The Prime Minister by William Henry Giles Kingston
with much less danger and difficultythan at first. The damages she had sustained in her long encounter withthe corsair, were of less consequence than might have been expected,considering the size and power of the enemy; and the seamen attributedtheir victory to their fervent prayers to the Virgin, and all thesaints, and to the vows of offerings at their shrines.
This was, however, no time for thought--activity and energy of actionwere now demanded; every officer and man was employed; the captainurging them to their work; for till the standing rigging could besecured, their masts, which had fortunately escaped injury, might anymoment have gone overboard. A few only of the shrouds were found tohave been cut away, which being put to rights in the best way they couldeffect, and a fresh running rigging rove, a reef was shaken out of eachof the three topsails, and the ship brought to the wind, with her headtowards the shore. Boldly did she buffet the billows, like a gallanthunter straining every nerve to clear the heavy ground of a freshploughed field.
During the greater part of the time, Don Luis remained on the poop,giving such assistance as he was able; but, on an occasion like thepresent, a landsman can be but of little use, and on the first moment ofcessation from toil, the Captain joined him, exclaiming, "Ah, my youngfriend, Heaven be praised that you have escaped uninjured; for, had yousuffered in the engagement, I should have blamed myself for treating youwith sad want of hospitality on the ocean. But you have now added tothe wonders of your travels a sea adventure worth talking about; and donot forget to mention a brave youth who saved his captain's life; at allevents, Joze Pinto will not be ungrateful, if he ever has theopportunity of showing his gratitude."
"It is I who have to thank you for preserving my life, and the lives ofall on board, by your bravery and conduct, Captain Pinto," returned DonLuis, "and proud I am to have fought by your side."
"Talk not of it, my friend; for this is no time to stand bandyingcompliments," answered the Captain. "Ah, Senhor Nunez," he added,turning to the pilot, who was just then passing them. "Were you at lastconvinced that we had mortal foes to contend with?"
"I know not, senhor," answered the old man; "they fought like devils, atall events, and till I see some of them make the sign of the cross, Ishall still believe them evil spirits."
"They are all long ere this in the world of spirits," said CaptainPinto; "for none, I think, can have escaped among all the wild crew."
While he was speaking, a party of seamen were seen ascending the poop,dragging up between them a man, who by the dim light of a lantern heldbefore him, appeared to be severely wounded in the shoulder. His dressconsisted of the Moorish jacket and trousers; his head was bound by awhite turban, now torn, disordered, and wet with blood; his featureswere swarthy and haggard, and his figure tall and well knit. He lookedround with a wild confused stare, as if scarce recovered from theeffects of some stunning blow, evidently endeavouring to collect hisscattered thoughts, in order to speak.
"Whom have you brought hither?" asked the Captain of the seamen; "Ithought not a pirate had escaped."
"This, by the blessing of the Virgin, is the only one on board,"answered one of the men, "and he would not have been here now, had notSenhor Alvez ordered us to bring him to you, instead of throwing himoverboard, with the rest of the cursed wretches, as we were about to do.We found him scarcely breathing under two of our slain comrades, andsome say he must be the man they saw leap on board the moment the shipsran foul of each other, who they thought had long ago gone with hisbrother infidels to the bottomless pit."
The first lieutenant at the same time came up to corroborate thestatement, and to give in an account of the loss they had sustained, sixmen having been killed, and a considerable number wounded by sabre cutswhile repelling the boarders.
"Let some one bind the wounds of that man, Senhor Alvez. Carry himbelow, but secure his feet, that in the frenzy to which these people areliable, he commit no mischief," said the Captain. "I will examine himto-morrow at leisure, when he is fully certain to prove worthy ofhanging;" but, as he was speaking, consciousness returned to the mind ofthe stranger; for at that moment, uttering a few words, he made agesture of supplication. The captain looked at him earnestly, as thelight of the lantern fell upon his features; again the same gesture wasrepeated, when he once more sunk into a state of insensibility.Whatever it was, it seemed to have a magic effect on Captain Pinto, asscrutinising him closely, he said, as if to himself, "'Tis strange, andyet it must be so;" then exclaimed aloud, "bear him carefully to mycabin, for, though an infidel, he is a human being like ourselves, andnow hapless, and in our power, he is no longer an enemy; let the surgeonattend to him, the moment he has seen to the more serious wounds of ourown people. Gentlemen, I take this stranger under my protection; for Ihave reason to suspect that he is not what he seems. Don Luis, Irequest your company in my cabin," saying which, the captain,accompanied by Don Luis, followed the seamen, who, surprised at thechange of orders, bore the wounded stranger to the cabin, where he wascarefully placed on a couch, and his host, with his own hands,commenced, in the most tender way, to examine his wounds till thesurgeon made his appearance, when that officer pronounced them notdangerous, if immediately attended to. Restoratives being applied, heat length gave signs of returning animation, and sitting up, gazedwildly at the people who stood around him; but the captain would allownone to question him till he had been supplied with dry clothes, andevery comfort that could be thought of. All were then desired to quitthe cabin, the Captain requesting Don Luis to retire to his own berthtill he summoned him, then approached the captive, and taking his hand,"My brother," he said, "can I do ought else to relieve you? Speak, Ineed but to know your wishes, to follow them to the utmost of my power;I ask not now your name, or whence you come, for speaking will fatigueyou."
