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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Golden Galleon, by Robert Leighton
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Golden Galleon
+       BEING A NARRATIVE OF THE ADVENTURES OF MASTER GILBERT
+       OGLANDER, AND OF HOW, IN THE YEAR 1591, HE FOUGHT UNDER
+       THE GALLANT SIR
+
+Author: Robert Leighton
+
+Illustrator: William Rainey
+
+Release Date: April 23, 2011 [EBook #35940]
+[Last updated: May 25, 2011]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GOLDEN GALLEON ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Barbara Watson, James Wright and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Canada Team at
+http://www.pgdpcanada.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                      The Golden Galleon
+
+
+
+
+                     By ROBERT LEIGHTON
+
+   _Crown 8vo._       _Cloth elegant._       _Illustrated_
+
+
+                      Olaf the Glorious
+
+            A Historical Story of the Viking Age. 3_s._
+
+    "Is as good as anything of the kind we have met with. Mr. Leighton
+    more than holds his own with Rider Haggard and
+    Baring-Gould."--_Times._
+
+
+                      The Golden Galleon
+
+A Narrative of the Adventures of Master Gilbert Oglander in the Great
+                  Sea-fight off Flores. 3_s._
+
+    "A well-constructed and lively historical romance."--_Spectator._
+
+    "The story itself is a capital one, but the chief merit lies in the
+    telling. It presents an excellent picture of life in England, both
+    on land and sea, in the days of Queen Elizabeth."--_Standard._
+
+
+               The Wreck of the "Golden Fleece"
+
+             A Story of a North Sea Fisher Boy. 3_s._
+
+     "Excellent in every respect, it contains every variety of incident.
+     The plot is very cleverly devised, and the types of the North Sea
+     sailors are capital."--_Times._
+
+
+                     London: BLACKIE & SON, Limited
+
+
+
+
+                    [Illustration: A PERILOUS SITUATION]
+
+
+
+
+                             The Golden Galleon
+
+                     BEING A NARRATIVE OF THE ADVENTURES
+                     OF MASTER GILBERT OGLANDER, AND OF
+                     HOW, IN THE YEAR 1591, HE FOUGHT UNDER
+                     THE GALLANT SIR RICHARD GRENVILLE IN
+                     THE GREAT SEA-FIGHT OFF FLORES, ON
+                     BOARD HER MAJESTY'S SHIP _THE REVENGE_
+
+                                     BY
+                               ROBERT LEIGHTON
+
+                                  Author of
+       "The Pilots of Pomona" "Olaf the Glorious" "The Thirsty Sword" &c.
+
+
+                      _ILLUSTRATED BY WILLIAM RAINEY R.I._
+
+
+                           BLACKIE AND SON LIMITED
+                          LONDON GLASGOW AND BOMBAY
+
+
+
+
+
+                                   PREFACE.
+
+
+In this present amphibious story I have tried to represent some of the
+conditions of life ashore and afloat in the glorious days of Queen
+Elizabeth; but I must state, to begin with, that the only portion of the
+narrative that is actually based upon historical fact is the account of
+Lord Thomas Howard's expedition against the West Indian treasure-ships.
+In this part of the story I have closely followed the original report of
+the last fight of _The Revenge_, as it was written by Sir Walter Raleigh
+some few weeks after the battle.
+
+My friend Commander C. N. Robinson tells me that Sir Richard Grenville's
+disregard of Admiral Howard's instructions was, strictly speaking, a
+breach of discipline. Whether or not this was the case need not here be
+discussed. All that we need remember just now is that Sir Richard was
+one of the bravest of the many brave men of his splendid time, and that,
+undismayed by the almost certain prospect of defeat, he led a forlorn
+hope, plunged into the glorious fray, and fought to the death with a
+boldness which has never been excelled in all the course of our naval
+history.
+
+Grenville was not a great admiral as Drake and Nelson were great, and
+this most memorable action upon which his fame must always rest was not
+an example of the supremest heroism, simply because his success or
+failure involved no high or very noble principle. But the worst that can
+be said of his daring exploit is that it was the Balaclava charge of the
+Spanish war; at its best it was an example, and a very grand example, of
+that British pluck and intrepidity which have ever been the
+distinguishing characteristics of our fighting countrymen; and I shall
+be glad if, in writing this story, I help in some measure to instil into
+my young readers a fuller pride in the navy which has secured for
+England her supremacy upon the seas.
+
+                                                      ROBERT LEIGHTON.
+
+
+
+
+                            CONTENTS.
+
+
+   Chap.                                                   Page
+
+      I. Timothy Trollope,                                  11
+
+     II. The Young Heir of Modbury,                         25
+
+    III. The Man with the Scarred Cheek,                    39
+
+     IV. At the Sign of the Pestle and Mortar,              52
+
+      V. Rapiers to the Rescue,                             65
+
+     VI. Table-talk at Modbury Manor,                       84
+
+    VII. The Instinct of a Brute Dog,                      102
+
+   VIII. The Old Buccaneer,                                118
+
+     IX. Concerning a Stolen Letter,                       138
+
+      X. A Rapier and a Riding Whip,                       157
+
+     XI. The Affray on Polperro Beach,                     175
+
+    XII. Baron Champernoun,                                195
+
+   XIII. Outward Bound,                                    205
+
+    XIV. A Chain of Penance,                               223
+
+     XV. In Search of the Plate Fleet,                     232
+
+    XVI. The Green Light upon the Sea,                     248
+
+   XVII. Sir Richard Grenville,                            257
+
+  XVIII. Drusilla's Letter,                                264
+
+    XIX. A Splendid Disobedience,                          276
+
+     XX. The Last Fight of the "Revenge",                  290
+
+    XXI. Prisoners and Captives,                           311
+
+   XXII. The Great Cyclone,                                321
+
+  XXIII. The Writing in the Book,                          328
+
+   XXIV. Peter Trollope shuts up Shop,                     343
+
+
+
+
+                      ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+                                                           Page
+
+A Perilous Situation                            _Frontis._ 327
+
+"God hath been truly merciful in that he hath brought
+me safely back"                                             48
+
+"Timothy caught him by the neck and hurled him back"        73
+
+"And how fares it with the old shipmate?"                  147
+
+"Timothy disarmed the fellow, and with a forward
+thrust pierced him in the chest"                           191
+
+"Ay, but how came ye aboard, my lad?"                      219
+
+"For the love of Heaven cut the thing in twain!"           253
+
+The Great Fight on board the _Revenge_                     300
+
+"He made a lunge at Gilbert, aiming a blow at his
+heart"                                                     342
+
+
+
+
+                         THE GOLDEN GALLEON.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER I.
+
+                           TIMOTHY TROLLOPE.
+
+
+"Tim," said Peter Trollope, looking up from the oily whetstone that lay
+on the edge of the table in front of him, and slowly wiping the blade of
+the razor on the broad palm of his hand, "I want thee to go fetch me
+some more herbs."
+
+"Herbs?" repeated Tim from the far corner of the shop, where he was
+sprawling upon the floor side by side with a very ugly-looking bull-dog.
+
+"Ay," returned his father, running the edge of the razor along his
+thumb-nail to test its keenness. "My stock is at an end, and I have none
+left to make up the physic for Cap'n Cruse's sick wife. 'Tis some
+hellebore roots that I need most, and a little meadow-saffron and
+jasmine, and, if thou canst come upon them, a handful of yew-berries.
+You will find them all in Modbury Park if I make no mistake--over
+against the plantation of fir-trees where we saw the dead hind. I'd have
+thee go there this morning; and see that thou tarry not over long by the
+way, for I shall need thy help in distilling them."
+
+Timothy rose slowly to his feet. There was a look of glum discontent on
+his face. It was evident that he was in nowise willing to obey his
+father's behest.
+
+"What!" cried Peter, glancing at the lad with sharp reproof. "Dost
+object to the journey? Now, prithee, what wild boy's adventure hast thou
+on hand that is more to thy humour?"
+
+Timothy looked dreamily out through the little latticed window towards
+the quay, and his eyes wandered for a time among the masts and riggings
+of the ships.
+
+"I was but thinking to go out for a sail in Ambrose Pennington's
+fishing-boat," he said in a sulky undertone.
+
+"A plague on your fishing-boats!" exclaimed Peter somewhat angrily.
+"Y'are for ever thinking of the sea and ships and all such mischievous
+inventions! I'll not have it, look you. And to-day, so please you,
+you'll do my bidding and go fetch me these herbs, and there's an end
+on't."
+
+Timothy made no answer, for at this moment a hairy-faced mariner entered
+the shop, making a great noise upon the sanded floor with his heavy
+sea-boots.
+
+"Give you good-morning, Master Whiddon," said Peter Trollope with a bow
+and a smile, as he offered the man a chair in the middle of the room.
+"What may be your honour's will?"
+
+"Trim me my beard, Master Trollope," returned the seaman, seating
+himself in the chair and stretching out his legs in front of him; "and
+tell me your news; for 'tis a good two years since I was last ashore in
+Plymouth, and I am full eager, as you may be sure, to learn all that
+hath happened in my absence."
+
+Timothy opened a little locker under the window and drew forth a large
+canvas wallet, which he strapped over his shoulder. Then he crossed over
+to a door and disappeared into an inner room behind the shop, leaving
+his father to attend to his customer and retail news that to the boy, at
+all events, was as stale as a last year's chestnut.
+
+Peter Trollope was a barber-surgeon. He carried on his useful art (for
+in his deft hands it was in truth an art) at the sign of the Pestle and
+Mortar, down against Sutton Pool. He was a great man in Plymouth town,
+by reason of his entertaining talk and his skill alike in surgery and in
+hairdressing; and his little shop was the lounging-place of all the idle
+young gallants of the port, who came in to discuss the latest news from
+London, to gossip about their neighbours' affairs and about the ships,
+or to learn the tricks and fashions in the new art of taking tobacco.
+Men who had received sword-wounds in street frays or damaged skulls in
+tavern brawls came to him to have their hurts dressed and plastered; he
+had a famous tincture for the toothache, a certain remedy for
+melancholy, and at curing the common ailments of children and old women
+no doctor in the town could beat him. Mariners just home after a long
+voyage came to him to have their overgrown locks shorn and their beards
+singed. Poor workmen and apprentices came to him to be polled for
+twopence, were soon trimmed round as a cheese, and dismissed with a
+hearty "God speed you, my master!" There were many high and mighty
+gentlemen among his customers too, I do assure you; for he had starched
+the beard of the great Sir Walter Raleigh, curled the moustachios of
+brave Sir Francis Drake, and tied up the lovelocks of courtly Sir
+Anthony Killigrew.
+
+The Pestle and Mortar stood facing the busy wharf at the corner of one
+of the narrow alleys that led up into the town. The upper windows of the
+house looked out across the Pool, where all the ships and fishing-boats
+were harboured. From these upper windows you could, if you had only been
+there, see down upon the ships' decks and watch the brown-faced seamen
+at their work of discharging the merchandise that they had brought from
+distant climes; and in the street below there was the channel where, on
+wet days, the rain-water rushed by in a deep stream; and where, when the
+rain had ceased, young Timothy Trollope and his playmates used to go out
+in their bare feet and sail their tiny boats, and imagine these bits of
+rough-hewn stick to be Spanish galleons, laden with gold, or corsair
+galleys with cargoes of Christian captives for the slave-markets of
+Algiers.
+
+Timothy's games had always some connection with ships (which, I suppose,
+was natural enough, seeing that he had been born and brought up in sight
+of the sea, and with the smell of tar rope and bilge-water for ever in
+his nostrils), and all his boyish ambitions were of travel and
+adventure, fostered, it may be, by the travellers' talk he had heard
+from the mariners who gossiped with his father in the barber's shop.
+
+Many of these adventurous mariners, remembering past benefits that they
+had received at the hands of the kindly barber-surgeon, or perhaps being
+short of money (as they ofttimes were, in spite of the vast treasures
+that they had voyaged and fought for in far-off regions), had given or
+sold to him many relics of their travels in foreign lands, and the shop
+was a veritable museum of curiosities from all parts of the known world.
+Here was a live poll-parrot brought home by one of Sir Richard
+Grenville's seamen from Virginia; the jaws of a giant shark that had
+been killed by John Hawkins' boatswain off the west coast of Africa; a
+Turk's scimitar, a Patagonian's war-club, a red Indian's tobacco-pipe,
+an Icelander's harpoon, and even some of the so-called gold brought back
+by Sir Martin Frobisher from distant Greenland. People who had never
+crossed the seas regarded these things with wonder and reverence, but
+seamen were wont to scoff at them, and to declare that they were but
+the sweepings and refuse of ships' cabins. Peter Trollope, however, was
+proud of his curious collection; and often, when business was slack, he
+would sit in his chair by the fire and look at the things each in turn,
+and grumble that Providence had not made him an adventurer instead of a
+quiet, stay-at-home barber-surgeon.
+
+Master Thomas Cavendish, the great explorer, when he was fitting out his
+ship, the _Hugh Gallant_, for his voyage round the world, had once said
+to him:
+
+"Peter, thou art too good a man to be wasting thy palmiest days at the
+clipping of hair. Those strong big limbs of thine should rather be
+employed in the hauling of ropes, the shifting of heavy guns, or
+fighting against the Spaniards. Now, my ship will be a-sailing out of
+Plymouth Sound in a few days' time, wilt shut up shop and join us? I do
+faithfully promise that thou shalt come back home again at the end of
+two brief years a wealthier man than ever the use of such trifling
+instruments as scissors and curling-irons can make thee."
+
+But Peter was already a married man, with a growing family of boys to
+keep and to clothe and to send out upon the world, and he chose the
+certainty of an easy livelihood rather than the promise of riches which
+were to be gained, if at all, by deserting his home and leaving his wife
+and children to shift for themselves. He had reflected, too, that if
+there were Spaniards to be fought abroad, there was also a threatened
+danger from the same dread enemy at home in England, and that Queen
+Elizabeth had as great need for landsmen to defend her coasts as for
+mariners to extend her power beyond the seas. And, indeed, when that
+danger arrived (as it did in the year 1588, when Timothy was a boy of
+twelve years old) Peter proved himself ready and willing to fight for
+his country, albeit the sum of his work on that glorious occasion was no
+more than to help to light the bonfire on Plymouth Hoe--the first of
+those beacon-fires which flashed along the coast to warn all England of
+the coming of King Philip's great armada.
+
+The memorable rout of the Spanish ships had taken place just two years
+before the opening of my story, and Timothy Trollope was now a
+well-grown lad of fourteen. He could remember all the events of the
+chase up the Channel, for he had heard the story repeated many times by
+men who had fought upon the Queen's ships. He was reminded of them every
+day; and even this morning as he strode through the town with his bag
+over his shoulders on his way to Modbury, he saw a group of the Spanish
+prisoners of war standing in the market-place--dark-visaged,
+evil-looking men, who seemed to be for ever plotting and scheming how
+they might escape from England and get back to their own orange groves
+in sunny Seville.
+
+Tim hated the Spaniards (as I suppose all English boys hated them at
+that time), and he was careful to pass the señors at a very safe
+distance, believing that there was danger in being close to them, and
+that under their long black cloaks each of them carried a rapier or a
+stiletto ready to his hand, to draw upon any unwary person who should
+happen to betray by look or sign the enmity that was in the hearts of
+all the townsfolk, young and old. For although the prisoners were out on
+their parole and were strictly forbidden to carry arms, yet Timothy
+always secretly mistrusted them, and suspected them, not without reason,
+of carrying weapons which they were only too ready to use.
+
+It was a long walk from Plymouth to Modbury Park; but the morning was
+fine, and Timothy, having left the town behind, tramped merrily along
+the shady country lanes, slashing with his stick at the rank weeds that
+grew at the wayside, and fancying that each nettle and foxglove that he
+laid low was a proud Spaniard whom he had slain.
+
+As he crossed the fields by a footpath leading towards Beddington
+Dingle, a covey of partridges, alarmed at his approach, rose with a
+noisy whirr of wings from the stubble. In the woods of the dingle he
+watched a squirrel running along the high branch of an oak-tree, and in
+a ditch at the farther border of the wood he startled a rat, and
+loitered there for a long, long time trying to discover the hole into
+which the animal had escaped.
+
+While he was searching he heard voices from behind him, mingled with the
+screaming of hawks, the yelping of dogs, and the tinkling of bells.
+
+"Well cast off aloft, ah!--well flown!" cried one voice.
+
+"Now she hath seized the fowl," cried another, "and 'gins to plume
+her--rebeck her not!--stand still and check her!"
+
+Timothy turned quickly round. High in the air he saw a heron flying,
+pursued by a couple of falcons, that whirled about their quarry,
+shunning its spear-like beak. At a moment of advantage one of the hawks
+mounted yet higher, and then, swooping down, struck like a thunderbolt
+upon her prey and seized the fowl within her talons. A shower of
+feathers floated down into the midst of the joyous crowd of men and
+women who were watching the sport from their horses' backs in the
+stubble-field.
+
+It was a very gay and courtly company. Here on their prancing horses
+were many elegant gentlemen wearing plumed hats and bright-coloured
+capes; ladies with their snow-white ruffs and their long velvet gowns
+that almost swept the daisies and dandelions at their horses' feet; and
+all were laughing and calling aloud in their excitement as they compared
+the merits of their birds, or made wagers on the success of their
+flights.
+
+Near to where Timothy stood, an old gentleman with a pointed white beard
+and a russet-coloured doublet rode on a very large chestnut horse. He
+carried a merlin hawk perched on his fist, but he seemed to take less
+interest in the sport than did his younger companions. Timothy had seen
+him many times before, both in Plymouth and at Modbury Park, and knew
+him to be the great Baron Champernoun, the lord of the manor of Modbury,
+a noted soldier and courtier. A very beautiful lady rode by his side,
+wearing a sombre black gown and a wide black hat with black feathers.
+She looked strangely out of place among her gaily-dressed friends, and
+Timothy wondered why she should wear this habit of gloom, until he saw
+her face, when he at once recognized her as the Lady Elisabeth Oglander,
+and knew that her reason for shunning bright colours in her apparel was
+the death of her most noble husband, the honourable Edmund Oglander, who
+had fallen in battle in the Netherlands while fighting against the
+Spaniards.
+
+She drew rein, and the master falconer approached her with his square
+frame round his waist, on which were perched some half-dozen hawks with
+their hoods and bells and their scarlet tufts. The lady leaned over on
+her saddle and took a hawk from the falconer's hand. The bird flapped
+its wings in great commotion until it was fairly perched on the fingers
+that held it. Then the Lady Elizabeth, holding her hand aloft, rode off
+across the field, followed presently by the rest of the hawking party,
+while Tim Trollope watched them disappear round a corner of the wood.
+
+As he turned to continue his way he came face to face with a boy of
+about his own age, who was carrying some dead partridges--spoils of the
+chase.
+
+"Helloh, Will!" cried Timothy, recognizing the lad. "I had thought you
+were at work on Modbury farm. Hast had a rise in the world that you are
+out here at the heels of the gentlefolks?"
+
+"A rise, do you call it?" returned Will. "That is as it may be. For my
+own part I do call it but a change of labour. I get no more pay for't, I
+promise you; and 'tis a vast deal harder work than the herding of cattle
+or the tending of sheep. I like it not, Tim; and 'tis certain I shall
+not stand it much longer." He dropped his burden on the grass at his
+feet and gazed idly about him with a dreamy look in his eyes. Presently
+he added, "I am for the sea, if peradventure I can get a ship to take
+me. I'd leave to-morrow an I could get someone to take my place."
+
+Timothy glanced quickly at his young friend.
+
+"I'll take it!" he cried eagerly. "I'll take your place, and gladly. For
+I have been wanting these many months past to go to work, and, since my
+father will not suffer me to go to sea, why, there is nothing I'd like
+better than to be in the service of my Lord Champernoun."
+
+And with this new idea in his head he went on his way, inwardly
+resolving that on the very next day he would go up to Modbury Manor and
+apply to his lordship's bailiff, entreating him to give him work, either
+on the farm or else in the mews where the hawks were kept. And he had
+little doubt that when once he had got promise of employment there would
+be no possible opposition from his father.
+
+This thought of his father reminded him that he had not yet begun to
+gather the herbs for which he had been sent out, so he went on over the
+fields until he came to the fir plantation in Modbury Park, and there in
+a quiet hollow he began to fill his wallet with such roots and berries
+as the barber-surgeon had bidden him bring home.
+
+He had walked round by the lake, and was unearthing the root of a rare
+herb which he knew that his father would set great store by, when,
+without the warning of any previous sound or movement he felt himself
+suddenly seized from behind and held firmly by his leather belt.
+
+Now, although the hand which held him was a very tiny one, yet it
+gripped him with surprising tenacity, and the suddenness of the assault
+was such that the lad, knowing that he was a trespasser on private
+ground, was greatly alarmed. He thought at once of my lord's gamekeeper,
+and he dreaded the consequences. He struggled to wrench himself away,
+and turned to confront his assailant. Instead of the man that he had
+expected, he beheld a little maid whose large blue eyes regarded him
+with an expression of ferocity that would have been terrible if it had
+not been merely assumed. She wore a lace-trimmed frock of golden-brown
+velvet that came down nearly to her toes. There was a crimson silk sash
+about her waist and a milk-white ruffle round her neck, and her cheeks
+were rosy with glowing health. She was beautiful to behold. But Tim
+thought nothing of her beauty; he was only astonished that so dainty a
+little gentlewoman, the granddaughter of a noble baron as he knew her to
+be, should display such boldness as to lay hands upon him, the son of a
+poor barber. He looked at her in amazement.
+
+"Certes, Mistress Oglander," said he in his confusion, "how you did
+startle me! I heard not your approach."
+
+"That is scarcely to be believed," quoth she, still gripping his belt,
+"for we have been firing our guns into your quarter this half-hour
+past!" Then tugging at him with renewed energy, she added, "You are now
+fairly conquered and our lawful prize of war."
+
+"Nay, Mistress Oglander," stammered Timothy, "I know not what you mean!
+I am but gathering a few poor herbs for my father, Master Trollope, the
+barber-surgeon of Plymouth, and I beg you to release me."
+
+Mistress Oglander looked strangely incredulous, and for a moment she
+relaxed her hold of him. She glanced round as though in search of
+someone whom she expected to see among the trees at the edge of the
+lake.
+
+"I care not whose son you may be," said she. "In real truth you are no
+man's son; nor, so please you, am I Drusilla Oglander; for you are a
+Spanish treasure-ship that I have captured on the high seas, while I am
+the good ship _Prudence_ of Falmouth, who now intendeth to take you as
+my prize to England."
+
+Timothy seemed to apprehend her purpose, for he calmly yielded himself
+to her humour.
+
+"An that be the way of it all," quoth he, "then am I well content. But I
+do pray that England doth lie at no great distance from this spot, for I
+must get home with my bag of herbs for the which my father is
+impatiently waiting."
+
+"'Tis but a little way beyond the beeches yonder," explained Drusilla,
+indicating three tall trees that grew in the midst of a shrubbery at the
+far end of the little lake. "'Twill take but a few moments to cross the
+Atlantic Ocean, and then we are there."
+
+She drew him onward for some yards, when suddenly he stopped. She
+glanced at him in quick alarm.
+
+"Nay," she cried, "you must not sink! You are to be refitted when we
+reach port, and then, you know, you will be made into an English ship."
+
+But Timothy still hesitated, and even made a movement as if to free
+himself and run away.
+
+"Why are you sinking?" questioned little Drusilla, to whom his movements
+seemed to imply that he had been seriously damaged in the late battle.
+"It cannot be that the shots I fired struck you below the water!"
+
+"'Tis my heart that sinketh," returned Tim. "Prithee, who and what are
+the men I see lurking under yonder trees?"
+
+Drusilla smiled.
+
+"The one sitting down with his back to the railings," said she, "is the
+_Santa Barbara_ galleon--a poor hopeless wreck. The other--well, I
+scarce know what he is at this moment, for he hath been so many things
+this morning that 'tis hard to remember. But I think he was the
+mule-train the last time--the mule-train that Drake captured near to
+Nombre de Dios. Gilbert was Captain Drake. Gilbert doth always like to
+be Captain Drake whenever 'tis possible, and will never consent to be a
+Spaniard, unless it be King Philip himself or else the great Marquis of
+Santa Cruz."
+
+"Master Gilbert can scarce be blamed for his choice," remarked Tim. And,
+understanding from what the girl had said that there was no reason for
+the fear that had come over him, he meekly suffered himself to be taken
+into port in the character of a captive treasure-ship.
+
+
+
+
+                              CHAPTER II.
+
+                       THE YOUNG HEIR OF MODBURY.
+
+
+"I can scarce agree with you there," remarked the young man whom
+Drusilla had described as a poor helpless wreck. He was a thin,
+sallow-faced, sad-looking individual, with lank black hair, hollow
+cheeks, and weary, lack-lustre eyes. His ruff was limp and frayed at the
+edge, and his long scraggy neck rose out of it like the stump of a
+mushroom that had difficulty in supporting the large head that
+surmounted it. His sombre black cloth doublet hung loose about his
+body, and its elbows were worn threadbare. One of his long bony fingers
+was thrust between the closed leaves of a little book that he held
+lovingly in his hand. His whole appearance suggested that his habit of
+life was that of a student, and his discourse certainly did not give the
+lie to his appearance.
+
+"I can scarce agree with you, Sir Richard," said he in a thin, pipy
+voice. "Your Ovid is indeed a prince among poets, but in my own poor
+opinion Virgil is the greater of the two, inasmuch as the epic is
+greater than the lyric."
+
+"Nay, but I care not to dispute such deep and learned matters with you,
+Master Pym," returned the other with a yawn that betrayed his weariness
+of the student's argument. "You are a scholar who knoweth all these
+things as I do know the ropes of a ship, while I am but a simple seaman,
+devoid of learning, who hath scarce opened a book since I was a mere
+stripling. Talk to me of travel if you like, or of Her Majesty's temper,
+and I will give ear to you, but to books and poets I cry avast!" He
+shifted his position on the fallen tree upon which he was sitting, and
+turned his clear gray eyes in the direction of the plantation towards
+which, a few minutes before, Drusilla had sailed off in quest of
+adventure. "Ah!" he cried, observing the girl approaching with Timothy
+Trollope at her heels. "Whom have we here--a prisoner of war? Why, I'll
+be sworn 'tis the self-same young jackanapes that leapt into Sutton Pool
+yester-morn to rescue the drunken fisherman that fell in! Dost know the
+name of him, Master Pym?"
+
+The scholar drew the wide brim of his hat over his brow to shield his
+eyes from the glare of the sun.
+
+"Ay," he said after a long pause, "I know him. 'Tis one of Barber
+Trollope's brood--a wild, thoughtless ragamuffin, that doth spend his
+days in loitering about the quays and picking up the talk of rough
+mariners. But what, I'd like to know, can Mistress Drusilla mean by thus
+dragging him hither? I warrant me she hath caught him in some poaching
+business."
+
+Sir Richard stroked his crisp dark beard and said with a laugh:
+
+"'Tis far more likely she hath taken him for some Barbary corsair, and
+is bringing him back as a prize. For you must bear in mind, Master Pym,
+that the maid left us on a treasure-hunting cruise. Ay, I'll be bound
+'tis as I say," he added, as Drusilla came into the harbour of the
+trees. "She hath the rascal in tow, look you, with his belt for hawser."
+
+At this moment a fleet of English merchantmen, in the boyish person of
+Master Gilbert Oglander, hove into sight in the offing; and Drusilla,
+relinquishing her prize and sternly bidding Timothy to remain at anchor
+until her return, ran off to meet her brother.
+
+Timothy respectfully took off his cap and stood mutely in front of the
+handsome bearded gentleman whom Master Pym had addressed as "Sir
+Richard", not daring to raise his eyes from the ground.
+
+"How now, boy!" cried Sir Richard in a gruff voice, that seemed to have
+in it something of the deep roar of the sea waves breaking upon
+cavernous rocks. "What hath brought thee here? Hast been a-thieving of
+his lordship's rabbits, quotha?"
+
+"No, please your worship," stammered Timothy, "I have done no manner of
+harm."
+
+"Then wherefore are you here, a-trespassing on private lands?" demanded
+Sir Richard.
+
+"Mistress Oglander did arrest me, yonder by the trees," answered Tim. "I
+was about to go home when she came behind me and seized me, declaring
+that I was a Spanish treasure-ship. I yielded to her humour, and--"
+
+"Ay," interrupted Sir Richard with a grim smile, "I'll be sworn you
+yielded--as all Spaniards must when 'tis question of fighting with a
+well-found English ship such as the one that conquered you. But,
+prithee, what may it be that you have concealed in yon fat wallet at
+your back? I'll engage it is a pheasant-bird, or else a brace of plump
+partridges. Come, my young poacher, open your wallet that I may see!"
+
+He caught the boy by the shoulder and turned him round, grabbing at the
+bag.
+
+"'Tis but a few poor herbs, your honour, that I have been gathering for
+my father," explained Tim, opening the bag.
+
+"And what does your father with such wretched weeds?" demanded Sir
+Richard.
+
+"They are to be made into physic, sir," said the lad.
+
+"Physic?" cried Sir Richard, shaking his head in doubt. "Nay, poison
+more like! What is thy name, boy?"
+
+"Timothy Trollope, at your honour's service," returned Tim. "Father's a
+barber-surgeon."
+
+"Ay, a barbarous surgeon truly, if 'twas he that patched up Jan
+Coppinger's broken skull last week. I'd have made a goodlier job of it
+myself. And so Timothy is your name, eh? Well, I'll bear it in mind,
+boy; for 'twas you, if I mistake not, that I saw yester-noon helping to
+drag tipsy Tom Vercoe out of Sutton Pool. 'Twas a kindly deed, to say
+the least on't. And look you, Master Timothy, if ever you should take to
+the notion, as most boys do if I know ought of boyhood, of joining Her
+Majesty's service on the sea, you have but to acquaint me with it, and
+I'll be sworn you shall not wait long for a ship. Dost know me?"
+
+Timothy's face brightened as he answered:
+
+"There be few boys in Plymouth town that do not know your worship. You
+are Sir Richard Grenville that went out to Virginia, and that also
+fought against the infidels at Lepanto."
+
+The joyous young voice of Drusilla Oglander broke in upon this little
+conversation.
+
+"Come, Captain Grenville," said she, taking Sir Richard by the arm and
+dragging him under the shadow of one of the beech-trees. "Y'are standing
+in the middle of the sea where you are. We are about to play at a great
+sea-fight, and you are to be the Spanish fleet."
+
+It was strange to see the tall strong man being led about by this little
+girl and made to do her bidding as if she had been his sovereign queen.
+
+"Even as you list, good my mistress," said he with a docile submission
+which was hardly to be expected in one who had the reputation of being a
+cruel and relentless warrior. "I am willing to enact whatsoever part you
+please; only, if, as I suspect, I am to be the Armada, as you made me on
+the other occasion when you brought me to such disaster, I do beseech
+you to excuse me the long voyage round the islands of Orkney, for my
+limbs are scarce equal to the journey this morning."
+
+"You shall take what part you choose," interposed Gilbert Oglander,
+standing at his sister's side and glancing up into Sir Richard
+Grenville's twinkling gray eyes.
+
+Gilbert was a boy of thirteen years old, very agile and active. His hair
+was very dark, and its darkness made his skin seem all the more fair and
+clear. In stature he was not very tall for his age, but his limbs were
+sinewy and strong, and one could see at a glance that he was of gentle
+birth, that he had lived much of his life in the open air, and that he
+was well fitted to endure all manner of fatigue.
+
+"You shall take what part you choose," said he.
+
+"Why, then, an that be so," returned Captain Grenville, "I will choose
+to be Don Hugo de Monçada's great galleass, for then I may lie and rest
+me on Calais beach and thus be out of the action, as she was when she
+ran aground."
+
+"Yes," agreed Drusilla; "but first you must be the whole Spanish fleet,
+anchored in Calais Roads. Master Pym will help you to make a show of
+numbers, while Gilbert will, of course, be Sir Francis Drake on board
+the _Revenge_, and Sir Martin Frobisher on board the _Triumph_, and
+whichever other of our English admirals he doth care to be. I am myself
+to be the lord admiral's flag-ship."
+
+"And, prithee, what ship or squadron of ships doth young Timothy
+Trollope represent?" questioned Sir Richard Grenville. "Surely you will
+not scorn so useful an addition to the game?"
+
+"We had best make Timothy enact the part of the English fire-ships,"
+suggested Christopher Pym, smiling as his eyes rested upon the lad's
+bright red hair. And at his suggestion Drusilla clapped her hands
+together and cried "Yes, he shall be the fire-ships!"
+
+And she forthwith proceeded to point out to her strangely-assorted
+playmates how the wide stretch of grass in front of them was to be
+understood by them all to be the Narrow Seas, how the distant plantation
+where Timothy had gathered his herbs was to represent the French coast
+between Calais and Dunquerque, and how the embankment of the fish-pond
+was to be Calais Roads. The higher ground under the beech-trees where
+the five were now standing was to be looked upon as the Kentish cliffs.
+
+These matters being arranged to the understanding of all, the Spanish
+Armada, in the persons of Sir Richard Grenville and Master Christopher
+Pym, sailed obediently up the English Channel, pursued at no great
+distance by the English flag-ship and her consorts, who assailed their
+enemy with round after round of heavy shot, discharged from their
+chase-guns. There was one very tremendous engagement between Frobisher's
+_Triumph_ and the Spanish _Santa Anna_, which presently grew into a
+general conflict in which many ships were sunk. Then the Spaniards, much
+crippled in the fray, were permitted to sail on again, only to be again
+pursued by their persistent foes. The English ships bore down upon them,
+and then, being within easy range, luffed up and poured their broadsides
+into the enemy's hulls with relentless fury. But the Armada looked
+always as formidable as ever, and again and again they formed themselves
+in line of battle, to endure yet again the prolonged fire of the English
+guns.
+
+At last the Queen's fleet fell back and allowed the Spaniards to sail on
+in calm security to their desired refuge in Calais Roads. When, as they
+imagined, they were at a safe anchorage and hoped to repair the damages
+of battle (for in truth Sir Richard Grenville had received some
+surprising buffetings at the hands of Drusilla and Gilbert Oglander, to
+say nothing of Master Pym, whose wide-brimmed hat lay abandoned in
+mid-channel), the English ships drew near with the fell purpose of
+dislodging the enemy and driving them out into the open sea. And when
+night was supposed to have fallen, the lord-admiral and Sir Francis
+Drake put their woolly heads together in warlike conference and decided
+to send forth their fire-ships into the midst of the galleons.
+
+Timothy Trollope received his instructions, and straightway drifted into
+the bay, waving his hands aloft like leaping flames. His near approach
+threatened to spread disaster among the ships of Spain, and at a given
+signal from the _San Martin_ the dons all slipped their anchors, and in
+a confusion of panic endeavoured to make an escape. In the panic the
+great galleass of Don Hugo de Monçada ran aground on the sands and there
+lay basking in the sun, an unconcerned witness of the conflict that
+ensued between Pym and Trollope, who had now turned Spaniard, on the one
+side and Drusilla and her brother on the other.
+
+Drusilla was bent upon carrying through the mimic fight to the battle of
+Gravelines, and, drawing Gilbert apart, she allowed Timothy and Master
+Pym to sail out into the Channel for some distance before starting in
+pursuit. It seemed to Sir Richard Grenville as he watched them that
+there occurred some change in their tactics, for Gilbert Oglander,
+having made pretence of sinking some half-score of the Armada ships,
+suddenly drew off and approached a very tall tree that stood alone on a
+wide expanse of grass. The lad placed his hands on the tree-trunk,
+looked up into the leafy branches and presently began to climb upward.
+
+"Peradventure he intends to assail the enemy from the tops with musket
+and arquebus," mused Sir Richard, and he continued to watch his young
+friend ascending from branch to branch. Up and up he climbed till he
+reached one of the topmost boughs, and then he lay out upon the stout
+branch and crept along it towards its more slender end. Suddenly he
+slipped. For a moment it seemed as if he were about to fall to the
+ground, some thirty feet below, but he caught the branch under his right
+arm, and remained there suspended.
+
+Understanding the boy's danger, Captain Grenville quickly rose to his
+feet and ran towards the tree.
+
+"Hold fast!" he cried as he got to the foot of the tree.
+
+Gilbert raised himself a few inches until he could catch hold of the
+bough with his second hand, and there he hung, calling aloud for help.
+
+Sir Richard gripped the tree and was about to make the attempt to climb
+up to the boy's rescue, when his shoulders were seized by a pair of
+hands, someone leapt upon his back and clambered over him, crushing him
+down under two heavy boots. When the weight was removed from him he
+looked up and saw young Timothy Trollope scaling the tree with
+astonishing speed.
+
+"Help! help! or I shall fall!" cried Gilbert Oglander.
+
+"Hold but another moment," returned Timothy; and ascending to the branch
+from which Gilbert was hanging he worked his way along it, and, leaning
+over like a very monkey, caught the lad in his one strong right arm and
+raised him bodily up to a position of safety.
+
+For some minutes the two lads sat astride the bough facing each other,
+speaking never a word.
+
+"Certes," cried Gilbert at last, breaking the silence, "'twas a narrow
+escape that! I was as near as might be to falling."
+
+"In sooth I believe you were," agreed Timothy; "and it had been a goodly
+fall whichever way you had landed."
+
+"But for your timely help I should have been sorely hurt for a
+certainty," remarked Gilbert; and then after a brief pause he added:
+"Prithee, how shall I reward you withal?"
+
+"Nay, I need no reward, and will take none," returned Timothy.
+
+"Yea, but you shall have a suitable recompense; for it hath cost you
+something as I see," said Gilbert. "Look at your doublet, 'tis torn down
+the front. And you have scratched your face too."
+
+Timothy examined into his own hurts and said with a careless smile:
+
+"Tut! 'tis nothing. Both the rent and the scratch will easily mend;
+whereas if your worship had fallen to the ground it must surely have
+been a matter for the physician, and haply a month's idleness in your
+bed. And now, so please you, we will, if you are ready, climb down
+again, for Sir Richard Grenville is calling to you, bidding you tell him
+if you are hurt."
+
+When the two had got down to the ground again, it was to find that
+Drusilla had run off to a farther end of the meadow, where a double row
+of giant trees marked the long avenue leading up from the lodge gates to
+Modbury Manor. From where he stood Timothy could hear the sound of
+horses' feet and the jingling of stirrups and harness. It was the
+hawking party returning from the chase, and not until he saw them among
+the trees of the avenue did he remember the resolve he had made a little
+while before, to seek out his lordship's steward and ask him for work in
+the stables. Turning to Master Gilbert Oglander, who was on the point of
+following Drusilla, Timothy ventured to say:
+
+"I beg your honour's pardon, but since you were so gracious a moment ago
+as to offer me a favour in return for the slight help I gave you, I have
+a boon that I would ask of you."
+
+"Name it," demanded Gilbert.
+
+"Ay, name it, lad," urged Sir Richard Grenville, playfully slapping Tim
+on his broad back. "Thou'rt a deserving boy, that hath the makings of a
+man in him, and shalt have whatsoever boon thou dost name. So out with
+it, and be not over-modest in thy request."
+
+Timothy's eyes rested still upon the handsome young countenance of
+Master Gilbert Oglander.
+
+"'Tis this that I would crave," said he, "that you would by your favour
+help me to get work as a stable-boy or a shepherd or a falconer in his
+lordship your grandfather's service."
+
+Gilbert Oglander nodded and said smilingly:
+
+"Gladly will I do that for you, Master Trollope; ay, and more, for it
+seemeth to me you are fit for better work than to groom horses or to
+feed greedy hawks; and, moreover, I have taken somewhat of a fancy to
+you." He looked aside at Sir Richard Grenville. "What say you, Captain
+Grenville?" he questioned. "Dost think he'll do in the place of Will
+Leigh? Will is about to join Her Majesty's service, you know."
+
+Thus appealed to, Sir Richard spoke very highly of Timothy Trollope, and
+added that he would himself see Lord Champernoun touching the matter.
+And at this Timothy thanked them both and presently turned on his way
+back to Plymouth, overjoyed at the new prospect that had so unexpectedly
+opened out before him.
+
+As he trudged homeward along the leafy lanes he sang over and over again
+the snatch of a song of the time:
+
+"I would not be a serving-man
+  To carry the cloak-bag still,
+Nor would I be a falconer
+  The greedy hawks to fill;
+But I would be in a good house,
+  And have a good master too;
+And I would eat and drink of the best,
+  And no work would I do."
+
+It was not many days afterwards that Lord Champernoun, riding into
+Plymouth, halted at the sign of the Pestle and Mortar and informed the
+barber-surgeon that his son Timothy was to consider himself engaged as
+squire and personal attendant to Master Gilbert. His lordship gave
+instructions that Timothy was to go at once to Silas Quiller, the
+tailor, to be measured for two suits of the Oglander livery, and that as
+soon as the lad was fitted-out he was to repair to the manor and to
+begin his duties.
+
+Those duties were very simple, as Timothy early discovered. He was to
+act as valet to the young heir of Modbury; to comb his hair in the
+mornings, keep his wardrobe in good order, attend him on his journeys,
+and do his bidding in all things. At the first Timothy was very humble,
+as he deemed it his duty to be; but as the months went on and he
+acquired some of the manners of the gentlefolk among whom he was placed,
+he became more familiar with his young master, who treated him more as a
+companion and a playmate than as a servant. Yet Timothy never
+overstepped the limits of his position, but was always respectful and
+submissive and loyal.
+
+
+
+
+                            CHAPTER III.
+
+                   THE MAN WITH THE SCARRED CHEEK.
+
+
+On a certain afternoon in December, Gilbert Oglander and Timothy
+Trollope were loitering on the heights of Plymouth Hoe on their way into
+the town. They were looking out across the Sound, watching the movements
+of a ship that was drifting inward with the tide. A breeze from off the
+sea swelled the vessel's worn and mended topsails; she moved with a
+slow, lazy motion, as if in very weariness. The lads were questioning
+what manner of ship she might be and whence she had come.
+
+"'Tis an old Hollander putting in for repairs," ventured Gilbert. "I
+warrant me she hath suffered some damage in the storm of yesternight."
+
+Timothy shook his head, and then, after a short pause, he said:
+
+"No, Master Gilbert, she is no foreigner at all, but one of our own
+brave English adventurers. Look at the tattered flag waving from the
+staff on her after-castle. 'Tis the red cross of St. George. And by the
+decayed and grimy look of her, I'd judge that she hath been on some long
+and perilous voyage--it may be to far Cathay, or the scorching coasts of
+Africa, or it may even be to the Western Indies of which we have heard
+so much."
+
+"An that be so," returned Gilbert as he stood gazing with wondering
+eyes upon the approaching ship, "methinks there will be some very
+strange surprising things for us to see and hear when she droppeth
+anchor in the haven yonder. She is deeply laden, look you. 'Tis the bars
+of silver in her hold that do weigh her down, or else the heavy chests
+of gold and precious stones. Ay, 'tis surely from the Spanish Main that
+she hath come; for now as she beareth round I can e'en see the shining
+gold-dust clinging to her sides from out her port-holes like flour-drift
+from out the windows of Modbury Mill."
+
+Timothy smiled incredulously and moved apart from his companion.
+
+"'Tis no gold-dust that you see, my master," said he, "but only the red
+iron from off her rust-eaten chains. Come, let us walk down unto the
+harbour, that we may get a nearer view of her and see what manner of
+voyagers she bringeth home."
+
+They walked together down the grassy slopes. In aspect, as in their
+natures, they differed one from the other as much as a heavy Flemish
+horse differs from an agile Arab steed. Timothy looked much the elder,
+although in truth he was his master's senior by no more than a
+twelvemonth. Gilbert had much ado to keep pace with his long measured
+strides, or perhaps it was his own great riding-boots of thick hard
+leather coming up above his knees which made his steps seem difficult.
+The strong December wind, blowing from over the Channel, caught his
+ample cloak, and the garment was forever escaping from his careless
+hold and flapping outward behind him, assailing his ears or getting
+twisted about his long sword. As the cloak blew aside from his shoulders
+it revealed the pink silk slashings of his doublet of russet velvet and
+the glittering ornaments on his girdle. He wore a little velvet cap,
+embroidered with gold lace and surmounted with a gallant waving feather
+which was held in place by a pearl brooch.
+
+Timothy towered a full head and shoulders above him, being indeed almost
+a man in height and build, with great broad shoulders and big strong
+hands and muscular arms, and plump cheeks that were as red as ripe Devon
+apples. But in spite of his great bulk and his somewhat ungainly figure,
+Tim was nevertheless alert and active when occasion required, as many of
+his acquaintance were well aware; for at a wrestling bout, at fencing,
+riding, climbing, swimming, and many other manly exercises, there were
+few who could excel him. He was dressed very plainly now, as beseemed
+one whose work it was to serve and to obey. His cap, which was set
+jauntily on his head of curly red hair, was not of silk or velvet, but
+simple knitted wool, unadorned with any gay-coloured ribbons or
+flaunting feathers. He wore no lace ruff about his thick neck, but only
+a simple white linen collar. His body was covered by a doublet of plain
+tan-coloured leather; his wide trunks were of fustian, trimmed with
+cotton braid and gartered below the knee; and he wore low shoes without
+any spurs. Like his young master, he carried a sword; and he also had in
+his belt a small dagger. He was well skilled in the use of both these
+weapons, and during the months that he had passed in Master Oglander's
+service he had imparted much of this skill to Gilbert.
+
+By the time that the two had got down to the level ground, and had
+passed through several of the quaint narrow streets leading towards the
+harbour, the strange ship had sailed far to the eastward of Mill Bay;
+her men were aloft furling the sails, and she was slowly drifting with
+the tide into the sheltered basin of Sutton Pool.
+
+Some fishermen and seamen had gathered in groups upon the wharf to watch
+her as she came nearer, and to make conjectures as to what might be her
+name and whence she had come. Gilbert Oglander strode into their midst
+and stood awhile listening to their talk.
+
+"'Tis a full three years since she sailed out of Plymouth Sound," said
+one of them.
+
+"Ay, and the rest!" declared another. "Why, 'twas in the summer of 1586
+that she went out--in the self-same month, if not the same week, that
+Thomas Cavendish sailed with his three ships to make the voyage round
+the world, and that, as I do reckon it, must be nigh upon four years and
+six months; though in truth it seemeth less. But the years do fly
+amazingly in these busy times!"
+
+"Know you the name of this vessel that is now coming in, Master
+Whiddon?" asked Gilbert of a brown-faced mariner at his elbow.
+
+"Ay, to be sure, Master Oglander," returned Whiddon. "We do make her out
+to be the _Pearl_--one of Sir Walter Raleigh's ships--that went out
+along with two others upon a voyage of adventure to the Brazil, or some
+such place. Master Will Marsden, of Plymouth, was her captain; an old
+playmate of mine own, and a right fortunate seamen in his younger days.
+Well do I mind how we all envied him when he set out on this same
+voyage. But alas! by the look of his ship at this moment, and the fact
+that he hath come home alone and unattended, I much doubt that he hath
+left the better part of his good fortune behind him. Ah, there be
+blackamoors aboard of her!"
+
+"Ay," interposed another of the group, who by his apron and his
+turned-up sleeves was evidently an artisan and a landsman. "And at
+seaman's work too. A woeful sign, my masters! Where be all the brave men
+of Devon that set sail in her, I'd like to know? Down among the coral
+and the shrimps at the bottom of the sea, I suppose, or else toiling in
+Spanish galleys, imprisoned by the Inquisition, or lying dead with the
+crows a-picking of their bones out yonder in Panama. 'Tis ever so with
+these buccaneering cruises. I like them not, for they do ever end with
+disaster."
+
+"Thou'rt over-quick with thy conjectures, Jack Prynne," said the man
+named Whiddon. "The craft is short-handed, 'tis true; but how know you
+that the brave men you speak of have not given up their lives for old
+England in honest fight against the Spaniards? Had you yourself been as
+brave as they--God rest 'em!--you would not have taken flight from
+Plymouth the last week, as you did with the other timid fools, because
+of a mere idle alarm that the king of Spain was sending over another
+armada, forsooth. A brave thing, truly, thus to take to your heels. Why,
+man, I marvel that y'are not ashamed to show your craven face in the
+town again!"
+
+Jack Prynne stroked his beard, partly hiding his shamed face with his
+big work-worn hand.
+
+"When we went away," said he, "the town was ill-defended. Sir Francis
+Drake was absent."
+
+"The more reason why every man should have remained to protect his home
+and do his duty by his neighbours," returned Whiddon. "Drake cannot well
+be in two places at once. What astonisheth me is, that you should all
+have come trooping back the instant you heard that Sir Francis had again
+taken up his residence in the town. Sure, 'tis a very high compliment to
+a man when his mere presence among us should inspire such confidence and
+allay such a general panic."
+
+"There goes her anchor!" cried Timothy Trollope. And as he spoke there
+was a splash of water at the ship's bow, followed by the familiar
+rumbling noise of her hempen cable as it tore through the hawse-pipe.
+
+Now that the vessel was close at hand it could be seen that she was
+very much battered by the storms and conflicts through which she had
+passed during her long voyaging in distant seas. The lower timbers of
+her hull were overgrown with barnacles and slimy green weeds. Above the
+water-line there were many shot-holes, patched up with raw hides, sheets
+of lead, or rough-hewn balks of wood; and in one place, abaft her
+main-chains, a cannon-ball could be seen deeply embedded in the stout
+oak. In place of her original mizzen-mast there was the trunk of a
+forest tree, with the bark still upon it; and the lateen yard was made
+of spliced bamboo. Her standing rigging was mended with strands of
+twisted cow-hide. She was a ship of about a hundred tons burden, built
+with a high castle at her poop and with bulging sides. Her bows were as
+round and blunt as the breasts of the noisy sea-birds that floated near
+her in the harbour, feeding on the garbage thrown from the
+fishing-boats.
+
+She had not long been at anchor when a boat was put off from her, and
+was rowed by two men towards the stone-built slip beside which Gilbert
+Oglander and Timothy Trollope were standing. The boat had four occupants
+in addition to the two seamen who pulled at the oars. They were a
+black-bearded, middle-aged man who sat on the stern gunwale, and who
+seemed by his frequent commands to the rowers to be in authority; a
+woman, who sat near him; a beardless youth, who was crouching down in
+the bottom of the boat; and an aged, white-haired man, with a brown
+sunburned face and a long silvery beard, who was bending forward over
+the prow as if in desperate eagerness to spring on shore.
+
+As the little craft came yet nearer, Timothy Trollope observed that the
+passengers seemed to be no less weary and tattered than the ship from
+which they had just come. The old man at the bow wore no clothing save a
+ragged canvas shirt and a pair of wide, ill-made trunks. One of the
+rowers had but a single sleeve to his jerkin, and his hair was long and
+matted. The woman wore a large black cloak, whose hood was drawn over
+her head, leaving visible no more of her than her thin olive-coloured
+face and her sparkling dark eyes. She paid scarcely any regard to what
+was passing, but sat like an image, gazing stonily before her.
+
+"Ship your oar, Pascoe!" cried the man at the stern. "Pull three more
+strokes, Mason!"
+
+He rose to his feet as he gave these orders, showing himself to be very
+tall. None of the men on shore seemed to know him; nor did he greet
+them, even as a stranger newly arrived from foreign climes might have
+been expected to do.
+
+The old man at the bow was the first to leap on shore. And, having done
+so, he fell down upon his knees, reverently pressed his lips upon the
+stones, and murmured the words:
+
+"Thanks be to God! Thanks be to God!"
+
+Then he stood up beside the boat and held it by the gunwale while the
+woman and the two other passengers stepped ashore.
+
+Gilbert Oglander paid but small regard to them, little dreaming of the
+important parts they were destined to play in his life. He only noticed
+as they passed him that the tall man's otherwise handsome face was
+marred by an unsightly scar on the right cheek, that the youth seemed to
+be about sixteen years of age, and that the woman, when she spoke to
+either of her companions, did so in a foreign tongue.
+
+The youth who had come ashore paused for a moment, tightening his
+sword-belt, and as he did so he glanced aside at the old man.
+
+"Art going back to the ship, Jacob?" he inquired with seeming
+carelessness, yet with a look of strange eagerness in his dark eyes as
+if much depended upon the veteran's answer.
+
+The graybeard slowly shook his head, and the deep-drawn sigh that issued
+from his lips seemed to Gilbert Oglander to betoken a whole world of
+past troubles and present gratitude.
+
+"Wherefore should I go back, Master Philip?" said he in a husky voice.
+"Have I not had enough of the pestilent old hulk, think you? I have done
+all that was needed of me, I trow; and since, as you well know, I did
+but engage to work my passage home, there be no wages due to me and we
+are quits. As to my worldly belongings," he added with a hollow, uneasy
+laugh as he rested his bony hand upon the leathern bag that hung at his
+side, "this wallet containeth all my chattels and goods. Ay, all that I
+am worth in the world. And little enough, you'll be saying, as the sole
+outcome of all my perils and wanderings. Howbeit," he went on, not
+heeding that the young man had already passed beyond hearing and was
+continuing his way up the slip, "there's but small use in complaining.
+And after all, God hath been truly merciful in that He hath brought me
+safely back to my dear native land. Sure 'tis worth all my twenty-three
+years of voyaging to be back once more in Plymouth town and to again set
+foot on English ground!"
+
+A gust of cold wind blew round one of the stone piers of the wharf near
+which he lingered. He shivered slightly, and drew his ragged canvas
+shirt closer about his bare chest and neck. Then his moist blue eyes
+surveyed the group of men who now stood apart watching the boat
+returning to the ship.
+
+"I don't see none o' my old friends among you, my masters," said he,
+looking from one to the other. "You'm all strangers to me. And
+peradventure I am as great a stranger to yourselves. But the time hath
+been when I was as well known in Plymouth as the tower of St. Andrew's
+church yonder." A forced, unnatural smile flitted about the parched blue
+lips as he added, addressing no one in particular: "Jacob Hartop is my
+name--Jacob Hartop that went out with John Hawkins in the year 1567, and
+that hath now come home after three-and-twenty years of foreign
+travel and fighting and slavish toil."
+
+[Illustration: "GOD HATH BEEN TRULY MERCIFUL IN THAT HE HATH BROUGHT ME
+               SAFELY BACK"]
+
+He held out his hand to grasp that of one of the older men who stood
+near. As he did so Timothy Trollope noticed that his wrist bore an
+indented mark upon it, as if it had been too tightly clasped by a
+bracelet. Several of the bystanders now shook hands with him.
+
+"Thou'rt welcome home, friend Hartop," said one.
+
+"God give you peace and joy, my master!" said another.
+
+"And may you never need to wander from England's shores again!" said a
+third.
+
+Captain Whiddon then stepped forward, and said he:
+
+"Be you related to young George Hartop that fell in the great fight
+against the Invincible Armada of Spain?"
+
+Jacob Hartop stared blankly before him. It was evident that he knew
+naught of the great fight referred to. He was about to answer when the
+touch of a hand on his thin bare arm caused him to turn suddenly round,
+and he stood face to face with Gilbert Oglander.
+
+"Thou'rt thinly clad, and the wind blows cold," said Gilbert as he took
+off his cloak and spread it over the ancient traveller's shoulder. "I
+pray you take this cloak."
+
+The old man drew back.
+
+"Nay, I can take no such goodly gift from one who doth owe me no manner
+of kindness," he declared, attempting to remove the garment. "Believe
+me, I am not so cold but that a walk and a flagon of ale will warm me."
+But seeing that the offer was seriously meant he relented, and, fixing
+his tearful eyes upon Gilbert, he said: "Now, prithee, my gallant young
+sir, what might be your honour's name? Tell me, so that I may bear it in
+memory, and think of you with the gratitude that I do truly feel."
+
+Gilbert Oglander made a light pretence of not having heard the question,
+and, followed by Timothy, he strode gaily up to the head of the slip.
+
+The tall man with the scar on his cheek was at this moment crossing the
+muddy roadway with his two companions towards a house with heavy
+overhanging gables, that stood at the corner of one of the alleys. It
+was a tavern, as could be known by the fact that the window lattices
+were painted red, and it bore the sign of the Three Flagons. The
+stranger had to bend down his head as he entered the low porchway.
+
+"Truly a man may be known by the hostelry he chooseth," remarked Timothy
+Trollope as he saw the woman's skirts disappear behind the door-post. "I
+had thought by their favour that these people were of high station and
+good breeding, and that by their great haste to quit their ship they
+were intent upon travelling yet farther into the country, haply to some
+famous old estate. But 'tis plain to see that they do intend to abide at
+the humble Three Flagons. 'Tis a cheap inn and an ill-managed.
+Nevertheless, I should engage that they will have better comfort withal
+than on board the cranky old _Pearl_. Think you that the man with the
+wounded cheek is her captain?"
+
+Gilbert shrugged his shoulders.
