The house in which we now found ourselves, lay near the southern gate of the fort, between a wall and a steep rock, at the foot of which lay the town. It was surrounded by a large court-yard and a high wooden fence. Another fence divided the yard into two parts, of which the one nearest the house was set apart for our own use. As there were three or four trees in this enclosure, the Japanese, when they were pointing out to us the advantages of our new residence, dubbed it a garden, but we found that if we wished to get along without wounding their vanity, we must call a pool of water that was in one corner of it, “a lake,” and a heap of mud in this pool, “an island.” This so-called garden was connected with the other court, by means of a little door, which was always kept shut, except when the captain of the guard visited us, or we were permitted to take a walk, which now frequently happened. A gate which was kept carefully closed during the night, led from the second court into the street. Our house was divided into two parts by a lattice work which ran through it in the direction of the fence separating the two court-yards, with one of which each division was connected. In the first of these divisions were three chambers, separated from each other by screens, which were appropriated to our use, and in the second dwelt soldiers armed with guns, javelins, swords, and daggers. In this way they could easily watch us, and their commander generally sat by the lattice and looked into our rooms. A gallery ran round our apartments, from which we could look out upon the sea, and a shore which lay opposite.

After we had finished our preparations, we noted carefully, whenever we took a walk, the road and footpath which led to the mountains. On the twenty-third of April, having gone farther than usual, we induced our attendants, under the plea of curiosity, to show us a temple, which lay directly in the way we must take in our flight. Whilst we were gathering, as usual, leeks and herbs for our own use, we observed accurately the whole neighborhood, and then set out on our way home. When we arrived there, we went to bed. A half an hour before midnight, two of the sailors, who had taken a couple of knives from the kitchen, which adjoined our rooms, slunk into the garden just after the guard had made the twelfth round, and hiding themselves under the steps, began digging a hole under the hedge, whilst we put a bundle of clothes into each of their beds, that it might appear as if they were still there.

VII.

We immediately began to climb up the hill, and endeavored, as far as possible, by means of the stars, our only guides, to direct our course due north. By the time we had reached the first eminence, I felt a stinging pain in my knee, which suddenly swelled up so much, and put me into such agony, that I could proceed only with the greatest difficulty. My companions, therefore, to my great vexation and concern, were obliged to halt every little while, that I might recover myself, and ease my injured limb.

Our intention was to reach, before daybreak, that portion of the hill which was covered with trees, in order to secure ourselves against the first attempts which the Japanese, who we now considered as our mortal enemies, might make to capture us. In our walks through the valleys which surrounded the town, these woods had not appeared to us to be very far off, but we saw now how much we had been deceived. One of the footpaths which we had remarked during the day as leading directly to them, we were unable to find in the thick darkness, which shrouded from our view objects only a few paces distant.

VIII.

During the day as we lay concealed in a thicket, we prepared every thing that was necessary for the success of our anticipated flight. We sewed two of our shirts together for a sail, and made all the necessary rigging of some ropes, which we had brought with us. From one of our hiding-places we remarked at one time, that a large Japanese vessel, which was sailing along the coast, had cast anchor near to a neighboring village, and we determined to surprise and capture it during the night. By good fortune we passed through the village undiscovered, and were close to the vessel, when suddenly it weighed anchor and sailed away. We gazed after it for a while, and then sorrowfully pursued our way along the shore.

Our companions were immediately surrounded and forced to surrender, and from our hiding-place we could plainly see how the Japanese bound their hands behind their backs, inquired from them where we were, and led them towards the shore, whilst some of them commenced an active search after us.

“What shall we do now?” asked Makarov, trembling with fear.

“Perhaps,” replied I, “the Japanese will not find us to-day, in which case, as soon as it grows dark, we will steal along the coast, capture a boat, and sail from island to island, until we reach the nearest Russian port.”

Makarov agreed to my proposition, but we did not reflect that every thing necessary for such an undertaking, which we had prepared with so much trouble, had fallen into the hands of the Japanese, with our companions.

The Japanese were so startled at our sudden appearance, that they stepped backwards a few paces; but when they saw that we were unarmed, they grew bolder, advanced towards us, seized us, bound our hands behind our backs, and led us towards a house which stood on the sea shore. Here we found the rest of our party, who had already been taken. Our captors now treated us to rice-broth, herrings, radishes, tea, and sago. Not the slightest injury did they do us, nor even bestow a single invective on us, either whilst they were taking us to the house, or after we got there. On the contrary, when they remarked that I limped and walked with difficulty, two of them took me by the arms, and assisted me over the hills and dangerous places. After resting here for an hour, they bound our hands, as they had formerly done, and led us along the sea shore under a strong escort, back to Matsmai.

