The child of the Island Glen

Front matter

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Preface

The Child of the Island Glen incidentally brings to view tlie shrewdness of those men who laid the foundations of our commerce, their dexterity in suiting means to ends, the indomitable energy with which they grappled to opportunities flung in their path by the advent of foreign wars and the irregularities of trade, while perils and obstacles that would have crushed persons of laxer fibre, only roused them to greater effort.

The story, however, is principally intended to illustrate the influence of Christian sympathy in respect to the most hardened characters, the

PREFACE.

imperishable nature of good seed early sown in a young heart, the power of conscience and early associations, the unbounded mercy of God, and exhibits, in the person of a man stained with blood and steeped in crime, parental love and solicitude for the highest welfare of his child (like the flowers that bloom amid the scoriae and ashes on the lip of an exhausted volcano), surviving the wreck of all other virtues.

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Chapter 1. Introductory

I N Fort Royal Bay, Martinique, as near to each other as they can swing at their anchors, lie two vessels, both displaying the American flag, but as unlike in build and size as can well be imagined. The one is a large ship, enormously large' for that day, for it was at an early period in the maritime history of the country, when most of the ships were from one hundred and flfty to two hundred and sixty tons, and some even as small as a hundred, a few being built at Wiscasset for the transportation of timber, and at some other places on the coast, of greater capacity ; but they were esteemed monsters, and people thronged to see them as curiosities. But this vessel was seven hundred tons, heavily sparred, with great breadth

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of beam, carrying a large amount of canvas, sharp ends, of moderate depth, evidently, from her proportions, not a bad sailer, but constructed for the purpose of transporting those immense masts that then formed an article of traffic to Cadiz and other ports for the use of the Spanish navies, and that are not now to be found in the forests of New England. Beside her lay a brigantine, French built, beautifully modelled, constructed entirely with reference to speed, carrying a long eighteenpounder on a pivot amidships, and her bulwarks pierced for lighter guns. Both vessels were deeply laden, the brigantine, in contrast with the mast ship, reminding an observer of a greyhound beside a huge Newfoundland.

Those familiar with the other volumes of the series will at once recognize in the ship the Casco, Captain G-riffin, and in the brigantine the Languedoc, Captain Gates. The events here narrated being more or less linked with the subject of the preceding volume, some brief explanation of the state of affairs is necessary to render the story intelligible to the casual reader.

Walter Griffin, commander of the Casco, of Pleasant Cove, had, on a previous voyage, by one

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of the noblest acts of which humanity is capable, incurred the deadly enmity of a planter at Martinique, Henri Lemaire. Although owning several plantations on the igland, and residing upon one of them, Lemaire had been, for the greater portion of his life, a pirate captain, and still owned piratical vessels, which he fitted away under the guise of slave ships, secreting the plunder till sold at his plantations, meanwhile supporting the character of a wealth}^ planter and merchant. Concealing his intentions under the mask of friendship, by means of a letter adroitly worded, he succeeded in luring Captain GriflSn again to the island.

When, at length, he found that the Casco was ready to sail from Trinidad, where she had gone to complete her cargo, Lemaire despatched the piratical brigantine Languedoc, belonging to him, to lie off Trinidad, intercept the Casco, — she having considerable specie on board, — with orders to massacre the whole ship’s company, resigning the entire plunder of the ship to his satellites, and promising to the captain, in addition, a thousand dollars in gold provided he killed Captain Griffin.

Some years before the circumstance here related,

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there came to Captain Griffin’s native town a Nova Scotia boy by the name of Peter Clash, who, after residing there a short time, became so immoral and troublesome that he was driven from the place, enticing to run away with him an American boy named John Godsoe. The two boys kept together, went to sea, and, after many adversities, joined a piratical crew. Clash became the captain of the Languedoc, in Lemaire’s employ, under the assumed name of Skillings, and Godsoe, his lieutenant, taking that of Arkwright.

In the Casco, as passenger, was a young man by the name of John Rhines, son of one of her owners. Clash still cherished a bitter hostility towards the inhabitants of Rhinesville and Pleasant Cove, adjacent places, at the latter of which the Casco was built, and especially by reason of some personal matters in relation to John Rhines, whom he hated as only the wicked can hate those of exalted character and principles.

All that Clash knew at first was, that Lemaire wished him to intercept and kill, if possible, the captain and crew of an American ship, against who^ captain Lemaire held a grudge ; and it was not the first thing of the kind he had done for the

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old villain, who, for the greater part of his life, had been engaged in the actual shedding of blood, but now accomplished his designs, at less risk to himself, by proxy.