+
+"A ship's master would scarcely be the first to quit her on coming into
+port," said he; "although, indeed, it may well be that the man's
+gallantry hath brought him ashore thus speedily in his wish to place the
+woman and her son in decent lodgings."
+
+"And, prithee, wherefore do you so readily make up your mind that the
+lad is her son?" inquired Timothy.
+
+"For the simple and plain reason that her eyes and his have got the
+self-same foreign look in them," answered Gilbert. "But wherefore should
+we discuss these people? Foreigners as they are, they can be of no
+earthly interest to us, now or hereafter. As to the ship, well, had we
+but gone aboard of her we might have learned something of more value
+touching the adventures she hath gone through; but as the matter stands,
+Tim, we have but wasted a good half-hour of time, and shall not now be
+home until after dark."
+
+
+
+
+                            CHAPTER IV.
+
+              AT THE SIGN OF THE PESTLE AND MORTAR.
+
+
+On the afternoon upon which the good ship _Pearl_ dropped anchor in
+Sutton Pool, Peter Trollope was less busy than it was his wont to be at
+that time of day. His one customer since noon had been a poor farrier's
+apprentice, who had come in to have an aching tooth pulled out--an
+operation which had occupied the barber-surgeon scarcely a minute, and
+earned for him the total sum of twopence. But he had seen the ship enter
+the harbour, and knew well that sooner or later some of her crew would
+pay him a visit. In the meantime he engaged himself with two large,
+wild-looking birds, which he kept imprisoned in a dark box on a shelf
+near the window. He had just been feeding them with raw meat and was
+closing the lid of the box, when the shop-door was flung open and his
+son Timothy strode within, making a great clatter with his sword as he
+dragged the weapon behind him along the stone floor.
+
+Tim threw his cap upon the oak settle at the farther end of the room,
+seated himself in an easy chair before the fire, and stretched out his
+legs at full length in front of him with all the freedom of a full-grown
+man. The bull-dog, which had been asleep in one of the warm corners of
+the ingle, crept out yawning and wagging his stump of a tail by way of
+greeting.
+
+"So thou hast at last thought fit to come in and see if we be all alive
+still?" said Peter in an agrieved tone, as he regarded his stalwart son.
+"Thou'rt a dutiful son to thy poor parents, in all conscience. 'Tis
+shameful of thee, thus to neglect us, Tim. Thou'rt so vastly taken up
+with all the great folks at Modbury--my lord this, and my lady that, and
+all the rest of them--that thou dost seem to forget thine own flesh and
+blood. 'Twas only yesterday, as I live, that I saw thee passing by my
+very door without so much as looking in to give me a good day! Zounds,
+boy, 'tis most unseemly!"
+
+Timothy stroked the dog's ears without raising his eyes to his
+justly-offended father.
+
+"I had been bidden to go quickly on my errand, father," he explained,
+"and I dared not tarry by the way. I might not even have come in at this
+present time to see thee, but that my master hath given me leave while
+he goes to the end of the town to take a message from my lord to Sir
+Francis Drake."
+
+"Methinks Master Oglander might have saved himself a journey," remarked
+the barber; "for 'tis only a half-hour since that I saw Sir Francis
+passing the door here, on his way, as I do believe, to Modbury Manor;
+for he wore his new damson silk cape with the gold-lace trimmings, and
+you may be sure by that token that he was going to where there will be
+women's eyes to look upon him."
+
+Peter had approached the fireplace, and now stood with his back to the
+crackling logs, facing his son.
+
+"I am sorry," he continued in a more cheery tone, "that Master Gilbert
+did not chance to come in with thee, Tim. I have wished to see him these
+many days past on a matter of business. I have here a pair of fine young
+goshawks that he might be willing to buy from me."
+
+"Show them to me," demanded Timothy, rising from his chair. "If they be
+goshawks indeed, and in goodly condition, I doubt not that he will
+gladly buy them. Let me see them. I shall soon know if they be of any
+use. But I will wager you ere I set eyes on them that they are no more
+fit to fly against a pheasant than a mere sparrow-hawk might be."
+
+"Nay, I cannot myself swear to them," said the barber, crossing to the
+shelf near the window, and proceeding to open the box, "for I have not
+been brought up among gentlefolks as thou hast been, and have never in
+all my life been present at a hawking party. But the lad who left them
+in my keeping did positively declare them to be of the true goshawk
+breed, and he bade me sell them for him if perchance I might find a
+likely customer." He threw back the lid of the box. "Here they be," said
+he.
+
+Timothy looked over his father's shoulder at the birds. Then he thrust
+his gloved hand deep into the box. There was a noisy flapping of wings
+and a harsh rasping screech. Tim brought forth his hand with one of the
+hawks perched upon it. He held it aloft, examining the bird with
+critical eye.
+
+"He is somewhat short i' the neck and flabby of flesh," he remarked,
+with the air of one who was a judge of such points, "but the head is of
+good shape, and the eyes are clear. He is fierce enough too, o' my
+conscience. Here, put him back, lest he bite me! And now," he added,
+when the bird was restored to its prison, "what want you for the pair of
+them? No cozening, mind you. I will not have my master overcharged even
+by my own father."
+
+The barber-surgeon named the sum at which he was willing to sell the
+birds, and Tim at once proceeded to beat down the price to half the
+amount. Neither noticed in the midst of their dispute that a customer
+had entered the shop.
+
+"Hi there, master barber!" cried the new-comer. "Cease your wrangling,
+and come and cut me my hair! Dost think I am going to wait for you all
+night?"
+
+"Presently, your worship--presently," answered Peter, snatching up his
+scissors and comb. Then, turning to his son, he added: "Thy mother is
+laid abed with her old illness, Tim; get thee upstairs to her for
+awhile."
+
+Timothy obediently disappeared through the door at the back of the shop,
+stumbling up the stairs with noisy feet and equally noisy sword; while
+his father, snipping his scissors merrily in his right hand and thus
+making a show of being exceedingly busy, offered his customer a chair
+where the light from the window might fall upon him.
+
+He was a stranger to Peter Trollope, and therefore, it must be assumed,
+a stranger to Plymouth also. His long, untidy hair and beard, his
+bronzed skin, and, indeed, his whole appearance, betokened that he had
+newly come off the sea. His doublet, which had once been velvet, was
+worn threadbare; the colour, whatever it may originally have been, had
+suffered by the salt water, and was now an indistinct gray, stained here
+and there with dark-brown patches, which Peter surmised to be the stains
+of hardened blood. It was plain to see that the man was in some sort a
+warrior as well as a traveller.
+
+While the barber was spreading a white napkin about him to protect his
+clothing from the clippings of hair which must presently fall from the
+scissors, he looked into the stranger's face, and perceived that the
+right cheek was marred by an old wound--a long straight wound like the
+cut of a knife, beginning below the eye and ending somewhere in the
+midst of his thick black beard.
+
+"Well?" quoth the stranger, seeing that the barber hesitated to make a
+start. "Cut me my hair, I say."
+
+"I am ready to execute your worship's will," announced Peter with a low
+bow, as he snipped his scissors. "Prithee, sir, will you have your
+worship's hair cut after the Italian manner, short and round, and then
+flounced with the curling-irons, or like a Spaniard's, long at the ears
+and curled like to the two ends of a new moon; or will you be
+Frenchified with a love-lock down to your shoulder, whereon you may
+hang your lady's favour? The English cut is base in these days of
+fashion, and gentlemen scorn it. Speak the word, sir; and howsoever you
+would have it, it shall be done."
+
+"Nay, a plague on your love-locks and curling-irons," the stranger cried
+impatiently. "Do it as you please, but howsoever you do it, do it
+quickly. I know naught of your strange fashions and monstrous manners of
+haircutting. I have been absent from England so many years, that now
+when I come back I am as one who hath risen from out his grave to find
+all things changed."
+
+"In truth, sir," observed the barber, "your worship will indeed find
+many changes, alike in government and in manners, if so be your absence
+hath been so long as you do say. Her Majesty's ministers and
+counsellors, indeed, have changed as often as the seasons. But the Queen
+herself, God bless her, is yet with us; so England is merry England
+still, and long may it so remain!"
+
+Peter was now busy at work shearing his customer's plenteous crop of
+tangled hair.
+
+"And how many years in all did your worship say that you had been
+abroad?" he ventured presently to inquire.
+
+"More years than I care to number," was the somewhat curt reply.
+
+"Ah!" responded Peter. "Then, sir, you had no hand in the glorious
+defeat of the great Armada of Spain? Haply your worship was in some
+far-distant country at that great time?"
+
+The stranger shifted his position in his chair. His fingers moved
+restlessly.
+
+"Haply I was," he answered. "But had I chanced to be at the very
+extremities of the earth, methinks I should still have heard rumour of
+the matter; for wherever there be Spaniards and wherever there be
+Englishmen, they are alike disposed to boast of their own prowess on
+that occasion. And from neither the one nor the other is it possible to
+arrive at the simple truth."
+
+"The simple truth is simply this, your honour," returned Peter Trollope,
+with a proud smile, "that the Spaniards, despite their greater ships and
+their greater army of soldiers, were utterly routed and defeated." And
+the gossiping barber proceeded to tell the whole story to his listening
+customer as he continued with his clipping.
+
+At length, having fairly come to the beard, he broke off in his wordy
+narrative and requested to know if his worship would have his beard cut
+short and to a peak like Sir Francis Drake's, or broad and round like a
+spade. "Or shall I shave it off," said he, "and leave only your
+worship's moustachios?" But he had scarcely made the last suggestion
+when his eye was once more caught by the cut on the man's cheek. "I
+would advise that the beard be left as it is," he said, "for it doth
+help to hide the wound upon your face. Although, indeed, there be many
+men in Plymouth who would be mightily proud to display so honourable a
+scar, for I doubt not your worship came by it in some desperate battle
+against our enemies of Spain."
+
+It was at this moment that Timothy returned into the shop. He overheard
+his father's remark, and noticed that for some reason the stranger
+winced, as though he were far from being proud of the old wound.
+
+"I do perceive that 'tis the cut from a sword," added the
+barber-surgeon, looking at the scar more closely. "I trust, for the
+honour of England, that you slew the rascal who gave it you."
+
+"'Tis no sword-cut, but a wound from an Indian's arrow, shot at me from
+ambush," declared the traveller; and there was a curious tone in his
+voice--a tone which seemed to indicate that he was in reality giving
+only a half explanation, or perhaps even a totally false one. In any
+case he hastened very plainly to change the subject.
+
+"You named one Francis Drake just now," said he. "Peradventure you can
+inform me if he be still alive?"
+
+"Alive? Ay, that he is! Alive and well, the Lord be praised! and in
+Plymouth town at this present time--ah! I beg your worship's pardon.
+Perhaps I caught your cheek with the point of my scissors?"
+
+The stranger had given a slight nervous start, and a look of displeasure
+if not of actual annoyance had come into his dark eyes.
+
+"In Plymouth at this present time?" he repeated. And then he muttered
+some words in a foreign tongue, which neither Timothy nor his father
+could comprehend.
+
+"Had you chanced to come in but an hour earlier you might even have
+encountered him," remarked the barber, "for he passed by this very door,
+and returned my salutation most graciously, as, indeed, he doth always
+do, whenever I come nigh him; for he is by no means proud, I promise
+you, for all that he hath done more for England than any other living
+man. But I am talking thus while it may be that your worship doth know
+him far better than I--while it may even be that you are his personal
+friend."
+
+The man with the scarred cheek made no response to this last remark, but
+only leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes and knitting his brows.
+He remained silent until Trollope had clipped his beard to a
+satisfactory shape and was giving it the final touches. Then the warrior
+looked up suddenly and said with curious earnestness, as though he were
+seeking an answer to a most important question:
+
+"There dwelt in the neighbourhood of Plymouth a score of years ago or
+so, a certain nobleman by name Baron Champernoun. Canst tell me, master
+barber, if there be any of his lordship's family still dwelling in these
+parts?"
+
+Peter Trollope glanced aside at his son and smiled. Timothy strolled
+slowly towards the window and seated himself near the two goshawks,
+whence he could watch the stranger's face.
+
+"The name is passing well known to all men of Devon," answered Peter as
+he surveyed his workmanship with excusable pride. "And Lord Champernoun
+himself--the only Lord Champernoun that I have known--still dwelleth at
+his family estate nigh unto the village of Modbury. He is stricken in
+years and passing feeble; but clear in his mind withal, and as excellent
+and worthy a Christian gentleman as you will find in all the land. As to
+his lordship's family, sir, 'tis small in number. He had two sons, your
+worship, to wit, Edmund Oglander and Jasper; for Oglander is the family
+name, you must know, Champernoun being but the baron's title, bestowed
+upon the head of the family in Henry the Fifth's time, and--"
+
+"Ay, I wot well that there were two sons," interrupted the stranger,
+brusquely, "Edmund and Jasper, you say. Ay, and what of them, I pray
+you?"
+
+"They both are dead," returned Peter Trollope. "Both lost their lives in
+distant lands. The Honourable Edmund Oglander, my lord's eldest son,
+went over to the Netherlands some five years agone, and fell in the
+battle of Zutphen--the same engagement in which the virtuous and gallant
+Sir Philip Sidney received his death wound from a Spanish bullet. The
+younger son, Jasper, died of a fever or some such pestilent mischance
+out in the Western Indies, whither he had gone to seek adventure and
+fortune in one of John Hawkins' ships. His lordship grieved not overmuch
+for the loss of Jasper, 'tis said; nor do I marvel at it, for surely a
+greater scamp and reprobate than young Jasper Oglander hath never
+lived."
+
+"And both are dead, eh?" mused the traveller in a strange calculating
+tone. "Ods life! and who would have thought it? Why, then," he presently
+added, "it must be that the old baron is now quite alone in the world,
+and hath none of his own kin to follow him in his title and estates?
+Sooth, I do pity him to be thus left desolate in his old age, with never
+a son or a son's son to carry on his honoured name!"
+
+"'Tis doubtless a sore grief to his lordship that his son Edmund
+surviveth not to enjoy his great inheritance," remarked Peter Trollope,
+"albeit Master Edmund gave up his life in a good and noble cause, and
+therein Lord Champernoun hath assuredly a sweet consolation. But if his
+lordship hath no longer a son, there is, after all, his grandson--a
+bright and gallant young gentleman, and a worthy heir to so vast an
+heritage."
+
+The stranger raised his heavy eyebrows in quick surprise.
+
+"So-ho?" quoth he; "a grandson, eh? Prithee, what might be the fortunate
+stripling's age?"
+
+The barber turned to his son, who was at that moment looking out through
+the window at a strangely-dressed negro woman who was crossing the road
+in company with a seaman in the direction of the Three Flagons.
+
+"Tim, what might be Master Gilbert's age?" he asked of the lad.
+
+"Fourteen years, mayhap," answered Timothy. "And speaking of Master
+Gilbert, father, that remindeth me that I am to meet him at the
+market-cross at four by the clock; so I must tarry here no longer. I
+will let him know what you have said concerning the goshawks." And with
+that he took up his cap, wished his father a "God speed you!" and
+strolled out into the street.
+
+As he approached the Three Flagons he was attracted by a little crowd of
+boys and girls who stood on the causeway staring at the black woman as
+she followed the seaman into the inn. At the same moment the youth whom
+Tim had seen coming ashore from the _Pearl_ was making his way through
+the crowd. The lad glanced up at Tim in passing and seemed about to
+speak. Tim returned the glance and said:
+
+"If 'tis the tall man with the scarred cheek that you are seeking, my
+master, you will find him at the sign of the Pestle and Mortar, some
+dozen yards along the Barbican on your left-hand side."
+
+"'Tis not him that I am in want of at this moment," responded the lad,
+"I am seeking for the old rascal who came from off the ship with us an
+hour ago. Canst tell me which way he went?"
+
+Timothy shook his head, disliking the haughty way in which the
+information was demanded.
+
+"No," he answered. "'Twas no business of mine to spy upon him."
+
+"I will reward you well if you can find him for me," pursued the other
+with unmistakable eagerness. And he thrust his fingers into his pouch
+and drew forth a small silver coin.
+
+Timothy Trollope smiled and bade him keep his money. "As for my turning
+constable," he added, "I thank your honour, but I have other matters to
+occupy me." And so saying he went on his way towards the market-place.
+
+As he walked along the harbour front his thoughts wandered back to the
+old storm-beaten mariner who had named himself Jacob Hartop. He
+remembered how Hartop, on stepping ashore, had gone down on his knees
+and fervently thanked his God for having brought him safely back to his
+native land, and how the tears had come into his dim eyes when Gilbert
+Oglander had done him the slight kindness of giving him a garment to
+cover his ill-clad body. Such a devout and grateful old man, thought
+Tim, could scarcely truly deserve the title of rascal which had just
+been applied to him. Why was this foreign-looking youth so very anxious
+that the old mariner should not escape him? Was it that he might do him
+some good service or pay him some debt of gratitude? Or was it not
+rather that he sought to do him some personal injury?
+
+
+
+
+                           CHAPTER V.
+
+                     RAPIERS TO THE RESCUE.
+
+
+It was already dark as night when Gilbert Oglander and Timothy Trollope,
+having kept their tryst in the old market-place, made their way together
+out of the dimly-lighted town. The wind had changed to the north-east,
+and snow had come with it. The white flakes swept along with a mad
+horizontal rush, alighting only, as by accident, when some tree or
+cottage or human figure barred their onward career. The two lads pulled
+down their caps about their tingling ears, bent their whitened bodies
+forward against the blast, and strode along regardless of the slush and
+mud upon the road.
+
+Neither spoke much until they had walked almost a mile's distance away
+from the town and were out in the open country. Here the snow seemed to
+be falling thicker and the wind to be blowing almost a gale.
+
+"Methinks thou hadst best have kept thy cloak to thyself, Master
+Gilbert," remarked Timothy at length, as he passed under the friendly
+shelter of a thick hedge, "for it had been of far greater use to thee
+than to the old man you so generously gave it to. Here are we exposed to
+the bitterness of this storm, while he, I will warrant me, is already at
+home before a goodly fire, or else carousing with his boon companions in
+some comfortable tavern parlour."
+
+Gilbert walked on a few paces in silence.
+
+"It matters little to me whether the cloak hath been of use to the poor
+fellow or not," he presently said. "I saw him tremble with the cold, and
+could not think of him going half-clothed while I had a garment to
+spare. And when one thinks on't, Tim, 'tis surely a hard matter for a
+seaman who hath spent half a lifetime in tropic countries to come home
+here to England in the very depth of winter."
+
+"Pooh!" objected Timothy. "But 'tis said that an Englishman can endure
+any climate in the world and suffer no ill from it. What of Sir Martin
+Frobisher and his crews, who voyaged far up into the frozen regions of
+the Arctic, where, 'tis said, there be whole mountains of ice, and where
+even the salt seas be frozen over for a full half of the year? I will
+engage that Sir Martin and his men met not such kindly gentlemen up in
+those parts to give them warm cloaks withal. And as for this old man
+Hartop, I'd be in nowise astonished to-morrow if I heard that he had
+sold your cloak to a pawnbroker and spent the money in strong liquors,
+or else thrown it away in the dice-box. You cannot persuade me, Master
+Gilbert, that a man who hath been for a score of years in foreign lands
+could come home so poor as this man, if he had not squandered all his
+gains in wanton idleness."
+
+"Misfortune doth ofttimes come even to those who are righteous,"
+remarked Gilbert Oglander in a sober voice as he shook the wet snow from
+the front of his doublet and hitched his sword anew under his arm, "and
+I will not believe that the man who could devoutly thank God, as Hartop
+did, for having brought him safely home, could be aught but an honest
+man at heart."
+
+"Nevertheless," pursued Timothy, "I do greatly fear that your charity in
+this present case was misplaced; for as I was passing nigh to the sign
+of the Three Flagons on my way to the market-place just now, I
+encountered once again the dark-eyed youth whom we saw coming from off
+the ship. He besought me to tell him, if I could, whither the old man
+Hartop had gone, and did even offer to reward me if I could aid him in
+arresting the old rascal, as he called him. He spoke in such wise that I
+could only believe that the old mariner had committed some cruel offence
+against him. And, indeed, Master Gilbert, if you remember, this Hartop
+was truly in a mighty desperate hurry to separate himself from his
+shipmates."
+
+"Well, well, 'tis no affair of ours, Tim, howsoever it be," returned
+Gilbert. And he bent down his head and marched on in silence.
+
+Tim Trollope walked in advance of his young master to shield him from
+the snow; and thus they plodded on their way, until they came to a
+narrow lane bordered by high overhanging trees that increased the
+darkness, and amid whose leafless, dripping branches the wind whistled
+and moaned. As the two turned into the lane Timothy dropped back to his
+companion's side.
+
+"There is a matter upon which I listed to speak with you," he abruptly
+said, and then was silent for a dozen strides. "'Tis about the man we
+saw to-day--" he added, "the man with the scarred cheek."
+
+"And what of him?" questioned Gilbert. "Hast learned peradventure that
+he hath discovered a new Eldorado? or that his ship is laden with a
+cargo of talking poll-parrots and gambolling monkeys? What of him,
+quotha?"
+
+"Nay, I have learned but little concerning either him or his ship,"
+answered Timothy. "But when I was in at the Pestle and Mortar this
+afternoon, he also was there, getting his hair and beard trimmed, and it
+chanced that he did question my father most curiously touching my lord
+your grandfather and your late uncle Jasper. It seemeth that he knew
+both your father and your uncle. And more especially was he interested
+as to yourself, Master Gilbert."
+
+"How so?" exclaimed Gilbert, growing attentive now. "But if I heard him
+aright as he spoke to the woman who was with him, 'twas surely in the
+Portuguese that he spoke, and I marvel how any Portugal man could have
+known my father."
+
+"'Tis true that he did speak in a foreign tongue," responded Timothy,
+"but, for all that, I take him to be an Englishman born, if indeed he be
+not even a man of Devon. My reason for speaking of him, however, is that
+he showed a very strange and surprising concern in the matter of my Lord
+Champernoun's title and estates. When he was told that your uncle
+Jasper had died of a malaria out on the Spanish Main, a smile came upon
+his face. It was as if he knew a vast deal more about Jasper Oglander
+than we could tell him. 'Twas not my business to question one of my
+father's customers; but had I been bold enough I should certainly have
+asked him if 'twas not true, as I do suspect, that he had some part in
+the death of your uncle; for you must not forget, Master Gilbert, that
+the matter was never very clearly explained to us. Even Sir Richard
+Grenville threw some doubt upon the report that he died of a fever, and
+suggested that 'twas by the hand of man that he was taken off. And,
+indeed, if all we have heard of Jasper Oglander be true, he was a man
+(saving your presence) of such evil ways, that 'twould be no great
+wonder to me if he had been murdered by some one whom he had injured out
+there in wild Virginia."
+
+"Thou'rt too prone to listen to idle gossip, Tim," rejoined Gilbert in a
+tone of reproof; "ay, and too ready to draw your own conclusions. For my
+own part I am willing to believe that Uncle Jasper was a far better man
+than report hath made him out to be. 'Tis true that I never knew him,
+and that I never even set eyes upon him save when I was a little child,
+and too young to judge of his character. But my grandfather hath never
+spoken an ill word of him in my hearing, and, prithee, what should that
+bode but that Jasper was a very worthy and proper gentleman?"
+
+"Not in your hearing, it may well be," interposed Timothy, "but I do
+assure you that my lord hath no great cause to love his younger son's
+memory. As for your father (God rest him!), he and his brother Jasper
+were ever at enmity."
+
+Gilbert walked on for many moments without speaking, but at last he
+said:
+
+"I have heard more than once of that enmity, Tim, but never yet have I
+discovered its cause. Canst tell me why it was that they quarrelled,
+lad?"
+
+"There were divers causes, Master Gilbert," returned Tim. "But for the
+most part the enmity arose (or so at least I have been told) out of
+Jasper Oglander's envy and jealousy. He was jealous of your father's
+greater wit and learning; of his greater skill in all games and manly
+sports; jealous in that his brother Edmund was chosen by the Queen to be
+one of Her Majesty's pages at the court and afterwards one of her
+favoured courtiers. But more than all else, 'tis said that he was
+jealous in that your father was the elder son, and by consequence the
+heir to the Champernoun title and lands. Also, you must understand--"
+
+Gilbert suddenly gripped his companion's arm.
+
+"Hark!" he cried. "Prithee, what is that strange wailing sound that I
+hear?"
+
+Timothy came to a stand-still and held his breath, listening for a few
+moments.
+
+"I hear naught whatsoever," said he, "naught but the wailing of the wind
+among the trees. Yet wait! there was in truth another sound. Was't not
+the screech of some wild bird of the night? No; 'tis there again. 'Tis
+someone singing--some wayfarer chanting a ditty to scare away the
+ghosts."
+
+"Even so it is," agreed Gilbert. "Ay, and a likely place for a ghost
+too, down yonder in Beddington Dingle. I had rather travel a good five
+miles round than pass through that dark and desolate wood after
+midnight."
+
+"And I also," returned Timothy, resuming his steady strides; "but less
+from the fear of ghosts and goblins than from dread of footpads and
+thievish vagabonds; for the place hath been overrun with them these many
+weeks past. 'Twas in that self-same hollow that Farmer Uscombe was
+robbed of his purse, and ten angels in it, only a seven nights since.
+Faith, my master, but the man in front of us hath truly a lusty and
+tuneful voice! Ay, and a clear. You can e'en hear his very words. 'Tis
+some mariner's song he singeth, touching the taming of the blustering
+winds or some such theme. Hark at him!"
+
+The two lads gave no thought to the continuance of their broken
+conversation, but walked silently onward through the dark lane, guiding
+their way by the level patches of snowy ground that lay between the high
+and shadowy banks at the roadside. The wayfarer in advance of them was
+either walking very slowly or else coming towards them from the opposite
+direction, for his merry ditty became more and more distinct with every
+step they took.
+
+"Who thinks to strive against the stream,
+  And for to sail without a mast,
+Or without compass cross the main,
+  His travel is forlorn and waste;
+And so in cure of all his pain
+His travel is his chiefest gain.
+
+"So he likewise, that goes about
+  To please each eye and every ear,
+He needs to have, withouten doubt,
+  A golden gift with him to bear;
+For ill report shall be his gain
+Though he bestow both toil and pain.
+
+"God grant each man once to amend;
+  God send us all a happy place;
+And let us pray unto the end
+  That we may have our prince's grace:
+Amen, amen! so shall we gain
+A due reward for all our pain."
+
+Thus he sang. And at the close of each verse he broke out into a lively
+chorus that echoed through the woods. Towards the last, however, he
+stopped very suddenly, and his melody presently gave place to a loud
+alarming cry for help.
+
+"Thieves! Cut-purses!" he cried "Ah, had I but a sword!"
+
+The two lads set off at once at a quick run in the direction whence the
+cry had come.
+
+They had gone but fifty yards or so, when at a sharp turn in the lane
+they came upon some four men whose figures loomed darkly through the
+mist of falling snow. One of the men lay struggling on the ground
+trying to disentangle his head and arms from his cloak, while two of
+his assailants knelt over him, the one evidently robbing him of such
+valuables as he might have about him, the other with a dagger
+threateningly drawn. The fourth man stood apart, encouraging them in
+their evil work.
+
+[Illustration: "TIMOTHY CAUGHT HIM BY THE NECK AND HURLED HIM BACK."]
+
+Gilbert and Timothy understood in a moment what was going on. The victim
+of this night attack was doubtless the wayfarer whom they had heard but
+a few minutes before carolling his moral ditty; and these three
+vagabonds had fallen upon him from their ambush in the dingle, where
+they had probably waited with intent to waylay the first passer-by and
+rob him.
+
+"Out with your rapier, Master Gilbert!" cried Timothy as he drew his own
+weapon. "We must e'en rescue the man. Yet use your blade discreetly, for
+'twill go ill with us if we do slay one of the rascals."
+
+He flung himself upon the man nearest to him--the one with the drawn
+dagger,--caught him by the neck and hurled him back into the ditch.
+Gilbert Oglander was about to deal in like manner with the other robber,
+when the third man, who had hitherto stood apart,--a very tall man,
+wearing a wide slouched hat and a long cloak,--sprang upon him and
+forced him back.
+
+Timothy now stood over their fallen victim, guarding him while he
+struggled to his knees. In the meantime the one whom Tim had flung into
+the ditch had regained his feet and drawn his rapier. Wrapping the skirt
+of his cloak about his left arm, he leapt upon Gilbert Oglander. In the
+darkness Gilbert scarcely saw his intention, and might have been taken
+wholly unaware had not Timothy warned him at the right moment. Gilbert
+caught his adversary's rapier on his own blade and returned the attack.
+The man facing him was small, lithe, and evidently well skilled in the
+use of his weapon. Bending his body forward, he stretched forth his
+cloaked left arm, thus shielding himself. Gilbert made a thrust at the
+man's right side, but with no greater result than to strike a spark of
+fire from the other's blade. In recovering his balance he felt his left
+foot slip upon a clod of snow; he fell forward, and at the same moment
+there was a sharp twinge of pain in the upper part of his right arm. His
+sword dropped from his grasp and he rolled over.
+
+When he rose to his feet again he saw that the three robbers had
+escaped. Timothy, and the wayfarer who had been the cause of this
+encounter, were down in the ditch, peering through a dark gap in the
+bank by which the three vagabonds had made their way into the wood.
+
+"The rascals! They have escaped us!" Timothy was saying. "Well, there is
+small harm done, and no one is hurt!"
+
+"Small harm, say you?" cried the wayfarer, speaking now for the first
+time. "But they have robbed me--robbed me of all that I had in the
+world!"
+
+"Your all cannot surely have been much, my friend, since you carried it
+with you so lightly," said Timothy. "There is little use in making such
+dole over a trifle."
+
+"Ah, you do not know, you do not know!" said the other, pacing to and
+fro in his dire distress. "As well might they have taken my life as what
+they have gone off with."
+
+Timothy searched into the man's face, yet saw nothing to enlighten him
+in the black darkness.
+
+"Art thou of Plymouth?" he presently asked.
+
+"That I am, my master," came the reply. "My name, sirs, is Jacob
+Hartop--Jacob Hartop that went out with John Hawkins in the year
+sixty-seven, and that hath now come home only to be waylaid and robbed
+by a parcel of villainous cut-purses that sprang upon me from among the
+trees yonder. I had not heard them behind me, for it chanced that, being
+somewhat lonesome on dry land, I fell to chanting a little song, as it
+were for company's sake. I warrant me the ruffians would not so have
+overpowered me had they not thrown my cloak over my eyes and mouth, and
+thus disabled me from defending myself."
+
+He drew the garment about his shoulders, turning up its high collar
+round his neck. "'Tis a cloak that a kindly young gentleman gave unto me
+as I stepped ashore," he went on. "Had I been without it I might have
+worsted my assailants; and yet had I not had it I must surely have been
+slain, for one of the villains stabbed at me with his dagger with intent
+to take my life, and by God's providence the blade, instead of entering
+my heart, struck upon one of these gay silver buttons."
+
+He paused and looked at Gilbert as the lad limped towards him. Even in
+the darkness he seemed to recognize him.
+
+"Now, beshrew me if thou art not the self-same young gentleman who gave
+me the cloak," he cried in grateful surprise. Then, noticing that
+Gilbert walked lame, he added, "But thou art limping! Hast hurt thy leg
+in the scrimmage?"
+
+Timothy glanced in alarm at his young master, and besought him to tell
+what injury he had received.
+
+"I slipped on the snow," explained Gilbert, "and gave my foot a twist.
+'Tis naught to speak of. Come, let us hasten home. Sir Francis Drake
+hath gone to spend the night with my grandfather and certain of his
+friends from London, and we may yet be in time to hear him relate some
+of his adventures ere he returns to Plymouth. I will take thy arm,
+Timothy, for my foot is paining me, and--".
+
+He was about to tell that he had been wounded, but not wishing to alarm
+his companions, or perhaps a little ashamed of being defeated by a mere
+footpad, he kept the matter to himself.
+
+"What do I hear?" exclaimed Jacob Hartop. "Didst thou not speak the name
+of Francis Drake--Sir Francis Drake? God be thanked! Then he is still
+alive, eh? And hath risen in the world since the days when he and I were
+shipmates? Sir Francis, forsooth! Well, he deserveth all the honours
+that a prince can bestow upon him. Right well do I mind the time when we
+were at Nombre de Dios. Ah! that was a time, my masters. But 'tis a long
+story. Whither are ye bound for?"
+
+"We go to the manor-house of Modbury," answered Timothy.
+
+"Ah! I know it well," returned Hartop as he trudged along the lane at
+Gilbert's right side. "'Tis my Lord Champernoun's place, and I doubt not
+you will both be in his lordship's service--pages in his household
+belike?" He did not wait for an answer to his last remark, but went on
+with a cheerfulness that was surprising in an old man; a man, moreover,
+who had just been robbed of all his worldly wealth: "Prithee, have they
+mended the old bell that hung in the little turret above the stables?
+Ha, ha! 'Twas I that broke it, flinging a stone at a blue jay that was
+perched upon the weather-vane. Many are the apples and pears I stole
+from out the orchard there; ay, and the rabbits and pheasants I trapped
+i' the woods! His lordship had a Flanders mare by name Nancy, that he
+was wont to ride upon to London. She had a white star betwixt her eyes,
+and a most shrewish temper withal. None could ride her but his lordship
+and William Stevens; though 'tis true she would willingly eat an apple
+o' mornings from out my lady's hand. Is the animal still as full of her
+tricks as she used to be?"
+
+"'Tis like enough that the animal is in her grave these twenty years,
+Master Hartop," said Timothy, smiling to himself at the old man's memory
+of a time long past.
+
+"Ay, like enough, like enough," mused the old man. "Time doth slip by
+with astonishing speed--though, indeed, 'twas laggard enough in the
+galleys and in the prison of Cadiz."
+
+"I pray you tarry a moment," interposed Gilbert, suppressing a groan of
+pain. "I cannot walk so fast. My ankle hurts me at every step. I beg you
+haul off my boot, Tim, to give me a few moments' ease. Come closer,
+Master Hartop, and let me lean on your shoulder."
+
+The old man obeyed, while Timothy went down on his knees in the mud and
+tried, but with little success, to remove the offending boot. He was
+interrupted by a sudden cry from Hartop.
+
+"God bless us all, what is this?" the mariner cried, running his hand
+over Gilbert's right arm. "There be surely more wet here than hath come
+from a few flakes of snow. Why, 'tis blood, my master, 'tis blood! Thou
+art wounded!"
+
+"Wounded?" echoed Timothy rising excitedly to his feet. "Oh, my master!
+Wherefore didst thou not tell us of this before? Where is the wound?"
+
+"The fellow's rapier pierced me in the arm," explained Gilbert in a
+faint voice, as he leaned yet more helplessly on Hartop's shoulder. "But
+'tis not much, I do assure you."
+
+Timothy Trollops pressed his open palm upon the lad's sleeve, and,
+finding it wet from shoulder to wrist, "Not much?" he cried. "Why,
+thou'rt scarce able to stand, so much blood hath streamed from thee!
+Thou'rt well-nigh fainting! Had I but known of this at the time, I
+warrant me the scoundrel should not have escaped so easily. Wouldst know
+the man again, my master?"
+
+"Not I," murmured Gilbert in a yet fainter voice. "I saw not his face."
+
+"Nor I neither," added Jacob Hartop. "'Twas too dark to see aught but
+their shadowy forms, even if mine own face had not been half-smothered
+under my cloak. But they are clean gone now you'll be saying, and 'twill
+avail us little to go in search of them or to tarry here any longer
+while one of us is sore wounded." He put his arms about Gilbert and
+added: "Heave thyself on to my back, young friend, and I will carry
+thee. 'Tis but a small distance if I mind aright from here to Thomas
+Southam's mill, where peradventure we shall get help, and a horse to
+carry thee further."
+
+Timothy gently pushed the old man aside.
+
+"Thy memory is like to an old almanack, Master Hartop," he said, "and of
+as little value for present use. Southam's mill was burnt to the ground
+a good ten years ago, and hath never yet been rebuilt."
+
+"What?" cried Hartop, and, as if the information concerning the mill had
+staggered him, he stepped backward, allowing Gilbert Oglander to slip
+from his grasp. "Burnt to the ground!" he repeated. "Then prithee, young
+sir, what hath become of the miller's fair young daughter Betty--Betty
+Southam that promised to wait for me when I sailed away to foreign
+lands, ay, and to marry me when I should come back with the fortune that
+I meant to gain for her? What hath become of her, I say?"
+
+Timothy lifted Gilbert upon his knee and held him there while he
+answered:
+
+"Betty Southam? Ah! I knew her when I was a little child. But I do
+protest she was then neither young nor fair. As to what hath become of
+her, 'tis soon told, Master Hartop. She was found lying dead one
+winter's morning in Beddington Woods."
+
+"Alas!" cried Hartop. "Then was my song indeed prophetic, for all my
+travel hath in very truth been 'forlorn and waste'."
+
+"Listen!" interrupted Timothy. "Hear you not the sound of horses' feet
+upon the road? 'Tis surely our robbers, riding away."
+
+"I hear them plainly," returned Hartop. "There be two horses, as I judge
+by the sound. And, far from retreating, they are coming nearer and
+nearer. I pray Heaven that they be friends who will help us!"
+
+Gilbert Oglander had now somewhat recovered from his faintness, and with
+the help of his two companions he limped to the side of the road, where,
+sitting on the edge of the ditch, he at length succeeded in pulling off
+his boot, for his ankle had been badly sprained and was already somewhat
+swollen.
+
+The three waited there in silence at the roadside until the horsemen
+whom they had heard approaching came within a few yards of them, when
+Timothy Trollope stepped out in front of them, and waving his hands
+aloft called aloud to them to halt. His call was not needed, however,
+for the horsemen had already drawn rein.
+
+"So-ho!" cried one of them as he unsheathed his sword, and spurring his
+horse again he drove the animal on as if to run Timothy down. "We have
+caught you, you rascals, have we?" he cried with an oath. "We shall
+teach you better than to go about a-pillaging of honest folks' farmyards
+and carrying off their ducks and hens! 'Tis Plymouth gaol that shall be
+your lodging to-night if I be not vastly in error." He turned to his
+companion, "Now, Jake," he ordered, "look you to those two in the ditch
+there! See that they escape not into the wood."
+
+Timothy sprang forward and seized the horse's bridle.
+
+"Hold hard, Bob Harvey," he cried, addressing the rider. "Have a care
+where y'are driving your horse. Can you not see who we are, man? Here be
+Master Oglander, bleeding and well-nigh dead of a great sword-cut given
+him by a thief of a footpad but a few minutes since."
+
+"Od's life, Master Tim, is't yourself then?" cried the horseman drawing
+back. "Faith, lad, I had nearly run you through. What bringeth you here
+at such an hour? And Master Gilbert wounded, say you?--and by footpads?
+Prithee, how many were there? I'll be sworn 'twas the self-same gang
+that we are now seeking."
+
+"There were three of them," answered Timothy. "And after robbing this
+poor old man here and wounding Master Gilbert they made off through
+Beddington Woods."
+
+"Ay, three there were at the Manor Farm. I warrant me, they are the same
+lot," declared Bob Harvey. Then he added, turning to his follower,
+"Come, Jake, we may catch them yet if so be we gallop round to the other
+road." And he dug his spurs into his horse's side.
+
+"Stay!" cried Timothy, gripping the reins. "Thou'dst best dismount, Bob,
+and give up thy horse to the young master; or else take him up beside
+thee and ride home with him. As for the thieves, or poachers, or
+whatever they be, Jake Thew may continue the chase alone."
+
+"As you will, Master Timothy," returned Harvey; "but methinks Master
+Gilbert had better get up in front of me. 'Tis an ill-mannered animal
+this, and hard to manage."
+
+So Gilbert Oglander mounted on the horse's back and rode slowly
+homeward, while the second horseman galloped off alone along the lane in
+the direction of the town. Timothy intended to go home afoot, running
+all the way by his master's side, but ere he started off he turned to
+Jacob Hartop.
+
+"And now, Master Hartop," said he, "prithee, where go you to-night? Hast
+got a home in these parts?"
+
+Jacob was silent for some moments. At last he said:
+
+"I had meant to rest myself at Southam's Mill, where they have daily
+expected me these twenty years and more. But if, as you say, the mill
+hath been burnt down, why, then, there is not a house in the land that I
+can call my home. Howbeit, I doubt not I shall find goodly shelter under
+the lee of some friendly haystack. 'Twill not be the first, no, nor the
+hundredth time that I have slept in the open air. And believe me, my
+master, he is a happy man who hath none to thank for his food and
+shelter saving only his God."
+
+"I do perceive that thou art an easily contented mortal," remarked
+Timothy with a ring of sympathy in his voice.
+
+"Privation hath made me so," returned Hartop.
+
+"Nevertheless," pursued Tim, "you will, so please you, think no more of
+the haystack, but come on to the manor of Modbury; for sure I am that
+Master Oglander would blame me most severely were I to suffer you to go
+adrift like a lost creature."
+
+Hartop answered very seriously and firmly: "Were there no other house in
+all England, my master, I should still refuse to take shelter in the
+manor of Modbury."
+
+"And wherefore?" asked Timothy in surprise.
+
+"Because," returned the old mariner, "it is in that same house that my
+bitterest enemy doth live--Jasper Oglander to wit."
+
+"Pooh!" rejoined Timothy. "Jasper Oglander is dead these many years."
+
+"Not so," declared Hartop. "You, indeed, and many others may believe him
+dead. But in this matter, at the least, I make no mistake; for hark ye,
+my friend, Jasper Oglander is as much alive at this moment as you or I.
+You and your young friend may not have known him--how should you?--but
+'twas he whom you saw this very day coming ashore from the ship _Pearl_;
+he and his wife and his son. If you should see him again,--as I doubt
+not you will ere many hours be past,--you shall know him by the token
+that he hath an old knife-cut across his cheek: a cut that was dealt to
+him by one whom he sought to treacherously murder."
+
+
+
+
+                           CHAPTER VI
+
+                  TABLE-TALK AT MODBURY MANOR.
+
+
+At this same time, while Gilbert and Timothy were continuing their
+journey homeward through the darkness and the driving sleet after their
+encounter with the unknown robbers in Beddington Dingle, Lord
+Champernoun and his household were seated at the supper-table in the
+great dining-hall of Modbury Manor. Some friends were with
+them--high-born ladies and noble gentlemen who had been of a hawking
+party that day, and had come back very weary and full of the enjoyment
+of the sport. Chief among the ladies, both for her beauty and wit and
+for her noble birth, was the Lady Elizabeth Oglander--or Lady Betty, as
+she was familiarly called--who, as the widow of the Honourable Edmund
+Oglander, was now the mistress of Modbury Manor; and among the men, Sir
+Walter Raleigh and those two gallant seamen, Sir Francis Drake and Sir
+Richard Grenville.
+
+It was a very large and splendid hall, with a high arched roof and tall
+embrasured windows, whose broad panes were rich with heraldic devices in
+coloured glass. The walls were panelled with carved oak and adorned with
+stags' horns, suits of armour, halberds, swords, and crossbows. The
+lower parts of the windows and the heavy clamped doors were covered with
+tapestry to keep out the draught, and in the huge red cavern of the
+fireplace the flaming logs roared and crackled, sending forth strange
+moving shadows across the rush-strewn floor, and casting a bright
+flicker of light upon the wings of the brass pelicans that stood gazing
+out from either side of the hearth.
+
+At the head of the long table sat the aged baron himself, Gilbert
+Oglander's grandfather, a kindly, white-haired, white-bearded gentleman,
+wearing a doublet of black velvet with gold chains and a snowy white
+ruff. His guests and the members of his household were all grown-up
+persons, with the one exception of Drusilla Oglander; and Drusilla, who
+was still scarce more than a little girl and had but lately left the
+nursery, seemed to be very lonely in consequence. She had no companion
+near her at the table saving the family bloodhound, Nero, whose
+ponderous head rested upon her knee, ready to gobble such morsels of
+meat as the girl might pick from her plate and give to him. There was a
+vacant seat at her side, but her brother Gilbert, who had gone into
+Plymouth that afternoon, had not returned to occupy it, and she was
+perforce content to listen silently to the talk that was going on among
+her elders at the upper end of the table. Yet quite as often did she
+find entertainment in listening to the men and women who sat below the
+great salt-cellar--the barrier which separated them from those who were
+above them in station.
+
+One of the men, a rosy-faced young falconer who had been with the
+hawking party, was boasting of how Sir Walter Raleigh had deigned to
+hold speech with him, and to ask his opinion concerning the possibility
+of stopping a falcon in its full flight and making the bird return
+obediently to the lure. The fact that the great courtier had thus
+honoured him seemed to have given the man the right to speak with
+authority on all matters with which Sir Walter Raleigh was personally
+concerned.
+
+"Wait until the meal is over," Drusilla heard him say; "wait and you
+shall see him taking tobacco. 'Tis a wonderous sight, my masters. I have
+seen him at it with mine own eyes. He can blow the smoke out through his
+nostrils in two long tubes, or drink it down into his inside as one
+might drink a cup of malmsey. Ay, 'tis a marvellous habit, is it not,
+Christopher Pym?"
+
+He glanced across the table at a pale, abstracted-looking man, with
+straight black hair and lack-lustre eyes. Christopher Pym seemed to feel
+himself out of place among these his table companions, for in spite of
+his threadbare cloak and his ragged wristbands he was still a ripe
+scholar and a born gentleman. He smiled faintly and answered:
+
+"Ay, truly, Master Hawksworth, 'tis a marvellous habit--marvellous in
+that it is indulged in by gentlefolk. For my own part, I like it not. As
+well might you make a chimney of your throat at once, and call in the
+chimney-sweep o' mornings to sweep out the black soot."
+
+"'Tis plain to see that thou hast never tried it," remarked Hawksworth.
+"But after all, 'twas never intended for poor schoolmasters."
+
+Christopher Pym quietly broke off a few crumbs from his piece of bread,
+and holding them in his thin fingers proceeded slowly to cleanse his
+platter.
+
+"No," he said with another faint smile. "There be few such luxuries that
+a poor tutor can afford out of five marks a year. But I am well content
+to live without the vile herb and let others take it who may."
+
+"'Tis a right gentlemanly accomplishment, I warrant you," pursued
+Hawksworth; "ay, and one which may gain a man great fame if he but
+exercise it with skill. Look at young Sir Anthony Killigrew, for
+example; he hath made himself famous in Plymouth by his skill, for he
+can not only blow the smoke from his nose, but he hath performed a much
+more wondrous trick; for on a day in last week he took three long whiffs
+from his tobacco-pipe, drank three cups of canary on the top of them,
+then took horse, and brought forth the smoke, one whiff at Burrington,
+the second at Bickley, and the third at Tamerton. 'Twas he who first
+taught Master Gilbert Oglander to drink tobacco, although 'tis true the
+lad misliked it and hath since abandoned it."
+
+"Master Gilbert hath shown greater wisdom in abandoning it than in
+taking to it," observed Christopher Pym, shaking his head with regret at
+his pupil's weakness.
+
+Hearing her brother's name, Drusilla leaned over across the salt-box and
+said:
+
+"I pray you, Master Pym, can you tell me what hath kept my brother so
+late in Plymouth?"
+
+"My lord sent him into the town on some private business, Mistress
+Drusilla," answered the poor tutor. "I know of naught else that can have
+detained him. He hath taken Timothy Trollope to bear him company,
+however, and you may be assured no harm will come to him."
+
+Drusilla leaned back in her chair, refusing the plate of roasted
+pheasant that was offered to her by one of the blue-coated serving-men.
+Her eyes rested upon the cheerful countenance of Sir Francis Drake, and
+then upon the proud cold face of Sir Walter Raleigh, who sat next to
+him. She had never, before this same day, seen Sir Walter Raleigh, and
+his courtly manners seemed somehow to give him a dignity which made it
+that she dared not have approached him. Even his gay apparel, his
+jewelled doublet, his stiffly-starched ruff, and his white be-ringed
+fingers placed him at such a distance from her that he appeared to be
+far too grand and proud ever to think of taking notice of a little girl.
+
+With Sir Francis Drake it was very different. She had known him to come
+to Modbury more than once on purpose to see her, as he had said; he had
+come into the nursery and played with her and told her stories; and
+once, when Gilbert had been making a toy ship to sail in the lake, Sir
+Francis had sat down on the nursery floor and taken out his knife and
+some string and helped to rig the little vessel. They had called the
+boat the _Revenge_, which was the name of the ship that Sir Francis had
+commanded when he went out to fight against the Spanish Armada, and on
+board of which he had won such glory for himself and for England. As
+Drusilla looked across at him now his eyes met hers, and he raised his
+tall glass of canary wine, bowing to her with as much polite grace as if
+she had been a full-grown lady. She returned his greeting with a smile,
+raising her little silver tankard of new milk and saying:
+
+"To your good health, Sir Francis."
+
+Then the voice of Lord Champernoun was heard from the head of the table.
+
+"So it seemeth, Sir Francis, that thou hast once more been incurring Her
+Majesty's displeasure?"
+
+"How so, baron?" questioned Drake, looking up in surprise.
+
+"Marry! In the matter of the King of Spain," returned Lord Champernoun.
+"It doth appear from what I have lately heard that Her Majesty's
+government have received information that King Philip, knowing how you
+had fallen into disgrace with Queen Elizabeth, hath been secretly making
+overtures to you to enter the Spanish service and lead a new armada
+against England. Zounds, man, we shall soon be hearing that thou hast
+turned Papist also, I suppose!"
+
+Drake laughed, and playfully stroked his full and curly beard. There was
+a merry twinkle in his large clear eyes.
+
+"'Tis not the first time that His Majesty of Spain hath so approached
+me," said he. "Her Majesty (God bless her!) is at liberty to believe, if
+she so listeth, that I am about to accept Spain's generous offers. 'Tis
+her gracious habit to think ill of me. But methinks the people of
+England will still believe me incapable of such treachery."
+
+Sir Walter Raleigh's silvery voice interposed:
+
+"Thou hast given but a half-denial of the matter, Drake," said he as he
+reached his hand to the middle of the table and picked an apple from one
+of the plates. "And I do assure thee that Her Majesty will require a
+fuller proof ere she consent to forgive thee. All thy endeavours to win
+her favour by the building of flour-mills and the making of
+water-conduits for this town of Plymouth will go for little against this
+suspicious rumour."
+
+"And, prithee, what punishment doth Her Majesty intend to mete out to me
+withal?" questioned Drake. "Hath she given orders that I am to be
+clapped into the Tower, or held to ransom like our Spanish prisoners?"
+
+"Scarcely that," answered Raleigh. "She hath but decided to give thee
+the command at Plymouth, with orders to keep the town in a state of
+defence, and so resist any attempt by the Spaniards to invade our
+western ports."
+
+"There is small consolation in that," returned Drake. "I had hoped, as
+ye all know, that I might be deemed worthy to take the command of the
+great expedition against Panama that hath been in contemplation so long.
+'Tis mine by right, and it hath been the dream of my life."
+
+"That same command hath been graciously reserved for myself," said Sir
+Walter Raleigh. And he seemed to smile at the mortification that came
+into his rival's face.
+
+There was silence for a few moments, and then the gruff voice of Sir
+Richard Grenville broke in.
+
+"Thou'lt not forget me, cousin Walter, when 'tis question of Panama?"
+said he. "'Twould suit my disposition well to be made thy vice-admiral."
+
+"And touching that same matter, Raleigh," interposed Lord Champernoun as
+he pushed back his great chair and crossed his legs, "I would ask you to
+reserve a place on board your ship for my grandson Gilbert. The lad hath
+long been beseeching me to launch him upon the world of action."
+
+"I'll think on't, baron," said Raleigh with a slight nod of his head
+that showed he had no great desire to favour the young heir of Modbury.
+
+"The boy shall come with me, my lord, if Sir Waiter takes him not,"
+cried Sir Richard Grenville. "I promise you that."
+
+"I had rather see Gilbert Oglander under mine own wing," declared Drake
+in an undertone.
+
+"Ay, if that wing be not already broken," suggested Raleigh.
+
+The Lady Betty glanced at Lord Champernoun with anxiety in her eyes.
+
+"Surely Gilbert is yet too young to be trusted upon the sea," she
+objected. "Hath not his family already sacrificed enough to the
+Spaniards that thou shouldst consent to this thing? Thine own two sons
+have given up their lives in foreign lands. I pray thee spare me mine."
+
+Lord Champernoun made no answer, for at that moment one of the
+serving-men had come to his side and whispered some message into his
+ear. Drusilla saw her grandfather start back as if in alarm. His face,
+in the light of the table-candles, was seen to have become suddenly very
+pale. Drusilla instantly thought of her brother Gilbert, and feared that
+some great ill had happened to him. She looked towards the door behind
+her grandfather's chair.
+
+It opened, and there came into the hall, not her brother nor even
+Timothy Trollope, but a tall dark man who was a complete stranger to
+her. He removed his wide slouched hat as he entered, and his long cloak,
+which was besprinkled with snow-flakes, fell from his shoulders,
+revealing a much-worn and faded doublet with tarnished braid and ominous
+stains. He was followed by a much younger man, whom Timothy Trollope,
+had he chanced to be present, would doubtless have recognized as the
+foreign-looking youth he had encountered at the door of the Three
+Flagons.
+
+Drusilla noticed that the youth's cloak was bespattered with mud, but
+she remembered that the roads were bad, and opined that he had had some
+trifling accident. He took off the garment and laid it with his hat and
+sword upon one of the oak benches that were against the wall. He seemed
+to be exceedingly modest, for he stood in the background like one who
+had been suddenly brought into a strange place, and had not yet mustered
+the courage to raise his eyes and see for himself what manner of place
+it happened to be.
+
+Lord Champernoun rose from his chair but did not advance to meet the
+strangers.
+
+"Jasper Oglander, did you say?" he cried in astonishment, turning aside
+to the serving-man. "Jasper Oglander? 'Tis impossible!"
+
+"Ay, 'tis Jasper Oglander," said the stranger, stepping forward and
+standing in front of the old baron. "Dost not know me, father?"
+
+Lord Champernoun raised his trembling hand and ran his fingers nervously
+through his thin locks of white hair.
+
+"I understand you not," he faltered. "Jasper Oglander is dead--dead
+these many years. They have told me so. And yet--"
+
+"Haply the news was more welcome to your lordship than my presence here
+just now," interrupted the stranger with a dark frown on his brow.
+"Believe me, sir, I had not wished to break in upon your merriment. But
+having only this afternoon arrived in the port of Plymouth, I deemed it
+my duty to present myself before you without further loss of time."
+
+"Your better duty would have been to acquaint me of your existence a
+score of years ago," his lordship returned with stern rebuke. And then,
+his eyes falling upon the figure of the bashful youth, he added:
+"Prithee, who is the stripling at your heels?"
+
+"Your grandson, my lord--Philip Oglander to wit--born in Brazil in the
+year fifteen hundred and seventy-four."
+
+"And his mother?" pursued the baron questioningly.
+
+The stranger twirled his newly-trimmed moustachios and answered:
+
+"His mother, so please you, is now resting in Plymouth town, at the sign
+of the Three Flagons. The weather is somewhat inclement for a lady to
+travel, and she is weary after our long voyage. In good time, when she
+hath been furnished with new apparel--apparel more befitting her
+appearance among such fine ladies as I do see here now,--I shall give
+myself the pleasure of presenting her in her English home."
+
+Lord Champernoun bit his lip. It was evident that his newly-returned son
+was not to be heartily welcomed.
+
+By this time the servants at the lower end of the table, having finished
+their supper, had retired from the hall. The ladies, too, had risen, and
+Sir Walter Raleigh, with courtly gallantry, had opened the door leading
+out into the adjoining hall, whence already the sounds of music could be
+heard.
+
+Lady Betty passed out, followed by her lady guests, glancing as she did
+so towards the intruder with something akin to indignation in her
+beautiful blue eyes.
+
+"'Tis some impostor, I'll avow," she whispered to Raleigh as she came
+near him, "or else some Spanish spy, masquerading in the character of
+the long-lost Jasper. Thou'lt join us presently, Sir Walter?"
+
+"Gladly, my lady, so you promise us a song," said he, bowing low. And
+when the ladies had all retired, leaving only Drusilla behind them, he
+strolled back into the hall and made his way to the fireplace, where,
+seating himself, he proceeded to fill his tobacco-pipe.
+
+Sir Francis Drake had apparently paid but slight attention to the
+entrance of Jasper Oglander and his son Philip, but had remained at the
+table cracking nuts. He had cracked about a dozen of them and cleared
+the kernels of all remnants of shell and rough skin, and now he gathered
+them in his hand and rose, beckoning to Drusilla.
+
+"These be for you, sweetheart," said he as he offered them to her. "And
+now I must hie me back to Plymouth. Wilt kiss me?"
+
+She held up her face, and he put his two hands upon her shoulders and
+held her from him at the full length of his strong arms. Then he bent
+down and pressed his lips upon her white forehead. "Give you
+good-night," he added, "and God be with you always!"
