely below it.
At this hour Spike appeared on deck again, where, for
the first time since their interview on the morning of Harry's and Rose's escape, he laid his eyes on Jack Tier.
The little dumpling-looking fellow was standing in the
waist, with his arms folded sailor-fashion, as composedly as
if nothing had occurred to render his meeting with the captain any way of a doubtful character. Spike approached
near the person of the steward, whom he surveyed from
head to foot, with a sort of contemptuous superiority, ere
he spoke.
" So, Master Tier," at length the captain commenced,
"you have deigned to turn out at last, have you? I hope
the day's duty you've forgotten, will help to pay for the
light-house boat, that I understand you've lost for me,
also."
" What signifies a great clumsy boat that the brig
couldnh't hoist in nor tow," Answered Jack, coolly, turning
short round at the same time, but not condescending to
"( uncoil" his arms as he did so, a mark of indifference that
would probably have helped to mystify the captain, had he
even actually suspected that anything was wrong beyond
the supposed accident to the boat in question. "If you
iiad had the boat astarn, Captain Spike, an order would
have been given to cut it adrift the first time the brig made
sail on the wind."




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


377


"Nobody knows, Jack; that boat would have been very
useful to us while at work about the wreck. You never
even turned out this morning to let me know where that
craft lay, as you promised to do, but left us to find it out
by our wits."
" There was no occasion for my tellin' you anything
about it, sir, when the mast-heads was to be seen above
water. As soon as I heard that them 'ere mast-heads was
out of water, I turned over and went to sleep upon it. A
man can't be on the doctor's list and on duty at the same
time."
Spike looked hard at the little steward, but he made no
further allusion to his being off duty, or to his failing to
stand pilot to the brig as she came through the passage in
quest of the schooner's remains. The fact was, that he
had discovered the mast-heads himself, just as he was on
the point of ordering Jack to be called, having allowed him
to remain in his berth to the last moment after his watch,
according to a species of implied faith that is seldom disregarded among seamen. Once busied on the wreck, Jack
was forgotten, having little to do in common with any one
on board, but that which the captain termed the " women's
mess."
" Come aft, Jack," resumed Spike, after a considerable
pause, during the whole of which he had stood regarding
the little steward as if studying his person, and through
that his character. "Come aft to the trunk  I wish to
catechise you a bit."
"Catechise!" repeated Tier, in an under tone, as he
followed the captain to the place mentioned. "It's along
time since I've done anything at that!"
" Ay, come hither," resumed Spike, seating himself at
his ease on the trunk, while Jack stood near by, his arms
still folded, and his rotund little form as immovable, under
the plunges that the lively brig made into the head-seas
that she was obliged to meet, as if a timber-head in the
vessel itself. ' You keep your sea-legs well, Jack, short
as they are."
" No wonder for that, Captain Spike; for the last twenty
years I've scarce passed a twelvemonth ashore; and what
32 *




378


JACK TIER;


I did before that, no one cal better tell than yourself, since
we was ten good years shipmates."
"So you say, Jack, though I do not remember vou as
well as you seem to remember me. Do you not make the
time too loneg?"
"Not a day, sir. Ten good and happy years did we
sail together, Captain Spike; and all that time in this
very-"
"Hush-h-u-s-h, man, hush! There is no need of telling the Molly's age to everybody. I may wish to sell her
some day, and then her great experience will be no recommendation. You should recollect that the Molly is a female, and the ladies do not like to hear of their ages after
five-and-twenty."
Jack made no answer, but he dropped 'is arms to their
natural position, seeming to wait the captain's communication, first referring to his tobacco-box and taking a fresh
quid.
" If you was with me in the brig, Jack, at the time you
mention," continued Spike, after another long and thoughtful pause, " you must remember many little things that I
do n't wish to have known; especially while Mrs. Budd
and her handsome niece is aboard here."
" I understand you, Captain Spike. The ladies shall
l'arn no more from me than they know already."
"Thank'e for that Jack-thank'e with all my heart.
Shipmates of our standing ought to'be fast friends; and so
you 'II find me, if you '11 only sail under the true colours,
my man."
At that moment Jack longed to let the captain know how
strenuously he had insisted that very night on rejoining his
vessel; and this at a time, too, when the brig was falling
into disrepute But this he could not do, without betraying
the secret of the lovers-so he chose to say nothing.
"There is no use in blabbing all a man knows, and the
galley is a sad place for talking. Galley news is poor news,
suppose you know, Jack."
" I've hear'n say as much on board o' man-of-war. It 's
a great place for the officers to meet and talk, and smoke,
in Uncle Sam's crafts; and what a body hears in such
places, is pretty much newspaper stuff, I do suppose."




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


379


"Ay, ay, that's it; not to be thought of half-an-hour
after it has been spoken. Here's a doubloon for you,
Jack; and all for the sake of old times. Now, tell me, my
litle fellow, how do the ladies come on? Doesn't Miss
Rose get over her mourning on account of the mate I
Ar' n't we to have the pleasure of seein' her on deck soon?"
"I can't answer for the minds and fancies of young
women, Captain Spike. They are difficult to understand;
and I would rather not meddle with what I can't understand."
" Poh, poh, man; you must get over that. You might
be of great use to me, Jack, in a very delicate affair-for
you know how it is with women; they must be handled as
a man would handle this brig among breakers; Rose, in
partic'lar, is as skittish as a colt.".
"Stephen Spike," said Jack, solemnly, but on so low a
key that it entirely changed his usually harsh and cracked
voice to one that sounded soft, if not absolutely pleasant,
" do you never think of hereafter? Your days are almost
run; a very few years, in your calling it may be a very few
weeks, or a few hours, and time will be done with you, and
etarnity will commence.-Do you never think of a hereafter?"
Spike started to his feet, gazing at Jack intently; then
he wiped the perspiration from his face, and began to pace
the deck rapidly, muttering to himself-" this has been a
most accursed night! First the mate, and now this! Blast
me, but I thought it was a voice from the grave! Graves!
can't they keep those that belong to them, or have rocks
and waves no graves?"
What more passed through the mind of the captain must
remain a secret, for he kept it to himself; nor did he take
any further notice of his companion. Jack, finding that
he was unobserved, passed quietly below, and took the
place in his berth, which he had only temporarily abandoned.
Just as the day dawned, the Swash reached the vicinity
of the wreck again. Sail was shortened, and the brig stood
n until near enough for the purpose of her'commander,
when she was hove-to, so near the mast-heads that, by lowering the yawl, a line was sent out to the fore-mast, and the




380


JACK TIER;


brig was hauled close alongside. The direction of the reef
at that point formed a lee; and the vessel lay in water sufficiently smooth for her object.
This was done soon after the sun had risen, and Spike
now ordered all hands called, and began his operations in
earnest. By sounding carefully around the schooner when
last here, he had ascertained her situation to his entire satisfaction.  She had settled on a shelf of the reef, in such
a position that her bows lay in a sort of cradle, while her
stern was several feet nearer to the surface than the opposite extremity. This last fact was apparent; indeed, by
the masts themselves, the lower mast aft being several feet
out of water, while the fore-mast was entirely buried, leaving nothing but the fore-topmast exposed. On these great
premises Spike had laid the foundation of the practical
problem he intended to solve.
No expectation existed of ever getting the schooner
afloat again. All that Spike and the Sefior Montefalderon
now aimed at, was to obtain the doubloons, which the former thought could be got at in the following manner.  He
knew that it would be much easier handling the wreck, so
far as its gravity was concerned, while the hull continued
submerged. He also knew that one end could be raised
with a comparatively trifling effort, so long as the other
rested on the rock. Under these circumstances, therefore,
he proposed merely to get slings around the after body of
the schooner, as near her stern-post, indeed, as would be
safe, and to raise that extremity of the vessel to the surface,
leaving most of the weight of the craft to rest on the bows,
The difference between the power necessary to effect this
much, and that which would be required to raise the whole
wreck, would be like the difference in power necessary to
turn over a log with one end resting on the ground, and
turning the same log by lifting it bodily in the arms, and
turning it in the air. With the stern once above water, it
would be easy to come at the bag of doubloons, which Jack
Tier had placed in a locker'above the transoms.
T'he first thing was to secure the brig properly, in order
that she might bear the necessary strain. This was done
iery much as has been described already, in the account
of the manner in which she was secured and supported in




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


3S1


order to raise the schooner at the Dry Tortugas. An anchor was laid abreast and to windward, and purchases were
brought to the masts, as before. Then the bight of the
chain brought from the Tortugas, was brought under the
schooner's keel, and counter-purchases, leading from both
the fore-mast and main-mast of the brig, were brought to it,
and set taut. Spike now carefully examined all his fastenings, looking to his cables as well as his mechanical power
aloft, heaving in upon this, and veering out upon that, in
order to bring the Molly square to her work; after which
lie ordered the people to knock-off for their dinners. By
that time, it was high noon.
While Stephen Spike was thus employed on the wreck,
matters and things were not neglected at the Tortugas.
The Poughkeepsie had no sooner anchored, than Wallace
went on board and made his report. Capt. Mull then sent
for Mulford, with whom he had a long personal conference.
This officer was getting grey, and consequently he had acquired experience. It was evident to Harry, at first, that
he was regarded as one who had been willingly engaged in
an unlawful pursuit, but who had abandoned it to push
dearer interests in another quarter. It was some time before the commander of the sloop-of-war could divest himself of this opinion, though it gradually gave way before the
frankness of the mate's manner, and the manliness, simplicity, and justice of his sentiments. Perhaps Rose had
some influence also in bringing about this favourable change.
Wallace did not fail to let it be known that turtle-soup
was to be had ashore; and many was the guest our heroine
had to supply with that agreeable compound, in the course
of the morning. Jack Tier had manifested so much skill
in the preparation of the dish, that its reputation soon extended to the cabin, and the captain was induced to land,
rn order to ascertain how far rumour was or was not a liar,
on this interesting occasion. So ample was the custom,
indeed, that Wallace had the consideration to send one of
the ward-room servants to the light-house, in order to relieve Rose from a duty that was getting to be a little irksome. She was " seeing company" as a bride, in a novel
and rather unpleasant manner; and it was in consequence
of a suggestion of the " ship's gentleman," t!N: t the remains




382


JACK TIER;


of the turtle were transferred to the vessel, and were put
into the coppers, secundum artem, by the regular cooks.
It was after tickling his palate with a bowl of the soup,
and enjoying a half-hour's conversation with Rose, that
Capt. Mull summoned Harry to a final consultation on the
subject of their future proceedings. By this time the commander of the Poughkeepsie was in a better humour with
his new acquaintance, more disposed to believe him, and
infinitely more inclined to listen to his suggestions and advice, than he had been in their previous interviews. Wallace was present in his character of "ship's gentleman,"
or, as having nothing to do, while his senior, the first lieutenant, was working like a horse on board the vessel, in the
execution of his round of daily duties.
At this consultation, the parties came into a right understanding of each other's views and characters. Capt. Mull
was slow to yield his confidence, but when he did bestow
it, he bestowed it sailor-fashion, or with all his heart. Satisfied at last that he had to do with a young man of honour, and one who was true to the flag, he consulted freely
with our mate, asked his advice, and was greatly influenced in the formation of his final decision by the opinions
that Harry modestly advanced, maintaining them, however,
with solid arguments, and reasons that every seaman could
comprehend.
Mulford knew the plans of Spike by means of his own
communications with the Sefior Montefalderon. Once acquainted with the projects of his old commander, it was
easy for hi;n to calculate the time it would require to put
them in execution, with the means that were to be found
on btard the Swash. "It will take the brig until near
morning," he said, "to beat up to the place where the
wreck lies. Spike will wait for light to commence operations, and several hours will be necessary to moor the brig,
and get out the anchors with which he will think it necessary to stay his masts. Then he will hook on, and he may
partly raise the hull before night return. More than this
he can never do; and it would not surprise me were he
merely to get everything ready for heaving on his purchases
to-morrow, and suspend further proceedings until the next
day, in preference to having so heavy a strain on his spars




OR, THIE FLORIDA REEF.


383


all night. He has not the force, however, to carry on such
duty to a very late hour; and you may count with perfect
security, Captain Mull, on his being found alongside of the
wreck at sunrise the next day after to-morrow, in all probability with his anchors down, and fast to the wreck. By
timing your own arrival well, nothing will be easier than to
get him fairly under your guns, and once under your guns,
the brig must give up.  When you chased her out of this
very port, a few days since, you would have brought her
up could you have kept her within range of those terrible
shells ten minutes longer."
" You would then advise my not sailing from this place
immediately," said Mull.
"It will be quite time enough to get under way late in
the afternoon, and then under short canvas. Ten hours
will be ample time for this ship to beat up to that passage
in, and it will be imprudent to arrive too soon; nor do I
suppose you will wish to be playing round the reef in the
dark."
To the justice of all this Capt. Mull assented; and the
plan of proceedings was deliberately and intelligently formed. As it was necessary for Mulford to go in the ship, in
order to act as pilot, no one else on board knowing exactly
where to find the wreck, the commander of the Poughkeepsie had the civility to offer the young couple the hos.
pitalities of his own cabin, with one of his state-rooms.
This offer Harry gratefully accepted, it being understood
that the ship would land them at Key West, as soon as the
contemplated duty was executed. Rose felt so much anxiety about her aunt, that any other arrangement would
scarcely have pacified her fears.
In consequence of these arrangements, the Poughkeep.
sie lay quietly at her anchors until near sunset. In the.interval her boats were out in all directions, parties of the
officers visiting the islet where the powder had exploded,
and the islet where the tent, erected for the use of the females, was still standing. As for the light-house island, an
order of Capt. Mull's prevented it from being crowded in
a manner unpleasant to Rose, as might otherwise have been
the case. The few officers who did land there, however,
appeared much struck with the ingenuous simplicity and




38 -1


JACK TIER;


beauty of the bride, and a manly interest in her welfare
was created among them all, principally by means of the
representations of the second lieutenant and the chaplain.
About five o'clock she went off to the ship, accompanied
by Harry, and was hoisted on board in the manner usually
practised by vessels of war which have no accommodationladder rigged. Rose was immediately installed in her
state-room, where she found every convenience necessary
to a comfortable though small apartment.
It was quite late in the afternoon, when the boatswain
and his mate piped " all hands up anchor, ahoy!" Harry
hastened into the state-room for his charming bride, anxious to show her the movements of a vessel of war on such
an occasion. Much as she had seen of the ocean, and of
a vessel, within the last few weeks, Rose now found that.
she had yet a great deal to learn, and that a ship of war
had many points to distinguish her from a vessel engaged
in commerce.
The Poughkeepsie was only a sloop-of-war, or a corvette,
in construction, number of her guns, and rate; but she
was a ship of the dimensions of an old-fashioned frigate,
measuring about one thousand tons. The frigates of which
we read half a century since, were seldom ever as large as
this, though they were differently built in having a regular
gun-deck, or one armed deck that was entirely covered,
with another above it; and on the quarter-deck and forecastle of the last of which were also batteries of lighter
guns. To the contrary of all this, the Poughkeepsie had
but one armed deck, and on that only twenty guns. These
pieces, however, were of unusually heavy calibre, throwing
thirty-two pound shot, with the exception of the Paixhans,
or Columbiads, which throw shot of even twice that weight.
The vessel had a crew of two hundred souls, all told; and
she had the spars, anchors, and other equipments of a light
frigate.
In another great particular did the Poughkeepsie differ
from the corvette-built vessels that were so much in favour
at the beginning ofithe century; a species of craft obtained
from the French, who have taught the world so much in
connection with naval science, and who, after building
sore of the best vessels that ever floated, have failed in




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


385


knowing how to handle them, though not always in that.
The Poughkeepsie, while she had no spar, or upper deck,
properly speaking, had a poop and a topgallant-forecastle.
Within the last were the cabins and other accommodations
of the captain; an arrangement that was necessary for a
craft of her construction, that carried so many officers, and
so large a crew.  Without it, sufficient space would not be
had for the uses of the last. One gun of a side was in the
main cabin, there being a very neat and amply spacious
after-cabin between the state-rooms, as is ordinarily the
case in all vessels from the size of frigates up to that of
three-deckers. It may be well to explain here, while on
this subject of construction, that in naval parlance, a ship
is called a single-decked vessel; a two-decker, or a threedecker, not from the number of decks she actually possesses, but from the number of gun-decks that she has, or of
those that arefully armed. Thus a frigate has four decks,
the spar, gun, berth, and orlop (or haul-up) decks; but she
is called a "single-decked ship," from the circumstance
that only one of these four decks has a complete range of
batteries. The two-decker has two of these fully armed
decks, and the three-deckers three; though, in fact, the
two-decker has five, and the three-decker six decks. Asking pardon for this little digression, which we trust will be
found useful to a portion of our readers, we return to the
narrative.
Harry conducted Rose to the poop of the Poughkeepsie,
where she might enjoy the best view of the operation of
getting so large a craft under way, man-of-war fashion.
The details were mysteries, of course, and Rose knew no
more of the process by which the chain was brought to the
capstan, by the intervention of what is called a messenger,
than if she had not been present. She saw two hundred
men distributed about the vessel, some at the capstan, some
on the forecastle, some in the tops, and others in the waist,
and she heard the order to " heave round." Then the shrill
fife commenced the lively air of "the girl I left behind
me," rather more from a habit in the fifer, than from any
great regrets for the girls left at the Dry Tortugas, as was
betrayed to Mulford by the smiles of the officers, and the
glances they cast at Rose. As for the latter, she knew no33




386               JACK TIER;
thing of the air, and was quite unconscious of the sort of
parody that the gentlemen of the quarter-deck fancied it
conveyed on her own situation.
Rose was principally struck with the quiet that prevailed
in the ship, Captain Mull being a silent man himself, and
insisting on having a quiet vessel. The first lieutenant
was not a noisy officer, and from these two, everybody else
on board received their cues. A simple " all ready, sir,"
uttered by the first to the captain, in a common tone of
voice, answered by a "very well, sir, get your anchor,"
in the same tone, set everything in motion. "Stamp and
go," soon followed, and taking the whole scene together,
Rose felt a strange excitement come over her. There
were the shrill, animating music of the fife; the stamping
time of the men at the bars; the perceptible motion of the
ship, as she drew ahead to her anchor, and now and then
the call between Wallace, who stood between the knightheads, as commander-in-chief on the forecastle, (the second
lieutenant's station when the captain does not take the
trumpet, as very rarely happens,) and the " executive officer" aft, was " carrying on duty," all conspiring to produce
this effect. At length, and it was but a minute or two from
the time when the " stamp and go" commenced, Wallace
called out " a short stay-peak, sir."  "Heave and pull,"
followed, and the men left their bars.
The process of making sail succeeded. There was no
"letting fall" a fore-topsail here, as on board a merchantman, but all the canvas dropped from the yards, into festoons, at the same instant. Then the three topsails were
sheeted home and hoisted, all at once, and all in a single
minute of time; the yards were counter-brated, and the
capstan-bars were again manned. In two more minutes it
was "heave and she's up and down."  Then " heave and
in sight," and " heave and pull again." The cat-fall was
ready, and it was " hook on," when the fife seemed to turn
its attention to another subject as the men catted the anchor. Literally, all this-was done in less time than we
have taken to write it down in, and in very little more time
than the reader has wasted in perusing what we have here
written.
The Poughkeepsie was now " free of bottom," as it Ls




