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NIGHTS AT SEA;

Or, Sketches of Naval Life during the War.

BY THE OLD SAILOR.

WITH AN ILLUSTRATION BY GEORGE CRUIKSHANK.

No. IX.

THE BURIAL AT SEA.-SLING THE MONKEY. THE

PIRATE CRAFT.

My last left the gallant and noble commander of the Spankaway sitting in his cabin at early morning, with no other companion than the corpse of his associate and friend in boyhood, and perusing the manuscript book which had been so strangely bequeathed to him. Powerful emotions shook his frame as many an occurrence was revived in his mind by the narration, which was not written in a connected form, but seemed to have been compiled at different times, and under various feelings, for the language evidently expressed and manifested the ruling passion at the moment of committing the record to paper. Had the volume fallen into any other hands than those of Lord Eustace, the whole would have been unintelligible, and the reader would have considered it as the uncurbed demonstrations of some romantic enthusiast, or the production of an unfortunate individual labouring under the horrors of insanity.

A great portion was occupied with abstruse reasoning to prove there was no hereafter-no judge of quick and dead-no future state of reward or punishment. And was the reasoning conclusive? No! it only betrayed the incessant struggles of his mind to crush a belief which was ever present to his conscience; it evidenced the futility of the creature warring against the soul-impressing power of the Creator. He had read the works of Paine, and fancied himself convinced of their truth; but there was a still small voice whispering ever in his heart that overturned the fallacies of the infidel; and though the never-dying soul was strong in believing, the pride of perishing human nature set itself up in array against the spirit, and it was not till the immortal essence was about to return to Him who gave it, that mortality yielded up the palm of victory, and in expiring agonies confessed the existence of the Deity, though with the same foolhardiness it rejected the hopes of his divinest attribute

-mercy.

And now there lay the frail body, cold, and rigid, and senseless the heart could no more say, "I am faint," nor the head that "I am sick;" pain and grief, trouble or remorse, wound or disease, would never again produce corporeal suffering; the inanimate dead would return to dust as it was, and the spirit

The removal of the dying prisoner to the captain's cabin had very soon become the subject of conversation fore and aft, and various indeed were the conjectures and reports which prevailed, though in one thing all agreed, viz. that in the person of the captive Lord Eustace had discovered a near relation. Amongst the inve

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terate yarn-spinners the most fertile exaggerations were quickly multiplied; and more than one or two pretended that they "had fathomed the whole affair, and were in possession of undeniable facts, which, however, they meant to keep to themselves," whilst at the same time they just let out sufficient to doubly mystify the thing

The heat of battle no longer raged, and the dead-which, had they expired on the deck during the fury of contest, would have been launched out at the port—were now quietly extended side by side, and their remains covered over with the flags of their respective nations. But the body of Delaney remained in the cabin, and frequently during the day did Lord Eustace stand over it, and gaze long, and sometimes wildly, upon features that had never been forgotten.

Oh! there is a sad and enthusiastic feeling, so solemn, so mysterious, so undefinable, in looking upon some well-remembered countenance that can never smile again, as in the ashy paleness of decaying nature, every muscle is rigid and fixed, and no breath, no sound of breathing, escapes from the pallid lips. Oh! what art thou, Death, that destroys the pride of strength in the vigour of manhood, and strikes down the warrior in his might? Youth and beauty, old age and decrepitude, are alike to thee, and thy leaden finger is remorselessly laid on the bright orb beaming with joy unspeakable, and never-dying love, as well as the dim and sunken eye whose feeble vision can no longer behold the works of creation.

The evening approached,-a lovely autumnal evening, and in that part of the world redolent with glory; the sun was rapidly descending westward, and throwing around him a mantle of brightness as he entered his pavilion of gorgeous clouds, whose tints have ever baffled the painter's art and the writer's skill to describe. Hark! there is the tolling of the ship's bell, and every voice is hushed into a whisper; the ensign and pennant are hoisted halfmast, and the prizes follow the example; a gun is heard booming on the waters, and at the expiration of a minute another, to show that an officer of rank is about to be consigned to his last home. The seamen, arrayed in their white Guernsey frocks and duck trousers, cluster together, and seriously mourning for departed shipmates, each has his anecdote to tell of Jack's worth, Bill's integrity, or Jem's drollery, and frequently the aspiration rose, "God rest their souls!" Such were the English tars.