“I know that very well,” replied he, coolly, “but the laws of Japan require it.”

As soon as he had performed his duty, the soldiers who accompanied us put on their city clothing, and with slow and weary steps we took our way back into the town. The officer who had taken us prisoners, rode a horse richly caparisoned with silk, and looked round on all sides with the air of a proud victor, returning laden with the spoils of conquest, and who, for his heroic deeds, claimed laurels and thanks from his countrymen. The crowd of spectators was immense, and as it rained, and they all carried umbrellas, the sight was a strange one.

IX.

“We fled,” replied I, “because we had not the slightest prospect of ever being set free; on the contrary, every day showed us more clearly that the Japanese were determined never to release us.”

“Who told you that? Have I ever hinted to you that we would always hold you prisoners?”

“The orders from the capital,” replied I, “forboded no good.”

“Whence do you know that?”

“The officer here present, whom we instructed in the Russian language, gave us good ground to suppose so.”

The governor now turned to us again and commanded us to give him the history of our flight, without omitting the most trivial circumstance. We were obliged to tell him where we were each day, and make a sketch of several localities, concerning which he seemed to be in some doubt. After he had demanded of us whether some of the guards and servants had not been privy to and aided our escape, he inquired in an earnest manner, what was the precise object of our flight.

“To return to our native land,” replied we.

“How would it have been possible to have carried out this project?”

“We intended to capture a boat somewhere along the coast, and venture in it to the nearest Russian port.”

“Could you not have guessed that as soon as your escape was known, orders would be given immediately, to watch the coast and especially all vessels.”

“Yes, we expected that, but in the course of time our enterprise might have succeeded when we least expected it.”

“But,” continued the governor, “you saw in your former journeys, that the land was covered with mountains, among which it is very difficult to travel, and that along the coast lie numberless villages, which would render escape almost impossible. Your undertaking was thoughtless and childish.”

“Why was it necessary to go into the woods or on the sea in order to die, when you could do it very easily here?”

“That would have been suicide, but if we venture our lives to win our freedom, we could rely on the aid of God, and perhaps gain our end.”

“Had you succeeded, what would you have said in Russia, concerning the Japanese?”

“All that we have heard or seen, without adding or concealing any thing.”

“Do not you know that if you had escaped, the governor, and several other officers would have lost their lives in consequence.”

“We could well imagine that the guards would not have escaped punishment, as that is customary in Europe, but we were not aware that the Japanese laws were so cruel as to condemn innocent persons to death.”

“Is there a law in Europe which allows a prisoner to escape?”

“There is certainly no written law, but if he has not pledged his word of honor, it is allowable for him to seize on any favorable opportunity for flight.”

“The Japanese,” replied I, “forced us to the course we took, by first taking us prisoners by stratagem, and then refusing to give credence to our assertions.”

The governor appeared very much astonished at my words; the capturing of us, he said, was now a by-gone affair, about which it was useless to say any thing; he merely wished to know whether I considered myself innocent or guilty, as in the former case he could not lay our case before the Emperor. All the objections I made, did no good; they only made him angry, and he kept repeating the same question. At last as I began to see what he was aiming at, and that he only had our interests in view, I frankly confessed that we had not acted rightly, and that our conduct merited punishment. He seemed very well satisfied with this confession of mine, and we were told that our affairs were prospering.

In this manner, with all our wants gratified, but with time hanging heavy on our hands, we lived until the sixth of September. On that day we were again conducted to the castle, and received the joyful intelligence that the Diana was again at Kumachir, and treating with the Japanese government for our liberation. Our joy, however, was of short duration, for we received information in a letter from the commander of the vessel, that in order to satisfy the Japanese, he was obliged to return to Russia to procure from the government the required avowal, that the acts of violence perpetrated in Japanese territory, was done without their knowledge or consent. We were, therefore, obliged to remain for another year, but during that time we were treated with the greatest consideration.

On the morning of the fifth of October, an officer, in the most respectful manner, presented me with my hat and sword, which, during our imprisonment, had been carefully preserved. I was, however, obliged to dress myself as the Japanese wished, namely, in a jacket, and wide breeches of costly silk, which had been made expressly for the occasion. The hat and sword must have made this dress appear strange enough in the eyes of Europeans, but as it was all the same to the Japanese, and since they had returned our arms, they had ceased to regard us as prisoners. I willingly complied with their wishes, and determined to present myself before my countrymen, in a costume in which they would have some difficulty in recognizing me.