OR, THE FLORIDA         REEF.         387
called, with her anchor catted and fished, and her position
maintained in the basin where she lay, by the counterbracing of her yards, and the counteracting force of the
wind on her sails. It only remained to "fill away," by
bracing her head-yards sharp up, when the vast mass overcame its inertia, and began to move through the water.
As this was done, the jib and spanker were set. The two
most beautiful things with which we are acquainted, are a
graceful and high-bred woman entering or quitting a drawing-room, moreparticularly the last, and a man-of-war leaving her anchorage in a moderate breeze, and when not
hurried for time. On the present occasion, Captain Mull
was in no haste, and the ship passed out to windward of
the light, as the Swash l1:: done the previous night, under
her three topsails, spank-:iId jib, with the light sails
loose and flowing, and the.irses hanging in the brails.
A great deal is said concerning the defective construction of the light cruisers of the navy, of late years, and
complaints are made that they will not sail, as American
cruisers ought to sail, and were wont to sail in old times.
That there has been some ground for these complaints, we
believe; though the evil has been greatly exaggerated, and
some explanation may be given, we think, even in the cases
in which the strictures are not altogether without justification. The trim of a light, sharp vessel is easily deranged;
and officers, in their desire to command as much as possible, often get their vessels of this class too deep. They
are, generally, for the sort of cruiser, over-sparred, overmanned, and over-provisioned; consequently, too deep.
We recollect a case in which one of these delicate craft,
a half-rigged brig, was much abused for " having lost her
sailing." She did, indeed, lose her fore-yard, and, after that,
she sailed like a witch, until she got a new one! If the
facts were inquired into, in the spirit which ought to govern such inquiries, it would be found that even most of
the much-abused "ter sloops" proved to be better vessels than common. The St. Louis, the Vincennes, the
Concord, the Fairfield, the Boston, and the Falmouth, are
instances of what we mean. In behalf of the Warren, and
ihe Lexington, we believe no discreet man was ever heard
'o utter one syllable, except as wholesome crafts. But the




3S8


JACK TIER;


Poughkeepsie was a very different sort of vessel from any
)f the " ten sloops."  She was every way a good ship, and,
\s Jack expressed it, was " a good goer."  The most seere nautical critic could scarcely have found a fault in
er, as she passed out between the islets, on the evening
( the day mentioned, in the sort of undress we have decribed. The whole scene, indeed, was impressive, and
)f singular maritime characteristics.
The little islets scattered about, low, sandy, and untenanted, were the only land in sight-all else was the boundless waste of waters. The solitary light rose like an aquatic monument, as if purposely to give its character to the
view. Captain Mull had caused its lamps to be trimmed
and lighted for the very reason that had induced Spike to
do the same thing, and the (dim star they presented was
just struggling' into existence, as it might be, as the brilliance left by the setting sun was gradually diminished, and
finally disappeared.  As for the ship, the hull appeared
dark, glossy, and graceful, as is usual with a vessel of war.
Her sails were in soft contrast to the colour of the hull,
and they offered the variety and divergence from straight
lines which  are thought necessary to perfect beauty.
Those that were set, presented the symmetry in their trim,
the flatness in their hoist, and the breadth that distinguish
a man-of-war; while those that were loose, floated in the
air in every wave and cloid-like swell, that we so often see
in light canvas that is released from the yards in a fresh
breeze. The ship had an undress look from this circumstance, but it was such an undress as denotes the man or
wojnan of the world. This undress appearance was increased by the piping down of the hammocks, which left
the nettings loose, and with a negligent but still knowing
look about them.
When half a mile from the islets, the main-yard was
braced aback, and the maintopsail was laid to the mast.
As soon as the ship had lost her way, two or three beats
that had been towing astern, each with its boat-sitter, or
keeper, in it, were hauled up alongside, or to the quarters,
vere " hooked on," and " run up" to the whistling of the
call. All was done at once, and all was done in a couple




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


389


of minutes. As soon as effecte:d, the maintopsail was again
filled, and away the ship glided.
Captain Mull was not in the habit of holding many consultations with his officers. If there be wisdom in a " multitude of counsellors," he was of opinion it was not on
board a man-of-war. Napoleon is reported to have said
that one bad general was better than two good ones; meaning that one head to an army, though of inferior quality, is
better than a hydra of Solomons, or Cesars. Captain Mull
was much of the same way of thinking, seldom troubling
his subordinates with anything but orders. He interfered
very little with " working Willy," though he saw effectually that he did his duty. "( The ship's gentleman" might
enjoy his joke as much as he pleased, so long as he chose
his time and place with discretion, but in the captain's
presence joking was not tolerated, unless it were after dinner, at his own table, and in his own cabin. Even there
it was not precisely such joking as took place daily, not to
say hourly, in the midshipmen's messes.
In making up his mind as to the mode of proceeding on
the present occasion, therefore, Captain Mull, while he had
heard all that Mulford had to tell him, and had even
encouraged Wallaceto give his opinions, made up his decision for himself. After learning all that Harry had to communicate, he made his own calculations as to time and
distance, and quietly determined to carry whole sail on the
ship for the next four hours. This he did as the wisest
course of making sure of getting to windward while he
could, and knowing that the vessel could be brought under
short canvas at any moment when it might be deemed necessary. The light was a beacon to let him know his distance with almost mathematical precision. It could be
seen so many miles at sea, each mile being estimated by so
Inany feet of elevation, and having taken that elevation, he
was sure of his distance from the glittering object, so long
as it could be seen from his own poop. It was also of use
by letting him know the range of the reef, though Captain
Mull, unlike Spike, had determined to make one leg off to.he northward and eastward until he had brought the light
niearly to the horizon, and then to make another to the
southward and eastward, believing that the last stretch
33 *




390


JACK TIER;


would bring him to the reef, almost as far to windward as
he desired to be. In furtherance of this plan, the sheets
of the different sails were drawn home, as soon as the boats
were in, and the Poughkeepsie, bending a little to the
breeze, gallantly dashed the waves aside, as she went
through and over them, at a rate of not less than ten good
knots in the hour. As soon as all these arrangements were
made, the watch went below, and from that time throughout the night, the ship offered nothing but the quiet manner in which ordinary duty is carried on in a well-regulated vessel of war at sea, between the hours of sun and sun.
Leaving the good craft to pursue her way with speed and
certainty, we must now return to the Swash.
Captain Spike had found the mooring of his brig a much
more difficult task, on this occasion, than on that of his
former attempt to raise the schooner. Then he had to lift
the wreck bodily, and he knew that laying the Swash a
few feet further ahead or astern, could he of no great moment, inasmuch as the moment the schooner was off the
bottom, she would swing in perpendicularly to the purchases. But now one end of the schooner, her bows, was
to remain fast, and it became of importance to be certain
that ihe purchases were so placed as to bring the least strain
on the masts while they acted most directly on the after
body of the vessel to be lifted. This point gave Spike
more trouble than he had anticipated. Fully one half of
the remainder of the day, even after he had begun to heave
upon his purchases, was spent in rectifying mistakes in
connection with this matter, and in getting up additional
securities to his masts.
In one respect Spike had, from the first, made a good
disposition. The masts of the brig raked materially, and
by bringing the h ad.of the Swash in the direction of the
schooner, he'converted this fact, which might otherwise
have been of great disadvantage, into a circumstance that
was favourable. In consequence of the brig's having been
thus moored, the strain, which necessarily led forward,
came nearly in a line with the masts, and the latter were
much better able to support it. Notwithstanding this ad
vantage, hom ever, it was found expedient to get up prevent
er-stays, and to give the spars all the additional support




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


391


could be conveniently bestowed. Hours were passed in
making these preliminary, or it might be better to say, secondary arrangements.
It was past five in the afternoon when the people of the
Swash began to heave on their purchases as finally disposed.
After much creaking, and the settling of straps and lashings into their places, it was found that everything stood,
and the work went on. In ten minutes Spike found he had
the weight of the schooner, so far as he should be obliged
to sustain it at all, until the stern rose above the surface;
and he felt reasonably secure of the doubloons. Further
than this he did not intend to make any experiment on her,
the Sefor Montefalderon having abandoned all idea of recovering the vessel itself, now so much of the cargo was
lost. The powder was mostly consumed, and that which
remained in the hull must, by this time, be injured by
dampness, if not ruined. So reasoned Don Juan at least.
As the utmost care was necessary, the capstan and windlass were made to do their several duties with great caution.
As inch by inch was gained, the extra supports of the
masts were examined, and it was found that a much heavier strain now came on the masts than when the schooner
was raised before. This was altogether owing to the direction in which it came, and to the fact that the anchor
planted off abeam was not of as much use as on the former
occasion,. in consequence of its not lying so much in a
straight line with the direction of the purchases. Spike
began to have misgivings on account of his masts, and this
so much the more because the wind appeared to haul a little
further to the northward, and the weather to look unsettled.
Should a swell roll into the bight of the reef where the brig
lay, by raising the hull a little too rudely, there would be
the imminent danger of at least springing, if not of absolutely carrying away both the principal spars. It was
therefore necessary to resort to extraordinary precautions,
in order to obviate this danger.
The captain was indebted to his boatswain, who was now
in fact acting as his mate, for the suggestion of the plan
next adopted. Two of the largest spare spars of the brig
were got out, with their heads securely lashed to the links
of the chain by which the wreck was suspended, one on
13*




392


JACK TIER;


each side of the schooner. Pig-iron and shot were lashed
to the heels of these spars, which carried them to the bottom.
As the spars were of a greater length than was necessary
to reach the rock, they necessarily lay at an inclination,
which was lessened every inch the after body of the wreck
was raised, thus forming props to the hull of the schooner.
Spike was delighted with the success of this scheme, of
which he was assured by a single experiment in heaving.
After getting the spars well planted at their heels, he even
ordered the men to slacken the purchases a little, and
found that he could actually relieve the brig from the strain,
by causing the wreck to be supported altogether by these
shores. This was a vast relief from the cares of the approaching night, and indeed alone prevented the necessity
of the work's going on without interruption, or rest, until
the end. was obtained.
The people of the Swash were just assured of the comfortable fact related, as the Poughkeepsie was passing out
from among the islets of the Dry Tortugas. They imagined themselves happy in having thus made a sufficient
provision against the most formidable of all the dangers
that beset them, at the very moment when the best laid
plan for their destruction was on the point of being executed. In this respect, they resembled millions of others of
their fellows, who hang suspended over the vast abyss of
eternity, totally unconscious of the irretrievable character
of the fall that is so soon to occur. Spike, as has been
just stated, was highly pleased with his own expedient, and
he pointed it out with exultation to the Sefior Montefalderon, as soon as it was completed.
"A nicer fit was never made by a Lunnun leg-maker,
Don Wan," the captain cried, after going over the explanations connected with the shores-" there she stands, at
an angle of fifty, with two as good limbs under her as a
body could wish. I could now cast off everything, and
leave the wreck in what they call 'statu quo,' which, I suppose, means on its pins, like a statue. The tafferel is not
six inches below the surface of the water, and half an hour
of heaving will bring the starn in sight."
"Your work seems ingeniously contrived to get up one
extremity of the vessel, Don Esteban," returned the Mexi.




oR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


393


can; but are you quite certain that the doubloons are in
her?"
Tlhis question was put because the functionary of a government in which money was very apt to stick in passing
from hand to hand was naturally suspicious, and he found
it difficult to believe that Mulford, Jack Tier, and even
Biddy, under all the circumstances, had not paid special
attention to their own interests.
" The bag was placed in one of the transom-lockers before the schooner capsized," returned the captain, "as Jack
Tier informs me; if so, it remains there still. Even the
sharks will not touch gold, Don Wan."
" Would it not be well to call Jack, and hear his account
of the matter once more, now we appear to be so near the
Eldorado of our wishes?"
Spike assented, and Jack was summoned to the quarterdeck. The little fellow had scarce showed himself throughout the day, and he now made his appearance with a slow
step, and reluctantly.
" You've 'made no mistake about them 'ere doubloons,
I take it, Master Tier?" said Spike, in a very nautical sort
of style of addressing an inferior. "You know them to be
in one of the transom-lockers?"
Jack mounted on the breech of one of the guns, and
looked over the bulwarks at the dispositions that had been
made about the wreck. The tafferel of the schooner actually came in sight, when a little swell passed over it,
leaving it for an instant in the trough. The steward thus
caught a glimpse again of the craft on board which he had
seen so much hazard. and he shook his head and seemed
to be thinking of anything but tie questicn which had jnst
been put to him.
"Well, about that gold?" asked Spike, impatiently.
"The sight of that craft has brought other thoughts than
gold into my mind, Captain Spike," answered Jack, gravely, " and it would be well for all us mariners, if we thought
less of gold and more of the dangers we run. For hours
and hours did I stand over etarnity, on the bottom of that
schooner, Don Wan, holdin' my life, as it might be, at the
marcy of a few bubbles of air."




394


JACK TIER;


" What has all that to do with the gold? Have you deceived me about that locker, little rascal?"
" No, sir, I've not deceived you-no, Captain Spike, no.
The bag is in the upper transom-locker, on the starboard
side. There I put it with my own hands, and a good lift
it was; and there you '11 find it, if you'll cut through the
quarter-deck at the spot I can p'int out to you."
This information seemed to give a renewed energy to all
the native cupidity of the captain, who called the men from
their suppers, and ordered them to commence heaving
anew. The word was passed to the crew that " it was now
for doubloons," and they went to the bars and handspikes,
notwithstanding the sun had set, cheerfully and cheering.
All Spike's expedients admirably answered the intended
purposes. The stern of the schooner rose gradually, and
at each lift the heels of the shores dropped in more perpendicularly, carried by the weights attached to them, and the
spars stood as firm props to secure all that was gained. In
a quarter of an hour, most of that part of the stern which
was within five or six feet of the tafferel, rose above the
water, coming fairly in view.
Spike now snouted to the men to "pall!" then he di.
rected the falls to be very gradually eased off, in order to
ascertain if the shores would still do their duty. The experiment was successful, and presently the wreck stood in
its upright position, sustained entirely by the two spars. As
the last were now nearly perpendicular, they were capable
of bearing a very heavy weight, and Spike was so anxious
to relieve his own brig from the strain she had been enduring, that he ordered the lashings of the blocks to be loosened, trusting to his shores to do their duty. Against this
confidence the boatswair ventured a remonstrance, but the
gold was too near to allow the captain to listen or reply.
The carpenter was ordered over on the wreck with his
tools, while Spike, the Sefor MLontefalderon, and two men
to row the boat and keep it steady, went in the yawl to
watch the progress of the work. Jack Tier was ordered
to stand in the chains, and to point out, as nearly as possible, the place where the carpenter was to cut.
When all was ready, Spike gave the word, and the chips
began to fly. By the use of the saw and the axe, a hole




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


395


large enough to admit two or three men at a time, was soon
made in the deck, and the sounding for the much-coveted
locker commenced. By this time, it was quite dark; and
a lantern was passed down from the brig, in order to enable
those who searched for the locker to see. Spike had
breasted the yawl close up to the hole, where it was held
by the me n, while the captain himself passed the lantern
and his own head into the opening to reconnoitre.
" Ay, it's all right!" cried the voice of the captain from
within his cell-like cavity. "I can just see the lid of the
locker that Jack means, and we shall soon have what we
are a'ter. Carpenter, you may as well slip off your clothes
at once, and go inside; I will point out to you the place
where to find the locker. You're certain, Jack, it was the
starboard locker?"
" Ay, ay, sir, the starboard locker, and no other."
The carpenter had soon got into the hole, as naked as
when he was born. It was a gloomy-looking place for a
man to descend into at that honr, the light from the lantern
being no great matter, and half the time it was shaded by
the manner in which Spike was compelled to hold it.
" Take care and get a good footing, carpenter," said the
captain, in a kinder tone than common, " before you let go
with your hands; but I suppose you can swim, as a fatter
of course?"
"No, sir, not a stroke-I never could make out in the
water at all."
" Have the more'care, then. Had I known as much, I
would have sent another hand down; but mind your footing. More to the left, man-more to the left. That is
the lid of the locker-your hand is on it; why do you not
open it?"
"It is swelled by the water, sir, and'will need a chisel,
or some tool of that sort. Just call out to one of the men,
sir, if you please, to pass me a chisel from my tool-chest
A good stout one will be best."
This order was given, and, during the delay it caused,
Spike encouraged the carpenter to be cool, and above all
to mind his footing. His own eagerness to get at the gold
was so great that he kept his head in at the hole, complete



396               JACK TIER;
ly cutting off the man within from all communication with
the outer world.
"What's the matter with you?" demanded Spike, a
little sternly. " You shiver, and yet the water cannot be
cold in this latitude. No, my hand makes it just the right
warmth to be pleasant."
"It's not the water, Captain Spike-I wish they would
come with the chisel. Did you hear nothing, sir?  I'm
certain I did!"
" Hear!-what is there here to be heard, unless there
may be some fish inside, thrashing about to get out of the
vessel's hold?"
"I am sure I heard something like a groan, Captain
Spike. I wish you would let me come out, sir, and I'll go
for the chisel myself; them men will never find it."
"Stay where you are, coward! are you afraid of dead
men standing against walls? Stay where you are. Ah!
here is the chisel-now let us see what you can do with
it."
"' I am certain I heard another groan, Captain Spike. 1
cannot work, sir. I'm of no use here-do let me come
out, sir, and send a hand down that can swim."
Spike uttered a terrible malediction on the miserable
carpenter, one we do not care to repeat; then he cast the
light of the lantern full in the man's face. The quivering
flesh, the pallid face, and the whole countenance wrought
up almost to a frenzy of terror, astonished, as well as alarmed him.
" What ails you, man?" said the captain in a voice of
thunder. " Clap in the chisel, or I'll hurl you off into the
water. There is nothing here, dead or alive, to harm ye!"
" The groan, sir-I hear it again! Do let me come out,
Captain Spike."
Spike himself, this time, heard what even he took for a
groan. It came from the depths of the vessel, apparently,
and was sufficiently distinct and audible. Astonished, yet
appalled, he thrust his shoulders into the aperture, as if to
dare the demon that tormented him, and was met by the
carpenter endeavouring to escape. In the struggle that
ensued, the lantern was dropped into the water, leaving the
half-frenzied combatants contending in the dark, The


r




OR, TIE FLORIDA REEF.