The French also assembled together in groups, but their sorrow came by sudden gushes, and was violent only whilst the fit lasted. But there was one-a veteran of many years, who sat at the head of Delaney's corpse-silent, and solitary, and sad. No change of countenance betrayed any internal struggle,—not a sigh, not a look, gave evidence that the man had feeling; but there was a sternness on his brow as, resting his elbow on his knee, with his chin buried in the palm of his hand, his eyes were intently fixed upon the deceased-it was the major's confidential servant.

The bell continued to toll, the minute-gun at its stated period sent forth its hollow moan, and the sun seemed to hasten its descent as it approached the verge of the horizon. The officers, both English and French, mixed promiscuously together; but amongst the

whole none manifested a finer sense of the solemn occasion than the ci-devant Count de Millefleur, now degenerated into Citizen Captain Lamont. Indeed nature appeared to have endowed him with every noble quality of mind, to atone for the egregious deformity of his person; for he was truly brave, strictly honourable, amiably benevolent, and strong in his friendships. And now he stood with a moistened eye and a softened heart, contemplating the havoc of war, and mourning to part from his gallant countrymen whose last battle was over.

The sun was near the verge of the horizon, and the western sky blended with the ocean in its crimson, and purple, and gold; whilst to the eastward the sombre shades were gathering on the rear of the retreating conqueror, to throw their dark array over the plains of heaven as soon as he had departed and once more claim the victory. It was at this moment that Lord Eustace ascended to the deck, and every head was uncovered with more than usual etiquette. All revered the noble chief, all respected his sorrows. And there were deep traces of the latter upon his countenance, in defiance of his efforts to appear tranquil; a powerful contest had been going on in his mind as to whether the remains of his once beloved relative should be treated as those of a traitor, or allowed the honours which would have been his due had he been in reality a Frenchman of the same rank. He was still debating the question with himself, when four French soldiers came to carry the body to the quarter-deck. They were all fine-looking fellows; and the careful manner in which they raised the corpse, as well as the stern grief which was manifest in their deportment, showed that the major' had been valued and esteemed by his men.

Still Lord Eustace was undetermined, when the first minute-gun was heard, and his lordship was happy to find that Nugent had settled the question for him; for the young lieutenant, not wishing to trouble his commander on every occasion, and at the same time desirous of showing that he knew and could perform his duties,— there might also be, and probably was, a shrewd guess at the dilemma in which his lordship was placed,-had therefore, amongst his other arrangements for the funeral, prepared that every honour should be shown to the victims of national strife. The gratings were laid upon, the gangways covered over with the English and French jacks united, the quarter-masters stood ready, and his lordship, having laid his hat upon the capstan-head, advanced to the spot with the open prayer-book in his hand. In an instant every hat was removed, and the rival seamen mingled together in solemn silence, no other thought pervading their minds than connected with the mournful ceremony in which they were engaged.

A corpse was laid upon the grating, Lord Eustace read the service, and at the words "we commit his body to the deep," the inner end of the grating was raised so as as to form an inclined plane outwards, the inanimate remains moved slowly from their position, feet foremost; there was a sullen plunge, the dark eddies gurgled and foamed over the sinking mass, and then resumed their smoothness, scarcely ruffled by the breeze. Another and another succeeded, till the whole, except Delaney, were buried in their ocean grave, and Lord Eustace resigned the prayer-book

to the surgeon, who, as soon as the major was extended on his naval bier, recommenced the burial service, and at the usual words he was consigned to the deep, deep sea, at the very moment that the upper limb of the sun disappeared below the horizon. Nugent and Citizen Captain Lamont stood at the head of the grating, and as the waves closed over the body, the marines fired three volleys, the seamen slowly retreated from the spot, the gangway was cleared, and everything resumed its ordinary routine.

[I might here enter on a memoir of Major Delaney, and give a biographical sketch of the life of Lord Eustace, but I prefer reserving them for a future occasion.]

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Well," said old Jack Sheavehole, as the usual group took up their accustomed position on the forecastle for yarn-spinning, "well, there's some on 'em drafted into t'other world, and knows a little more about the consarn nor we do, shipmates. Howsomever, may the Lord A'mighty upon 'em, and muster all hands aloft without a single R among 'em."

"I hope we shan't have to send any more the same way, Jack," said Bob Martingale; "I don't mean to Heaven, but over the standing part of the foresheet. There'll be two or three, if not half a dozen, get Greenige, and be laid up in ordinary for the rest of their days."

"And a pretty sprinkling o' cook's warrants, if Lord Youstitch can have his way," chimed in Joe Nighthead: “I'm bless'd if I should mind getting one at the same price."

"What, the loss o' yer precious limb, Joe?" exclaimed old Jack in horror. Well, then, you get your greasy commission, and let me keep my timbers."