+
+"Good-night!" she answered, and her eyes followed him as he went away,
+limping slightly in his walk. She saw him stop suddenly as he came near
+to where her grandfather and Jasper Oglander were still standing. He
+drew back a step, looking up into Jasper's face, and, as it seemed,
+fixing his gaze upon the old wound on the man's cheek.
+
+"'Sdeath! Captain Drake, you here?" cried Jasper Oglander in a tone of
+astonishment and no less of annoyance. "Art thou a wizard?" And he
+hesitatingly held out his hand.
+
+Drake affected not to notice this offer of friendship, but stood
+unmoved, his round head with its short curly brown hair held proudly
+back, his great broad chest expanded, and his muscular figure poised
+with easy grace. Compared with the tall man in front of him he seemed to
+be of very low stature; but there was a dignity about him which the
+other entirely lacked.
+
+"A wizard?" he repeated. Then shrugging his shoulders he added: "That is
+as it may be. But I thank God in that I am at least an honest
+Englishman, who hath no cause to go skulking about the world as thou
+hast been doing, Master Oglander." He turned to Lord Champernoun. "Give
+you good-night, my lord!" he said as they shook hands, and then he went
+round for his cape and hat, which were hanging up near the fireplace,
+where Sir Walter Raleigh and some others were already regaling
+themselves amid a cloud of tobacco smoke.
+
+Lord Champernoun had bidden his new-found son and Philip Oglander sit
+down at the table and take some supper. Meat and drink had been brought
+in for them, and they were eating with an appetite which betrayed that
+they had long been unaccustomed to such goodly fare.
+
+Meanwhile Drusilla had withdrawn to one of the window embrasures, where
+she sat munching her Brazilian nuts. Sir Richard Grenville stood near
+her, examining a suit of armour that was propped up in the corner.
+
+"'Tis the armour that was worn by Sir Stephen Oglander in the wars of
+the Roses," the girl informed him. "And the curved sword that is hanging
+near it on the next panel was taken by my grandfather in a certain
+battle against the Turks--not this grandfather, you know, but the other
+one, my mother's father, the Earl of Dersingham."
+
+"Ah! so thine ancestor fought against the Infidels, eh?" said Grenville,
+and pushing aside Philip Oglander's cloak, which lay on the bench, he
+sat down beside her. "Didst know that I too have been in battle against
+them?"
+
+"No," she answered, open-eyed. "Prithee, tell me of it. Was it by sea or
+by land?"
+
+"By land for the most part," he returned; "but the greatest battle was
+by sea, and it took place in the Gulf of Lepanto. 'Twas the most
+glorious engagement and the most honourable victory I have ever taken
+part in, saving only the late fight which you wot of against the dons of
+Spain. I will tell thee of it if thou'rt not too weary. 'Twill pass the
+time until your brother comes in."
+
+As he spoke he took up Philip Oglander's rapier, and in mere idleness he
+drew the long narrow blade from its leathern scabbard, held the weapon
+out in front of him and glanced along it with critical eye, examined its
+curious basket hilt of twisted metal, then pressed his thumb against the
+sharp point, took the point end in one hand and the hilt in the other,
+and bent the blade to test its flexible spring, and finally held the
+weapon out once more at arm's-length.
+
+"The battle was betwixt the Turks and the Christians," he went on. But
+here he was abruptly interrupted. Philip Oglander had risen from the
+table and crossed the floor towards him.
+
+"Your pardon, my master, but that rapier is mine!" cried the lad in
+strange excitement, speaking with his mouth full of food.
+
+Sir Richard Grenville glanced up at him in surprise, still retaining the
+weapon.
+
+"A goodly blade too, o' my conscience," he muttered with a grim smile.
+"Fashioned in Toledo, I warrant me. 'Tis not often we see its like in
+England, save in the hands of our country's foes. But I would warn you,
+young sir, that 'tis a good three inches too long to suit Queen
+Elizabeth's regulations. I should counsel you to have it clipped ere you
+venture to carry it again through English streets."
+
+He handed the rapier to its owner, holding it by the end of the blade.
+Philip Oglander received it, sullenly returned it to its scabbard, and
+strode back to the table, there to continue his supper.
+
+Grenville was about to proceed with his narrative of Lepanto fight when
+Drusilla laid her fingers upon his arm.
+
+"See!" she cried. "Thou hast wounded thy hand, 'tis bleeding!"
+
+"Nay, but I felt no cut," said he. "And yet," he added, looking at his
+opened palms, "there is surely blood there. However, Mistress Drusilla,
+to go on with our story. I was saying that 'twas a fight betwixt the
+Christians and the Infidels--the Cross against the Crescent--"
+
+"Wait," interrupted the girl. "I heard but this moment the sound of a
+horse's feet in the courtyard. It must surely be Gilbert returned. I
+pray you tarry here till I come back." And so saying she tripped lightly
+to the end of the hall and flung open the door by which her uncle and
+cousin had lately entered.
+
+There was a murmur of voices from without. The further door at the end
+of the outer hall stood open, and by the aid of the large hanging lamp
+in the great arched porchway she could see the form of a horse, with
+Timothy Trollope and Bob Harvey by its side. They were helping Gilbert
+down from the horse's back. Drusilla saw his face, and it was very pale;
+she saw that when they lifted him down to the ground he could scarcely
+stand, but was obliged to lean for support on Trollope's shoulder.
+
+"I might even have guessed that some ill had happened to thee since thou
+art so late in coming home, Gilbert," she said, disguising her inward
+alarm. "Art badly hurt? Hast thou been thrown from thy horse?"
+
+"Nay, 'tis nothing, good my sister," answered Gilbert as cheerily as his
+weakness allowed. "'Tis naught but a sprained ankle."
+
+"Ay, but the blood!" said she, touching him on his right arm. "What doth
+this bode?"
+
+"A scratch he got in a tussle we have had with some vagabond gypsies
+down in the dingle," explained Timothy Trollope, well-nigh breathless
+after his long run by the horse's side. "Prithee, be not alarmed,
+Mistress Drusilla." He signed to Bob Harvey. "Take you his heels, Bob,
+while I take him by the shoulders. We had best carry him within."
+
+Drusilla went before them while they carried him into the dining-hall.
+She was met on the threshold by Sir Francis Drake, who was then on the
+point of leaving, a saddled horse being already in waiting for him
+outside to carry him back to Plymouth. On being hurriedly told what had
+happened he returned into the hall, threw off his cape and hat, turned
+up his cuffs, and prepared to exercise his surgical skill in attending
+to Gilbert's hurts.
+
+"A knife, if you please, Mistress Drusilla," he said, when Timothy had
+laid the wounded lad upon one of the settles near to the fire. And when
+the knife was brought he quietly ripped open Gilbert's sleeve,
+discovering the wound.
+
+"'Tis nothing serious," he said reassuringly to Lord Champernoun, who
+stood near with Raleigh, Grenville, and many others who had crowded
+round. "Let him have a warm potion to drink and some food, an he will
+but take it, and when I have bound up the arm he had best be put to
+bed."
+
+Timothy Trollope moved to the table to get a cup of mulled sack. As he
+was passing behind where Drusilla stood he caught sight of Jasper
+Oglander and his son, both of whom, having risen from their supper, were
+looking over the girl's shoulders at Gilbert. There was a subdued look
+of enmity in Jasper Oglander's eyes, which Timothy did not understand.
+He remembered it long afterwards, however, when circumstances and a
+better knowledge of the man's nature explained its meaning.
+
+
+
+
+                            CHAPTER VII.
+
+                    THE INSTINCT OF A BRUTE DOG.
+
+
+Jasper Oglander and his son were up betimes on the following morning,
+and had come down to the lower rooms while yet the housemaids were
+sweeping up the rushes from the floors and dusting the furniture. Seeing
+one of the serving-men coming from the buttery Jasper called out to him,
+commanding him to bring two stoups of small ale. The man was waiting to
+take the emptied vessels, when the sound of a loud bell clanged through
+the house. At this Philip Oglander bowed his head and crossed himself;
+whereupon his father trod upon his toe and frowned at him.
+
+"Thou fool!" said Jasper when the man had left them. "Dost want to
+betray us so soon? Did I not warn thee an hundred times that these
+people are all of the Protestant faith--heretics and Lutherans who would
+but despise us and regard us as enemies did they know that we are of the
+Holy Church? By the Rood, boy, thy forgetfulness hath nearly cost us
+dearly, for look at who cometh behind thee--thy cousin Drusilla, a saucy
+maid, by her favour, and it may be a dangerous."
+
+Drusilla was at the moment descending the broad staircase, carrying a
+little basket of apples in her one hand, and with the other drawing the
+hood of her mulberry-coloured cloak over her fair hair. She curtsied low
+and bade them a good-morrow when she came before them into the front
+hall.
+
+"Art going abroad so early?" asked her uncle, returning her greeting,
+and taking up his wide-brimmed hat from the bench where he had dropped
+it when drinking his cup of small ale. "If so, we would go with thee,
+for I am fain to show thy cousin what manner of home he hath come to. To
+have such escort as thine will make our inspection doubly agreeable."
+
+"I was but going to the stables to give these apples to my brother's
+favourite horse," answered Drusilla. "But if ye would see the grounds I
+will willingly bear you company."
+
+"And how fares Master Gilbert, prithee?" inquired Jasper, leading the
+way out into the porchway, and standing there a moment looking out
+across the terrace and the wide expanse of lawn to the misty woodlands
+beyond.
+
+"The wound in his arm hath troubled him but little," she answered, "but
+his sprained ankle hath swollen greatly and is very painful. I fear me
+it will be many days ere he can leave his bed."
+
+"'Tis a pity the rascals who thus assailed him cannot be caught and
+brought to a speedy justice," remarked Philip with seeming sympathy in
+his tone, albeit with an unkindly curl of his upper lip. "Was your
+brother unarmed that he thus allowed a vagabond gypsy to overcome him?"
+he added.
+
+"Nay, for who would go unarmed in these days?" returned Drusilla. "But
+even the skilfullest swordsman may sometimes be taken at a disadvantage.
+Gilbert's foot slipped upon the snow, and his adversary did thrust at
+him even as he fell. Timothy Trollope knew not of the matter until the
+three robbers had fled, or else I am very sure they should not have got
+away so easily."
+
+"And, prithee, who may be this Timothy of whom you speak, cousin?"
+pursued Philip.
+
+Drusilla answered:
+
+"He is Gilbert's good and faithful servant--the same who brought him in
+yesternight. He is the son of Master Peter Trollope, the barber-surgeon
+of Plymouth town."
+
+"Ah! methought I had seen him once before," observed Jasper. "He was
+even in his father's shop whilst I was there having my beard trimmed.
+And now--let us to the stables first, Mistress Drusilla, and then when
+we have made the round of the mansion and had a peep at the hawks in the
+mews and the deer in the chase, we shall haply go within again and
+introduce ourselves to your brother. Fortunate Gilbert, to be the heir
+to such vast and valuable estates as these!" he added covetously, as,
+standing at the end of the terrace where a spacious flight of stone
+steps led down to the lawn, he glanced towards the avenues of tall old
+trees that opened out before him. "Were I their owner, however, I should
+hew down those unsightly trees; they do but interrupt the view, and so
+much stout oak is but wasted while there be battle-ships to be built--to
+say naught of the price one might get in exchange for the timber
+withal."
+
+Drusilla conducted her new-found relatives over the stables. They had a
+distant sight of the farm buildings, where the cows, having been newly
+milked, were wandering out through the gates in slow and irregular
+procession towards the pasture lands. Then they went round to the
+kennels and looked at the hounds, and to the mews, where Hawksworth and
+his fellows were feeding the falcons. Thence through the orchard, now
+bare of fruit, and the kitchen-garden, where Lord Champernoun, at the
+instance of his friend Sir Walter Raleigh, had in the last season grown
+a wondrous crop of potatoes and other vegetable products of the New
+World. Then round into the park to where a herd of deer, browsing in the
+wet grass, started off, alarmed at their approach, and ran with great
+fleetness to a misty hollow among the trees.
+
+At first Drusilla had been strangely shy with her two companions; but
+they showed such interest in the home of her childhood and treated her
+with such graceful courtesy that she soon became familiar with them, and
+answered their many questions freely and eagerly. She pointed out the
+old oak-tree in the middle of the park under whose spreading branches
+the village children had crowned her as Queen of the May in the last
+spring-time. She took them to the side of the lake where Gilbert and she
+had been wont to sail their boats, and where Gilbert only a week ago had
+caught a pike. And then, coming back by the front of the house, she
+pointed out the little latticed window of her chamber, half-hidden among
+the clambering ivy. From where they were they could see the full extent
+of the great baronial mansion, with its abutting wings end many gables
+flanking the tall central turret,--on which the gilt weather-vane shone
+bright in the morning sunlight,--its stone-shafted oriel windows, and
+its curiously-twisted chimneys. It was all very magnificent, albeit
+Drusilla thought less of it for this fact than for the reason that it
+was sanctified as the residence of so many of her ancestors.
+
+"Ah, 'tis in truth a palace fit for a king!" declared Jasper Oglander
+aside to his son. "I marvel that I ever had the foolishness to leave it.
+What wouldst thou say, Phil, an thy father were the owner and master of
+the place? Nay, do not smile, boy; less likely things than this have
+come to pass; and remember there be but two frail lives between me and
+it--your grandfather, poor addle-pated pantaloon, and this stripling
+Gilbert as they call him, touching whom I should have been by no means
+sorry had his assailant of yesternight done his work more completely.
+Mark you, Phil," he reiterated with emphasis, "I had not been
+sorry--nay, why boggle the matter?--I had in truth been exceeding glad
+had the wound you wot of been a span nearer to his heart."
+
+Whatever Philip might have said in reply to this cruel remark was cut
+short by the return of Drusilla, who had but ran forward a few paces to
+greet Nero, the bloodhound, at the entrance of the courtyard. The dog as
+it approached the father and son hung down his furrowed head and growled
+ominously--which was a habit quite unusual with him, in spite of his
+aspect of ferocity.
+
+"Come, Brutus--Hector--Pompey--what is thy name? Come, good dog," said
+Jasper Oglander caressingly, snapping his finger and thumb together in
+invitation to the dog. But Nero still hung his head, and growlingly
+sniffed about the man's feet, coming finally to Philip and growling yet
+again. "Ah! he doth well discern that we are strangers to him,"
+continued Jasper, "or else he doth smell the brine about our clothes.
+Such dogs, I have observed, have a natural aversion to seamen."
+
+"Indeed, uncle, it can scarce be so with Nero," remarked Drusilla, "for
+he hath a marvellous fondness for Sir Francis Drake, and Sir Francis is
+a seaman in all conscience."
+
+"Ay, plague on the man," muttered Jasper to himself. And presently he
+followed Drusilla across the courtyard and into the house.
+
+Timothy Trollope had been for the longer half of the night in his young
+master's room--a small chamber in the west wing of the house, with very
+simple furniture, but being crowded with a variety of toy ships, bows
+and arrows, kites, whips, spurs, morions, corselets, rapiers, foreign
+shells, snakes bottled in oil, skins of rare animals and birds, and
+other curious and boyish gear. In front of the fireplace there was a
+large Polar bear skin, with the head still attached, given to Gilbert by
+his friend Sir Martin Frobisher. A small casement window in a corner of
+the room was fitted like a ship's port-hole, with a demi-culverin made
+of brass pointing outward towards a strip of blue sea that could be
+discerned far away in the distance beyond the promontory of Rame Head.
+Gilbert had once fired this cannon from this same place, loading it
+with stone-shot and aiming at a certain chestnut-tree in the park. The
+cannon had rebounded even to the farther end of the room, smashing into
+a cupboard, much to the damage thereof. The report had alarmed the
+household, nay, even the whole country-side for a mile round; it had
+come nigh to the deafening of Gilbert himself, for his ears tingled for
+many days. Fortunately no one had suffered any hurt; fortunately, also,
+the splendid mansion was too well built to suffer from so unwonted a
+shock. The lad had fallen into disgrace for a week afterwards and was
+forbidden to bring gunpowder into the house again. He regretted the
+foolish freak, but in his regret, and despite of the chastisement he
+received by order of his stern and offended grandfather, there was still
+a sort of boyish satisfaction in his heart--a satisfaction which arose
+from the fact that his shot had hit its intended mark.
+
+Lady Betty smiled as, sitting by her son's bedside in view of the
+cannon, she remembered this long-past incident. She had come into the
+room in the early morning, and had dismissed Timothy Trollope, bidding
+him go and get some sleep and return when the household had risen.
+Gilbert had slumbered during the whole time that she had been present
+with him, but at the sound of the opening of the door he had awakened,
+to find Timothy again at his side and his mother silently retreating on
+tiptoe.
+
+"Ah, she hath gone, and I had hardly known she was here!" sighed
+Gilbert. "Go, summon her back, Tim--yet, no; let her not know that I am
+awake. 'Twill comfort her to think that I am still asleep. But I am
+sorry that she hath gone. I had meant to question her concerning this
+Uncle Jasper and his son. For what my mother doth say of them and think
+of them is certain to be true and just, whether her judgment be
+favourable or the reverse. Didst mark her demeanour towards them
+yesternight, Tim? Didst mark if she greeted them in friendly wise?"
+
+"I marked little of anything, so much was I concerned as to your hurts,
+dear master," returned Timothy; "but in so far as I could see, her
+ladyship seemed to regard your uncle rather with annoyance than
+friendship, and to avoid his near presence as if she misliked his
+intrusion."
+
+"And yet, if I mind aright, my mother hath ofttimes spoken of him as
+though she had known him passing well," observed Gilbert, as he
+half-raised himself upon his uninjured arm.
+
+Timothy strode slowly towards the window and looked out into the park.
+
+"She knew him ere yet she was wedded," he said in a quiet decisive tone,
+"so at least my father hath told me. But peradventure 'twas only idle
+gossip."
+
+"Gossip?" repeated Gilbert reprovingly. "Gossip about my mother?
+Prithee, what said your father? Come, tell me, Tim."
+
+"Nay, be not alarmed," said Timothy, turning for amoment from the
+window and looking his young master in the face. "'Twas only this, that
+when my lady was at Her Majesty's court in Richmond as one of Her
+Majesty's ladies-in-waiting, Jasper Oglander did woo her in the hope
+that she would wed him, and so cut out his brother, of whom, as thou
+knowest, he was bitterly jealous. My lady chose the better man to be her
+husband, and Master Jasper departed across the seas to forget his
+disappointment in foreign lands."
+
+"Tut! There is naught in that," rejoined Gilbert with a light laugh.
+"'Tis in no wise surprising that Jasper Oglander or any other man should
+admire my mother. Doth not all England admire her? Have not a full score
+of our best poets penned sonnets in her praise? Out upon thee, Timothy,
+out upon thee!"
+
+"Well, howsoever it be," said Timothy as he gave his head a careless
+toss and stood with his thumbs in his belt at the window; "howsoever it
+be, I like not the man myself. He is a braggart, of that I am sure, and
+there is a look in his eyes that doth betoken deceitfulness."
+
+"Thy opinion in the matter of people's characters is seldom to be
+depended upon, Tim," remarked Gilbert, assuming the gravity of worldly
+wisdom. "Thou dost trust overmuch to instinct and too little to a
+knowledge of the world. 'Tis a brute dog's method."
+
+Timothy strode to the bedside and sat down on the chair that Lady Betty
+had lately left. He crossed his legs and was silent for a few moments.
+
+"'Tis true I have not travelled as thou hast done, Master Gilbert, nor
+been to a great public school to learn Latin and Greek as thou hast
+been. But methinks a brute dog's instinct may yet sometimes be trusted;
+and I have even known the dog Nero to be right in his discernment of men
+when thou and I have failed. Howbeit, 'tis not for me, who am but a
+servant, to say ought in disparagement of your worshipful uncle, who
+may, after all, be a very proper gentleman; and I do humbly beseech your
+pardon, sir, for having said so much as I have already done."
+
+There was a light knock at the door. Tim started to his feet.
+
+"Wilt let us enter, Gilbert?" asked Drusilla in a half-whisper as though
+she feared to disturb her brother. "Uncle Jasper and Cousin Philip are
+here, and they would be better known to thee."
+
+Timothy opened the door and they entered.
+
+"I fear that we disturb thee, Master Gilbert," began Jasper Oglander in
+a soft, tender voice, when the greetings had been exchanged. "But we
+were anxious, as thou mayest be sure, to make thy good acquaintance, as
+we have already made that of thy sweet sister."
+
+"Thou art right welcome, Uncle Jasper; and thou too, Cousin Philip,"
+said Gilbert with hearty candour. "Ay, sit you upon the bed, Drusilla,"
+he added, turning to Drusilla. "But see you come not too near to my lame
+foot, for 'tis easily hurt. I am like our grandfather now, when he is
+troubled with his gout."
+
+"Ah! doth the old gentleman suffer much with that complaint, then?" said
+Jasper in a tone of sympathetic interest; and, without pausing for an
+answer, he went on: "'Tis old age creeping upon him, I doubt. Let me
+see--ay--he must be well upon threescore years and ten. But he hath led
+a busy life, what with wars, and parliaments, and missions of state, and
+religious controversy; 'tis little wonder that his hairs are silvered.
+But I thank God and the saints that I find him looking so hale and
+well."
+
+"_The saints_, Uncle Jasper?" cried Drusilla, noticing this slip of the
+tongue. "Is it not enough to thank God alone?"
+
+"Nay, I meant not that, of course," said Jasper, growing very red in the
+face, yet passing the matter off with a careless laugh. "You see, in my
+travels in foreign countries I have come so much in contact with
+Spaniards and others of the Romish faith that I have, as it were,
+acquired insensibly their habit of mentioning the saints, to whom they
+do so constantly appeal."
+
+"Yes, I have heard them oftentimes," said Gilbert; "for there be many
+Spanish Papists at this present time in Plymouth. Prisoners of war they
+are--although it seemeth vain to call them prisoners, for they do go
+about the streets with freedom, and are little different from other men
+saving that they are not permitted to carry arms."
+
+"They would speedily find that they were prisoners indeed, if they did
+but attempt to escape from our shores, however," interposed Timothy
+Trollope.
+
+Jasper Oglander seemed to take a lively interest in this particular
+subject.
+
+"Prithee, what is their number, and how came they to be prisoners in
+England?" he asked of his nephew.
+
+"I know not truly how many there be," answered Gilbert; "a good two
+score, I should say. They were taken on board of the Spanish galleon
+_Nuestra Señora del Rosario_, the flagship of Don Pedro de Valdes, who
+surrendered to Francis Drake at the time of the Armada fight. Many of
+their companions were sent back to Spain, but these remain in Plymouth,
+for I know not what reason other than that Queen Elizabeth hath not
+chosen to liberate them."
+
+Having learned so much, Jasper hastened to change the subject.
+
+"I have been told," he said, "that you received your injuries
+yesternight in rescuing one Jacob Hartop, an aged mariner who, as it
+chanceth, came home with us from the Indies. Was he, too, wounded in
+this encounter?"
+
+Gilbert turned to Timothy, and Timothy answered:
+
+"No, your worship; he was but robbed."
+
+"H'm! the thieves can have gained but sorry booty from so impoverished a
+prey," remarked Jasper, with a derisive sneer. "Poor crazed creature, he
+was scarce worth the room he occupied aboard our ship! And, indeed, we
+should never have consented to bring him but that we were short-handed,
+and he so earnestly craved for his passage back to England, and so we
+gave him a berth out of mere compassionate charity."
+
+"Haply, too, you had been acquainted with the man in former years?"
+suggested Gilbert.
+
+Jasper glanced in quick apprehension at his nephew, as if questioning
+whether the lad spoke from knowledge or only at random.
+
+"No, faith, no," he answered, with seeming indifference. "I have but
+known him during our late voyage."
+
+Then Timothy Trollope--remembering how Philip had made inquiry of him
+concerning Hartop; remembering, too, how speedily the attack upon the
+old seafarer had followed upon his own meeting with Philip Oglander in
+the town--ventured to address the two visitors thus:
+
+"I have been thinking," said he, looking from Jasper to Philip and back
+again to Jasper, "that 'tis passing strange you neither saw nor heard
+aught of this encounter. You set out from Plymouth at close upon five
+o'clock, or only a brief time before my master and I started for home.
+You could scarce have arrived at the manor-house very much in advance of
+us. 'Tis plain, therefore, that you were at no great distance from
+Beddington Dingle at the moment when this thing befell. And yet it
+seemeth that you knew naught of the matter until Master Gilbert was
+carried wounded into the dining-hall."
+
+While Timothy spoke Jasper's fingers were idly playing with the fringe
+of Gilbert's counterpane. He glanced upward with a composure which at
+once dispelled all Timothy's doubts, and remarked with so much seeming
+candour that there was no gainsaying the truth of his statement:
+
+"That same question hath already occurred to me," said he; "and, indeed,
+had we chanced to come by that same road I doubt not that we should
+certainly have passed your robbers by the way. Peradventure we might
+even have been near enough at hand to render you some timely aid in
+overcoming the rascals. But it so happened that we journeyed by the
+longer way of the main road instead of taking the short cut by the
+Beddington Lane."
+
+"Would that you had indeed been near, uncle!" said Drusilla, as she sat
+at the foot of the bed, her two hands stretched out clasping the carved
+oak rail against which her back was resting. "For apart from yourself,
+who are, as it seemeth, a man of war, I am well assured that Cousin
+Philip is a master of fence. I saw his long rapier yesternight. 'Tis
+such a weapon as surely none but the skilfullest swordsman could
+handle."
+
+"Ay, 'tis a pretty enough blade," returned Jasper carelessly; "but more
+for ornament, I do assure you, than for use, Mistress Drusilla. As for
+Philip, he is a sorry hand at such matters. In fencing, as in many other
+arts that I have wished him to exercise, he is in truth a very dullard
+and bungler."
+
+Philip Oglander smiled, with his tongue in his cheek.
+
+"Marry, father, but thou art giving me an over-true character," said he,
+modestly hanging his head. "My cousins will think me a dunce indeed if
+you herald me thus. But when Cousin Gilbert hath recovered from his
+injuries, as I do pray that he speedily may, I will ask him to give me a
+few lessons in the use of the rapier."
+
+"That will I most gladly do," returned Gilbert. "Although, for the
+matter of that, Timothy Trollope here would prove a likelier and a
+skilfuller teacher than I, for I am still but his pupil."
+
+"I thank you," said Philip, with a curious lift of his eyebrows as he
+glanced across at Timothy. "But so please you, I had rather take my
+lessons from a gentleman."
+
+Timothy winced under the reproach to his lowly birth, and moved away,
+busying himself by putting aside some books that his young master had
+left lying on the window-shelf.
+
+"Was not I right, Tim?" remarked Gilbert, some few minutes afterwards,
+when Drusilla with her uncle and cousin had departed. "Are not they good
+worthy folk, these relatives of mine?"
+
+"It would ill become me to differ from you, Master Gilbert," answered
+Timothy. "My instincts may be at fault."
+
+
+
+
+                          CHAPTER VIII.
+
+                       THE OLD BUCCANEER.
+
+
+The sun shone brightly that morning in a clear blue sky, shedding a
+glistening light upon the bare wet branches of the trees, and upon the
+little pools of water that lay in the hollows of the land and between
+the deep long furrows of the ploughed fields. The sleety snow of the
+previous night had not rested, but had left the ground soft and slushy,
+and as Timothy Trollope strode down one of the narrow lanes in the
+direction of the home-farm his great boots sank deep into the mud at
+every stride.
+
+"'Tis true enough. God wot 'tis true I am no gentleman," he said to
+himself as he went along, regardless of the mire. "Nevertheless, I like
+not the lad's manner of telling me so. 'Twas ill-bred, at the least; and
+doubly hurtful in that 'twas true. Haply he knew by my raiment, or by my
+speech, or my ungainly movements, that I am lowly born. 'Tis passing
+strange how these gentlefolks do know their own class. They will
+recognize a man of good breeding from across the street, and tell him
+from a churl though he have not so much as opened his lips. And yet 'tis
+not the fashion of his coat that doth proclaim him a gentleman, else
+would Philip Oglander himself be writ down the veriest varlet, for a
+more ill-favoured fashion than his I have not seen upon a gentleman
+these many days. Nay, I like him not, despite Master Gilbert. And his
+words do rankle in me like the sting of a wasp. '_I thank you; but so
+please you, I had rather take my lessons from a gentleman._' A
+gentleman, forsooth! Marry, I have taught a better gentleman than him to
+use the rapier. Howbeit, there is a medicine for every malady, and it
+may be that yon simpering fool shall some day take from me a lesson that
+he wots not of."
+
+At the end of the lane Timothy came upon some men who were at work
+thatching the roof of one of the farm cottages. The man at the foot of
+the ladder was Jake Thew, the same who had ridden in pursuit of the
+robbers.
+
+"What ho there, Jake!" cried Timothy, as he clambered up to the gate.
+"Didst catch a sight of those rascally Egyptians yesternight?"
+
+"More than a sight, Master Trollope; I catched themselves," came the
+ready answer. "That is to say, Thomas Lee and I did catch 'em. Thomas
+rid round by the highroad with William his son. They doubled at the
+corner of Beddington Lane with intent to meet us in the dingle. We met
+nigh upon half a mile from the spot where Master Gilbert was wounded,
+sir. The three of us did scour the country-side, now this way, now that,
+until well upon midnight; and at last we came upon the vagabonds lying
+hidden in a place that we'd passed a good half-dozen times--Beddington
+Dingle to wit. Thomas Lee let fire his pistol upon them, though
+purposely aiming above their heads, lest he should kill one of them and
+so be brought up for murder; and the rascals surrendered. So we carried
+them off and lodged them in Plymouth gaol, sir, where they both now
+are."
+
+"Both?" echoed Timothy. "And were there not three of them in all?"
+
+Jake left the foot of the ladder, his companions being now on the
+cottage roof, and waded through the mud to where Timothy was.
+
+"Nay, sir, there were but two; we sought for three, but the third had
+made good his escape. And well for him that he did so, for 'twas he--so
+Robert Harvey avers--who ran his rapier into Master Gilbert's arm."
+
+"Plague on the man!" cried Timothy, in vexation. "But we shall catch him
+yet, I promise you. Prithee, did the constable search the men ere you
+came away?"
+
+"There was small need to search 'em, my master. The booty they took was
+scarce so portable as to be stowed away beneath their jerkins. We found
+it all in two great meal-sacks that they carried off from the barn. And
+a pretty catalogue it was withal--_item_, three young capons; _item_,
+one fat hen; _item_, a sucking pig, divers farm implements, and a lordly
+goose that Dame Trevenen the hen-wife was feeding up for Christmas."
+
+"Ay, a goodly haul, o' my conscience," agreed Timothy. "But found ye
+nought of what the rogues stole from the old man?"
+
+"Nay," answered Jake with a shake of his head. "Although 'tis true that
+young Robin Redfern passing through the dingle early this morning, did
+come upon an old and worthless wallet, which might indeed have belonged
+to the man you speak of. 'Twas empty, though--empty as a hatched
+egg,--and Robin left it where it lay among last year's brambles."
+
+"Ah! he had better have brought it with him," said Timothy, "for it will
+serve as evidence to convict the thieves alike of the stealing of the
+poultry and the wounding of Master Gilbert. And now," he added, "what
+canst tell me touching this same old man? Didst see him yesternight
+after I left him on the road?"
+
+Jake Thew nodded and smiled.
+
+"That we did, my master," said he. "We encountered him nigh unto Modbury
+Bridge. He was tramping along full contented and jovial, singing lustily
+enough to wake the very birds in the trees. 'Twas the ballad of _The
+Beggar's Daughter of Bednall Green_ that he sang. And in truth he might
+well have been that same beggar himself, so ill-favoured was he, and so
+poorly clad withal."
+
+"Ay," rejoined Trollope, "but, if I mind aright, your beggar man of
+Bednall Green did turn out in the end to be a man of substance, and more
+wealthy than any one of his daughter's wooers. Whereas this Jacob Hartop
+hath not a groat in the world to call his own, saving what he may claim,
+by virtue of his calling, from the seamen's chest at Chatham, which Sir
+Francis Drake hath made for the relief of aged mariners."
+
+"He will not want for friendly help in these parts, howsoever," remarked
+Thew, "for it seemeth he was born in Modbury village, and there be many
+there still living who have some remembrance of him as a young man ere
+he went upon the sea, and who will gladly give him both food and
+shelter. There is the widow Frampton for one, who took him into her
+cottage yesternight and gave him a supper and a bed, by reason that he
+sailed in the same ship with her goodman to the Spanish Main. You will
+find him there even now, sir, if so be you would see him."
+
+Timothy waited only to make certain further inquiries concerning the
+identity of the two men who had been taken to the gaol, and then set off
+on his way down to the village.
+
+He went first to the widow Frampton's cottage, a clean little thatched
+dwelling, with the dry and faded stalks of honeysuckle about the
+trellised porch and a tiny garden in front. He asked for Jacob Hartop,
+and was told that the old man had wandered out to enjoy the fresh
+morning air. Timothy inquired which way he had gone, and was told that
+he would perhaps find him down beside the sign of the Champernoun Arms,
+as he had said before going out that he had a mind to have a gossip with
+some of the villagers over a pot of home-brewed ale.
+
+Timothy made his way along the street past many whitewashed cottages,
+all curiously striped with cross beams of black oak, and looking very
+sweet and cosy with their thatched roofs and their smoking chimneys. A
+turn in the road brought him within a few yards of the village well.
+About a dozen curly-headed boys and girls stood round it, and in their
+midst, sitting on the stone parapet that encircled the fountain, was
+Jacob Hartop. He was easily known by the fact that he still wore Gilbert
+Oglander's cloak, with its badge of the Oglanders on the shoulder. The
+old man's back was towards Timothy, and the lad went quietly up behind
+him until he came within sound of his voice. Jacob was holding forth to
+his juvenile audience on the precious virtues of pure water, a cup of
+which liquid he held in his right hand, resting on his knee.
+
+"Ay," he was saying as Timothy drew near, "I told ye but a little while
+ago of all the gold and precious stones that I possessed--enough and
+more in value, as I say, to buy up all Plymouth and Modbury. Well, I
+would, at times, willingly have given the whole of that treasure for one
+such little cup of water as this. Ah! 'tis a terrible thing to be dying
+of thirst, my boys, as many of our brave men were a-dying at that time
+aboard the _Golden Galleon_. 'Tis to be compared only with the tortures
+of the Inquisition. But there, bairns, methinks I have talked enough
+about myself and my ship. What would ye next--a song--a fairy tale?"
+
+Timothy was about to break into the circle, but the voice of a
+yellow-haired little maid of some ten or eleven years old checked him.
+
+"You did say you would tell us of Captain Drake," she said.
+
+"Yes," chimed in a boy at her elbow, "thou didst say we should hear how
+it was that Sir Francis was crippled. I have oft wondered, when I have
+seen him going up to my lord's great house yonder, how it was that he
+came to walk lame."
+
+Hartop laid his cup of water aside on the parapet of the well, and took
+the yellow-haired maid in his arms and perched her upon his knee. The
+other children gathered closer round him.
+
+"You must know, then," he began, looking from one to the other of the
+rosy faces, "that our great enemies the Spaniards have long been famous
+for the vast wealth that they have gathered out yonder in the islands
+that we name the West Indies. Every year King Philip doth send out a
+fleet of his galleons to bring home to Spain their cargoes of silver and
+gold. 'Tis that same vast wealth that hath made him able to fit out his
+armadas and pay his armies of soldiers to fight against your fathers.
+Now Queen Elizabeth (God bless her!) hath ever been anxious to stop
+those treasures from crossing over to Spain, and she hath allowed
+Captain Drake and others of her great seamen, as well as such more
+humble buccaneers as myself, to rove the Spanish Main and capture such
+treasure-ships as came in their way, also to land their forces on the
+Spanish islands and strip King Philip's treasure-houses of the gold and
+silver therein stored."
+
+At this point Timothy Trollope, being somewhat interested in the
+narrative, sat down on the edge of the well with his back against one of
+the pillars of the winch.
+
+"One such treasure-house was at a place which the Spaniards called
+Nombre de Dios," continued Hartop, "a town of the same size as Plymouth.
+The great building in which all the gold and silver was stored was named
+the Treasure House of the World, and I promise you it well merited the
+name. If all the cottages in Modbury village were made of solid silver
+and the church there of solid gold, there would yet be less than was
+contained in the place I speak of. All the ships now lying in Plymouth
+harbour would not have been able to carry it away, though they had gone
+all together and made two voyages over their work.
+
+"Now Captain Drake made up his mind to have that treasure and carry it
+off, even though he should cast it all into the deep sea before he came
+home again to England; for he well knew that if it should ever reach
+Spain King Philip would thus be made so rich that he could build more
+ships of war than any other monarch in all the world. So to Nombre de
+Dios did Drake take his ships. Their crews were made up of the best
+young men of Devon."
+
+"And were you also with Drake at that time, Master Hartop?" asked one of
+the elder boys, whose name was Robin Redfern.
+
+"I had that honour; yes," said Hartop. "And well I mind the night that
+we landed. 'Twas a stormy night. The clouds were as black as my cloak,
+and the rain was such as you never saw in dear old England. By
+misfortune the Spaniards got wind of our coming, and we had but reached
+the main street of the town when they sounded the alarm. They blew their
+trumpets, they rang their great bells, their soldiers appeared in vast
+numbers at every corner, firing their muskets and their arrows into our
+midst. Many of our best men fell. But Captain Drake still urged us on,
+and we gladly followed his lead, for we knew that, despite the greater
+number of our enemies, we were more than equal to them in bravery, and
+that the gold was still within our reach--that, indeed, Master Oxenham
+and Captain Drake's brother John had already gone round with their men
+to break open the treasure-house doors. While these our comrades were
+thus occupied, Captain Drake meant to return to the middle of the town
+and engage our enemies in a wide, open market-place. Be called to us to
+follow him thither. He stepped briskly forward to lead the way, and then
+with a cheery cry on his lips he suddenly rolled over in the wet sand,
+with his face as white as this little lady's frock.
+
+"'Twas daylight by that time, and I had myself seen that with every step
+he had taken, for the distance of it may be half a mile, he had left the
+imprint of his foot in blood. Ever since our first encounter with the
+Spaniards he had been secretly struggling against a desperate wound in
+his leg, saying never a word about it, but hiding it lest the knowledge
+of it might dishearten us. He had gone bravely on until he could no
+longer stand. There, lying well-nigh dead upon the sand, he beseeched us
+to proceed with our work. We refused, and he grew angry. Again and again
+he entreated us, but we told him--which was no more than the truth--that
+his life was dearer to us than all the wealth of the Indies. We carried
+him down to our boats and took him aboard his ship, leaving the
+Spaniards and their wealth behind. And that was the end of our attempt
+upon the Treasure House of the World.
+
+"'Twas long ere Captain Drake was well enough to leave his bed, but ever
+since that time he hath walked with a limp in his gait. May he walk
+through this life for many and many a year yet to come, say I!"
+
+"Amen to that!" chimed in Timothy Trollope, rising and walking round to
+the other side of the well and greeting Jacob Hartop.
+
+The old man looked very different now from the weary and storm-tossed
+wanderer of the night before. His weather-beaten face had been newly
+washed, and was of a clear ruddy brown, albeit wrinkled with many lines
+that were as the river courses upon a map. His silvery hair and beard
+had been trimmed and combed, and he wore a small white ruff that covered
+from view his thin and scraggy neck. Some kindly villagers had given him
+a shepherd's jacket of russet frieze with red sleeves, a pair of thick
+start-up boots, and a pair of rough cloth stockings. He lifted the
+yellow-haired maid from his knee and stood up, taking Timothy's hand.
+
+"How fares your young master?" he inquired; and when Timothy had told
+him, he bade farewell to the children and walked by the tall young
+fellow's side towards the bridge that crossed the little river. There he
+paused as if about to turn back, but Timothy drew him on, telling him
+that Lord Champernoun had ordered that if he could be found he was to be
+brought up to the manor-house.
+
+"My lord was ill pleased that you came not yesternight," said Tim. "And
+it seemeth that Sir Walter Raleigh, hearing that you had been in the
+Indies, hath also expressed a wish to have speech with you."
+
+"Sir Walter Raleigh?" repeated Hartop in a tone of surprise. "Ah! then
+'tis my bounden duty to go with you. I knew not that he was within a
+hundred miles of this place. And I have news for him. But I gave you my
+reasons for avoiding Modbury Manor at this present time. I wanted not to
+meet again with Master Jasper Oglander, of whom, God wot, I have already
+seen more than pleaseth me. I wot well that he did intend to go thither
+yesternight. Didst find him there when ye went in, prithee?"
+
+Timothy nodded. "We found him and his son at the table when we carried
+Master Gilbert into the dining-hall," he said.
+
+"And the sigñora his wife? Was not she also present?" asked the old man,
+glancing up at Timothy as it were with the corner of his eye.
+
+"No," answered Trollope; "I heard naught of her."
+
+"Ah!" returned Hartop in a tone which Timothy did not exactly
+understand.
+
+And then, after a few moments' silence, Jacob added, as if speaking to
+himself: "'Tis as I judged, then--and yet--?"
+
+Timothy stroked his upper lip meditatively, and then, turning abruptly
+upon the old mariner: "Now, prithee, what doubts and questions art thou
+turning over in thy mind?" he inquired.
+
+Jacob Hartop set his eyes straight before him up the long lane and
+strode on in resolute silence. But Timothy was pertinacious; he nudged
+his elbow against Jacob's arm.
+
+"I'll tell thee what thou'rt thinking, Master Hartop," said he smiling.
+"Thou'rt thinking that 'tis passing strange that Jasper Oglander and his
+son were so close at hand at the time that thou wert robbed--nay, more,
+I'll warrant me thou'rt even questioning whether they were not
+themselves the very men who robbed thee."
+
+Jacob Hartop suddenly came to a stand-still and stared at Timothy in
+wonderment.
+
+"By St George," he exclaimed, "thou'rt a very 'cute and promising lad,
+Timothy! Beshrew me if thou'st not hit upon my veritable thoughts! 'Twas
+that in truth that I was questioning. But there be many points,
+nevertheless, that seem to disprove the suspicion; as, firstly, if
+Jasper and his son sought to rob me, why did they not rob me aboard the
+ship, where the matter was as easy as eating and drinking? Secondly, if
+'twas they who robbed me, how came it that there was a third man in the
+work with them? And who might that third man have been? But on the other
+hand, mark you, if 'twas not they who did it, who else were my
+assailants? Who other than they could have known that I had aught about
+me that was worth the robbing?"
+
+"Ah! then you were not so poor as you did look?" cried Timothy. "You did
+indeed carry something of value in your wallet?"
+
+"'Twas something which would most certainly have been accounted of
+value--of the most exceeding value--by Queen Elizabeth, or Francis
+Drake, or Walter Raleigh, or even perchance by my Lord Champernoun, but
+by few else," answered Jacob Hartop. "Your common footpad rascal who
+seeketh for that which will buy him bread would peradventure have cast
+it into the fire, not guessing at its import."
+
+"And yet you hinted but a moment ago that Jasper Oglander did know you
+had that about you which was worth the robbing," said Timothy.
+
+"Ay, but Jasper Oglander is different," returned Hartop gravely. "He is
+without honour, and without conscience, a vile dissembler, and--" He
+broke off, recollecting that Timothy was a servant in Modbury Manor,
+and that it was therefore unwise to speak thus of Lord Champernoun's
+son. "But why should I catalogue his faults?" he continued. "If you
+would learn more of him, you have but to question Sir Francis Drake, who
+will haply tell you more than I dare tell. 'Twas indiscreet in me to
+mention Jasper in this connection; but your own remark took me unawares.
+Nevertheless I am by no means certain that it was not indeed Jasper
+Oglander who attacked and robbed me yesternight--to say nothing of the
+wounding of your young master who rescued me--and I am minded to find
+out the truth, though it cost me until the end of the year in the search
+for it."
+
+"You might better have said to the end of this lane," smiled Timothy,
+"for I can at once set your mind at ease. Like yourself, Master Hartop,
+I had vaguely suspected that Jasper Oglander had had a hand in this
+affair; but he hath given my suspicions a very positive denial, for he
+hath declared that both he and Master Philip did journey round by the
+highroad, and were nowhere near to Beddington Dingle. Also, the actual
+thieves have been discovered."
+
+Hartop glanced at Timothy with a curious light in his eyes.
+
+"And yet," said he, "I traced both Jasper and Philip's footprints in the
+snowy ground of Beddington Lane. What should that bode, I pray you?"
+
+"Tut!" retorted Timothy. "How know you their footprints from those of
+any other honest folk?"
+
+The old mariner answered with quiet deliberation, and with a firmness
+that seemed to show that he had little doubt upon the matter:
+
+"By the token that Jasper Oglander's feet do turn slightly inward as he
+walks, and by the fact that his boots be pointed at the toes, in the
+Spanish fashion. By the token, too, that in the snow, hard against the
+left bootmark of him who walked by his side, there was here and there a
+little line, made by the point of a rapier scabbard--made, as I take it,
+by the point of Philip Oglander's rapier, which, if you will have
+occasion to observe, is a weapon of unusual length."
+
+"Marry!" cried Trollope. "Thou art surely a very bloodhound in thy skill
+at tracking!"
+
+"'Tis an art that hath oft served me in good stead," returned Hartop. "I
+learned it from John Hawkins. And, touching this matter of the wounding
+of Master Gilbert, didst chance to regard the fashion of his adversary's
+sword-play?"
+
+Timothy shook his head. "I knew naught of the encounter till 'twas
+over," he answered. "Yet wait; Master Gilbert did indeed tell me this
+morning that the man had enwrapped his guard arm with the skirt of his
+cloak."
+
+"Ay, Philip Oglander's own method. I had guessed so much," said Hartop
+with a confident nod of his head.
+
+"What?" exclaimed Timothy. "You will say that it was Philip Oglander?
+'Tis not possible, man. Why, the lad's own father informed us only this
+morning that Philip was but a dullard--a very dunce--at the use of the
+rapier. The lad admitted as much also, and even spoke of taking lessons
+from Master Gilbert. It is not possible, I say."
+
+"Ah! I do perceive that thou art yet but a simple countryman, Master
+Trollope," rejoined Jacob Hartop as he paused at the edge of a great
+slough of mud that was in front of him and turned to his companion. "A
+simple country lad that doth see no guile, knowing not of man's manifold
+wickednesses. But thou'lt learn wisdom with growing years. . . . And so
+he declared that his son was but a dullard at sword-play, eh? Hark'ee,
+my lad; attend to an old man's counsel; and when Jasper Oglander--ay, or
+his son--doth say that a thing is white, believe thou that 'tis in truth
+black. When he doth declare that he is a devout and zealous Protestant,
+believe thou that he is in truth an ardent and bigoted Papist. When he
+doth declare--as I doubt not he soon will--that he is heart and soul for
+Queen Elizabeth, believe thou that he is all in all for King Philip and
+Spain. When--"
+
+"Enough!" exclaimed Timothy drawing back a step in anger. "I will hear
+no more. You are the man's enemy and do but speak against him falsely.
+He hath given you his help, and yet you turn against him and decry him
+as though he were a very villain. You say that it was he who robbed you.
+I tell you 'tis false--false as your own calumnies. Ay, and I will prove
+its falseness, for the men who robbed you have been caught. They were
+caught at a late hour yesternight and are now lying in Plymouth gaol."
+
+The old man started at Timothy, astonished and perplexed. Then he turned
+and carefully picked his way across the slough of mud, saying never a
+word. At length, when the lad again came to his side, he said very
+calmly:
+
+"Are you certain sure of this that you tell me, Master Trollope? Are you
+certain that these men have been caught?"
+
+"Certain," Timothy answered curtly. And they continued their journey in
+silence.
+
+At this same time Baron Champernoun was in his great gloomy library with
+Sir Walter Raleigh and Raleigh's cousin, Sir Richard Grenville. His
+lordship was seated before the fire in a large arm-chair, with his head
+supported upon pillows and his feet propped up in front of him on a high
+hassock. Raleigh had been writing at the table, but had now swung round
+his chair and sat with his two hands clasping one of his knees, looking
+down at the crimson rosette that adorned his dainty shoe. Grenville
+stood with his back to the cheek of the fireplace. He was a tall,
+broad-shouldered seaman of about fifty years of age, with dark curly
+hair and a full, pointed beard that was sprinkled with gray. There was
+an easy, careless look about him, and his voice when he spoke seemed to
+have in it something of the deep low murmur of the sea.
+
+"Ay, cousin Walter," he was saying, "thou hast made a stroke of ill-luck
+for once with this _Pearl_. She hath never brought thee much profit to
+speak of, and this last adventure of hers doth bring her misfortunes to
+a climax. 'Tis the first time I have known a ship come home from the
+Indies lacking a cargo that would amply repay her owners for their
+outlay. And her crew, from what Master Jasper hath told us, are of as
+little value as herself, what with graybeards for sailing-masters and
+negroes for seamen. I never saw the negro yet who could handle a rope or
+trim a sail. 'Tis surprising to me that with such a ship's company the
+craft hath ever reached port. What wilt do with the old hulk now,
+Walter,--break it up for firewood, or sell it to thine enemy?"
+
+"Sell the ship, Raleigh,--sell her to Jasper Oglander," interposed Lord
+Champernoun with a chuckling laugh. "I'll go to the expense of fitting
+her out anew for him. 'Twill be a cheap enough way of getting rid of him
+for another year or two."
+
+"I will sell her most willingly, baron, an you are serious," remarked
+Raleigh. "But I promise you it would be cheaper far to build a new
+vessel altogether. The _Pearl_ is one of your old-fashioned craft. We
+have made an hundred improvements in our ships since she was
+launched--thanks to John Hawkins and other skilled and worthy
+navigators. We have devised the striking of the topmast, together with
+the chain-pump. We have invented studding sails, top-gallant sails,
+sprit sails, topsails. We now weigh our anchors by the capstan. Our
+hulls are now built on longer keels than formerly, with lowered
+superstructure and finer lines, which make them swifter and capable of
+carrying more sail. Compare such a heavy cumbrous ship as the _Pearl_
+with our vessels of the newer sort, such as the _Revenge_. The
+improvement is too great to admit of controversy."
+
+"Thou'rt right, cousin Walter," said Grenville, advancing a step and
+seating himself on an oak settle that stood beyond the too-great warmth
+of the fire. "Wiseacres, who knew less than we, declared that our new
+ships would be too crank to carry sail, and only fit for smooth water,
+and they foretold that they would surely founder in the heavy seas of
+the Atlantic. But the result hath disproved their prophecies."
+
+"The high charging of ships was but a huge mistake," pursued Raleigh.
+"Those towering castles at stern and prow did but increase the ship's
+leeway, made her sink too deep in the water, and tended to overset her."
+
+"I am not learned in these matters," remarked Lord Champernoun with some
+impatience. "But touching that ship the _Revenge_, which you mentioned
+just now, Raleigh, did I not hear some weeks since that she had met with
+some grave disaster?"
+
+Sir Walter Raleigh picked up his quill from the table and began idly to
+nibble at the feather end, leaving his cousin to answer the question.
+
+"'Twas a small matter, as things have turned out," said Grenville; "and
+although it might indeed have been serious, yet there was not a single
+life lost. She was riding at her moorings in the river Medway, off the
+town of Rochester, with naught but her bare masts overhead, and in a
+great storm of wind and weather she suddenly turned topsy-turvy, her
+keel uppermost. Howsoever, they have righted her now, and she is being
+refitted for her next voyage, whithersoever that may be."
+
+"Her destination hath not yet been decided upon," remarked Raleigh. "But
+there is talk of her being despatched to join others of Her Majesty's
+ships that are now lying in wait off the Western Islands to intercept
+and capture the Spanish plate fleet, which should be returning from
+Havana at about this time. But I much doubt that 'tis already too late
+for her to enter upon that journey, and it may be that she will be
+commissioned for the expedition to Panama."
+
+Sir Richard Grenville slowly rose to his feet, and touching Raleigh on
+the shoulder, "Look you, cousin Walter," he said, "'tis not often that I
+do ask you a favour, but an you love me I would beseech you to use your
+influence with Her Majesty on my account, and advise her with all your
+eloquence to graciously appoint me to the command of the _Revenge_."
+
+"Thou shalt have it, Dick; on my honour thou shalt have it," returned
+Raleigh, turning about and clapping the rough seaman on the broad back.
+
+"Ay," interposed Lord Champernoun, "and thou shalt take my young
+grandson Gilbert with thee, Grenville. I had rather he learned
+seamanship under thee than under any other man in all Her Majesty's
+service."
+
+At this moment there was a knock at the library door, and Timothy
+Trollope entered, followed by Jacob Hartop.
+
+
+
+
+                          CHAPTER IX.
+
+                   CONCERNING A STOLEN LETTER.
+
+
+Timothy had given the old man a pair of cloth shoes in place of the
+mud-covered boots that he had worn on his walk from the village, and had
+himself changed his rough outdoor clothes for a suit of dark-blue
+frieze.
+
+"What have we here?" questioned the baron, turning in his chair and
+looking towards the door.
+
+"'Tis Master Jacob Hartop, my lord," answered Timothy, "the same who was
+robbed yesternight."
+
+"That matter is settled, for the men are arrested," said his lordship
+with a wave of his thin white hand that was meant for a dismissal. "I
+have now no need of the man's evidence. You had best take him down to
+the town and let Justice Oldfield examine him." His eyes rested upon
+Hartop for a moment. "Yet stay," he added. And then, addressing Hartop,
+he said: "Art thou a man of Devon, prithee?"
+
+"I am, your lordship," answered Jacob. "So please you, I am Modbury
+born, and did serve your lordship's family in my youth--until, my lord,
+your father got me a ship and I went to sea."
+
+"How long time have you been absent from England?" Lord Champernoun
+asked, gazing dreamily into the fire.
+
+"'Tis nigh upon three-and-twenty years since last I trod upon these
+shores," the old mariner answered.
+
+"What is your history during all those years?" pursued the nobleman.
+
+"A troublous one, my lord. So please you, I was one of Captain John
+Hawkins' men that went out with him from Plymouth in the year fifteen
+hundred and sixty-seven. I was his master's mate aboard the _Minion_,
+and was with him in his fight at San Juan de Ulloa. Captain Hawkins left
+me, with certain others, in Mexico, where I remained for two years,
+until I fell into the hands of the Spaniards, who carried me off to
+Spain. I was a prisoner in the Contratation House of Cadiz for twelve
+months, and a slave in one of the galleys of Don Andrea Doria for two
+years more, being present as a slave on that admiral's flag-ship at the
+battle of Lepanto." He broke off, glancing nervously from one to the
+other of the company. At the mention of the battle of Lepanto Sir
+Richard Grenville raised his eyebrows. No one spoke, however, and
+presently the old buccaneer continued:
+
+"Transferred to one of King Philip's great galleons, I was taken once
+more to the Spanish Indies; but by God's providence the galleon was
+captured on the high seas by Captain Ned Horseley, the English
+buccaneer, and I was by him handed over to Captain Francis Drake. Under
+Drake, so please you, I served at the attack on Nombre de Dios, and at
+the taking of Porto Bello in the year seventy-two. Again I fell into the
+hands of our enemies, and was for eight long years in the Everlasting
+Prison Remediless in Hispaniola; since when I have been in the
+Indies--in Darien, in Brazil, in Virginia. I had the good fortune to
+come into possession of a great galleon, with which I roved the seas,
+making many conquests and gaining great wealth. But again I had the ill
+fortune to lose her. Thereafter I found my way out to the Western
+Indies, and have now come back from Havana in the good ship _Pearl_."
+
+His listeners nodded and smiled as he ended his narrative.
+
+"What say you to that, Sir Walter?" asked Lord Champernoun, turning to
+Raleigh.
+
+"A goodly record, o' my conscience," returned Sir Walter. And glancing
+towards Hartop he added: "And so thou hast been robbed--eh, my man?
+Prithee, what might have been the value of your stolen property?"
+
+Hartop hesitated and looked a little confused. At last he said, bowing
+to Raleigh:
+
+"So please your honour, is it to Sir Walter Raleigh that I do now
+speak?"
+
+Sir Walter Raleigh nodded. "Yes, I was asking thee the value of thy
+stolen goods."
+
+"Nay, I know not precisely," answered Hartop. "It might be about the
+value of five or six hundred pounds in the form of pearls and emeralds
+and gew-gaws of such sort. But of these I care naught, for there was
+that in my wallet which I had rather have given my life than lose--a
+letter addressed to your worshipful self, that I was bidden to give with
+all speed into your honour's hands. I had thought it was safe in the
+pocket of my hose until late yesternight, but then I minded that ere I
+left the ship I put it into my wallet. And 'tis gone--God forgive me,
+'tis gone!"
+
+"From Havana, say you?" cried Sir Walter Raleigh doubtingly. "Prithee,
+who writ it?"