397


groan was renewed, when the truth flashed on the minds
of both.
"The shores! the shores!" exclaimed the carpenter
from within. " The shores!" repeated Spike, throwing
himself back into the boat, and shouting to his men to
" see all clear of the wreck!"  The grating of one of the
shores on the coral beneath was now heard plainer than
ever, and the lower extremity slipped outward, not astern,
as had been apprehended, letting the wreck slowly settle to
the bottom again. One piercing shriek arose from the
narrow cavity within; then the gurgling of water into the
aperture was heard, when naught of sound could be distinguished but the sullen and steady wash of the waves of the
gulf over the rocks of the reef.
The impression made by this accident was most profound. A fatality appeared to attend the brig; and most
of the men connected the sad occurrence of this night with
the strange appearance of the previous evening. Even the
Sefior Montefalderon was disposed to abandon the doubloons, and he urged Spike to make the best of his way for
Yucatan, to seek a friendly harbour. The captain wavered, but avarice was too strong a passion in him to be easily diverted from its object, and he refused to give up his
purpose.
As the wreck was entirely free from the brig when it
went down for the third time, no injury was sustained by
the last on this occasion. By renewing the lashings, everything would be ready to begin the work anew-and this,
Spike was resolved to attempt in the morning. The men
were too much fatigued, and it was too dark to think of
pushing matters any further that night; and it was very
questionable whether they could have been got to work.
Orders were consequently given for all hands to turn in,
the captain, relieved by Don Juan and Jack Tier, having
arranged to keep the watches of the night.
"This is a sad accident, Don Esteban," observed the
Mexican, as he and Spike paced the quarter-deck together,
just before the last turned in; " a sad accident! My miserable schooner seems to be deserted by its patron saint.
Then your poor. carpenter!"
"Yes, he was.a good fellow enough with a saw, or ai
34




398


JACK  TIER;


adze," answered Spike, yawning. "But we get used to
such things at sea. It's neither more nor less than a carpenter expended. Good night, Senor Don Wan    in the
morning we 'll be at that gold ag'in."
CHAPTER XIV.
She's in a scene of nature's war,
The winds and waters are at strife;
And both with her contending for
The brittle thread of human life.
MISS GOULD.
SPIKE was sleeping hard in his berth, quite early on the
following morning, before the return of light, indeed, when
he suddenly started up, rubbed his eyes, and sprang upon
deck like a man alarmed. He had heard, or fancied he
had heard, a cry. A voice once well known and listened
to, seemed to call him in the very portals of his ear. At
first he had listened to its words in wonder, entranced like
the bird by the snake, the tones recalling scenes and persons that had once possessed a strong control over his rude
feelings. Presently the voice became harsher in its utterance, and it said,
" Stephen Spike, awake! The hour is getting late, and
you have enemies nearer to you than you imagine. Awake,
Stephen, awake!"
When the captain was on his feet, and had plunged his
head into a basin of water that stood ready for him in the
state-room, he could not have told, for his life, whether he
had been dreaming or waking, whether what he had heard
was the result of a feverish imagination, or of the laws of
nature. The call haunted him all that morning, or until
events of importance so pressed. upon him as to draw his
undivided attention to them alone.
It was not yet day. The men were still in heavy sleep,
lying about the decks, for they avoided the small and




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


399


crowded forecastle in that warm climate, and the night was
apparently at its deepest hour. Spike walked forward to
look for the mait charged with the anchor-watch. It proved
to be Jack Tier, who was standing near the galley, his
arms folded as usual, apparently watching the few signs of
approaching day that were beginning to be apparent in the
western sky. The captain was in none of the best humours
with the steward's assistant; but Jack had unaccountably
got an ascendency over his commander, which it was certainly very unusual for any subordinate in the Swash to
obtain. Spike had deferred more to Mulford than to any
mate he had ever before employed; but this was the deference due to superior information, manners, and origin. It
was common-place, if not vulgar; whereas, the ascendency
obtained by little Jack Tier was, even to its subject, entirely inexplicable. He was unwilling to admit it to himself in the most secret manner, though he had begun to
feel it on all occasions which brought them in contact, and
to submit to it as a thing not to be averted.
" Jack Tier," demanded the captain, now that he found
himself once more alone with the other, desirous of obtaining his opinion on a point that harassed him, though he
knew not why; "Jack Tier, answer me one thing. Do
you believe that we saw the form of a dead or of a living
man at the foot of the light-house?"
"The dead are never seen leaning against walls in that
manner, Stephen Spike," answered Jack, coolly, not even
taking the trouble to uncoil his arms. " What you saw
was a living man; and you would do well to be on your
guard against him. Harry Mulford is not your friend -
and there is reason for it."
" Harry Mulford, and living! How can that be, Jack?
You know the port in which he chose to run."
'"I know the rock on which you chose to abandon him,
Captain Spike."
" If so, how could he be living and at the Dry Tortugas.
The thing is impossible!"
"T'he thing is so. You saw Harry Mulford, living and
well, and ready to hunt you to the gallows  Beware of
him, then; and beware of his handsome wife!"




400


JACK TIER:


" Wife! the fellow has no wife-he has always professed
to be a single man!"
" The man is married - and I bid you beware of his
handsome wife. She, too, will be a witness ag'in you."
"This will be news, then, for Rose Budd. I shall delight in telling it to her, at least."
"'T will be no news to Rose Budd. She was present at
the wedding, and will not be taken by surprise. Rose loves
Harry too well to let him marry, and she not present at the
wedding."
" Jack, you talk strangely! What is the meaning of all
this?  I am captain of this craft, and will not be trifled
with-tell me at once your meaning, fellow."
" My meaning is simple enough, and easily told. Rose
Budd is the wife of Harry Mulford."
" You're dreaming, fellow, or are wishing to trifle with
me!"
"It may be a dream, but it is one that will turn out to
be true. If they have found the Poughkeepsie sloop-of
war, as I make no doubt they have by this time, Mulford
and Rose are man and wife."
"Fool! you know not what you say! Rose is at this
moment in her berth, sick at heart on account of the young
gentleman who preferred to live on the Florida Reef rather
than to sail in the Molly!"
" Rose is not in her berth, sick or well; neither is she on
board this brig at all. She went off in the light-house boat
to deliver her lover from the naked rock-and well did she
rucceed in so doing. God was of her side, Stephen Spike;
lnd a body seldom fails with such a friend to support one."
Spike was astounded at these words, and not less so at
the cool and confident manner with which they were pronounced. Jack spoke in a certain dogmatical, oracular
manner, it is true, one that might have lessened his authority with a person over whom he had less influence; but
this in no degree diminished its effect on Spike. On the
contrary, it even disposed the captain to yield an implicit
faith to what he heard, and all so much the more because
the facts he was told appeared of themselves to be nearly
impossible. It was half a minute before he had sufficiently
recovered from his surprise to continue the discourse.




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


401


"The light-house boat!" Spike theu slowly repeated.
"Why, fellow, you told me the light-house boat went adrift
from your own hands!"
" So it did," answered Jack, coolly, "since I cast off the
painter-and what is more, went in it."
" Yu! This is impossible. You are telling me a fabricated lie. If you had gone away in that boat, how could
you now be here? No, no-it is a miserable lie, and Rose
is below!"
" Go and look into her state-room, and satisfy yourself
with your own eyes."
Spike did as was suggested. He went below, took a
lamp that was always suspended, lighted, in the main cabin,
and, without ceremony, proceeded to Rose's state-room,
where he soon found that the bird had really flown. A
direful execration followed this discovery, one so loud as
to awaken Mrs. Budd and Biddy. Determined not to do
things by halves, he broke open' the door of the widow's
state-room, and ascertained that the person he sought was
not there. A fierce explosion of oaths and denunciations
followed, which produced an answer in the customary
screams. In the midst of this violent scene, however,
questions were put, and answers obtained, that not only
served to let the captain know that Jack had told him nothing but truth, but to put an end to everything like amicable relations between himself and the relict of his old
commander. Until this explosion, appearances had been
observed between them; but, from that moment, there must
necessarily be an end of all professions of even civility.
Spike was never particularly refined in his intercourse with
females, but he now threw aside even its pretension. His
rage was so great that he totally forgot his manhood, and
lavished on both Mrs. Budd and Biddy epithets that were
altogether inexcusable, and many of which it will not do
to repeat. Weak and silly as was the widow, she was not
without spirit; and on this occasion she was indisposed to
submit to all this unmerited abuse in silence. Biddy, as
usual, took her cue from her mistress, and between the two,
heir part of the wordy conflict was kept up with a very
respectable degree of animation.
"I know you-I know you, now!" screamed the widow,
34 *




402


JACK TIER;


at the top of her voice; " and you can no longer deceive
me, unworthy son of Neptune as you are! You are unfit
to be a lubber, and would be log-booked for an or'nary by
every gentleman on board ship. You, a full-jiggered seaman! No, you are not even half-jiggered, sir; and 1 tell
you so to your face."
"Yes, and it is n't half that might be tould the likes of
yees!" put in Biddy, as her mistress stopped to breathe.
" And it's Miss Rose you'd have for a wife, when Biddy
Noon would be too good for ye! We knows ye, and all
about ye, and can give yer history as complate from the
day ye was born down to the prisent moment, and not find
a good word to say in yer favour in all that time - and a
precious time it is, too, for a gentleman that would marry
pretthy, young Miss Rose! Och! I scorn to look at ye,
yer so ugly!"
"And trying to persuade me you were a friend of my
poor, dear Mr. Budd, whose shoe you are unworthy to
touch, and who had the heart and soul for the noble profession you disgrace," cut in the widow, the moment Biddy
gave her a chance, by pausing to make a wry face as she
pronounced the word " ugly."  " I now believe you capasided them poor Mexicans, in order to get their money;
and the moment we cast anchor in a road-side, I'11 go ashore,
and complain of you for murder, I will."
"Do, missus, dear, and I'll be your bail, will I, and
swear to all that happened, and more too. Och! yer a
wretch, to wish to be the husband of Miss Rose, and she
so young and pretthy, and you so ould and ugly!"
" Come away-come away, Stephen Spike, and do not
stand wrangling with women, when you and your brig, and
all that belongs to you, are in danger," called out Jack 'Tier
from the companion-way. "Day is come; and what is
much worse for you, your most dangerous enemy is coming
with it."
Spike was almost livid with rage, and ready to burst out
in awful maledictions; but at this summons he sprang to
the ladder, and was on deck in a moment. At first, he felt
a strong disposition to wreak his vengeance on Tier, but,
fortunately for the latter, as the captain's foot touched the
luarter-deck, his eye fell on the Poughkeepsie, then within




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


403


half a league of the Swash, standing in toward the reef,
though fully half a mile to leeward. This spectre drove
all other subjects from his mind, leaving the captain of the
Swash in the only character in which he could be said to
be respectable, or that of a seaman. Almost instinctively
he called all hands, then he gave one brief minute to a sur.
vev of his situation.
It was, indeed, time for the Swash to be moving. There
she lay, with three anchors down, including that of the
schooner, all she had, in fact, xith the exception of her
best bower, and one kedge, with the purchases aloft, in
readiness for hooking on to the wreck, and all the extra securities up that had been given to the masts. As for the
sloop-of-war, she was under the very same canvas as that
with which she had come out from the Dry Tortugas, or
her three top-sails, spanker, and jib; but most of her other
sails were loose, even to her royals and flying-jibs; though
closely gathered into their spars by means of the running
gear. In a word, every sailor would know, at a glance,
that the ship was merely waiting for the proper moment to
spread her wings, when she would be flying through the
water at the top of her speed. The weather looked dirty,
and the wind was gradually increasing, threatening to blow
heavily/~as the day advanced.
" Unshackle, unshackle!" shouted Spike to the boatswain, who was the first man that appeared on deck. " The
bloody sloop-of-war is upon us, and there is not a moment
to lose. We must get the brig clear of the ground in the
shortest way we can, and abandon everything. Unshackle,
and cast off for'ard and aft, men."
A few minutes of almost desperate exertion succeeded.
No men work like sailors, when the last are in a hurry,
their efforts being directed to counteracting squalls, and
avoiding emergencies of the most pressing character.
Thus was it now with the crew of the Swash. The clanking of chains lasted but a minute, when the parts attached
to the anchors were thrust through the hawse-holes, or were
dropped into the water from other parts of the brig. This
at once released the vessel, though a great deal remained
o be (one to clear her for working, and to put her in the
best trim.




404


JACK TIER;


" Away with this out-hauler!" again shouted Spike, cast
ing loose the main-brails as he did so; " loose the jibs!"
All went on at once, and the Swash moved away from
the grave of the poor carpenter with the ease and facility
of motion that marked all her evolutions. Then the top.
sail was let fall, and presently all the upper square-sails
were sheeted home, and hoisted, and the fore-tack was
hauled aboard. The Molly was soon alive, and jumping
into the seas that met her with more power than was common, as she drew out from under the shelter of the reef
into rough water. From the time when Spike gave his
first order, to that when all his canvas was spread, was just
seven minutes.
The Poughkeepsie, with her vastly superior crew, was
not idle the while. Although the watch below was not disturbed, she tacked beautifully, and stood off the reef, in a
line parallel to the course of the brig, and distant from her
about half a mile. Then sail was made, her tacks having
been boarded in stays. Spike knew the play of his craft
was short legs, for she was so nimble in her movements that
he believed she could go about in half the time that would
be required for a vessel of the Poughkeepsie's length.
"Ready about," was his cry, therefore, when less than a
mile distant from the reef-" ready about, and let her go
round." Round the Molly did go, like a top, being full on
the other tack in just fifty-six seconds. The movement of
the corvette was more stately, and somewhat more deliberate. Still, she stayed beautifully, and both Spike and
the boatswain shook their heads, as they saw her coming
into the wind with her sails all lifting and the sheets
flowing.
"That fellow will fore-reach a cable's length before he
gets about!" exclaimed Spike. " He will prove too much.
for us at this sport! Keep her away, my man-keep the
brig away for the passage. We must run through the reef,
instead of trusting ourselves to our heels in open water."
The brig was kept away accordingly, and sheets were
eased off, and braces just touched, to meet the new line of
sailing. As the wind stood, it was possible to lay through
the passage on an easy bowline, though the breeze, which
wvas getting to be fresher than Spike wished it to be, pro.




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


405


nnised to haul more to the southward of east, as the day
advanced. Nevertheless, this was the Swash's bust point
of sailing, and all on board of her had strong hopes of her
being too much for hr pursuer, could she maintain it.
Until this feeling began to diffuse itself in the brig, not a
countenance was to be seen on her decks that did not betray intense anxiety; but now something like grim smiles
passed among the crew, as their craft seemed rather to fly
than force her way through the water, toward the entrance
of the passage so often adverted to in this narrative.
On the other hand, the Poughkeepsie was admirably
sailed and handled. Everybody was now on deck, and the
first lieutenant had taken the trumpet. Captain Mull was
a man of method, and a thorough man-of-war's man. Whatever he did was done according to rule, and with great
system. Just as the Swash was about to enter the passage,
the drum of the Poughkeepsie beat to quarters. No sooner
were the men mustered, in the leeward, or the starboard
batteries, than orders were sent to cast loose the guns, and
to get them ready for service. Owing to the more leeward
position of his vessel, and to the fact that she always head
reached so much in stays, Captain Mull knew that she
would not lose much by luffing into the wind, or by making
half-boards, while he might gain everything by one welldirected shot.
The strife commenced by the sloop-of-war, firing her
weather bow-gun, single-shotted, at the Swash. No damage
was done, though the fore-yard of the brig had a very narrow escape. This experiment was repeated three times,
without even a rope-yarn being carried away, though the
gun was pointed by Wallace himself, and well pointed, too.
But it is possible for a shot to come very near its object
and still to do no injury. Such was the fact on this occasion, though the " ship's gentleman " was a good deal mortified by the result. Men look so much at success as the
test of merit, lhat few pause to inquire into the reasons of
failures, though it frequently happens that adventures prosper by means of their very blunders. Captain Mull now
determined on a half-board, for his ship was more to leeryard than he desired. Directions were given to the officers
in the batteries to be deliberate, and the helm was put




106


JACK TIER;


down. As the ship shot into the wind, each gun was fired,
as it could be brought to bear, until the last of them all
was discharged.  Then the course of the vessel was
changed, the helm being righted before the ship had lost
her way, and the sloop-of-war fell off again to her course.
All this was done in such a short period of time as
scarcely to cause the Poughkeepsie to lose anything, while
it did the Swash the most serious injury. The guns had
been directed at the brig's spars and sails, Captain Mull
desiring no more than to capture his chase, and the destruction they produced aloft was such as to induce Spike
and his men, at first, to imagine that the whole hamper
above their heads was about to come clattering down on
deck. One shot carried away all the weather fole-topmast rigging of the brig, and would no doubt have brought
about the loss of the mast, if another, that almost instantly
succeeded it, had not cut the spar itself in two, bringing
down, as a matter of course, everything above it. Nearly
half of the main-mast was gouged out of that spar, and the
gaff was taken fairly out of its jaws. The fore-yard was
cut in the slings, and various important ropes were carried
away in different parts of the vessel.
Flight, under such circumstances, was impossible, unless some extraordinary external assistance was to be ob.
tained. This Spike saw at once, and he had recourse to
the only expedient that remained; which might possibly
yet save him. The guns were still belching forth their
smoke and flames, when he shouted out the order to put
the helm hard up. The width of the passage in which the
vessels were was not so great but that he might hope to
pass across it, and to enter a channel among the rocks,
which was favourably placed for such a purpose, ere the
sloop-of-war could overtake him.  Whither that channel
led, what water it possessed, or whether it were not a shallow cul de sac, were all facts of which Spike was ignorant.
The circumstances, however, would not admit of an alternative.
Happily for the execution of Spike's present design,
nothing from aloft had fallen into the water, to impede the
orig's way. Forward, in particular, she seemed all wreck;
her fore-yard having come down altogether, so as to en



OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


407


cumber the forecastle, while her top-mast, with its dependent spars and gear, was suspended but a short distance
above. Still, nothing had gone over the side, so as actually
to touch the water, and the craft obeyed her helm as usual.
Away she went, then, for the lateral opening in the reef
just mentioned, driven ahead by the pressure of a strong
breeze on her sails, which still offered large surfaces to the
wind, at a rapid rate. Instead of keeping away to follow,
the Poughkeepsie maintained her luff, and just as the Swash
entered the unknown passage, into which she was blindly
plunging, the sloop-of-war was about a quarter of a mile to
windward, and standing directly across her stern. Nothing
would have been easier, now, than for Captain Mull to
destroy his chase; but humanity prevented his firing. He
knew that her career must be short, and he fully expected
to see her anchor; when it would be easy for him to take
possession with his boats. With this expectation, indeed,
he shortened sail, furling top-gallant-sails, and hauling up
his courses. By this time, the wind had so much freshened, as to induce him to think of putting in a reef, and
the step now taken had a double object in view.
To the surprise of all on board the man-of-war, the brig
continued on, until she was fully a mile distant, finding
her way deeper and deeper among the mazes of the reef
without meeting with any impediment! This fact induced
Captain Mull to order his Paixhans to throw their shells
beyond her, by way of a hint to anchor. While the guns
were getting ready, Spike stood on boldly, knowing it wai
neck or nothing, and beginning to feel a faint revival o,
hope, as he found himself getting further and further from
his pursuers, and the rocks not fetching him up. Even the
men, who had begun tj murmur at what seemed to them
to be risking too much, partook, in a slight degree, of the
same feeling, and began to execute the order they had received to try to get the launch into the water, with some
appearance of an intention to succeed.  Previously, the
work could scarcely be said to go on at all; but two or
three of the older seamen now bestirred themselves, and
suggestions were made and attended to, that promised results. But it was no easy thing to get the launch out of a
half-rigged brig, that had lost her fore-yard, and which car




0S


JACK TIER;


ried nothing square abaft. A derrick was used in coin
mon, to lift the stern of the boat, but a derrick would now
be useless aft, without an assistant forward. While these
things were in discussion, under the superintendence of
the boatswain, and Spike was standing between the knightheads, conning the craft, the sloop-of-war let fly the first of
her hollow shot. Down came the hurtling mass upon the
Swash, keeping every head elevated and all eyes looking
for the dark object, as it went booming through the air
above their heads. The shot passed fully a mile to leeward, where it exploded. This great range had been given
to the first shot, with a view to admonish the captain how
long he must continue under the guns of the ship, and as
advice to come to. The second gun followed immediately.
Its shot was seem to ricochet, directly in a line with the
brig, making leaps of about half a mile in length. It struck
the water about fifty yards astern of the vessel, bounded
directly over her decks, passing through the main-sail and
some of the fallen hamper forward, and exploded about a
hundred yards ahead. As usually happens with such projectiles, most'of the fragments were either scattered laterally, or went on, impelled by the original momentum.
The effect of this last gun on the crew of the Swash
was instantaneous and deep. The faint gleamings of hope
vanished at once, and a lively consciousness of the desperate nature of their condition succeeded in every mind.
The launch was forgotten, and, after conferring together
for a moment, the men went in a body, with the boatswain
at their head, to the forecastle, and offered a remonstrance
to their commander, on the subject of holding out any
longer, under circumstances so very hazardous, and which
menaced their lives in so many different ways. Spike listened to them with eyes that fairly glared with fury. He
ordered them back to their duty in a voice of thunder, tapping the breast of his jacket, where he was known to carry
revolvers, with a significance that could convey but one
meaning.
It is wonderful the ascendency that men sometimes obtain over their fellows, by means of character, the habits
of command,and obedience, and intimidation. Spike was
a stern disciplinarian, relying on that and ample pay for




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


409


the unlimited control he often found it necessary to exercise over his crew. On the present occasion, his people
were profoundly alainred, but habitual deference and submission to their leader counteracted the feeling, and held
them in suspense. They were fully aware of the nature
of the position they occupied in a legal sense, and were
deeply reluctant to increase the appearances of crime; but
most of them had been extricated from so many grave difficulties in former instances, by the coolness, nerve and
readiness of the captain, that a latent ray of hope was perhaps dimly shining in the rude breast of every old sea-dog
among them. As a consequence of these several causes,
they abandoned their remonstrance, for the moment at
least, and made a show of returning to their duty; though
it was in a sullen and moody manner.
It was easier, however, to make a show of hoisting out
the launch, than to effect the object. This was soon made
apparent on trial, and Spike himself gave the matter up.
He ordered the yawl to be lowered, got alongside, and to
be prepared for the reception of the crew, by putting into
it a small provision of food and water. All this time the
brig was rushing madly to leeward, among rocks and breakers, without any other guide than that which the visible
dangers afforded. Spike knew no more where he was
going than the meanest man in his vessel. His sole aim
was to get away from his pursuers, and to save his neck
from the rope. He magnified the danger of punishment
that he really ran, for he best knew the extent and nature
of his crimes, of which the few that have been laid before
the reader, while they might have been amongst the most
prominent, as viewed through the statutes and international
law, were far from the gravest he had committed in the eyes
of morals.
About this time the Senior Montefalderon went forward
to confer with Spike. The calmness of this gentleman's
demeanour, the simplicity and coolness of his movements,
denoted a conscience that saw no particular ground for
alarm. He wished to escape captivity, that he might continue to serve his country, but no other apprehension troubled him.
" Do you intend to trust yourself in the yawl, Don Este35




i. 0


JACK TIER;


ban?" denmlnded the Mexican quietly. "If so, is she not
too smrali to contain so many as we shall make altogether?"
Spike's answer was given in a low voice; and it evidently came from a very husky throat.
"Speak lower, Don Wan," he said. "The boat would
be greatly overloaded with all hands in it, especially among
the breakers, and blowing as it does; but we may leave
some of the party behind."
"The brig must go on the rocks, sooner or later, Don
Esteban; when she does, she will go to pieces in an hour.
"'I expect to hear her strike every minute, sefor; the
moment she does, we must be off. I have had my eye on
that ship for some time, expecting to see her lower her cutters and gigs to board us.  You will not be out of the way,
Don Wan; but there is no need of being talkative on the
subject of our escape."
Spike now turned his back on the Mexican, looking anxiously ahead, with the desire to get as far into the reef as
possible with his brig, which he conned with great skill
and coolness. The Sefor Montefalderon left him. With
the chivalry and consideration of a man and a gentleman,
he went in quest of Mrs. Budd and Biddy. A hint sufficed
for them, and gathering together a few necessaries they
were in the yawl in the next three minutes. This movement was unseen by Spike, or he might have prevented it.
His eyes were now riveted on the channel ahead. It had
been fully his original intention to make off in the boat, the
instant the brig struck, abandoning not only Don Juan,
with Mrs. Budd and Biddy to their fates, but most of the
crew.. A private order had been given to the boatswain,
and three of the ablest-bodied among the seamen, each and
all of whom kept the secret with religious fidelity, as it
was believed their own personal safety might be connectea
with the success of this plan.
Nothing is so contagious as alarm. It requires not only
great natural steadiness of nerve, but much acquired firmness to remain unmoved when sudden terror has seized on
the minds of those around us. Habitual respect had pre.
vented the crew from interfering with the movements of
the Mexican, who not only descended into the boat with
his female companions uninterrupted, but also took with




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


411


him the little bag of doubloons which fell to his share from
the first raising of the schooner. Josh and Jack Tier
assisted in getting Mrs. Budd and Biddy over the side, and
both took their own places in the yawl, as soon as this
pious duty was discharged. This served as a hint to others
near at hand; and man after man left his work to steal
into the yawl, until every living being had disappeared
from the deck of the Swash, Spike himself excepted. The
man at the wheel had been the last to desert his post, nor
would he have done so then, but for a signal from the boatswain, with whom he was a favourite.
It is certain there was a secret desire among the people
of the Swash, who were now crowded into a boat not large
enough to contain more than half their number with safety,
to push off from the brig's side, and abandon her commander and owner to his fate. All had passed so soon,
however, and events succeeded each other with so much
rapidity, that little time was given for consultation. Habit
kept them in their places, though the appearances around
them were strong motives for taking care of themselves.
Notwithstanding the time necessary to relate the foregoing events, a quarter of an hour had not elapsed, from
the moment when the Swash entered this unknown channel among the rocks, ere she struck. No sooner was her
helm deserted than she broached-to, and Spike was in the
act of denouncing the steerage, ignorant of its cause, when
the brig was thrown, broadside-to, on a sharp, angular bed
of rocks. It was fortunate for the boat, and all in it, that
it was brought to leeward by the broaching-to of the vessel, and that the water was still sufficiently deep around
them to prevent the waves from breaking. Breakers there
were, however, in thousands, on every side; and the seamen understood that their situation was almost desperately perilous, without shipwreck coming to increase the
danger.
The storm itself was scarcely more noisy and boisterous
than was Spike, when he ascertained the manner irr which.his people had behaved. At first, he believed it was their
plan to abandon him to his fate; but, on rushing to the
'ee-gangway, Don Juan Montefalderon assured him that no
such intention existed, and that he would not allow tho




412


JAC'K TIER;


boat to be cast off until the captain was received on board.
This brief respite gave Spike a moment to care for his portion of the doubloons; and he rushed to his state-room to
secu.re them, together with his quadrant.
The grinding of the brig's bottom on the coral, announced a speedy breaking up of the craft, while her commander was thus employed. So violent were some of the
shocks with which she came down on the hard bed in
which she was now cradled, that Spike expected to see her
burst asunder, while he was yet on her decks. The cracking of timbers told him that all was over with the Swash,
nor had he got back as far as the gangway with his prize,
before he saw plainly that the vessel had broken her back,
as it is termed, and that her plank-sheer was opening in a
way that threatened to permit a separation of the craft into
two sections, one forward and the other aft. Notwithstanding all these portentous proofs that the minutes of the
Molly were numbered, and the danger that existed of his
being abandoned by his crew, Spike paused a moment, ere
he went over the vessel's side, to take a hasty survey of the
reef. His object was to get a general idea of the position
of the breakers, with a view to avoid them. As much of
the interest of that which is to succeed is connected with
these particular dangers, it may be well to explain their character, along with a few other points of a similar bearing.
The brig had gone ashore fully two miles within the passage she had entered, and which, indeed, terminated at the
very spot where she had struck. The Poughkeepsie was
standing off and on, in the main channel, with her boats
in the water, evidently preparing to carry the brig in that
mode. As for the breakers, they whitened the surface of
the ocean in all directions around the wreck, far as the eye
could reach, but in two. The passage in which the Poughkeepsie was standing to and fro was clear of them, of
course; and about a mile and a half to the northward,
Spike saw that he should be in open water, or altogether
on the northern side of the reef, could he only get there.
The gravest dangers would exist in the passage, which led
among breakers on all sides, and very possibly among rocks
so near the surface as absolutely to obstruct the way. In'
*,ne sense, however, the breakers were useful. By avoid



OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


413


ing them as much as possible, and by keeping in the unbroken water, the boat would be running in the channels
of the reef, and consequently would be the safer. The
result of the survey, short as it was, and it did not last a
minute, was to give Spike something like a plan; and when
he went over the side, and got into the boat, it was with a
determination to work his way out of the reef to its northern
edge, as soon as possible, and then to skirt it as near as he
could, in his flight toward the Dry Tortugas.
CHAPTER XV.
The screams of rage, the groan, the strife,
The blow, the grasp, the horrid cry,
The panting, throttled prayer for life,
The dying's heaving sigh,
The murderer's curse, the dead man's fixed, still glare,
And fear's and death's cold sweat-they all are there.
MATTHEW LEE.
IT was high time that Captain Spike should arrive when
has foot touched the bottom of the yawl. The men were
getting impatient and anxious to the last degree, and the
power of Senor Montefalderon to control them was lessening each instant. They heard the rending of timber, and
the grinding on the coral, even more distinctly than the
captain himself, and feared that the brig would break up
while they lay alongside of her, and crush them amid the
ruins. Then the spray of the seas that broke over the
weather side of the brig, fell like rain upon them; and
everybody in the boat was already as wet as if exposed to
a violent shower. It was well, therefore, for Spike that he
descended into the boat as he did, for another minute's
delay might have brought about his own destruction.
Spike felt a chill at his heart when he looked about him
and saw the condition of the yawl. So crowded were the
35 *




414


JACK TIER;


stern-sheets into which he had descended, that it was with
difficulty he found room to place his feet, it being his intention to steer, Jack was ordered to get into the eyes of
the boat, in order to give him a seat. The thwarts were
crowded, and three or four of the people had placed themselves in the very bottom of tile little craft, in order to be
as much as possible out of the way, as well as in readiness
to bail out water. So seriously, indeed, were all the seamen impressed with the gravity of this last duty, that nearly
every man had taken with him some vessel fit for such a
purpose. Rowing was entirely out of the question, there
being no space for the movement of the arms. The yawl
was too low in the water, moreover, for such an operation
in so heavy; sea. In all, eighteen persons were squeezed
into a little craft that would have been sufficiently loaded,
for moderate weather at sea, with its four oarsmen and as
many sitters in the stern-sheets, with, perhaps, one in the
eyes to bring her more on an even keel. In other words,
she had twice the weight in her, in living freight, that it
would have been thought prudent to receive in so small a
craft, in an ordinary time, in or out of a port. In addition
to the human beings enumerated, there was a good deal of
baggage, nearly every individual having had the forethought
to provide a few clothes for a change. The food and water
did not amount to much, no more having been provided
than enough for the purposes of the captain, together with
the four men with whom it had been his intention to abandon the brig. 'Ihe effect of all this cargo was to bring the
yawl quite low in the water; and every sea-faring man in
her had the greatest apprehensions about her being able to
float at all when she got out from under the lee of the
Swash, or into the troubled water. Try it she must, however, and Spike, in a reluctant and hesitating manner, gave
the final order to " Shove off!"
The yawl carried a lugg, as is usually the case with boats
at sea, and the first blast of the breeze upon it satisfied
Spike that his present enterprise was one of the most dangerous of any in which he had ever been engaged. The
puffs of wind were quite as much as the boat would bear;
but this he did not mind, as he was running off before it,
and there was little danger of the yawl capsizing with such




OR, TI E FLORIDA REEF.


415


u weight in her. It was also an advantage to have swift
way on, to prevent the combing waves from shooting into
the boat, though the wind itself scarce outstrips the send
of the sea in a stiff blow. As the yawl cleared the brig
and began to feel the united power of the wind and waves,
the following short dialogue occurred between the boatswain and Spike.
"I dare not keep my eyes off the breakers ahead," the
captain commenced, "and must trust to you, Strand, to
report what is going on among the man-of-war's men.
What is the ship about?"
" Reefing her top-sails just now, sir. All three are on
the caps, and the vessel is laying-to, in a manner."
"And her boats?"
" I see none, sir -ay, ay, there they come from along.
side of her in a little fleet! There are four of them, sir,
and all are coming down before the wind: wing and wing,
carrying their luggs reefed."
"Ours ought to be reefed by rights, too, but we dare
not stop to do it; and these infernal combing seas seem
ready to glance aboard us with all the way we can gather.
Stand by to bail, men; we must pass through a strip of
white water-there is no help for it  God send that we go
clear of the rocks!"
All this was fearfully true. The adventurers were not
yet more than a cable's length from the brig, and'they found
themselves so completely environed with the breakers as to
be compelled to go through them. No man in his senses
would ever have come into such a place at all, except in
the most unavoidable circumstances; and it was with a
species of despair that the seamen of the yawl now saw
th ir little craft go plunging into the foam.
But Spike neglected no precaution that experience or
skill could suggest. He had chosen his spot with coolness
and judgment. As the boat rose on the seas he looked
eagerly ahead, and by giving it a timely sheer, he hit a sort
of channel, where there was sufficient water to carry them
clear of the rock, and where the breakers were less aangerous than in the shoaler places.  The passage lasted
about a minute; and so serious was it, that scarce an individual breathed until it was effected. No human skill




416


JACK TIER;


could prevent the water from combing in over the gunwales; and when the danger was passed, the yawl was a
third filled with water. There was no time or place to
pause, but on the little craft was dragged almost gunwale
to, the breeze coming against the lugg in puffs that threatened to take the mast out of her. All hands were bailing;
and even Biddy used her hands to aid in throwing out the
water.
"This is no time-to hesitate, men," said Spike, sternly.
"Everything must go overboard but the food and water.
Away with them at once, and with a will."
It was_a proof how completely all hands were alarmed
by this, the first experiment in the breakers, that not a man
stayed his hand a single moment, but each threw into the
sea, without an instant of hesitation, every article he had
brought with him and had hoped to save. Biddy parted
with the carpet-bag, and Sefior Monrefalderon, feeling the
importance of example, committed to the deep a small
writing-desk that he had placed on his knees. The doubloons alone remained, safe in a little locker where Spike
had deposited them along with his own.
"What news astern, boatswain?" demanded the captain, as soon as this imminent danger was passed, absolutely
afraid to turn his eyes off the dangers ahead for a single
instant. " How come on the man-of-war's men?"
"They'are running down in a body toward the wreck,
though one of their boats does seem to be sheering out of
the line, as if getting into our wake. It is hard to say, sir,
for they are still a good bit to windward of the wreck."
"And the Molly, Strand?"
" Why, sir, the Molly seems to be breaking up fast; as
well as l cal see, she has broke in two just abaft the forechains, and cannot hold together in any shape at all many
minutes longer."
This information drew a deep groan from Spike, and the
eye of every seaman in the boat was turned in melancholy
on the object they were so fast.leaving behind them. The
yawl could not be said to be sailing very rapidly, consider
ing the power of the wind, which was a little gale, for she
was much too deep for that, but she left the wreck so fast
is already to render objects on board her indistinct. Every



OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


417


body saw that, like an overburthened steed, she had more
to get along with than she could well bear; and, dependent as seamen usually are on the judgment and orders of
their superiors, even in the direst emergencies, the least
experienced man in her saw that their chances of final
escape from drowning were of the most doubtful nature.
The men looked at each other in a way to express their feelings; and the moment seemed favourable to Spike to confer with his confidential sea-dogs in private; but more
white water was also ahead, and it was necessary to pass
through it, since no opening was visible by which to avoid
it. He deferred his purpose, consequently, until this danger was escaped.
On this occasion Spike saw but little opportunity to
select a place to get through the breakers, though the
spot, as a whole, was not of the most dangerous kind. The
reader will understand that the preservation of the boat at
all, in white water, was owing to the circumstance that the
rocks all around it lay so near the surface of the sea as to
prevent the possibility of agitating the element very seriously, and to the fact that she was near the lee side of the reef.
Had the breakers been of the magnitude of those which
are seen where the deep rolling billows of the ocean first
meet the weather side of shoals or rocks, a craft of that
size, and so loaded, could not possibly have passed the first
line of white water without filling. As it was, however,
the breakers she had to contend with were sufficiently formidable, and they brought with them the certainty that the
boat was in imminent danger of striking the bottom at any
moment. Places like those in which Mulford had waded
on the reef, while it was calm, would now have proved
fatal to the strongest frame, since human powers were insufficient long to withstand the force of such waves as did
glance over even these shallows.
" Look out!" cried Spike, as the boat again plunged
in among the white water. "Keep bailing, men -keep
bailing."
The men did bail, and the danger was over almost as
soon as encountered. Something like a cheer burst out
of the chest of Spike, whVcn he saw deeper water around
aim, and fancied he could now trace a channel that would