"Thanks, my brother, thanks," returned the stranger, "you follow thegreatest of all precepts, charity to the distressed. More I ask not;but I would give you some account of myself, that you may report it tothose whose curiosity may be excited. You see before you a Christiangentleman and a Portuguese, though 'tis long, long since I saw mybeloved country. Know me by the name of Senhor Mendez, no willingcompanion, believe me, of the vile pirates you sent to destruction."
"My suspicions were not wrong then," said the Captain, drawing stillnearer, and gazing earnestly at him; "and, if I mistake not, I have seenthose features before, though when or where I cannot recall to mind."
The wounded man smiled faintly, "You have seen them before, CaptainPinto," he said; "but years have passed since then, and time, in thethousand changes it has been making, has not spared them, nor do I thinkthat my nearest friends could recognise him who is before you: we havegrown from youth to age since we last met."
"I am at fault then," answered the Captain; "nor can I guess when I knewyou."
"It is as well that you should remain in ignorance for the present, myfriend," answered the stranger. "I know that I can fully trust you; butremember that there are some secrets which are dangerous to thepossessor, and I would not make you incur peril on my account ifpossible."
"I will ask no further, my brother," said the Captain; "rest and sleepare absolutely necessary for you, therefore I must insist on yourspeaking no more," saying which he placed his guest back on the couch,and summoned Don Luis to join him in a repast which he ordered to bebrought in, the first food they had found time to taste for hours, sothat both were ready to do full justice to it.
While they were at table, the light of the lamp falling strongly on thecountenance of Don Luis, drew the attention of the stranger towards him."Ah!" he exclaimed, "whom have you near you, Captain Pinto? If feverdoes not disturb my brain, I think that he whom I see before me is anAlmeida. Speak, youth! Do not you belong to that family?"
Don Luis started on hearing himself addressed. "I am an Almeida," heanswered. "The only son of the Count of Almeida."
"I knew that I could not be mistaken," said the prisoner, half tohimself. "By what an extraordinary fate do I meet you!--but I a
mwandering. Stir not from where you are; I would gaze upon thosefeatures I once knew so well. Yet no! 'tis a spirit I see before me,--aform long since sunk to the grave! Ah, it stirs not! vain illusion! Isee the flag of Portugal, of my own loved country. Never more shall Ifight beneath that banner. The ship fills; the raging ocean is aroundme, and I must die amid these vile pirates. Blood flows fast--red, redblood--'tis that of my country's foes; Heaven protect me!" For someminutes the stranger was silent, and appeared to have sunk into slumber.
The captain made a sign to Don Luis not to answer, when he perceivedthat the wounded man was already beginning to ramble in his speech,
This was, however, no time for thought--activity and energy of actionwere now demanded; every officer and man was employed; the captainurging them to their work; for till the standing rigging could besecured, their masts, which had fortunately escaped injury, might anymoment have gone overboard. A few only of the shrouds were found tohave been cut away, which being put to rights in the best way they couldeffect, and a fresh running rigging rove, a reef was shaken out of eachof the three topsails, and the ship brought to the wind, with her headtowards the shore. Boldly did she buffet the billows, like a gallanthunter straining every nerve to clear the heavy ground of a freshploughed field.
During the greater part of the time, Don Luis remained on the poop,giving such assistance as he was able; but, on an occasion like thepresent, a landsman can be but of little use, and on the first moment ofcessation from toil, the Captain joined him, exclaiming, "Ah, my youngfriend, Heaven be praised that you have escaped uninjured; for, had yousuffered in the engagement, I should have blamed myself for treating youwith sad want of hospitality on the ocean. But you have now added tothe wonders of your travels a sea adventure worth talking about; and donot forget to mention a brave youth who saved his captain's life; at allevents, Joze Pinto will not be ungrateful, if he ever has theopportunity of showing his gratitude."
"It is I who have to thank you for preserving my life, and the lives ofall on board, by your bravery and conduct, Captain Pinto," returned DonLuis, "and proud I am to have fought by your side."
"Talk not of it, my friend; for this is no time to stand bandyingcompliments," answered the Captain. "Ah, Senhor Nunez," he added,turning to the pilot, who was just then passing them. "Were you at lastconvinced that we had mortal foes to contend with?"
"I know not, senhor," answered the old man; "they fought like devils, atall events, and till I see some of them make the sign of the cross, Ishall still believe them evil spirits."
"They are all long ere this in the world of spirits," said CaptainPinto; "for none, I think, can have escaped among all the wild crew."
