Dick Cheveley

Preface

So extraordinary are the adventures of my hero, Master Richard Cheveley, son of the Rev. John Cheveley, vicar of

the parish of S , in the county of D , that it is

possible some of my readers may be inclined to consider them incredible, but that they are thoroughly probable the following paragraph which appeared in the evening edition of the Standard early in the month of November, 1879, will, I think, amply prove. I have no fear that any sensible boys will be inclined to follow Dick's example ; but if they will write to him at Liverpool, where he resides, and ask his advice, as a young gentleman did mine lately, on the subject of running away to sea, I am very sure that he will earnestly advise them to stay at home ; or, at all events, first to consult their fathers or mothers, or guardians, or other relatives or friends before they start, unless they desire to risk sharing the fate of the hapless stowaway here mentioned :

"A shocking discovery was made on board the National steamer

IV PREFACE.

England, which arrived in New York from Liverpool on the 29th October. In discharging the cargo in the forehold a stowaway was found in a dying state. He had made the entire passage of thirteen days without food or drink. He was carried to the vessel's deck, where he died."

My young correspondent, in perfect honesty, asked me to tell him how he could best manage to run away to sea. I advised him, as Mr. Richard Cheveley would have done, and I am happy to say that he wisely followed my advice, for I have since frequently heard from him. When he first wrote he was an entire stranger to me. He has had more to do with this work than he supposes. I have the pleasure of dedicating it to him.

Chapter I

Some account of my family, including Aunt Deb — My father receives an offer — A family discussion, in wnich Aunt Deb distinguishes herself — Her opinions and mine differ considerably — My desire to go to sea haunts my dreams — My brother Ned's counsel — I go a-fishing in Lcighton Park — 1 meet with an accident — M^ career nearly cut short — A battle with a swan, in which I get the worst of it — A courageous mother — Mark Riddle to the rescue — An awkward fix — Mark finds a way out of it — Old Roger's cottage — The Riddle family — Roger Riddle's yarns and their effect on me — Mark takes a different view — It's not all gold that glitters —The model — My reception at home .

Chapter II

A.unt Deb's lecture, and what came of it — My desire to go to sea still further increases — My father, to satisfy me, visits Leighton Hall — Our interview with Sir Reginald Knowsley — Some description of Leighton Hall and what we saw there — The magistrate's room— A smuggler in trouble — The evidence against him, and its worth — An ingenious plea — An awkward witness — The prisoner receives the benefit of the doubt — Sir Reginald consults my father, and my father consults Sir Reginald — My expectations stand a fair chance of being realized — The proposed crusade against the smugglers — My father decides on taking an active part in it — I resolve to second him

Chapter III

The crusade against the smugglers — Sir Reginald's measures — The " Saucy Bess" — My father's sermon, and its effects in different quarters— Ned and I visit old Roger Riddle — Mr.

PAGE

Vi CONTENTS.

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Reynell's picnic and how we enjoyed it — Roger Riddle tells the story of his life — Born at sea — The pet of the ship — Stormy times — Parted from his mother — His first visit to land — Loses his parents 43

Chapter IV

Roger Riddle continues his story — Goes to sea as a man-o'-war'sman — His voyages — The Mediterranean — Toulon — Chasing the enemy — Caught in a trap — A hard fight for it — Escape of the frigate— 'Corsica — Martello Bay — The tower and its gallant defenders — Its capture — Origin of its name — San Fiorenzo — Convention redoubt — What British tars can do — Capture of the " Minerve" — The taking of Bastia — Nelson loses an eye — "Jackass " frigates — Toulon again — More fighting — The advantage of being small — Prepare to repel boarders — The colours nailed to the mast — The chase — Never despise your enemy — Teneriffe — Attack on Santa Cruz — Nelson loses his arm — Abandonment of the enterprise — What people call glory — The Hellespont — The captain steers his own ship — The island of Cerigotto — Breakers ahead — The ship strikes — The value of discipline — Their condition on the rock — The ship goes to pieces — Their chances of escape — The gale — A brave captain — A false hope — The effects of drinking sea-water— Water, water

everywhere, and not a drop to drink — Reduced to extremities — They lose their brave captain and first lieutenant — They construct a raft — Cowardice of the Greek fishermen — The rescue of the survivors — Fresh adventures — The Dardanelles — Fire ! — An awful spectacle — Destruction of the ship — Reason to be thankful — A father's love — How they took a Spanish sloop-o'-war — The ruse and how it succeeded — Between two fires — Good and bad captains- Roger quits the navy — Becomes mate of a merchantman and retires on his laurels — His marriage and settlement- Our picnic breaks up .,...,,. 60