418


JACK TIER;


carry him quite beyond the extent of the reef. It was arrested, only half uttered, however, by a communication
from the boatswain, who sat on a midship thwart, his arms
folded, and his eye on the brig and the boats.
"There goes the Molly's masts, sir! Both have gone
together; and as good sticks was they, before them bombshells passed through our rigging, as was ever stepped in a
keelson."
The cheer was changed to something like a groan, while
a murmur of regret passed through the boat.
';What news from the man-of-war's men, boatswain?
Do they still stand down on a mere wreck?"
"No, sir; they seem to give it up, and are getting out
their oars to pull back to their ship. A pretty time they 'll
have of it, too. The cutter that gets to windward half a
mile in an hour, ag'in such a sea, and such a breeze, must
be well pulled and better steered. One chap, however,
sir, seems to hold on."
Spike now ventured to look behind him, commanding
an experienced hand to take the helm. In order to do this
he was obliged to change places with the man he had
selected to come aft, which brought him on a thwart alongside of the boatswain and one or two other of his confidants. Here a whispered conference took place, which
lasted several minutes, Spike appearing to be giving instructions to the men.
By this time the yawl was more than a mile from the
wreck, all the man-of-war boats but one had lowered their
sails, and were pulling slowly and with great labour back
toward the ship, the cutter that kept on, evidently laying
her course after the yawl, instead of standing on toward
the wreck.' The brig was breaking up fist, with every
probability that nothing would be left of her in a few more
minutes. As for the yawl, while clear of the white water,
it got along without receiving many seas aboard, though
the men in its bottom were kept bailing without intermission. It appeared to Spike that so long as they remained
on the reef, and could keep clear of breakers-a most diffi
cult thing, however- they should fare better than if in
deeper water, where the swell of the sea, and the combing
of the waves, menaced so small and so deep-loaded a craft




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


419


with serious danger. As it was, two or three men could
barely keep the boat clear, working incessantly, and much
of the time with a foot or two of water in her.
Josh and Simon had taken their seats, side by side, with
that sort of dependence and submission that causes the
American black to abstain from mingling with the whites
more than might appear seemly. They were squeezed on
to one end of the thwart by a couple of robust old sea-dogs,
who were two of the very men with whom Spike had been
in consultation. Beneath that very thwart was stowed
another confidant, to whom communications had also been
made. These men had sailed long in the Swash, and
having been picked up in various ports, from time to time,
as the brig had wanted hands, they were of nearly as many
different nations as they were persons. Spike had obtained a great ascendency over them by habit and authority, and his suggestions were now received as a sort of law.
As soon as the conference was ended, the captain returned
to the helm.
A minute more passed, during which the captain was
anxiously surveying the reef ahead, and the state of things
astern. Ahead was more white water-the last before they
should get clear of the reef; and astern it was now settled
that the cutter that held on through the dangers of the
place, was in chase of the yawl. That Mulford was in her
Spike made no doubt; and the thought embittered even
his present calamities. But the moment had arrived for
something decided. The white water ahead was much
more formidable than any they had passed; and the boldest seamen there gazed at it with dread. Spike made a
sign to the boatswain, and commenced the execution of his
dire project.
" I say, you Josh," called out the captain, in the authoritative tones that are so familiar to all on board a ship,
"pull in that fender that is dragging alongside."
Josh leaned over the gunwale, and reported that there
was no fender out. A malediction followed, also so familiar to those acquainted with ships, and the black was told
to look again. This time, as had been expected, the negro
eaned with his head and body far over the side of the yawl,
te took for that which had no existence, when two of the *




420


JACK TIER;


men beneath the thwart shoved his legs after them. Josh
screamed, as he found himself going into the water, with
a sort of confused consciousness of the truth; and Spike
called out to Simon to " catch hold of his brother-nigger."
The cook bent forward to obey, when a similar assault on
his legs from beneath the thwart, sent him headlong after
Josh. One of the younger seamen, who was not in the
secret, sprang up to rescue Simon, who grasped his extended
hand, when the too generous fellow was pitched headlong
from the boat.
All this occurred in less than ten seconds of time, and
so unexpectedly and naturally, that not a soul beyond those
who were in the secret, had the least suspicion it was anything but an accident. Some water was shipped, of necessity, but the boat was soon bailed free. As for the victims
of this vile conspiracy, they disappeared amid the troubled
waters of the reef, struggling with each other. Each and
all met the common fate so much the sooner, from the
manner in which they impeded their own efforts.
The yawl was now relieved from about five hundred
pounds of the weight it had carried-Simon weighing two
hundred alone, and the youngish seaman being large and
full. So intense does human selfishness get to be, in
moments of great emergency, that it is to be feared most
of those who remained, secretly rejoiced that they were so
far benefited by the loss of their fellows.  The Sefior
Montefalderon was seated on the aftermost thwart, with his
legs in the stern-sheets, and consequently with his back
toward the negroes, and he fully believed that what had
happened was purely accidental.
" Let us lower our sail, Don Esteban," he cried, eagerly,
" and save the poor fellows."
Something very like a sneer gleamed on the dark countenance of the captain, but it suddenly changed to a look
of assent.
"Good!" he said, hastily —" spring forward, Don Wan,
and lower the sail-stand by the oars, men!"
Without pausing to reflect, the generous-hearted Mexican stepped on a thwart, and began to walk rapidly forward,
steadying himself by placing his hands on the heads of the
* men. He was suffered to get as far as the second thwart




OfR, 'THlE FLORIDA IREE.


421


or past most of the conspirators, when his legs were seized
from behind. The truth now flashed on him, and grasping
two of the men in his front, who knew nothing of Spike's
dire scheme, he endeavoured to save himself by holding to
their jackets. Thus assailed, those men seized others
with like intent, and an awful struggle filled all that part
of the craft. At this dread instant the boat glanced into
the white water, shipping so much of the element as nearly
to swamp her, and taking so wild a sheer as nearly to
broach-to. This last circumstance probably saved her,
fearful as was the danger for the moment. Everybody in,
the middle of the yawl was rendered desperate by the
amount and nature of the danger incurred, and the men
from the bottom rose in their might, underneath the combatants, when a common plunge was made by all who stood
erect, one dragging overboard another, each a good deal
hastened by the assault from beneath, until no less than
five were gone. Spike got his helm up, the boat fell off,
and away from the spot it flew, clearing the breakers, and
reaching the northern wall-like margin of the reef at the
next instant. There was now a moment when those who
remained could breathe, and dared to look behind them.
The great plunge had been made in water so shoal, that
the boat had barely escaped being dashed to pieces on the
coral. Had it not been so suddenly relieved from the
pressure of near a thousand pounds in weight, it is probable that this calamity would have befallen it, the water
received on board contributing so much to weigh it down.
The struggle between these victims ceased, however, the
moment they went over. Finding bottom for their feet,
they released each other, in a desperate hope of prolonging
life by wading. Two or three held out their arms, and
shouted to Spike to return and pick them up. This dreadful scene lasted but a single instant, for the waves dashed
one after another from his feet, continually forcing them
all, as they occasionally regained their footing, toward the
margin of the'reef, and finally washing them off it into
deep water. No human power could enable a man to swim
back to the rocks, once to leeward of them, in the face of
such seas, and so heavy a blow; and the miserable wretches
36




4-22


JACK  TIER;


disappeared in succession, as their strength became ex
hausted, in the depths of the Gulf.
Not a word had been uttered while this terrific scene
was in the course of occurrence; not a word was uttered
for some time afterward. Gleams of grim satisfaction had
been seen on the countenances of the boatswain and his
associates, when the success of their nefarious project was
first assured; but they soon disappeared in looks of horror,
as they witnessed the struggles of the drowning men.
Nevertheless, human selfishness was strong within them
all, and none there was so ignorant as not to perceive how
much better were the chances of the yawl now than it had
been on quitting the wreck. The weight of a large o3
had been taken from it, counting that of all the eight me.n
drowned; and as for the water shipped, it was soon bailed
back again into the sea. Not only, therefore, was the
yawl in a better condition to resist the waves, but it sailed
materially faster than it had done before.. Ten persons
still remained in it, however, which brought it down in the
water below its proper load-line; and the speed of a craft
so small was necessarily a good deal lessened by the least
deviation from its best sailing, or rowing trim. But Spike's
projects were not yet completed.
All this time the man-of-war's cutter had been rushing
as madly through the breakers, in chase, as the yawl had
done in the attempt to escape. Mulford was, in fact, on
board it; and his now fast friend, Wallace, was in command. The latter wished to seize a traitor, the former to
save the aunt of his weeping bride. Both believed that
they might follow wherever Spike dared to lead.  This
reasoning was more bold than judicious notwithstanding,
since the cutter was much larger, and drew twice as much
water as the yawl. On it came, nevertheless, faring much
better in the white water than the little craft it pursued,
but necessarily running a much more considerable risk of
hitting the coral, over which it was glancing almost as
swiftly as the waves themselves; still it had thus far
escaped-and little did any in it think of the danger. This
cutter pulled ten oars; was an excellent sea boat; had four
armed marines in it, in addition to its crew, but carried all
through the breakers, receiving scarcely a drop of water




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


423


on board, on account of the height of its wash-boards, and
the general qualities of the craft. It may be well to add
here, that the Poughkeepsie had shaken out her reefs, and
was betraying the impatience of Captain Mull to make sail
in chase, by firing signal-guns to his boats to bear a hand
and return. These signals the three boats under their oars
were endeavouring to obey, but Wallace had got so far to
leeward as now to render the course he was pursuing the
wisest.
Mrs. Budd and Biddy had seen the struggle in which
the Sefor Montefalderon had been lost, in a sort of stupid
horror. Both had screamed, as was their wont, though
neither probably suspected the truth. But the fell designs
of Spike extended to them, as well as to those whom he
had already destroyed. Now the boat was in deep water,
running along the margin of the reef, the waves were much
increased in magnitude, and the comb of the sea was far
more menacing to the boat. This would not have been
the case had the rocks formed a lee; but they did not,
running too near the direction of the trades to prevent the
billows that got up a mile or so in the offing, from sending
their swell quite home to the reef. It was this swell, indeed, which caused the line of white water along the northern margin of the coral, washing on the rocks by a sort
of lateral effort, and breaking, as a matter of course. In
many places, no boat could have lived to pass through it.
Another consideration influenced Spike to persevere.
The cutter ha.d been overhauling him, hand over hand, but
since the yawl was relieved of the weight of no less than
eight men, the difference in the rate of sailing was manifestly diminished. The man-of-war's boat drew nearer,
but by no means as fast as it had previously done. A
point was now reached in the trim of the yawl, when a
very few hundreds in weight might make the most important change in her favour; and this change the captainwas
determined to produce. By this time the cutter was in
deep water, as well as himself, safe through all the dangers
of the reef, and she was less than a quarter of a mile astern.
On the whole, she was gaining, though so slowly as to require the most experienced eye to ascertain the fact.
" Madame Budd," said Spike, in a hypocritical tone,




424


JACK  TIER;


" we are in great danger, and I shall have to ask you to
change your seat. The boat is too much by the sarn,
now we've got into deep water, and your weight amidships
would be a great relief to us. Just give your hand to the
boatswain, and he will help you to step from thwart to
thwart, until you reach the right place, when Biddy shall
follow."
Now Mrs. Budd had witnessed the tremendous struggle
in which so many had gone overboard, but so dull was she
of apprehension, and so little disposed to suspect anything
one-half so monslrous as the truth, that she did not hesitate
to comply. She was profoundly awed by the horrors of
the scene through which she was passing, the raging billows of the Gulf, as seen from so small a craft, producing
a deep impression on her; still a lingering of her most inveterate affectation was to be found in her air and language, which presented a strange medley of besetting weakness, and strong, natural, womanly affection.
" Certainly, Captain Spike," she answered, rising. " A
craft should never go astern, and I am quite willing to ballast the boat. We have seen such terrible accidents today, that all should lend their aid in endeavouring to get
under way, and in averting all possible hamper. Only
take me to my poor, dear Rosy, Captain Spike, and every.
thing shall be forgotten that has passed between us. This
is not a moment to bear malice; and I freely pardon you
all and everything. The fate of our unfortunate friend,
Mr. Montefalderon, should teach us charity, and cause us
to prepare for untimely ends."
All the time the good widow was making this speech,
which she uttered in a solemn and oracular sort of manner,
she was moving slowly toward the seat the men had prepared for her, in the middle of the boat, assisted with the
greatest care and attention by the boatswain and another
of Spike's confidants. When on the second thwart from
aft, and about to take her seat, the boatswain cast a look
behind him, and Spike put the helm down. The boat
luffed and lurched, of course, and Mrs. Budd would probably have gone overboard to leeward, by so sudden and
violent a change, had not the impetus thus received been
aided by the arms of the men who held her two hands.




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


425


The plunge she made into the water was deep, for she was
a woman of great weight for her stature. Still, she was
not immediately gotten rid of. Even at that dread instant,
it is probable that the miserable woman did not suspect
the truth, for she grasped the hand of the boatswain with
the tenacity of a vice, and, thus dragged on the surface of
the boiling surges, she screamed aloud for Spike to save
her. Of all who had yet been sacrificed to the captain's
selfish wish to save himself, this was the first instance in
which any had been heard to utter a sound, after falling
into the'sea. The appeal shocked even the rude beings
around her, and Biddy chiming in with a powerful appeal
to " save the missus!" added to the piteous nature of the
scene.
"Cast off her hand," said Spike reproachfully, " she'll
swamp the boat by her struggles-get rid of her at once!
Cut her fingers off, if she wont let go!"
The instant these brutal orders were given, and that in
a fierce, impatient tone, the voice of Biddy was heard no
more. The truth forced itself on her dull imagination,
and she sat a witness of the terrible scene, in mute despair.
The struggle did not last long. The boatswain drew his
knife across the wrist of the hand that grasped his own,
one shriek was heard, and the boat plunged into the trough
of a sea, leaving the form of poor Mrs. Budd struggling
with the wave on its summit, and amid the foam of its
crest. This was the last that was ever seen of the unfortunate relict.
"The boat has gained a good deal by that last discharge
of cargo," said Spike to the boatswain, a minute after they
had gotten rid of the struggling woman —" she is much
more lively, and is getting nearer to her load-line. If we
can bring her to that, I shall have no fear of the man-ofwar's men; for this yawl is one of the fastest boats that
ever floated."
"A very little now, sir, would bring us to our true
trim."
"Ay, we must get rid of more cargo. Come, good
woman," turning to Biddy, with whom he did not think it
vorth his while to use much circumlocution, "your turn
is next. It's the maid's duty to follow her mistress."
36*




4'W)              JACK TIER;
" 1 know'd it must come," said Biddy, meekly. " If there
was no mercy for the missus, little could I look for. But
ye'll not t ke the life of a Christian woman widout giving
her so much as one minute to say her prayers?"
" Ay, pray away," answered Spike, his throat becoming
dry and husky, for, strange to say, the submissive quiet of
the Irish woman, so different from the struggle he had anticipatted with her, rendered him more reluctant to proceed
than he had hitherto be,,n in all of that terrible day. As
Biddy kneeled in the bottom of the stern-sheets, Spike
looked behind him, for the double purpose of escaping the
painful spectacle at his feet, and that of ascertaining how
his pursuers came on. The last still gained, though very
slowly, and doubts began to come over the captain's mind
whether he could escape such enemies at all. He was too
deeply committed, however, to recede, and it was most
desirable to get rid of poor Biddy, if it were for no other
motive than to shut her mouth. Spike even fancied that
some idea of what had passed was entertained by those in
the cutter. There was evidently a stir in that boat, and
two forms that he had no difficulty, now, in recognizing as
those of Wallace and Mulford, were standing on the grating in the eyes of the cutter, or forward of the foresail.
The former appeared to hiave a musket in his hand, and
the other a glass. The last circumstance admonished him
that all that was now done would be done before dangerous
witnesses. It was too late to draw back, however, and the
captain turned to look for the Irish woman.
Biddy arose fron her knees, just as Spike withdrew his
eyes from his pursuers. The boatswain and another confidant were in readiness to cast the poor creature into the
sea, the moment their leader gave the signal.  The in
tended victim saw and understood the arrangement, and
she spoke earn stly and piteously to her murderers.
"It's not wanting will be violence!" said Biddy, in a
q!iiet tone, but with a saddened countenance. "I know
it's my turn, and I will save yer sowls from a part of the
burden of this great sin. God, and His Divine Son, and
the Blessed Mother of Jesus have mercy on me if it be
wrong; but I would far radder jump into the saa widout
having the iude hands of man on me, than have the dread.




OR, TIlE  FL ORIDA  REEF.


427


ful sight of the missus done over ag'in. It 's a fearful thing
is wather, and sometimes we have too little of it, and some.
times more than we want-"
"Bear a hand, bear a hand, good woman," interrupted
the boatswain, impatiently. "We must clear the boat of
you, and the sooner it is done the better it will be for all
of us."
" Don't grudge a poor morthal half a minute of life, at
he last moment," answered Biddy. "It's not long that
I '11 throuble ye, and so no more need be said."
The poor creature then got on the quarter of the boat,
without any one's touching her; there she placed herself
with her legs outboard, while she sat on the gunwale. She
gave one moment to the thought of arranging her clothes
with womanly decency, and then she paused to gaze with
a fixed eye, and pallid cheek, on the foaming wake that
marked the rapid course of the boat. The troughs of the
sea seemed less terrible to her than their combing crests,
and she waited for the boat to descend into the next.
"God forgive ye all, this deed, as I do!" said Biddy,
earnestly, and bending her person forward; she fell, as it
might be "without hands," into the gulf of eternity.
Though all strained their eyes, none of the men, Jack Tier
excepted, ever saw more of Biddy Noon. Nor did Jack
see much. He got a frightful glimpse of an arm, however,
on the summit of a wave, but the motion of the boat was
too swift, and the-water of the ocean too troubled, to admit
of aught else.
A long pause succeeded this event. Biddy's quiet submission to her fate had produced more impression on her
murderers than the desperate, but unavailing, struggles of
those who had preceded her. Thus it is ever with men.
When opposed, the demon within blinds them to consequences as well as to their duties; but, unresisted, the
silent influence of the image of God makes itself felt, and
a better spirit begins to prevail. There was not one in
that boat who did not, for a brief space, wish that poor
Biddy had been spared. With most, that feeling, the last
of human kindness they ever knew, lingered until the occurrence of the dread catastrophe which, so shortly after,
closed the scene of this state of being on their eyes.