As every thing was ready for our departure, we went down to the shore, accompanied by the governor and all the officers. Here we found a magnificently decorated barge waiting for us, in which we embarked, after having taken leave of a crowd of people, who wished us a pleasant journey. A multitude of boats, laden with every thing belonging to us, and numerous presents besides, shot from the shore, and accompanied us to the vessel.

So ends the narrative of Golownin. He resumed the command of his vessel, sailed for Kamtschatka, and from there went to St. Petersburg, where he and his rescued companions were richly rewarded by the Emperor.

By the orders of the British government, I cruised for a season in the Cuban waters, for the express purpose of aiding in the suppression of the slave trade, which, in spite of all treaties and efforts to put an end to it, was still carried on with the most unblushing boldness. I had under my command a small, but well-armed schooner, with a crew of picked men, and sailed for my destination with the most positive orders to sink or capture all suspected vessels. We cruised about for some time without making any prizes, and the weary and monotonous life I led, became almost unbearable to me, driving me from the cabin to the deck, and from the deck to the cabin, seeking in vain for some relief from the ennui I suffered.

One very dark evening, it might have been about eight o’clock, I went on deck depressed in spirits, and completely out of sorts. Here I found Timothy Tailtackle, who had the watch, gazing into the surrounding darkness so intently that he did not perceive me until I was standing close to him.

“Any thing in sight, Master Tailtackle?” asked I, eagerly.

The Hole in the Wall is a very remarkable rock forming the southern promontory of the island of Abaco, one of the Bahamas. As its name signifies, it resembles, either, from the action of the waves, or from the cannonadings it has received, a perforated wall. It rises some forty feet above the surface of the water.

“We are ten miles distant, at least,” said I.

“Then,” cried Tailtackle, in a sharp tone, “there must be a sail to windward, and not far off either.”

“Where?” asked I, eagerly; “quick, get my glass.”

“Here it is, sir.”

“Let me see, then.”

I looked through the glass until my eyes ached, but as I could perceive nothing, I resumed my walk on deck, satisfied in my own mind that Timothy had been mistaken. The latter, however, continued to look through the glass, and when I approached him, a few minutes afterwards, said:

“Well, sir, now that it brightens a little, I see what it is that has been puzzling me.”

“The deuce you do! give me the glass.” In a moment I saw it also.

“By Jove, Tailtackle, you’re right. Send the men to their posts, get the long guns ready, and clear the deck for action.”

“Give the glass to the boatswain, Master Tailtackle, and come forward here.”

The long gun was now swung round, and the other pieces run into the opened ports. They were all double shotted and carefully primed, and the whole crew, even to a negro we had on board, stood at their posts ready for action.

“I see her now, sir, plain enough,” cried Tailtackle.

“Good! What does she look like?”

“A large brig, sir, hard up against the wind. You can see her now without the glass.”

I looked in the direction indicated by Tailtackle, and sure enough, there was a dark mass towering above the surface of the water, dim and black like a spirit from the deep.

“She’s a large vessel, sir,” said Tailtackle, “there’s no doubt of that; there goes her lower sails, and now they’re furling her topsail; ha! she’s crossing our bows; look out, sir, here comes a shot.”

“The devil!” ejaculated I. I now saw the vessel plain enough, scudding before the wind.

“Keep her close to the wind––ease her a little––that’s right––now give that fellow a shot across his bows––we’ll find out what he’s made of. Reefpoint,” continued I, to one of the midshipmen, “show our signal.”

“Aye, aye, sir.”

The shot was fired and the lights shown, but still our ghostly friend remained silent and dark.

“Scarfemwell,” said I to the gunner, “go forward to the long gun; Tailtackle, I’ve no great liking for that chap, open the magazine.”

The stranger had now neared us considerably, and he shortened sail; but when he found that his endeavors to cross our bows in order to rake us, were unsuccessful, as we ran with him before the wind, broadside to broadside, he hastily let go his topsail, as he was now not more than a cable’s length from us. At this moment, Tailtackle, in his shirt, pantaloons, and shoes, put his head out of the hatchway, and said:

“If I might advise, sir, I think we had better keep our hatches down; that fellow is not honorable, depend upon it, sir.”

“Very well, Tailtackle, very well. Forward there, Master Jigmaree; give him a shot, if he won’t speak, right between the masts, sir. Do you hear?”