Chapter V

I form plani against the smugglers— Ned's brotherly advice — I continue to visit old Riddle — He presents me with a cutter

CONTENTS. Vii

PAGE

— My first lessons in sailing — Reception of my present at home — Aunt Deb again gives her opinion — A present in return — Sudden disappearance of Mark, which leads to a further expression of sentiments on the part of Aunt Deb — I visit Leighton Hall — My interview with the Squire — I obtain permission to visit Mark in prison — " Better than doing nothing " — I console Old Roger — " A prison's a bad place for a boy " — Returning homewards, I unexpectedly gain some important information — The barn — The smuggler's conference — Rather too near to be pleasant — I contrive to escape — Am pursued and captured by the smugglers, but finally released — Aunt Deb's disapproval of my friendship for Mark Riddle 93

Chapter VI

I revisit the baronet — My information and its worth — Am somewhat taken aback at my reception — Well out of it — Mark's escape — Old Riddle's gratitude — A night of adventure — The run — Night attack on Kidbrooke Farm — The fire — My curiosity overcomes my prudence — The struggle on the beach — the luck of the " Saucy Bess/' and ill luck of Mark — I am again captured by the smugglers — Buried in a chest — My struggle for freedom, and its result — A vault in the old mill — My explorations in the vault 116

Chapter VII

A prisoner in the vault — The headless miller — I continue my explorations — My perilous position — My further attempts at escape — The recess — An unexpected shower-bath — A glimpse of light — I escape from the vault, but not from prison — A lower chamber in old Grimes' mill — The result of my further endeavours to escape — My signal of distress — The Revenue men — My rescue— The search for the smugglers' goods— My hunger relieved— On guard — Meeting with my father — The last of old Grimes' mill • . . • 136

Chapter VIII

My reception at home — Aunt Deb again gives her advice — My father and I pay another visit to Leighton Hall— Our guard

VIM CONTENTS.

PAQB

— Interview with Sir Reginald — A score that was not settled to my satisfaction — My awkward position — My father receives a threatening letter — Aunt Deb decides on action — Preparations for my departure — The journey in the coach — Our fellow-travellers — A false alarm — My aunt's character further comes out— Our arrival at Liverpool — Our reception — Mr. Butterfield — I explore Liverpool — My first visit to the "Emu" — I gain some information— I lose my way — Aunt Deb's anxiety on my account — A small difficulty well got out of — I pay another visit to the " Emu '' — My ideas as to officers and seamanship receive a somewhat rude check — I make the acquaintance of Gregory Growlcs — 1 lose my cutter ■"Thief! thief!" — I speak to Mr. Butterfield as to my going to sea — His opinions on the subject — He makes me a kind offer — Matters still unsettled — A reference to Aunt Deb . 154

Chapter IX

Mr. Butterfield's office — My future prospects — I again visit the " Emu" — Aunt Deb's good advice— 1 rebel — All sailors are not beggars — My next visit to the "Emu" — Shall I stow myself away ? — Conflicting ideas — Looking over the ship, I meet with an accident — Once more a prisoner — The hold of the " Emu '' — Not a stowaway — My possible fate — No bones broken — "The blue above and the blue below" — Perseverance conquers all difficulties — On the high seas — Sea-sick—On the kelson — 1 give way to despair — " Help ! help ! '' — The yarn of Sam Smitch's ghost — I feel the pangs of hunger — I review my past life — Never say die — Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink — My efforts meet with some success . . , 178

Chapter X

Dreamland — A vision of home — Strange proceedings of my brother Ned — Roughish weather — I make a slight progress — A ray of light — The cargo— The wooden case — A disappointment — In darkness again — A welcome draught — My bed — My slumbers interrupted by ugly visitors — I determine to catch some rats — My further efforts at escape— My ill success — My conscience troubles me, but I succeed in

CONTENTS. IX

TAGB

quieting it — My visions — Tantalizing Aunt Deb and Mr. Butterfield — The conference of the rats — Their opinion of mankind — Their grievances and proposed remedies — A sneeze and its effects 199

CHAPTER XL

The hold of the *' Emu *' — Further attempts at escape — The storm ceases — A rat hunt — Slippery customers — Oh, for a trap I — My ingenuity exercised — Caught at last — My repugnance to rats' flesh — Hunger needs no sauce — My subsequent impressions — Cannibal rats — My solitary life — The rats grow cautious— The crate — I make a welcome discovery — A fresh expedition — As black as a nigger — Things might be worse • 219