4'3J JACK TIER;
"Jack Tier," called out Spike, some five minutes after
Biddy was drowned, but not until another observation had
made it plainly apparent to him that the man-of-war's men
still continued to draw nearer, being now not more than
fair musket-shot astern.
" Ay, ay, sir," answered Jack, coming quietly out of his
hole, front forward of the niast, and moving aft as if indifferent to the danger, by stepping lightly from thwart to
thwart, until he reached the stern-sheets.
" It is your turn, little Jack," said Spike, as if in a sort
of sorrowful submission to a necessity that knew no law,
"we cannot spare you the room."
" I have expected th s, and am ready. Let me have my
own way, and I will cause you no trouble. Poor Biddy
has taught me how to die. Before I go, however, Stephen
Spike, I must leave you this letter. It is written by my.
self, and addressed to you. When I am gone, read it, and
think well of what it contains. And now, may a mercifil
God pardon the sins of both, through love for His Divine
Son. I forgive you. Stephen; and should you live to
escape from those who are now bent on hunting you to the
death, let this day cause you no grief on my account.
Give me blut a moment of time, and I will cause you no
trouble."
Jack now stood upon the seat of the stern-sheets, balancing himself with one foot on the stern of the boat. He
waited until the yawl had risen to the summit of a wave,
when he looked eagerly for the man-of-war's cutter.  At
that moment she was lost to view in the trough of the sea.
Instead of springing overboard, as all expected, he asked
another instant of delay. The yawl sank into the trough
itself, and rose on the succeeding billow. Then he saw
the cutter, and Wallace and Mulford standing in its bows
He waved his hat to them, and sprang high into the air,
with the intent to make himself seen; when he came down,
the boat had shot her length away from the place, leaving
him to buffet with the waves. Jack now managed admirably, swimming lightly and easily, but keeping his eyes on
the crests of the waves, with a view to meet the cutter.
Spike now saw this well-planned project to avoid death
and regretted his own remissness in not making sure of




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


429


Jack. Everybody in the yawl was eagerly looking after
the form of Tier.
"' here he is on the comb of that sea, rolling over like
a keg!" cried the boatswain.
" Hle 's through it," answered Spike, " and swimming
with great strength and coolness."
Several of the men started up involuntarily and simultaneously to look, hitting their shoulders and bodies together. Distrust was at its most painful height; and bulldogs do not spring at the ox's muzzle more fiercely than
those six men throttled each other. Oaths, curses, and
appeals for help, succeeded; each man endeavouring, in
his frenzied efforts, to throw all the others overboard, as
the only means of saving himself.  Plunge succeeded
plunge; and when that combat of demons ended, no one
remained of them all but the boatswain. Spike had taken
no share in the struggle, looking on in grim satisfaction,
as the Father of Lies may be supposed to regard all human
strife, hoping good to himself, let the result be what it
might to others. Of the five men who thus went overboard,
not one escaped. They drowned each other by continuing
their maddened conflict in an element unsuited to their
natures.
Not so with Jack Tier. His leap had been seen, and a
dozen eyes in the cutter watched for his person, as that.boat
came foaming down before the wind. A shout of" There
he is!" from Mulford succeeded; and the little fellow was
caught by the hair, secured, and then hauled into the boat
by the second lieutenant of the Poughkeepsie and our
young mate.
Others in the cutter had noted the incident of the hellish
fight. The fact was communicated to Wallace, and Mulford said, " That yawl will outsail this loaded cutter, with
only two men in it."
" Then it is time to try what virtue there is in lead,"
answered Wallace. "Marines, come forward, and give
the rascal a volley."
The volley was fired; one ball passed through the head
of the boatswain, killing him dead on the spot. Another
went through the body of Spike. The captain fell in the
stern-sheets, and the boat instantly broached-to.




430


JACK TIER;


The water that came on board apprised Spike fully of
the state in which he was now placed, and by a desperate
effort, he clutched the tiller, and got the yawl again before
the wind. This could not last, however. Little by little,
his hold relaxed, until his hand relinquished its grasp altogether, and the wounded man sank into the bottom of the
stern-sheets, unable to raise even his head. Again the
boat broached-to. Every sea now sent its water aboard,
and the yawl would soon have filled, had not the.cutter
come glancing down past it, and rounding-to under its lee,
secured the prize.
CHAPTER XVI.
Man hath a weary pilgrimage,
As through the world he wends;
On every stage, from youth to age,
Still discontent attends;
With heaviness he casts his eye,
Upon the road before,
And still remembers with a sigh
The days that are no more.
SOUTHEY,
IT has now become necessary to advance the time three
entire days, and to change the scene to Key West. As
this latter place may not be known to the world at large,
it may be well to explain that it is a small seaport, situate
on one of the largest of the many low islands that dot the
Florida Reef, that has risen into notice, or indeed into
existence as a town, since the acquisition of the Floridas by
the American Republic. For many years it was the resort of
Yew besides wreckers, and those who live by the business
dependent on the rescuing and repairing of stranded vessels, not.forgetting the salvages.. When it is remembered
that the greater portion of the vessels that enter the Gulf




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


431


of Mexico stand close along this reef, before the trades,
for a distance varying from one to two hundred miles, and
that nearly everything which quits it, is obliged to beat
down its rocky coast in the Gulf Stream for the same distance, one is not to be surprised that the wrecks, which so
constantly occur, can supply the wants of a considerable
population. To live at Key West is the next thing to
being at sea. The place has sea air, no other water than
such as is preserved in cisterns, and no soil, or so little as
to render even a head of lettuce a rarity. Turtle is abundant, and the business of " turtling" forms an occupation
additional to that of wrecking.  As might be expected, in
such circumstances, a potato is a far more precious thing
than a turtle's egg, and a sack of the tubers would probably be deemed a sufficient remuneration for enough of
the materials of callipash and callipee to feed all the aldermen extant.
Of late years, the government of the United States has
turned its attention to the capabilities of the Florida Reef,
as an advanced naval station; a sort of Downs, or St.
Helen's Roads, for the West Indian seas. As yet little
has been done beyond making the preliminary surveys, but
the day is not probably very distant when fleets will lie at
anchor among the islets described in our earlier chapters,
or garnish the fine waters of Key West. For a long time
it was thought that even frigates would have a difficulty in
entering and quitting the port of the latter, but it is said
that recent explorations have discovered channels capable
of admitting anything that floats. Still Key West is a
town yet in its chrysalis state, possessing the promise rather
than the fruition of the prosperous days which are in reserve..It may 'be well to add, that it lies a very little north
of the 24th degree of latitude, and in a longitude quite
/ve degrees west from Washington. Until the recent conquests in Mexico it was the most southern possession of
the American government, on ihe eastern side of the continent; Cape St. Lucas, at the extremity of Lower California, however, being two degrees farther south.
It will give the foreign reader a more accurate notion
of the character of Key West, if we mention a fact of
quite recent occurrence. A very few weeks after the




4'" )3


JACK  TIER;


closing scenes of this tale, the town in question was, in a
great measure, washed away! A hurricane brought in the
sea upon all these& islands and reefs, water running in swift
currents over places that within the memory of man were
never before submerged.  The lower part of Key West
was converted into a raging sea, and everything in that
quarter of the place disappeared. The foundation being
of rock, however, when the ocean retired the island came
into view again, and industry and enterprise set to work to
repair the injuries.
The government has established a small hospital for seamnen at Key West. Into one of the rooms of the building
thus appropriated our narrative must now conduct the
reader. It contained but a single patient, and that was
Spike. He was on his narrow bed, which was to be but
the pucursor of a still narrower tenement, the grave. In
the room with the dying man were two females, in one of
whom our readers will at once recognize the person of
Rose Budd, dressed in deep mourning for her aunt. At
first sight, it is probable that a casual spectator would mistake the second female for one of the ordinary nurses of
the place. Her attire was well enough, though worn
awkwardly, and as if its owner were not exactly at ease in
it. She had the air of one in her best attire, who was un.
accustomed to be dressed above the most common mode.
What added to the singularity of her appearance, was the
fact, that while she wore no cap, her hair had been cut
into short, gray bristles, instead of being long, and turned
up, as is usual with females. To give a sort of climax
to this uncouth appearance, this strange-looking creature
chewed tobacco.
The woman in question, equivocal as night be.her exterior, was employed in one of the commonest avocations of
her sex —that of sewing. She held in her hand a coarse
garment, one of Spike's, in fact, which she seemed to be
intently busy in mending; although the work was of a
quality that invited the use of the palm and sail-needle,
rather than that of the thimble and the smaller implement
known to seamstresses, the woman appeared awkward in
her business, as if her coarse-looking and dark hands re[used to lend themselves to an occupation so feminine.




t(R, THE FLORIDA REEF.


433


Nevertheless, there were touches of a purely womanly
character about this extraordinary person, and touches that
particularly attracted the attention, and awakened the sympathy of the gentle Rose, her companion. Tears occasionally struggled out from beneath her eyelids, crossed her
dark, sun-burnt cheek, and fell on the coarse canvas garment that lay in her lap. It was after one of these sudden
and strong exhibitions of feeling that Rose approached her,
laid her own little, fair hand, in a friendly way, though unheeded, on the other's shoulder, and spoke to her in her
kindest and softest tones.
"I do really think he is reviving, Jack," said Rose,
" and that you may yet hope to have an intelligent conversation with him."
" They all agree he must die," answered Jack Tierfor it was he, appearing in the garb of his proper sex, after
a disguise that had now lasted fully twenty years —" and
he will never know who I am, and that I forgive him. He
must think of me in another world, though he is n't able
to do it in this; but it would be a great relief to his soul
to know that I forgive him."
" To be sure, a man must like to take a kind leave of
his own wife before he closes his eyes for ever; and I dare
say it would be a great relief to you to tell him that you
have forgotten his desertion of you, and all the hardships
it has brought upon you in searching for him, and in earning your own livelihood as a common sailor."
"I shall not tell him I'veforgotten it, Miss Rose; that
would be untrue - and there shall be no more deception
between us; but I shall tell him that Iforgive him, as I
hope God will one day forgive me all my sins."
" It is, certainly, not a light offence to desert a wife in a
foreign land, and then to seek to deceive another woman,"
quietly observed Rose.
" He's a willian!" muttered the wife-" but-but-"
"You forgive him, Jack-yes, I'm sure you do. You
are too good a Christian to refuse to forgive him."
" I'm a woman a'ter all, Miss Rose; and that, I believe,
is the truth of it. I suppose I ought to do as you say, for
the reason you mention; but I'm his wife - and once he
loved me, though that has long been over. When I first
37




434


J       A e KTIER.;


knew Stephen, I'd the sort of feelin's you speak of, and
was a very different creatur' from what you see me to-day.
Change comes over us all with years and sufferin'."
Rose did not answer, but she stood looking intently at.
the speaker more than a minute. Change had, indeed,
come over her, if she had ever possessed the power to
please the fancy of any living man. Her features had
always seemed diminutive and mean for her assumed sex,
as her voice was small and cracked; but, making every
allowance for the probabilities, Rose found it difficult to
imagine that Jack Tier had ever possessed, even under the
high advantages of youth and innocence, the attractions
so common to her sex. Her skin had acquired the tanning
of the sea; the expression of her face had become hard
and worldly; and her habits contributed to render those
natural consequences of exposure and toil even more than
usually marked and decided. By saying " habits," however, we do not mean that Jack had ever drunk to excess,.
as happens with so many seamen, for this would have been
doing her injustice, but she smoked and chewed-practices
that intoxicate in another form, and lead nearly as many to
the grave as excess in drinking. Thus all the accessories
about this singular being, partook of the character of her
recent life and duties. Her walk was between a waddle
and a seaman's roll; her hands were discoloured with tar,
and had got to be full of knuckles, and even her feet had
degenerated into that flat, broad-toed form that, perhaps,
sooner distinguishes caste, in connection with outward appearances, than any one other physical peculiarity. Yet
this being had once been young-had once been evenfair,
and had once possessed that feminine air and lightness of
form, that as often belongs to the youthful American of her
sex, perhaps, as to the girl of any other nation on earth.
Rose continued to gaze at her companion for some time,
when she walked musingly to a window that looked out
upon the port.
"I am not certain whether it would do him good or
not to see this sight," she said, addressing the wife kindly,
doubtful of the effect of her words even on the latter.
'But here are the sloop-of-war, and several other vessels."
"* Ay, she is there; but never will his foot be put on




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


435


board the Swash ag'in. When he bought that brig I was
still young, and agreeable to him; and he gave her my
maiden name, which was Mary, or Molly Swash. But
that is all changed; I wonder he did not change the name
with his change of feelin's."
" Then you did really sail in the brig in former times,
and knew the seaman whose name you assumed?"
" Many years. Tier, with whose name I made free, on
account of his size, and some resemblance to me in form,
died under my care; and his protection fell into my hands,
which first put the notion into my head of hailing as his
representative. Yes, I knew Tier in the brig, and we
were left ashore at the same time; I, intentionally, I make
no question; he, because Stephen Spike was in a hurry,
and did not choose to wait for a man. The poor fellow
caught the yellow fever the very next day, and did not live
eight-and-forty hours. So the world goes; them that wish
to live, die; and them that wants to die, live!"
" You.have had a hard time for one of your sex, poor
Jack-quite twenty years a sailor, did you not tell me?"
" Every day of it, Miss Rose-and bitter years have they
been; for the whole of that time have I been in chase, of
my husband, keeping my own secret, and slaving like a
horse for a livelihood."
"You could not have been old when he left-that iswhen you parted."
"Call it by its true name, and say at once, when he desarted me. I was under thirty by two or three years, and
was still like my own sex to look at. All that is changed
since; but I was comely then."
" Why did Captain Spike abandon you, Jack; you have
never told me that."
" Because he fancied another. And ever since that time
he has been fancying others, instead of remembering me.
Had he got you, Miss Rose, I think he would have been
content for the rest of his days."
' Be certain, Jack, I should never have consented to
marry Captain Spike."
"You 're well out of his hands," answered Jack, sighing heavily, which was the most feminine thing she had
done during the whole conversation, "well out of his




436


JACK TIERn;


hands-and God be praised it is so. He should have died,
before I would let him carry you off the island-husband
or no husband."
" It might have exceeded your power to prevent it under
other circumstances, Jack."
Rose now continued looking out of the window in
silence. Her thoughts reverted to her aunt and Biddy,
and tears rolled down her cheeks as she remembered the
love of one, and the fidelity of the other. Their horrible
fate had given her a shock that, at first, menaced her with
a severe fit of illness; but her strong, good sense, and excellent constitution, both sustained by her piety and Harry's
manly tenderness, had brought her through the danger, and
left her, as the reader now sees her, struggling with her
own griefs, in order to be of use to the still more unhappy
woman who had so singularly become her friend and companion.
The reader will readily have anticipated that Jack Tier
had early made the females on board the Swash her confidants. Rose had known the outlines of her history from
the first few days they were at sea together, which is the
explanation of the visible intimacy that had caused Mulford so much surprise. Jack's motive in making his revelations might possibly have been tinctured with jealousy,
but a desire to save one as young and innocent as Rose
was at its bottom. Few persons but a wife would have
supposed our heroine could have been in any danger from
a lover like Spike; but Jack saw him with the eyes of her
own youth, and of past recollections, rather than with those
of truth. A movement of the wounded man first drew
Rose from the window. Drying her eyes hastily, she
turned toward him, fancying she might prove the better
nurse of the two, notwithstanding Jack's greater interest
in the patient.
" What place is this - and why am I here?" demanded
Spike, with more strength of voice than could have been
expected, after all that had passed. "This is not a cabin
-not the Swash-it looks like a hospital."
"It is a hospital, Captain Spike," said Rose, gently
erawing near the bed; "you have been hurt, and have




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


437


seen brought to Key West, and placed in the hospital. I
hope you feel better, and that you suffer no pain."
" My head is n't right-I do n't know-everything seems
turned round with me -perhaps it will all come out as it
should. I begin to remember-where is my brig?"
" She is lost on the rocks. The seas have broken her
into fragments."
" That's melancholy news, at any rate. Ah! Miss Rose!
God bless you-I 've had terrible dreams. Well, it's pleasant to be among friends - what creature is that - where
does she come from?"
" That is Jack Tier," answered Rose, steadily. "She
turns out to be a woman, and has put on her proper dress,
in order to attend on you during your illness. Jack has
never left your bedside since we have been here."
A long silence succeeded this revelation. Jack's eyes
twinkled, and she hitched her body half aside, as if to conceal her features, where emotions that were unusual were
at work with the muscles. Rose thought it might be well
to leave the man and wife alone-and she managed to get
out of the room unobserved.
Spike continued to gaze at the strange-looking female,
who was now his sole companion. Gradually his recollection returned, and with it the full consciousness of his
situation. He might not have been fully aware of the
absolute certainty of his approaching death, but he must
have known that his wound was of a very grave character,
and that the result might early prove fatal. Still that
strange and unknown figure haunted him; a figure that
was so different from any he had ever seen before, and
which, in spite of its present dress, seemed to belong quite
as much to one sex as to the other. As for Jack, we call
Molly, or Mary Swash by her masculine appellation, not
only because it is more familiar, but because the other
name seems really out of place, as applied to such a person
- as for Jack, then, she sat with her face half averted,
thumbing the canvas, and endeavouring to ply the needle,
but perfectly mute. She was conscious that Spike's eyes
were on her; and a lingering feeling of her sex told her
how much time, exposure, and circumstances, had changed
37 *




438


JACK TIER;


her person-and she would gladly have hidden the defects
in hei appearance.
Mary Swash was the daughter as well as the wife of a
ship-master. In her youth, as has been said before, she
had even been pretty, and down to the day when her hus.
band deserted her, she would have been thoought a female
of a comely appearance rather than the reverse. Her hair
in particular, though slightly coarse, perhaps, had been
rich and abundant; and the change from the long, dark,
shining, flowing locks which she still possessed in her thirtieth year, to the short, grey bristles that row stood exposed
without a cap, or covering of any sort, was one very likely
to destroy all identity of appearance. Then Jack had
passed from what might be called youth to the verge of old
age, in the interval that she had been separated from her
husband. Her shape had changed entirely; her complexion was utterly gone; and her features, always unmeaning, though feminine, and suitable to her sex, had become
hard and slightly coarse. Still there was something of her
former self about Jack that bewildered Spike; and his
eyes continued fastened -n her for quite a quarter of an
hour in profound silence.
"Give me some water," said the wounded man, "I wish
some water to drink."
Jack arose, filled a tumbler and brought it to the side of
the bed. Spike took the glass and drank, but the whole
time his eyes were riveted on the strange nurse. When
his thirst was appeased, he asked"Who are you? How came you here?"
"I am your nurse. It is common to place nurses at the
bedsides of the sick."
"Are you man or woman?"
"That is a question I hardly know how to answer. Sometimes I think myself each; sometimes neither."
"Did I ever see you before?"
" Often, and quite lately. I sailed with you in your last
voyage."
"You! That cannot be. If so, what is your name?"
" Jack Tier."
A long pause succeeded this announcement, which in.
duced Spike to muse as intently as his condition would




OR, THE FLORID  REEF.