“Aye, aye, sir,” answered the boatswain.

“Fire.”

The gun was discharged, and immediately we heard the crashing of timbers on board the stranger, accompanied by a piercing cry, such as a negro makes at the death of his companions, and then came a long and doleful howl.

“A slaver, sir, and our shot has struck him,” cried Handlead, the gunner.

“She shows a good set of teeth,” cried Jigmaree; “nine on a side, as I am a living sinner!”

Three of the shots struck us, mortally wounding a sailor, and injuring the poor little midshipman, Reefpoint, who was hit by a splinter.

“Steady, men––aim low––fire!”

Again the long gun was discharged, together with two smaller pieces. But our friend was too nimble for us; he crowded on sail, and escaped in spite of our efforts to overtake him. In less than an hour we lost sight of him.

“Crowd on sail, and after him, Master Jigmaree,” said I; but as I feared lest he might lead us too near the coast, I went down into the cabin to consult the chart.

II.

In the cabin I found Wagtail, Gelid, and Bangs, three British officers, stationed at the West Indies, capital fellows, who finding their time hang heavy on their hands, had procured leave of absence, and accompanied me in my cruise, which though somewhat dangerous it is true, still offered occasional opportunities of amusement. They were sitting round a small table, smoking, and before them stood glasses of brandy and water.

“Something of a fight, eh?” said Paul Gelid, a long-limbed Creole from the Bahamas, but a warm-hearted, honorable fellow, with a drawling voice. “Not very pleasant in the evening, I should say.”

Bangs had been an active and brave officer, but ease and comfort was every thing to him, and when he could not fight, he did not like to hear it spoken of.

Pepperpot Wagtail was a little round fellow, of an irritable temperament, but great goodness of heart, and very scrupulous in his dealings with mankind. He had been sick and had come on board in order to recruit his health. I do not know how to describe his appearance better than to compare him to an egg, to the large end of which, his little feet were fastened.

“My dear sir,” he said to Bangs, “reach me that cursed biscuit.”

Bangs gave him the bowl, throwing into it some pieces of biscuit which were as hard as stones.

All this time I was occupied with my chart. Wagtail took a piece of the biscuit and put it into his mouth.

“Zounds! my dear Aaron,” cried he, ironically, “what dentist are you in league with? Gelid has just broken off his favorite tooth, and now you want”––

“Bah!” replied Bangs, “don’t frighten yourself; but what the deuce is this? Wagtail, Gelid, my dear fellows, look here!”

A sailor, who was followed by the ship’s surgeon, brought down on his back, the poor fellow who had been wounded, and laid him on the table. I must here remark that the captain’s cabin in small vessels is sometimes used as a cockpit, as it now was.

I had now an opportunity of seeing what kind of mettle my friends were made of.

“Doctor,” said Bangs, pulling off his coat, “I can be of use, I know very well––no skill, but firm nerves.”

“And I,” cried Wagtail, “can tie a bandage, although I am not a surgeon.”

Gelid said nothing, but when it came to the pinch was the most useful of all. The wounded lad Wiggins, a fine young man, was weak and very pale, but bold as a lion. A cannon shot had shivered the bone of his leg just above the knee. Round his thigh was a tourniquet, and in consequence he did not bleed much.

“Captain,” said the poor boy, “I shall get over this. I have no great pain, sir; I have not indeed.“

All this time the surgeon was cutting his pantaloons from his leg, and now a shocking sight presented itself to our view. The foot and leg were blue and shrivelled, and connected with the thigh by only a small ligament; the knee pan too was shattered. The doctor made the young man swallow a glass of brandy, containing a strong dose of opium, and then began to amputate the limb above the knee. As long as the knife was used, Aaron remained firm, but when the saw grated against the bone, he murmured with a shudder:

“I’m going on deck captain: I can’t stand this––I’m sick as a dog.”

“Dead as Julius Cæsar, captain,” said Gelid coolly.

Dead enough, thought I, and left the cabin to go on deck. At the foot of the companion-ladder, I stumbled over something.

“What the deuce is this?” growled I.

“It’s me, sir.”

“Me––and who’s me?”

“Reefpoint, sir.”

“Gracious God! what are you doing here youngster? You’re not wounded, I hope.”

“A little, sir; a scratch from a splinter, sir. The same shot that tripped up poor Wiggins, sent a splinter after me.”

“Why don’t you go to the doctor, Reefpoint?”