When, however. Clash ascertained that this ship was manned and olBScered by men from the very place whose inhabitants he so sincerely hated, and that John Rhines, the object of his boyish enmity, was passenger in her, he needed not the incentive of plunder to excite him to the utmost efforts in furtherance of the purpose of his employer. All the burning antipathies and hatred of his boyhood, as though invigorated by a long repose, rose in arms. He paced the cabin floor of the biigantine, gnashing his teeth with rage, and swore that not one of them, from the cook to the captain, should be left to tell the story. Distrusting the willingness of his lieutenant to engage in the murder of his old neighbors and schoolmates, he concealed from him all the circumstances we have narrated.

In Martinique resided a black cooper, Pierre Lallemont, a man of property, intelligence, and thoroughly acquainted with his former master’s character and history, who had conceived the most, sincere affection for Captain Griffin, being attracted to him on account of the very act that had roused the anger of Lemaire. This man, fathoming the designs of the planter, informed the captain of the peril that threatened him ; but the American refused to credit it, and all the cooper could effect was to persuade him to take on board his vessel some small arms. With the shrewdness pertaining to his nation, he put on board, as a venture to sell again at home, rifles and ammunition sufficient to arm five hundred men. With these, aided by a resolute crew all accustomed to the use of the weapon, he captured the brigantine in lieu of being captured by her, killed Clash, and killed or drowned all her officers and crew except Godsoe, who, battered, wounded, and more dead than alive, was taken on board the ship without being recognized by his captors, though recognizing them at once. After some days, however, Rhines recollected his features and recalled his name. At length, filled with compunction for his past crimes, he endeavored to atone for them in some measure by aiding to place Lemaire in the hands of Captain Griffin, who, running back to Martinique in the brigantine, landed at Lemaire’s plantation in the night, and sent Godsoe ashore

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after him. Supposing his designs were accomplished, he came on board the brigantine, when he was seized and delivered up to the authorities of the island, the captain permitting Godsoe to escape at the same time in consideration of his services in capturing Lemaire, who, being convicted by means of papers found on board the brigantine and in his house at Vauclin, — the place where they were concealed being revealed by Godsoe, — was executed, and his ill-gotten booty, enormous quantities of which were found concealed at his different plantations, seized and sold at auction by the government. The Languedoc, being claimed by her captors, the authorities permitted them to enacted on board the two vessels on whose spars the last rays of the setting sun are shining, as they lie quietly at anchor in Fort Royal Bay. Yonder boat, pulling off from the shore, belongs to the Casco. In the stern-sheets are Captain Griffin, Captain Gates, formerly his mate in the Casco, whom he now has put in master of the Languedoc, with Richard Cameron, who was second mate of the Casco, as his first officer. The vessels are to sail in the

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morning, and they have been ashore to settle up remaining business, and procure fruit, fresh vegetables, and provisions.

Most of the characters introduced in this volume are, in respect to many of our young readers, familiar acquaintances, and we trust that, as the tale proceeds, other connecting circumstances will introduce themselves to the general reader.

It was no trifling labor in those days, with the old-fashioned windlass and hemp cables from twelve to sixteen inches in circumference, a tackle being required to hold the turn at the windlass, and two or three hands to coil away the slack, to weigh anchors as heavy as those of the Casco, she having two down and well bedded.

As Captain Griffin had lost two of his men in « the action with the pirate, and must, moreover, man the brigantine from the ship^s crew, he was rather short of hands, and had shipped four men belonging to a vessel that was condemned. Never had a ship’s company stronger motives to stimulate them to effort to make a passage. With the exception of the four men referred to, both officers and crew belonged to Rhinesville or Pleasant Cove. So much time had been consumed in the action with

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the Languedoc, the subsequent return to Fort Royal, capture and trial of Lemaire, waiting for the settling of his effects, and loading of the brigantine, that their prolonged absence, they well knew, would occasion great anxiety to their relatives at home. They pictured to themselves the joyful surprise it would produce when they should astonish them with an account of all that had occurred.

Merrithew,'^ said Danforth Eaton, I reckon theydl open their eyes at home when they wake up in the morning and see these two craft in Captain Rhines’s Cove. Old daddy Godsoe ’ll hyper for the shore quicker than he ever did before when a vessel got in.”

If I was going to guess,” said Merrithew, a good many other folks won’t be far behind him; and 1 shouldn’t wonder if there were some petticoats streaming in the wind.”

Long before the break of day the clank of the windlass-pawls was heard on both vessels, and the song of the seamen rose cheerily on the morning air. There being a lack of men, the crew were divided; a portion of the Casco’s crew went on board the brigantine, weighed anchor, made sail at 2

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once, hove her to, and left her in charge of the cook.