+
+"Captain William Marsden, please your worship."
+
+"Marsden?" echoed Raleigh. "But he is dead. He died ere the _Pearl_ set
+sail on her homeward voyage. Jasper Oglander told me so. 'Twas of a
+malarial fever that he died."
+
+Hartop shook his head and rejoined very calmly: "No; so please your
+worship 'twas not fever. Master Oglander must surely have been
+misinformed, or else--" He broke off, glancing apprehensively at Lord
+Champernoun. "Captain Marsden was murdered, your worship, and he writ
+the letter, knowing beforehand that his life was menaced."
+
+"Some treachery at work, eh?" muttered Sir Walter. "Well, and the
+letter. Dost know naught of its purport?"
+
+"Naught saving the words that the captain spake as he gave it unto me,"
+answered Hartop. "They were these: 'Guard the letter with thy life,
+Hartop, and let no Spaniard or friend of Spain know aught of its
+existence. Deliver it into the hands of Sir Walter Raleigh wheresoever
+he may be found, and, failing him, any one of Her Majesty's privy
+councillors. If thou shouldst fall into the hands of our enemies,
+destroy the letter. If thou shouldst lose it, which Heaven forfend, go
+still to Raleigh and tell him this: tell him that the King of Spain's
+people in the Indies have gathered together here in the treasure-houses
+of Havana the vastest store of silver and gold that hath ever been known
+upon earth, and that it is the intention of the King to have all this
+treasure transported into Spain, to the end that he may--in revenge for
+the great loss he hath lately suffered at the hands of England--build a
+yet greater armada than that of two years ago, wherewith to invade and
+conquer our Queen's dominions. Bid Sir Walter bear this in mind: that
+the taking of that treasure into Spain doth mean nothing short of the
+downfall of England and all her glory upon the seas.'"
+
+"Yes, yes," interrupted Sir Walter, striding to and fro athwart the end
+of the table. "But all this I did know passing well before--although,
+indeed I was scarce aware that the treasure was so great. Even now at
+this present time Hawkins and Frobisher are lying in wait with their
+ships at the Azores, with intent to intercept the Spanish galleons."
+
+"Your pardon, sir, but so please you I am not done," returned Jacob
+Hartop. "The more important part is to come. King Philip of Spain, it
+seemeth from what Captain Marsden told me, is fully aware that the
+English ships are even now lying in wait for his galleons; and the
+captain bade me tell your honour that if matters remain as they now are,
+those ships will continue so to lie inactive until their hulls be all
+eaten with the worm and their crews all dead of famine and disease."
+
+"And how so?" demanded Raleigh in a loud voice. "Are they not as well
+equipped as any fleet that ever sailed out of England, quotha?"
+
+Hartop shrank back, overawed by the great courtier's imperative manner.
+
+"I am striving to repeat Captain Marsden's message," he said meekly; and
+then he went on more boldly: "Inclosed with the letter I have so
+unfortunately lost there was, I believe (although I of course saw it
+not), a copy of King Philip's own private instructions to the admiral of
+the plate fleet, sent out secretly to Havana. They arrived there but
+three days before Captain Marsden received his intelligence. Those
+instructions were to the effect that the galleons were to remain in
+Havana throughout the winter, and to set sail on the first day of the
+month of March next, by which time the English ships, their hulls rotten
+and their crews reduced by pestilence, would be too weak to offer any
+obstacle."
+
+"Ah, now do I begin to perceive some daylight!" exclaimed Sir Walter
+Raleigh--"as much, it may be, as if I had e'en read the letter thou hast
+guarded so ill." He turned to Lord Champernoun. "That letter must be
+found," he said. "It will go ill with us if it fall into the hands of
+any friend of Spain. I beg thee to see to it in such wise as may seem
+most expedient. In the meantime--although I am sorry to abridge my so
+pleasant visit--I must hie me back to London. Cousin Dick," he added,
+nodding to Captain Grenville, "there is work for thee in this matter, I
+do promise thee."
+
+Timothy Trollope had not heard this conversation. Having ushered Jacob
+Hartop into Lord Champernoun's presence, he had withdrawn from the
+library and made his way up the stairs to his young master's bedroom.
+The sound of merry laughter greeted him from within as he reached the
+door. He knocked and entered, and found Gilbert sitting up in bed with a
+smile on his face, and with his bandaged arm resting in a sling of
+brilliant red silk. The Lady Betty sat at his bedside, at work with her
+needle upon a piece of tapestry; Drusilla, seated on a low stool at her
+mother's feet, was nursing a litter of mewing kittens. Philip Oglander
+occupied a chair close by, and was speaking when Timothy appeared,
+entertaining his cousins by his descriptions of life in Brazil, of
+adventurous journeys through primeval forests, of horseback rides across
+the wide pampas, and dream-like voyages among the islands of the
+Antilles.
+
+"And prithee, cousin Philip, didst never go to any school out there in
+those beauteous places?" asked Drusilla.
+
+And Philip answered:
+
+"Nay, there be neither schools nor colleges in the Brazil, saving only
+those which are kept up by the Jesuit fathers, and with them and their
+Romish fashions I could have no dealings."
+
+"And yet thou'rt not lacking in classical knowledge," remarked Lady
+Betty with a smile, as she plied her busy needle; "for I heard thee but
+a little while since reading to Gilbert out of his book of Virgil, and
+it seemeth to me that thy skill in the Latin tongue doth greatly excel
+that of many English boys I have known who have studied at the great
+colleges of Oxford."
+
+At this Philip shrugged his shoulders and affected to make light of the
+accomplishment, concealing the fact that it was one of those same Jesuit
+priests who had taught him in one of the Romish colleges of Brazil.
+
+Lady Betty smiled at him yet again. "Thou'rt too modest, Master Philip,"
+said she.
+
+"Ay," added Gilbert; "but I have observed that Philip doth ever strive
+to avoid all vain boastfulness."
+
+"'Tis a commendable quality," remarked his mother.
+
+Clearly did it appear to Timothy Trollope that Philip had already won
+his way into the good opinion of his relatives, and that they were
+disposed to like him, not only because of his relationship, but also, as
+it seemed, because of a certain air of natural courtliness that revealed
+itself in his manner of speech. Moreover, there was an attraction in his
+dark handsome face and in his dreamy beautiful eyes which made him very
+winsome. Even Timothy, who had from the first taken a strong prejudice
+against him, could not but admit to himself that there was something of
+inborn nobility about the lad which might give the lie to all that old
+Hartop had hinted regarding him.
+
+Later on that same day, when Sir Walter Raleigh and his retinue had
+departed, Timothy took horse and rode in to Plymouth to attend the
+examination of the two poachers before Justice Oldfield. Jacob Hartop,
+Bob Harvey, and Jake Thew had ridden in advance of him, and he did not
+overtake them until they were on the outskirts of the town, at a little
+wayside hostelry where their horses were stabled, and thence they walked
+to the court-house.
+
+Hartop and Timothy walked together along by the harbour, when, on
+approaching the quay against which the good ship _Pearl_ was now lying,
+they came upon a crowd of men--mariners, fishermen, and merchants--who
+appeared to be greatly concerned in some matter which was going on in
+their midst.
+
+[Illustration: "AND HOW FARES IT WITH THEE, OLD SHIPMATE?"]
+
+"Ah! I can e'en guess what 'tis," said Hartop. "'Tis Captain Evans
+putting up our crew of blackamoors to auction. He bought 'em over in
+Florida, lacking better hands, to work the ship home. Ay, and a sorry
+lot they proved, Master Timothy. I warrant he'll get scarce a half of
+the price he gave for them. Thou seest the black woolly poll of the tall
+African who is standing upon the wine-cask close against the auctioneer?
+We named him Æsop, by reason of his fables. He was once upon a time the
+reigning king of a country nigh unto Sierra Leone, with as many wives as
+there be days in the year. Captain Hawkins captured him and sold him to
+the Spaniards. He served as our cook aboard the _Pearl_, and I promise
+you he made such soup as the Queen herself might relish. As for his
+manner of cooking a cutting from off the side of a shark, why, Lor'
+bless you, sir!--"
+
+The old man broke off abruptly as a heavy hand was laid on his shoulder.
+
+"Od's life!" exclaimed the hearty voice of Sir Francis Drake. "So 'tis
+thy very self, Jacob? Faith, thou'rt passing nimble on thy feet, for all
+thy gray hairs. And how fares it with thee, old shipmate? Hast brought
+thy fortune home with thee?"
+
+"Fortune, Captain Drake?" returned Hartop, grasping the knight's
+proffered hand; "Lor' bless you, sir, I'd none to bring saving only a
+handful of precious stones that were stolen from me within an hour's
+time of my landing. No, the great fortune that you wot of, and the
+_Golden Galleon_ that carried it, now lie at the bottom of the sea--a
+wealthy treasure-house that hath claimed tribute from many a good ship
+that you and I have known, Master Drake."
+
+Sir Francis nodded.
+
+"True, Jacob, true," said he with a sad smile that seemed to betoken a
+world of melancholy memories, "and the last long home of many a goodly
+man of Devon that hath been our shipmates! Ay, man, and thou hast lost
+it, eh? Why, 'twould have made thee one of the wealthiest men in all
+England had it been brought home here to Plymouth. But I had e'en
+guessed that some such dire misfortune had befallen thee when I heard
+that thou hadst come hither aboard this worm-eaten old craft, the
+_Pearl_; for well did I know that friend Hartop must surely have been
+put to the hardest of shifts ere he would consent to sail i' the same
+vessel as Master Jasper Oglander. And, touching that matter, Jacob, how
+came it I pray you, that Jasper got possession of any ship of Sir Walter
+Raleigh's?"
+
+"He had chartered her for the homeward voyage," answered Hartop, "and
+spent his last groat in victualling her. Master John Evans was our
+captain, the command falling to him on the death of your old friend,
+Will Marsden."
+
+"'Tis a fact, then, that Will is dead?" cried Drake in a tone of
+surprised inquiry, as he gazed across the harbour. Then lowering his
+voice and touching Jacob on the shoulder he added: "Prithee, Jacob,
+answer me this--had he you wot of aught to do with Will's death?"
+
+"Hush!" cautioned Hartop, suddenly gripping Drake's arm. "Here cometh
+Jasper himself!"
+
+Timothy moved aside while Jasper Oglander strode along the causeway with
+silent tread, his eyes bent on the ground as if he were absorbed in some
+important business that required his deepest thought. As he passed nigh,
+however, he raised his eyes and looked out from under his wide sombrero
+hat full into Drake's face. His own face became very red, all except the
+scar on his cheek, which remained of a dead white colour. He quickly
+averted his gaze and passed on without a word, hastening his steps
+somewhat.
+
+Sir Francis Drake and Jacob Hartop exchanged meaning glances.
+
+"You see he doth still bear the mark of the cut you gave him across his
+craven face," remarked Hartop as he watched Jasper crossing the muddy
+street.
+
+A grim smile played for a moment upon Drake's handsome, ruddy
+countenance as he answered:
+
+"Ay, marry. And i' faith 'twas a pretty enough cut for him to remember
+me by--eh, Jacob? I warrant me he ne'er looks in his looking-glass
+without minding of the occasion of it. And yet methinks I might well
+have dealt him a severer blow without blame, for he had surely done for
+me outright had you not so timely warned me of his evil purpose. Dost
+remember, Jacob, how he came stealing aft to my cabin, with the
+moonlight glinting on his naked rapier--how he silently pushed open the
+door, and then, believing me to be slumbering, prepared to do his work?"
+
+"Right well do I mind it," returned Hartop with a grave shake of the
+head. "And greatly have I marvelled ever since how it came that you let
+him off so easily. Any man less forgiving than yourself would assuredly
+have had him slung up to the yard's-arm for attempting so foul a deed."
+
+Timothy overheard this part of the conversation, but, not wishing to
+seem to take interest in other people's affairs, he strode a few steps
+away and stood at the edge of the quay looking down upon the untidy and
+now deserted deck of the _Pearl_. But what he had heard had nevertheless
+given him occasion for reflection.
+
+"So 'twas a falsehood he told when he declared to my father yesterday
+that the wound was made by an Indian's arrow," he said to himself as he
+leaned against the granite pillar round which one of the ship's thick
+ropes was bound. "I might even have guessed as much, for the cut is not
+one such as any arrow could make. Certes, I wonder what Master Gilbert
+will think of his uncle when he doth learn what manner of man he truly
+is! Methinks I was not so far in error, after all, when I said that I
+distrusted him, although 'twas no more than mere instinct that gave me
+that feeling concerning him. But I now have warrant for my opinion, in
+all conscience, and if I make not a huge mistake, some grave trouble
+will ere long spring out of his coming to Modbury Manor; for it seemeth
+that he doth intend to take up his residence in my lord's family. Ay,
+faith, and a mighty pretty gentleman he is to be counted one of so noble
+and honourable a household!"
+
+Timothy's anxiety grew deeper and deeper as he continued to review the
+situation. It was not the mere discovery that Jasper Oglander was
+untruthful which disturbed his peace of mind. It was not even the
+thought that there might, after all, be some reason in the accusations
+which Jacob Hartop had made against him in the earlier morning. It was
+the reflection that, as he had just now learned, this Jasper Oglander
+had once treacherously attempted to take the life of Sir Francis Drake.
+In common with all English boys at that time Timothy Trollope had a
+regard for the great seaman and warrior which amounted to reverent
+worship. Sir Francis Drake was to him the noblest hero in all the
+world--a hero who could do no wrong, and who had won for England a glory
+that could never die; and just in proportion as he honoured and
+reverenced Sir Francis, so did he now detest the man who, for whatsoever
+cause it may have been, had attempted that hero's life.
+
+Had Timothy been bold enough to follow Jasper Oglander instead of
+waiting as he now did upon the busy quay, he might have learned
+something more of the man's treachery. But Jasper was not the man to
+allow himself to be caught unawares, or to afford any stranger the
+slightest chance of prying into the secret matters that he had at
+present in hand. Having crossed the street, he walked on for a few yards
+looking unconcernedly about him, and then turned in at the front
+porchway of the Three Flagons.
+
+Passing through the little parlour of the hostelry, where some seamen
+and merchants sat before the fire gossiping and drinking, he mounted the
+narrow dark stairs, and, arriving at the second landing, pushed open a
+creaking door at the end of the corridor. The room that he entered was a
+small, plainly-furnished apartment, in the front gable of the house,
+whose side walls sloped upward at a sharp angle, meeting above. A
+charcoal fire burned in a brazier in one of the corners, and near it on
+the floor a youth lay sound asleep. Jasper went up to him, listened to
+his breathing for a few moments, and then strode to the little casement
+window and looked down upon the quay where Drake and Hartop still stood
+talking together. He watched them until they parted, and when Timothy
+Trollope and Hartop had gone their way to the courthouse be glanced once
+more at his sleeping companion, drew a chair to the little centre table,
+and sat down with his elbow on the table and his head resting on his
+hand. Thus he remained for many minutes, ruminating.
+
+"And yet, what should it matter to me whom the old man hath speech
+with?" he presently murmured, as if arguing with himself. "He can tell
+naught Honest clown that he is, he had not so much as looked at the
+letter, for the seal was unbroken. He can, therefore, know naught of its
+purport. I warrant me Will Marsden was too cautious a man to venture to
+impart his knowledge by word of mouth, and if old Hartop doth not know,
+no man else can know. There cannot be a person in England, saving only
+myself, who doth even suspect aught of His Spanish Majesty's designs.
+The treasure will be brought safely over to Spain, and then with a new
+armada well equipped we may snap our fingers at England's Drakes and
+Howards and her much-vaunted strength upon the seas. As for Elisabeth
+Tudor--we'll burn her at the stake, and a fitting end for the heretic
+Jezebel, say I!"
+
+He thrust his hand into the breast of his doublet and drew forth first a
+little canvas bag, which he laid before him on the table, and then a
+soiled and crumpled sheet of paper, that was folded and refolded into a
+small parcel of the size of his own hand. This last he opened out in
+front of him. It was closely covered with writing. He glanced down the
+page, his eyes following his finger from line to line until he came to a
+little below the middle, and here he paused.
+
+"Ay, by my faith, considering thou wert but a poor untutored mariner,
+thou hast put the matter exceeding well, Master Will," he muttered
+admiringly. "As for thy good counsel, 'twere wiser than most seamen
+could give. But 'tis useless now, seeing that Sir Walter Raleigh, for
+whom thou didst intend it, can neither receive it nor profit by it."
+
+He stopped and shot a glance in the direction of the man lying before
+the fire.
+
+"Art sleeping, Andrea?" he questioned in a low voice. But a deep-drawn
+breath was the only answer, and he again went on silently reading.
+
+When he had got to the end of the paper he took it in his fingers and
+deliberately tore it into small shreds. He silently carried the
+fragments to the fire and cast them upon it, going down on his knees and
+blowing the charcoal into a glow until the paper caught alight and was
+consumed. Then, returning to the table he took up the little canvas bag,
+loosened its strings and poured its contents into the palm of his hand.
+Glistening gems they were--emeralds that were clear and green as a
+curling ocean wave pierced by a shaft of sunlight; sapphires that were
+blue as a Pacific sea that reflects the azure sky; rubies that were as
+drops of crimson blood; together with many beauteous pearls and other
+precious stones, wonderful to behold. He counted them all one by one,
+made a mental estimate of their value, and then, smiling with
+satisfaction, returned them to the bag, which he carefully tied up and
+as carefully hid away in the breast of his doublet.
+
+Having done this he stepped towards the youth near the fire, and,
+bending down, prodded him with his finger.
+
+"Andrea!" he said. "Andrea! Come, wake up!"
+
+Andrea turned over, rubbed his eyes with his knuckles, and presently
+rose to his feet.
+
+"Sancta Maria!" he muttered, "what a dream I have had! Methought I was
+engaged in a deadly duel, and that mine adversary had run me through!"
+
+"Doubtless 'tis the recollection of your struggle with old Hartop,"
+remarked Jasper, speaking, as the youth had done, in the Spanish tongue.
+"But come, what of the errand I sent you out upon two hours ago? Didst
+discover aught of our friends?"
+
+"That I did," replied Andrea, "and more easily than I had expected.
+'Twas my father's friend, Don Miguel Fernandes that I met. He hath been
+a prisoner here in this town for the past two years, with his companions
+to the number of five-and-twenty. Some of the less important of them are
+confined in a strong-built house in the centre of the town, and are
+under the charge of one Master Richard Drake--a kinsman of the great
+Dragon. But some half-dozen Castilian gentlemen--survivors of the
+Armada,--who were shipwrecked in Ireland, are of the number, and these,
+it seemeth, are permitted to go abroad for six hours every day, having
+given their parole."
+
+"And who are these same gentlemen? What are their names?" inquired
+Jasper. And when Andrea had named them he said: "A goodly company! By
+the mass, a most noble company! Assuredly Spain can ill afford to let
+them languish here when they might so easily be at home working for His
+Most Christian Majesty and our Holy Mother church!" He touched the
+youth's shoulder and added with grave earnestness: "Look you, Andrea,
+these gentlemen must escape from England, and that speedily, for there
+is no time to be lost."
+
+Andrea looked up surprised and eager.
+
+"Escape!" he repeated. "Ah! but how, señor, how?"
+
+"Nay, I know not how," answered Jasper with a shrug, "but 'tis surely
+possible. I only marvel how it happens that they have not themselves
+contrived it long since."
+
+"Ay, but they have given their word of honour," returned Andrea; "and
+thou knowest as well as I that a Spanish gentleman cannot break his
+word."
+
+"Pooh!" cried Jasper. "'Tis no breach of honour to break one's word to
+heretics! But leave the matter to me, and, by our Lady, I'll contrive
+it, in spite of Drake and all of them." He broke off and glanced towards
+the door, which had been opened. A young negro woman stood upon the
+threshold. "What want you, Catalina?" he demanded.
+
+She answered him in halting Spanish, saying that the señora her mistress
+had heard his voice, and had sent her in to ask him if it was his wish
+that she should make herself ready for the journey to Modbury.
+
+"Tell the señora that we start in half an hour's time," said he; and
+then he turned to Andrea to further discuss the matter of the Spanish
+prisoners of war.
+
+
+
+
+                             CHAPTER X.
+
+                    A RAPIER AND A RIDING WHIP.
+
+
+It was late in the afternoon when Timothy returned to Modbury, and when
+he had taken some food he made his way up the stairs to his young
+master's room. Gilbert was reading when he entered, but, at sight of
+Timothy, threw aside his book.
+
+"Ah, thou'rt back!" cried Gilbert. "Well, what of the cut-purse gypsies,
+Tim? Didst see them?"
+
+"Ay, full well did I see them," answered Timothy. "And Justice Oldfield
+hath dealt with them according to their deserts. They are men well
+beknown in the neighbourhood, Master Gilbert, and you must even yourself
+have ofttimes seen or heard of them. The elder of them, who is known as
+Red Bob, hath been in the lock-up once before for a like offence. His
+companion is a young seaman named Tom Lane. They both were armed with
+daggers. The third man who was with them in the stealing of the farm
+poultry, and who is supposed by many to have been the man whom you
+crossed swords with, is not yet arrested. Justice Oldfield tried to
+prove them guilty of the robbery of Jacob Hartop's wallet, but neither
+Jacob nor I could swear to their identity. There was naught to prove
+that they were the same men that we encountered, so they were charged
+with the poaching alone and escaped a hanging on the accusation of
+highway robbery, and they have been thrown into prison, where they are
+to remain for the space of six months."
+
+"But surely there could be no possible mistake in supposing that they
+were the same men," remarked Gilbert. "I can well believe that it was
+not easy for you to recognize them, but the empty wallet was found near
+to the place where these fellows were caught, and there is certainly
+enough evidence in that fact alone to prove that the two crimes were
+committed by these same men!"
+
+"So it might seem," returned Timothy; "but Hartop declared most
+positively that the men who attacked and robbed him in nowise resembled
+these poachers, and for my own part I was well-nigh as positive as he."
+
+"And, prithee, by what token art thou so sure?" inquired Gilbert.
+Timothy did not answer immediately. He was considering within his own
+mind whether he should give expression to his suspicions against Jasper
+and Philip Oglander. These suspicions had grown even stronger since he
+had learned more of Jasper's evil character, but he still had no other
+foundation for them than Jacob Hartop's assertion regarding the
+footmarks in Beddington Lane, and he felt the injustice of making any
+accusation of a definite sort. At last he replied somewhat falteringly:
+
+"It seemeth to me, in so far as I can recollect, that the men we
+encountered in the dingle wore large wide hats such as seamen wear,
+whereas Red Bob and Tom Lane had small, close-fitting caps. Furthermore,
+as thou'rt aware, Master Gilbert, the man who crossed rapiers with thee
+and wounded thee was a skilful swordsman--a more skilful than any rogue
+and vagabond about these parts is likely to be."
+
+Gilbert shook his head doubtingly.
+
+"There is no knowing," he said; "these rascals are acquainted with all
+manner of tricks and subterfuges. It doth not seem to me that 'tis in
+anywise likely that there were two separate and distinct companies of
+thieves at work in the one neighbourhood and at the same hour. Well do I
+believe that these rascals, Red Bob and Tom Lane, as you name them, were
+guilty of both the theft from the farmyard and the stealing of old Jacob
+Hartop's wallet, and that Justice Oldfield hath been over lenient." He
+paused a few minutes to take up some food from his plate that was near
+him. Then continuing, he said: "Hark you, Timothy. My grandfather hath
+been speaking with me touching this same Jacob Hartop, and it seemeth
+that the old mariner was the bearer of a most precious letter for Sir
+Walter Raleigh, containing news of the King of Spain's treasure-ships.
+The letter hath been carried off by these thieves, and 'tis necessary,
+nay, 'tis even of vital importance to England, that it should be
+recovered, lest it fall into the hands of any friend of Spain. Were I
+able to go about I should make it my business to search for it, but I am
+told that I must rest my sore foot for a day or two longer, and it were
+as well that thou shouldst undertake the matter in my stead."
+
+Timothy had looked up sharply at mention of the missing letter. So this
+was the thing of value concerning which Jacob Hartop had said that
+rather than lose it he would willingly have sacrificed his own life! The
+information had given Tim an important clue. It had given him the new
+suggestion that the robbery had been arranged beforehand, and was no
+mere highwayman's attack upon a chance traveller, for it was now clear
+that the person who had stolen the letter from the old man must have
+known full well of its existence, and committed the robbery with the
+express purpose of gaining possession of it and thus intercepting its
+delivery into Sir Walter Raleigh's hands. Timothy arrived at this
+conclusion even before his young master had ceased speaking, and, taking
+into consideration Hartop's hint that Jasper was secretly a friend of
+Spain, he regarded it as well-nigh certain that Jasper was himself the
+thief, and was in all probability in present possession of the missing
+document. He did not dare as yet to reveal his suspicions to Gilbert,
+but he resolved to seek for still further evidence in support of them.
+When he should have gathered full and undeniable proof against Jasper it
+would then be time enough to expose his villainy. And with this resolve
+in his mind he silently quitted the room.
+
+It chanced that as he passed down the wide staircase and into the back
+hall he caught sight of Philip Oglander's rapier hanging from a rack. He
+went to it, and after taking it down he drew it from its scabbard,
+finding that it was, as Jacob Hartop had said, of more than the ordinary
+length of blade. He was examining its sharp, slender point when he was
+startled by hearing a voice behind him.
+
+"It seemeth that you discover something of interest about my rapier,"
+said Philip Oglander.
+
+Timothy turned round and said with confident coolness:
+
+"I was but observing its great length, Master Philip. 'Tis a handsome
+weapon; but perchance you are not aware, sir, that in England 'tis
+unlawful to carry a rapier so long in the blade as this is."
+
+Philip Oglander smiled, showing his beautiful white teeth.
+
+"The same remark was made to me yesternight by one of my grandfather's
+guests," said he. "Sir Richard Grenville, I think it was. He, too,
+cautioned me against wearing it. I would have the blade shortened,
+therefore, if there be any man about the household who can do it. I will
+e'en leave the matter in your hands."
+
+"Of a surety," agreed Timothy, wondering at the youth's courtesy towards
+him, "our blacksmith will clip it down to the lawful measurement. I
+will, if you so please, take it down to him in the early morning."
+
+Now, Timothy Trollope had examined the rapier less with the intention of
+considering the length of the blade than with the object of discovering
+if by any chance there remained upon it any evidence of the weapon
+having been used in a recent encounter. If, as Jacob Hartop had
+confidently averred, it was Philip who had fought with and wounded
+Master Gilbert on the previous evening, then there was certainly a vague
+possibility of the weapon still bearing some slight trace of blood. But
+if Tim had expected to find any such stain he was disappointed, for he
+discovered the steel to be bright and clean from hilt to point.
+
+Nevertheless, he continued for many days thereafter to keep a close
+watch upon the doings of both Jasper and Philip, in the expectation that
+by some carelessly-spoken word or unconsidered act either of them might
+betray himself, and reveal not only a knowledge of the missing letter
+but also perhaps his sympathy with the King of Spain. Timothy felt that
+in thus spying upon his master's relatives he was to some extent
+disloyal and dishonourable; but Hartop had awakened in his mind strange
+misgivings regarding them, and his only aim was to arrive at the truth.
+He had wished for help from Jacob Hartop in the matter, but the old man
+had shown a dread of remaining in a neighbourhood in which there was a
+danger of his encountering Jasper Oglander, and on the third day after
+his arrival in England he had set off on foot to the village of
+Polperro, where, as he had heard, a niece of his was at that time
+living, so that Timothy could not now consult with him.
+
+On a certain afternoon some time thereafter Timothy and Gilbert, who had
+now recovered from his hurts, were crossing the market-place of
+Plymouth towards one of the side streets, when Timothy observed Sir
+Francis Drake standing at the doorway of a mercer's shop. Sir Francis,
+in spite of his long friendship with Lord Champernoun, had avoided
+Modbury Manor ever since the arrival there of Jasper Oglander, giving as
+his reason the excuse that he was extremely busy in the work of making
+new fortifications on St. Nicholas Island. His gaze now rested upon the
+figures of three men who stood at some thirty yards away from him. One
+of them was Jasper Oglander. His companions were Don Miguel Fernandes,
+the chief of the Spanish prisoners of war, and young Andrea de Ortega.
+
+Timothy touched Gilbert's elbow.
+
+"There stands your uncle, Master Gilbert," said he, "holding speech with
+our enemies of Spain."
+
+"Ay," returned Gilbert, showing no surprise. "Haply he is giving the
+poor fellows some consolation in their affliction."
+
+"'Tis such consolation as Sir Francis Drake doth not wholly approve of,"
+said Timothy, "for look you, there he goes towards them to interrupt
+their conspiracies!"
+
+Gilbert gave a light laugh.
+
+"Conspiracies, forsooth!" said he. "Your mind doth ever run upon such
+fancies, Tim. Dost imagine that my uncle, even if he had a mind to
+conspire,--which is impossible in one of his upright and honourable
+nature,--would be so simple as to carry on such doubtful business in
+the public streets? Od's life, Tim, y'are even as suspicious as
+Christopher Pym, who approached me this morning with a long, woeful face
+and declared that he had come upon my aunt, Donna Lela, muttering Romish
+prayers over her beads and crossing herself like a veritable Papist!
+Christopher bade me go with him and bear eye-witness to his strange
+discovery, and I found the woman innocently engaged in unwinding a skein
+of silk that Pym had mistaken for a rosary, and crooning a quaint
+Portuguese love-song that he had taken for a paternoster! So I had the
+laugh of Christopher, as I now have of thee, Master Timothy, for mark
+you how Sir Francis is now passing your imagined conspirators, who are
+doubtless talking of no more serious subject than the price of bread!"
+
+"Ay, but they have separated for all that," remarked Timothy, observing
+that Jasper Oglander at sight of Drake had bidden a hasty farewell to
+the two Spaniards. It was upon the point of Timothy's tongue to retort
+further by informing his young master of the conversation he had
+overheard some days before between Sir Francis and old Hartop concerning
+Jasper. But at that moment they were met at the street corner by a tall,
+broad-shouldered young gallant, by name Roland Grenville, who grasped
+Gilbert's hands very heartily and congratulated him on his so easy
+recovery from his late hurts.
+
+"Tut! my hurts were scarce worth the mention," quoth Gilbert. "Prithee,
+speak of other matters, and tell me--hath Sir Richard yet returned from
+London?"
+
+Sir Richard's stalwart son shook his head.
+
+"Nay," he answered. "He hath scarce had time to get there as yet, nor do
+we expect him back for some weeks yet to come. He hath gone to the town
+of Rochester to see to the fitting out of the good ship _Revenge_, which
+is now lying in the river Medway. He is to bring her round to Plymouth
+when she is ready for sea. What her destination may thereafter be I know
+not, for 'tis held a secret; but wheresoever she may be bound for I do
+heartily rejoice to think that I am to have a berth aboard of her. 'Tis
+no small honour to be appointed to so renowned a ship. You, too, I hear,
+are to go out in her. So we shall be shipmates, eh?"
+
+"Ay, that is indeed so," returned Gilbert with a proud smile, "for your
+father promised me the coveted opportunity, and charged me ere he went
+away to make ready against his return. You may be certain I am anxious
+for the time to come, for 'tis my first voyage, as you know. I am not
+like you, who have already heard the thunder of ships' guns in battle.
+Dost expect we shall have any fighting, Roland?"
+
+"Fighting!" exclaimed Grenville. "Why, bless you, lad, there would be
+small use in our voyaging if there were not! I know that the ship is
+being fitted with brand-new guns of brass. Prithee, what should that
+bode but fighting? 'Twould go ill with us indeed if there were not a
+few Spanish galleons to give chase to in whatsoever seas we may sail.
+And I promise you the _Revenge_ will not be far behind when 'tis a
+question of fighting the Don and capturing his treasure-ships."
+
+He moved to go, but paused to add: "Hast seen aught of Sir Francis Drake
+these few days past? I am told he is in marvellous dudgeon in that my
+father instead of himself hath got the command of the _Revenge_."
+
+"His disappointment is but natural," returned Gilbert, "seeing that he
+hath fought so often and so well upon her decks. But I heard him remark
+only the last time that I spoke with him, that if there was one man
+other than himself to whom the Queen might fittingly entrust this her
+favourite warship, that man was your father--Sir Richard Grenville."
+
+During the journey homeward on that afternoon Gilbert noticed that
+Timothy was unusually silent.
+
+"Certes, but thou'rt passing gloomy this afternoon, Trollope," he said;
+"what ails thee, quotha?"
+
+"I was but grieving at the near prospect of your quitting England, sir,"
+answered Timothy, "and at your leaving me behind when I should be far
+happier, ay, and peradventure more useful, were I to accompany you. I
+would gladly give all that I have, or may have, in the world to be with
+you aboard the _Revenge_, though my duty were only the swabbing of the
+decks or the cleaning of the brass guns of which Master Grenville
+spake."
+
+Gilbert looked at him with an amused smile.
+
+"Why, lad," said he, "I had never dreamed that there was the spirit of a
+seaman in thee. But if it be that y'are set upon the voyage, 'twill be
+an easy matter for me to speak on your behalf to Sir Richard Grenville
+or some other of Her Majesty's generals. I'll bear't in mind, Tim."
+
+And Timothy, hearing this, became in a moment light of heart. He exulted
+in this new possibility, and bore himself with as much pride and
+conscious dignity as if indeed he had already been appointed by Her
+Majesty's own personal warrant.
+
+During the few following weeks of impatient waiting, Gilbert Oglander
+was occupied in making preparation for his expected departure, and also
+in paying farewell visits to certain of his friends and relatives in
+various parts of the country.
+
+On one such visit, which was to Willoughby Grange, in the north part of
+Devon, he was accompanied by his uncle Jasper. They had been absent for
+two days, during which time Jasper Oglander made himself so extremely
+agreeable that Gilbert, already disposed in his favour, was at last so
+completely won over to him that he found something to love or to admire
+in all that he did and all that he said.
+
+They were on their return journey, riding southward along the road
+towards Plymouth; their tired horses were ambling side by side. Jasper
+had been earnestly urging his nephew to make the best of his great
+opportunity in regard to the forthcoming voyage with Sir Richard
+Grenville; for although the intended destination of the _Revenge_ and
+her companion ships of the fleet was still held a close secret, yet
+Jasper did not doubt, as he said very plainly, that under the leadership
+of so able a general as Grenville there would be much honour to gain and
+great wealth to bring home.
+
+"As for fighting," he said, "'tis impossible that you can fail to have
+many a brush with the Spaniards, and I know full well that when you
+enter into battle you will play no coward's part, for you are a true
+Oglander and will surely distinguish yourself as all our ancestors have
+done. Be bold, therefore. Be bold, my boy."
+
+And thereupon he continued to speak of warfare, making it out that there
+was nothing to be afraid of in cannon-balls or boarding-pikes so long as
+a man kept his wits about him and dared to mix in the thickest of the
+fight. It would seem, indeed, that Jasper had almost a personal motive
+in urging his nephew thus earnestly, but of this Gilbert in his
+innocence guessed nothing.
+
+"There is one matter as to which I would counsel thee, however," Jasper
+continued, "and that is that thou wouldst do well to reconsider thy
+intention of allowing that madcap youngster, Timothy Trollope, to bear
+thee company. I like not his too familiar bearing towards thee. He is no
+fitting companion for one of thy noble birth. I would not trust him."
+
+Gilbert Oglander looked at his uncle in astonishment.
+
+"I must confess I have never yet found Timothy Trollope to be aught else
+than a good and faithful servant," said he, "nor do I see any possible
+reason why he should not accompany me. He is the son of a very worthy
+tradesman in Plymouth, and I have ever known him to speak the truth and
+to act in all matters as beseemeth an honest youth."
+
+"Speaks the truth!" cried Jasper, leaning forward on his saddle to
+adjust his horse's rein that had got twisted; "speaks the truth, say
+you? Body o' me! why, 'twas only two nights since that I caught him in
+one of the blackest of lies. Nay," he added, seeing the incredulity in
+Gilbert's face, "there is no need to dwell upon the matter. I will not
+repeat so base a slander."
+
+"But 'tis only right that I should know it, uncle," pursued Gilbert. "If
+Trollope be indeed untruthful 'twere well that I should not be kept in
+ignorance. Prithee, tell me what the lie was that he told thee."
+
+Jasper rode on in silence for several minutes as if in doubt.
+
+"The lie was this," he said at last. "He declared that thy mother, the
+Lady Betty, was in her secret heart of the Romish Church, and that she
+was even now, unknown to my Lord Champernoun, carrying on a political
+intrigue with the King of Spain."
+
+Gilbert reined in his horse and regarded his uncle for a moment in
+bewilderment.
+
+"What?" he cried. "Dost tell me that Timothy said such things as that?
+Nay, I can scarce believe it. The scoundrel! the base ingrate! 'Tis a
+deliberate, scandalous falsehood!"
+
+Jasper nodded and said: "Right glad I am to see that thou look'st upon
+the matter thus seriously, Gilbert. I only marvel how the knave could
+have dared to say such a thing in my hearing. But 'tis ever the way with
+these low-born and ill-bred louts. I'd have no more to do with him an I
+were thou. Let the dog go back to the gutter whence you took him."
+
+Now, Gilbert was very sorely troubled and vexed about this matter. He
+could not believe that Timothy would stoop to the telling of a lie, much
+less to the utterance of a scandal. And yet, he asked himself, was not
+his uncle Jasper equally incapable of falsehood? Arguing with himself as
+he continued on the ride homeward, he scarce could come to any clear
+reason either way, nor indeed could he see the possibility of finally
+making up his mind until he should confront young Trollope and boldly
+accuse him of the lie.
+
+It happened very opportunely that the very first person whom they met
+upon the road was Timothy himself. He came galloping towards them on one
+of Lord Champernoun's favourite hunting horses. Gilbert observed, as he
+approached nearer, that his face was radiant with some new joy.
+
+"The ship hath arrived!" cried Timothy ere yet he was within the
+distance of a score yards. "The _Revenge_ hath entered into Plymouth
+harbour!" And then as he drew rein he noticed that Gilbert, instead of
+showing gladness, looked sorely troubled and annoyed.
+
+"Your pardon, Master Gilbert," said he, "I see you are vexed that I
+should be riding upon his lordship's own horse. But indeed it was my
+lord himself who bade me do so."
+
+"Nay, I am vexed at no such harmless matter as that," returned Gilbert
+gloomily.
+
+"I had hoped that the news I brought you would afford you pleasure,
+sir," pursued Timothy.
+
+"It might well have done so had it not been that I have heard other news
+which hath given me pain," quoth Gilbert. And, raising his voice in
+angry accusation, he added: "I hear that two days ago you told a vile
+lie about my mother--a lie which, were you even closer to me than you
+have hitherto been, I could never forgive."
+
+Timothy winced under his young master's frown; but Gilbert went on
+mercilessly: "You had the baseness to declare that my mother is an
+idolatrous Papist, and that she hath been secretly in league with the
+King of Spain. How dare you utter such scandalous lies? How dare you, I
+say?"
+
+For the moment Timothy imagined that his master was suddenly bereft of
+his senses.
+
+"I deny that I did ever utter any such thoughts," he stammered, looking
+Gilbert full boldly in the face. "Nay, how were it possible that I
+should do so, knowing that there liveth not a more devout Protestant in
+all England than my lady, nor a more faithful subject of Queen
+Elizabeth? 'Tis a cruel falsehood, Master Gilbert, and methinks you
+might know me better than to accuse me thus upon a mere malicious
+report."
+
+He glanced towards Jasper, who had brought his horse nearer to where his
+own and Gilbert's steeds stood restless at the roadside.
+
+"'Tis not very hard for me to guess the source whence that report hath
+reached you," Timothy went on, his face growing pale in his indignation,
+and his white lips trembling. "I will warrant me that 'twas your
+virtuous uncle here who thus maligned me. But since he hath spoken
+falsely of me, I will now speak the truth regarding himself. You are
+deceived in him, Master Gilbert--vastly deceived. You think him a man of
+honour, but I tell you he is a traitor end a renegade."
+
+Timothy broke off, disturbed by the look of evil menace that had come
+into Jasper's dark eyes which were now fixed upon him.
+
+"Proceed," commanded Jasper, gripping the silver handle of his
+riding-whip. "Prithee, say your say, young man. But mark you, if you
+dare to say aught that is not true of me, by the Holy Rood, sirrah, I
+will thrash you within an inch of your life."
+
+This swearing by the Romish emblem passed at the moment unnoticed by
+Gilbert, but it did not escape Timothy Trollope.
+
+"I care as little for your threats as I do for your Papist oaths," the
+lad retorted, growing bolder. And then turning to Gilbert he continued:
+"So please you, sir, 'twas not the Lady Betty but Master Jasper himself
+whom I accused of being a Papist and of being secretly in league with
+the King of Spain."
+
+"'Tis a lie!" cried Jasper furiously, wheeling his horse round so that
+he came within a few feet of Timothy. But Timothy was now roused, and he
+determined to speak his mind at all hazards.
+
+"'Tis no lie!" he declared firmly as he watched the man's whip hand.
+"Both your wife and your son, as well as yourself, are sworn Papists,
+and you are yourself, as I well know, little better than a skulking spy
+of King Philip of Spain. If it be not as I say, then, prithee, what mean
+all your secret meetings and underhand plottings with the Spanish
+prisoners of war down in Plymouth town? Wherefore, also, I pray you, did
+you purloin Captain Marsden's letter from old Jacob Hartop?"
+
+Jasper's face had grown white with suppressed indignation. His eyes
+flashed threateningly.
+
+"Take that for an answer, thou base, lying scoundrel!" he cried
+savagely; and, leaning forward over his saddle, he dealt the lad a smart
+and vicious cut across his face with the riding-whip. Timothy was
+well-nigh blinded with the pain, and presently a drop of blood trickled
+down his cheek.
+
+"Impertinent whelp!" continued Jasper, preparing to repeat the blow. But
+Timothy had backed his horse a few steps, and, instead of striking him,
+Jasper hurled the whip at his head. Timothy dexterously caught it in his
+hand and flung it some distance along the road, at the same time
+spurring his horse and galloping away. Gilbert watched him for a moment,
+and then called him back. But Timothy went on, very sad at heart, for he
+divined that his young master had lost faith in him.
+
+And indeed it seemed that this was the case, for later on the same day,
+when Gilbert was at the kennels paying a visit to one of his favourite
+dogs, Timothy approached him.
+
+"So please you, Master Gilbert--" began Tim in a tone of abject apology.
+But Gilbert looked at him in stern reproof, and interrupted him, saying:
+
+"Look you, Trollope, I'll have no more of these malicious tales of
+yours. 'Tis no business of yours to act the spy upon my relatives, and I
+command you to do no more of it."
+
+Timothy hung his head, hurt to the quick by the reproach.
+
+"Must I then take it that you have lost all confidence in me, Master
+Gilbert?" he asked.
+
+"Ay," returned Gilbert. "Much am I afraid that 'tis so indeed."
+
+"Then, sir," said Timothy in an unsteady voice, "'twere surely best that
+I should leave you; for I cannot brook your displeasure, nor think of
+remaining in the service of a master who hath lost trust in my honour."
+
+"E'en do as ye list," retorted Gilbert. And Timothy, taking the words
+for a dismissal, walked slowly away, well-nigh broken-hearted.
+
+On the evening of the following day the news reached Modbury Manor that
+the Spanish prisoners of war, to the number of seven-and-twenty, had
+made their escape.
+
+
+
+
+                           CHAPTER XI.
+
+                 THE AFFRAY ON POLPERRO BEACH.
+
+
+It was at an ivy-covered house standing upon the heights a little
+distance beyond the fishing village of Polperro that Jacob Hartop had
+taken his present refuge. His niece, whom he had been at some pains to
+discover, was the wife of that Captain Whiddon who sailed out in the
+service of Sir Walter Raleigh, with intent to discover the Land of Gold
+that was supposed to lie beyond the river Orinoco, and who, with his
+ship's crew, had endured untold privations in the swamps of Trinidad,
+all of which may be read in Raleigh's printed account of his discovery
+of the Empire of Guiana and the great and golden city of Manoa.
+
+Mrs. Mercy Whiddon had a cluster of sturdy boys and girls about her, and
+you may be sure that Master Hartop was a right welcome guest in their
+home, for he had a deft hand at the making of a wheelbarrow or a
+rabbit-hutch, and his tales of adventure were ever of the exciting sort
+which young people do most delight to hear. Captain Whiddon himself was
+no less pleased than his sons and daughters to have old Jacob under his
+roof, for it chanced that Hartop and he had known each other years
+before, out on the Spanish Main, and had struck up a friendship from the
+simple reason that they both were men of Devon, and that they both bore
+the name of Jacob.
+
+On a certain evening, ere yet the children had gone to their beds, the
+family were seated in the living room. From the window they could see
+the glistening track of the moon's silvery light across the Channel,
+with here and there a black-sailed fishing-boat pitching about upon the
+waves; in moments of silence they could hear the breaking of the tide
+upon the rocks below the cliff, and the ivy leaves, disturbed by the
+wind, tapping against the diamond panes of the window casement. Jacob
+Whiddon sat in the ingle, with Bertha, his youngest girl, perched on his
+knee. Ambrose Pennington, who had sailed round from Plymouth to confer
+with the captain on some matter concerning Lord Thomas Howard's fleet,
+sat near him, while Jacob Hartop sat in the midst of a group of
+children, who were attentively watching him as with a large knife and a
+block of deal wood he fashioned the rough hull of a boat.
+
+"And how many masts will the ship have?" questioned one of the boys.
+
+"Three, Master Jack," answered Hartop; "for 'tis a ship royal, like unto
+the _Defiance_ that is now lying in Plymouth."
+
+"Then we must e'en have an admiral's flag made for her," said little
+Jack. "Mother shall make one for us out of the piece of silk that she
+cut from off Bertha's belt."
+
+"Nay, but we agreed that the ship should be named the _Pilgrim_,"
+objected the eldest of the boys. "For the _Pilgrim_ is father's ship,
+and she hath but two masts."
+
+"The number of her masts and the name she shall have are matters for
+yourselves to determine," said Hartop, as he held the boat in front of
+him bow-on and glanced with one eye along her deck. "The only matter
+that doth at present concern me is her hull, and when 'tis done, as I
+promise you it shall be on the morrow, then the rigging of the craft
+will remain for other hands than mine, for ere she is ready to be
+launched I shall be far away upon the seas."
+
+He continued to hew at the boat's hull with his knife, shaving down her
+bows to the required degree of roundness.
+
+"Thou'lt not forget the string of coral beads you did promise me," said
+Jack's sister Mary, after a long pause of silence.
+
+"Ay, faith, I'll mind on't, truly," answered Jacob with a smile; "and if
+luck doth follow us, thou shalt have a goodly chain of pearls into the
+bargain."
+
+"And wilt bring me home one of those green poll-parrots, or one of the
+long-tailed monkeys that you told us of?" pleaded one who stood at his
+knee.
+
+"Ay, surely; I'll bring thee a whole ship-load of such trumpery an
+Captain Grenville will but let me," returned the old man.
+
+"What!" interposed Ambrose Pennington, turning round on his chair. "Art
+for going out with the fleet, then, friend Hartop?"
+
+Hartop nodded.
+
+"Ay," he answered. "A life on land hath but few joys for such as me, I
+find, and I am for having just one cruise more with the buccaneers and
+another sight of the palm-trees. And yet," he added, "'tis less of my
+own wish than by the will of Sir Richard Grenville that I go; for he
+hath besought me to accompany him, since 'tis supposed that I know more
+than most men touching the purpose of this present expedition."
+
+Pennington drew his chair nearer to the old man and sat facing him,
+bending forward in attention with his two hands clasped between his
+knees.
+
+"'Tis nought to be marvelled at that Sir Richard should have such a
+wish," said he, "for it seemeth that you have some special knowledge of
+the matter. An it be no secret, Master Hartop, mayhap you'd enlighten us
+concerning this same cruise, for I, too, am to be aboard the _Revenge_,
+and 'tis but natural I should wish to know the purpose of our voyage."
+
+Hartop dusted the shavings of wood from his knees and continued with his
+work.
+
+"'Tis no longer a secret," he said, "and, indeed, I had thought that
+Captain Whiddon had already informed you on the matter. Sir Walter
+Raleigh did in truth bid me keep my knowledge to myself. But that was
+some three months ago, and now that Her Majesty hath bidden my Lord
+Thomas Howard assemble this squadron, and hath made no secret of our
+destination, I know no reason why I should scruple to break silence."
+
+"Nay, 'tis no longer a secret. Tell us the tale," interposed Captain
+Whiddon. "For all that I do myself know is the simple fact that we are
+to waylay and capture King Philip's treasure-ships."
+
+"You must know," began Hartop, "that the late expedition which the
+Queen's ships made to the Western Islands, under Frobisher and Hawkins,
+during the last summer past, was a failure. Their intention was even the
+same as ours. But King Philip, getting wind of their purpose, sent out
+to the Indies, giving orders that his ships were to winter in the
+Havana, and delay their home-coming until this present summer. Now the
+result of that delay is, that instead of one year's harvest of silver
+and gold there is now fully double that quantity lying in the
+treasure-houses of Nombre de Dios waiting to be brought over to Spain.
+'Tis the mightiest hoard of wealth that ever was brought together since
+the world began, and I promise you it will give the Spaniards a hard
+enough task to transport so large a burden across the seas. Ay, even
+though every galleon of their armada were loaded up to the gunwales."
+
+"And prithee, Master Hartop, how many galleons do you reckon there will
+be engaged in that same task?" inquired Captain Whiddon.
+
+"Well, as to that," said Hartop, "I scarce can tell. But this I know
+full surely, that even at the time when we started homeward in the
+_Pearl_, there were then lying at the Havana no fewer than fifty of King
+Philip's finest ships. Many of them were of a thousand tons apiece,
+which, as I judge, is about double the size of Lord Thomas Howard's
+_Defiance_. Nay, fifty sails, do I say? There were more than that. Let
+me see! There were three-and-thirty galleons of Nova Hispania, and
+three-and-twenty of Terra Firma--that's fifty-six. Then there were
+twelve of San Domingo, and it may be nine of Honduras. How many might
+that be, all told, Master Jack?"
+
+Jack Whiddon counted on his fingers and presently answered:
+
+"Seventy and seven."
+
+"Body o' me!" exclaimed Ambrose Pennington. "And do you say that so
+vast an armada as that is to be attacked and captured by these
+half-dozen warships that we now have lying in Sutton Pool?" He held his
+hand palm uppermost, as if to suggest that it could well embrace the
+dimensions of the whole of Admiral Howard's fleet. "Why, 'tis madness to
+think on't!"
+
+"So it might seem," nodded Hartop. "But 'tis as well to understand,
+Master Pennington, that we have certain very great advantages in our
+favour. To begin with, these Spaniards have been languishing for many
+months in an evil climate; they will surely be reduced by disease, by
+famine, and I know not what other pestilential ills, while we shall meet
+them strong and fresh and hearty. Their galleons will be half rotten,
+bored by the teredo worm, overgrown with weeds and barnacles, and,
+moreover, very heavily laden; while our own ships, on the other hand,
+are newly fitted out with good sails and riggings, strong clean hulls,
+good guns, and an abundance of ammunition. Also, you must bear in mind
+that while the Queen's ships will doubtless keep together in one compact
+squadron, the Spaniards, by reason of the long voyage, and perhaps
+stress of weather, to say naught of the differing sailing powers of
+their ships, will most certainly be separated one from the other, so
+that 'twill be an easy enough matter for our admiral to pick them off
+one by one."
+
+"There is good reason in your argument, to be sure." declared
+Pennington; "and if the matter turn out as you have set it down, I doubt
+not that we shall, one and all, return to England in a few weeks' time
+with riches enough to serve us and keep us in luxury to the end of our
+days."
+
+"Ay," agreed Captain Whiddon, "'tis like a fairy dream."
+
+"As for the _Revenge_," added Pennington, with an encouraging glance at
+Jacob Hartop, "she is a right gallant ship, and as pretty a one as you
+will find upon all the seas, notwithstanding the ill-luck that hath
+hitherto been her so frequent attendant."
+
+Jacob Hartop raised his grizzled eyebrows.
+
+"Ill-luck?" he repeated. "Why, methought she had been of all Her
+Majesty's ships the most highly-favoured by fortune. Prithee, was it not
+upon her decks that Sir Francis Drake held command when he gave such a
+trouncing to the Duke of Medina-Sidonia three years ago?"
+
+Ambrose Pennington nodded and smiled.
+
+"No man doth know better than I how well she behaved on that same
+occasion," said he. "I was then but her master's mate, and of no great
+account on board. But I mind well every incident and movement in the
+engagement--how we met the Armada down by the Lizard in Cornwall, how we
+beat them and shuffled them together first to Portland, where they
+shamefully abandoned Don Pedro de Valdes with his mighty ship to be
+taken by the _Revenge_; how we chased them from Portland to Calais,
+where they lost Hugo de Monçada with the great galleass of which he was
+captain; then how we drove them with squibs and fireships from their
+anchorage in Calais Roads, gave them a sound drubbing off the coast of
+Flanders, and anon chased them out of sight of England, round about
+Scotland and Ireland, where the storms of the northern seas speedily
+finished the destruction that we had begun. And I tell thee that there
+was no ship in all Queen Elizabeth's fleet that did greater service for
+our country than the _Revenge_. And yet, for all that, she must still be
+counted the unfortunatest ship her Queen's Majesty hath had during her
+reign--"
+
+"Heaven grant that her misfortunes will have forsaken her during this
+present voyage!" interposed Hartop. "For, although I set not a single
+groat's value upon my own poor life, yet I am well assured that every
+man and every ship of our company will be sorely needed ere we fulfil
+the work that is before us. But, prithee, wherein lieth the ship's
+ill-luck and misfortune?"
+
+"In many particulars," answered Pennington. "As for example, on her very
+first voyage when coming back from Ireland, with Sir John Parrot in
+command, she was like to be cast away upon the sand-banks that are off
+the Kentish coast. After, in the voyage of Sir John Hawkins in 1586, she
+struck aground in coming into Plymouth harbour, before her going to sea.
+Upon the coast of Spain she left her fleet, ready to sink with a great
+leak. At her return into Plymouth she beat herself upon the Winter Stone
+and stove in her bows. Twice did she run aground in going out of
+Portsmouth haven; and on the latter occasion lay two-and-twenty hours
+beating upon the shore. Once more she was driven upon the rocks outside
+of Plymouth here, and lay helpless and abandoned for six winter months.
+Forced off again, she was being taken to the river Thames to be docked,
+when, her old leak breaking upon her, she was like to have drowned all
+her ship's company. And ye have surely heard that even four short months
+since, when riding at her moorings in the Medway, she turned right over
+with her keel uppermost. So you see, my masters, in whatsoever way you
+do regard it withal, she is a ship well laden with disaster and full
+fraught with ill-success."
+
+"Marry!" cried Jacob Hartop, "but that is indeed a most woeful record
+for so young a ship. But, I pray you, Master Pennington, wherefore do
+you so meekly consent to be one of her crew, knowing that she hath been
+so unfortunate?"
+
+And Pennington answered:
+
+"For the reason that, notwithstanding her misfortunes, she doth still
+remain the ship which beyond all others in Her Majesty's navy hath given
+the soundest thrashing to the Spaniards. And I do firmly hope and
+believe, that if there be any glory to be won on this present expedition
+it will be mostly won by the _Revenge_ and her gallant commander Sir
+Richard Grenville. For you must know that Sir Richard hath already won
+the name of 'the Spaniards' terror'."
+
+Now, while Pennington was in the midst of this speech Mercy Whiddon had
+gone out of the room, and as she crossed the passage she was startled by
+hearing the sound of men's feet outside, and the loud rapping of a stick
+upon one of the panels of the door.
+
+"Save us all!" she exclaimed in sudden alarm. "Who can be coming here at
+such an hour as this?" And then returning to the room she called upon
+her husband. "Jacob!" she cried. "There be someone at the door, I pray
+you open it, for I fear 'tis some unruly stranger." And as she spoke yet
+another thundering blow fell upon the door.
+
+Jacob Whiddon strode out into the passage and flung open the door.
+
+"What want you?" he demanded, as he espied a tall cloaked figure upon
+the step. "And who are you that dares to disturb honest folk at this
+time of night?"
+
+"'Tis I," came the answer; "'tis I, Timothy Trollope of Plymouth town.
+And I crave your help, Master Whiddon, and the help of as many men as
+there may be in your house. 'Twas Master Richard Drake that sent me
+hither. He is down by the beach yonder, lying in wait for the Spanish
+prisoners who have made their escape. We have tracked them thus far, and
+have now discovered that a ship is lying in readiness to carry them off
+to Spain."
+
+"Escaped, have they?" cried Captain Whiddon. "Then, by thunder, if that
+be so I am with you, my master!" And leaving Timothy standing at the
+door he returned into the room and called upon Pennington and Hartop to
+buckle their swords about them, and join with him in the adventure.
