human
Ye must be calm and tranquil, mon, in a case like this; for ye will require all your judgment and discretion to discover the means of accomplishing your object; continued the governor, not noticing the interruption.
gpt
And as I considered ye a mon in every way calculated for the purpose I have in view, and, moreover, particularly suited, from other reasons, which ye yourself will allow, I instantly made application to employ you on it. Fleetwood almost groaned. He could not again venture to interrupt the governor, though he was bursting with impatience to have his fears relieved or confirmed.
human
Well, I see ye wish to be informed on the subject, which is very natural, Captain Fleetwood; and, therefore, I must premise that I have this day received notice of the arrival of a brig, a merchantman from Smyrna, and that she is now performing quarantine in Port Marsa Musceit. Her master has written a statement which has been forwarded to me; and which, if correct, and I see no reason to doubt it, proves that further efforts are required to put down piracy and robbery and murder in these seas; and by God they shall not be wanting as long as I'm ruler here.
gpt
Well, sir; well, sir,
human
But ay, the statement. It is to the effect that the brig _Mary Jane_, William Jones master, on her voyage from Smyrna to Malta, did in latitude ... degrees north, longitude ... degrees east, sight the hull of a vessel dismasted. That not lying much out of her course, she hauled up for her; and on a nearer approach she appeared to be water-logged, by her lowness in the water, and the heavy way in which she rolled; that on getting close to her, the _Mary Jane_ was hove to, and a boat lowered into the water, into which the first mate and a boat's crew got, and pulled on board her. It appears that the mate, when he first got alongside, thought that she had been brought into her present condition by a storm, from the appearance her shattered bulwarks presented; but that, climbing up her side, she found a number of shot-holes, and round-shot sticking in them, and her spars and rigging lying about the decks, evidently destroyed by shot. He therefore came to the conclusion that she had been hotly engaged with an enemy of very superior force, as she herself only carried four guns; and it would require a large number, or else very rapid firing, for a long time, to send so many into her as he observed. He soon discovered that there was no human being alive on board her; but on more minute examination, he was of opinion, from the state of the decks, that there had been some severe fighting, and a number of people killed on them. All the bodies, however, had been thrown overboard. The hold of the ship had been ransacked, was almost empty, as were the cabins, which had evidently been fitted up for passengers, and there were a few articles of female gear scattered about, which made him suppose that there had been ladies on board.
gpt
Great Heaven! ejaculated Captain Fleetwood, starting up.
human
The name, sir--the name?
gpt
The name is just what the mate had considerable difficulty himself in discovering; for, you see, the master had a fancy to have it painted so low under the counter, that it could not be seen, sunk deep in the water as the ship now was. At last, however, one of the men who accompanied him, found a book with the name of Bowse in it, which he concluded to be that of the master.
human
The same, groaned poor Fleetwood.
gpt
It was the _Zodiac_. She is lost--lost to me for ever. Oh, Ada, Ada!
human
Hoot, mon, hoot! ne'er say die while there's life! exclaimed the bluff old governor.
gpt
Ye have no positive proof that any one ye care for is dead or lost to ye. I tell ye, the mate of the _Mary Jane_ found no one dead on board the vessel; and, as she had no boats remaining, it is just a plausible supposition that the survivors of the crew and the passengers may have escaped from the ship they thought was sinking in one of them; and we may hear of your friends turning up somewhere or other; for I do not pretend to deny that, when I first received notice of the outrage, I felt convinced that my friend, Colonel Gauntlett and his bonnie niece were among the sufferers.
human
Too true, they were, sir,
gpt
It was that supposition, and not ignorant also of your attachment to the young leddie, which made me resolve to apply, instanter, that the _Ione_ might be sent in the first place to search for the crew and passengers of the late brig the _Zodiac_; for I ought to say, she sank while the _Mary Jane_ was yet close to her; and then, it will be gratifying and soothing to your feelings, under the circumstances, to chastise the miscreants who have perpetrated this atrocity--and I do not suppose, Captain Fleetwood, that ye will be disposed to spare them more than I should.
human
We will hang every mother's son of them; and teach other villains that these seas can no longer be made the field for the exercise of their marauding disposition. Ye understand, Captain Fleetwood--ye may take them alive if ye can; but ye may sink, burn, and destroy them all, sooner than let one escape.
gpt
I comprehend, sir, clearly, answered Fleetwood.
human
When can I sail?
gpt
I am expecting your orders every instant, replied the governor.
human
It is a considerate change of destination, to be sure; but I knew the duty would be gratifying to you; and, fortunately, your brig is the only vessel on the station fit to be sent on it, while the despatches can go home by the _Racehorse_ as well. Sit quiet a few minutes till the orders arrive; and I will in the mean time glance my eye over a paper I have to read.