In the mean time, those left on board the ship hove short on the anchors, loosed the topsails, mast-headed and sheeted home the fore and mizzen ones. By that time the men had come on board from the brigantine. The main-topsail was hoisted, the anchors weighed by the united strength of both crews and the officers, who, as it was an emergency, went to the windlass with the men.

While the ship lay to, and before the crews were separated in order to be transferred to their respective vessels, Lallemont came on board.

Captain Griffin instantly took the cooper by the hand, and led him forward among the men.

Boys,” said he, the whole ship’s company owe their lives (in the providence of God) to this man. Had I not been forewarned by him, we should have been overhauled by the pirate in a defenceless state and massacred. Take him by the hand and thank him.”

Having thus far, and for the purposes of explanation, paid all due respect to the two captains in addressing them before strangers by their well-

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merited titles, we shall now take the libertj^ as the humor seizes us, or circumstances render it appropriate, to make use of the old familiar names of Walter and Ned.

As, pacing the deck, Walter looked back^lpon Martinique fading in the distance, and the bold outline of Diamond Rock at its southern extremity, he reflected upon the great change that had taken place in his situation and feelings within the last few weeks.

At one time it seemed more than probable that the ship and crew, himself and Ned, would fall a prey to buccaneers, and their lives pay the forfeit of his overweening confldence in the professions of Lemaire. But now they were all on their homeward passage, and Lemaire and his assassins had met their deserved fate.

Walter had made large profits on his outward cargo, and the vessel was loaded as deep as she could swim with a cargo that he had bought at a very low rate when Lemaire’s hoards were broken open and the contents sold at auction, though the vessel belonged to the ship’s company. He was also taking home a quantity of specie, as his outward cargo more than paid for the return one of the Casco, the

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Languedoc^s cargo having been purchased with money found on board of her.

The only qualifying element mingled with this cup of bliss was the reflection that, while his arrival would bring happiness to the greater portion of his neighbors, he must carry home to two families the sad news of the death of those they were anxiously expecting. Then his thoughts reverted to John Godsoe and his probable future, and he occupied himself in various surmises in respect to it, whether he would abide by the resolutions he had formed and expressed while wounded and on a sick bed, and in the society of his early friends, or if they would vanish with returning health, and he go back to his old haunts, companions, and employments. He had heard the remark of Danforth Eaton to Merrithew in respect to Godsoe’s father, and well knew that the moment the old gentleman heard of his arrival he would come to inquire if he had seen or heard any tidings of his long absent boy.

“ There goes Ned,’^ he said to himself, gazing wistfully at the brigantine that, almost within hailing distance, was rapidly passing to windward. He waved his hat to Ned, who instantly returned

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the signal. I wish you was here, old boy, to talk over all these matters with me. This having two brothers in different vessels is not a very agreeable arrangement.”

It was something of a trial to Walter and Ned to be separated. They had grown up together from before the mast to their present positions, been in the same watch, slept mach of the time in the same berth, spent their time together when on shore, and had no secrets from each other.

Was there ever a handsomer or a smarter craft than that, Mr. Lancaster,” said Walter to his mate, pointing to the Languedoc, that, with all her canvas set (the wind being light), was fast showing her stern to the ship.

Can’t say as I ever saw any, cap’n, but there will be others built as smart, for it will be but very little while arter Charlie Bell gits a squint at that craft before he copies her model ; he’s mad on sharp vessels, and hates mortally to build a full ship.”

“ You are right there, Lancaster,” said John Rhines, who just then came on deck; “ he got the model of the Arthur Brown from a privateer that he saw in Portland, — or rather a vessel that had been a privateer in the last war.”

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“ But he improved on the model,” said Lancas* ter, “ for the Arthur outsails the privateer.”

I don’t believe he can improve on the brigantine,” said Walter.

“ Yes, he will,” replied John ; “ he’ll improve on anything.”

Notwithstanding the greater speed of the brigantine, the two vessels kept company very well during the homeward passage, for the brigantine was deeper in the water than the ship, as Captain Griffin, finding that he could buy the merchandise discovered on the plantation of Lemaire very cheap, had put into her every pound he dared, and being sharp it brought her low in the water ; whereas the ship, being more burdensome, could cafrry herself full without loading so deep. Thus in moderate weather the brigantine left the ship, and was obliged to shorten sail at times to let her come up ; but in heavy blows this sharp vessel, going right through it and not rising much, was all under water, and the ship, by reason of her great breadth of beam, able to carry sail, had the advantage.

