"At last, by this kind of manoeuvring, the mischievous animal succeeded in enticing Bob as high as the royal-masthead, when, springing suddenly on to the royal stay, it ran nimbly down to the fore-top-gallant-mast-head, thence down the rigging to the foretop, and leaping on the foreyard, it ran out to the yardarm, hung the cap on the end of the studdingsail boom, and there taking its seat, it raised a loud and exultant chattering. "Bob by this time was completely tired out, and, unwilling, perhaps, to return to the deck to be laughed at for his fruitless chase, sat down on the royal cross-trees, while those who had been attracted by the sport returned to their usual avocations or amusements. The monkey, no longer the object of pursuit or attention, remained but a little while on the yardarm; but soon taking up the cap, returned in towards the slings, and dropped it down upon the deck. "Some little piece of duty occurred at this moment to engage me for a few moments, and as soon as it was performed, I walked aft, and leaning my elbow on the taffrail, gave myself up to the recollection of scenes very different from the boyish pantomime I had just been witnessing. Soothed by the low hum of the crew, and by the quiet loveliness of everything around, my thoughts had travelled far away from the realities of my situation, when I was suddenly startled by a cry from Black Jake, which brought me on the instant back to consciousness. “Look, look! Massa Scupper,' cried he, 'Massa Stay is on de main-truck!'" A LEAP FOR LIFE-PART III. 66 A cold shudder ran through my veins at the word. I cast my eyes up-it was too true! The adventurous boy, after resting on the royal cross-trees, had been seized with a wish to go still higher, and moved by one of those impulses which sometimes instigate men to place themselves in situations of imminent peril, where no good can result from the exposure, he had climbed the skysail-pole, and at the moment of my looking up was actually standing on the main-truck !—a small circular piece of wood on the very summit of the loftiest mast, and at a height so great from the deck, that my brain turned dizzy as I looked up at him. "The reverse of Virgil's line was true in this instance. It was comparatively easy to ascend-but to descend!—my head swam round, and my stomach felt sick, at the thought of the perils comprised in that one word. There was nothing above or around him but empty air, and beneath him nothing but a point, a mere point-a small unstable wheel, that seemed no bigger from the deck than the button on the end of a foil, and the taper skysail-pole itself scarcely larger than the blade. "Dreadful temerity! If he should attempt to stoop, what could he take hold of to steady his descent? His feet quite covered the small and fearful platform upon which he stood, and, beneath that, a long, smooth, naked spar, which seemed to bend with his weight, was all that upheld him from destruction. An attempt to get down from that 'bad eminence' would be almost certain death. He would inevitably lose his equilibrium, and be precipitated to the deck-a crushed and shapeless mass. "Such were the thoughts that crowded through my mind as I first raised my eyes, and saw the terrible truth of Jake's exclamation. What was to be done in the pressing and fearful exigency? To hail him, and inform him of the danger, would be to ensure his ruin. Indeed, I fancied that the rash boy already perceived the imminence of his peril; and I half thought I could see his limbs begin to quiver. "Every moment I expected to see the dreadful catastrophe. I could not bear to look at him, and yet could not withdraw my gaze-a film came over my eyes, and a faintness over my heart. The atmosphere seemed to grow thick, and tremble and waver like the heated air round a furnace-the mast appeared to totter, and the ship to pass from under my feet. I myself had the sensations of one about to fall from a great height, and in a sudden effort to recover myself, like that of a dreamer who fancies he is shoved from a precipice, I staggered up against the bulwarks. "When my eyes were once turned from the object to which they had been riveted, my sense and consciousness came back. I looked around—the deck was already crowded with people. The intelligence of poor Bob's temerity had spread through the ship like wildfire-and the officers and crew were all crowding to the deck. Every one, as he looked up, turned pale, and his eye became fastened on the truck-like that of a spectator of an execution on the gallows-with a steadfast and unblinking, yet abhorrent gaze, as if momentarily expecting a fatal termination to the suspense. No one made a