439


allow, though the truth did not yet flash on his understanding. At length the bewildered man again spoke.
" Are you Jack Tier?" he said slowly, like one who
doubted. "Yes-I now see the resemblance, and it was
that which puzzled me. Are they so rigid in this hospital
that you have been obliged to put on woman's clothes in
order to lend me a helping hand?"
"I am dressed as you see, and for good reasons."
" But Jack 'ier run, like that rascal Mulford-ay, I re.
member now; you were in the boat when I overhauled you
all on the reef."
" Very true; I was in the boat. But I never run, Stephen Spike. It was you who abandoned me, on the islet
in the Gulf, and that makes the second time in your life
that you left me ashore, when it was your duty to carry me
to sea."
" The first time I was in a hurry, and could not wait
for you; this last time you took sides with the women.
But for your interference, I should have got Rose, and
married her, and all would now have been well with me."
This was an awkward announcement for a man to make
to his legal wife. But after all Jack had endured, and all
Jack had seen during the late voyage, she was not to be
overcome by this avowal. Her self-command extended so
far as to prevent any open manifestation of emotion, however much her feelings were excited.
"I took sides with the women, because I am a woman
myself," she answered, speaking at length with decision,
as if determined to bring matters to a head at once. "It
is natural for us all to take sides with our kind.'.'
" You a woman, Jack! That is very remarkable. Since
when have you hailed for a woman? You have shipped
with me twice, and each time as a man-though I 've never
thought you able to do seaman's duty."
" Nevertheless, I am what you see; a woman born and
edicated; one that never had on man's dress until I knew
you. You supposed me to be a man, when I came off to
you in the skiff to the eastward of Riker's Island, but I
was then what you now see."
" I begin to understand matters," rejoined the invalid,
musingly. "Ay, ay, it opens on me; and I now see how




440


JACK TIER;


it was you made such fair weather with Madam Budd and
pretty, pretty Rose. Rose is pretty, Jack; you must
admit that, though you be a woman."
"Rose is pretty- I do admit it; and what is better,
Rose is good." It required a heavy draft on Jack's justice
and magnanimity, however, to make this concession.
" And you told Rose and Madam Budd about your
sex; and that was the reason they took to you so on the
v'y'ge?"
"I told them who I was, and why I went abroad as a
man. They know my whole story."
" Did Rose approve of your sailing under false colours,
Jack?"
" You must ask that of Rose herself. My story made
her my friend; but she never said anything for or against
my disguise."
" It was no great disguise a'ter all, Jack.  Now you're
fitted out in your own clothes, you've a sort of half-rigged
look; one would be as likely to set you down for a man
under jury-canvas, as for a woman."
Jack made no answer to this, but she sighed very heavily.
As for Spike himself, he was silent for some little time,
not only from exhaustion, but because he suffered pain from
his wound. The needle was diligently but awkwardly
plied in this pause.
Spike's ideas were still a little confused; but a silence
and rest of a quarter of an hour cleared them materially.
At the end of that time he again asked for water. When
he had drunk, and Jack was once more seated, with his
side-face toward him, at work with the needle, the captain
gazed long and intently at this strange woman. It happened that the profile of Jack preserved more of the resemblance to her former self, than the full face; and it
was this resemblance that now attracted Spike's attention,
though not the smallest suspicion of the truth yet gleamed
upon him. He saw something that was familiar, though
he could not even tell what that something was, much less
to what or whom it bore any resemblance. At length he
spoke.
"I was told that Jack Tier was dead," he said, "that
he took the fever, and was in his grave within eight-and



OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


441


forty hours after we sailed. That was what they told me
of him."
"And what did they tell you of your own wife, Stephen Spike. She that you left ashore at the time Jack
was left?"
* They said she did not die for three years later. I heard
of her death at New Orleens, three years later."
" And how could you leave her ashore-she, your true
and lawful wife?"
"It was a bad thing," answered Spike, who, like all
other mortals, regarded his own past career, now that he
stood on the edge of the grave, very differently from what
he had regarded it in the hour of his health and strength.
" Yes, it was a very bad thing; and I wish it was ondone.
But it is too late now. She died of the fever, too-that's
some comfort; had she died of a broken heart, I could not
have forgiven myself. Molly was not without her faultsgreat faults, I considered them; but, on the whole, Molly
was a good creatur'."
"You liked her, then, Stephen Spike?"
"I can truly say that when I married Molly, and old
Captain Swash put his da'ghter's hand into mine, that the
woman was n't living who was better in my judgment, or
handsomer in my eyes."
" Ay, ay-when you married her; but how was it a'terwards?-when you was tired of her, and saw another that
was fairer in your eyes?"
" I desarted her; and God has punished me for the sin!
Do you know, Jack, that luck has never been with me
since that day. Often and often have I bethought me of
it; and sartain as you sit there, no great luck has ever been
with me, or my craft, since I went off, leaving my wife
ashore. What was made in one v'y'ge, was lost in the
next. Up and down, up and down the whole time, for so
many, many long years, thait grey hairs set in, and old age
was beginning to get close aboard-and I as poor as ever
It has been rub and go with me ever since; and I have had
as much as I could do to keep the brig in motion, as the
only means that was left to make the two ends meet."
' And did not all this make you think of your poor wife
-she whom you had so wronged?"




142


JACK TIER;


"I thought of little else, until I heard of her death a
New Orleens-and then I gave it up as useless. Could 1
have fallen in with Molly at any time a'ter the first six
months of my desartion, she and I would have come together again, and everything would have been forgotten. I
knowed her very nature, which was all forgiveness to me
at the bottom, though seemingly so spiteful and hard."
"Yet you wanted to have this Rose Budd, who is only
too young, and handsome, and good for you."
"I was tired of being a widower, Jack; and Rose is
wonderful pretty. She has money, too, and might make
the evening of my days comfortable. The brig was old,
as you must know, and has long been off of all the Insurance Offices' books; and she could n't hold together much
longer. But for this sloop-of-war, I should have put her
off on the Mexicans; and they would have lost her to our
people in a month."
" And was it an honest thing to sell an old and worn-out
craft to any one, Stephen Spike?"
Spike had a conscience that had become hard as iron
by means of trade. He who traffics much, most especially
if his dealings be on so small a scale as to render constant
investigations of the minor qualities of things necessary,
must be a very fortunate man, if he preserve his conscience il any better condition. When Jack made this
allusion, therefore, the dying man - for death was much
nearer to Spike that even he supposed, though he no longer
hoped for his own recovery - when Jack made this allusion, then, the dying man was a good deal at a loss to comprehend it. He saw no particular harm in making the
best bargain he could; nor was it easy for him to understand why he might not dispose of anything he possessed
for the highest price that was to be had. Still he answered
in an apologetic sort of way.
"The brig was old, I acknowledge," he said, " but she
was strong, and might have run a long time. I only spoke
of her capture as a thing likely to take place soon, if the
Mexicans got her; so that her qualities were of no great
account, unless it might be her speed-and that you know
was excellent, Jack."




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


443


~' And you regret that brig, Stephen Spike, lying as you
do on your death-bed, more than anything else."
" Not as much as I do pretty Rose Budd, Jack; Rosy
is so delightful to look at!"
The muscles of Jack's face twitched a little, and she
lodked deeply mortified; for, to own the truth, she hoped
that the conversation had so far turned her delinquent
husband's thoughts to the past, as to have revived in him
some of his former interest in herself. It is true, he still
believed her dead; but this was a circumstance Jack overlooked-so hard is it to hear the praises of a rival, and be
just. She felt the necessity of being more explicit, and
determined at once to come to the point.
"Stephen Spike," she said, steadily, drawing near to
the bed-side, "you should be told the truth, when you are
heard thus extolling the good looks of Rose Budd, with
less than eight-and-forty hours of life remaining. Mary
Swash did not die, as you have supposed, three years a'ter
you desarted her, but is living at this moment. Had you
read the letter I gave you in the boat, just before you made
me jump into the sea, that would have told you where she
is to be found."
Spike stared at the speaker intently; and when her
cracked voice ceased, his look was that of a man-who was
terrified as well as bewildered. This did not arise still from
any gleamings of the real state of the case, but from the
soreness with which his conscience pricked him, when he
heard that his much-wronged wife was alive. He fancied,
with a vivid and rapid glance at the probabilities, all that
a woman abandoned would be likely to endure in the course
of so many long and suffering years.
" Are you sure of what you say, Jack? You would n't
take advantage of my situation to tell me an untruth?"
"As certain of it as of my own existence. I have seen
her quite lately-talked with her of you-in short, she is
now at Key West, knows your state, and has a wife's feelin's to come to your bed-side."
Notwithstanding all this, and the many gleamings he had
had of the facts during their late intercourse on board the
brig, Spike did not guess at the truth. He appeared astounded, and his terror seemed to increase.




444


JACK TIER;


"I have another thing to tell you," continued Jaca,
pausing but a moment to collect her own thoughts. " Jack
Tier-the real Jack Tier-he who sailed with you of old.
and whom you left ashore at the same time you desarted
your wife, did die of the fever, as you was told, in eightand-forty hours a'ter the brig went to sea."
" Then who, in the name of Heaven, are you? How
came you to hail by another's name as well as by another
sex?"
" What could a woman do, whose husband had desarted
her in a strange land?"
"That is remarkable! So you 've been married?  I
should not have thought that possible; and your husband
desarted you,. too. Well, such things do happen."
Jack now felt a severe papg. She could not but see
that her ungainly -we had almost said her unearthly appearance-prevented the captain from even yet suspecting
the truth; and the meaning of his language was not easily
to be mistaken. That any one should have married her,
seemed to her husband as improbable as it was probable he
would run away from her as soon as it was in his power
after the ceremony.
" Stephen Spike," resumed Jack, solemnly, "I am Mary
Swash-I am your wife!"
Spike started in his bed; then he buried his face in the
coverlet-and he actually groaned. In bitterness of spirit
the woman turned away and wept. Her feelings had been
blunted by misfortune and the collisions of a selfish world;
but enough of former self remained to make this the hard.
est of all the blows she had ever received. Her husband,
dying as he was, as he must and did know himself to be,
shrunk from one of her appearance, unsexed as she had
oecome by habits, and changed by years and suffering.




tUR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


445


CHAPTER XVII.
The trusting heart's repose, the paradise
Of home, with all its loves, doth fate allow
The crown of glory unto woman's brow.
MRS. HEMANS.
IT has again become necessary to advance the time; and
we shall take the occasipn thus offered to make a few explanations touching certain events which have been passed
over without notice.
The reason why Captain Mull did not chase the yawl
of the brig in the Poughkeepsie herself; was the necessity
of waiting for his own boats that were endeavouring to regain the sloop-of-war. It would not have done to abandon
them, inasmuch as the men were so much exhausted by
the pull to windward, that when they reached the vessel
all were relieved from duty for the rest of the day. As
soon, however, as the other boats were hoisted in, or run
up, the ship filled away, stood out of the passage and ran
down to join the cutter of Wallace, which was endeavouring to keep its position, as much as possible, by making
short tacks under close-reefed luggs.
Spike had been received on board the sloop-of-war, sent
into her sick bay, and put under the care of the surgeon
and his assistants. From the first, these gentlemen pronounced the hurt mortal. The wounded man was insensible most of the time, until the ship had beat up and gone
Into Key West, where he was transferred to the regular
hospital, as has tlready been mentioned.
The wreckers went out the moment the news of the
calamity of the Swash reached their ears. Some went in
quest of the doubloons of the schooner, and others to pick
up anything valuable that might be discovered in the neighbourhood of the stranded brig. It may be mentioned
38




446


JACK TIER;


here, that not much was ever obtained from the brigantine.
with the exception of a few spars, the sails, and a little
rigging; but, in the end, the schooner was raised, by means
of the chain Spike had placed around her, the cabin was
ransacked, and the doubloons were recovered. As there
was no one to claim the money, it was quietly divided
among the conscientious citizens present at its re-visiting
"the glimpses of the moon," making gold plenty.
The doubloons in the yawl would have been lost but for
the sagacity of Mulford. He too well knew the character
of Spike to believe he would quit the brig without taking
the doubloons with him. Acquainted with the boat, he
examined the little locker in the stern-sheets, and found
the two bags, one of which was probably the lawful property of Captain Spike, while the other, in truth, belonged
to the Mexican government. The last contained the most
gold, but the first amounted to a sum that our young mate
knew to be very considerable. Rose had made him acquainted with the sex of Jack Tier since their own marriage; and he at once saw that the claims of this uncouth
wife, who was so soon to be a widow, to the gold in question, might prove to be as good in law, as they unquestionably were in morals. On representing the facts of the case
to Captain Mull and the legal functionaries at Key West,
it was determined to relinquish this money to the heirs of
Spike, as, indeed, they must have done under process, there
being no other claimant. These doubloons, however, did
not amount to the full price of the flour and powder that
composed the cargo of the Swash. The cargo had been
purchased with Mexican funds; and all that Spike or his
heirs could claim, was the high freight for which he had
undertaken the delicate office of transporting those forbidden articles, contraband of war, to the Dry Tortugas.
Mulford by this time was high in the confidence and
esteem of all on board the Poughkeepsie. He had frankly
explained his whole connexion with Spike, not even attempting to conceal the reluctance he had felt to betray the brig
after he had fully ascertained the fact of his commander's
treason. The manly gentlemen with whom he was now
brought in contact entered into his feelings, and admitted
that it was an office no one could desire, to turn against




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


447


the craft in which he sailed. It is true, they could not
and would not be traitors, but Mulford had stopped far
short of this; and the distinction between such a character
and that of an informer was wide enough to satisfy all their
scruples.
Then Rose had the greatest success with the gentlemen
of the Poughkeepsie. Her youth, beauty, and modesty,
told largely in her favour; and the simple, womanly affection she unconsciously betrayed in behalf of Harry, touched
the heart of every observer. When the intelligence of
her aunt's fate reached her, the sorrow she manifested was
so profound and natural, that every one sympathized with
her grief. Nor would she be satisfied unless Mulford
would consent to go in search of the bodies. The latter
knew the hopelessness of such an excursion, but he could
not refuse to comply. He was absent on that melancholy
duty, therefore, at the moment of the scene related in our
last chapter, and did not return until after that which we
are now about to lay before the reader. Mrst Budd, Biddy,
and all of those who perished after the yawl got clear of
the reef, were drowned in deep water, and no more was
ever seen of any of them; or, if wreckers did pass them,
they did not stop to bury the dead. It was different, however, with those, who were first sacrificed to Spike's selfishness. They were drowned on the reef, and Harry did
actually recover the bodies of the Senor Montefalderon,
and of Josh, the steward. They had washed upon a rock
that is bare at low water. He took them both to the Dry
Tortugas, and had them interred along with the other dead
at that place. Don Juan was placed side by side with his
unfortunate countryman, the master of his equally unfortunate schooner.
While Harry was absent and thus employed, Rose wept
much and prayed more. She would have felt herself
almost alone in the world, but for the youth to whom she
had so recently, less than a week before, plighted her faith
in wedlock. That new tie, it is true, was of sufficient importance to counteract many of the ordinary feelings of
her situation; and she now turned to it as the one which
absorbed most of the fiuture duties of her life. Still she
missed the kindness, the solicitude, even the weaknesses




448


JACK TIER;


of her aunt; and the terrible mannet in which Mrs. Budd
had perished, made her shudder with horror whenever she
thought of it. Poor Biddy, too, came in for her share of
the regrets. This faithful creature, who had been in the
relict's service ever since Rose's infancy, had become en.
deared to her, in spite of her uncouth manners and confused ideas, by the warmth of her heart, and the singular
truth of her feelings. Biddy, of all her family, had come
to America, leaving behind her not only brothers and sisters, but parents living. Each year did she remit to the
last a moiety of her earnings, and many a half-dollar that
had come from Rose's pretty little hand, h;d been converted into gold, and forwarded on the same pious errand
to the green island of her nativity. Ireland, unhappy
country! at this moment what are not the dire necessities
of thy poor! Here, from the midst of abundance, in a
land that God has blessed in its productions far beyond the
limits of human wants, a land in which famine was never
known, do we at this moment hear thy groans, and listen
to tales of suffering that to us seem almost incredible. In
the midst of these chilling narratives, our eyes fall on an
appeal to the English nation, that appears in what it is the
fashion of some to term the first journal of Europe (!) in
behalf of thy suffering people. A worthy appeal to the
charity of England seldom fails; but it seems to us that
one sentiment of this might have been altered, if not spared.
The English are asked to be "forgetful of the past," and
to come forward to the relief of their suffering fellow-subjects. We should have written "mindful of the past," in
its stead. We say this in charity, as well as in truth. We
come of English blood, and if we claim to share in all the
ancient renown of that warlike and enlightened people, we
are equally bound to share in the reproaches that original
misgovernment has inflicted on thee. In this latter sense,
then, thou hast a right to our sympathies, and they are not
withheld.
As has been already said, we now advance the time
eight-and-forty hours, and again transfer the scene to that
room in tile hospital which was occupied by Spike. The
approaches of death, during the interval just named, had
been slow but certain. The surgeons had announced that




