We at length succeeded, and then explained that, returning from shooting, we had ridden full trot into the town in order to get home before the gates were closed at sunset, clearly showing that but for the boys frightening our horses no harm could possibly have happened. He said that he did not in the least doubt the truth of our story, but should the boy die,—accidents not being provided against in their code of laws,—nothing short of the death of the Portuguese lad would appease the populace, since blood, and Turkish blood, too, had been spilt.
I proposed putting on my uniform and attending the vice-consul and captain of the port to the palace, which was done. Passing through the crowd was not very agreeable, but, under the protection of a guard, we reached our destination in safety.
The old Bey laid down the Moorish law with great clearness, arguing the point calmly, and evidently with a friendly feeling towards us.
He had been making enquiries, he said, and had found our account of the transaction to be quite correct; that he knew the Turkish boy was a great rascal, and though he had been rightly served, it would be difficult to pacify the Moors, especially since the offender was not an Englishman. “True,” I replied; “but he is a subject of our ally, and under my protection, and nothing but extreme necessity shall compel me to give him up.” “Keep him out of sight,” replied his Highness, “and never again let eyes be cast on him in this place, or I will not be answerable for his life. Come here to-morrow.”
We returned to the consul’s, and the captain of the port dispersed the mob, assuring them the Bey would take care that justice was done. With the morning’s dawn again came our clamorous foes; but having in the meantime had communication, through our friend the captain of the port, with the boy’s parents, we had learned there was no fear of the young Turk dying, who, though he had received a severe cut and some bruises, was doing well. A hint, too, was given us that a few dollars would assist to heal the wound and soften the rigour of justice. We went early next morning to the palace, when the Bey informed us of what we already knew, that the boy would not die from the injuries he had sustained. Then entering into conversation, “Consider,” said he, “if a like event had happened to you in a town in England? You knew it was wrong to ride fast near a populous town.” We pleaded our apprehensions of being locked out all night. “You ought to have come home sooner then; but to return to my first question. If in your own country such an accident had happened, what would be the consequence?” I replied that we should have had to pay the doctor’s bill, and in the case of a poor person to give something extra to the parents for the loss of time in nursing him. “Very well, then, you shall do the same here; but, take my advice, never ride fast through a large town again, and smuggle your Portuguese off to the ships for fear of accident;” which I did the earliest opportunity. The Bey then said, “Who furnished you with horses?” The vice-consul informed him. “What! my slave? they were mine, and the fellow had let them to you without my leave; he has been the cause of the whole. Here,”—clapping his hands, that an officer might come,—“go directly and give my groom five hundred bastinadoes for letting out my horses without asking my permission.” Making our bows we retired, when just outside the door we met Achmet the groom in the hands of two fierce looking Moorish officers of justice, taking him to the market-place to undergo his punishment. He fell on his knees, and implored us to ask his master to pardon him. We stopped the officers of vengeance, and after a little solicitation, the Bey listened to our request, and the man was pardoned, who, when he met us, wanted to kiss our feet for saving him from being bastinadoed. I believe the fellow was a rogue, who intended to pocket the money, thinking his master would not find him out. Thus ended the affair, the commissary paying sixty Spanish dollars to the mother of the young vagabond.
Having embarked our supplies for the army, we returned to Alicant with the convoy, and the 21st of January, 1813, proceeded to Gibraltar to refit, where we remained three weeks, and then rejoined Rear-Admiral Hallowell, who sent us to our old station in Altea Bay,[K] and from thence to cruize off Denia, near which place we drove a French felucca privateer on shore, mounting two brass nine-pounders and swivels, with small arms, and bilged her. Our next destination was another trip to Oran, on the coast of Barbary, with four transports, for cattle and corn. We had a capital run there and back with our live cargo.
CHAPTER XIV.
Siege of the Col de Balaguer—A Reconnoitering Party—Raising of the Siege of Tarragona—Lieutenant-General Sir John and Lady Murray—Rear-Admiral Benjamin Hallowell—Viscount and Viscountess Mahon—Palermo, Veniros; upset in a boat—Valencia—Holland.