Captain Rhines, after abandoning the sea, devoted himself, with as much energy and good

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judgment, to the cultivation of the soil, as he ever had to the business of his calling. Brought up in boyhood on a farm, naturally attached to the soil, he now, with means and time at his command, indulged those inclinations which the pressure of circumstances had prevented him from gratifying in former years. His health was firm, and, belonging to a race remarkable for physical power, though past middle life, he still retained the strength for which he had been distinguished in his manhood, but slightly diminished by age. Delighting in labor, he worked constantly with his own hands, and nothing gratified him more than to get his seed into the ground and his hay cut before his neighbors, especially Edmund Griffin, between whom and himself there existed a good-natured rivalry.

The captain’s land was high and warm, his fields lying along a sunny slope by the water’s edge, and sheltered by dense woods on the north and northwest. It was the last week in April ; the captain was breaking up a piece of ground for corn on the highest and warmest portion of the slope, determined to beat Edmund Griffin that year, if possible. If there was any kind of labor the captain loved

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more than another, it was to hold a breaking-np plough. He said it was just like steering a ship. On this occasion he was provided with six oxen, Joel Ricker, a most accomplished teamster, whom he had taken out of Charlie Bell’s saw-mill for the purpose, sending another man in his room, and Tom Valentine to clear the plough, one of those vast wooden affairs used in the days of our fathers, but that would do the work nevertheless, if there was only strength enough to haul them. The day was fine, warm enough for comfort and not too warm for the cattle, help abundant, an excellent team, and the ground just wet enough to turn well ; but with all these circumstances in his favor, the captain, who prided himself upon his skill in holding a breaking-up plough, made very poor work. The ground was some rocky, sloped moderately towards the bay, and one half the furrows must be turned up hill. The plough was often out, necessitating frequent backing up of the team, and many furrows on the upper side fell back. Ricker said afterwmrds he never knew the captain to make such poor work as he did that day.

1 don’t see what ails this plough,” said the cap

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tain ; she don’t go well at all : and I had the irons new laid this spring. The fellow has set the point wrong somehow. Since old Uncle Elwell gave up work there’s nobody round here is worth a cent to make plough-irons. Lengthen the chain, Tom, and see if she won’t crave the ground more.”

The chain was lengthened and the chain was shortened, the clevis was shifted, she was made to land more and she was made to land less, but still the work was no better done.

It’s in the set of the irons,” said the captain.

I’ll have ’em altered to-morrow.”

The fault, however, was not in the plough, nor the work of the blacksmith ; but while the captain’s feet were in the furrow his mind was out on the ocean, brooding over the long absence of his son, Walter Griffin, Ned Gates, and the crew of the Casco, in which nearly every family in the neighborhood was represented. In vain he reviewed the record of his long seafaring experience to find a parallel case of so long detention in so short a voyage, without fatal results. Thus he canted the plough towards the land when he should have canted it to the furrow, and to the furrow when he should have canted it to the land,

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for his heart ached while his hands grasped the hand es, and his thoughts were otherwhere. Of all people, a seafaring community cherish most decided opinions in regard to luck, and fortunate individuals born under a lucky planet.

Captain Rhines, from his first going to sea, had been peculiarly fortunate, and, though he ever held to the opinion that luck consisted in a good lookout, such was not the belief of the neighbors. They considered him a lucky man, and that whatever he touched would prosper. The result of this belief was, that everybody wanted to go with him, and to be^ concerned with him, as he was a man of most noble spirit, and would spare no effort to aid an enterprising and worthy youth, A large proportion of the captains in the community owed rapid advancement to his good offices, having begun before the mast with him.

The most singular illustration of this belief in a lucky star occurred when the captain, after, as he thought, relinquishing forever a seafaring life, undertook to navigate a raft of boards to Cuba. Half the young men in town rose up at once, and wanted to share his fortunes ; and what was more singular still, their parents made no objection, for

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they said if Captain Ben Rhines undertook to go to Cuba in a bread-trough, luck would go with him. This sentiment extended even to property, or speculations in which he was interested, and it was a common saying, that, if Captain Rhines or Lion Ben (his son) owned a share or a timberhead in anything, it was insured.