Chapter XII

Still in the hold— Conscience again troubles me — My new food and its effect on my health — I picture to myself the crew on deck — Rather warm — Another storm — My sufferings and despair — A cold bath — I lose my stock of provisions — Therats desert me — The storm subsides — My fancy gives itself rein . 232

Chapter XIII

Still in the hold — Dreamland again — Chicken-pie — Return of therats — I improve my plans for catching them — Two rats at one meal — My state of mind — " Mercy ! mercy ! " — While there's life there's hope — I recommence my exertions to get out of the hold with some success — Purer air — My weakness returns — I recover my strength — Still no outlet — I perform my ablutions — My desire to live at all hazards returns — " Where ignorance is bliss 'tis folly to be wise'' — The yarn of Toncy Lawson — The evil effects of getting drunk — The "Viper" — Toney obliged to give in— Toney's thoughts of escape — The fate of the " Viper" determines the question — Toney's wonderful escape 247

Chapter XIV

The hold — My provisions become exhausted — A fresh attempt at escape — Pressed by hunger I persevere — The spar-deck — Not out yet — A ray of light—My prostrate condition — My mind gives way — A curious trio — The main hatchway —

CONTENTS.

PAGE

Fresh difficulties arise — A last effort — I am rescued— Ghost of a ghost — I make a new friend and meet with an old one — The crew of the ship — My new quarters — I receive a piece of advice from my new friend — Mark's adventures, and how he came aboard the " Emu'' — Poor Jack Drage — Mark gets into trouble 266

Chapter XV

My convalescence — Julius Caesar befriends me — Wepassthe Cape de Verde Islands — Our hopes of a change of diet disappear — My turn at last — A severe discipline — Captain Longfleet — " Please, sir, I couldn't help it" — " There goes the baby and his nurse* 3 — Caesar's sympathy — How I owed my life to Tom Trivett — Bad food — " It makes me sick to cook it''— The deputation to the captain — The discontent increases among the crew — Crossing the line — u What ship is that ?* — We receive a visit from Daddy Neptune and his court — Rough play, and what it might have come to . , . 285

Chapter XVI

Land ho ! — Cape Frio — The Sugar-loaf Mountain — The Castle of Santa Cruz — The harbour of Rio de Janeiro — A taste of fruit— We receive some passengers — A gale springs up — Man overboard — Poor Tom Trivett — Captain Longfleet's inhumanity — Mark and I are treated worse — I overhear a conversation — A proposed mutiny — The plot — Differences will arise — Who's to be captain ? — I determine to reveal the plot — I consult with Mark — Our determination — Southern latitudes — The Southern Cross — The Falkland Islands — Mark escapes, but I am retaken — Highland blood — Mark's probable fate — A battle with an albatross . • 300

Chapter XVII

South Sea whaler — I write a letter home, and how far it got on its way there — The Earl of Lollipop — Mr. McTavish saves me from a flogging — My prospects somewhat improve —Another storm — We lose another man — A struggle for life — Terra del Fuego — Cape Horn — In the Pacific — The coast of Patagonia, and how we nearly got wrecked — Juan Fernandez — Robinson Crusoe's island — I again determine to

CONTEN TS. XI

PAGE

run away, but am prevented by an offer I receive — Shark I Shark ! — A narrow escape — Valparaiso — Callao — Paita — The Sandwich Islands — The king and his court — Royal guests— Some queer dishes — Pooah — Am again prevented from deserting — Columbia River at last — A glimpse of freedom — A farewell dinner — An untoward incident — Once more a prisoner — My captors' fears my only safety — My friends give up the search — At sea again — My release — " Dis curious ship " 323

Chapter XVIII

My position does not improve — Another attempt at escape frustrated — Becalmed off Japan — Macao — A fresh cargo — Extension of the voyage — Not dead yet — I gain some important information as to the future fate awaiting me, and I determine to quit the ship— A carouse — My escape, and how I accomplished it — Alone on the ocean — I sight land — The rock and my landing-place — My search for food — I meet with an accident — I lose my boat , , , . 348

Chapter XIX

My adventures on the rock — My search for food, and what I found — The storm — Despite my perilous position, I marvel at the grandeur of the scene — The storm subsides — My search for clams, and further explorations on the rock — The darkest night must come to an end — A welcome wetting — My only refuge — Return of stormy weather — Perilous moments — I climb the beacon post , , , 364

Chapter XX

la the beacon — The storm continues — The tide turns — I again seek for food — I meet with another accident — Brighter weather— A sail in sight — My hopes and fears — My signal — My rescue— A voice from the deep — Three old friends meet again — On board the (i Falcon " — The good captain — Sydney harbour, and why I didn't go ashore there— The homeward voyage — Mark and I learn navigation — My reception at Liverpool — Sad, sad news — My journey to Sandgate — I enter Mr. Butterfield's office, and have had no cause to regret doing so . 375

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Suddenly the end slipped through my

fingers, and down I fell (see p. 185). 1'Vontisfiece

"If you shout, I will put a bullet through

your head'"' ..... Facing page 128

When I recovered, I found myself lying

I was about to crawl out when my own

name caught my ears ... „ ,.. 352 u

HIS ADVENTURES AND MISADVENTURES.