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


449


the wounded man could not possibly survive the coining
night; and he himself had been made sensible that his end
was near. It is scarcely necessary to add that Stephen
Spike, conscious of his vigour and strength, in command
of his brig, and bent on the pursuits of worldly gains, or
of personal gratification, was a very different person from
him who now lay stretched on his pallet in the hospital of
Key West, a dying man. By the side of his bed still sat
his strange nurse, less peculiar in appearance, however,
than when last se:n by the reader.
Rose Budd had been ministering to the ungainly externals of Jack Tier. She now wore a cap, thus concealing
the short, grey bristles of hair, and lending to her countenance a little of that softness which is a requisite of
female character. Some attention had also been paid to
the rest of her attire; and Jack was, altogether, less repulsive in her exterior than when, unaided, she had
attempted to resume the proper garb of her sex. Use and
association, too, had contributed a little to revive her
woman's nature, if we may so express it, and she had begun,
in particular, to feel the sort of interest in her patient which
we all come in time to entertain toward any object of our
especial care. We do not mean that Jack had absolutely
ever ceased to love her husband; strange as it may seem,
such had not literally been the case; on the contrary, her
interest in him an(d in his welfare had never ceased, even
while she saw his vices and detested his crimes; but all
we wish to say here is, that she was getting, in addition to
the long-enduring feelings of a wife, some of the interest
of a nurse.
During the whole time which had elapsed between
Jack's revealing her true character, and the moment of
which we are now writing, Spike had not once spoken to
his wife. Often had she caught his eyes intently riveted
on her, when he would turn them away, as she feared, in
distaste; and once or twice he groaned deeply, more like a
man who suffered mental than bodily pain. Still the patient
jid not speak once in all the time mentioned. We should
be representing poor Jack as possessing more philosophy,
or less feeling, than the truth would warrant, were we to
say that she was not hurt at this conduct in her husband.
38 *




450


JACK TIER;


On the contrary, she felt it deeply; and more than once it
had so far subdued her pride, as to cause her bitterly to
weep. This shedding of tears, however, was of service to
Jack in one sense, for it had the effect of renewing old
impressions, and in a certain way, of reviving the nature
of her sex within her-a nature which had been sadly
weakened by her past life.
But the hour had at length come when this long and
painful silence was to be broken. Jack and Rose were
alone with the patient, when the last again spoke to his
wife.
" Molly -poor Molly!" said the dying man, his voice
continuing full and deep to the last, " what a sad time you
must have had of it after I did you that wrong!"
"It is hard upon a woman, Stephen, to turn her out,
helpless, on a cold and selfish world," answered Jack, sim
ply, much too honest to affect a reserve she did not feel.
" It was hard, indeed; may God forgive me for it, as I
hope ye do, Molly."
No answer was made to this appeal; and the invalid
looked anxiously at his wife. The last sat at her work,
which had now got to be less awkward to her, with her eyes
bent on her needle,- her countenance rigid, and, so far
as the eye could discern, her feelings unmoved.
" Your husband speaks to you, Jack Tier," said Rose,
pointedly.
" May yours never have occasion to speak to you, Rose
Budd, in the same way," was the solemn answer. " I do
not flatter myself that I ever was as comely as you, or that
yonder poor dying wretch was a Harry Mulford in his
youth; but we were young and happy, and respected once,
and loved each other, yet you see what it's all come to!"
Rose was silenced, though she had too much tenderness
in behalf of her own youthful and manly bridegroom tc
dread a fate similar to that which had overtaken poor Jack.
Spike now seemed disposed to say something, and she went
to the side of his bed, followed by her companion, who'
kept a little in the back-ground, as if unwilling to let the
emotion she really felt be seen, and, perhaps, conscious that
her ungainly appearance did not aid her in recovering the
\ost affections of her husband.




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


451


"I have been a very wicked man, I fear," said Spike,
earnestly.
"There are none without sin," answered Rose. "Place
your reliance on the mediation of the Son of God, and sins
even far deeper than yours may be pardoned."
The captain stared at the beautiful speaker, but self-indulgence, the incessant pursuit of worldly and selfish
objects for forty years, and the habits of a life into which
the thought of God and the dread hereafter never entered,
had encased his spiritual being in a sort of brazen armour,
through which no ordinary blow of conscience could penetrate. Still he had fearful glimpses of recent events, and
his soul, hanging as it was over the abyss of eternity, was
troubled.
" What ihas become of your aunt?" half whispered Spike
-" my old captain's widow. She ought to be here; and
Don Wan Montezuma-where is he?"
Rose turned aside to conceal her tears-but no one answered the questions of the dying man. Then a gleaming
of childhood shot into the recollection of Spike, and,
clasping his hands, he tried to pray. But, like others who
have lived without any communication with their Creator
through long lives of apathy to his existence and laws,
thinking only of the present time, and daily, hourly sacrificing principles and duty to the narrow interests of the
moment, he now found how hard it is to renew communications with a being who has been so long neglected. The
fault lay in himself, however, for a gracious ear was open,
even over the death-bed of Stephen Spike, could that rude
spirit only bring itself to ask for mercy in earnestness and
truth. As his companions saw his struggles, they left him
for a few minutes to his own thoughts
"Molly," Spike at length uttered, in a faint tone, the
voice of one conscious of being very near his end, " I hope
you will forgive me, Molly. I know you must have a hard,
hard time of it."
"It is hard for a woman to unsex herself, Stephen; to
throw off her very natur', as it might be, and to turn man."
" It has changed you sadly-even your speech is altered
Once your voice was soft and womanish- more like that
of Rose Budd's than it is now."




452


JACK TIER;


"I speak as them speak among whom I 've been forced
to live. The forecastle and steward's pantry, Stephen
Spike, are poor schools to send women to l'arn language
in."
c" Try and forget it all, poor Molly! Say to me, so that
I can hear you,' I forget and forgive, Stephen.' I am
afraid God will not pardon my sins, which begin to seem
dreadful to me, if my own wife refuse to forget and forgive,
on my dying bed."
Jack was much mollified by this appeal. Her interest
in her offending husband had never been entirely extinguished. She had remembered him, and often with woman's
kindness, in all her wanderings and sufferings, as the preceding parts of our narrative must show; and though resentment had been mingled with the grief and mortification
she felt at finding how much he still submitted to Rose's
superior charms, in a breast as really generous and humane
as that of Jack Tier's, such a feeling was not likely to endure in the midst of a scene like that she was now called
to witness. The muscles of her countenance twitched
the hard-looking, tanned face began to lose its sternness,
and every way she appeared like one profoundly disturbed.
" Turn to Him whose goodness and marcy may sarve
you, Stephen," she said, in a milder and more feminine
tone than she had used now for years, making her more
like herself than either her husband or Rose had seen her
since the commencement of the late voyage; " my sayin'
that I forget and forgive cannot help a man on his deathbed."
"It will settle my mind, Molly, and leave me freer to
turn my thoughts to God."
Jack was much affected, more by the countenance and
manner of the sufferer, perhaps, than by his words. She
drew nearer to the side of her husband's pallet, knelt, took
his hands, and said solemnly,
"Stephen Spike, from the bottom of my heart, I do forgive you; and I shall pray to God that he will pardon your
sins as freely and more narcifully than I now pardon all,
and try to forget all that you have done to me."
Spike clasped his hands, and again he tried to pray; but
he habits of a whole life are not to be throwr. off at will,




OR, TIIE FLORIDA REEF.


453


and he who endeavours to regain, in his extremity, the
moments that have been lbst, will find, in bitter reality,
that he has been heaping mountains on his own soul, by
the mere practice of sin, which were never laid there by
the original fall of his race. Jack, however, had disburthened her spirit of a load that had long oppressed it, and,
burying her face in the rug, she wept.
"I wish, Molly," said the dying man, several minutes
later, "I wish I had never seen the brig. Until I got that
craft, no thought of wronging human being ever crossed
my mind."
"It was the Father of Lies that tempts all to do evil,
Stephen, and not the brig which caused the sins."
I wish I could live a year longer-only one year; that
is not much to ask for a man who is not yet sixty."
"It is hopeless, poor Stephen. The surgeons say you
cannot live one day."
Spike groaned-for the past, blended fearfully with the
future, gleamed on his conscience with a brightness that
appalled him. And what is that future, which is to make
us happy or miserable through an endless vista of time?
Is it not composed of an existence, in which conscience,
released from the delusions and weaknesses of the body,
sees all in its true colours, appreciates all, and punishes
all? Such an existence would make every man the keeper
of the record of his own transgressions, even to the most
minute exactness. It would of itself mete out perfect justice, since the sin would be seen amid its accompanying
facts, every aggravating or extenuating circumstance.
Each man would be strictly punished according to his
talents. As no one is without sin, it makes the necessity
of an atonement indispensable, and, in its most rigid in.
terpretation, it exhibits the truth of the scheme of salvation
in the clearest colours. The soul, or conscience, that can
admit the necessary degree of faith in that atonement, and
in admitting,feels its efficacy, throws the burthen. of its
own transgressions away, and remains for ever in the
Condition of its original existence, pure, and consequently
happy.
We do not presume to lay down a creed on this mighty
and mysterious matter, in which all have so deep an inte.




454


JACK TIER;


rest, and concerning which so very small a portion of the
human race think much, or think with any clearness when
it does become the subject of their passing thoughts at all.
We too well know our own ignorance to venture on dogmas which it has probably been intended that the mind of
man should not yet grapple with and comprehend. To
return to our subject.
Stephen Spike was now made to feel the incubus-load,
which perseverance in sin heaps on the breast of the reckless offender. What was the most grievous of all, his
power to shake off this dead weight was diminished in
precisely the same proportion as the burthen was increased,
the moral force of every man lessening in a very just ratio
to the magnitude of his delinquencies. Bitterly did this
deep offender struggle with his conscience, and little did
his half-unsexed wife know how to console or aid him.
Jack had been superficially instructed in the dogmas of
her faith, in childhood and youth, as most persons are instructed in what are termed Christian communities -had
been made to learn the Catechism, the Lord's Prayer, and
the Creed-and had been left to set up for herself on this
small capital, in the great concern of human existence, on
her marriage and entrance on the active business of life.
When the manner in which she had passed the last twenty
years is remembered, no one can be surprised to learn that
Jack was of little assistance to her husband in his extremity. Rose made an effort to administer hope and consolation, but the terrible nature of the struggle she witnessed, induced her to send for the chaplain of the Poughkeepsie. This divine prayed with the dying man; but
even he, in the last moments of the sufferer, was-little
more than a passive but shocked witness of remorse, suspended over the abyss of eternity in hopeless dread. We
shall not enter into the details of the revolting scene, but
simply add that curses, blasphemy, tremulous cries for
mercy, agonized entreaties to be advised, and sullen defiance were all strangely and fearfully blended. In the
midst of one of these revolting paroxysms, Spike breathed
his last. A few hours later, his body was interred in the
sands of the shore. It may be well to say in this place,
hat the hurricane of 1846, which is known to have oc



OR, TI E FLORIDA REEF.


455


curred only a few months later, swept off the frail covering, and that the body was washed away to leave its bones
among the wrecks and relics of the Florida Reef.
Mulford did not return from his fruitless expedition
in quest of the remains of Mrs. Budd, until after the death
and interment of Spike. As nothing remained to be done
at Key West, he and Rose accompanied by Jack Tier,
took passage for Charleston in the first convenient vessel
that offered. Two days before they sailed, the Poughkeepsie went out to cruise in the Gulf, agreeably to'her
general orders. The evening previously Captain Mull,
Wallace, and the chaplain, passed with the bridegroom
and bride, when the matter of the doubloons found in the
boat was discussed. It was agreed that Jack Tier should
have them; and into her hands the bag was now placed.
On this occasion, to oblige the officers, Jack went into a
narrative of all she had seen and suffered, from the
moment when abandoned by her late husband down to
that when she found him again. It was a strange account,
and one filled with surprising adventures. In most of the
vessels in which she had served, Jack had acted in the
steward's department, though she had frequently done duty
as a fore-mast hand. In strength and skill she admitted
that she had often failed; but in courage, never. Having
been given reason to think her husband was reduced to
serving in a vessel of war, she had shipped on board a
frigate bound to the Mediterranean, and had actually made
a whole cruise as a ward-room boy on that station.  While
thus employed, she had met with two of the gentlemen
present; Captain Mull and Mr. Wallace. The former was
then first-lieutenant of the frigate, and the latter a passedmidshipman; and in these capacities both had been well
known to her. As the name she then bore was the same
as that under which she now (" hailed," these officers were
soon made to r collect her, though Jack was no longer the
light, trim-built lad he had then;ppeared to be. Neither
of the gentlemen named had made the whole cruise in the
ship, but each had been promoted and transferred to another craft, after being Jack's shipmate rather more than a
year. This information greatly facilitated the affair of the
doubloons




,56


JACK  TIER;


From Charleston the travellers came north by rail-road
Harry made several stops by the way, in order to divert
the thoughts of his beautiful young bride from dwelling
too much on the fate of her aunt. He knew that home
would revive all these recollections painfully, and wished
to put off the hour of their return, until time had a little
weakened Rose's regrets. For this reason, he passed a
whole week in Washington, though it was a season of the
year that the place is not in much request. Still, Washington is scarce a town, at any season. It is much the
fashion to deride the American capital, and to treat it as a,lace of very humble performance with very sounding
pretensions. Certainly, Washington has very few of'the
peculiarities of a great European capital, but few as these
are, they are. more than belong to any other place in this
country.  We now allude to the distinctive characteristics
of a dapital, and not to a mere concentration of houses
and shops within a given space. In this last respect,
Washington is much behind fifty other American towns,
even while it is the only place in the whole republic which
possesses specimens of architecture, on a scale approaching that of the higher classes of the edifices of the old
world. It is totally deficient in churches, and theatres,
and markets; or those it does possess are, in an architectural sense, not at all above the level of village or country.
town pretensions, but one or two of its national edifices
do approach the magnificence and grandeur of the old
world. The new Treasury Buildings are unquestionably,
on the score of size, embellishments and finish, the American edifice that comes nearest to first class architecture
on the other side of the Atlantic. The Capitol comes
next, though it can scarce be ranked, relatively, as high
As for the White House, it is every way sufficient for its
purposes and the institutions; and now that its grounds are
finished, and the shrubbery and trees begin to tell, one
sees about it something that is not unworthy of its high
uses and origin. Those grounds, which so long lay a reproach to the national taste and liberality, are now fast
becoming beautiful, are already exceedingly pretty, and
give to a structure that is destined to become historical,
having already associated with it the names of Jefferson




OR, THE FLORIDA REEF.


457


Madison, Jackson, and Quincy Adams, together with the
ci polloi of the later Presidents, an entourage that is suitable to its past recollections and its present purposes.
They are not quite on a level with the parks of London,
it is true; or even with the Tuileries, or Luxembourg, or
the Boboli, or the Villa Reale, or fifty more grounds and
gardens, of a similar nature, that might be mentioned;
but, seen in the spring and early summer, they adorn the
building they surround, and lend to the whole neighbourhood a character of high civilization, that no other place
in America can show, ill precisely the same form, or to the
same extent.
This much have we said on the subject of the White
House and its precincts, because we took occasion, in a
former work, to berate the narrow-minded parsimony
which left the grounds of the White House in a condition
that was discreditable to the republic. How far our philippic may have hastened the improvements which have
been made, is more than we shall pretend to say; but
having made the former strictures, we are happy to have an
occasion to say (though nearly twenty years have intervened between the expressions of the two opinions) that
they are no longer merited.
And here we will add another word, and that on a subject that is not sufficiently pressed on the attention of a
people, who, by position, are unavoidably provincial. We
invite those whose gorges rise at any stricture on anything
American, and who fancy it is enough to belong to the
great republic to be great in itself, to place themselves in
front of the State Department, as it now stands, and 4'
examine its dimensions, material and form with critical
eyes, then to look along the adjacent Treasury Buildings,
to fancy them completed, by a junction with new edifices
of a similar construction to contain the department of
state; next to fancy similar works completed for the two
opposite departments; after which, to compare the past
and present with the future as thus finished, and remember how recent has been the partial improvement which
even now exists. If this examination and comparison 'do
not show, directly to the sense of sight, how niuch there
was and is to criticise, as put in contrast with other coun39




458


JACK TIER;


tries, we shall give up the individuals in question, as toe
deeply dyed in the provincial wool ever to be whitened.
The present Trinity church, New York, certainly not more
than a third class European church, if as much, compared
with its village-like predecessor, may supply a practical,homiiy of the same degree of usefulness. There may be
those among us, however, who fancy it patriotism to maintain that the old Treasury Buildings were quite equal
to the new, and of these intense Americans we cry their
mercy!
Rose felt keenly on reaching her late aunt's very neat
dwelling in Fourteenth Street, New York. But the imanly
tenderness of Mulford was a great support to her, and a
little time brought her to think of that weak-minded, but
well-meaning and affectionate relative, with gentle regret,
rather than with grief. Among the connexions of her
young husband, she found several females of a class in life
certainly equal to her own, and somewhat superior to the
latter in education and habits. As for Harry, he very
gladly passed the season with his beautiful bride, though a
fine ship was laid down for him, by means of Rose's for
tune, now much increased by her aunt's death, and he was
absent in Europe when his son was born; an event that
occurred only two months since.
The Swash, and the shipment of gunpowder, were
thought of no more in the good town of Manhattan. This
great emporium-we beg pardon, this great commnercial
emporium-has a trick of forgetting, condensing all interests into those of the present moment. It is much addicted to believing that which never had an existence, and
of overlooking that which is occurring directly under its
nose. So marked is this tendency' to forgetfulness, we
should not be surprised to hear some of the M anhattanese
pretend that our legend is nothing but a fiction, and deny
the existence of the Molly, Captain Spike, and even of
Biddy Noon. But we know them too well to mind what
they say, and shall go on and finish our narrative in oir
own way, just as if there were no such raven-throated commentators at all.
Jack Tier, still known by that name, lives in the family
of Captain Mulford  She is fast losing the tan on her face




OR, THB FLORIDA REEF.


459


and hands, and every day is improving in appearance. She
now habitually wears her proper attire, and is dropping
gradually into the feelings and habits of her sex. She
never can become what she once was, any more than the
blackainoor can become white, or the leopard change his
spots; but she is no longer revolting. She has left off
chewing and smoking, having found a refuge in snuff.
Her hair is permitted to grow, and is already turned up
with a comb, though constantly concealed beneath a cap.
The heart of Jack, alone, seems unaltered. The strange,
tiger-like affection that she bore for Spike, during twenty
years of abandonment, has disappeared in regrets for his
end. It is succeeded by a most sincere attachment for
Rose, in which the little boy, since his appearance on the
scene, is becoming a large participator. This child Jack
is beginning to love intensely; and the doubloons, well invested, placing her above the feeling of dependence, she is
likel toI end her life, once so errant and disturbed, in tranc
quillity and a homelike happiness.


I'HE END.