The captain was passionately fond of gunning and fishing ; knew all the shoals and banks where the fish fed, the bait they preferred, and the time of year and tide at which they were best taken. But overlooking all these considerations, whenever Captain Rhines brought home a boat-load of fish, while others returned empty-handed, the neighbors would say to each other, ‘‘ Ah, that’s just the Rhines’s luck.” This notion, thoroughly inwrought with the opinions of men, exerted a wonderful influence in quieting the fears of the community, thirty of whose members went to sea in the Casco, and she overdue more than two months. They did not know what to make of it, but guessed it would all come out right ; everything the captain had ever been concerned in always had ; and, though some few began to say that perhaps his luck was going to turn, the majority were still dis-

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posed to trust Providence and Captain Rhines. But the captain was greatly disheartened himself, though he put a good face on the matter, concealed his anxiety from his family and the neighborhood, and dreaded to go to the store or post-office, as every person he met was ready to ask his opinion in respect to the ship.

The sun was getting low, and the captain had worried thus far through the day with a heavy heart. A large rock lay in the furrow, that the plough had gone over several times and skinned the sod from, at the last bout canting it out of the ground.

Captain,” said Valentine, hadn’t we better stop the cattle, get the crowbars, and heave that rock on top of the furrow?”

“ Let it be,” said the captain, pointing to the shore ; that little boy of mine has just landed in the cove ; he’ll throw it out for us.”

‘‘ Throw it out ! ” said Tom ; a rock big enough for a yoke of oxen to haul.”

“ You’ll see what you will see, Tom,” replied Joel Ricker, who, as some of our readers doubtless recollect, had enjoyed actual experience of the strength of Lion Ben, “ when he puts them ere pretty little shoulders of his down to it.”

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In a few moments the great bulk of Lion Ben made its appearance. He was accompanied by his wife Sally, and carried in one hand a pail of sap sugar and a pair of wild geese, a present for his father.

“ Glad to see you both, right glad^” said the captain, grasping their hands. ^^What^s the news from the island, Ben ?

We are all well as can be.’^

Glad to hear it ; good news is scarce nowadays. How is it about the fowl ? ”

“I was off in my float yesterday; shot three wild geese and four whistlers. Joe Griffin was over to Smutty Nose, and got five geese and a seal. We wanted something from the store. Sally wanted to do some trading, and it was a pleasant afternoon, so I thought weM come across.’^

“ Ben, there’s a rock lies in the furrow just on the fall of the hill. I wish you’d throw it out of the furrow, as you go along.”

I will, father ; but have you heard from the boys ? ” 0

Not a word, Ben, of any kind, except that they arrived at Martinique.”

That is strange ! ”

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The rock, towards which Ben now proceeded, was hidden from view by the inequality of the ground; but when the team came round to the spot, it was lying on the surface of the furrow, and Ben and his wife were half way to the house.

“ Well,” said Tom Valentine, ever since I was a little shaver, I’ve heard the greatest stories about Lion Ben, but I believe ’em all now ; and they say his brother John is as stout as he is.”

No, he ain’t,” said the captain. “ Make Ben mad, and he’d lift John and his load ; but that’s not saying John ain’t a very powerful man.”

The horn now blew for supper.

This ground is rooted up ; it ain’t ploughed, said the captain. ‘‘ Take the plough to the house. I’ll have it to the blacksmith before I use it again. Wife,” said he, as he entered the kitchen, now if you want that turkey set. I’ll put the eggs under her before I wash myself.”

I guess I won’t have her set to-night, Benjamin.”

Why not? You asked me to do it this morning.”

‘‘ I know it; but the dog’s been howling dreadfully this afternoon ; they say it’s a bad sign when

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a dog howls. I’m afraid the turkey won’t do well.’’

0, wife, I didn’t know you was so superstitious as that ! ”

“ I don’t believe there’s anything in it ; but I’d rather you would set her in the morning. Besides, I’ve got to borrow a sitting of duck’s eggs of the widow Yelf, to put under a hen ; then you can set both at once.”

Whenever Ben and Sally came over from Elm Island to his father’s, it had always been a jovial meeting ; but now it was otherwise, by reason of the uncertainty in respect to the fate of the Casco, which weighed upon the minds of all. Indeed, Ben and Sally could very well have dispensed with their errand at the store ; but it was the hope that some news of the Casco had been obtained that drew them to the main land, as they could hear nothing on the island except through some chance visitor.

BETWEEN SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS.

CHAPTER 11.

BETWEEN SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS.

I N order that our young readers may understand the peculiar and trying circumstances in which all concerned in navigation were placed at that time, it will be necessary to make some brief reference to the singular complications existing between their native land and the great European powers.

We could wish it might engage them to improve whatever opportunities may be afforded them to obtain an accurate knowledge of the events connected with the formation of the Federal Union, and the remarkable manner in which, during its infancy, it was preserved by divine Providence from the dangers that threatened its existence, both from civil dissensions and foreign enemies. Perhaps all our young readers are aware, that in the conflict with Great Britain for independence,