While he was speaking, a party of seamen were seen ascending the poop,dragging up between them a man, who by the dim light of a lantern heldbefore him, appeared to be severely wounded in the shoulder. His dressconsisted of the Moorish jacket and trousers; his head was bound by awhite turban, now torn, disordered, and wet with blood; his featureswere swarthy and haggard, and his figure tall and well knit. He lookedround with a wild confused stare, as if scarce recovered from theeffects of some stunning blow, evidently endeavouring to collect hisscattered thoughts, in order to speak.
"Whom have you brought hither?" asked the Captain of the seamen; "Ithought not a pirate had escaped."
"This, by the blessing of the Virgin, is the only one on board,"answered one of the men, "and he would not have been here now, had notSenhor Alvez ordered us to bring him to you, instead of throwing himoverboard, with the rest of the cursed wretches, as we were about to do.We found him scarcely breathing under two of our slain comrades, andsome say he must be the man they saw leap on board the moment the shipsran foul of each other, who they thought had long ago gone with hisbrother infidels to the bottomless pit."
The first lieutenant at the same time came up to corroborate thestatement, and to give in an account of the loss they had sustained, sixmen having been killed, and a considerable number wounded by sabre cutswhile repelling the boarders.
"Let some one bind the wounds of that man, Senhor Alvez. Carry himbelow, but secure his feet, that in the frenzy to which these people areliable, he commit no mischief," said the Captain. "I will examine himto-morrow at leisure, when he is fully certain to prove worthy ofhanging;" but, as he was speaking, consciousness returned to the mind ofthe stranger; for at that moment, uttering a few words, he made agesture of supplication. The captain looked at him earnestly, as thelight of the lantern fell upon his features; again the same gesture wasrepeated, when he once more sunk into a state of insensibility.Whatever it was, it seemed to have a magic effect on Captain Pinto, asscrutinising him closely, he said, as if to himself, "'Tis strange, andyet it must be so;" then exclaimed aloud, "bear him carefully to mycabin, for, though an infidel, he is a human being like ourselves, andnow hapless, and in our power, he is no longer an enemy; let the surgeonattend to him, the moment he has seen to the more serious wounds of ourown people. Gentlemen, I take this stranger under my protection; for Ihave reason to suspect that he is not what he seems. Don Luis, Irequest your company in my cabin," saying which, the captain,accompanied by Don Luis, followed the seamen, who, surprised at thechange of orders, bore the wounded stranger to the cabin, where he wascarefully placed on a couch, and his host, with his own hands,commenced, in the most tender way, to examine his wounds till thesurgeon made his appearance, when that officer pronounced them notdangerous, if immediately attended to. Restoratives being applied, heat length gave signs of returning animation, and sitting up, gazedwildly at the people who stood around him; but the captain would allownone to question him till he had been supplied with dry clothes, andevery comfort that could be thought of. All were then desired to quitthe cabin, the Captain requesting Don Luis to retire to his own berthtill he summoned him, then approached the captive, and taking his hand,"My brother," he said, "can I do ought else to relieve you? Speak, Ineed but to know your wishes, to follow them to the utmost of my power;I ask not now your name, or whence you come, for speaking will fatigueyou."
"Thanks, my brother, thanks," returned the stranger, "you follow thegreatest of all precepts, charity to the distressed. More I ask not;but I would give you some account of myself, that you may report it tothose whose curiosity may be excited. You see before you a Christiangentleman and a Portuguese, though 'tis long, long since I saw mybeloved country. Know me by the name of Senhor Mendez, no willingcompanion, believe me, of the vile pirates you sent to destruction."
"My suspicions were not wrong then," said the Captain, drawing stillnearer, and gazing earnestly at him; "and, if I mistake not, I have seenthose features before, though when or where I cannot recall to mind."
The wounded man smiled faintly, "You have seen them before, CaptainPinto," he said; "but years have passed since then, and time, in thethousand changes it has been making, has not spared them, nor do I thinkthat my nearest friends could recognise him who is before you: we havegrown from youth to age since we last met."
"I am at fault then," answered the Captain; "nor can I guess when I knewyou."
"It is as well that you should remain in ignorance for the present, myfriend," answered the stranger. "I know that I can fully trust you; butremember that there are some secrets which are dangerous to thepossessor, and I would not make you incur peril on my account ifpossible."
"I will ask no further, my brother," said the Captain; "rest and sleepare absolutely necessary for you, therefore I must insist on yourspeaking no more," saying which he placed his guest back on the couch,and summoned Don Luis to join him in a repast which he ordered to bebrought in, the first food they had found time to taste for hours, sothat both were ready to do full justice to it.
While they were at table, the light of the lamp falling strongly on thecountenance of Don Luis, drew the attention of the stranger towards him."Ah!" he exclaimed, "whom have you near you, Captain Pinto? If feverdoes not disturb my brain, I think that he whom I see before me is anAlmeida. Speak, youth! Do not you belong to that family?"
Don Luis started on hearing himself addressed. "I am an Almeida," heanswered. "The only son of the Count of Almeida."
"I knew that I could not be mistaken," said the prisoner, half tohimself. "By what an extraordinary fate do I meet you!--but I a
The captain made a sign to Don Luis not to answer, when he perceivedthat the wounded man was already beginning to ramble in his speech,