THE PORTO GRANDE."

-DEPARTURE.

21

nia" (120), a Dutch man-of-war brig, and a large Russian frigate, the "Grand Duke Michael," which had been refitting, were not far off. I could easily perceive that the "Bristol" was observed and admired. She had been built for the Indian seas, measured 600 tons, was sharp at the bows, and at first sight has even been taken for a sloop-of-war by naval men. The foresail was already loosed, and in a few minutes we found ourselves free from all impediments, in the middle of the stream. The wind was fair, the sails were set, and passing under the bastions, whose heavy guns are placed "en plein d'eau," and are sufficient to rake any ship to death in a quarter of an hour, the picturesque town of Valetta gradually diminished; we reached the mouth of the "Porto grande," and the promontories and fortifications of Malta appeared in rapid succession.

It was now half-past 10 o'clock A.M., and we were fairly under weigh. There was a fresh north-westerly breeze, and the weather, for the season of the year, was good.

CHAPTER II.

VOYAGE TO ALEXANDRIA.

I HAD taken up my station on the poop. The scene around me was a very inspiring one; and the various objects which flitted before my eyes, seemed like the creations of fancy. Many persons were assembled on the ramparts to witness our departure: for the entré or egress of a ship, at Malta, is at all times a beautiful sight, and to an Englishman especially; but such was the peculiar temper of my mind at the moment, that I looked on in silent admiration. I was standing at the elbow of Captain Riches, who himself had taken the helm, and there I continued gazing on the spot, as long as any definite object could be distinguished. The breeze began to freshen, and Malta soon became a speck upon the horizon.

As soon as we were fairly outside, the captain relinquished the helm to one whose steady gaze and furrowed cheek marked him for a veteran in the service; and, having cast his eye round the ship, went down below. The pleasures of a journey are considerably enhanced, I think, by the consciousness that we possess the good will of our companions, or of those with whom we must of necessity have intercourse. So per

THE SEA A LAD OVERBOARD!

23

ceiving that the master was now at liberty, I ventured to address him, for the first time since we cleared the island.

The first salutations over, I requested he would favor me with an account of his journey out to Malta. He told me that for the season of the year, all things considered, it had been favorable: but that they encountered one very severe gale off the Bay of Biscay; and that in the night, when the gale was at its height, a heavy sea struck the ship and swept away a very fine lad from the deck. He said that, instantly, they put the ship about as well as they could, and made ready a boat without losing a moment: for although it was dark, and the wind howling in the shrouds, the sea running mountains, and roaring fearfully around them, they would have made an attempt to save him; that as the elements lulled after the fatal gust was past, they might have been directed to the spot by the sound of the poor fellow's voice and indeed, that it was that which stimulated them to try :-for though they could not see him, they distinctly heard him calling upon the mate" Mr. Searson! Mr. Searson! Oh, God! Help! Mr. Searson!"-that these heart-rending ejaculations were repeated twice or three times, which intimated that he was not far from the ship, and that he was supporting himself by swimming:-that they answered him, and gave him every hope and encouragement they could :—that a man-of-war's boat (one of those they were bringing out for the dock-yard) was immediately hoisted over the ship's side, and that three brave fellows were in the act of dropping into her, when the helmsman called out to them, to hang on for their lives and but in time :-they clung to the shrouds like cats-and, at the same instant, sustained a shock

24

DESCRIPTION OF A STORM

which would have been fatal to them all, but for the timely warning they had received; for a most tremendous sea broke over them, more furious than before, and left them all but breathless. "For a minute," continued the captain, "the ship trembled in the hollow of the waters, and another such might have swamped us all-but the next instant, the vessel righted and rose upon the surf.

"A momentary pause ensued, and the pale watery moon looked out from behind a cloud, but still close veiled by the scud which was flying rapidly before her, and seemed to laugh at our vain attempts to rescue one who had already perished in the briny deep. What was to be done? We no longer heard the voice of him we had lost :-the sea was running mountains high-the boat which we intended to launch had been dashed to pieces-not a vestige of her remained-part of our bulwarks had been washed away, and the vessel groaned as she exposed her bosom to the infuriated element. Her timbers loudly cracked— the cords were strained, and every spar bent nobly to the wind as we lay to amid the roaring billows, which threatened annihilation as they came, and rolling on in quick succession, dashed their foaming waters even to the mast-head.

"Once more we called upon the poor lad, an awful momentary pause ensued:-no answer was returned, and the plaintive moanings of the wind stealing through the blocks and smaller rigging, not only mocked our solicitude, but for a long time, (and especially during those intervals when as the fury of the tempest subsided we had time to collect our thoughts,) reminded us of the melancholy heart-rending cries of him whom we were compelled to relinquish to his hap

IN THE BAY OF BISCAY.

25

less fate. To have lowered another boat would have been madness, as, in all probability, it would have perished liked the last, and there was now no longer the same inducement. Besides, the gale began to freshen, and a vivid flash of lightning, followed by a peal of thunder, and a sudden fall of rain, reminded us of the situation we were in, and hinted that the safety of the ship depended on our own forethought and exertions. It was indeed an awful night. For a few hours, the gale continued to rage with unabated violence, and it was not until after day-break, that any perceptible alteration could be said to take place. The thunder, however, had cleared the air, and the rain continued to fall. This I was not sorry for; and though the storm seemed to be abating, the sea still ran high. No further accident, however, happened. I was grieved, deeply grieved for the loss of my poor boy; but there was no help for it, and it was useless to repine at what could not be recalled; especially as we had nothing to reproach ourselves with. It seemed to have been designed by the Almighty; for if the man-of-war's boat had not been swept away as it was, the three brave fellows who would have tried to save the lad, might have perished with him. The thunder was gradually retiring to a distance, and the clouds upon the opposite horizon began to break; a little blue sky was discovered, and as the sun ascended in his course towards the meridian, the atmosphere cleared and the gale subsided."

Such, as nearly as I can recollect, were the leading facts of the Captain's narrative. A thousand things recurred to me as he proceeded; and the scenes of that terrible eventful night were fully developed to my view :-having myself been placed in situations pre