Leaves from a middy's log

by Arthur Lee Knight

The coxswain touched his hat as he answered, “There is a high old row up somewhere along the coast, gentlemen; and the long and the short of it is that the captain has ordered us round to Santiago—leastways that’s the yarn upon the lower deck.”

At this moment a group of our wardroom officers hurried down to the landing-stage, and we all sprang into the cutter, which was at once pushed off into deep water and headed for the ship. The ten lusty oarsmen gave way with a will, and sent the boat spinning along at an exhilarating pace, whilst Ned Burton carefully steered her through the maze of merchant shipping and fishing-craft that thronged the harbour. In a quarter of an hour we were alongside the Rattler, and found every one full of excitement, and a general preparation for weighing anchor going forward.

It seemed that the crew of an English merchant vessel, more than half of whom were foreigners, had mutinied upon the high seas, and after murdering the captain and the first mate, and pitching their bodies overboard, had taken charge of the ship, which had a very valuable general cargo. They had run her into the harbour of Santiago de Cuba, where, owing to the disturbed state of the island, they imagined that they could perhaps dispose of the cargo, and then either burn the ship and join the insurgents, or put to sea again and trust to the hazardous chance of not falling in with an English cruiser.

Fortunately, however, their diabolical schemes were nipped in the bud by the successful escape of Mr. Osborne, the surgeon of the vessel, whom the mutineers had kept in close confinement lest they should require his services. On the arrival of the ship at Santiago, the leading desperadoes went on shore to try to dispose of the cargo. During their absence, the surgeon managed to give the others the slip, and with considerable pluck swam to a small coasting-steamer which was anchored not far off. The skipper of this craft had easily been prevailed upon to steam off at once for Havana on the promise of a reward; and to the surgeon’s delight he was soon en route for the capital. On arriving at Havana, he at once reported himself to Captain Graves, who paid the skipper of the steamer handsomely for his co-operation; and after consulting with the Captain-General of Cuba, he ordered the Rattler to hold herself in readiness to proceed to Santiago.

As the sun sank to rest in a blaze of crimson glory which was reflected in ruddy hues on city and shipping, and on the tranquil waters of the harbour, we tripped our anchor and steamed slowly out to sea. At the same time, the innumerable bells of Havana rang out their confused and jangling summons to vespers from the church and convent towers, their tones mellowed by distance as they came sounding over the expansive bay. They seemed to be ringing out a farewell to us as we faded from view in the short evanescent twilight, which still glowed with some of the sunset’s rapidly-dissolving glories.

We middies were of course full of excitement at the idea of fresh adventures, and were burning to know what plans the captain had laid for capturing this daring band of mutineers, who had had the effrontery to murder their officers and seize the vessel on the high seas.

It soon became known that Captain Graves designed to capture these villains by means of a little strategy. He intended to enter Santiago de Cuba under easy steam, after nightfall, so as not to arouse suspicion on board the craft which had been thus cleverly seized, and which was called the Flying-fish. It would then perhaps be possible to seize the crew in their hammocks before any resistance could be offered. Mr. Osborne, who accompanied us, gave it as his opinion that, on learning of his escape, the mutineers would probably be seized with alarm, and betake themselves elsewhere. It was highly improbable, indeed, that they could know of the presence of a British man-of-war in Cuban waters; but still they would not unnaturally conjecture that some Spanish gunboats might be sent in chase of them, as soon as the facts of the mutiny and murders reached the ears of the Captain-General at Havana.

Fortunately for our scheme, there was no moon, though the stars shone down with the sparkling brilliancy so remarkable in tropical climes. The night, however, was sufficiently dark for our purpose; and toward the end of the middle watch, the Rattler, like a giant phantom-ship, glided almost imperceptibly into Santiago harbour, with forecastlemen stationed at the small bower anchor, and armed boats’ crews ready to go on any service at a moment’s notice.

The captain knew the Santiago de Cuba anchorage well, besides being provided with excellent charts; so the frigate was taken in at the dead of night without the slightest hesitation. Mr. Osborne declared that he distinguished the Flying-fish in about the same position in which he had left her; consequently we anchored as quietly as possible a few lengths distant from her, and at once proceeded to put our plan into execution.

The second cutter, the boat of which I was midshipman, was one of those told off for the enterprise, so I hurriedly got my side-arms, and mustered my crew preparatory to manning the boat. Mr. Giles, the master-at-arms, supported by some ship’s corporals and marines, was to go with me, taking handcuffs with him. Mr. Thompson, the gunnery lieutenant, was to command the party, and, in company with Mr. Osborne—who had provided himself with a revolver—was to go in the first cutter with my chum, Charlie Balfour. These two boats the captain considered quite sufficient for the duty, especially as a complete surprise was intended, and it was known that the mutineers were very imperfectly supplied with arms.