+
+Jacob Hartop was the first of the three men to join Timothy in the
+little garden in front of the house. He carried a long sword and a
+heavy, cumbrous pistol and a large knotted stick.
+
+"So 'tis you, Master Trollope?" said he, as he glanced into Timothy's
+face by the light from the window. "And, prithee, how cometh it that
+thou hast taken to the constable's work of chasing fugitive prisoners?"
+
+"'Twas by chance that I heard the rogues had escaped," said Tim, moving
+towards the gate as if in eagerness to get down to the beach. "I was
+passing beside the gaol when Master Richard Drake ran out crying for men
+to help him, for that his prisoners had escaped. I joined in the crowd,
+following Master Drake at his horse's heels."
+
+"Ah!" returned Hartop, "trust a Spaniard for winning his way out of a
+pent-house. They are like unto serpents for guile and cunning, as I well
+know, who have lived in their midst. But I'll engage that these could
+scarce have won their freedom without help from the outside. Dost know
+if they had any such help, Master Trollope?"
+
+Timothy did not reply at the moment, for Whiddon and Pennington had now
+joined them, and were calling upon the lad to lead the way to the spot
+where the escaped Spaniards might be expected to be found.
+
+"Yonder lies their ship," explained Timothy, pointing out to the shadowy
+headland, below which the faint outline of a vessel's hull could be
+seen. Then, as his eyes still rested upon the ship, he suddenly gripped
+old Hartop's arm. "Look at her, Jacob Hartop! Look at her well!" he
+cried. "Dost know the craft, man?"
+
+"Nay, how should I know one ship from another in such uncertain light,
+and with eyes so dim as mine be?" questioned the old man.
+
+At this Ambrose Pennington cast a glance towards the ship. A gleam of
+moonlight now rested upon the water behind her, and her tall hull and
+masts and bellying sails were darkly outlined against the bright light.
+
+"Why, my lad," said he, in a tone of disappointment, "that is no Spanish
+ship! Y'are fooling us, for sure. No, 'tis no Spanish ship, I say, but
+just the old _Pearl_, that hath been lying under repair against Sutton
+wharf there these two months past, and that hath come out to-day to try
+her new-made sails! Come you back to the house, Master Whiddon, for I'll
+be sworn the lad hath but been playing us some childish prank.
+Spaniards, forsooth! Prithee who ever heard of a Spaniard, aye, or any
+other prisoner, breaking away from the hands of Richard Drake?"
+
+At that instant there came a long loud whistle from the beach below.
+
+"Hark you, my masters," cried Timothy Trollope, "that whistle is Drake's
+signal, calling his men together; and I do most positively declare to
+you that in a very little time there will be some fighting to be done
+down on the beach, for we saw the Spaniards, to the number of a good
+score at the least, passing along the headland and making signs to the
+ship, which were duly answered. Nay, more, we saw a boat put out from
+the ship and make for the spot where Master Drake and some three or four
+men of Plymouth now are--"
+
+"Nay, why stand we parleying here?" broke in Jacob Hartop. "I am for
+climbing down to the beach, and let them follow me who will." And so
+saying he swung his great stick over his shoulder and took a slanting
+course down the slope of the cliff, followed closely by Timothy
+Trollope.
+
+Whiddon and Pennington, it seemed, preferred to descend by the easier
+way of the footpath, which led down to the shore in another direction.
+Timothy, with greater eagerness and with more alertness than old Hartop,
+soon passed his companion, and was down upon the beach while Jacob was
+still struggling to penetrate a thick tangle of bramble bushes that grew
+upon the lower slope.
+
+Timothy waited for him some few moments, and as he stood still he became
+conscious of some moving figures passing into the shadow behind a
+wooden hut, in which the fishermen of the neighbouring village kept
+their old nets and torn sails. A gleam of moonlight glinting upon a
+drawn sword proved to him that the figures were not those of innocent
+fishermen. He crept stealthily towards them.
+
+A man presently appeared round the farther corner of the hut. He wore a
+long cloak and a wide sombrero hat. Timothy guessed that he was one of
+the escaping Spaniards, and he was about to hail the man when he was
+startled by once more hearing the long loud whistle, this time close
+behind him. In an instant as it seemed, he was surrounded by many men.
+One of them seized him, gripping him by the throat.
+
+"Back there, you Spanish dog!" the fellow cried, at the same moment
+taking hold of Timothy's drawn sword and dropping it on the shingle
+behind him.
+
+Timothy knew his voice. It was that of young Roland Grenville.
+
+"Nay, unhand me, Master Grenville," the lad cried, as well as the
+tightening fingers upon his throat would permit him. "I am Timothy
+Trollope, that went up to summon Jacob Whiddon. I--I--"
+
+"S'death, lad, I had nearly throttled thee!" cried Grenville, releasing
+him, and then stooping and taking up Timothy's rapier, he added: "Here,
+take thy blade and hie thee down to the boats yonder at the water's
+edge. And, hark ye, if any Spaniard attempt to get aboard, run him
+through. Dost hear me? Run him through."
+
+Scarcely had he spoken when the report of a pistol-shot from behind him
+rang through the air. It was Ambrose Pennington who had fired it at the
+retreating forms of the Spaniards, who, having crept along under the
+deep shadow of the cliff, had eluded their pursuers and were now
+hastening across the open beach down towards the water's edge.
+
+"To the boats! to the boats, my lads!" cried Pennington, and he set off
+at a run, followed by Roland Grenville, Timothy, Richard Drake, and
+several of the men who had come out from Plymouth. At their heels ran
+Jacob Hartop, pistol in hand, and as game for a fight as any of them.
+
+When the old man got down to the foreshore, where the outgoing tide was
+plashing upon the loose stones, he found himself in the midst of some
+thirty men, who were belabouring each other with their sticks and
+swords. It was difficult for him in the darkness to discover which were
+Spaniards and which men of Plymouth. But presently the crowd divided,
+one half remaining fighting, the others rushing knee-deep into the water
+and scrambling into one of the two boats that lay afloat within easy
+reach. Jacob Hartop levelled his pistol at one of the foremost of the
+fugitives and fired. Without waiting to see the effect of his shot, he
+turned to discover Captain Whiddon, Roland Grenville, and Timothy
+Trollope engaged all three in combat with seven of the Spaniards.
+Hartop saw that Timothy Trollope was being hard pressed by three of the
+enemy, who were assailing him with their heavy sticks. Only one of them
+was armed with a sword, and this one stood in front of Timothy, while
+his two companions were attacking the lad from the rear.
+
+[Illustration: "TIMOTHY DISARMED THE FELLOW, AND WITH A FORWARD THRUST
+               PIERCED HIM IN THE CHEST"]
+
+Jacob rushed headlong into the fray and speedily relieved Timothy of two
+of his assailants, who, seeing the old man's glittering rapier, and
+being themselves armed only with cudgels, turned upon their heels and
+fled towards the boats.
+
+Left alone with his one adversary, whose back was to the light, Timothy
+crossed swords with him. The Spaniard had wrapped the tail of his coat
+round his left arm. Something in his manner of fence reminded Timothy of
+the encounter in Beddington Dingle. For a moment he thought of young
+Philip Oglander. He tried to get a glimpse of the man's face, but a
+quick thrust aimed at his sword-arm brought him to a sense of his
+danger, and he did not pause to think which one of the Spaniards whom he
+had so often seen in Plymouth his antagonist might be. Whosoever he was,
+he certainly was no dunce in the use of his weapon, and with all
+Timothy's skill he had much ado to hold his own. The duel continued for
+several moments, but at last with a dexterous wrist movement Timothy
+disarmed the fellow, and with a heavy forward thrust pierced him in the
+chest.
+
+He staggered for a moment, clapped his two hands against his breast,
+and, leaving his weapon lying upon the beach, ran off towards his
+companions. Timothy watched him as he fled, and saw him wade into the
+water and scramble over the gunwale of the boat upon which Jacob Hartop
+had fired. There were already some ten of the Spaniards on board of her.
+They were pushing off; their oars were in the row-locks, and so fully
+were Richard Drake and his men engaged in making prisoners of those that
+remained that they were unaware of what had happened until Timothy
+raised the alarm and drew their attention to the fugitives. Captain
+Whiddon reloaded his pistol and fired at them, but with no apparent
+effect. The boat sped out into the deeper water and was soon beyond
+range of such few firearms as were available. As for the Spaniards who
+had been left behind, they were speedily captured and bound with ropes,
+ready to be marched beck to Plymouth.
+
+The whole affray had occupied but a few minutes. Two of the Spaniards
+had been killed, and one of Drake's men--a young vintner of
+Plymouth--had been badly wounded, while there were few of the others who
+had not received scars and bruises.
+
+When at last the prisoners were secured, Roland Grenville, Jacob Hartop,
+and Timothy Trollope were told off to conduct them to some place of
+safety in Polperro, while Drake, Whiddon, Pennington, and some three
+others jumped into the remaining boat and pulled off in pursuit of the
+men who had escaped. How they fared Timothy did not learn until the next
+morning, when he was told that after an exciting chase the Spaniards had
+succeeded in gaining the deck of their ship, which had sailed off
+westward along the coast, not to be overtaken by a small boat whose
+occupants had only two pairs of oars and no sail. There was only one
+thing which Drake gained by his pursuit, and that was the knowledge that
+the ship was indeed the _Pearl_ of Plymouth.
+
+When they had securely housed their prisoners in a vacant stable in
+Polperro, and left Hartop in guard at the door, Roland Grenville and
+Timothy Trollope returned to the beach, taking with them a lighted
+lantern. They were accompanied by a fisherman, who helped them to carry
+the two dead Spaniards up to a shed adjoining Jacob Whiddon's house.
+Timothy recognised the dead men as Don Miguel de Fernandes and Andrea de
+Ortega. He had known Don Miguel by sight for many months past, but
+searching in his memory he could only remember Andrea from the time when
+Jasper Oglander had come home to England.
+
+As he was turning away from having bolted the door of the shed, Roland
+Granville said, touching Timothy on the arm:
+
+"Here is a weapon for thee, Master Trollope. I will engage that 'tis a
+well-tempered one. These Dons do ever contrive to get hold of a goodly
+piece of steel; and in spite of Master Drake's watchfulness, more than
+one of them was armed with his Toledo blade to-night. 'Tis a marvel to
+me where they found them, for, as you know, they were forbidden to go
+armed."
+
+"I'll be sworn they had friends outside of their prison," returned
+Timothy, "else would they never have escaped." He took the rapier from
+Grenville's hand. "Thank you," said he. "I will keep it, sir, and
+gladly, for it can scarce be a worse weapon than my own."
+
+"I picked it up on the beach," said Grenville, "at the spot where I saw
+you engaged with one of the rascals. 'Twas his sword, I doubt not. But,
+prithee, since you disarmed him, why did you not run him through?"
+
+"Indeed, Master Grenville," quoth Tim, "methought I had e'en done so. I
+gave him a good span of my weapon in his chest ere he ran off to the
+boat, and I warrant he'll not soon recover. Rather, I should say, I will
+warrant that he cannot recover."
+
+Timothy carried the rapier back with him to Plymouth that night, and
+when he reached home he examined it. He saw that its point had been
+roughly ground down, obviously with the purpose of shortening the weapon
+to the limited length required by the law. Timothy immediately
+remembered that this had been done to Philip Oglander's rapier. He
+looked at the hilt and at once recognized it. Yes, there was no doubt
+that this was Master Philip's weapon. There was no doubt either that
+the young man with whom Tim had just had the duel on the beach and whom
+he had wounded was Philip Oglander himself.
+
+Arguing upon this fact, Timothy was not long in coming to the conclusion
+that the escape of the Spanish prisoners of war had been achieved by the
+help of Philip, if not also of Jasper. There was truth, then--absolute
+truth--in the accusation which Timothy had made, that Jasper Oglander
+and his son were in league with the King of Spain, and that they had all
+along been plotting in the interests of England's enemies.
+
+
+
+
+                           CHAPTER XII.
+
+                        BARON CHAMPERNOUN.
+
+
+It was on a certain sunny afternoon in early March, the year 1591. The
+quays and wharfs around Sutton Pool were thronged with people--women in
+bright-coloured gowns and snowy ruffs, gentlemen with plumed hats and
+gaudy, flowing capes, yeomen and tradesmen in their more sober garments,
+and noisy, boisterous apprentices. From the little casement windows of
+the quaint gabled houses near by, many faces looked out upon the busy
+scene below, and here and there a white kerchief was waved in farewell
+to some soldier or seaman watching it from the heavily-laden boats that
+were putting out into the harbour. For it was the day of the departure
+of Lord Thomas Howard's squadron of war-ships on its treasure-hunting
+expedition to the islands of the Azores. The ships' masts could be seen
+with their white sails half-unfurled, and their pennants, ancients, and
+banners fluttering gaily in the breeze that blew from off the land.
+
+The crowd was thickest near to the landing-stairs, where a stream of
+men--some wearing glittering morions and corselets, others wide seamen's
+hats and long sea-cloaks, and each with a clanking sword by his
+side--moved slowly towards the stone steps, where the boats were waiting
+to convey them out to their respective ships.
+
+Among them was old Jaoob Hartop. He carried his bundle of spare clothing
+and a pair of heavy boots under his arm. His face looked fresher and
+younger, his eyes were brighter, and his step was lighter than three
+months before, when he had landed at this same place from on board the
+_Pearl_. No one seemed to know him as he passed through the throng,
+saving only a curly-headed boy, who pulled at his coat and cried:
+
+"What, Master Hartop! Art going with the fleet then? Didst not tell us
+that you had done with sea-faring for the rest of thy days?"
+
+Jacob glanced at the urchin, and recognised him as one of the group of
+children who had stood around him at the well in Modbury village the
+morning after the robbery, to listen to his story of how Sir Francis
+Drake had been wounded at Nombre de Dios.
+
+"Ay, faith, I am going out with the fleet, friend Robin," he answered
+cheerily, as he stopped at the boy's side. "A life on land hath but few
+joys, I find, for a lonely old man, and I am minded to go out and see a
+bit more of the world, and mayhap recover some of the great wealth that
+you wot of--the wealth that went down in my golden galleon out yonder to
+the west of Flores."
+
+"Ah!" said the lad. "An I were old enough, 'tis not a little that would
+keep me at home when such fine adventures are in store. I'd run away and
+join one of the ships, even as Master Trollope hath done. His father
+forbade him to have ought to do with the sea, and yesternight they had a
+quarrel; but this morning Timothy hath packed up his bag and gone off."
+
+"And, prithee, what ship hath the lad joined?" asked Jacob. "Hath he
+gone on board the _Revenge_, think you?"
+
+"Nay, that is just what his father would know," answered Robin Redfern.
+"He hath been questioning everyone, but none can tell him. But 'tis not
+likely he hath gone on board the _Revenge_, for on that ship Master
+Oglander is sailing, and you may be sure that Timothy Trollope would
+avoid such companionship after what hath happened."
+
+Jacob Hartop's jaw dropped. A look of dismay came into his eyes.
+
+"Heaven forfend!" quoth he gloomily. Then taking a corner of the boy's
+collar in his fingers, and looking into his face, he added: "Say you
+that Jasper Oglander hath gone aboard the _Revenge_?"
+
+The boy looked puzzled, but presently, understanding the old man's
+drift, he answered:
+
+"Nay. I meant young Master Gilbert, and not his uncle."
+
+"Then wherefore should Timothy Trollope avoid the same ship that his
+young master is sailing upon?" questioned Hartop.
+
+"For the reason that Master Gilbert is no longer his master; no, nor
+even his friend," said Robin. "Some dispute--I know not what it may have
+been--ended in Master Trollope being dismissed from Modbury Manor."
+
+"That may well be," returned Jacob, "but it seemeth to me that Master
+Timothy is surely of a quarrelsome disposition. Howbeit, he will be
+speedily knocked into submission and obedience on board ship. As to
+young Gilbert Oglander, I'll engage he's like all the rest of his
+family--"
+
+"See!" interrupted the lad admiringly, as he pointed towards the steps;
+"see! yonder stands Master Gilbert even now. Certes! how brave he doth
+look with his new morion and breast-piece!"
+
+Hartop was forced onward by the moving throng, and presently he arrived
+at the top of the steps. What kissing and handshaking and fond partings
+were going on here! There were tears, too, in the women's eyes, for all
+knew that there was fighting to be done, and that of the gallant
+adventurers who were taking their leave, not all would come safely home
+again. Jacob came shoulder to shoulder with Ambrose Pennington, whom he
+had met once before at this same place. Ambrose was to be Sir Richard
+Grenville's sailing-master on board of the _Revenge_, and he was now
+bidding farewell to his aged mother.
+
+"God speed thee, then!" sobbed the old woman as she clung to his hand.
+"And mayst thou ever bear it in mind that 'tis our Queen and our country
+that thou servest, and that 'tis thy duty to fight hard and bravely
+whensoever there be Spaniards to be vanquished!"
+
+"Ay, faith, I'll mind on it truly," answered Ambrose, kissing his
+mother's wrinkled forehead. Then, catching a glimpse of Jacob Hartop, he
+cried: "Ha, Master Hartop! How fare you, old friend? I have not seen
+thee since our encounter with the Dons three nights ago. Didst get any
+hurt, man?"
+
+"Not I," answered Hartop as he began to descend the stone stairs. "No
+hurt beyond the disappointment of hearing the rascals had escaped you.
+Where think you they have sped to?"
+
+"Spain, you may swear," returned Pennington, closely following him.
+"'Tis the only land that will welcome such refuse."
+
+"An that be so, there is yet a chance that we shall overhaul them,"
+said Jacob with satisfaction, "for the _Pearl_ is but a laggard at
+sailing. A herring-boat might outstrip her hand over hand, to say naught
+of such well-found ships as these of my Lord Howard's."
+
+Gilbert Oglander was stepping into one of the boats when Hartop and
+Pennington got to the foot of the flight of stairs. He nodded in
+greeting to the two men, and made room for them beside him in the
+stern-sheets. Then, all being seated and the boat full, the man at the
+bow pushed off, the oars were dipped, and amid the cheers of the crowd
+on shore the little craft was steered out into the harbour.
+
+In his boyish excitement at getting into the boat, Gilbert had not
+observed that his uncle Jasper was standing at the end of the quay
+quietly watching him. Gilbert had already bidden farewell to his uncle,
+as indeed to all the household at Modbury Manor, some three hours
+before, and he could not have expected that Jasper, even allowing for
+the great affection he had heretofore shown for him, would have the
+desire to wish yet a second farewell.
+
+But in actual truth it was a far other errand than this that had brought
+Jasper Oglander into the town so quickly upon his nephew's heels. It was
+an errand which, had it been duly fulfilled, would have certainly
+prevented Gilbert's departure from England. It was in fact with the
+purpose of summoning the lad back to his home that Jasper had thus
+hastened to the harbour.
+
+And yet, strangely enough, he made not the smallest attempt to stop the
+boat as it put out from the landing-stairs; nay, he even seemed anxious
+that his nephew should not catch sight of him, for as the rowers pulled
+past where he had stationed himself, he drew cautiously back into the
+crowd. Apparently, therefore, it was in some way to Jasper's personal
+advantage that Gilbert should be permitted to leave the country at this
+particular time. So it accordingly befell that the lad was taken out to
+his ship, and that he proceeded on his voyage in total ignorance of a
+most important circumstance which directly concerned him.
+
+When about noon that day Gilbert had mounted his horse to start for
+Plymouth, all had been well with the family at Modbury Manor. He had
+waved his hand in farewell to his grandfather, who had stood at the open
+casement above the porch, and had embraced his mother and Drusilla, and
+shaken hands with all the servants. Drusilla and his uncle Jasper had
+accompanied him down the long avenue to the lodge gate, and thence he
+had ridden off alone.
+
+He had expected that his cousin Philip would be at the manor to bid him
+farewell. Philip had been absent for two days, and, strangely enough, he
+had given no reason for going away. None knew where he had gone
+excepting his father, and Jasper, on being questioned, had merely stated
+that the lad had had a mind to take an excursion into the country.
+Nothing was guessed of the part that he had taken in the affray on
+Polperro beach. Indeed, it seemed that Timothy Trollope alone knew this,
+and as Timothy was no longer in service at Modbury Manor, no word of
+Philip Oglander's connection with the escape of the Spanish prisoners of
+war had yet been spoken.
+
+Gilbert had been gone scarcely an hour when a messenger on horseback
+arrived bearing a letter for my Lord Champernoun. The letter was
+delivered into the aged baron's own hand in his private library. No one
+was present when he opened and read it, but some minutes afterwards the
+Lady Betty Oglander was passing the library door when she heard a heavy
+fall. She opened the door and looked within and saw Lord Champernoun
+lying unconscious on the floor. She called aloud for help. Her cry was
+answered by Jasper. They went in together and lifted the old nobleman
+into his chair. His face was bloodless, and they could not hear him
+breathing.
+
+"Holy Mother, he is dead!" exclaimed Jasper Oglander. "What in Heaven's
+name can have caused it so suddenly?" He looked blankly about the room
+as if in search of an explanation. Seeing the letter on the floor he
+picked it up, and unnoticed by Lady Betty thrust it into the breast of
+his doublet.
+
+"'Tis his heart!" cried Lady Betty. "He must surely have had some sudden
+shock. It may even be that Gilbert's departure hath unduly excited him."
+Then, remembering Gilbert, she turned to Jasper. "Good my brother," said
+she, "go, I beseech you, and bring back my son, for he must not be
+allowed to leave England. Take horse at once and bring him back, and--"
+she glanced once again at the lifeless baron, felt for the beating of
+his heart, and put her cheek to his lips to discover if there might not
+still be some breath in him--"bring also a physician. There may yet be
+hope."
+
+Jasper shook his head sadly.
+
+"It is death, madam," said he; "I know full well that it is death.
+Nevertheless, I will go at once into Plymouth and bring Gilbert back
+with me; for, as you most truly say, he must not be permitted to quit
+the country while his grandsire lies dead. Think on't, my lady," he went
+on, "your son Gilbert is now the head of this noble house. He is Baron
+Champernoun--"
+
+"Go--go at once!" implored Lady Betty, and her eyes followed him
+anxiously as he left the room. And as he went out Drusilla, Donna Lela,
+Christopher Pym, and others entered in alarm, only to find that Lord
+Champernoun had passed indeed beyond all hope.
+
+Little did Gilbert Oglander dream of this calamity as he sat in the
+stern of the rowing-boat that was taking him out to the _Revenge_. His
+thoughts were only of the ships and of the men who were to be his future
+companions, and he listened with full interest to the talk that was
+going on beside him between Ambrose Pennington and old Jacob Hartop.
+
+"Here we are, good my masters! There lieth our fleet!" cried Pennington,
+as the boat was brought round abreast of the outer wall of the harbour.
+"Dost know the ships by sight, Hartop?"
+
+"Not I," answered Jacob, leaning forward and running his eyes with slow
+deliberation along the line of stately ships of war. "They be all new
+built since my time, and, as I have already said, I have been these many
+weeks past away from Plymouth, and only came into the town again early
+this morning. Prithee, which of them is the _Revenge_?"
+
+"We can scarcely see her as yet," returned Pennington. "She doth lie out
+yonder beyond the point, half-hidden by the larger vessel that is moored
+this side of her. The larger ship is the _Bonaventure_, the greatest in
+the squadron by a good hundred tons. Sir Robert Cross is her
+commander--a right worthy seaman and a gallant. Next to her lies Captain
+Duffield's ship the _Crane_, and astern of her again the _Foresight_,
+with Captain Thomas Vavasour's pennant flying from her mast-head. These
+two great ships to the leeward are the _Lion_ and the _Defiance_."
+
+"Ay, and I judge that the _Defiance_ is the one with the higher hull,"
+remarked Hartop, "for I see she doth fly my Lord Thomas Howard's banner
+and an admiral's pennant. 'Tis a right goodly array truly, yet small
+enough, my masters, for the work we have in hand, as ye would surely
+agree an you knew how many great galleons of Spain do go to make up the
+treasure fleet that we have engaged to capture."
+
+The boat was now being rowed along the line of the admiral's squadron,
+and Gilbert Oglander paid no farther regard to the conversation of his
+companions, but directed his attention to each of the great vessels in
+turn. There were six of Queen Elizabeth's ships; the largest being the
+_Bonaventure_ of six hundred tons, and the smallest being the _Crane_ of
+two hundred tons. But in addition to these there were some half a dozen
+other vessels which had been contributed to the expedition by certain
+patriotic English gentlemen and merchant adventurers, as the _Bark
+Raleigh_, which was Sir Walter Raleigh's share in the enterprise, the
+_Prudence_, the _Pilgrim_, and the _George Noble_. There were also
+several smaller ships, victuallers, as they were called, carrying stores
+and extra ammunition. The whole fleet numbered in all twenty sails, and
+the combined companies numbered something like two thousand five hundred
+men and boys. The larger ships mounted from thirty to fifty guns apiece.
+Of this squadron Lord Thomas Howard was the appointed admiral and
+general. His vice-admiral was Sir Richard Grenville.
+
+
+
+
+                           CHAPTER XIII.
+
+                           OUTWARD BOUND.
+
+
+The _Revenge_ lay at anchor in the midst of many merchant ships,
+pinnaces, and fly-boats,--a very gallant ship, with her carved and
+gilded bulwarks, with her tall, stout masts, with her silken,
+swallow-tailed banners flying from her masts and yards, her great
+standard, bearing the royal arms, at her forecastle. At her maintop the
+glorious flag of St George's Cross was fluttering in the breeze--the
+flag under which so many great seamen had beforetime traded, explored,
+and fought in England's honour, that Drake and Cavendish had borne round
+the world, that Lancaster carried to the East Indies and Frobisher to
+the far north; the flag that had blown triumphant against the Spaniards
+off Gravelines three years before this time, and that was destined soon
+to wave with less good fortune though not with less glory over the
+shot-torn wreck of the _Revenge_ herself.
+
+Gilbert had been on board many times during the past two weeks while the
+business of preparation and victualling was in progress. He had explored
+the vessel from stem to stern, from the high, square forecastle, where
+the bowsprit rose steeply upward, and carried at its outer end a small
+mast with its sprit-topsail; and back aft to the sloping quarter-deck
+and the higher poop-deck, where a narrow strip of railed platform ran
+athwart from side to side above the water. He had been below to the
+main-deck where the heaviest guns were carried, and below that again to
+the lower deck that was dark and airless as a pit. He had even climbed
+the tall main-mast and stood upon the gallery, whence in time of battle
+the ship's archers and musketeers were wont to shoot down upon their
+enemy alongside. He would willingly have climbed the bonaventure mast
+also, and crept up to the high peak of the long lateen yard that towered
+aloft above the ship's stern lantern, but one of the men in authority
+had warned him against the danger of such an attempt.
+
+Now, when he mounted the ladder at the vessel's side and passed through
+the gangway upon the main-deck, he was met by Roland Grenville, who was
+arrayed in all the bravery of a new shining corselet, a pair of new
+leathern trunk-hose, a coarse blue cloth doublet, and a wide seaman's
+hat. Roland greeted him heartily, bade him salute the quarter-deck, and
+then conducted him below to the large cabin, reserved for what were in
+those days called gentlemen volunteers, most of whom were young men of
+good families, who entered the naval service not as actual officers or
+midshipmen but as captain's servants. For in Queen Elizabeth's time it
+was customary for each captain of a man-of-war to be allowed two
+personal servants for every fifty of his crew. Such servants or
+cabin-boys were almost invariably recruited from among the captain's
+relations, friends, or followers. Sir Richard Grenville had in this
+manner appointed his own son Roland and Master Gilbert Oglander.
+
+When the two lads had eaten some ship's biscuits and bacon, and drunk
+between them a tankard of small ale, they went out upon the upper deck
+and loitered there for a while, until Gilbert requested his companion
+to show him over the ship and tell him about her guns. Young Grenville,
+having already spent some three years upon the sea, could point out all
+matters of interest, and explain the uses of all maritime instruments
+and implements of warfare. He was himself a very skilful gunner, and he
+took especial delight in showing Gilbert the ship's ordnance.
+
+The _Revenge_ mounted forty "great ordnance" of brass, including
+cannon-royal, demi-cannon, and culverins for firing a broadside. Of
+these the cannon-royal were the largest, having a range of a mile's
+distance, weighing four tons, and being twelve feet in length. Their
+mouths gaped through the round portholes of the main-deck. The
+demi-cannon were a foot longer, but a ton lighter. But in many parts of
+the vessel there were other smaller swivel-guns, such as sakers,
+falcons, minions, fowlers, and murdering-pieces. The murdering-pieces
+were mounted one on the after part of the forecastle and the other on
+the fore part of the poop, and they pointed inboard, so that their shot
+might be discharged into the midst of the enemy when attempting to board
+her.
+
+"But these guns in especial are not ofttimes used," explained Roland
+Grenville, "for you must know, Oglander, that in these days our
+sea-fights come but seldom to a matter of boarding. 'Tis rarely I have
+seen great execution done with them; no, nor even with the bow and
+arrow, small-shot, or the sword. I am not sure, indeed, that in the
+whole course of the Armada fight there was a single occasion on which
+the Spaniards gained a footing on an English deck. The battle was
+chiefly gained by our great artillery breaking down masts and yards,
+tearing, raking, and bilging the enemy's ships."
+
+There were many things for Gilbert to see and to admire: the racks where
+the arquebuses were kept, the bows of divers shapes and sizes and the
+cases of arrows, the pikes, the granadoes, the piles of hollow brass
+balls and earthen pots covered with quarter bullets and filled with
+gunpowder, which, as Roland explained, would make an incredible
+slaughter in a crowd of Spaniards; the stacks of crossbar, langrel and
+chain shot, and the many implements for wild-fire, wherewith to strike
+burning into a ship's side to fire her. And, finally, the powder
+magazines and the rows of hanging cartridge-cases, in which, during an
+action, the ship's boys were wont to carry up the gunpowder to the
+gunners.
+
+They went forward into the seamen's quarters, where they found a motley
+crew of mariners--many of them well-tried voyagers with gray hairs and
+weather-beaten faces, many burly men of war, who bore in their scarred
+cheeks and broken limbs the traces of bygone battles. Some were young
+lads starting full joyously on their first enterprise, and among them,
+too, were many lawless fellows, pirates and robbers, who had been taken
+out of Plymouth prison and forced upon the ship, in the foolish belief
+that when removed from the scenes of their past misdeeds they would
+change into good and peaceful servants. The crew had been on board some
+two days, and now they were lying about in lazy groups, regaling
+themselves with the ale that had been served out to them, making a
+better acquaintance with each other, and boasting of the great things
+they had done, and the yet greater things they expected to do in this
+coming voyage.
+
+When Roland and Gilbert entered the cabin, one Edward Webbe, a gunner,
+of London, was telling of his adventures in foreign lands. A man of some
+forty years was he, but he looked much older by reason of the privations
+and perils through which he had gone.
+
+"Moreover," he was saying, "in the land of Egypt, near to the river of
+Nile, there are seven mountains builded on the outside like unto the
+point of a diamond, which mountains were builded in King Pharaoh's time
+for to keep corn in, and they are mountains of great strength. In that
+same river of Nile there be long fishes that are of twelve foot long,
+with marvellous great mouths and long tails, and hides hard as the sole
+of my boot. These fishes are so subtle that, swimming near the
+shore-side, they will pull men and women suddenly into the river and
+devour them."
+
+"Why, they be sharks, surely," remarked one who sat near him.
+
+"Nay," corrected Jacob Hartop from the dark corner where he was sitting
+mumbling a ship's biscuit. "I have seen such animals myself out in
+Virginia, where we called them alligators. But, prithee, continue with
+your recital, neighbour. Did ye not say that ye had been to the land of
+Prester John?"
+
+"Yea," proceeded Edward Webbe; "and this Prester John of whom I spake
+before is a king of great power and keepeth a very bountiful court,
+after the manner of that country, and hath every day to serve him at his
+table sixty kings, wearing leaden crowns on their heads, and these serve
+in the meat to Prester John's table. And continually the first dish of
+meat set upon the table is a dead man's skull, clean picked and laid in
+black earth; putting him in mind that he is but earth, and that he must
+die and shall become earth again."
+
+"Ay, a marvellous country truly," interrupted Hartop, "as I do know full
+well, who have been there. And I doubt not, Master Webbe, that, having
+travelled in those lands, you have also known somewhat of the Turks,
+eh?"
+
+"Right well have I known them," returned Webbe with a rueful head-shake.
+"And because I was a Christian, and because the Turk had no cause to use
+me in my office of gunnership, I was imprisoned in Constantinople, where
+I found two thousand other prisoners and captives, Christians all of
+them, who were pinned up against stone walls, locked fast in iron
+chains, grievously pinched, with extreme penury. And I do avow that many
+times we wished for death rather than in such misery to live, and
+grieved at our hard hap that the wars had not ended us ere we came
+thither."
+
+"Ay, right well I know such misery," said Jacob Hartop rising from his
+seat, and, thrusting forward his bared left arm he added: "Look you at
+this, neighbour!" He pointed with one finger at a depression in his
+wrist, which showed where the iron chains had been bound. As he stood
+forward he caught sight of Roland Grenville and Gilbert Oglander in the
+doorway, and he touched his gray forelock in salutation. At the same
+moment there came the shrill sound of a whistle from the main-deck.
+
+"'Tis the muster-call," cried Roland Grenville. "Come, my lads, tumble
+up, one and all!" and he waited by the door as they all filed past him,
+and smiled as he regarded their strangely-assorted attire. Many were
+raggedly clothed; some looked as if they had but lately come from off
+the ploughed fields, others still wore their fishermen's jackets, that
+yet had clinging to them the shining scales of the herring; and others
+again were gaily set out in the bravery of new suits of doublet and hose
+and clean ruffs and long mariners' boots. Gilbert Oglander had gone out
+beyond the door to watch them take their respective places in ranks upon
+the upper-deck, but young Grenville remained behind until the last of
+them had passed out. He glanced into the cabin they had left to assure
+himself that none had remained, and in one of the far corners, which was
+in deep shadow, he observed a movement. He called out, believing for
+the moment that one of the men lay there dazed with over-much ale, but
+there was no answer, and the dark form that he had taken for a bundle of
+humanity was silent and still. He stepped towards it and prodded it with
+his foot. There was no response, and he saw only a heavy seaman's cloak
+and the corner of a biscuit bag.
+
+"Tut!" said he to himself. "I could almost have sworn 'twas a man lying
+there. And yet I might have seen that 'twas too small." And he turned to
+the door with a light laugh and went out upon the open deck.
+
+Scarcely had he turned his back when the bundle moved yet again, a
+corner of the cloak was raised, and a pair of bright eyes peered out
+from a round boyish face, and a boyish voice murmured:
+
+"Dear heart, I thought he'd discovered me! 'Twas Master Grenville, as I
+live! Lord send he cometh not back ere the ship hath begun to sail!"
+
+Sir Richard Grenville had come on board, having spent some hours that
+afternoon in consultation with the admiral and the various captains of
+the squadron; and now when his own ship's company had been mustered he
+stood at the forward rail of the quarter-deck looking down at the sea of
+faces on the upper deck below him. His captain and lieutenants, arrayed
+in their best, stood apart from him, while the ship's preacher in his
+sombre black gown and white ruffle and scholar's cap sat near on the
+carriage of the murderer-gun, sedately turning over the leaves of his
+prayer-book.
+
+The crew were all ranked in order, according to their several stations.
+The warrant-officers stood in groups apart from the seamen, for they
+were persons of great importance on board. The sailing-master, Ambrose
+Pennington, and his mates, who were responsible for the navigation of
+the ship, were indeed next in rank to the lieutenants; the corporal was
+also a great man, for it was his duty to look after the small-arms and
+musketeers' equipment, and to exercise the men-at-arms. The
+master-gunner and his mates, of whom one was Jacob Hartop and another
+Edward Webbe, had the duty of keeping the guns in good order, of seeing
+to their tackle, and also of looking after the powder-room or magazine,
+and the gun-room, where the small-arm ammunition was stored. The
+master-carpenter and his mates were to attend to the repairs and general
+state of the vessel's hull, to see to the plugging of shot-holes in
+action, the pumps and caulking, and the masts and yards, while the
+boatswain and his mates had charge of the ropes, rigging, cables,
+anchors, sails, and flags, superintending the men at their stations,
+setting the watches and carrying out punishments. Then, too, there were
+the purser, the quarter-masters, and the swabber. This last officer had
+the work of seeing to the ship being kept clean within and without above
+water, and he was answerable for the men keeping their persons clean.
+
+The positions held by the members of the crew were in those days as many
+and various as in our own navy. The surgeon was not accounted of high
+rank, his wages being but twenty shillings a month, which was the same
+amount as that received by the trumpeter. There were drummers, cooks,
+yeomen of the sheets, yeomen of powder, stewards, armourers, and many
+other qualifications; and lastly, there were the seamen and gromets, or
+ship's boys. The whole ship's company of the _Revenge_ numbered two
+hundred and fifty all told.
+
+Sir Richard Grenville inspected them all from where he stood. His eyes
+searched into each man's face as he answered to his name called out by
+the purser from his roll, and if there was aught of doubt as to the
+man's appearance of fitness, he was bidden to stand forward so that the
+general might have a nearer sight of him, and, if need were, question
+him. But all had been well chosen in so far as their bodily health could
+be judged; and if some did indeed appear to be rough and ill-kempt and
+of an idle sort, Sir Richard still passed them, knowing full well that
+rogues do ofttimes prove to be good and true men when 'tis a question of
+fighting for England's glory and advancement on the seas.
+
+"And now, my men," said their leader when the roll had come to an end,
+"I would say a word to ye ere I dismiss ye to your quarters. We are
+bound, as ye all doubtless know, to the islands of the Azores, where
+'tis our purpose to intercept and lay capture to certain of the
+Spaniards' treasure-ships coming back to Spain from the Indies. My Lord
+Thomas Howard is our chief and admiral, to lead the expedition, by the
+appointment of her most gracious Majesty the Queen--"
+
+"God bless her!" cried someone from the midst of the crowd, and the cry
+was taken up by many voices repeating the words "God bless the Queen!"
+
+"But aboard this ship, and for the continued honour of this ship, which
+hath already done so much good service for England, ye are to understand
+that your duty is one of constant and unvaried obedience to your
+officers, whose word is your law."
+
+He paused for a moment, looking out over the water to the _Defiance_,
+whose anchors were already up, and whose sails were one by one taking
+the wind.
+
+"And," he went on, turning again to the men, "for as much as the good
+success and prosperity of every action doth consist in the due service
+and glorifying of God, and that not only our being and preservation but
+the prosperity of all our actions and enterprises do immediately depend
+on His Almighty goodness and mercy, it is provided now as heretofore
+that all the company, as well officers as others, shall duly repair
+every day twice at the call of the ship's bell to hear public prayers to
+be read, such as are authorized by the Church, and that in a godly and
+devout manner, as good Christians ought. Finally, I would have you to
+observe this ordinance, which hath ever been observed upon the ships
+which I have commanded, namely, that no man, be his provocation
+whatsoever it may, shall swear by the name of God or use any profane
+oath, or blaspheme His holy name."
+
+He drew back a step and turned to the preacher.
+
+"Give 'em a prayer, parson," said he; "but be brief, I adjure you, for
+we must up anchor and be off."
+
+At this Sir Richard took off his plumed hat and dropped it on the deck
+at his feet, and stood with his hands clasped before him and his head
+reverently bowed. His example was followed by his officers, and when the
+preacher went forward to the rail of the little pulpit that was at the
+front of the quarter-deck and held up his hands, the crowd upon the
+upper deck became suddenly silent. Each man bared his head and clapped
+his rough right hand over his eyes, as the chaplain's solemn voice rang
+out with the words:
+
+    "_Oh, eternal Lord God, who alone spreadest out the heavens and
+    rulest the raging of the sea; who hast compassed the waters with
+    bounds until day and night come to an end; be pleased to receive
+    into thy Almighty and most gracious protection the persons of us thy
+    servants and the fleet in which we serve. Preserve us from the
+    dangers of the sea and from the violence of the enemy, that we may
+    be a safeguard unto our most gracious sovereign lady, Queen
+    Elizabeth, and her dominions, and a security for such as pass the
+    seas upon their lawful occasions; that the inhabitants of our Island
+    may in peace and quietness serve thee our God: and that we may
+    return in safety to enjoy the blessings of the land with the fruits
+    of our labours, and with a thankful remembrance of thy mercies to
+    praise and glorify thy holy name, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
+    Amen._"
+
+The parson remained with uplifted hands, Sir Richard Grenville looked up
+for a moment.
+
+"Enough, man," he said, "enough. George Fenner hath catted his anchor.
+Duffield is already under sail." But the parson did not heed him, and on
+hearing the words "_Our Father_" Grenville again assumed the attitude of
+devotion and waited until the final "_Amen_". Then turning to his
+captain he gave a word of instruction, the word was passed down, and
+immediately there was a hurry and bustle among the crew. Some climbed up
+to the yards and began to shake out the sails, others sped to the
+capstans, while others attended to getting on board the ship's boats.
+
+Lord Thomas Howard's flag-ship, the _Defiance_, led the way into the
+Sound. She was followed closely by the great ship of Sir Robert
+Cross--the _Bonaventure_. Then at some distance went Captain Fenner's
+_Lion_, Captain Vavasour's _Foresight_, and Captain Duffield's _Crane_.
+Some of the smaller vessels of the fleet, the private adventurers which
+had been contributed to the expedition by Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir George
+Carey, and other gentlemen, sailed out in the train. Among these were
+the _George Noble_ of London, the _Pilgrim_ of Plymouth, and the _Bark
+Raleigh_.
+
+[Illustration: "AY, BUT HOW CAME YE ABOARD, MY LAD?"]
+
+The _Revenge_ was the last to leave Plymouth harbour, for, being
+commanded by the vice-admiral, her place was in the rear. But her
+sailing powers were greater than those of any other ship in the
+squadron, and she might easily have overhauled her fastest consort had
+her master so willed. Some of the heavily-laden victuallers were
+overtaken even at the mouth of Plymouth Sound. One of them, the
+_Pilgrim_, was close beside her as they entered the open sea at
+sunset-time, and Gilbert Oglander, who was at the moment climbing down
+the ladder stairs from the quarter-deck, paused in his descent and
+looked over the bulwarks down upon her decks. He could see the faces of
+her crew. He could see Captain Whiddon on her poop deck, pacing to and
+fro from rail to rail.
+
+Gilbert was wondering why it was that seamen invariably had this habit,
+when suddenly his thoughts were interrupted by sounds from behind him on
+the upper deck. He turned, and saw a little crowd of men at the foot of
+the main-mast. Some of them were laughing, others were loudly talking as
+they bent over some object on the deck that seemed to be the cause of
+their concern. As Gilbert approached the crowd broke up, and he
+perceived old Jacob Hartop standing there holding a little boy by the
+ear.
+
+"Ay, but how came ye aboard, my lad?" Jacob was asking, looking into the
+boy's tearful face.
+
+"In a boat, so please you, sir," replied the boy. "In the same boat with
+yourself, Master Hartop."
+
+"Nay, but I saw you not," returned Jacob. "I saw you not, else, be
+assured, I'd have sent you back instanter to your mother. What think you
+the poor soul will do when she findeth you have not come home?"
+
+"I had but one thought," said the lad, looking up, "and that was to get
+on board the _Revenge_ with Master Gilbert Oglander."
+
+It was at this moment that Gilbert entered the crowd and heard his name
+spoken. He glanced at the boy.
+
+"Body o' me!" he cried. "Why, 'tis young Robin Redfern of Modbury
+village! How comes he here?"
+
+"Ay, 'tis Robin himself, truly," said Jacob Hartop, turning at hearing
+Gilbert's voice. "He hath a mind to fight for the Queen, he says, so
+smuggled himself aboard. Master Roland Grenville found him stowed away
+below, and hath now gone to inform Sir Richard. I saw the child myself
+on Sutton quay, ay, and spake with him, but I'd no notion that he meant
+to follow us on board. 'Tis foolish in him, as I have told him, for a
+lad so young is but an encumbrance on a ship of battle."
+
+"Nay, but I mean to work," protested Robin. "I'll work hard. Sure there
+be many things I can do, Master Hartop." And then as he saw Sir Richard
+Grenville emerging from one of the doors at the farther end of the deck
+he began to cry very piteously, as though fearing that he must surely be
+severely punished.
+
+"What have we here?" demanded Sir Richard.
+
+"So please your honour, 'tis a boy," explained one of the men.
+
+"Ay, I can well see 'tis not a horse," said the admiral; and then plying
+the boy with many questions, and learning that he was from Modbury, he
+turned to Gilbert Oglander: "Take him into your personal charge, Master
+Oglander," said he. "Let him be your serving-boy, or a powder-boy, or
+what you like; and bid the purser enter him on the ship's books. As for
+his mother, 'tis a pity for her that most concerns me, and I would have
+you inscribe a letter to her, and throw it overboard in a bottle, which
+may haply be picked up by some passing fishing-boat." And with that he
+strolled back aft towards his cabin, where he remained secluded until
+late on the following morning.
+
+Now as Gilbert passed again along the deck he looked over to the land,
+as he had done many times already, in the hope of being able to make out
+the towers of Modbury Manor in the far distance. Many a time had he
+stood in the upper room of one of those towers to watch the ships
+sailing outward from Plymouth Sound, and now for the first time he hoped
+to reverse the process and try to discover his home from the ship's
+deck. It was no very easy matter, in the fading light of the evening, to
+identify any house so far away; but Modbury stood upon a height and was
+prominent enough if one knew exactly where to look for it. At last,
+however, he descried the topmost tower above the trees; he could even
+see the tall flag-staff, with the flag fluttering in the breeze. He kept
+his eyes fixed upon the flag for many moments, believing that it had
+been hoisted for his own benefit as a signal of farewell. But at last he
+began to realize that for some strange reason it had not been drawn
+fully up to the top of the staff--that indeed it had been hoisted
+half-mast high. And this, as he well knew, was a token of death. A pang
+of alarm shot through him; he felt suddenly very desolate and lonely.
+Again and again he turned his eyes upon the flag, hoping that he had
+made a mistake. As he stood there Roland Grenville passed near him.
+
+"What, art home-sick so soon?" said he with a light laugh.
+
+Gilbert was silent for a moment, and at length, pointing to the land, he
+said:
+
+"Look to the flag on Modbury tower yonder. I beg you look at it and tell
+me if my sight deceiveth me. Is't not flying at the half-mast?"
+
+"Ay, in very sooth, 'tis so," returned young Grenville. "I can see it
+plainly. Someone is surely dead--Ah, the trees hide it now!"
+
+"Heaven send 'tis not my grandfather!" cried Gilbert. "I cannot believe
+'tis he, for I left him hale and well. And yet I can think of none
+else."
+
+"Mayhap 'tis your uncle Jasper," suggested Roland.
+
+But Gilbert shook his head, remembering Jasper's vigorous strength.
+
+"No," he said; "it cannot be uncle Jasper."
+
+"Then 'tis your cousin Philip, I warrant me," said Grenville. "The lad
+hath met with some mishap on the hare-brained journey that you told me
+of. Said you not that he went off on horseback, and that you had not
+heard news of him for two full days? 'Tis clearly he."
+
+And arguing with himself that night as he lay in the ship's cabin,
+sleepless and sick at heart, Gilbert came to the conclusion that this
+was so. He surmised that Philip had been thrown from his horse, or had
+come into some quarrel with highway vagabonds and had been brought home
+to Modbury dead. Little did he dream that Philip Oglander was now on
+board the _Pearl_ on his way to Spain; little did he dream that his
+grandfather now lay dead in his great room at Modbury Manor; and as
+little did he dream that now at this same moment he was himself the only
+Baron Champernoun.
+
+
+
+
+                          CHAPTER XIV.
+
+                       A CHAIN OF PENANCE.
+
+
+That brief voyage from Plymouth to the islands of the Azores was in the
+main an uneventful one. Gilbert Oglander, who, notwithstanding his love
+of ships, had never before spent a night upon the sea, very speedily
+succumbed to the effects of the ship's motion. The _Revenge_ rolled and
+pitched upon the great green waves that met her in the open channel
+beyond the Eddystone rocks, and when she was off Ushant a thick sea-mist
+hemmed her in, and she lay there tossing for many hours under
+close-reefed sails, beyond sight or hail of the other vessels of the
+fleet.
+
+It was while the fog still held round her that Gilbert first ventured
+upon deck. Jacob Hartop met him there, and greeted him with a question.
+
+"Prithee, Master Oglander," said the old man, "hast seen aught of young
+Robin Redfern these few hours past?"
+
+"Nay," answered Gilbert, "he hath not been near me since I have been
+below."
+
+"Then I much fear," returned Hartop, "that the lad hath fallen
+overboard, for no man hath set eyes upon him since we shortened sail
+eight hours ago. We have searched for him all-wheres, but he cannot be
+found. As a last resource I have sent a man up the main-mast to seek him
+in the tops, although 'tis well-nigh impossible he can be there."
+
+As he spoke the old man glanced aloft through the fog, and at the same
+moment a voice hailed him from tops.
+
+"Below there!" the voice cried. "The kid is here. I have found him!"
+
+Jacob Hartop sprang up upon the bulwarks, grasped the shrouds, and
+climbed up with the nimbleness of a much younger man. Gilbert watched
+him, and presently he disappeared into the railed gallery there. When
+he again appeared he was slowly descending, bearing the boy's inert form
+over his shoulder.
+
+"There!" cried Hartop, as he dumped the lad down upon the deck. "Thank
+the Lord y'are not starved to death up there!"
+
+The boy looked up, dazed as if he had been suddenly aroused from sleep.
+
+"How came you to go hiding up there?" questioned Hartop in a severe
+tone. "Dost know how you have alarmed us, quotha? How came you up there,
+I say?"
+
+The lad's eyes glanced about him as if in mortal fear.
+
+"'Twas Red Bob," he stammered. "He's here, on board this ship. I was
+afraid of him, Master Hartop; for he doth owe me a sorry grudge for
+being the cause of his being put into prison. I went up the mast to hide
+from him, and, being there, I could not get down again, try as I would."
+
+"And, prithee, who might be this Red Bob of whom y'are so afraid?" asked
+Jacob.
+
+And then Robin caught sight of Gilbert Oglander, and he said:
+
+"Master Gilbert should know the man. 'Tis the man that was put into
+prison for stealing the ducks and geese from the Manor farm, Master
+Gilbert, and that attacked you in Beddington Dingle, and that robbed
+Master Hartop of his bag of precious stones that he had brought home
+from the Spanish Main."
+
+"Marry!" exclaimed Gilbert in surprise. "And you say he is aboard the
+_Revenge_?"
+
+"Ay, truly," said Robin; "and by the way he regarded me, I feel sure he
+doth know that it was I who raised the alarm and was the cause of his
+being caught."
+
+"You need be in no such fear of the man, my lad," said Gilbert. "Let him
+but attempt to harm you, and I warrant you he'll not soon forget it. You
+are in my personal charge now, Robin, and I'll see you are hurt by no
+man."
+
+Later on that same day Gilbert encountered the man Red Bob in the
+forward part of the ship, whence the lad had gone immediately after
+prayers to witness a strange ceremony, of which the occasion was this:
+that Red Bob had that day been taken in the swearing of a blasphemous
+oath, and was now to be punished in sight of his companions. With a
+general consent of all the ship's company, it had been ordained that any
+man guilty of using profane language should be condemned to wear a heavy
+iron chain about his neck, and that at the time of morning and evening
+prayers he should receive three blows given him by the boatswain. The
+guilty man could only free himself from the penalty by transferring it
+to another whom he discovered swearing. Thus did the men of the
+_Revenge_ endeavour to banish the vice of bad language on board.
+
+Red Bob had worn the chain for the space of seven hours, and he was
+standing in the midst of his fellows meekly submitting to the
+boatswain's blows when Gilbert appeared. Gilbert thought he had never
+seen a man whose face showed more of brutality and evil than this Red
+Bob, and as he looked at him and remembered that night in Beddington
+Dingle, he could not doubt that it was this same man, this poacher, who
+had attacked Jacob Hartop and stolen the poor old man's wallet with its
+jewels and the precious letter, of which so much had been said at
+Modbury Manor.
+
+Jacob Hartop himself was at Gilbert's elbow as Red Bob retired towards
+the forecastle smarting from the boatswain's blows. As he approached
+them he touched his forelock, and was passing on when Gilbert accosted
+him.
+
+"Stop," said the lad, "I have a word or two to say to you."
+
+"I am at your worship's service," returned Red Bob. "What would you?"
+And then, recognizing Gilbert as the young heir of Modbury, he added:
+"But I have little need to ask, methinks, for I guess that you would
+question me concerning the matter of the night when I was arrested and
+thrown into Plymouth gaol?"
+
+Gilbert nodded. "Yes," he said, "you have guessed my wish right truly."
+
+"Well, your honour," said Red Bob, "as to the poaching of the farm
+ducks--"
+
+"Nay, I meant not the poaching matter," interrupted Gilbert. "You have
+had your just punishment for that, and so 'tis at an end. It was rather
+of the matter of your attack upon Master Hartop here, that I would know
+more. You see, there was a letter stolen--a letter of grave importance."
+
+"Ay, 'twas the Spaniards that purloined it," broke in Red Bob.
+
+"The Spaniards?" echoed Gilbert. "Prithee, what Spaniards mean you?"
+
+"Look you, my masters," said Red Bob, and then he drew Gilbert to the
+bulwarks and signed to Hartop to join him. "I can tell you, mayhap, more
+than you know. But firstly, be assured that I had no hand in the affair.
+The men who waylaid Master Hartop were Jasper Oglander, his son Philip,
+and one Andrea de Ortega. Nay, do not doubt me," he cautioned, seeing
+that Gilbert shook his head in incredulity; "I had the whole story from
+overhearing the Spaniards while I was in the gaol. For you must know
+that, having been for some three years on the Spanish galleys, I know
+their language, though of that they never dreamt when they contrived
+their plots and conspiracies in my hearing. Willingly would I have
+warned Master Richard Drake of their schemes; but in gaol one can hold
+speech with none but one's fellow-prisoners, and ere I was released and
+brought on board this ship the Spaniards had made good their escape."
+
+"Ay, but what of Master Jasper Oglander?" interrupted Hartop. "Say you
+that you have proof against him?"
+
+"I have proof thus far," rejoined Red Bob, "that on that night in
+December he and his two companions followed you from the ship with
+intent to get possession of the letter. It was they who assailed you in
+Beddington Dingle. They possessed themselves of the letter, which, it
+seemeth, contained news of the Spanish plate fleet. It was on account of
+that news that they were in so great haste to get back to Spain. Their
+escape was contrived by Jasper Oglander and his son--"
+
+"Marry come up!" cried Gilbert "Why, then, Timothy Trollope was right
+after all!"
+
+Red Bob shook his head, and a grim smile played about his lips.
+
+"Timothy Trollope had been righter still if he had finished his work on
+Polperro beach," said he. "'Tis said that the lad ran his rapier through
+young Philip Oglander. Haply he did so; but of this I am certain, that
+young Philip Oglander is at this moment on board the _Pearl_ on his way
+to Spain, with intent to inform the Spanish king of the setting out of
+this present expedition to waylay the plate fleet. That, my master, is
+the sum of what I know, and if there be aught else that you would
+question me upon, my name on the ship's books is Robert Cruse, and you
+will find me when on duty in the carpenter's quarters." And so saying,
+he again touched his forelock and proceeded on his way into the
+forecastle.
+
+Thus, when it was too late to relent, did Gilbert learn of his
+injustice towards Timothy Trollope. He reflected that had he only
+believed in Timothy's report of the character of Jasper and Philip
+Oglander, much mischief might have been averted. For it needed no
+assurance from Jacob Hartop to bring him to understand to the full all
+that might follow from the escape of the Spanish prisoners. They were
+now on their way to Spain, apparently with the object of hastening to
+King Philip and informing him of the starting of Lord Thomas Howard's
+expedition to the Azores; and the result of their intelligence would no
+doubt be that the Spanish king would endeavour by all the means in his
+power to frustrate the English designs upon his treasure-ships.
+
+Gilbert spoke of these things with Roland Grenville, but young Grenville
+regarded them with small concern, and reminded Gilbert that Lord Thomas
+Howard was well acquainted with the situation, for that he had given
+instructions to all his captains to keep a constant watch for the
+_Pearl_, to the end that if any should sight her she was to be pursued
+and captured, or else sent to the bottom with a well-directed shot.
+
+But if any strange vessels were espied they were only peaceful traders
+bearing our own flag of St. George, or else one or two of the Earl of
+Cumberland's fleet, which were at that time cruising off the coasts of
+Spain. Certain it is that the _Pearl_ did not come within sight of any
+on board the _Revenge_, for her voyage across the Bay of Biscay and
+thence westward to the Azores was performed without so much as the
+firing of a single gun. Nor did any event of great moment occur the
+while on board, or any circumstance worthy of mention, saving only that
+ere the Western Isles were sighted the men had already begun to grumble
+much at the quality of their rations and at their bodily discomforts.