Chapter I

Some account of my family, including Aunt Deb — My father receives an offer — A family discussion, in which Aunt Deb distinguishes herself — Her opinions and mine differ considerably — My desire to go to sea haunts my dreams — My brother Ned's counsel — I go a-fishing in Leighton Park — I meet with an accident — My career nearly cut short — A battle with a swan, in which I get the worst of it — A courageous mother — Mark Riddle to the rescue — An awkward fix — Mark finds a way out of it — Old Roger's cottage — The Riddle family — Roger Riddle's yarns and their effect on me — Mark takes a different view— It's not all gold that glitters — The model — My reception at home.

We were all seated round the tea-table, that is to say, my father and mother, my five sisters, and three of my elder brothers, who were at home — two were away — and the same number of young ones, who wore pinafores, and last, but not least, Aunt Deb, who was my mother's aunt, and lived with us to manage everything and keep everybody in

DICK CHEVELEY.

order, for this neither my father nor mother were very well able to do; the latter nearly worn out with nursing numerous babies, while my father was constantly engaged in the duties of the parish of Sandgate, of which he was incumbent.

Aunt Deb was never happy unless she was actively engaged in doing something or other. At present she was employed in cutting, buttering, or covering with jam, huge slices of bread, which she served out as soon as they were

ready to the juvenile members of the family, while my eldest sister, Mary, was presiding at the tea-tray, and passing round the cups as she filled them.

When all were served, my father stood up and said grace, and then all fell to with an eagerness which proved that we had good appetites.

" I say, Aunt Deb, Tom Martin has lent me such a jolly book. Please give me another slice before you sit down. It's all about Anson's voyage round the world. I don't

know whether I shall like it as well as * Robinson Crusoe ' or 'Captain Cook's Voyages/ or 'Gulliver's Travels/ or the ' Life of Nelson/ or ' Paul Jones/ but I think I shall from the look I got of it," I exclaimed, as Aunt Deb was doing what I requested.

" I wish, Dick, that you would not read those pestiferous

works," she answered, as, having gfven me the slice of bread, she sat down to sip her tea, " They arc all written

I WISH TO ENTER THE NAVY. 3 with an evil intent, to make young people go gadding about the world, instead of staying contentedly at home doing their duty in that state of life to which they are called."

" But I don't understand why I should not be called to go to sea," I replied ; " I have for a long time made up my mind to go, and I intend to try and become as great a man as Howe, or Nelson, or Collingwood, or Lord Cochrane, or Sir Sidney Smith. I've just to ask you, Aunt Deb, what England would be without her navy, and what the navy would be unless boys were allowed to go into it ? "

"Stuff and nonsense, you know nothing about the matter, Dick. It's very well for boys who have plenty of interest, for sons of peers or members of parliament, or judges or bishops, or of others who possess ample means and influence, but the son of a poor incumbent of an out

of the way parish, who knows no one, and whom nobody knows, would remain at the bottom of the tree."

"But you forget, Aunt Deb, that there are ways of getting on besides through interest. I intend to do all sorts of dashing things, and win my promotion- through my bravery. If I can once become a midshipman I shall have no fear about getting on."

" Stuff and nonsense ! " again ejaculated Aunt Deb, " you know nothing about the matter, boy."

4 DICK CHEVfcLEY.

" Don't I though," I said to myself, for I knew that my father, who felt the importance of finding professions for his sons according to their tastes, had some time before written to Sir Reginald Knowsley, of Leighton Park, — "the Squire/' as he used to be called till he was made a baronet, and still was so very frequently, asking him to exert his influence in obtaining an appointment for me on board a man-of-war. This Sir Reginald had promised to do. Aunt Deb, however, had made many objections, but Tor once in a way my father had acted contrary to her sage counsel, and as he considered for the best. Still Aunt Deb had not given in.

"You'll do as you think fit, John," she observed to him,

" but you will repent it. Dick is not able to take care of himself at home, much less will he be so on board a big ship among a number of rough sailors. Let him remain at school until he is old enough to go into a counting-house in London or Bristol, where he'll make his fortune and become a respectable member of society, as his elder brother means to be, or let him become a master at a school, or follow any course of life rather than that of a soldier or a sailor."