suggestion-no one spoke. Every feeling, every faculty, seemed absorbed and swallowed up in one deep, intense emotion of agony. Once the first-lieutenant seized the trumpet, as if to hail poor Bob, but he had scarce raised it to his lips when, his arm dropped again, and sunk listlessly down beside him, as if from sad consciousness of the inutility of what he had been going to say. Every soul in the ship was now on the spar-deck, and every eye was fixed on the main-truck. "At this moment there was a stir among the crew about the gangway, and directly after another face was added to those on the quarter-deck: it was that of the Commodore-Bob's father. He had come alongside in a shore-boat, without having been noticed by a single eye, so intense and universal was the interest that had fastened every gaze upon the spot where poor Bob stood trembling on the awful verge of fate. "The Commodore asked not a question, uttered not a syllable. He was a dark-faced, austere man, and it was thought by some of the midshipmen that he entertained but little affection for his son. However that might have been, it was certain that he treated him with precisely the same strict discipline that he maintained towards the other young officers, or if there was any difference at all, it was not in favour of Bob. Some, who pretended to have studied his character closely, affirmed that he loved his boy too well to spoil him, and that, intending him for the arduous profession in which he had himself risen to fame and eminence, he thought it would be of service to him to experience some of its privations and hardships at the outset. The arrival of the Commodore changed the direction of several eyes, which turned on him to trace what emotions the danger of his son would occasion. But their scrutiny was foiled. By no outward sign did he show what was passing within. His eye still retained its severe expression, his brow the slight frown which it usually wore, and his lip its haughty curl. Immediately on reaching the deck, he ordered a marine to hand him a musket, and with this, stepping aft, and getting on the look-out block, he raised it to his shoulder, and took a deliberate aim at his son, at the same time hailing him, without a trumpet, in his voice of thunder "Robert!' cried he, 'jump! jump overboard! or I'll fire at you.' "The boy seemed to hesitate, and it was plain that he was tottering, for his arms were thrown out like those of one scarcely able to retain his balance. The Commodore raised his voice again, and, in a quicker and more energetic tone, cried— "Jump! 'tis your only chance for life.' "The words were scarcely out of his mouth before the boy was seen to leave the truck and spring out into the air. A sound, between a shriek and a groan, burst from many lips. The father spoke not-sighed not—indeed he did not seem to breathe. For a moment of intense interest a pin might have been heard to drop on deck. With a rush like that of a cannon-ball the body descended to the water; and before the waves closed over it, twenty stout fellows, among them several officers, had dived from the bulwarks. Another short period of anxious suspense ensued. He rose! he was alive! his arms were seen to move! he struck out towards the ship! and, despite the discipline of a man-of-war, three loud huzzas, an outburst of unfeigned and unrestrainable joy from the hearts of our crew of five hundred men, pealed through the air, and made the welkin ring. "Till this moment the old Commodore had stood unmoved. The eyes that, glistening with joy, now sought his face, saw that it was ashy pale. He attempted to descend the look-out block, but his knees bent under him; he seemed to gasp for breath, and put up his hand as if to tear open his vest; but before he had accomplished his object, he staggered forward, and would have fallen on the deck, had he not been caught by old Black Jake. He was borne into the cabin, where the surgeon attended him, whose utmost skill was required to restore his mind to its usual equability and self-command, in which he at last happily succeeded. As soon as he recovered from the dreadful shock, he sent for Bob, and had a long confidential conference with him; and it was noticed, when the little fellow left the cabin, that he was in tears." NAPOLEON'S FAREWELL TO FRANCE. BYRON. Farewell to the land where the gloom of my glory I have coped with the nations which dread me thus lonely- Farewell to thee, France!-When thy diadem crowned me, Oh, for the veteran hearts that were wasted In strife with the storm when their battles were won! Then the eagle, whose gaze in that moment was blasted, Had still soared with eyes fixed on victory's sun! |