+
+For, as if the ill results of bad victualling of the Queen's ships in
+1588 had not been a sufficient lesson, the food supplied to the present
+expedition was of the poorest sort, and it was little wonder that there
+was much discontent. The beer, of which one gallon each day was supplied
+to every man and boy, had been stored in old oil and fish barrels, and
+was so corrupt that many refused to drink of it. The meat was so salt
+that many said the brine had been put into it for the purpose of
+disguising the rank foulness thereof. The bread, too, was daily becoming
+more closely inhabited by maggots, while even the sweetest food was like
+to become unsavoury by reason of the noisome and poisonous scent of the
+bilge-water, which was in itself enough, had not the men all been for
+the most part hale and healthy, to make many a brave sailor food for
+crabs and sharks.
+
+But if the men grumbled it was as yet only in surly undertones, for all
+knew that there was good fruit to be had on the island of Flores, and
+perhaps even some good wine. Furthermore, the Spanish treasure-ships
+were expected on an early day, when, after a little fighting, as none
+doubted, our ships would speedily be filled up to the gunwales with bars
+of gold and ingots of silver and bags of precious stones. And then it
+would be--Hi! for England and a merry life for the rest of their days!
+
+The thought of that treasure buoyed up the heart of many a man whose
+spirit might else have failed him in the long days of waiting that were
+before them. But more than the hope of gain was the hope, which every
+man in the fleet felt in his inmost heart, of giving a trouncing to the
+proud Dons of Spain. For assuredly there was no stronger feeling in the
+British seaman's heart at that time than that of hatred of the Spaniard.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER XV.
+
+                IN SEARCH OF THE PLATE FLEET.
+
+
+It had been night-time when the fleet cast anchor under shelter of the
+island of Flores--the most westerly of the Azores; and if any of the
+younger members of the expedition who had not before gazed upon foreign
+land had hoped to witness aught that was novel or surprising, they had
+perforce to content themselves for the time being with the sight of a
+stretch of dark land rising out of a blue moonlit sea. Here and there,
+it is true, they could discern the black outline of a tall date-palm
+against the lighter background of the sky, poised, as it were, on the
+ridge of some rugged hill. But when the morning came the sloping land
+could be clearly seen with its terraces of vine and its blossoming
+orange-trees and its plantations of olives; and at the foot of the
+cliffs there was a long white line of foam, where the Atlantic rollers
+broke upon the rocky shores.
+
+The _Revenge_ lay so near to the shore that the people of the island,
+who had come down from their village on the hillside, could be
+distinctly seen standing in a group looking out in wonder at the ships.
+And some of them had even put out their boats and were paddling towards
+the ships in the hope of doing some trade in the selling of fresh fruit.
+When they came alongside, certain of the officers bought a few bunches
+of luscious grapes or baskets of oranges and dates; but what was most
+required was a supply of fresh water, and for this the English saw no
+reason why they should pay money or money's worth, and their own boats
+were better fitted for the carrying of water-beakers than those of the
+natives. So, ere the sun was yet high above the horizon, two boats of
+the _Revenge_ were launched, and a like number from each of the other
+ships, and they were pulled towards the beach.
+
+In one of the _Revenge's_ boats went Gilbert Oglander. He sat at the
+tiller, and he steered her round under the stern of Jacob Whiddon's
+bark, the _Pilgrim_, that lay but a cable's length away from his own
+ship. As he passed under her high counter one of her own boats shot out
+from her larboard side, and her men pulled vigorously at their oars as
+if intent upon having a race. Gilbert glanced at her rowers as she came
+abreast of him, and as he caught sight of the youth at her helm he
+started in amazement. For a moment he could not believe the evidence of
+his own eyes. But when the youth turned half-round with his face full in
+view there could be no mistake as to his identity, and Gilbert cried
+aloud in a voice that carried far across the waves:
+
+"Tim! Timothy! Timothy Trollope!"
+
+And Timothy (for it was in truth he) touched his cap in salutation, and
+answered cheerily:
+
+"Give you good-morrow, Master Oglander. Prithee, hast had a pleasant
+voyage, withal?"
+
+"Ay, truly," returned Gilbert. "But 'sdeath, Tim, I thought not to see
+you here!"
+
+And then the boats drew apart, and Timothy remained out of sight in the
+rear for some ten minutes, until the keels grounded on the pebbles of a
+little sheltered creek whither the boats from the _Defiance_ had already
+led the way. And when Gilbert leapt ashore he ran across some rocks to
+where Timothy's boat was arriving; he caught the painter-rope that was
+thrown to him, and drew the craft inward through the deep green water to
+the edge of the rock. As Timothy stepped out, Gilbert, remembering
+nothing of the disagreement that had come betwixt them, took the lad by
+the hand and clapped him on the shoulder in very joy.
+
+"Well met!" said he; "well met!" he repeated. "But why, since thou'rt
+sailing i' the fleet, Tim, didst thou not come aboard the _Revenge_,
+quotha? There was ample room for thee."
+
+Timothy smiled awkwardly.
+
+"I cared not a groat which ship I sailed on, so that it were but in the
+following of my lord the admiral," said he, as he strode over the rough
+rocks towards a little grassy knoll beyond. "'Tis true I had wished to
+be aboard one of the Queen's ships rather than on a mere adventurer such
+as Jacob Whiddon's _Pilgrim_. Yet so hard did my father urge my staying
+at home, even to the last day, that 'tis a marvel that I did end by
+gaining his consent to my coming at all, and it was by sheer good luck
+that I succeeded in getting a berth with Whiddon."
+
+"Wouldst come aboard the _Revenge_ even now an I got thee entered on her
+books, Tim?" questioned Gilbert.
+
+"Ay, gladly," returned Timothy; "for I do assure thee the life we have
+had since leaving Plymouth hath been none too comfortable; and the food
+is less to be desired than that which I have ofttimes seen bestowed upon
+the swine at Modbury Manor. As for the beer they give us, I vow I'd
+rather regale myself on the water out of the sea. Ay, gladly would I
+join the _Revenge_. And yet," he added, with a curiously undecided look
+in his eyes, "'tis surely passing strange, Master Gilbert, that thou
+shouldst ask me aboard the same ship with thyself, seeing that when last
+we parted it was upon no friendly terms."
+
+"I should willingly forget and dismiss from my mind the matter that
+parted us," said Gilbert. "And I will own now that I made a huge mistake
+in my judgment of thee, Tim. I fear thou wert right in thy estimate of
+my uncle. I blush to think it, but I am well-nigh convinced that he was,
+as you said, engaged in plotting on the side of our country's enemies."
+
+"It may be that you will have proof of it when we return to England,"
+observed Timothy. And then with a "God-speed you", he turned and
+rejoined his shipmates, wondering the while at Master Oglander's
+friendly feeling towards him.
+
+When Timothy again went on board the _Pilgrim_ he sought out her captain
+and told him of the offer that Gilbert had made, beseeching Jacob
+Whiddon to let him join the _Revenge_ if it should so chance that Sir
+Richard Grenville would have him. Captain Whiddon murmured some
+objections, saying that his acquaintance with Timothy during the voyage
+had taught him the lad's value.
+
+"Nevertheless," said he, "if you are a handy man on board this small
+craft, I doubt not that you would prove even more so in a wider sphere.
+'Tis your own advantage that I consider, Timothy, and looking at the
+matter thus, it would ill become me to refuse your pleading."
+
+For the rest of that day, and during the day that followed, Timothy cast
+many a longing glance towards the _Revenge_. So often did he look at the
+ship that very soon he came to know every rope of her rigging, every
+spar of her masts, and every plank of her richly-carved and gilded hull.
+She was a comely vessel, he thought, with her tall poop and her
+glittering brass guns, her waving flag of St. George, and her crew of
+merry, stalwart men. But the days passed and yet no message came to him,
+and he began to think that Gilbert Oglander had surely forgotten all
+about him.
+
+During these days the ships remained in the same positions as they had
+taken up when they had cast anchor. At times the boats would be sent
+ashore, or to one or other of the victuallers; but there was no sign of
+growing activity, nothing to indicate that the expected treasure-ships
+were at hand.
+
+Two weeks went by and still all remained as before. But on a certain
+Monday morning in early April, when Timothy sat with some of the men
+enjoying the bright sunshine on deck, he observed a boat putting off
+from the _Revenge_. He watched it idly, growing more eager when he saw
+that it was approaching the _Pilgrim_, and that Gilbert Oglander sat in
+her stern seats.
+
+Very soon the boat was alongside, and Gilbert climbed up the ship's side
+ladder and stepped on deck, and strode aft to the captain's cabin.
+There he remained for many minutes, delivering some message from Sir
+Richard Grenville. When at length he came again upon the deck he sought
+out Timothy Trollope--no difficult task, seeing that Tim was patiently
+waiting for him at the gangway.
+
+"Didst think I had forgotten thee, Tim?" said Gilbert. And then, without
+waiting for answer he added: "Get thy trappings and baggage ready, lad,
+and come aboard the _Revenge_ with us; for Sir Richard hath consented to
+thy coming, and hath bidden me fetch thee."
+
+It occupied Timothy but a few moments to gather his belongings together;
+for in truth they made but a scanty bundle, needing no great
+consideration in the packing. With his morion slung basket-wise on his
+arm, his corselet gripped by the shoulder-straps, his sword dangling at
+his side, and his small canvas bag of spare clothing carried on his
+back, he followed Gilbert Oglander into the boat, and waving a farewell
+to his old shipmates he was rowed alongside the _Revenge_.
+
+Timothy was somewhat awed by the sight of Lord Thomas Howard on the
+ship's quarter-deck, where the admiral, arrayed in a suit of spotless
+gray velvet trimmed with silver lace, paced to and fro in earnest
+colloquy with Sir Richard Grenville.
+
+Lord Thomas, it seemed, had been making a tour of his fleet that
+morning, inspecting the ships and giving various instructions to his
+captains. When Timothy came on board the whole company of the _Revenge_
+were being mustered on the upper deck. Gilbert Oglander presented him to
+the purser, who straightway entered his name on the ship's books.
+
+When the roll had been called, the admiral and the vice-admiral,
+standing at the forward rail of the quarter-deck, looked down upon the
+sea of sunburnt faces and continued their conversation. Presently Sir
+Richard Grenville leaned over the rail and spoke to one of the officers
+who stood below.
+
+"Master Tremayne," said he, "send me up the man Hartop--Jacob Hartop."
+
+And when the word had been passed forward, Jacob Hartop strode towards
+the stairs and mounted to the quarter-deck, where he saluted the two
+great men.
+
+Lord Thomas Howard signed to him to approach nearer, saying at the same
+time:
+
+"It seemeth you are passing well acquainted with these islands, my man?"
+
+"I have good reason to know them well, my lord," returned Jacob. "I lost
+my ship off this same island of Flores--a ship that was loaded even to
+the gunwales with Spanish treasure--and for two weeks I cruised among
+the Azores in an open boat in search of a vessel to fetch me home to
+England. I have been ashore on every island in the group, and have lived
+in Terceira for full three months. Yes, my lord, so please you, I know
+them well."
+
+"Good!" nodded the admiral. "And I doubt not you can manage a small boat
+if need be?"
+
+"Ay, or a large," said Jacob. "I am well trained in navigation, as Sir
+Richard Grenville can avouch."
+
+"Enough," said Lord Thomas. And then, becoming more familiar in his tone
+of speech, he told Jacob that he had a mind to send him off for a cruise
+to the westward with the purpose of keeping an outlook for the
+appearance of the Spanish treasure-ships. "You shall have a good,
+swift-sailing fly-boat," he said, "and may choose your own companions
+for crew. And when you catch sight of the plate fleet it shall be your
+object to hasten back with all speed to our anchorage here and warn us
+of their coming."
+
+"Right well do I understand," agreed Jacob. "Prithee, when do I set
+off?"
+
+"When you list," said Lord Thomas; "but at noon to-day at the latest,
+for it may be that they are already within a day's sail of the islands."
+
+So Jacob Hartop, having received full instructions, returned to the
+upper deck. And as he was passing the main-mast he caught sight of
+Timothy Trollope and touched him on the elbow, bidding him follow him.
+
+"I am glad to see thee aboard of us, Master Timothy," said he, shaking
+the lad by the hand. "And in truth you are in goodly time. Art willing
+for an adventure, lad?"
+
+"Ay, in faith am I that," said Tim. "I am ill of this weary waiting and
+ceaseless idleness. But what mean you by adventure, Master Hartop?"
+
+Then Jacob opened out to him his plans for the cruise in search of the
+enemy, and asked him to be one of his little crew.
+
+Timothy at first leapt gladly at the proposal, but at the next moment he
+shook his head in doubt.
+
+"How will it be," said he, "if the Spaniards should come before we
+return? I should then see naught of the fighting, and I would not for
+anything in the world miss such an experience."
+
+"You need have no fear as to that, my boy," returned Jacob, "for shall
+we not be the first to see them when they come? Yea, 'tis for that
+reason that we go, so that we may hasten back and give the alarm. Come,
+be not afraid that we shall miss aught by our absence; for I do vouch
+for it that if you remain on board the _Revenge_ it will be but a weary
+time of waiting and inactivity, whereas in our boat we shall at the
+least be moving from place to place with the chance of adventure. I had
+thought that you would rejoice at the opportunity, as did Master
+Oglander when I broached the matter to him."
+
+Timothy's face brightened up at these last words.
+
+"You had not told me that Master Gilbert was to come," said he. "In that
+case, I will certainly consent."
+
+"'Twas he who bade me ask you," remarked Hartop; "for you must know that
+we had word of the thing full three days ago, when Sir Richard
+Grenville, with more impatience than my Lord Thomas hath yet shown, saw
+the merit of sending out scouts, and made up his mind to speak with Lord
+Thomas as he hath done this morning."
+
+In something less than an hour's time Jacob was ready with his little
+crew, which he had chosen with the thought of friendliness rather than
+with any regard to their special fitness for the expedition. The old
+gunner, Edward Webbe, was a useful man, in that he could not only manage
+a boat, but could also, if necessary, speak with any Spaniards or
+Portuguese in their own tongue, and he also knew the islands. Timothy
+Trollope was strong for the pulling of an oar when the wind would not
+serve for the use of the sail, while Gilbert Oglander had marvellously
+keen eye-sight, and might therefore be depended upon for a look-out.
+Young Robin Redfern was chosen for no greater reason than that he had
+pleaded to accompany Master Oglander, and because he was of no great
+bulk and would therefore occupy very little room in a boat whose
+accommodation was limited. All five were disguised as fishers, and their
+boat, which was rigged with a lateen-sail, might well be mistaken at a
+distance for a Biscayan fishing-boat. The provisions wherewith she was
+stored were sufficient to serve for two weeks.
+
+A light breeze from the south-east blew over the sea as Jacob Hartop
+took his little craft out of the roadstead at the north of Flores
+Island where the fleet lay at anchor. A projecting headland soon hid the
+ships from view, and towards evening the land itself was but a dim blue
+line on the horizon in the east. At nightfall the crew was divided into
+watches, and Timothy, Webbe, and Robin Redfern slept while Hartop and
+Gilbert remained awake, keeping the boat before the wind as she sailed
+ever westward. But at sunrise on the next morning the course was altered
+to the south, and so maintained until noon, when it was again altered to
+the north. And so, backward and forward, north and south, the cruising
+was kept up day after day. But it was not until the evening of the ninth
+day that a single sail was sighted.
+
+It was Robin Redfern who caught the first glimpse of the vessel--a mere
+dark speck against the sunset sky.
+
+"They are coming! they are coming!" he cried, half in terror and half in
+joy. And in a moment his four companions were standing up on the boat's
+half-deck and gazing out with searching eyes across the ocean.
+
+"What make you of her, Master Oglander?" questioned Jacob Hartop in a
+quiet, deeply earnest tone as he gripped one of the stays to steady
+himself while the boat rose to meet the great Atlantic rollers.
+
+Gilbert shielded his eyes from the strong light of the sunset as he
+stood with one arm clasped about the mast.
+
+"'Tis a goodly ship in the matter of size," he presently said; "yet I
+can see but little of her hull, for she is bow-on, sailing eastward as
+it seemeth."
+
+"Haply 'tis one of their quick-sailing advance guards," suggested Webbe.
+
+But Hartop silently continued to look out upon the sea with his brows
+bent and an expression of grim expectancy in his cold gray eyes.
+
+"Canst make out if there be more than one ship?" he asked after a long
+pause. "Mark it well, my boy; for it were best that we make the matter
+full certain ere we fly back with the alarm."
+
+Gilbert's eyes slowly swept the line of the horizon.
+
+"No," he said; "there is but the one."
+
+"Then we may not yet return," said Hartop; and turning to Timothy
+Trollope he added: "Take you the tiller, Tim, and keep our head to the
+westward until the dusk hath fallen. By that time we should know more."
+
+The wind served well for this new course, and the boat sped on. But when
+the sun had sunk the strange ship could no more be seen, for the bright
+yellow afterglow was speedily obscured by a gray sea-mist.
+
+Earlier on that same day they had observed that the sea was plentifully
+strewn with tufts of sea-weed, and below their boat, when they had
+looked over the gunwale and peered down into the depths of the water,
+they had seen dense forests of marine growth thickly entangled, and
+many thousands of jelly-fish and other denizens of the deep.
+
+Jacob Hartop had shown more interest and concern in this fact than any
+of his companions.
+
+"'Tis for all the world like what I have seen many times in the Sargasso
+Sea," said he. "And yet it cannot surely be that we have come so far to
+the westward as that."
+
+But as the evening wore on and the water became yet more densely full of
+living things, he shook his head gravely and murmured a wish that they
+had turned back towards the Azores. "For," said he, "if it be that we
+are on the fringe of the Sargasso Sea there is no knowing what may
+befall us."
+
+"And prithee, Jacob, what manner of dangers do you fear?" questioned
+Edward Webbe. "Sure there can be no peril in sailing over a forest of
+harmless sea-weeds."
+
+"'Twas in the Sargasso Sea that I lost my ship," said Jacob. "I know the
+place full well, and never do I wish to be back in it again. Hast never
+heard of it, Ned?"
+
+Webbe shook his head and smiled as he answered:
+
+"Mayhap I have heard the name. But it seemeth to me that we are now in
+the Atlantic Ocean; and if thou dost declare that we are nigh unto any
+other sea, why, I can only believe that thou art dreaming."
+
+"Well do I know that we are in the Atlantic," returned Hartop, "though a
+good piece farther to the westward than we had intended. But you must
+know that this Sargasso Sea of which I speak, is itself a part of the
+Atlantic--and a part which all wise mariners do avoid. 'Tis in places
+naught but a solid mass of sea-weed, so dense as to support the weight
+of a man, yea, even of a ship. Once within its confines, 'tis rare that
+a vessel doth ever escape; and most men who have been through it will
+tell you strange and marvellous tales of hideous monsters with hundreds
+of arms, that dart out and entwine in their grip of death all who come
+within their venomous reach."
+
+"Then I pray you let us adventure no farther," said Webbe, "for I, at
+least, have no great wish to be embraced by such arms. Let us turn back,
+Jacob."
+
+"I would that we were once more aboard of the _Revenge_," muttered young
+Robin Redfern, who lay stretched upon the half-deck at Gilbert
+Oglander'a feet. "Who knows but that the Spaniards have already passed
+us, and been overmastered and taken home to England."
+
+"There can be little harm in keeping on our present course until
+sunrise," said Jacob Hartop, not heeding the boy's remark. "Then, if we
+see no sign of the plate fleet, we can turn about and make a run for
+Flores."
+
+"Ay," added Webbe, "it were even wise to turn at the first peep of dawn;
+for, mind you, it would go ill with us if we should find ourselves in
+the very midst of the galleons without a chance of escape."
+
+And so they held on westward; and when darkness fell over the sea,
+Hartop and Gilbert curled themselves up under their rugs in the boat's
+well and went to sleep, leaving Timothy in charge of the tiller and
+Webbe and Robin on the watch forward.
+
+It may be that the recent mention of the loss of his ship lingered in
+Jacob's mind as he fell asleep, for, as he dreamt, he saw himself once
+again upon her deck. A great galleon she was. He had won her in battle
+from the Spaniards, and as she was a better vessel than his own poor
+craft, he had converted her to his own use, and taking his own crew
+aboard of her had hoisted the red cross of St George and cruised with
+her as a buccaneer on the Spanish Main, conquering many another ship of
+Spain and transferring their treasures to his own hold, until the
+galleon was weighed down almost to her lower port-holes with the weight
+of gold that she carried. And then on a certain night when he was
+homeward bound he lay in his cabin asleep, and there had come to him one
+of the ship's boys to tell him that the galleon had sprung a leak and
+was sinking. He heard the boy calling him now as he lay in his dreams in
+the _Revenge's_ boat, sailing on those same seas.
+
+"Master Hartop!" the boy cried, laying his hand on the old buccaneer's
+breast. "Master Hartop! Quick! quick!"
+
+Jacob turned over and sat up, and found himself not in his ship's cabin
+but in an open boat. And the boy who had called him was young Robin
+Redfern, who now stood over him with a face as white as the sea-foam,
+and with his hand that held the boat's lantern trembling as if with
+palsy.
+
+"'Sdeath, boy!" cried Hartop. "What in the world hath happened?"
+
+Robin raised his free hand and pointed over the boat's gunwale across
+the water.
+
+"Look!" he cried. "What can it mean?"
+
+
+
+
+                          CHAPTER XVI.
+
+                 THE GREEN LIGHT UPON THE SEA.
+
+
+Jacob was on his feet in a moment. His eyes were dazed by a strange
+pale-green light that shone luminous over the boat's larboard bow. The
+sea was calm, with only a gentle swell rolling from the east; the sky
+was black and starless, and all was dark around saving only in the one
+direction where shone the ghostly green light, that reared itself like a
+cloud of radiant mist out of the sea, only a few yards from where he
+stood.
+
+Even as he gazed upon it, bewildered and speechless, the light seemed to
+approach, or else it was the boat that sailed into the luminance. It
+shed its ghastly green glare upon everything, making all on board as
+plain as though the craft were bathed in soft moonlight. All was as
+green as grass. Webbe, Timothy, and Gilbert stood staring about them
+like phantoms, silently glancing at one another with the emotions of men
+who had been suddenly hurried into another world. Their faces, their
+clothing, even their hair was green, and it seemed that the mysterious
+light had deprived them of speech, for none spoke.
+
+Timothy Trollope, who had been at the helm, had suddenly ceased to pay
+any regard to the steering, and now the boat's sail swayed idly to and
+fro, empty of wind. Gilbert Oglander, regaining his sober senses, looked
+over the side to search for the origin of the strange radiance. But
+there was no flame to the light, which seemed to be a mere transparent
+shaft of air, as unsubstantial as a rainbow. And when he turned to see
+if Jacob Hartop were yet awake, and found the old man at his side, he
+implored an explanation of the mystery.
+
+"What means it, Master Hartop?" he asked in an awe-stricken voice. "Hast
+seen its like ever before?"
+
+But the old buccaneer made no answer. Clambering over the coaming of the
+well, he crept on hands and knees towards the bow near where Gilbert
+stood. He peered out into the light, gripping the gunwale with trembling
+hands. He remained thus for many moments. Then suddenly he drew back,
+flung his left arm round Gilbert's legs, and with a wild, frantic cry
+upon his lips pointed out with his skinny right hand into the midst of
+the green light.
+
+"See! see!" he cried. "It is a ship!"
+
+Gilbert's eyes followed the direction in which the old man pointed, and
+presently he discovered, at the farther fringe of the light, the
+towering form of a vessel's hull. He could clearly see her stern
+port-holes, with the gallery above them, and above the gallery the
+projecting rail of her poop-deck. Her counter was richly carved with
+many strange devices, and the carvings were covered with tarnished gold.
+Her stout masts rose high above her, and her ragged sails were ample
+evidence that it was long since the ship had known their use.
+
+"Can you not see her?" continued Hartop. "Od's life, boy! Look where I
+point."
+
+"I see her, Master Hartop," returned Gilbert; "I see her. 'Tis a
+galleon, and a Spaniard by her build."
+
+"Ay, faith, a galleon indeed," nodded Hartop; "and a galleon upon which
+mine eyes now look not for the first time, if she be not a ghost!" He
+rose to his feet, still keeping his arm about Gilbert, and added in a
+strange, dry voice that was scarcely more than a breath: "'Tis a ghost,
+Master Oglander, 'tis a ghost that you look upon--the ghost of the
+Golden Galleon!"
+
+And so saying, he turned from the sight and sank upon the narrow deck,
+covering his face with his hands.
+
+By this time Timothy Trollope also had seen the galleon. Clasping the
+tiller, he held it over. But it had no effect, for the pinnace had no
+way upon her; the wind had fallen to an absolute calm, and the sail
+hung loose and motionless against the mast.
+
+"Out with the sweeps!" cried Edward Webbe, and Timothy, leaving his
+post, took up one of the long oars, while Gilbert Oglander took the
+other, and together they pulled and pulled, striving to bring the boat
+round and so escape from the grim phantom galleon. But with the first
+stroke they made their oar-blades caught in a mesh of sea-weeds. The
+disturbed water flashed with phosphorescent fire, and when the oars were
+with difficulty dragged up they rose dripping with a shower of sparks
+and heavy with clinging weeds. Again the oars were dipped, and again
+they were weighted with the tangled growth of weeds.
+
+"'Tis of no avail, Tim," declared Gilbert as he drew in his oar. He
+leaned over the boat's side and looked down into the calm, shadowy
+water, where fitful tracks of shining white light showed the movements
+of coiling writhing monsters of the deep.
+
+"Nay, pull at your oars!" cried Jacob Hartop, rising now from the deck
+and slipping down into the well. "Let us not be carried nearer to that
+horrid ship! Dip not your blades so deep, but pull her round that we may
+get beyond this phantom light. Here, Ned," he added to Webbe, "take thou
+a hand of Timothy's oar, while I give a help to Gilbert. 'Twill go ill
+if four of us cannot move her. Robin, my lad, get thee to the tiller and
+steer us back into the darkness."
+
+He looked aft to where Robin stood and saw the lad obediently approach
+the tiller, while he himself pulled at Gilbert's oar. The boat began to
+move, but scarcely had a second stroke of the oars been made when a
+frantic scream came from Robin Redfern, and the lad, starting forward,
+plunged himself headlong into the midst of his companions.
+
+"In heaven's name, what hath bewitched the lad?" cried Hartop. He
+abandoned the oar and bent down to pick Robin up, and felt him trembling
+in every limb. The boy was comforted by the touch of human hands, but he
+positively refused to return to the helm.
+
+"I cannot, I cannot!" he cried.
+
+"Take you the oar, then, Robin," said Timothy, "while I go."
+
+But Timothy, bold though he was, came back even more quickly than Robin
+had done, with his face transfixed with terror.
+
+"Look! look!" he stammered, pointing with fearful eagerness to the
+boat's stern.
+
+All turned their gaze towards the tiller, and saw something which might
+well fill them with dread. A long flesh-like arm, half-pink half-green,
+was gliding slowly over the gunwale, with the movements of a huge
+caterpillar. Its farther end was not visible at first, but Gilbert
+Oglander, glancing over into the water, traced the thing for many yards
+to where it was rooted in a great green shining body midway between
+the boat and the galleon. The body was furnished with two great
+glaring eyes as large as plates. From near the eyes some eight or nine
+other arms or tentacles were stretched forth, some lying inactive on the
+water's surface, others poised in the green air, with rows of immense
+sucking discs on their under side; and two of them had climbed up the
+galleon's hull and were entwined about her like a pair of giant
+serpents. All this Gilbert perceived in a momentary glance. But he told
+naught of the matter to his mates. Going down on his hands and knees in
+the boat's well he crept to one of the little lockers that were under
+the side-seats. He pulled open the door, thrust in his arm end brought
+out two swords, and flung one of them to Timothy.
+
+[Illustration: "FOR THE LOVE OF HEAVEN CUT THE THING IN TWAIN!"]
+
+"Here, Tim, quick!" he cried. "For the love of heaven cut the thing in
+twain!"
+
+Then again thrusting his arm into the locker he brought out an axe,
+which he gripped in his hand. Springing aft to the stern, he then began
+to hew at the monstrous arm at the part which was lying across the
+gunwale. Timothy got to the other side, and in like manner struck with
+all his might at the creature. Stroke after stroke of sword and axe fell
+upon the writhing thing.
+
+Suddenly the boat swayed over, the sail drew wind, and as suddenly the
+mysterious green light flickered, faded, flickered again, and then faded
+into utter darkness. There was a faint splash under the stern.
+
+"'Tis done!" shouted Timothy, stamping his heel on the severed portion
+of the monster's arm as it lay across the deck. "Give us a hand here,
+Master Webbe, and help us to heave this thing overboard. Touch it not
+but with your boot, lest it sting you with its poison. Now, all
+together!"
+
+"Down with the helm!" cried Hartop, himself springing to the tiller. And
+then, as the remnant of the animal's tentacle was plunged into the sea,
+the pinnace moved slowly onward over the darkened waters, and the little
+crew breathed in thankful freedom. Yet a strange superstitious terror
+had seized upon them, and for a long time no word was spoken and no
+sound heard but the creaking of the ropes, the light bubbling of the
+water at the bow, and the intermittent sobbing of young Robin Redfern.
+They yearned for the coming of daylight, and dreaded every moment that
+the eerie green light might again surround them. Again and again Jacob
+Hartop as he sat at the tiller glanced furtively behind him, as if to
+assure himself that he was not being pursued by what he firmly believed
+to be the phantom of his lost ship. Timothy Trollope, too, whose simple
+and untutored mind had yielded to the same superstitious fear that was
+oppressing the skipper, stood up time after time and, rubbing his eyes,
+glanced backward across the sea. Gilbert Oglander had but an uneasy
+sleep, while Webbe, who sat with his legs outstretched before him and
+his back firmly planted against the boat's side-planks, refused to close
+his eyes. The only one who slept peacefully was Robin, who had
+literally cried himself to sleep.
+
+At last, in the eastern sky there appeared the faint gray gleam of
+coming dawn. The welcome light crept over sky and sea. The men could now
+see each other's pale and troubled faces, and then, for the first time
+since the mysterious green radiance had vanished, Jacob Hartop spoke.
+
+"It hath been a most merciful escape," said he, "a most merciful
+deliverance. The Lord be thanked!"
+
+"Ay, the Lord be thanked!" murmured Edward Webbe.
+
+The two old men had been feasting their eyes on the dawn-light over in
+the east. But Gilbert Oglander, who now rose to his feet and faced the
+westward, gave a slight start and quietly placed his hand on Hartop's
+shoulder.
+
+"The galleon is still in sight, Master Hartop," said he.
+
+"Ay," echoed Timothy Trollope, "she is still in sight."
+
+Slowly and deliberately Jacob turned his head. His hand lost its hold of
+the tiller. Slowly he looked back again at his companions.
+
+"What means it?" he muttered hoarsely through his dry, parched lips. His
+face was ashen gray and woefully haggard. He seemed to have aged a score
+of years since the last evening. "What means it?" he repeated dryly.
+
+"It seemeth to me," said Gilbert, "that your golden galleon is no ghost
+after all, but a veritable floating ship."
+
+"Said you not that she was loaded with Spanish treasure, Master Hartop?"
+questioned Timothy.
+
+Jacob nodded.
+
+"As full laden as ever ship could be," he answered.
+
+"And wilt thou leave her there, where she is, to drift at random on the
+wide sea, to rot upon the water, and to go down at last to bestow her
+treasure upon the mermaids? I pray thee, let us go back to her, that we
+may bring away with us some of the gold whereof thou hast spoken."
+
+"What!" cried Hartop, fixing his glassy eyes in astonishment upon the
+bold lad.
+
+"'Tis daylight now," pursued Tim. "Mark how the coming sunlight spreads
+across the sky. Mark how its bright reflection gleams upon your
+galleon's golden hull. Why need we fear to approach her, ay, or even to
+board her, in the broad light of day?"
+
+Hartop shook his head in grave rebuke.
+
+"Thou'rt over bold, Master Timothy," said he. "The ship were a wealthy
+prize, I will allow. But I would have thee know that 'twas not to
+ransack drifting derelicts that we came out upon this voyage, but in
+quest of King Philip's plate fleet. Having failed to discover the fleet
+in our allotted time, we shall now return to Queen Elizabeth's ships at
+Flores and inform Her Majesty's admiral of the result of our quest. As
+for the golden galleon, let her rot, let her sink, say I. Let her
+treasures go down to the mermaids' halls, that the precious gems may
+bedeck the mermaids' necks withal. It will not be the first ship-load of
+Spanish doubloons that hath gone unto the depths for the children of the
+ocean to play with. And I say to you, were the galleon thrice her size,
+with thrice her present wealth aboard of her, I would not turn back a
+fathom's distance with the thought of entering her. And now," he added,
+"I pray you, just hitch me up another inch or two of the peak halliard
+there, while Gilbert doth set about preparing our breakfast."
+
+And so they sailed back to Flores.
+
+
+
+
+                          CHAPTER XVII.
+
+                     SIR RICHARD GRENVILLE.
+
+
+Four months went by--four months of weary, monotonous waiting--and still
+Lord Thomas Howard's fleet lay in its old anchorage in the roadstead off
+the north of Flores Island. The long-expected homeward-bound treasure
+_flota_ from the Spanish Main had not yet come in sight. The King of
+Spain, who was now well aware of the presence of the English ships at
+the Azores, and who knew their drift as surely as did Lord Thomas
+himself, was sensible of how much the safety of his galleons concerned
+his own interests and the interests of his country; and by secret means
+he had communicated with his admirals at Nombre de Dios, causing them to
+delay their starting; for he chose to hazard the perishing of ships,
+men, and goods by bringing them over in a season of storms rather than
+endanger their falling into our hands.
+
+He had two distinct designs in bringing his fleet home so late. One was
+that he thought that Lord Thomas would have consumed his victuals and
+have been forced accordingly to abandon his quest and return to England;
+and the other was that he might meanwhile gain time to furnish a great
+fleet, which he was preparing to act as the guardian of his treasure
+galleons. In the first design he found himself deceived, for Admiral
+Howard had not been two months at the Western Isles ere he received
+supplies of victuals from England; and in the second he was equally
+prevented, for the Earl of Cumberland, who was then cruising off the
+coast of Spain, was keeping a constant watch upon the port of Ferrol,
+where the new armada was being hurriedly fitted out, and Cumberland was
+prepared to send intelligence to Flores to warn Lord Thomas at the
+moment of danger.
+
+But despite the arrival of supplies from home, the provisions of the
+English fleet at the Azores were meagre in quantity, and in quality
+wretchedly poor, and it was found necessary to add to them by making
+frequent raids upon the nearer islands and taking forcible possession
+of food from the islanders' homesteads. The hot summer months of June
+and July had brought additional discomforts to the crews, and early in
+August a pestilent sickness spread from ship to ship. On the _Defiance_
+a score of men had died before the middle of August, and an equal number
+of the ship's company of the _Lion_ were carried off. Sir Robert Cross
+of the _Bonaventure_ had buried in the sea no fewer than thirty-six of
+his picked men, and the disease in a more or less virulent form had made
+an entrance upon every one of the Queen's six ships, as well as the
+victuallers, fly-boats, and small pinnaces that were of the expedition.
+Jacob Whiddon's little ship, the _Pilgrim_, had escaped so far with but
+one death.
+
+On board the _Revenge_ Sir Richard Grenville had much ado to stem the
+tide of the dread visitation. His ship was small, and her crowded crew
+had but indifferent accommodation even when in good health, and when the
+illness seized them there was little chance of a recovery. The matter
+was made worse by the fact that, for want of a more convenient hospital,
+her sick men were forced to lie upon the ballast, down below, where no
+fresh air could reach them, where the light of the sun could not
+penetrate, and where even the best and freshest food became speedily
+rank and nasty. Her surgeons were ignorant men, of a low and
+ill-educated class, to whom the payment of five shillings a week was
+considered an ample return for the exercise of their profession. Of
+medicine and the laws of health they scarcely knew anything. They could
+saw off a shattered limb or patch a broken head passing well; but they
+had no more than a child's skill in dealing with a sickness that came of
+bad sanitation, putrid food, and insidious infection. The ship's lower
+decks were so pestilential that a sound man might hardly hope to go
+below without catching the disease.
+
+At the first it was the men of the commoner sort, the working mariners
+and the ill-fed soldiers, who were affected, but betimes the gentlemen
+of the poop were struck down one by one by the fell complaint, and there
+were few among them who did not suffer in some wise, if it were no more
+than to experience a sickly headache. So general did the complaints
+become, that many of the men, led by Red Bob, threatened more than once
+to break out into open mutiny. They declared that they were being
+poisoned by sour beer and rancid meat, and day after day, as the
+expected treasure-ships failed to come into view, the discontent became
+stronger and more noisy.
+
+Sir Richard Grenville held a firm and determined authority over his
+ship's company, however, for he was a most resolute man, and none dared
+to openly offend him. He was a man very unquiet in his mind, always
+eager and impatient, and greatly affected to war. It was perhaps from
+this same resolute spirit that he had been able to perform the many
+valiant acts that are recorded of him. At the age of sixteen he had
+distinguished himself for bravery and fearlessness in the wars in
+Hungary under the Emperor Maximilian against the Turks; he had fought in
+the great sea-fight at Lepanto with the Christians against the Turks,
+when thirty thousand of the Saracens fell or were taken prisoners, and
+twelve thousand Christian slaves were liberated. Also he had taken
+prominent part in the defeat of the Spanish Armada. Of his life in
+Virginia, whither he went to found the first English colony, many heroic
+acts are recorded. His rivals thought him harsh and overbearing, and
+certify that he exercised a most tyrannical rule over his colonists and
+shipmates from first to last; and Master Ralph Lane (who is remembered
+as being the first to introduce the herb tobacco into England) wrote of
+him in an ample discourse addressed to Sir Walter Raleigh, that
+Grenville's pride was intolerable, his ambition insatiable, and that his
+proceedings towards them all in Virginia, and to Lane in particular,
+were unendurable. It seems certain that among the islanders of the
+Azores he was greatly feared for his severity in leading his men to
+plunder the homesteads for food for the ships. Some things that are
+written of him show that at times he could be boastful and inclined to
+bravado.
+
+"He was of so hard a complexion," says Jan van Linschoten in a document
+that is to be found in Hakluyt's _Voyages_, "that as he continued among
+the Spanish captains while they were at dinner or supper with him, he
+would carouse three or four glasses of wine, and in a bravery take the
+glasses between his teeth and crash them in pieces and swallow them
+down, so that oftentimes the blood ran out of his mouth, without any
+harm at all unto him. And this was told me by divers credible persons
+that many times stood and beheld him."
+
+Yet he was a very excellent gentleman, a loyal subject of the Queen, and
+a very proper Christian. In an age when cruelty in war was common he
+fought with a truly British sense of fairness, and while the Spaniards
+treated their prisoners with unnameable tortures Sir Richard Grenville
+was ever just and humane with the enemies who fell into his hands. He
+hated the Spaniards with a fierce envenomed hatred, and was never known
+to shrink from an encounter with them, or to neglect a chance of
+striking a blow which should help to lessen their vaunted power upon the
+seas. No man in his time--not even Drake himself--was more bold or more
+courageous in attacking them. His self-confidence and his trust in
+English pluck were supreme. He considered an Englishman equal to any
+dozen Spaniards.
+
+On one occasion when he was returning from the Spanish Main in a ship
+which had been sorely battered by storms and badly bored by the
+teredo-worm, he sighted a richly-laden galleon. His ship could not be
+brought to a close encounter, and he had no boats, yet he was bent upon
+capturing that galleon. So he made a raft out of the boards of chests
+and boxes, took a handful of men with him, and on this frail craft
+adventured an attack. He brought the raft alongside the galleon and
+clambered up upon her decks. As soon as his men were all off the raft it
+fell asunder and sank at the galleon's side, thus cutting off the
+adventurers' retreat. Yet they captured the galleon and brought her home
+as a prize to England.
+
+It was towards the end of the hot month of August that the sickness on
+board the _Revenge_, as on board all the other ships of the fleet,
+became more general and severe. Lord Thomas Howard, realizing at last
+that it was the ships themselves that were unhealthy, and that if he
+would preserve his little army from actual dissolution he had better
+institute an hospital of some sort on shore, issued orders to his
+various captains, instructing them to land their sick men upon the
+beach, where huts and tents and other shelters were erected. This
+proceeding was found to be of vast benefit. Each ship's company was kept
+separate in their own shelters, with a goodly number of healthy men to
+attend to their wants.
+
+Gilbert Oglander and Roland Grenville were among those who were told off
+to take charge of the _Revenge's_ invalids. Timothy Trollope and Robin
+Redfern were with them, acting for the greater part of the time as
+water-carriers. Red Bob was among the sick, so was Edward Webbe. Hartop
+remained on board the ship.
+
+It was weary work looking after men who, in the midst of their sickness,
+were for ever grumbling at the bad food and the lack of good doctors.
+But the purer air and an abundance of fresh water, together with such
+ripe fruit as could be procured, gradually brought the sufferers round
+to a better condition. The deaths were fewer and the pestilence ceased
+to spread. Also on the thirtieth day of the month there arrived two
+ships from England, sent out by the merchants of Plymouth with a supply
+of victuals; and the news of home brought additional cheer to those who
+had been lingering here in the Azores for over five months, waiting for
+the treasure-ships that they were to waylay and capture, waiting until
+the very clothes on their backs were worn to rags.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+                       DRUSILLA'S LETTER.
+
+
+On the morning following the arrival of the ships, boats were sent
+shoreward for water and for shingle. The shingle was required for
+ballast, the old and polluted ballast having been cast overboard in the
+endeavour to clear the vessels of the infection.
+
+Jacob Hartop was in charge of one of the boats from the _Revenge_, and
+all through the day he laboured in the heat of the sun with his men,
+shovelling shingle into his boat and making trip after trip between the
+shore and the ship. When he landed on his second trip he sought out
+Gilbert Oglander.
+
+Gilbert looked very different now from the gaily-apparelled lad who had
+gone on board the vice-admiral's ship at Plymouth in the early
+spring-time. His face was burned to a rich ruddy brown; his clothes were
+soiled and ragged, the gilt lace trimmings tarnished; the feathers had
+been torn from his cap, which was now but a sorry covering for his
+long-grown hair. Like all his companions, he had, for reasons of economy
+as much as for those of comfort and convenience, altogether abandoned
+his boots, and his bare feet, like his face and hands and arms, were as
+sunburnt as those of a Sicilian fisherman. He was kneeling in the shade
+of a large spreading date-palm, peeling a ripe orange for Red Bob, when
+Jacob Hartop approached him. He glanced up and nodded to the old
+buccaneer, smiled in greeting, and proceeded to divide the orange into
+liths, handing them one by one to his patient.
+
+Jacob sat down on the soft warm sand and watched the lad for a few
+moments in silence.
+
+"Art weary, Jacob?" asked Gilbert, hearing the old man's heavy
+breathing.
+
+"Ay, weary of waiting for the Dons," answered Jacob, bending over and
+taking up a handful of the sand and letting it slowly stream out again
+between his gnarled fingers. Then presently he added: "Thou hast heard
+of the coming of the two ships from home,--eh, Master Gilbert?"
+
+"Yes," returned Gilbert, wiping his hot brow with the back of his hand.
+"Phew! Would that they had brought a few hogsheads of our Devonshire
+cider with them. But that were too much to expect, methinks." He rose to
+his feet and stood beside Jacob, with his hands lightly clasped behind
+his back, and gazed out upon the sea towards where the little _Revenge_
+rode at anchor. "Hast heard aught of their news, Master Hartop?" he
+asked.
+
+Hartop shook his head.
+
+"Naught to speak of," he answered. "It seemeth that Sir Francis Drake
+hath been summoned to Her Majesty's court, where he is in great favour,
+and that Sir Walter Raleigh hath fallen into disgrace; but more than
+this I have heard nothing. It may be, however, that thou'lt learn more
+from the letter that I bring thee," he added, thrusting his hand into
+his doublet. "Sir Richard bade me give it thee, saying as he handed it
+unto me, 'Tell Master Oglander that I would willingly have kept the
+letter myself, for that by the superscription I do judge it to be a
+message from my little sweetheart Drusilla'."
+
+Gilbert fairly leapt at the letter when it was produced.
+
+"It is! It is from Drusilla!" he cried, as he glanced at his name upon
+it. "'Twas she indeed that writ it!" Whereupon he pressed the missive to
+his lips, glanced at it yet again, and then exclaimed; "Only to think
+on't, Jacob! Is't not truly passing strange that my sister had this in
+her hand--ay, and haply kissed it as I do now--scarcely a month ago!"
+He was about to break the seal, but he forebore. "Nay," he said, "I will
+not read it now. Let me wait until the joy of receiving it hath abated;"
+and kissing it again he thrust it securely under his belt and went once
+more among the sick men, attending to their wants, and giving them such
+cheer as they had not known for many a day.
+
+In the afternoon, when most of the invalids were asleep, Gilbert escaped
+from the beach and climbed the high bank of land to the level ground
+above, where the olive-trees grew. He perched himself upon one of the
+lower boughs of one of the largest of the trees, and, resting his back
+against the main trunk, took out his letter.
+
+It had been written, not at Modbury Manor but at Willoughby Grange, the
+Devonshire seat of Sir Lester Willoughby. Gilbert read it slowly,
+dwelling on each word with fond interest.
+
+Writ at Willoughby Grange, in the County of
+Devon, the 5th day of August, 1591.
+
+     _I know not, dear my brother Gilbert, if this letter will ever
+     reach thee, but Master Christopher Pym hath but now ridden hence
+     from Plymouth to tell me that the good ship "Barbara Jane" is being
+     fitted to sail to the Western Isles with victuals for the Lord
+     Thomas Howard his fleet, and to bid me write to thee in the hope
+     that if thou art alive (as I pray God thou be) thou shall know
+     hereby the things which have befallen us in thy so long absence,
+     and of how Jasper Oglander hath proved himself to be a most
+     iniquitous person with no good in him, who hath been secretly
+     working to the ruination of our home and family, to the uttermost
+     grief and distress of our saintly mother._
+
+     _These things I must confide to thee, dear Gilbert, even in the
+     order in which they happened; for 'tis meet that thou shouldst know
+     them at the soonest possible time, so that thou mayest come back to
+     us, if haply thou canst, and aid us in our tribulation. Yet even
+     now, as I do indite these lines, I can scarce put the matter in its
+     true order, so much confused am I in mind concerning all that hath
+     disturbed our happiness, and so greatly do I fear (despite Master
+     Pym's assurances) that thou art indeed and in truth dead and gone,
+     as Jasper hath so positively averred. Of this terrible report of
+     thine untimely death, we have no assurance either of truth or of
+     disproof, and can only devoutly pray (as we do daily and nightly
+     pray) that 'tis yet another of Jasper Oglander's evil and wicked
+     falsehoods, set forth to gain his own advantage and advancement.
+     But alas! I much fear me that I shall never, never see thee again,
+     and that thou art, as the letter said, no more in this world._
+
+     _We were concerned (as thou knowest) about the strange absence of
+     cousin Philip. It was said by his father that he had gone on
+     horseback upon a journey of pleasure into the country. But this
+     report hath been proved false, utterly false. Philip is even at
+     this present time abroad in Spain, working in league with our
+     country's enemies. We learnt it at the time of our dear
+     grandfather's sudden death--_
+
+Gilbert started back in amazement as he read these last words, almost
+falling from his seat on the olive-tree.
+
+"Grandfather's death!" he cried aghast, dropping the letter on his lap.
+And then, as in a flash, his thoughts sped back to the time of his
+leaving Plymouth and the sight of the flag flying at half-mast on the
+towers of Modbury Manor. "_Grandfather's sudden death!_" he repeated,
+and for many minutes his brain seemed to be stunned by the news. His
+tear-filled eyes wandered eastward across the broad blue sea. Far away
+in the mid-distance between him and the clear horizon he saw, almost
+unconsciously, a little ship ploughing her way under full sail onward in
+the direction of Flores. At any other time and in a different mood the
+sight of that ship, where ships were so seldom to be seen, would have
+aroused in him a keen concern. But now he gave it only an instant's
+thought, and turned to continue the reading of Drusilla's letter.
+
+     _We learnt it at the time of our dear grandfather's sudden death,
+     which befell within an hour after thou hadst gone off to join the
+     "Revenge". A messenger had ridden in hot haste to the manor,
+     bearing a letter for grandfather. What the letter contained and
+     whence it had come we knew not; nor could it be found anywhere in
+     the library. But later, when, at the instance of our mother, Jasper
+     took horse for Plymouth to warn thee of what had happened and bring
+     thee back if there were yet time, Christopher Pym came within to
+     our mother and handed her the letter, saying that he had discovered
+     it at the spot where uncle Jasper had mounted his horse, and
+     declaring that the letter had fallen from Jasper's belt. The letter
+     was from Master Peter Trollope in Plymouth, and it told that both
+     Jasper and Philip Oglander were traitors; that it was they who had
+     contrived the escape of the Spanish prisoners of war, and that
+     Philip Oglander had sailed with them for Spain in the ship "Pearl",
+     which Jasper had purchased, from Sir Walter Raleigh out of money
+     stolen, on the night ye wot of, from poor old Jacob Hartop._
+
+     _Master Pym hath always held to the belief that 'twas the shock of
+     reading this letter that brought about my Lord Champernoun's
+     death._
+
+     _Greatly were we all concerned when we heard that the "Revenge" had
+     set sail, and that thou hadst departed in her. 'Tis hard to
+     believe, but Master Pym doth continually aver that Jasper (although
+     'tis certain he had ample time to warn thee) purposely held back
+     from seeing thee or telling thee of my lord's death, desiring that
+     thou shouldst quit the country in ignorance and run the risk of
+     death by battle or storm, rather than that thou shouldst return
+     home to thy rightful heritage, and so deprive him of his heart's
+     desire. For it is now manifest to us all that Jasper, even from the
+     first moment of his landing in Plymouth, hath been scheming and
+     planning how he might cheat thee of thy rights, and become himself
+     the Baron Champernoun and the owner of Modbury Manor and all the
+     family estates._
+
+     _And he hath now gained his wish: whether honestly or not can only
+     depend upon whether thou art still alive. At the first he affected
+     to sorrow over thine absence, speaking of thee as "Lord
+     Champernoun" and "his lordship, my dear nephew", and the like. But
+     on a day in the month of May he returned from Plymouth town in
+     great haste and seeming grief, and when his wife, Donna Lela,
+     besought him to tell her wherefore he wore a so doleful
+     countenance, he produced a letter. "'Tis for this that I mourn,"
+     said he with a great sorrowful sigh, as he handed the letter to our
+     mother. "'Tis a letter newly come from Sir Richard Grenville," said
+     he. "Read it, good my sister, and God give thee strength to bear
+     its terrible news." And ere mother had read beyond a dozen of the
+     written lines she uttered a scream that might have been heard in
+     the buttery, and fell back in her chair crying, "Oh! my son, my
+     dear son! dead! dead! dead!" And Christopher Pym, seeing that her
+     eyes were flooded with tears ere yet she would read the letter to
+     its end, rose from the supper-table where we all were, and, said
+     he, "I pray you, my lady, let me read you the letter;" and she gave
+     it unto him, and he read it aloud so that all could hear. It told
+     of a great storm that my lord Thomas Howard his fleet had
+     encountered in the Bay of Biscay, and of how the "Revenge" in
+     particular had been sorely buffeted by the mountainous waves, and
+     of how one great wave, sweeping over her decks, had carried off
+     many gallant men, and among them Master Gilbert Oglander._
+
+     _When Master Pym came to the end and read the name of Richard
+     Grenville, his eyes darted across the table to Jasper Oglander, and
+     the look that Jasper returned to him was dreadful to behold. Master
+     Pym with no more ado went round to where Jasper sat and touched him
+     on the shoulder, and presently Jasper rose and they quitted the
+     room together. We knew not what their intent might be, but 'tis
+     certain that they quarrelled, and 'tis certain that from that day
+     to this good Master Christopher Pym hath never set foot in Modbury
+     Manor._
+
+     _Now it was not many days thereafter that Jasper began to show by
+     his bearing the thing that was in his mind. He bade all the
+     servants and household address him and speak of him as "my lord",
+     he signed his letters "Champernoun", and if Parliament had been in
+     session, I doubt not that he would have hastened to take his seat
+     in the House of Peers. He gave orders for many changes in the
+     manor-house, he commanded the foresters to hew down our best and
+     bravest oak-trees in the park, and he sold the timber to the
+     shipwrights with which to build ships withal. But more unhappy than
+     all else was his overbearing manner towards our mother. He treated
+     her as though she had no right to remain under the roof, and his
+     Papist wife, whom (as Master Pym hath told me) he had brought over
+     from some hovel in Honduras, was thrust into our mother's place as
+     Lady Champernoun._
+
+     _Thou canst well understand, dear my brother, how grieved was our
+     mother at all this. She lingered not longer in the place than was
+     barely needful to gather her own personal possessions together, and
+     then, carrying me with her, she set off to Willoughby Grange, where
+     we now are._
+
+     _'Twas but this morning (as I have said) that Master Christopher
+     Pym came hither with word that the "Barbara Jane" is about to sail
+     for the Azores. He hath spoken long and earnestly with our mother,
+     and she is so sorely distressed that she hath bidden me do what she
+     had willingly have done with her own hand--write to thee, in the
+     hope that thou art still alive, and tell thee of these things. And
+     what hath given her a strong hope is, that Christopher Pym doth now
+     positively declare that the letter which Jasper averred had come to
+     him from Sir Richard Grenville came not from Sir Richard at all,
+     but was a base and wilful forgery._
+
+     _Much more have I to tell thee. But I have already spent many hours
+     over this long letter, which hath yet to be read by our mother and
+     writ out again by Master Pym, who will set it forth in more seemly
+     English than I, an ignorant girl, can command._
+
+     _Farewell, dear my brother. The Lord bless thee and bring thee home
+     in safety, and govern thee with His grace and make thee a good
+     servant to our Queen and country. Thy loving sister, so long as
+     thou livest in the fear of God_,
+
+                                                     _DRUSILLA OGLANDER_.
+
+Grasping the letter in his hand, Gilbert bent forward with his head upon
+his knees and wept.
+
+Long, long he remained thus, now weeping in sorrow for his mother, now
+yearning to be back in England, now fretting over the fate that kept
+him, as it were, a prisoner on foreign shores. Oh, why were the Spanish
+so long in coming? Why did they delay?
+
+Suddenly he was aroused by hearing strange sounds: the tinkling of
+distant bells, the shrill, penetrating whistle of boatswains' pipes, and
+then the loud report of a cannon. He stood up and glanced through the
+foliage down at the fleet, and there he saw that the ships were in
+unwonted commotion. Boats were passing to and fro along the line. Near
+to the admiral's flag-ship there was a strange vessel with fresh white
+sails that had been newly furled. It was the same ship that he had
+already seen making her way across the sea. He turned and glanced over
+the water to make sure that this was so, for he could not well believe
+that she had come so quickly, or that he had remained inactive so long,
+brooding over the letter. Yes, it was indeed the same ship.
+
+But what was this that he now saw upon the far horizon? He strained his
+eyes in eagerness. Away in the east, like a string of threaded beads
+upon the line of the horizon, there appeared a whole armada of
+ships--ten, twenty, forty, nay, more even than this. And they were
+sailing westward towards Flores--westward from Spain!
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER XIX.
+
+                   A SPLENDID DISOBEDIENCE.
+
+
+Gilbert came down upon the beach at the spot where the men of the
+_Defiance_ and the _Bonaventure_ were encamped. Sir Robert Cross and Sir
+Richard Grenville had come ashore, and their voices sounded loud and
+re-echoed among the rocks as they issued orders to the men to carry the
+invalids down to the boats and hasten on board. All was bustle, noise,
+and confusion. Here a stalwart man of Devon had shouldered one of his
+sick shipmates and was carrying him over the shingle, here others were
+rolling down water-breakers that had been left from the early morning,
+and others again carrying bedding and tent-poles, with their wrappings
+of ropes and sail-cloth.
+
+The first person whom Gilbert recognised in the crowd was Timothy
+Trollope.
+
+"What means all this commotion, Tim?" he inquired. "Is't the
+treasure-ships in sight?"
+
+"No such good luck," answered Tim, looking up from his work of lifting
+one of the admiral's men upon his shoulder. "Here, I pray you, lend me a
+hand, Master Gilbert, and I'll tell you as we carry this poor fellow to
+his boat."