I did not venture to interrupt Aunt Deb, indeed it would have been somewhat dangerous to have done so, while she was arguing a point, but I had secretly begged my father to write to Sir Reginald as he had promised, assuring him

a.a>i)

AN INTERESTING LETTER. 5 that I had set my heart on following a naval career, and that it would break if I was not allowed to go to sea. This took place, it will be understood, some time before the evening of which I am now speaking.

Aunt Deb suspected that my father was inclined to favour my wishes, and this made her speak still more disparagingly than ever of the navy.

Tea was nearly over when the post arrived. It only reached us of an evening, and Sarah, the maid, brought in

a large franked letter. I at once guessed that it was from Sir Reginald Knowsley, who was in London.

I gazed anxiously at my father s face as he read it. His countenance did not, however, exhibit any especial

satisfaction.

" Who is it from ? " asked my mother, in a languid voice.

"From Sir Reginald," he replied. " It is very kind and complimentary. He says that he has had great pleasure in doing as I requested him. He fortunately, when going down to the Admiralty, met his friend Captain Grummit, who has lately been appointed to the " Blaze-away," man-of-war, and who expressed his willingness to receive on board his ship the son of any friend of his, but — and here comes the rub*— Captain Grummit, he says, has made it a rule to take no midshipmen unless their parents consent to

allow them fifty pounds a year, in addition to their pay. This sum, the Captain states, is absolutely necessary to

(1,601) 2 enable them to make the appearance he desires all his midshipmen to maintain. Fifty pounds a year is a larger sum, I fear, than my purse can supply," observed my father when he had read thus far.

" I should think it was, indeed ! " exclaimed Aunt Deb. "Fifty pounds a year! Why, that's nearly half of my annual income. It would be madness, John, to make any promise of the sort. Suppose you were to let him go, and to stint the rest of his brothers and sisters by making him so large an allowance — what will be the result, granting that he is not killed in the first battle he is engaged in, or does not fall overboard and get drowned, or the ship is not wrecked, and he escapes the other hundred and one casualties to which a sailor is liable? Why, when he becomes a lieutenant he'll marry to a certainty, and then he'll be killed, and leave you and his mother and me, or his brothers and sisters, to look after his widow and children, supposing they are able to do so."

"But I shall have a hundred and twenty pounds full pay, and ninety pounds a year half-pay," I answered ; " I know all about it, I can tell you."

"Ninety pounds a year and a wife and half-a-dozen small brats to support on it," exclaimed Aunt Deb in an indignant tone. " The wife is sure to be delicate, and know nothing about housekeeping, and she and the children will constantly be requiring the doctor in the house."

MY WISHES OPPOSED BY AUNT DEB. '

" But you are going very far ahead, Aunt Deb, I haven't gone to sea yet, or been made a lieutenant, and if I had, there's no reason why I should marry."

" There are a great many reasons why you should not," exclaimed Aunt Deb.

"I was going to say that there are many lieutenants in the navy who have not got wives, and I do not suppose that I shall marry when I become one," I answered.

"It seems pretty certain that you will never be a lieutenant or a midshipman either, if it depends upon your having an allowance of fifty pounds a year, for where that fifty pounds is to come from I'm sure I don't know," cried my aunt. " As it is, your poor father finds it a difficult matter to find food and clothing for you all, and to give you a proper education, and unless the Bishop should suddenly bestow a rich living on him, he, at all events, could not pay fifty pounds a year, or fifty shillings either, so I would advise you forthwith to give up this mad idea of yours, and stay quietly at school until a profitable employment is found for you."

I looked up at my father, feeling that there was a good deal of truth in what Aunt Deb said, although I did not like the way she said it.

"Your aunt only states what is the case, Dick," said my father. * I should be glad to forward your views, but I could not venture, with my very limited income, to bind myself to supply you with the sum which Sir Reginald says is necessary."

** Couldn't you get Sir Reginald to advance the money ? " I inquired, as the bright idea occurred to me ; " I will return it to him out of my pay and prize-money."

Aunt Deb fairly burst out laughing.

" Out of your pay, Dick ? " she exclaimed. "Why fifty pounds is required over and above that pay you talk of, every penny of which you will have to spend, and supposing that you should not be employed for a time, and have to live on shore. Do you happen to know what a midshipman's half-pay is? Why just nothing at all and find yourself. You talk a good deal of knowing all about the matter, but it's just clear that you know

nothing."

" I wish, my dear Dick, that we could save enough to help you," said my mother, who was always ready to assist us in any of our plans ; " but you know how difficult I find it to get even a few shillings to spend."