“I was waiting until he had finished with Wiggins, sir, but as it is all over with him now, I’ll go and have my wound dressed.”

“What, Reefpoint! little reefer,” he cried; “you are surely not wounded, my dear friend––such a little fellow; why I should as soon have thought they would have shot at a fly.”

“Indeed, I am wounded, Master Bangs; look there.”

Bangs examined the wound, holding the poor little midshipman in his arms.

“God bless me!” he cried, with an outbreak of the most heartfelt grief; “you seem more fit to be in your mother’s nursery, than to be knocked about in this way.”

Reefpoint sank fainting into his arms.

“With the captain’s permission you must have my bed,” said Aaron to him, whilst he and Wagtail undressed the boy with the greatest care and tenderness, and laid him in the hammock.

“Thank you, sir,” sobbed little Reefpoint, “if my mother were here, she would thank you too.”

III.

My duty called me on deck, and I heard no more. The night was very dark, and I could see nothing of the stranger, but I steered as near as I could in the direction I believed him to have taken, hoping to catch a glimpse of him at daybreak. After a little while Bangs came on deck.

“Ah, but my dear sir,” replied I, “I don’t think that we have done with her yet. I hope to have a brush with her at daybreak.”

“Now, captain, you’re jesting; you don’t wish that really and truly, do you?”

“Really and truly, my dear fellow, and the only thing which troubles me, is that you and your friends will thereby be exposed to danger.”

“Bah! don’t bother yourself about that, but reflect before you engage with this slaver, how is it possible to gain any advantage over him? Remember that he has twice as many men as we have, and eighteen guns to our three.”

“Time will show,” replied I, smiling; “but I must and will fight, if I can only get alongside of him. And now, my dear friend, as the surgeon has left the cabin, I advise you to go down to your hammock––good night. I fear that I must remain on deck.”

“Good night, captain. Heaven guard you. I will go down and comfort my friends.”

“Scuse me, massa captin; could ye gibe me some guns?”

“Some guns,” replied I; “certainly, a half dozen of them, if you wish it.”

“Jist de number massa told me to fotch him; tank’e, massa captin.”

Pegtop was very fond of this word, “massa,” and could never get accustomed to any other title used by the whites.

“Listen, friend,” said I to Pegtop, “now that you have got the guns; is your master really going to fight?”

The negro stood still, rolling his eyes, and expressing in his countenance the greatest astonishment.

“Massa Bangs fight! Golly, massa, you jestin? Massa Bangs fight? Why yer doesn’t know him. Ye ought to see de way he fotches down de ducks and snipe, and a man isn’t so hard to hit as dem.”

“Granted,” said I; “but a snipe has not a loaded gun in his claws, like a Spaniard, friend Pegtop.”

“Very well,” said I; “and is Master Gelid going to fight.”

“B’lieve he will; fust rate friend of massa Bangs––good at shootin’ ducks, too––guess he’ll fight.”

“Ah,” said I, “your friends are all heroes, Pegtop. Will Master Wagtail also fight?”

Pegtop came closer to me, and said in a low, mysterious voice:

“Aint so sartin about him, massa; nice little fat man, but tinks too much of his belly. Not ’zactly sartin if he’ll fight or not.”

With these words, Pegtop and the two other blacks, Chin-Chin and Zampa, Wagtail’s and Gelid’s servants, took a couple of guns apiece, and providing themselves with the necessary ammunition, went aft, and began carefully cleaning and oiling the weapons. I had expected that the wind would blow fresher at daybreak, but I was mistaken. Well, thought I, we might as well sit down to breakfast, which we accordingly did.

“Halloa, captain,” cried Bangs, putting down his coffee cup, “what’s the matter with you? You look infernally pale, my dear fellow.”

“I was up all night,” replied I, somewhat embarrassed, “and have been running about all day. I am very tired.”

As I pronounced these words, a shudder ran through my frame, and a strong emotion, which I could not account for, kept my tongue tied.

“Master Bangs,” said I, at length, “you are the only friend in whom at this moment I can confide. You know my circumstances in life, and I feel that I can with confidence ask you to do the son of my father a favor.”

“What is it you wish, my dear fellow––speak out.”

“I will speak. In the first place, I am very much worried that I have exposed you and your friends to so much danger, but I could not foresee it; on that score my conscience is easy; the only thing I ask of you all is to remain below and not expose yourselves unnecessarily. If I should fall,”––here I involuntarily grasped Bang’s hand––“and I doubt if I shall see another sunset, for we are going to fight against fearful odds.”