+
+Gilbert took the man's legs in his arms while Timothy laid hold of him
+by his body, and as they bore him downward over the rough beach Tim
+said:
+
+"Didst thou not see the coming of the ship, then?"
+
+"I indeed saw a little ship approach," returned Gilbert, "but I know not
+whence she came nor--"
+
+"'Tis Captain Middleton's ship," interrupted Timothy. "Captain
+Middleton's ship come hence from Spain to give the alarm that full half
+a hundred of King Philip's warships are even now bearing down upon us
+with intent to do battle!"
+
+"I have seen them. I saw them from the heights," declared Gilbert. And
+then questioning Timothy further he learned that Captain Middleton had
+been one of the Earl of Cumberland's fleet, that he had had a race with
+the galleons and had outstripped them by only a few hours' sail. He had
+counted three-and-fifty galleons--the best that Spain possessed, and it
+seemed that the King of Spain, knowing of Lord Thomas Howard's presence
+and intention at the Azores, had sent out this formidable fleet to
+frustrate his foes and protect his treasure-ships against the English.
+
+The news had come upon Lord Thomas Howard like a thunder-clap, when he
+was all unprepared for the emergency. As we have seen, more than half
+the crew in every ship were away on shore, lying sick, while a large
+part of the remainder were busy collecting ballast and getting water. On
+board most of the ships only a few officers and ship-keepers were left.
+Yet taken by surprise as they were, the captains were now meeting the
+perilous situation with a prompt alacrity worthy of the navy of which
+they were proud to form a part. Sir Richard Grenville as vice-admiral
+had hastened ashore, knowing that it was his duty to remain behind with
+his ship until the last man was on board. He now gave his orders calmly
+and with no show of hurry, and when he had seen the men of the flag-ship
+well in the way of getting on board, he passed on along the beach to
+where those of the _Bonaventure_ were preparing to quit their temporary
+dwelling-place. In like manner he saw to the men of Captain Fenner's
+_Lion_, Captain Vavasour's _Foresight_, Captain Duffield's _Crane_, and
+to those of the _Bark Raleigh_, the _Pilgrim_, the _George Noble_, and
+the other smaller ships. Lastly, he came to his own men of the
+_Revenge_, and when these had been sent on board he again made his way
+along the beach to pick up all the possible stragglers. This work
+occupied him little more than half an hour, for all knew what was at
+stake, and each man had taken his own duty in hand with ready
+promptitude.
+
+The first alarm-gun had been fired at one o'clock. By two o'clock five
+of the six men-of-war and all the victuallers, flyboats, and pinnaces
+had slipped their cables or weighed their anchors, had shaken out their
+sails and were beginning to work out seaward for an offing.
+
+While Sir Richard Grenville was on shore the admiral himself had not
+been idle. It was too late now to think of ballasting his ships, which
+were all too light by reason of having been emptied of all the old and
+infected ballast that they had brought in them from England; but he
+knew that more than half his forces were sick and useless for the work
+of battle, that on the _Bonaventure_, his largest ship, there were not
+so many men in health as could handle her mainsail, so he ordered that a
+score of the best should be transferred to her from the ship that Sir
+George Cary had sent out with the expedition, while Sir George Cary's
+ship was at the last moment scuttled and left to go to the bottom.
+
+Lord Thomas Howard signalled his orders to his little fleet, and his own
+ship, the _Defiance_, led the way out into the offing, for the Spanish
+galleons were already approaching the nearest headland of the island and
+he deemed it wise to escape as speedily as he could. He saw that the
+_Revenge_ had not yet weighed anchor, and he signalled to her yet again,
+intending that Grenville should loiter no longer, but that, whatever her
+condition or the condition of the few men still remaining ashore, she
+should at once slip her cable and follow in her appointed place at the
+rear.
+
+Sir Richard Grenville saw the signal, but thinking only of the sick men
+in his charge he would not start until he had collected and shipped the
+last of his crew, who, if he had left them on shore, must have been
+lost.
+
+"We cannot leave the poor fellows here to die," said he to Timothy
+Trollope, who had been with him during this time helping the men into
+the boats. "It were surely cowardly to abandon them. Heave yourself up
+on my back, lad," he added, speaking to Red Bob, who was now the last
+remaining man. "There is yet time if we are but quick." And with
+Timothy's help he carried Bob down to the boat, and then they were rowed
+out to the _Revenge_.
+
+Then with every man safe on board he at last weighed. At the same
+instant as the dripping anchor came to the bows, the tall masts with
+their bellying sails and the towering hulls of the two vanguard
+squadrons of the Spanish fleet appeared under the headland. On the
+galleons swept to the windward of the _Revenge_, with their ports triced
+up and the gun muzzles showing, and the brass patereros glittering in
+the afternoon sun.
+
+Sir Richard, standing, as it seemed, quite unconcerned upon his
+quarter-deck, took in the position in which he was placed. To the
+windward of him were the fifty-three great galleons of Spain. On his
+lee, now drawing wind and sailing quickly into safety, were the ships of
+Lord Thomas Howard. Grenville was not a trained seaman, and he knew but
+few of the mariner's tricks and tactics, but he understood his present
+case well enough to know that his best and only chance of safety was to
+'bout ship and run for it in the endeavour to weather the leaders of the
+Spaniards.
+
+He cast a moment's glance at his sailing-master and in turn at Captain
+Robinson, who stood near him.
+
+"It seemeth to me," remarked the master, "that we have lingered over
+long."
+
+"Ay," added Captain Robinson. "The delay hath cost Her Majesty her
+goodliest ship and us our lives and our long-cherished honour."
+
+"How so?" questioned Grenville, in the blunt direct tone which signified
+his inward excitement.
+
+Captain Robinson raised his eyebrows in slight surprise, and his fingers
+played with the point of his well-trimmed black beard.
+
+"Why," answered he in a seemingly careless tone, "methinks we are caught
+in a very pretty trap, that is all." And then a new and earnest light
+flashing in his beautiful blue eyes, he added: "Look you, Sir Richard,
+we have but one way only. Let out your mainsail, sir, and cast about,
+and trust to the sailing of the ship. She is ill-conditioned, 'tis true;
+but 'twill go ill if we cannot even yet escape and join our squadron."
+
+Sir Richard Grenville regarded him with a stern determined glance.
+
+"What!" he cried. And then he laughed, and in a softer voice added: "No,
+no. I never yet turned tail on devil or Don, nor will I do so now.
+Rather would I die this day than dishonour myself, my country, or Her
+Majesty's ship!" He strode slowly across the deck and as slowly
+returned. Then he looked out over the rail at the approaching galleons.
+They now appeared in two well-ordered squadrons on his weather-bow,
+sailing down upon him between the two neighbour islands of Flores and
+Corvo. "Truly they are a brave sight," he went on, "as gallant a sight
+as mine eyes have rested upon these three years agone. But, mark you,
+Master Robinson, I mean not to fly from them, not I. 'Tis one against
+fifty-three, but, by thunder, I mean to adventure it! In despite of
+their so great strength I intend to pass in betwixt those two squadrons
+and force them to give me way!"
+
+"Nay, 'tis impossible; 'twere rank madness to make the attempt," cried
+the master. "Sure 'tis no dishonour to fly before such overwhelming
+numbers. Cast about, sir, while yet there is time. Believe me, 'tis the
+better course."
+
+But Sir Richard Grenville would not be persuaded, and the word was
+passed aft to the steersman to take the ship in between the two lines of
+galleons.
+
+It was at this moment that Gilbert Oglander showed himself before his
+chief. He was about to ask some question, but Sir Richard cut him short.
+
+"Bring me my casque, boy, and my breastplates and tassets, also my best
+sword!" Then to the master he added: "Let beat the men to their fighting
+quarters. Run out the guns, and let every one be manned by a brave son
+of Devon that will stick to his post while there be powder to shoot and
+ships to be shot."
+
+None on board had expected this order. All were appalled by Sir
+Richard's boldness. But when once the word had gone forth that there was
+fighting to be done, there was not a man or a boy whose bodily health
+permitted him who did not fly to his particular post with joy at the
+thought of having it out with the hated Spaniards.
+
+Already the _Revenge_ was drifting onward to meet her foes. With her
+hundred eager fighting-men on her decks, and her ninety sick lying
+unserviceable on the ballast, she slowly made her way into the narrow
+channel between the oncoming galleons. The first four of them, either
+awed by her boldness or else not quite prepared, permitted her to pass,
+but immediately "sprang their luff" and fell under her lee, where they
+contented themselves with firing a few shots into one of the English
+victualling ships, the _George Noble_, of London, that with greater
+spirit than might have been expected of so small a craft, had detached
+herself from Her Majesty's ships and fallen behind to offer aid to the
+hard-pressed _Revenge_. Her captain, scorning the few shots that had
+rattled through his shrouds, now brought her under the _Revenge's_
+counter and called out to Sir Richard Grenville, asking him for
+commands.
+
+"Nay, seek no commands of me," cried Grenville in reply. "But save
+yourself, in God's name, while there be time. As for me, why, prithee,
+leave me to my fortune. I can look after myself if any man can."
+
+At this moment occurred the catastrophe which Captain Robinson and the
+sailing-master had clearly foreseen. The great galleon, _San Philip_,
+being to the windward of the _Revenge_, and coming speedily towards her,
+becalmed her sails, which flapped loose, flattened against her masts,
+hung down, and ceased to draw. The _Revenge_ lost the way that was upon
+her, and she could neither move onward nor obey her helm. The _San
+Philip_ was a huge and high-charged ship of fifteen hundred tons--three
+times the burden of the _Revenge_,--carrying three tiers of ordnance on
+a side, and eleven pieces in every tier. She had eight great guns
+peeping out of her chase-ports, and from these she belched forth a
+volley of cross-bar shot that crashed into Grenville's gallant little
+ship, making her tremble in every plank, yet doing but slight mischief.
+And at the same time the three galleons that were to his leeward luffed
+up, and fired their forward guns into his rigging. These ships were all
+high in the hull, and their guns were so trained that the shots passed
+over the _Revenge's_ upper bulwarks, only severing a few ropes or
+clipping some splinters of timber from off her masts and yards. One of
+the nearest galleons was the admiral, or flag-ship, of the Biscayan
+squadron, a very mighty and powerful vessel, commanded by the great
+Spanish warrior Britandona.
+
+Gilbert Oglander, as he strode towards the companion stairs after having
+helped Sir Richard Grenville to don his body armour, glanced round at
+the vast fleet of the enemy. Each galleon's decks and fighting-tops were
+crowded with soldiers, whose morions and breastplates glistened in the
+afternoon sun. On the _San Philip's_ decks there were, as he afterwards
+estimated, no fewer than six or seven hundred soldiers, apart from her
+seamen, and the others of the Spanish ships must certainly have been
+equally well manned; while on the _Revenge_ there were no fighting-men
+beside the mariners, excepting only the servants of her officers and
+some few gentlemen volunteers like himself.
+
+Already the dread sounds of battle greeted Gilbert's unaccustomed ears.
+The loud rumbling roar of the cannons coming from the lumbering hulls
+below was mingled with the sharp crackling of musketry from above, where
+the Spaniards posted in the tops were firing in the hope of picking off
+some of the English officers. The air was even at this early time
+charged with a faint smell of burnt gunpowder. Gilbert did not pause to
+watch the opening of the battle, but hastened down to the main-deck,
+where, for the present, he was to occupy himself in helping the gunners
+and carrying out the powder from the magazines.
+
+Here, down below, he found Edward Webbe with his lighted lintlock coolly
+glancing outward along the barrel of a great brass gun. There was no
+need to take careful aim, for wheresoever the cannon might be fired its
+contents of heavy shot were certain to strike into the oaken hull of one
+of the galleons. Webbe applied his fuse, and the cannon flung forth its
+spurt of fire with a thunderous boom that made the very deck shake and
+the strained lashings creak. Along the whole space of the 'tween decks
+and at both sides the gunners applied themselves to their work with
+quiet and unruffled movements, and presently Edward Webbe gave up his
+gun to another man and undertook the task of directing his shipmates in
+the work, only peering out now and again through one of the portholes
+to watch the movements of the enemy, as galleon after galleon came
+within close range.
+
+"Steady, my lads!" he cried, "and take good aim. Waste not a shot, but
+mark well where it must find its home. Lower your gun's muzzle, Matthew
+Giles," he said to one who was training his piece to fire against the
+walls of one of the nearer galleons. "Take her below the water-line, and
+sink her."
+
+It was the great _San Philip_ that was alongside now. Having blocked out
+the breeze from the _Revenge's_ sails by her own vast stretch of canvas,
+she had forced herself full into the path of the English man-of-war, and
+swung herself round broadside to broadside, with her grapplings ready to
+hold her intended victim fast and so overpower her by superior strength,
+and riddle her with shot until she should sink. This was just at three
+o'clock in the afternoon, and forthwith the terrible and memorable
+combat was begun in desperate earnest.
+
+At the same time four other of the most formidable of the Spanish
+galleons--the smallest of them double the size of the _Revenge_--drew
+out to support the _San Philip_, and took up positions round Sir Richard
+Grenville's ship, two on her larboard side, one astern of her, and the
+fourth under her bows. And all five assailed her with a storm of iron
+shot and heavy stone balls and langrage and cross-bar shot. The noise of
+the discharge of so many guns was deafening to hear. But it was seen
+that the greater number of the shots passed over her, so low in the hull
+was she compared with the towering height of her enemies. Nevertheless
+many a shot buried itself in her stout sides, many crashed through her
+bulwarks, cut great pieces out of her masts, and tore her sails and
+rigging. But her gallant flag of St George waved gloriously on high; her
+men stuck to their work with ever-ripening courage, and small though she
+was in the midst of her huge foes, she dealt them as much as they gave:
+nay, even more than that, for she had British guns on board of her and
+British men to fire them, and never a shot did they fire that did not
+tell.
+
+After the interchange of many volleys of great ordnance and small-shot,
+the Spaniards, finding that the _Revenge_ still held her ground and
+defended herself with so great determination, made an attempt to board
+her, hoping to force her by the sheer multitude of their armed soldiers
+and musketeers. The great _San Philip_ drew to close quarters. Her
+bulging sides crunched against those of the _Revenge_, and a host of her
+men clambered over her rails, pike and sword in hand, climbed into the
+_Revenge's_ lower shrouds, and swarmed like so many infuriated bees
+along her stout bulwarks at every point. But Ambrose Pennington, who had
+control of the murderer-gun on the starboard side of Sir Richard's
+quarter-deck, was ready at the moment with his fuse. He fired the gun,
+and its scattering charge of small-shot played fearful havoc among the
+would-be boarders, while those who escaped the destructive fire fell
+either back between the ships or forward upon the deck of the _Revenge_,
+where they were speedily overpowered.
+
+Nor were the gunners below decks unmindful of their opportunity. At the
+moment when the Spaniards were in the act of boarding, Edward Webbe had
+every gun on his starboard side ready loaded with cross-bar shot and
+primed. He gave the order, and his men applied their lintlocks, and the
+full broadside was discharged straight into the _San Philip's_ hull.
+After this she sheered off with all diligence from her too close
+position, "utterly misliking her first entertainment". It was said
+afterwards that the galleon foundered, but Sir Walter Raleigh in his
+written account of the fight cast doubt upon the point. Howbeit, no
+sooner had the _San Philip_ been cleared away than her position was
+taken up by yet another galleon, only to be beaten off in like manner.
+One after another they closed and boarded, one after another they were
+flung back beaten and in confusion, their boarders being repulsed again
+and again, taking refuge in their own ships or else falling into the
+seas.
+
+To tell every incident of this terrible battle would make a long story,
+albeit the valour displayed by our English seamen on that great occasion
+has no more glorious example in all the annals of our navy's history.
+Hour after hour went by and still the _Revenge_ fought on with undaunted
+courage. Many of her men were slain and many were hurt, and her surgeons
+and their assistants were busy in the hold. Yet the Spaniards suffered
+more. Early in the fight Don Louis Cutino, one of the admirals of
+Seville, brought his galleon alongside in all her bravery, but he had
+not fought for more than a quarter of an hour ere a broadside from the
+_Revenge_ was fired point blank into his vessel's hull, sinking her with
+all on board. And the same fate befell the powerful galleon, the
+_Ascension_, of Seville, commanded by the Marquis of Arumburch. One
+other galleon, sorely beaten, had yet strength to recover the roadstead
+of the island of St. Michaels, where she quickly followed her anchor to
+the bottom. A fourth, to save her men, was run aground on Flores.
+
+All through that hot August afternoon the _Revenge_ fought on, and as
+each galleon was driven off another pushed in to relieve her beaten
+consort and to renew the attack upon the stubborn little English
+man-of-war, who withstood it all with her hundred men on board,
+resisting all comers. With never fewer than two mighty galleons by her
+side, she fought to the death, single-handed.
+
+The Spaniards had an unlimited reserve. They could not all hope to empty
+their guns into their heroic little foe, but they crowded round, ever
+near, to supply the attacking ships when needed with fresh soldiers,
+all manner of arms, and with powder and shot in plenty. To the _Revenge_
+there remained no such comfort, no supply of either ships or men or
+weapons, and, alas! no hope.
+
+
+
+
+                            CHAPTER XX.
+
+                 THE LAST FIGHT OF THE "REVENGE".
+
+
+Once, indeed, in the course of the fight, an English ship appeared,
+brave and willing to offer her small help.
+
+Towards sunset, during a momentary lull in the storm of battle, while
+one of the broken and battered Spanish ships was being cleared away from
+the ceaseless fury of the English guns, Jacob Hartop left the little
+brass falcon gun on the forecastle, at which he had stood for four
+terrible hours, and went down for a drink of water. A musket-shot had
+struck him in the thigh, and he was somewhat faint. He limped within the
+doorway of the seamen's quarters. A dozen men were in this shelter, some
+binding up their wounds, some resting and gathering breath before going
+out again upon the decks, others patiently waiting for their turn with
+the water-dipper.
+
+Jacob's eyes surveyed them, passing slowly from one face to another. He
+nodded to one, gave a cheering smile to another, and helped a third to
+tie a knot in the kerchief which he was binding over his arm.
+
+"What say you, my masters?" said he. "This be life, eh? This be tasting
+glory!"
+
+"Ah--h!" breathed Jeff Dimsdale, the man who was taking the dipper from
+young Robin Redfern. "'Tis such glory as might fill many of our friends
+at home with envy. May I taste more on't ere I be like Tom Wilson that's
+down below on the ballast with a bullet in his honest heart!" He raised
+the water to his pale lips. "Tom would ha' given a deal for this drop o'
+water, I reckon," he said. Then, still hesitating to drink, he added:
+"Here's to Queen Bess, God bless her!"
+
+Drinking the water at one long draught, he silently handed the dipper
+back to Robin and passed out into the open.
+
+"'Tis men such as Jeff that have won England her glory on the main,"
+declared Hartop, as he watched the man striding along the deck. Even as
+his eyes rested upon him, he saw Dimsdale stagger and fall, with an
+arrow, fired from the tops of one of the Spaniards, piercing his temple.
+A youth, hastening forward, stumbled over the fallen man, rose to his
+feet, looked into Dimsdale's face and passed on. The youth was Gilbert
+Oglander, who with grimy, powder-stained countenance, had come up on
+deck, utterly tired out by his hard work below. He entered the
+forecastle and waited his turn for a drink of water.
+
+"What, art stationed below decks, Master Oglander?" questioned Jacob
+Hartop. "Methinks your better place were up here where there be boarders
+to repel. There be many who can carry powder on board, but few who have
+the skill to wield a sword or shoot an arrow as thou hast, my master."
+
+"In truth, 'twas that very thought that brought me hither," said
+Gilbert. "And with the more reason, in that the powder is not now so
+plentiful or the gunners so many that those I have left below cannot be
+quickly enough served by the ship's boys. Hast seen aught of Timothy
+Trollope, Master Hartop?"
+
+Jacob shook his head, but Robin Redfern, hearing the question, answered,
+as he pointed outward along the upper deck to where, under the larboard
+bulwarks, a half-dozen of Sir Richard Grenville's men were fighting amid
+a clash of arms with some score of Spaniards who had made an entrance
+upon the _Revenge_:
+
+"So please you, sir, he is yonder, where, as I have seen with my own
+eyes, he hath slain a full dozen Spaniards."
+
+Without waiting for his much-needed drink of water, Gilbert snatched up
+a morion that lay at his feet, clapped it upon his bare head, unsheathed
+his sword, and ran out to join in the fray. Jacob Hartop, smiling at the
+lad's impetuous eagerness, turned to the water-butt and took the
+proffered dipper from Robin Redfern's hand.
+
+Robin's face was very pale, and there was a strange light in his grave,
+gray eyes. He glanced quickly round the cabin, and presently darted into
+the further corner, went down upon his knees in the dark, and after a
+moment emerged gripping a little sword in his right hand, and strode to
+the door. Jacob Hartop stretched out his hand to stop the boy, guessing
+his purpose, but Robin escaped him and ran out, mingling with the
+fighting crowd.
+
+Very soon afterwards Hartop was again at his gun on the starboard side
+of the forecastle deck. At the moment there was a slight lull in the
+battle. A galleon that had been grappled to this side of the _Revenge_
+for an hour or more, and was now almost a total wreck, was being drawn
+off to give place to a mighty ship which had stood by from the time of
+the opening of the battle, and whose decks were crowded with soldiers.
+Glancing out through the gap thus made, Hartop saw at some distance away
+a little ship flying the flag of St. George. She seemed to be hovering
+near, either to see the success of the fight, or else, which was more
+probable, to do what she might to rescue the _Revenge_ from the grip of
+her overpowering enemies. Hartop knew the little ship. He had seen her
+many times during the voyage out from England and also at the anchorage
+at Flores. It was Jacob Whiddon's _Pilgrim_.
+
+The great galleon which now closed in to the attack was the _St. Paul_,
+the flag-ship of Don Alonzo de Bassan, a brother of the renowned Marquis
+of Santa Cruz, and King Philip's chosen admiral. Already the
+_Revenge's_ bowsprit had been shot away, her foremast had fallen by the
+board, and her main topmast was lying across her main-deck with two
+Englishmen and seven Spaniards crashed under its weight. Her sails were
+in ribbons, and her riggings were in a hopeless tangle of broken rope;
+her bulwarks had great yawning gaps in them, yet still her gallant flag
+waved gloriously, albeit with many shot-holes in it, over her poop. And
+now the _St. Paul_ opened fire upon her, first from her chase-guns that
+shot out their great stone balls, and then, as she swung round, from her
+full broadside. Sir Richard Granville's mizzen-mast, which had
+beforetime been sorely hacked and splintered, fell with a crash. And now
+she lay heaving lazily on the swell of the ocean, with but the ragged
+stumps of her three masts showing above the level of her shattered hull,
+and her ship's company in their sadly reduced numbers showing still a
+sturdy and dauntless front, and ever persistently fighting on. The sea
+round about her was so strewn with wreckage that the galleons could not
+now come close to her as they had done at the first, but lay round her
+in a ring, firing into her or sending out their boats crowded with
+soldiers to board her, the beams of the setting sun shining on their
+morions and body armour, and glancing on the blades of their drawn
+swords.
+
+As Don Alonzo's ship hove near, and when the cloud of smoke from her
+discharged guns had lifted, the archers in her fighting-tops fired down
+their arrow shafts in the endeavour to pick off such of the English
+officers as presented themselves on the poop-deck. Sir Richard Grenville
+was struck many times, but his body armour was well forged, and although
+he indeed had received many slight wounds on hands and neck and face,
+yet he was practically unhurt, and his hoarse voice could be heard amid
+the battle's thunder cheering his men and bidding them fight on.
+
+His son Roland had been wounded by a musket-shot in his right arm, but,
+like Sir Richard, he cared not so long as he had breath in him to fight;
+so he took his sword in his left hand, and ever when any Spaniards
+attempted to make an entrance upon the decks he was ready to repel them,
+with Timothy Trollope and Gilbert Oglander shoulder to shoulder with
+him, forming a human barrier through which no Don, howsoever bold, might
+pass.
+
+Gilbert Oglander became conscious that as Don Alonzo's galleon came
+near, there was one archer in her mizzen-top who had, as it seemed,
+singled him out from among his companions. Arrow after arrow struck with
+a sharp ring upon his breastplate; and as he moved along the deck to
+encounter new foes, again and again an arrow would buzz past him, always
+from the same direction.
+
+The Spaniards, secure in the knowledge that the _Revenge_ was helpless,
+went about the fighting more slowly as evening drew upon them. It was as
+if they thought to prolong their victim's life, and wished only to see
+for how much time the little _Revenge_ would hold out against them.
+During a lull in the fight Sir Richard Grenville ordered his men to
+clear the decks of wreckage, and to cast overboard the bodies of the
+slain. Water was served round, together with bread and onions. As
+Gilbert Oglander was carrying a flagon of water to one of his wounded
+comrades who lay in the scuppers, an arrow struck the flagon and dashed
+it from his grasp. He picked the empty vessel up and returned to the
+water-butt to refill it. Again as he passed aft an arrow struck him,
+this time making a deep dent in his morion. And at that moment young
+Robin Redfern, with a kerchief bound round his bleeding head, came up to
+him and touched him on the arm.
+
+"Master," the lad cried, "I pray you have a care how you expose yourself
+to the aim of the archer who hath just fired at you. His arrows have
+pursued you this long while past. And--and--prithee, Master Gilbert,
+dost know who 'tis?"
+
+"Nay, how should I know one Spaniard from another?" Gilbert asked,
+passing on towards the wounded man. But Robin held him.
+
+"Hark you, my master," cried the lad, "I have seen his face. I saw it
+but a few moments ago, and, as I live, 'tis the face of your own cousin,
+Master Philip Oglander!"
+
+Now Gilbert, despite the excitement of the battle had not forgotten
+Drusilla's letter that was nestling within his doublet under the
+protection of his breastplate. His thoughts had gone more than once to
+his home and to the remembrance of his uncle's trickery, and this had
+increased by an hundredfold his hatred of all friends of Spain, and he
+had fought with a spirit of personal vengeance as well as with the
+desire to help his fellow-countrymen and his Queen in this battle
+against their dread enemy. For an instant he doubted the truth of what
+Robin had told him, and when he had served the wounded man with his
+drink of water, and helped him down to the crowded cockpit, he looked
+out through one of the portholes in search of his cousin in the
+galleon's tops. But the place where his enemy had stood was now cleared
+of men, and Philip Oglander was nowhere to be seen.
+
+As he was mounting the ladder-stairs to regain the deck, he came upon a
+man climbing painfully upward with a sword between his teeth. Putting
+his arm about the man's body to assist him, he said:
+
+"Art wounded, my master?"
+
+The man looked round at him. It was Red Bob.
+
+"Not I," he answered. "But I can no longer lie and listen to the groans
+of my friends down there, nor to the booming of the guns, and think
+that, ill though I am, I have not yet fired a shot or drawn a weapon in
+defence of this good ship. A score of the sick men have already gone up
+to fight, Master Oglander, and 'tis my intention to join them, and do
+what little I can."
+
+"May the good God put strength into your arm, then!" returned Gilbert,
+and, stepping upon the deck, he drew the man with him, and gave him a
+loaded pistol and a bag of powder and shot. Jacob Hartop encountered
+them as they moved aft.
+
+"My good gun hath been dismounted at last," said he. "Yet 'tis of little
+account, methinks, for I do hear that the powder hath well-nigh given
+out." A cheer from the after-deck broke in upon his words. "Ah, here be
+work for us!" he added, snatching his sword from his side and limping
+towards the quarter-deck, followed by Gilbert and Red Bob.
+
+A boat-load of Spanish soldiers had put out from the admiral's galleon,
+and had come alongside the _Revenge_. Fresh and eager they clambered up
+from her chains and over her broken bulwarks--two score of them at the
+least. Sir Richard Grenville and Captain Robinson rallied their men to
+their sides. They quickly drew together in a line, a gallant little
+company of twelve, not one of whom was without a wound, saving three who
+had come up from their hard beds on the ballast, and these were so weak
+that it was a labour even to raise their swords.
+
+They met their foes with a rattle of pistol-shots and then with a clash
+of steel. Sir Richard Grenville closed with a tall Don, whose gay
+clothing and sparkling rings proclaimed him a man of consequence.
+Whatever Grenville may have been as a seamen, he was certainly no mean
+swordsman. He parried the Spaniard's fierce thrust, and with a quick
+movement of his strong wrist and an alert lunge forward sent the point
+of his weapon deep into the other's bare throat. The Spaniard fell, and
+Sir Richard stepped over his inert body to encounter the man who had
+taken his leader's place. Four Spaniards did he vanquish with his own
+hand within the few minutes during which this engagement on his
+quarter-deck lasted. And by his side--the least with the
+greatest--fought little Robin Redfern.
+
+Robin, indeed, seemed to have abandoned all sense of fear or thought of
+danger, and he fought valiantly in his own boyish fashion. At one moment
+he rushed forward into the very midst of the Spaniards, and engaged hand
+to hand with one whom he seemed to have singled out. Gilbert, seeing him
+thus expose himself, pressed in to his rescue, caught him by the
+shoulder and dragged him back, parrying on his own blade the
+sword-thrust that must else have ended the boy's life. Gilbert now
+crossed swords with Robin's antagonist, and in the fading evening light
+caught sight of his face, recognizing it as the face of his own cousin,
+Philip. For a moment Gilbert drew back, appalled at the thought of
+fighting with one of his own flesh and blood. But Philip, with a
+scornful laugh on his lips, pressed him to the duel. It was thrust and
+cut and parry, parry and cut and thrust, for many moments. The two were
+equally matched in skill, albeit Gilbert had already been fighting for
+five hours without a rest, while his cousin was full fresh and active.
+Back and ever back, foot by foot, Gilbert was forced, and at last a
+fierce thrust delivered with all the strength in Philip's right arm,
+backed by all the weight in his body, brought Gilbert to his knees. The
+sword's point struck against his breast-plate, doing no real injury, but
+by its sheer force it disturbed his balance. He rolled over on the deck,
+and his own weapon fell from his hand.
+
+"Now will I do for thee at last!" cried Philip Oglander savagely between
+his teeth, speaking in English. He held his sword in air for a moment as
+if in deliberation where to strike. In that moment his weapon hand was
+struck a tremendous blow by a pistol flung at it by Red Bob, and Red Bob
+himself sprang forward, crying "Traitorous hound! I know ye!" and
+clutched him round the body in a wrestling embrace. The two swayed to
+and fro for an instant, and then Red Bob dropped on the deck with Philip
+Oglander's dagger in his heart.
+
+When Gilbert rose to his feet to continue the duel with his cousin he
+saw Philip climbing back over the bulwark in haste to regain the
+galleon's boat. Others of the Spaniards occupied Gilbert now, and
+Ambrose Pennington and one of the yeomen of the sheets coming up to
+help, they were soon overpowered or driven over the side. Some fell into
+the sea; five-and-twenty of them had been slain; and the boat returned
+to Don Alonzo's ship with but seven out of the forty men who had set
+out in her, less than half an hour earlier.
+
+[Illustration: THE GREAT FIGHT ON BOARD THE _REVENGE_]
+
+Darkness had now spread across the sea, the stars peeped out through the
+overhanging mist of smoke, and in a wide ring about the _Revenge_ the
+galleons stood, ceaselessly firing upon her. Their guns flashed out
+their fire into the black night. Many of the shots flew wide; some
+passed over the low-lying wreck and struck the galleons lying beyond,
+yet many thundered against the sides of the English ship, burying
+themselves in her stout timbers or rebounding with a hiss into the sea.
+Hour after hour throughout the night the battle continued, and if not
+many of Sir Richard Grenville's men were killed or wounded it was
+because so few remained alive to be wounded or killed. An hour before
+midnight there were but a dozen men and boys at Sir Richard's side upon
+his decks, and these were all so weary and bruised and hungry that they
+scarce could stand. Yet they hovered about their chief, seldom speaking,
+but only exchanging strange glances one with another, binding up each
+other's hurts, or gazing about them at the flashing of the cannon. At
+times one would take up a musket, and, if he could find powder and shot
+wherewith to load it, would fire into a crowd of soldiers upon one of
+the Spaniard's decks.
+
+Sir Richard strode to and fro, sword in hand, with a staggering gait,
+now pausing behind the shelter of some yet unbroken piece of bulwark and
+watching the movements of the enemy. And once he caught at Gilbert
+Oglander's arm, gripping it tightly as though to support himself.
+
+"I pray thee tell me, Sir Richard," cried the lad. "Art wounded? Wilt go
+below to the cabin?"
+
+"Nay, nay," returned Grenville quickly, breathing hard nevertheless, "I
+would but ask thee to hasten below and discover wherefore our guns be
+silent. Od's life, boy, must we lie here and not give them shot for
+shot! Go, bid the gunners maintain their firing!"
+
+And Gilbert obeyed, coming back some minutes afterwards, saying:
+
+"Good my master, the last barrel of powder hath been broached, and there
+is scarce enough for another round."
+
+Then Sir Richard took off the casque from his head and wiped his brow,
+answering:
+
+"Go below yet again and bid them sweep up the boards of the magazine,
+and scrape out a handful of powder wheresoever it may be found. And you,
+boy," he added to young Robin Redfern, who stood trembling near him
+under the light of one of the deck lanterns, "hie you to one of the
+water-butts and bring me a drink of water."
+
+His voice was weak, and Ambrose Pennington, who had seated himself on
+the thick end of a dismounted cannon, heard it and quickly rose to his
+feet.
+
+"Y'are hurt, Sir Richard," said he. "I know it, though you do bear it
+so bravely. I beg you let me help you to your cabin, where the surgeon
+will attend you."
+
+Sir Richard shook his head.
+
+"Wherefore should I leave the deck now," said he,--"now when there be so
+few to defend it?"
+
+"Nay, I implore you," urged Pennington, and putting his arm about the
+admiral's body he gently drew him towards the stairs. And Grenville went
+with him. The surgeon was brought, and he speedily took off Sir
+Richard's body-armour, and laid bare the many wounds that he had
+received. These he washed and bound up with bandages. The two stood
+under a little hanging lamp that was near the open porthole. Their
+movements, or their flitting shadows, must have been observed upon one
+of the galleons, for even as they were nearly ready to quit the cabin a
+musket-shot struck Sir Richard on his shoulder. A second bullet struck
+him on the head, and at the same moment a third shot killed the surgeon
+at his side.
+
+Taking up a fragment of linen Sir Richard bound it about his head and
+staggered to the door. Severe as his injuries were, it was not in him to
+stand aside in the hour of peril. He crept up to the deck. At the top of
+the stairs he was met by Robin Redfern, who had patiently stood there
+with the flagon of water that he had been sent for.
+
+"God bless thee, my lad!" said Sir Richard, taking the cup from the
+boy's hand. "And may you live to serve your Queen and country as I have
+tried to serve them!"
+
+The words had but left his lips when a cannon-ball whizzed past him. He
+turned to look for the boy, and found Robin lying dead at his feet. Then
+a full broadside of his own ship's guns was fired.
+
+"Fight on! Fight on!" he cried, although indeed none was near him to
+hear his encouraging words.
+
+That was the last discharge of his heavy guns; for now there was not
+sufficient powder on board with which to fire them, and even the smaller
+cannons, the falconets and demi-culverins, could be but sparingly used.
+Yet so long as there was a handful of powder to be found it was
+carefully employed. Not only had the ammunition run short, but all the
+pikes were broken in hand-to-hand fight, and of Grenville's men that had
+gone into action forty lay dead, and the most part of the rest severely
+wounded. The ship herself was almost a wreck, her tackle all cut
+asunder, her upper works altogether rased. During the fifteen hours,
+from three o'clock in the afternoon, when the battle had begun, until
+daybreak on the next morning, she had been closely assailed by fifteen
+several galleons, in addition to those that had fired upon her from a
+distance.
+
+Just before dawn, Edward Webbe and the few remaining gunners who had
+been at work between decks appeared above the hatchway. They had used up
+the powder to the last grain, and there was no more fighting to be
+done. Webbe was as black as a coalman, his clothing was torn to tatters,
+and he was covered with wounds. He went up to Captain Robinson and told
+him the condition of the ship. The captain then held colloquy with the
+sailing-master, and both approached Sir Richard Grenville.
+
+"Our powder hath been spent, even to the last corn," said the captain.
+
+"We have six feet of water in the hold," added the sailing-master, "and
+three great shot-holes below the water-line which are so weakly plugged
+that with the first working of the sea we must needs sink."
+
+Sir Richard Grenville took a turn to and fro, meditating. Then he looked
+at the master-gunner, whom he knew to be a most resolute man, and said
+in a tone of command:
+
+"Blow up the ship, then! Blow her up! Split her and sink her, that
+naught may remain of glory or victory to our enemies. As for ourselves,
+let us yield ourselves unto God, and to the mercy of none else!"
+
+"Nay," returned the master. "Have we not told ye that there is no
+gunpowder on board wherewith to fire a gun, much less to blow up the
+ship?"
+
+"Why, then," cried Grenville, "split her up with your hatchets, pull out
+the plugs from the shot-holes. But sink her, sink her how you will. For
+while we have, like valiant men, repulsed so many of our enemies, it
+were folly now to shorten the honour of our nation by prolonging our
+lives for a few hours or a few days. So let sink her, I say. Sink her,
+in God's name."
+
+To this Edward Webbe and divers others who were with him readily
+assented. But Captain Robinson and Pennington were of another opinion,
+and they besought Sir Richard to have care of them, declaring that the
+Spaniards would doubtless be as ready to accept a composition as they
+themselves were ready to offer the same. "There be many able and valiant
+men in our company yet living," said the captain, "whose wounds are not
+mortal, and who may yet do their country and Queen acceptable service
+hereafter."
+
+But Sir Richard refused to hearken to this pleading, and he moved away
+and stood for a while looking over the sea that was now clearer under
+the approaching light of dawn. And beyond the galleons he caught sight
+of Jacob Whiddon's ship, the _Pilgrim_, bearing away to the leeward with
+two great galleons in pursuit of her.
+
+Meanwhile, Captain Robinson held speech with his fellows and won many of
+them to his side, and he besought Ambrose Pennington to leave the ship
+and go on board the _St. Paul_ and parley with Don Alonzo de Bassan for
+conditions. So Pennington and Jacob Hartop and some three others, all of
+them sorely wounded and looking strangely ill-conditioned, went down
+into an empty boat that was alongside, and holding up a white flag in
+their bow they crossed the intervening space of sea to the admiral.
+
+They found Don Alonzo in no great haste to make another entry upon the
+_Revenge_, for his men had had enough of her, and even still feared her.
+Pennington told him that Sir Richard Grenville had a mind to blow up his
+ship with himself and all his ship's company.
+
+"And wherefore should he resort to a measure so extreme?" questioned Don
+Alonzo. "Since his disposition is so dangerous, return to him, I beg
+you, and let him know that I am willing to put an end to this battle,
+and that I have already lost more men and more ships than I had ever
+thought to lose at the hands of one small English man-of-war. Bid him
+understand that I yield to him his life, and that the lives of all his
+ship's company shall be spared and sent home to England. For the better
+sort, such reasonable ransom shall be paid as their estates may bear.
+But I do aver, and swear by the Holy Mother, that all of you shall be
+free from the galleys and from imprisonment. I care not to expose myself
+and my fleet to further loss and mischief. Also, 'tis my great desire to
+rescue your Sir Richard Grenville, whom for his most notable valour I do
+greatly honour and admire."
+
+With this answer Pennington returned to the _Revenge_, and since safety
+of life was promised, the larger number of the men, feeling themselves
+to be now at the end of their peril, stood up against Sir Richard and
+Edward Webbe, and declared their willingness to surrender.
+
+"What!" cried Edward Webbe with bitter scorn and contempt in his voice.
+"Do you ask me to surrender to a Spaniard? Me who have borne so much of
+horror and torture and cruelty at their hands, and at the hands of their
+accursed Inquisition? God forbid! No, I will not surrender. Rather would
+I die now at this moment where I stand!"
+
+And thus saying he whipped out his sword, and resting its hilt upon the
+deck, held its point towards his body with intent to throw himself upon
+it. But the captain arrested him in the act, kicking the sword away.
+Webbe struggled to regain his weapon, and, failing, was about to rush to
+the ship's side and fling himself into the sea, when Ambrose Pennington
+and another caught him and carried him down to his cabin and there
+locked him in, making sure that he had no weapon within reach.
+
+Sir Richard Grenville stood alone, not attempting to dissuade his men
+from their resolve, and presently in the silence Jacob Hartop spoke.
+
+"Ned was right," said he, stepping to Sir Richard's side. "An English
+ship, even though she be a poor battered hulk, were ever a better home
+than a galleon of Spain." He glanced aft to the flag-staff upon which a
+tattered remnant of the honoured flag still fluttered in the morning
+air, and baring his head he added: "God bless Queen Elizabeth!"
+
+Gilbert Oglander and Timothy Trollops had taken no part in this little
+scene. They were at the time both below in the cockpit attending to
+their wounds and giving what small help was in their power to their sick
+and dying companions. Here, too, was Roland Grenville. But in good time
+the death-like silence of the abated battle brought the three up on
+deck. As they came to the stair-head they glanced upon the water, which
+rippled and glanced in the morning light; for there were now no
+intervening bulwarks to shield it from their sight. And they saw some
+six gaily-furnished boats approaching. The boats were brought alongside,
+and the boys at their bows threw up coils of rope as they touched,
+which, falling upon the blood-stained deck, were taken by certain of Sir
+Richard's men and secured to such balks of timber as could be found.
+Then one by one the men stole away into the boats and were taken aboard
+Don Alonzo's ship and others of the galleons.
+
+Sir Richard Grenville, thus overmatched, agreed after much persuasion to
+leave the _Revenge_, which was indeed an unsavoury resting-place for any
+man, her decks being covered with blood and strewn with the bodies of
+dead and wounded men, as if it had been a slaughter-house.
+
+"Well, an you will, let it be so," said Sir Richard as he turned to
+descend into the boat that the Spanish admiral had sent for him. "He may
+do with my body what he listeth, for I esteem it not." And grasping the
+hand of Gilbert Oglander, who was helping him, he added, "Pray for me,
+Gilbert, my lad. And bid the others of our company pray for me also."
+
+Then he swooned, reviving only when he was laid upon a couch in the
+cabin of one of the Spanish officers on board the _St Paul_.
+
+Don Alonzo himself would neither see him nor speak with him. But the
+other captains and gentlemen received him with gracious courtesy,
+treated him with humanity and kindness, and left nothing unattempted
+that might contribute to his comfort or tend to his recovery. They
+wondered at his courage and his stout heart, for he now showed no sign
+of faintness nor change of colour.
+
+Gilbert Oglander remained at his side throughout that day, and was
+relieved at night by Sir Richard's son Roland. Early in the morning the
+galleons anchored in the roadstead of Terceira. Sir Richard Grenville
+was too weak to be removed upon the island, and Gilbert and Roland sat
+with him until he died on the morning of the third day after the battle.
+
+His last words were worthy of his life. Two of the Spanish captains were
+present as he spoke them in their own tongue.
+
+"Here die I, Richard Grenville," he murmured as he held his son's hand.
+"Here die I, Richard Grenville, with a joyful and quiet mind, for that I
+have ended my life as a true soldier ought to do that hath fought for
+his country, Queen, religion, and honour, whereby my soul most joyful
+departeth out of this body, and shall always leave behind it an
+everlasting fame of a valiant and true soldier that hath done his duty
+as he was bound to do."
+
+
+
+
+                          CHAPTER XXI.
+
+                     PRISONERS AND CAPTIVES.
+
+
+It was the intention of the Spaniards to take the broken and
+shot-riddled hulk of the _Revenge_ to Spain as their vaunted prize. And
+well might they set glory upon their conquest, for she was the one and
+only English ship that had surrendered to them during the whole course
+of the war, and in capturing her they had sacrificed four of their own
+best galleons, while sustaining great damage to some fourteen others.
+Nearly two thousand of their soldiers had been slain in the fight or
+drowned in the sea, including two high and mighty hidalgos, Don Louis de
+St. John, whom Grenville had vanquished with his own hand, and Don
+George de Prunaria de Malaga, besides many others of special account.
+
+Their admiral now sent a large company of carpenters, riggers, and
+swabbers on board of her to repair her leaks, pump out the water that
+was deep in her hold, and clear her of the wreckage that encumbered her;
+while those who remained alive of her gallant crew were dispersed among
+the Spanish ships as prisoners, although permitted to go ashore upon
+the island during the daytime under close surveillance of a guard of
+armed soldiers.
+
+Don Alonzo de Bassan's fleet lay in the roadstead of Terceira awaiting
+the daily expected arrival of the West India treasure-ships, which
+appeared in straggling numbers day by day. The Lord Thomas Howard's
+squadron, which had set out to lay capture to them, appeared not again,
+but having left the _Revenge_ to her fate at the opening of the battle,
+departed for England. Some accused him of cowardice in avoiding an
+engagement; but 'tis certain enough that he knew the risks that were
+entailed, and if the truth must be set down, Sir Richard Grenville had
+really been guilty of disobedience.
+
+While Gilbert and Timothy were still prisoners on board the _St. Paul_
+they were quartered in a little cabin under the poop. With them was
+Ambrose Pennington, and in another cabin were Roland Grenville and
+Captain Robinson. Jacob Hartop had remained on board the _Revenge_ with
+Edward Webbe, refusing to quit her while she floated.
+
+On a certain day, ere yet the combined fleets from Spain and the West
+Indies were ready to depart for Spain, Philip Oglander lay on his bed
+under pretence of being wounded, albeit his wounds were no more serious
+than a cut upon his knuckles and a dark-blue bruise upon the back of his
+right hand, where the pistol flung by Red Bob had struck him. It was
+not so much these hurts that kept him abed as the eager desire which
+was consuming him to hear what was going on in the cabin next to his
+own. It was the cabin occupied by his cousin Gilbert and Timothy
+Trollope. Philip did not dare to speak openly with his cousin and
+question him concerning what knowledge he might have of the things that
+had been going forward at Modbury Manor, but he was aware that Gilbert
+knew more than himself, for he had once seen Gilbert reading a
+letter--Drusilla's letter,--and also he had on occasion heard Timothy
+Trollope--whether in jest or in earnest--address Gilbert as "my lord".
+
+Now Philip had himself received more than one letter from England. For
+his father, well knowing the traitorous business which occupied Philip
+in Spain, and knowing where a letter might find him, had written to him
+informing him of the death of Lord Champernoun, and bidding him remember
+that he, Philip, might one day inherit the title and estates, and that,
+therefore, it was incumbent upon him to look well to his personal
+safety.
+
+"Indeed," wrote Jasper, "there is but one thing now standing between
+thee and this great heritage, and that is thy cousin, Master Gilbert
+Oglander. There is naught that I wish for more heartily than to hear of
+the young Jackanapes' death. Therefore I do conjure thee, my son, if
+thou shouldst by chance encounter him, prithee do thy work with more
+surety than thou didst do it in Beddington Dingle. Let there be no
+bungling, but bear thee well in mind that upon thy well-directed arrow
+shaft, or rapier point, must depend thy future and the possibility of
+dubbing thyself Baron Champernoun."
+
+These were vague hints. But Philip had understood them. He had
+understood them to mean that his father urged him to seek out Gilbert
+Oglander and frustrate his return to England. And Philip had sought to
+obey these injunctions, although hitherto without success. He had tried
+to compass Gilbert's death during the battle, and, having failed, he yet
+had hope that some chance would favour him for fulfilling his cherished
+desire. And he furtively watched his cousin, spied upon his every
+movement, and endeavoured by every available means to entrap him to his
+death. But Gilbert, wheresoever he went about the galleon and whenever
+he went ashore, was for ever accompanied by Timothy Trollope, and Philip
+saw no advantage in running the risk of a hand-to-hand encounter with
+the barber's valiant son.
+
+On this day as he lay in his cabin he listened for every word that
+should pass between Gilbert and his two companions. Much that was said
+was in the form of mere idle remark about the late battle, or about
+their wounds, or about the death of Sir Richard Grenville. But after a
+while there was talk of home, and at length, in answer to some question
+of Ambrose Pennington, Gilbert spoke of his uncle Jasper, and thereupon
+told the whole story of his grandfather's death and of his uncle's
+assumption of the title, even as Drusilla had recounted it in her
+letter.
+
+"Ah!" muttered Philip, overhearing every word. "Then he doth know. By
+Our Lady, he doth know all!"
+
+Then, setting his teeth together, he vowed that come what might Gilbert
+should never return to England to enjoy his inheritance. And from that
+moment he continued to watch his cousin with increased diligence. It was
+some comfort to his wicked soul to know that Gilbert was now a captive,
+and that as such it was more than probable he would spend many a year to
+come in some Spanish prison, as so many Englishmen had done before him.
+But this was not enough, for there was the chance of an escape from
+prison; there was the chance, indeed, that Don Alonzo might liberate his
+captives to ransom; there were a hundred ways by which Gilbert might
+succeed in returning to his native land. But there was one sure and
+certain means of preventing this, and that was that, by fair measures or
+by foul, Gilbert should be brought to his death, and Philip now resolved
+that this should be. He would not rest content until his cousin lay
+lifeless, ay, as lifeless as brave Sir Richard Grenville, whose body now
+lay at the bottom of the sea.
+
+Gilbert was quite oblivious of the secret danger that threatened him,
+nor did he see aught but pure accident in what befell him on the next
+day.
+
+The Spanish admiral did not wish that his ship should be encumbered by
+a crowd of wounded Englishmen. And on the day before the sailing of his
+fleet he ordered that those who were at present on board the _St. Paul_
+should be removed to the _Revenge_. And it followed accordingly that
+boats were put out for this purpose.
+
+Gilbert and Timothy were at the gangway together, and it chanced that
+Timothy descended the side-ladder first, scarcely observing that Philip
+Oglander had crept to Gilbert's side. Timothy was already in the boat,
+when, on looking up, he saw Gilbert stumble and fall. Fortunately the
+boat was not close alongside; there was a yard of water between it and
+the ship. Gilbert was but a poor swimmer, and when he splashed into the
+sea he sank deep down. There was a strong current, and when he rose to
+the surface he appeared many yards away astern of the boat. Timothy
+plunged in and swam to him, thinking of sharks, and when he reached him
+and supported him, he turned to see if the boat were being brought to
+the rescue. He heard some orders given in Spanish, which seemed to him
+to be given in Philip Oglander's voice. Louder still than Philip's was
+the voice of Ambrose Pennington, which could be heard for a long
+distance away, crying out to the boatmen to cast off and pull towards
+the two lads, and mingling his commands with volleys of round English
+oaths that would surely have won for him the iron chain of punishment
+had they been heard a few days before on board the _Revenge_. But the
+Spaniards heeded him not at all, declaring that the boys were but
+foreign lumber who might well be allowed to drown for all the use they
+would be on the galleys.
+
+Pennington appealed to Philip Oglander, saying that it was his own
+cousin and the head of his family who was in danger. But Philip turned
+away with a derisive laugh, no doubt congratulating himself upon the
+fact that it was his own foot over which Gilbert had tripped.
+
+From a high part of the galleon's poop where he presently climbed he
+watched the heads of the two boys as they were carried away in the
+current. Soon an intervening galleon hid them from his view, and he
+consoled himself with the thought that he had very cleverly got rid of
+the one person who, next to his own father, stood between him and the
+baronage of Champernoun.
+
+But he had not counted upon Timothy Trollope's powers of swimming. For
+some moments Timothy thought to strike out for the shore, and gripping
+Gilbert with his one arm and bidding him be calm, he manfully breasted
+the swelling waves. Swimming to the leeward of one of the galleons he
+presently saw an empty boat lying at her side. He swam towards it and
+got hold of its gunwale, helping Gilbert to do likewise. Then, while
+Gilbert held on, Timothy climbed over her stern, and kneeling upon one
+of the thwarts hauled his companion on board.
+
+"'Twas Philip Oglander that did it," said he, wringing the water out of
+Gilbert's ragged clothing. "I saw him put forth his foot and trip thee.
+I have seen all along that he hath had designs against thee, Master
+Gilbert--I mean, my lord--"
+
+"Nay, keep to the Gilbert, Tim," interrupted Gilbert. "As to this matter
+of my falling overboard, well, I can e'en believe as you say,
+nevertheless we might easily have been in a worse case than we are now.
+For, look you, there is a ladder up the ship's side at your elbow, and
+it were easy enough to get on board of her."
+
+"It were equally easy to cut the boat's painter and make for the shore,"
+said Tim.
+
+"But there be no oars aboard," returned Gilbert.
+
+"Wherefore need we concern ourselves about oars?" asked Timothy. "I will
+adventure it however it be." And he felt for his knife. A look of sudden
+despair came into his face. "Alas!" he added, "I had forgotten that the
+Dons had deprived us of our weapons!"
+
+He stepped to the boat's bow, and was about to try to untie the knot of
+her painter when a voice greeted him from above, and a Spaniard with
+very furious curled moustachios appeared in the opening of the gangway.
+To escape now with the boat was impossible, and the two boys yielded
+themselves up as prisoners, explaining as best they could the accident
+that had brought them there.
+
+The Spaniards appeared to regard the matter with indolent indifference,
+saying that the lads should be sent back on board the flag-ship on the
+morrow. In the meantime Gilbert and Timothy were permitted to sit in the
+warm sunlight to dry their clothes on the upper deck, and no more notice
+was taken of them until late in the evening, when one of the galleon's
+boys gave them each an onion. They slept under the lee of one of the big
+guns, and in the morning the same ship's-boy brought them a tin dish of
+bean soup, indicating by signs that they were to share it between them.
+
+On the afternoon of that same day some officers from one of the other
+galleons came on board, and with them was one Maurice Fitz John, of
+Desmond, a forlorn-looking Irish traitor who, because he could speak
+English, had been sent to speak with the English prisoners in each ship
+and to persuade them to serve the King of Spain. He had not expected to
+find any on board this particular galleon--the _Santa Maria_, as she was
+named,--but discovering Gilbert and Timothy, he accosted them, believing
+them to be very humble seamen. He besought them to take arms in King
+Philip's legion, using very subtle arguments. They would have three
+times the amount of pay that they could get on an English ship, he said,
+and he promised them such advancement as he thought would tempt any
+young men who were, as these were, ship-broken and half-starved and
+ill-clothed, and if they would be good Catholics the safety of their
+souls should be assured.
+
+Timothy Trollope noticed that the man was himself but ill-apparelled,
+and reflected that such beggarly appearance was in itself a sufficient
+answer to the argument of rich pay. As for the notion of changing their
+religion, it was as repulsive to both Tim and Gilbert as that of
+deserting their Queen.
+
+"Well, well," said the Irishman, when, having used up all his eloquence
+in his pleadings, he turned to go, "an ye will not see the advantage of
+what is offered ye, 'tis no concern of mine. 'Tis yourselves that will
+suffer for your obstinacy. But I doubt not that a few years of work at
+the oars of His Majesty's galleys will bring ye to better reason." And
+with that he departed.
+
+For many days thereafter Gilbert and Timothy led a very weary,
+uncomfortable life. In return for their food and such shelter as was
+given to them, they were made to do much dirty and distasteful work.
+They were never permitted to go on shore, yet they were free from the
+restraint of chains--a dispensation for which they were thankful.
+Gradually their wounds healed, and they regained strength with such
+speed, that when at last the full number of the treasure-ships had
+arrived and the fleet was ready to sail for Spain, they were almost as
+well in health as they had been on the day before the battle.
+
+
+
+
+                         CHAPTER XXII.
+
+                      THE GREAT CYCLONE.
+
+
+It was on the last day of September that the combined fleets--to the
+number of a hundred and forty ships--weighed anchor and set sail. The
+sky was dark and threatening as they left Terceira, and they had not
+well got out of sight of the island when a most terrible storm arose.
+The sea was suddenly whipped up into great mountainous waves, the wind,
+which seemed to come from all quarters at once, howled and shrieked like
+a thousand furies. The vast fleet was dispersed, each galleon being left
+to take care of itself. Some tried to put back to Terceira, others
+endeavoured to make for the island of St. Michael's. The whole sea
+between these two islands was dotted over with struggling ships. It was
+such a storm as comes only once in a hundred years, and its effects were
+terrible. Out of the hundred and forty galleons no more than
+three-and-thirty ever arrived in Spain and Portugal. All the rest were
+cast upon the rocky ribs of the islands or were overwhelmed in the sea.
+
+It was off the island of Terceira that the _Revenge_--or what remained
+of her--came to her end. She had been taken out in tow by the _San
+Andrea_ galleon, but when the tempest rose to its height she was cast
+off and abandoned to her fate. Driven by the tremendous waves upon the
+outlying rocks, she was shattered to splinters, so that not a trace of
+her remained but a few balks of her stout oaken timbers that drifted as
+flotsam to the beach. There had been seventy men on board of her, many
+of them Spaniards, some few of them captive Englishmen. Among the latter
+were Jacob Hartop and Edward Webbe. Only one man reached the island
+alive, and he, being sorely hurt, had but time to tell his tale to the
+islanders and be shriven before he died.