"Why, what's the harm of an ammunition leg?" said Joe. "Lord love your heart! you should see the wooden pins as they have piled up in tiers at Greenige, my boy! I had, and hopes I have still, an ould uncle in the college, a jolly rampagerant ould blade as loves a toothfull o' stuff, and a half-ounce chaw o' pigtail as well as ever he did. He lost both his legs on the first o' June, and now he travels about upon a couple of wooden consarns, hopping the twigs as blithe as a lark. I went to see him about a year ago, and so we got to rambling about among the trees in the park, and one and another joined consort, and ould Nunky was the life of the whole on 'em, and Fine sports you have aboard, Joe,' says he; 'none o' yer keelhauling and running the gantline, as there was in my time.' Not none in the least, ould boy,' says I, barring that ere cat as has got as many tails as she has lives, and that's nine. But a fellow has ounly to do his duty, and the cat's tails may lay and grow till the fur comes as long as a badger's. But I say, ould 'un, did you ever play sling the monkey?'*— Indeed have I,' says he laughing; and I shouldn't mind having another do at it now, purvided it warn't for my legs.'—'Oh, d―n your legs!' says I, for I thought he

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Sling the monkey is a favourite pastime amongst seamen. A rope with a noose in the lower end is suspended from one of the yards, the main or fore; the "monkey" passes the noose round his body below his arm-pits, and sufficient slack is left from aloft for the monkey to chase his tormentors, who gather round him with knotted handkerchiefs, pieces of rope, &c. which they do not fail to lay on pretty smartly at every opportunity. The only defence of the monkey is a piece of chalk, and if he can mark any of his assailants with it, they are imme

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meant them as had cut his acquaintance on the first of June; the wooden pins 'ull do well enough, and a rope over the outrigger o' this here tree, with the soft sweet grass underneath, where there's not no danger whatsomever in a tumble. What do you say, my hearties, who's for a game of sling the monkey? Well, I'm bless'd if there warn't more nor twenty on 'em all mad for it: some had one leg, some two, carried away; ever so many had lost an arm; and there was a flourishing o' three-cornered trucks, and a rattling among the wooden pins, and Who'll get a rope?' was shouted as they danced about the ground. So, d'ye see, shipmates, I got a good scope of two and half inch, and passes one end over the arm of the tree, that was rigged out like a lower yard, and makes a bowline noose all ship-shape below, and gets a piece o' chalk, and the ould 'uns makes up their handkerchies into knots, and at it we got like fighting-cocks. At last ould Nunky gets to be monkey, and I'm blow'd if I didn't warm his starn for him, anyhow. And ever so many nobs comed to look at us, and so we got 'em to chime in, and one spindle-shank, sliding, gunter-looking chap was cotch'd, and I'm a tinker if he didn't shell out a guinea to get off, and the rest o' the gentry giv'd us some more money; so that arter the game was out we had a jolly sheaveo, and I'm bless'd, shipmates, if we didn't sling the monkey in fine style, and treating the landlud into the bargain."

"I wonder if they plays at sling the monkey in t'other world," said Sam Slick, in the innocency of his heart, and with the utmost gravity of countenance.

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"Why, you lubber, to be sure they do," responded Bob Martingale, or else what 'ud such as we have to amuse ourselves with, and be d- to you. I ounly wish I may catch you there, that's all!"

In a few days, without meeting any obstruction or adventure worth recording, the Spankaway and her prizes were safe at anchor in Port Mahon, where several of the dashing frigates were then lying, and the captains, with a commendable generosity, yielded up the palm to Lord Eustace. The prisoners were landed, and Lord Nelson arriving soon afterwards, the two French frigates were taken into the service. The largest was given to a favourite postcaptain, who was superseded by a master and commander in the ship he had left. Seymour was made acting post into the small frigate, and Sinnitt took the sloop-of-war which had been vacated; and thus Lord Eustace had the desires of his heart gratified as it respected his two senior officers; and, as a matter of course, lieutenants being wanted for the new purchases, his two oldest midshipmen, who had passed their examination, shipped the white lapelles.

It was a few days subsequent to this that a small party dined with Lord Eustace, and, to his great pleasure, old Will Parallel, the master, was enabled once more to sit at his lordship's table to

diately transferred to the slings. The greatest humour of the game is that the monkey, in the eager pursuit of his foes, very frequently loses sight of discretion, and runs with such speed as to throw himself entirely off his balance, (the rope being nearly perpendicular, and affording but little check,) he swings up, and then comes bodily down again, where he gets a tremendous buffetting from the

rest.

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