+
+Roland Grenville, who had been drafted on board the _San Andrea_, was
+the only one of our friends who was not shipwrecked. He was taken to
+Lisbon, where, after having endured great privations in prison (whereof
+much might be told), he fell in with the gallant Captain Monson, escaped
+to Cadiz, was again imprisoned, and finally rescued by the Earl of Essex
+on the occasion of the famous expedition against that Spanish
+stronghold.
+
+For three days the _Santa Maria_ was buffeted about in the storm. From
+her watery decks Gilbert Oglander and Timothy Trollope saw many a
+galleon go down, and not only such galleons as had been of Don Alonzo De
+Bassan's fleet, but many others of the treasure-ships, which took with
+them to the bottom their wealthy cargoes of silver and gold. On the
+morning of the fourth day, when the tempest was at its height, she fell
+in with the flag-ship, whose foremast was gone by the board, and whose
+sails were but so many ragged ribbons flying from her yards. Her rudder
+was gone, and she was helpless. Nor was the _Santa Maria_ in any better
+case, for only her main-mast was standing, and the great waves washed
+over her, threatening to swamp her at every moment. The two ships came
+close together, and their white-faced and frightened seamen could see
+each other's faces from deck to deck. They drew apart when the deeper
+darkness of night came on, but in the morning they were again within
+sight, beating about in the perilous channel between the islands of St.
+George and Graciosa.
+
+There was a slight lull in the storm in the afternoon, and the commander
+of the _Santa Maria_ thought he might succeed in gaining some shelter
+under the lee of the island of Graciosa. He had his ship put about, and
+approaching the _St. Paul_ attempted to cross her bows, but a sudden
+change in the wind drove him to leeward, and before anyone on board
+realized their peril the two vessels crashed together with fearful
+force. So great was the impact that Don Alonzo's galleon heeled over
+until her larboard bulwarks were for a moment under water. But she
+righted herself again and sailed on, leaving many of her men who had
+been upon her open decks floundering in the sea. Among these was Philip
+Oglander.
+
+Philip was a good swimmer, and when he rose to the surface he struck
+out, shook the water from his dripping hair, and looked around. His own
+ship was now drawing away, forced onward by the storm. He turned and saw
+the high bows of the _Santa Maria_ towering above him, with her timbers
+broken and wrecked, and the water pouring into the yawning gap. The
+galleon plunged forward, staggered, rolled, then plunged forward again
+with her bow buried deep in a sea of foam. She did not lift herself now,
+but first her forward part sank lower and lower, the waves swept over
+her, seeming to rejoice in their conquest, and presently, with a great
+gurgling sound, the vessel disappeared.
+
+Gilbert and Timothy had been on her mid-deck when the two ships crashed
+together. They were standing abaft her thick main-mast, with their arms
+linked. Timothy, watching the ship's onward course and noting the
+position of the flag-ship, had foreseen the collision.
+
+"Look you," said he, gripping Gilbert's arm more tightly, "we shall
+strike her. Be ready, master; and if we should founder, cling to me, I
+implore you." And then, even as he spoke, the two ships crashed
+together, and the lads were thrown off their feet. Timothy flung his
+arms around Gilbert and held him. They lay there waiting. They felt the
+deck trembling beneath them, swaying to and fro.
+
+"We are sinking!" cried Timothy. And for many moments--moments that
+seemed like hours of suspense--he was silent. Suddenly there was a great
+breaking of timber. He saw the white foam leaping up over the steep
+incline of the deck. The tall main-mast swayed over and fell with a
+crash that was like a crack of thunder. And then all was dark, and he
+felt himself being drawn below in the vortex with the sinking ship.
+
+Still clinging to his companion, he opened his eyes. The water was all
+black about him. He moved his legs, trying to force himself upward.
+Soon he began to rise; the darkness became less dense, it grew from
+black to dark green, and then to a lighter green, and at last the
+daylight burst once more upon him. Striking out with his one free arm he
+kept himself afloat, then disengaged himself from Gilbert and took a
+fresh hold of the lad, keeping his head up above the water. Gilbert's
+eyes greeted him with recognition.
+
+"Hold on, hold on to me!" cried Timothy, as a great wave swept over
+them, carrying with it a huge spar of wreckage.
+
+The spar threatened to fall down upon Gilbert's head, but the waves kept
+it buoyant. Timothy stretched forth his arm and gripped some floating
+cordage, and presently drew himself towards the drifting spar, which he
+found to be the galleon's main-mast.
+
+"Lay hold on't!" he cried. And Gilbert, releasing his grip of Timothy's
+belt, put his hand upon the mast, and, with infinite trouble and after
+many failures, at last succeeded in climbing up and getting astride of
+it, while Timothy, working his way along to its end, also climbed up.
+
+When they were both together again in comparative safety, they looked
+about them in the hope of saving some of the Spaniards.
+
+"There is one!" cried Gilbert, as he saw a woolly black head appear
+within a couple of yards of him. "'Tis José, the blackamoor."
+
+And Timothy stretched forth his leg for the negro, who speedily caught
+it and clambered up. A second and a third man appeared, but both were
+too far off to be helped, and as neither could swim they were quickly
+lost to sight.
+
+It was at this juncture that Philip Oglander, swimming about in search
+of some wreckage by which he might hope to save himself, caught sight of
+the negro José. Timothy and Gilbert had their backs to him; he only saw
+that they were human figures, and that they were for the time being on a
+secure refuge. Swimming towards José, he at last attracted the negro's
+attention. The noise of the wind and waves was too great for a voice to
+be heard, and he climbed upon the floating mast without either Gilbert
+or Timothy's knowledge. It was, indeed, as much as any one of them could
+do to retain his balance and keep himself from being washed off, for the
+ponderous log upon which they rested rolled heavily upon the waves, and
+at times either plunged into them or was itself by them thrown upward
+into the air, and those who rode upon it might better have been upon a
+mad horse, so difficult was it to keep a seat. Cold and hungry and pale
+with the terror of their situation, the boys clung tightly with legs and
+arms, hoping only that God would bring them out of their peril.
+
+The night came on and darkness deepened their distresses. Timothy, who
+was in front of Gilbert, had not thus far dared to turn round and face
+him, but he had worked his way backward so that Gilbert might cling to
+him, and the while the boy's hand touched him he was comforted. In the
+darkness of the night Gilbert heard what he thought was a human cry--as
+in truth it was,--and putting his lips to Timothy's ear he called out:
+
+"He hath fallen off! José hath fallen off!"
+
+But later he felt that someone was moving behind him, and again he spoke
+to Timothy.
+
+"Nay, I mistook," said he; "he is still with us."
+
+Timothy made no response, satisfied only that his companion was able to
+take even so much interest in anything apart from the thought of his own
+immediate danger.
+
+The storm subsided somewhat during the early morning. The spar floated
+more easily, and when a faint streak of gray light appeared in the
+eastern sky, Timothy ventured to alter his position and bring himself
+round face to face with Gilbert. Glancing over Gilbert's shoulder, he
+saw that the negro--or what he supposed to be the figure of the
+negro--was still there, lying with his head upon his hands, and his
+hands gripping a strand of thick rope that was coiled about the mast. As
+the light grew stronger, however, he was astonished to notice that those
+hands were not black, and that where he had expected to see a head of
+woolly black hair there was a head whose hair was long and straight.
+Further scrutiny revealed to him the fact that through a long rent in
+their companion's jerkin there was a gleam of white skin. He waited
+until the coming daylight should enable him to discover more of this
+mystery, and as yet he said nothing to Gilbert.
+
+At last the dawn broke, and with its coming Timothy saw the pale haggard
+face of Philip Oglander turned towards him, with the dark hollow eyes
+gleaming in startled recognition.
+
+
+
+
+                        CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+                   THE WRITING IN THE BOOK.
+
+
+Gilbert saw the sudden change that had come into Timothy's countenance,
+but he paid little heed to it, for his own attention had been attracted
+by something else, something that the light of dawn had disclosed upon
+the sea not a cable's length away from where he and his two companions
+were floating about on that log of the lost galleon's mast.
+
+Gripping Timothy's shoulders with his two hands, he cried aloud:
+
+"Look you, Tim! Look! A ship!"
+
+And at that instant Philip Oglander's eyes rested also upon the object
+which had attracted Gilbert.
+
+Timothy craned his head round, and saw the ship's huge bulk heaving
+lazily upon the sea, with a glint of light upon a piece of brass that
+edged her forecastle rail. Her bow was towards them. Her masts were all
+gone, and there was no sign of life upon her decks. As she rose lazily
+upon the waves the lower planks of her hull were seen to be thickly
+encrusted with barnacles.
+
+But Timothy was for the time being very little concerned with the ship.
+There was now a hope of safety, and with that hope he was satisfied. But
+his discovery that Philip Oglander was now a companion of their strange
+position filled him with a feeling of dismay, for he knew that Philip
+was no friend to Gilbert any more than to himself, and there was
+something about the lad that made him uncomfortable, while yet there was
+of course no reason to fear him. Touching Gilbert on the shoulder Tim
+signed to him to turn his head. Gilbert obeyed, and saw his cousin, and
+wondered how it had come to pass that he was here. His wonderment
+continued throughout the whole morning, for it was still impossible to
+carry on any conversation, on account not only of the noise of the
+storm, but also of the danger of moving and of being thrown off the spar
+into the sea.
+
+At mid-day the wind fell and the sun came out. They were no nearer to
+the ship than they had been in the early morning. All through the
+afternoon the lads watched the labouring hulk, but even when the sun had
+set they could not be sure whether the distance between her and
+themselves had increased or diminished. That next night seemed to be a
+full year's time of endurance and cold and hunger, and their only
+comfort was in the consciousness that the waves were gradually becoming
+less in size and that the wind's force had abated.
+
+On the next morning it was seen that the ship was a little nearer; she
+was indeed so close that every detail of her structure could be
+distinguished. She was still bow on, as the mariners say, and her
+towering after-castle could be seen high above the level of her forward
+bulwarks. Something about her--the tangle of green and brown sea-weed
+clinging to her bulging bows, the thick crust of barnacles below her
+water-line, and a white mess of guano along the edge of her bulwarks and
+about the lips of her chase-guns--seemed to indicate that she had been
+drifting for a long time unattended. It was clear that she had been
+deserted. It was equally clear that she had not formed one of either Don
+Alonzo's fleet from Spain or of the fleet of treasure-ships from the
+West Indies.
+
+"Dost think we might get some food in her, Tim, if so be we could win
+our way aboard?" asked Gilbert.
+
+Timothy shook his head.
+
+"Haply we might," said he gravely; "but haply we might not. Yet even to
+be upon her decks would be some comfort; for at the least we might then
+stretch our legs and run about until some warmth came into us."
+
+Philip Oglander drew himself close behind Gilbert, and leaning over him
+called out to Timothy Trollope:
+
+"Canst swim, Master Trollope?" he questioned.
+
+Timothy nodded. "Why?" he asked.
+
+"Because," returned Philip, "there is some rope here, which one might
+bind about one's body, and so, swimming to the ship, haul this mast
+alongside."
+
+"I have already bethought me of that," said Timothy; "but the rope is
+not long enough. A better plan were for you and me to lay ourselves in
+the water at the mast's side, and so, clinging to it, paddle with our
+feet until we bring it near. Then, when we be close enough, I would
+indeed swim with the rope."
+
+This suggestion was agreed upon, and Timothy and Philip put themselves
+one at either side of the mast and propelled it along; not very quickly,
+it is true, for with all their efforts it was but small way that they
+could get into the heavy log. Yet if it was only inch by inch that they
+moved it, this was something. They laboured all through the morning, and
+at mid-day they had the satisfaction of knowing that they had lessened
+the distance between them and the ship by at least half a dozen yards.
+Meanwhile Gilbert gathered all the pieces of rope that were wound about
+the mast and spliced them together; and when this was done his two
+companions converted it into a hawser, and binding an end of it about
+their bodies swam towards the ship, towing the mast behind them. Thus
+they made better progress, and in the evening, while the sun was setting
+in a rack of clouds, they had brought themselves under the vessel's
+larboard bow.
+
+Gilbert Oglander, waiting until a wave should lift him within reach,
+caught at a line of rope that hung from the ship's broken bowsprit. By
+this he swarmed up. Timothy and Philip followed, and at last, after
+great difficulty, all three of them stood upon her deck.
+
+It was covered with the refuse of sea-birds. The deck guns were white
+with guano. Looking aft to the incline of her poop-deck they saw the
+companion hatch of the cabin, and this suggested that in the cabin
+itself they might find something that would serve as food. Timothy led
+the way down to the main-deck. In a coil of rope on one of the closed
+hatchways he caught sight of two white eggs. He leapt to them, and took
+one of them in his hand, giving it to Gilbert; the other he gave to
+Philip.
+
+"God grant that they be fresh," said he.
+
+Philip tapped his egg on one of the stanchions, chipping off a little
+piece of the shell. With a muttered Spanish curse he dropped the egg
+upon the deck, and stamped his foot upon the shrivelled, half-formed
+little sea-gull that the shell had enclosed.
+
+Gilbert bent down to break the other egg on a corner of the hatch
+covering. As he did so he caught sight of something that glittered on
+the deck--a small square of yellow metal about the size of his hand. He
+picked it up and examined it.
+
+"Why, 'tis gold!" said he.
+
+"Ay," agreed Timothy, "and there be other pieces the same as it. Look!"
+he added, pointing to the scuppers. And there Gilbert saw at least a
+dozen other little bars of gold.
+
+Philip saw them also, and darted towards them, gathering them together
+with miserly avarice.
+
+"Come," said Timothy, "let us go below and seek for food. I fear me
+there is little hope of our finding any, but it may be that we can come
+upon a few grains of corn or else a crust of old bread."
+
+He led the way aft to a door under the quarter-deck, and pushed it open.
+A dry, mouldy smell met him as he entered into the darkness. He felt
+about with his hands, and stepped cautiously until he found himself at
+the head of a narrow staircase. Step by step he went down. The stairs
+creaked under him.
+
+"'Tis all well," he said, looking back at Gilbert, who had hesitated to
+follow. "There is another door here, if I could but find the handle. Ah,
+'tis here!"
+
+He turned the handle, and a ray of light fell upon him. Gilbert was soon
+at his heels, and they entered together into a spacious cabin, which, in
+spite of its dank and mouldy atmosphere, bore still some signs of past
+luxury. At its farther end was a row of square port-holes, at each of
+which there was a small brass cannon, richly chased and ornamented. The
+panels around the cabin were of finely carved oak, with figures of
+saints and quaint devices and Latin legends. There were curtains of
+crimson velvet, and in the corners were little shelves of carved oak
+upon which stood goblets of silver and gold. Facing the port-holes there
+was a large mirror, black now, and dulled by the damp atmosphere. Around
+the sides stood large oak chests, which seemed to have served as seats;
+and in the middle of the floor, which was covered with the remains of
+what had once been a handsome Turkey carpet, there was a large oak
+table.
+
+It was this table upon which Timothy Trollope's eyes first rested as he
+entered. It was strewn with jars and candlesticks, cups and dishes, all
+of them made of solid gold, and in their midst, scattered about like
+corn on a barn floor, were hundreds of many-coloured precious stones
+that sparkled in the light.
+
+"Food! food!" cried Timothy, casting his hungry eyes about him.
+
+"Haply there will be some in here," said Gilbert; and he strode towards
+one of the chests whose lid was partly open. He looked within. "Alas!"
+he cried, "it is only gold!"
+
+Timothy passed to one of the others. It was locked. He passed to the
+next and opened it. "No," said he, "'tis only money!" At the farther
+end of the cabin one of the chests had fallen asunder like a rotten sack
+of grain, and the floor was strewn with gold coins.
+
+"Here is a cupboard," cried Gilbert, turning the rusty key which was
+still in the lock. But the shelves were filled with daggers, their hafts
+studded with gems, and with pistols of many design.
+
+Under the table a square of the carpet was turned back, revealing a
+trap-door. Gilbert caught hold of the ring-bolt and pulled it up and
+looked down into the darkness. As the ship rolled, he thought he heard
+the rushing of water. Taking up a handful of doubloons, he dropped them
+through the opening. They splashed into water.
+
+"Prithee, where is Philip?" asked Timothy. "Wherefore hath he not come
+with us?"
+
+"I left him on the deck," answered Gilbert.
+
+"Then I pray you let us return to him," said Timothy, "for I have found
+some four tallow candles, and we must share them with him. They are but
+a sorry sort of food to feed upon withal, but I have oft times heard of
+hungry men staving off starvation with no better fare. Nay, I am in
+earnest," he added, seeing the look of disgust in Gilbert's face. "Sure
+they are made out of good tallow-fat." He smiled grimly as he offered
+one of the candles to Gilbert, saying with much gravity, "I pray you,
+good my lord, wilt join me in a banquet of candles?"
+
+Gilbert took the proffered food, yet hesitated to begin.
+
+They quitted the cabin and mounted the stairs. When they regained the
+deck Philip Oglander was not to be seen. They called him, but he did not
+answer. Already the dusk was falling and they became anxious. But
+Timothy felt well assured that Philip was still on board, and surmised
+that he had found his way below into some one of the cabins.
+Nevertheless a further search was made for him, and it was only the
+growing darkness that urged them once more to return to what they
+believed to be the captain's room. Here Timothy made a beginning upon
+one of the candles, and, finding it not altogether disagreeable, he
+recommended Gilbert to make a similar meal. So hungry were they both
+that they would fain have finished the whole of their store, but they
+remembered Philip, and in fairness they put aside for him his due share.
+
+It was, as Timothy had remarked, a sorry sort of food, but in the
+absence of any better it served for the time, and having partaken of it
+they cleared the table of the things that were upon it, stretched
+themselves out upon its hard substance, and, committing themselves to
+God's keeping, fell asleep. A gnawing thirst disturbed their slumbers,
+but the rest was welcome after all their troubles and dangers, and when
+a beam of morning sunlight pouring in through the stern-ports awakened
+them they arose, conscious that they had been refreshed.
+
+Timothy's first act was to go to one of the open port-holes to look at
+the weather. The sea was now much calmer than when he had last looked
+upon it, and instead of the great broken waves with their caps of foam
+and showery spray, there was a long, regular rolling swell, only
+slightly rippled by the fresh morning breeze. That breeze was so
+refreshing that Timothy lingered at the port-hole, breathing it with
+joy. He crept outward, too, and tried to make out some of the devices
+that were carved upon the vessel's stern. Suddenly he hastened back into
+the cabin. His face was ghastly, and a strange agitation shone in his
+eyes.
+
+"Master Gilbert!" he cried, "Master Gilbert--my lord, my lord!"
+
+Gilbert stared at him in amazement, thinking for the moment that he had
+lost his senses.
+
+"What hath come over thee, Timothy?" he asked. "Hast seen a ghost?"
+
+"Haply I have," answered Timothy, his limbs shaking under him. "Dost
+know what ship we are in?"
+
+"Nay, how should I know?" returned Gilbert, still in doubt as to
+Timothy's sanity.
+
+Timothy grasped Gilbert by his two shoulders and said in a hollow,
+awe-stricken voice:
+
+"'Tis _The Golden Galleon_!"
+
+Gilbert started back in astonishment.
+
+"How know you?" he cried.
+
+"By the devices I have now seen carven upon her stern," said Timothy. "I
+knew them again. They are the same that we saw in the midst of that
+weird green light on the Sargasso Sea, and 'tis the self-same ship, as
+I'm a living son of a barber. 'Tis Jacob Hartop's Golden Galleon--or
+else her ghost, as Jacob averred."
+
+"Her ghost!" echoed Gilbert; and he put his hand upon the table as if to
+assure himself that it was a solid substance. "Nay, Tim, 'tis no ghost,"
+said he, "although I will not deny that she may be Jacob's galleon." He
+paused for many moments reflecting. At last he went on: "Prithee, Tim,
+didst ever hear from Jacob how long it was since he deserted that same
+golden galleon of his?"
+
+"Three years at the least," answered Timothy; "for 'tis not to be
+forgotten that when he had left her he voyaged yet again to the Spanish
+Main, where he fell in with your uncle Jasper and the good ship
+_Pearl_."
+
+Now, in preparing the table as a bed on the night before, Timothy had
+left only one thing lying there, and that thing was a large book which
+he had placed as a pillow for Gilbert. The book lay still upon the table
+close to Gilbert's hand. Gilbert idly turned back its first page. His
+eyes rested upon a line of cramped and almost illegible writing. He
+looked at it closer and then started back.
+
+"Tim!" he cried. "'Tis true--'tis true what you say, for here is his
+very name writ in this book!" He put his finger on the page while
+Timothy drew nearer. "There, where I point," he added. "'Tis his own
+hand, see--'JACOB HARTOP, BUCCANEER, HYS LOGG BOOKE'."
+
+"Nay, I must e'en take thy word for't, my master," said Tim; "for thou
+knowest that although I can make shift to read a line of print, yet
+writing done with a quill is beyond me. So," he mused, "this is poor
+Jacob's treasure-ship--the same that he hath so oft spoken of. Ay, and
+I'll engage 'tis, as he hath reported, loaded full deep with gold. Such
+wealth might make us great and glorious did we but have it in England,
+Master Gilbert. But of what avail is it now? 'Tis of no use under the
+sun. For my own part, I'd exchange it all for a barrel of good Devon
+apples or a loaf of my mother's home-made bread."
+
+"And I also," added Gilbert.
+
+They were silent for some minutes. Timothy was the first to speak.
+
+"'Tis passing strange where thy cousin Philip hath got to," said he.
+"Methinks 'twere well that we now made another search for him."
+
+Gilbert agreed, and together they went and searched the ship. During
+their search they discovered that the galleon was indeed laden with
+gold. But they cared not for this while their vitals were being gnawed
+with hunger and their lips were blue and parched with thirst.
+
+Philip Oglander, it would seem, was more familiar with the structure of
+a galleon than were either Timothy or Gilbert. For instead of going at
+once to the poop-cabins he had found his way down to the rooms
+amidships, where it was customary to keep the stores. What little food
+he had found was either saturated with salt-water or rotten with decay,
+or else so hard and dried up that it would have required a pickaxe to
+break it, much less human teeth. In his quest, however, he had
+discovered what Gilbert and Timothy had not even dreamt of, namely, some
+huge bins of Spanish wine. Into one of these he had managed to bore a
+hole with the point of his dagger. Unlike Timothy, he had not for an
+instant thought of sharing his discovery. He had taken his fill of the
+wine, leaving a stream running from the bin, and finding some stale and
+mildewed bread, he had cleaned it and put it to soak and soften in a
+bath of the red liquid.
+
+When Timothy and Gilbert at last came upon him he was lying on the floor
+in an intoxicated sleep, with a flood of wine about him. Timothy
+regarded him in horror and disgust.
+
+"It seemeth to me that Master Philip might almost have acquainted us of
+such a discovery as this," said he, and picking up a little golden cup
+from the floor he held it to catch the drippings from the bin. He
+presently passed the cup to Gilbert.
+
+"Drink, my master," said he; "'twill do thee good. But take not much at
+the first, for there is naught so bad upon an empty stomach as strong
+liquor. Thy cousin hath seemingly been so unwise as to drink his fill."
+
+"'Tis naught to marvel at," said Gilbert, having taken a mouthful, "for
+of a surety it doth put new life into one. Ay, even to wet one's lips
+with it doth send the blood racing through the body like the water in a
+mill-dam."
+
+Timothy espied Philip's bread soaking in its silver dish of wine, and he
+took some out, sharing it with Gilbert, and they ate it and were
+refreshed.
+
+Suddenly as they were leaving Philip to finish his sleep, they were
+startled by hearing from across the sea the report of a cannon-shot.
+Timothy bounded forward, and was speedily upon the deck. Gilbert
+followed at his heels. Looking over to the eastward they saw a gallant
+little ship in full sail bearing down towards them. A faint mist of
+smoke was being wafted by the wind from one of her forward guns. From
+her sprit-topmast there waved the glorious flag of St. George.
+
+"'Tis an English ship!" cried Timothy with joy.
+
+"Ay," added Gilbert; "and what is more, 'tis one that is no stranger to
+me. Thou shouldst know her even better than I, Tim; for, if I mistake
+not, 'tis none other than Jacob Whiddon's _Pilgrim_. I know her by the
+token that her fore-topsail hath got a round patch of lighter canvas in
+it. And, mark you, 'tis Master Whiddon's ancient that flieth from her
+mainyard. Ay, 'tis the _Pilgrim_. And of that I have now no manner of
+doubt."
+
+"Then are we saved!" murmured Timothy. "Prithee, Master Gilbert, hie
+thee below and bid thy cousin Philip come up, while that I climb to the
+top of the poop-deck and make a signal."
+
+And so saying Timothy sought about for some flag or rag which he might
+wave to the ship as a sign that there were people on board the galleon.
+No flag could he find, but taking a strip of red silk that he had
+discovered in Hartop's cabin, he tied it by the corners to the end of a
+pike, and this he waved to and fro from the highest part of the
+galleon's hull. His signal was answered from the _Pilgrim_, and the ship
+bore down before the wind with a belt of white foam streaming off from
+her round bows, and her white sails glimmering in the bright sunlight.
+
+Meanwhile Gilbert Oglander had gone below to arouse his cousin. Philip
+was very sound asleep; but after many efforts Gilbert awakened him, and
+he staggered to his feet. Glaring at Gilbert with bloodshot eyes he did
+not speak for many minutes. Gilbert told him of the approaching ship,
+and added that now they might hope to be taken home to England.
+
+This mention of England seemed to have aroused strange thoughts in
+Philip's brain, and without warning he closed the cabin door and planted
+himself with his back against it.
+
+"Thou, at least, shalt never see England again!" he cried. "By the Holy
+Mother thou shalt not! Dost think that I will brook the thought of thee
+being Baron Champernoun, while I, who am a better man than thee, am
+plain Philip Oglander? No! This ship hath wealth enough aboard her to
+serve me in plenty for the rest of my days. And thou shalt not share it;
+neither shalt thou ever live to hear thyself addressed by the great
+title of Champernoun!"
+
+He spoke the words in a thick drunken voice, his eyes fixing themselves
+upon his cousin in terrible menace.
+
+Gilbert could not repress the smile that came to his lips.
+
+"Hush, good my cousin!" said he. "Thou hast taken overmuch of this
+strong wine, methinks, and thy tongue doth say things which thy heart
+cannot mean."
+
+"What?" cried Philip. And whipping his dagger from his belt he made a
+lunge at Gilbert, aiming a blow at his heart.
+
+Gilbert drew aside and avoided the blow, and Philip's head struck with a
+resounding knock against the bulkhead. The pain enraged him, and
+swearing a great Spanish oath he renewed the attack, rushing at his
+cousin with wild fury. This time his foot slipped on the slimy,
+wine-flooded floor. He fell with a heavy thud; his weapon hand was under
+him, and the dagger, which he had held sword-wise, with the point
+upward, buried the full length of its blade in his chest.
+
+Gilbert turned to the door and opened it. As he looked round at Philip
+he saw a stream of blood issuing from under him. Philip tried to rise,
+but rolled over on his back. Only the handle of his dagger could be
+seen. Gilbert bent down to withdraw it, but it was tightly wedged
+between the ribs.
+
+"The Saints protect me!" groaned Philip. "I am done for!"
+
+"Much do I fear that thou art indeed. God forgive thee," said Gilbert,
+and quitting the store-room he returned to the deck to summon Timothy.
+It was at this moment that Timothy had seen the answering signal from
+the _Pilgrim_. He went below with Gilbert and when they entered the
+store-room they found that Philip Oglander was dead.
+
+[Illustration: "HE MADE A LUNGE AT GILBERT, AIMING A BLOW AT HIS
+               HEART."]
+
+
+
+
+                          CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+                 PETER TROLLOPE SHUTS UP SHOP.
+
+
+On a certain gray, windy morning in late October, Peter Trollope's shop
+was more than usually busy. Every bench had its occupant, and the talk
+was loud and animated. In the big chair near the fire sat that great
+courtier Sir Walter Raleigh, smoking a stick of twisted tobacco, to
+which he gave the Spanish name of _cigarro_. He joined not much in the
+gossip, for he had already recounted all that was so far known
+concerning the last fight of the _Revenge_, news of which had come to
+England some few days earlier, and he was passing doleful in spirit over
+the death of his noble kinsman, Sir Richard Grenville. Now and again he
+did indeed put in a word when it was question of deciding the number of
+Spanish galleons that had been vanquished in the fight, or the number of
+Spaniards that had been slain, but for the most part he was gloomily
+silent.
+
+"My brother Tom was aboard of her, and I'll engage that he gave not up
+his life ere he had laid a good dozen of the Dons low," said a burly
+fisherman from one of the corners of the shop.
+
+"Ay," added another man, "and my son Bill was among 'em; likewise my
+good wife's brother Dick."
+
+Peter Trollope snipped his scissors over the head of the young gallant
+whose hair he was trimming.
+
+"My boy Timothy went also out with the fleet," said he; "though 'twas
+not on one of Her Majesty's ships that he sailed, but aboard Jacob
+Whiddon's _Pilgrim_, of which there hath been no word."
+
+"She was seen taking some part in the battle," remarked Sir Walter
+Raleigh, puffing a cloud of blue smoke in a column above his head, "for
+since Whiddon was but an adventurer and owed no duty of obedience to my
+Lord Thomas, he was free to do what he listed. And he listed to have a
+shot at the galleons, and so, for aught I know, came to grief."
+
+"Ah!" sighed the barber. "Then peradventure Timothy hath, after all,
+been slain?"
+
+"As like as not," nodded Sir Walter; "as like as not. And you may take
+it that since naught hath been heard of the _Pilgrim_, she hath either
+gone to the bottom in the battle, or else been broken on the rocks of
+the Western Isles, as so many others were in the great storm that
+followed on the heels of the fight."
+
+"The rascal was full eager to join the _Revenge_," continued the barber,
+"and did declare most positively to me that Sir Richard had promised him
+a berth. 'Twas his desire to be with his young master, Master Gilbert
+Oglander, that took him away--"
+
+"Touching Master Gilbert Oglander," broke in Christopher Pym, addressing
+Sir Walter Raleigh, "he was on board the _Revenge_. I pray you, Sir
+Walter, I pray you, tell me is there aught of news concerning the lad?"
+
+Sir Walter shook his head.
+
+"No," he answered. "Much do I fear me that he hath gone with the rest.
+And 'tis a pity if it be so, for now that the vile traitor, his uncle,
+hath paid the penalty of his treachery--"
+
+"The penalty!" interrupted Christopher Pym. "Hath he then been proven
+guilty?"
+
+"Ay," returned Raleigh. And at this the whole room was silent, for the
+information was new. Sir Walter Raleigh, resting his elbows on the arms
+of his chair, held his two hands in front of him, busying his be-ringed
+fingers with adjusting the outer leaf of tobacco about his cigar. "Ay,"
+he went on, "Jasper hath paid the penalty, for being found guilty by the
+judgment of the Star Chamber, he was on Monday morning last beheaded on
+Tower Hill."
+
+Sir Walter paused, and having adjusted his cigar to his satisfaction he
+took up the fire-tongs, and with them picked out a piece of burning wood
+from the fire the while he lighted the end of his cigar.
+
+"You may be sure," he went on, "that 'twas not as Lord Champernoun that
+the rascal was tried. For apart from the fact that he had not yet proved
+that his nephew, Master Gilbert Oglander, was dead, and that therefore
+he was himself by right of succession the real Lord Champernoun--apart
+from this, I say, he had neither taken out his license as a baron nor
+taken his seat in Her Majesty's House of Peers. He had been over eager
+to claim his dead father's name and estates, you see, my masters, and by
+very reason of his too great eagerness he revealed his trickery and the
+vile treachery that lay behind it."
+
+"Ay, but his treachery and his machinations and intrigues with the King
+of Spain would yet have been discovered," said Peter Trollope, "even
+although he had not sought to make himself Baron Champernoun. For it
+hath been amply proven that even before my Lord Thomas Howard's fleet
+departed out of Plymouth, Jasper Oglander had connived at the escape of
+the Spanish prisoners of war--had even planned their escape,
+indeed,--and had sent off his son Philip to Spain to inform the Spanish
+king of the purpose of my Lord Thomas's expedition against the plate
+fleet."
+
+"All that and more than that was brought out at the man's trial in
+London," said Sir Walter Raleigh. "And now it seemeth that that same son
+of his, Philip Oglander, was present on board Don Alonzo Bassan's
+galleon."
+
+"'Twere well, methinks, that the lad had accompanied his father to Tower
+Hill," remarked Peter Trollope. "And now," he added, "a strange thought
+hath occurred to me. It is that, should Master Gilbert--or Lord
+Champernoun as he should truly be named--have been slain in the fight on
+the _Revenge_, and should his cousin have escaped, then the cur Philip
+Oglander must now be regarded as the head of the Oglander family, and
+the rightful owner of the title and estates."
+
+No one seemed to take notice of this remark, but at last Christopher Pym
+spoke.
+
+"Better that the title and estates should fall into oblivion than that,"
+said he. "Howsoever it be," he added, rising and taking up his
+walking-staff, "I am now impelled to take horse and journey to
+Willoughby Grange, there to inform my Lady Betty Oglander of this news,
+and bid her return to her rightful home at Modbury."
+
+"I pray you give her ladyship my most devoted remembrances," said
+Raleigh; "and bid her from me to be of good cheer concerning her son
+Gilbert, for if the lad be no more, he hath at least given up his life
+for the honour of his Queen and country, even as his sire and so many
+other of his noble family hath done before him. Give you good-day,
+Master Pym, and God speed you."
+
+An hour or so after this conversation had ended, Peter Trollope sat
+alone in his shop thinking sadly over the remark that had fallen from
+Sir Walter Raleigh touching the probable fate of the _Pilgrim_. Trade
+had not been brisk at the "Pestle and Mortar" during the months of
+Timothy's absence. Of hair cutting and the trimming of beards there had
+been plenty, but it chanced that a very skilful man of medicine had
+opened a business a few doors away, and had succeeded so well that he
+had drawn all Master Trollope's surgical trade away from him, so that,
+but for an occasional customer who came in to have a tooth drawn, Peter
+could scarcely with justice call himself a barber-surgeon, but merely a
+barber. Also, he had fallen into debt, and his creditors were pressing
+him for a settlement. Upon all his other distresses had come the word
+that in all probability his son Timothy had been either killed in battle
+or drowned in a storm; and this was the destruction of all his hopes,
+for he had in his more sanguine moments nursed the thought that Tim,
+even though he returned penniless and ragged, might yet be a help to
+him at this present time, and a joy to him in the future. But if Tim
+were really dead, what more could be looked to in this world but
+continued poverty and hard work and unhappiness?
+
+In the midst of his doleful sorrowings and regrets he heard the clatter
+of horse's feet on the stones of the street outside. The door of the
+shop was swung open, and in bounced Timothy himself.
+
+His face was rosy brown and it wore a joyous smile, and although his
+clothing was woefully ragged and white with the salt of the sea, yet
+there was an air of dignity about him that was quite foreign to the lad
+who had gone away seven months earlier. He strode into the shop as
+though he had been one of the lords of the land, and stood in front of
+his father with his arms akimbo, looking down upon the amazed barber and
+laughing at his confusion.
+
+"Father," said Timothy, "I am come back."
+
+"In sooth," said the barber, "my eyes give me ample evidence of the
+fact."
+
+"And art glad to see me, father?"
+
+"Ay, God knoweth I am that, Tim. Give me thy hand!"
+
+"What, though I am dressed as a beggar withal?"
+
+"Ay, though thy rags were e'en raggeder than they are," said Peter, the
+tears filling his eyes. He shook the lad's hand with a grip whose
+strength betokened his fulness of joy. "Tim, my lad," he added after a
+brief pause, "tell me, I pray you, hast thou been in battle?"
+
+"Ay," returned Timothy, "the most glorious battle that ever was. I have
+fought, father, as my wounds shall presently prove to thee, and have
+killed as many Spaniards as might fill thy poor shop."
+
+"An thou hast proved thyself a man and not a coward?"
+
+Timothy nodded.
+
+"'Tis enough for me," said Peter. "And now, I pray you, tell me where is
+thy ship?"
+
+"Lying in Polperro Bay," answered Timothy, "where we dropped anchor but
+a half-dozen hours since. Master Whiddon and my Lord Champernoun--Master
+Gilbert Oglander that was--have come with me into Plymouth, and bade me
+beseech thee to come with me to the sign of the Crown, where they now
+are, and where we are presently to sit down to the lordliest banquet
+mine host can provide. So get thee ready instanter, while that I go
+within to see my mother and don some goodlier raiment."
+
+"Nay, but I cannot leave my business at this hour of the day," objected
+Peter.
+
+At which Timothy laughed and said:
+
+"Hark ye, father, and listen to me. Thou hast cropped thy last head of
+hair and shaven thy last chin. No more work shalt thou do for the rest
+of thy days. Thou shalt have a coach to drive in, and a lordly mansion
+to live in, with a tribe of serving people to do thy bidding, and shalt
+live on the best in the land--"
+
+"Nay, mock me not, boy," cried the barber. "I can ill bear thy jests
+just now; for of a truth I am deep in debt, and know not how we shall
+contrive to live without charity beyond another week."
+
+"A truce to your charity," cried Tim. "Hark'ee, father, I am rich. Ay,
+rich as a king." He plunged his hands into his pockets and scattered
+many golden coins upon the chair near which he stood. "These be but a
+few trifles that have slipped into my pockets unawares, and are but a
+small sample of the _Pilgrim's_ cargo. If more be needed for the nonce,
+thou hast but to send a cart round to Polperro and get more. But bear
+this in mind, good my father, thou shalt shut up shop for good and all,
+and never again shall thine ears be assailed by the snipping of barber's
+scissors or the fizzling of curling-tongs!"
+
+Now this that Timothy promised did actually come to pass. Nor was Peter
+Trollope the only one in Plymouth who enjoyed some benefit from the
+treasures of _The Golden Galleon_. Every man and boy of the ship's
+company of the _Pilgrim_ received his proportionate share of the wealth,
+while Captain Whiddon--without whom Timothy and Gilbert might never have
+returned to England--received only less than Gilbert and Timothy.
+
+The _Pilgrim_ had not been large enough to hold all the treasure that
+_The Golden Galleon_ had contained, not even although her very ballast
+had been jettisoned to make more room. But when she had been loaded with
+as much as she could safely carry, she had been brought home as quickly
+as the winds would drive her. What became of the old derelict, whether
+she sank to the bottom as a consequence of the shots that were fired
+into her hull by the departing _Pilgrim_, or whether she remained afloat
+long enough for yet another ship to board her and take toll of her
+remaining treasure, Gilbert Oglander and his companions never learned.
+But, judging by circumstances, it is pretty certain that she sank to the
+bottom, and that, as Jacob Hartop had expressed it, her treasures went
+down to the mermaid's halls, where her precious gems might serve to
+bedeck the mermaid's necks.
+
+                       *    *    *    *    *
+
+It was on the third day after the return of the _Pilgrim_ that Gilbert
+Oglander--or, as we may now call him, Lord Champernoun--rode along the
+familiar lanes to Modbury. He had thus delayed his home-coming because
+he had heard that his mother and Drusilla were still absent. But on this
+morning Christopher Pym had come to him and told him that they had
+returned, and were expecting him.
+
+Timothy rode in his company, not now as his squire but as his companion,
+for it was as companions and loving friends that they were always
+afterwards to regard each other.
+
+Gilbert waxed indignant when he saw the work that his uncle had done in
+hewing down the trees in the avenue of the manor, but his indignation
+was soon overcome by the joy of meeting his mother and Drusilla.
+
+To tell of that meeting, and to record all that was said and done on
+that momentous day would make a long story in itself. In the evening
+Gilbert sat at the head of the table with his dearest friends and all
+his household about him. It was a happy occasion, not only for himself
+who had endured so much, but also for his mother and for Drusilla, who
+now realized for the first time that the terrors held over them by
+Jasper Oglander were no more to be feared, and whose anxiety concerning
+Gilbert was at last allayed by seeing him there alive and well,
+occupying his rightful place, and bearing within himself the promise of
+a great and useful manhood.
+
+
+
+
+"English boys owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. Henty."--_Athenæum._
+
+
+                       Blackie & Son's
+
+                    Illustrated Story Books
+
+          Large Crown 8vo, Cloth Extra, Olivine Edges
+
+
+G. A. HENTY
+
+  On the Irrawaddy: A Story of the First Burmese War. _New Edition._
+  3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "Stanley Brooke's pluck is even greater than his luck, and he is
+     precisely the boy to hearten with emulation the boys who read his
+     stirring story."--_Saturday Review._
+
+--A March on London: A Story of War Tyler's Insurrection. _New Edition._
+  3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "The story is set forth with a degree of cunning that may always be
+     looked for in the work that comes from this practised
+     hand."--_Daily Telegraph._
+
+--Through the Sikh War: A Tale of the Conquest of the Punjaub. _New
+  Edition._ 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "On the whole we have never read a more vivid and faithful
+     narrative of military adventure in India."--_Academy._
+
+--In Greek Waters: A Story of the Grecian War of Independence. _New
+  Edition._ 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "There are adventures of all kinds for the hero and his friends,
+     whose pluck and ingenuity in extricating themselves from awkward
+     fixes are always equal to the occasion."--_Journal of Education._
+
+--Maori and Settler: A Story of the New Zealand War. _New Edition._
+  3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "This is a first-rate book, brimful of adventure."--_Schoolmaster._
+
+--St. Bartholomew's Eve: A Tale of the Huguenot Wars. _New Edition._
+  3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "A really good story."--_Bookman._
+
+--Under Drake's Flag: A Tale of the Spanish Main. _New Edition._
+  3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "A stirring book of Drake's time."--_Daily Telegraph._
+
+--Orange and Green: A Tale of the Boyne and Limerick. _New Edition._
+  3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "_Orange and Green_ is an extremely spirited story."--_Saturday
+     Review._
+
+--A Final Reckoning: A Tale of Bush Life in Australia. _New Edition._
+  3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "Mr. Henty has never published a more readable, a more carefully
+     constructed, or a better-written story than this."--_Spectator._
+
+--By Right of Conquest: or, With Cortez in Mexico. _New Edition._
+  3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "Mr. Henty's skill has never been more convincingly displayed than
+     in this admirable and ingenious story."--_Saturday Review._
+
+--With Cochrane the Dauntless: A Tale of his Exploits. _New Edition._
+  3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "This tale we specially recommend, for the career of Lord Cochrane
+     and his many valiant fights in the cause of liberty deserve to be
+     better known than they are."--_St. James's Gazette._
+
+--A Jacobite Exile: or, In the Service of Charles XII of Sweden. _New
+  Edition._ 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "Full of life, adventure, movement, and admirably
+     illustrated."--_Scotsman._
+
+--With Frederick the Great: A Tale of the Seven Years' War. _New
+  Edition._ 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "It is a good deal to say, but this prolific and admirable writer
+     has never done better than this story."--_British Weekly._
+
+--With Moore at Corunna: A Tale of the Peninsular War. _New Edition._
+  3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "A very spirited story."--_Spectator._
+
+--Facing Death: or, The Hero of the Vaughan Pit. _New Edition._
+  3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "If any father, godfather, clergyman, or schoolmaster in on the
+     lookout for a good book to give as a present to a boy who is worth
+     his salt, this is the book we would recommend."--_Standard._
+
+--The Dragon and the Raven: or the Days of King Alfred. _New Edition._
+  3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "A well-built superstructure of fiction on an interesting
+     substratum of fact."--_Athenæum._
+
+--One of the 28th: A Tale of Waterloo. _New Edition._ 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "Contains one of the best descriptions of the various battles which
+     raged round Waterloo which it has ever been our fate to
+     read."--_Daily Telegraph._
+
+--Cat of Bubastes: A Story of Ancient Egypt. _New Edition._ 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "Full of exciting adventures."--_Saturday Review._
+
+--With Clive in India: or, The Beginnings of an Empire. _New Edition._
+  3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "Those who know something about India will be the first to thank
+     Mr. Henty for giving them this instructive volume to place in the
+     hands of their children."--_Academy._
+
+--Condemned as a Nihilist: A Story of Escape from Siberia. _New
+  Edition._ 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "The narrative is more interesting than many of the tales with
+     which the public is familiar of escape from Siberia."--_National
+     Observer._
+
+--Under Wellington's Command: A Tale of the Peninsular War. _New
+  Edition._ 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "An admirable exposition of Mr. Henty's masterly method of
+     combining instruction with amusement."--_World._
+
+--The Young Carthaginian: A Story of the Times of Hannibal. _New
+  Edition._ 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "From first to last nothing stays the interest of the
+     narrative."--_Saturday Review._
+
+--By England's Aid: or, The Freeing of the Netherlands (1585-1604). With
+  4 Maps. _New Edition._ 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "Boys know and love Mr. Henty's books of adventure, and will
+     welcome his tale of the freeing of the Netherlands."--_Athenæum._
+
+--The Lion of the North: A Tale of Gustavus Adolphus. _New Edition._
+  3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "A clever and instructive piece of history. As boys may be trusted
+     to read it conscientiously, they can hardly fail to be profited as
+     well as pleased."--_Times._
+
+--The Lion of St. Mark: A Tale of Venice. _New Edition._ 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "Every boy should read _The Lion of St. Mark_."--_Saturday Review._
+
+--Both Sides the Border: A Tale of Hotspur and Glendower. _New Edition._
+  3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "Mr. Henty retains the reader's interest throughout the story,
+     which he tells clearly and vigorously."--_Daily Telegraph._
+
+--Captain Bayley's Heir: A Tale of the Gold Fields of California. _New
+  Edition._ 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "Told with that vigour which is peculiar to Mr. Henty."--_Academy._
+
+--By Pike and Dyke: A Tale of the Rise of the Dutch Republic. _New
+  Edition._ 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "Told with a vividness and skill worthy of Mr. Henty at his
+     best."--_Academy._
+
+--A Chapter of Adventures: or, Through the Bombardment of Alexandria.
+  _New Edition._ 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "Their chapter of adventures is so brisk and entertaining we could
+     have wished it longer than it is."--_Saturday Review._
+
+--For the Temple: A Tale of the Fall of Jerusalem, _New Edition._
+  3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "Many an 'old boy', as well as the younger ones, will delight in
+     this narrative of that awful page of history."--_Church Times._
+
+--Through the Fray: A Story of the Luddite Riots. _New Edition._
+  3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "This is one of the best of the many good books Mr. Henty has
+     produced."--_Record._
+
+--The Young Colonists: A Tale of the Zulu and Boer Wars. _New Edition._
+  3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "It is vigorously written."--_Standard._
+
+--In Freedom's Cause: A Story of Wallace and Bruce. _New Edition._
+  3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "His tale is full of stirring action and will commend itself to
+     boys."--_Athenæum._
+
+--When London Burned: a Story of Restoration Times. 6_s._
+
+     "A handsome volume, and boys will rejoice to possess
+     it. . . ."--_Record._
+
+--The Treasure of the Incas: A Tale of Adventure in Peru. With a Map. 5_s._
+
+     "The interest never flags for one moment, and the story is told
+     with vigour."--_World._
+
+--With Roberts to Pretoria: A Tale of the South African War. With a Map.
+  6_s._
+
+     "In this story of the South African war Mr. Henty proves once more
+     his incontestable pre-eminence as a writer for boys."--_Standard._
+
+--Bonnie Prince Charlie: A Tale of Fontenoy and Culloden. 6_s._
+
+     "A historical romance of the best quality."--_Academy._
+
+--Through Russian Snows: or, Napoleon's Retreat from Moscow. 5_s._
+
+     "Very graphically told."--_St. James's Gazette._
+
+--The Tiger of Mysore: A Story of the War with Tippoo Saib. 6_s._
+
+     "A thrilling tale."--_Athenæum._
+
+--Wulf the Saxon: A Story the Norman Conquest. 6_s._
+
+     "We may safely say that a boy may learn from it more genuine
+     history than he will from many a tedious tome."--_Spectator._
+
+--With Kitchener in the Soudan: A Tale of Atbara and Omdurman. With 3
+  Maps. 6_s._
+
+     "Characterized by those familiar traits which endear Mr. Henty to
+     successive generations of schoolboys."--_Pall Mall Gazette._
+
+--At the Point of the Bayonet: A Tale of the Mahratra War. With 2 Maps.
+  6_s._
+
+     "A brisk, dashing narrative."--_Bookman._
+
+--Through Three Campaigns: A Story of Chitral, the Tirah, and Ashanti.
+  With 3 Maps. 6_s._
+
+     "Every true boy will enjoy this story of plucky
+     adventure."--_Educational News._
+
+--St. George for England: A Tale of Cressy and Poitiers. 5_s._
+
+     "A story of very great interest for boys."--_Pall Mall Gazette._
+
+--With the British Legion: A Story of the Carlist Wars. 6_s._
+
+     "It is a rattling story told with verve and spirit."--_Pall Mall
+     Gazette._
+
+--True to the Old Flag: A Tale of the American War of Independence.
+  6_s._
+
+     "Mr. Henty undoubtedly possesses the secret of writing eminently
+     successful historical tales."--_Academy._
+
+--At Aboukir and Acre. 5_s._
+
+     "For intrinsic interest and appropriateness, _At Aboukir and Acre_
+     should rank high."--_Spectator._
+
+--Redskin and Cow-Boy: A Tale of Western Plains. 6_s._
+
+     "A strong interest of open-air life and movement pervades the whole
+     book."--_Scotsman._
+
+--With Buller in Natal: or, A Born Leader. With a Map. 6_s._
+
+     "Just the sort of book to inspire an enterprising boy."--_Army and
+     Navy Gazette._
+
+--By Conduct and Courage: A Story of the days of Nelson. 6_s._
+
+     "As it is the last it is good to be able to say that it shows no
+     falling off in the veteran's vigour of style or in his happy choice
+     of a subject."--_Globe._
+
+--With the Allies to Pekin: A Story of the Relief of the Legations. With
+  a Map. 6_s._
+
+     "The author's object being to interest and amuse, it must be
+     admitted that he has succeeded."--_Guardian._
+
+--By Sheer Pluck: A Tale of the Ashanti War. 5_s._
+
+     "Written with a simple directness, force, and purity of style
+     worthy of Defoe."--_Christian Leader._
+
+--With Lee in Virginia: A Story of the American Civil War. With 6 Maps.
+  6_s._
+
+     "The story is a capital one and full of variety."--_Times._
+
+--To Herat and Cabul: A Story of the First Afghan War. With Map. 5_s._
+
+     "We can heartily commend it to boys, old and young."--_Spectator._
+
+--A Knight of the White Cross: A Tale of the Siege of Rhodes. 6_s._
+
+     "Quite up to the level of Mr. Henty's former historical
+     tales."--_Saturday Review._
+
+--In the Heart of the Rockies: A Story of Adventure in Colorado. 5_s._
+
+     "Mr. Henty is seen here at his best as an artist in lightning
+     fiction."--_Academy._
+
+--The Bravest of the Brave: or, With Peterborough in Spain. 5_s._
+
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+     Telegraph._
+
+--A Roving Commission: or, Through the Black Insurrection of Hayti.
+  6_s._
+
+     "May be confidently recommended to schoolboy readers."--_Guardian._
+
+--For Name and Fame: or, To Cabul with Roberts. 5_s._
+
+     "The book teems with spirited scenes and stirring
+     adventures."--_School Guardian._
+
+--In the Reign of Terror: The Adventures of a Westminster Boy. 5_s._
+
+     "May fairly be said to beat Mr. Henty's record."--_Saturday
+     Review._
+
+--Beric the Briton: A Story of the Roman Invasion of Britain. 6_s._
+
+     "One of the most spirited and well-imagined stories Mr. Henty has
+     written."--_Saturday Review._
+
+--No Surrender! A Tale of the Rising in La Vendée. 5_s._
+
+     "A vivid tale of manly struggle against oppression."--_World._
+
+--The Dash for Khartoum: A Tale of the Nile Expedition. 6_s._
+
+     "It is literally true that the narrative never flags a
+     moment."--_Academy._
+
+--With Wolfe in Canada: or, The Winning of a Continent. 6_s._
+
+     "A moving tale of military exploit and thrilling
+     adventure."--_Daily News._
+
+--Out with Garibaldi: A Story of the Liberation of Italy. 5_s._
+
+     "It is a stirring tale."--_Graphic._
+
+--Held Fast for England: A Tale of the Siege of Gibraltar. 5_s._
+
+     "There is no cessation of exciting incident throughout the
+     story."--_Athenæum._
+
+--Won by the Sword: A Tale of the Thirty Years' War. 6_s._
+
+     "As fascinating as ever came from Mr. Henty's pen."--_Westminster
+     Gazette._
+
+--In the Irish Brigade: A Tale of War in Flanders and Spain. 6_s._
+
+     "A stirring book of military adventure."--_Scotsman._
+
+--At Agincourt: A Tale of the White Hoods of Paris. 6_s._
+
+     "Cannot fail to commend itself to boys of all ages."--_Manchester
+     Courier._
+
+
+
+
+                          Blackie & Son's
+
+                        Story Books for Boys
+
+             Large Crown 8vo, Cloth Extra. Illustrated
+
+
+Capt. F. S. BRERETON
+
+  The Hero of Panama: A Tale of the Great Canal. Illustrated by W. RAINEY,
+  R.I. Olivine edges, 6_s._
+
+--Under the Chinese Dragon: A Tale of Mongolia. Illustrated by CHARLES
+  M. SHELDON. Olivine edges, 5_s._
+
+--Tom Stapleton, the Boy Scout: With a commendation by LIEUT.-GENERAL
+  SIR R. S. S. BADEN-POWELL, and illustrated with coloured
+  frontispiece and in black-and-white by GORDON BROWNE, R.I.
+  3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "A rousing piece of story-telling."--_Westminster Gazette._
+
+--The Great Aeroplane: A Thrilling Tale of Adventure. 6_s._
+
+     "The story is a bracing one."--_Outlook._
+
+--Indian and Scout: A Tale of the Gold Rush to California. 5_s._
+
+     "A dashing narrative of the best quality."--_British Weekly._
+
+--A Hero of Sedan: A Tale of Franco-Prussian War. 6_s._
+
+     "The exciting events of the book are developed in a manly spirit
+     and healthy tone."--_Academy._
+
+--John Bargreave's Gold: A Tale of Adventure in the Caribbean 5_s._
+
+     "The book is full of breathless happenings."--_Daily Graphic._
+
+--How Canada was Won: A Tale of Wolfe and Quebec. 6_s._
+
+     "Will make the strongest appeal to the juvenile fancy."--_Outlook._
+
+--Roughriders of the Pampas: A Tale of Ranch Life in South America.
+  5_s._
+
+     "The interest is unflagging throughout the well-written
+     tale."--_World._
+
+--With Wolseley to Kumasi: A Story of the First Ashanti War. 6_s._
+
+     "Boys will want nothing better."--_Daily Graphic._
+
+--Jones of the 64th: A Tale of the Battles of Assaye and Laswaree. 5_s._
+
+     "The story is full of dash and spirit."--_Birmingham Post._
+
+--Roger the Bold: A Tale of the Conquest of Mexico. 6_s._
+
+     "The tale forms lively reading, the fighting being especially
+     good."--_Athenæum._
+
+--With Roberts to Candahar: A Tale of the Third Afghan War. 5_s._
+
+     "A very tried author, who improves with each book he writes, is
+     Captain F. S. Brereton."--_Academy._
+
+--A Soldier of Japan: A Tale of the Russo-Japanese War. 5_s._
+
+     "The pages bristle with hairbreadth escapes and
+     gallantry."--_Graphic._
+
+--Foes of the Red Cockade: A Story of the French Revolution. 6_s._
+
+     "A stirring picture of a fearful time."--_World._
+
+--With the Dyaks of Borneo: A Tale of the Head Hunters. 6_s._
+
+     "Young readers must be hard to please if _With the Dyaks_ does not
+     suit them."--_Spectator._
+
+--A Hero of Lucknow: A Tale of the Indian Mutiny. 5_s._
+
+     "Full of action and picturesque adventure."--_British Weekly._
+
+--A Knight of St. John: A Tale of the Siege of Malta. _New Edition._
+  3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "Would enthral any boy reader."--_World._
+
+--In the Grip of the Mullah: A Tale of Somaliland. _New Edition._
+  3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "A more spirited tale could not be wished for."--_British Weekly._
+
+--With Rifle and Bayonet: A Story of the Boer War. _New Edition._
+  3_s._ 6_d._
+
+--A Gallant Grenadier: A story of the Crimean War. _New Edition._
+  3_s._ 6_d._
+
+--One of the Fighting Scouts. _New Edition._ 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+--The Dragon of Pekin. _New Edition._ 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+--With Shield and Assegai. 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+
+SIR HARRY JOHNSTON, G.C.M.G., K.C.B.
+
+  Pioneers in West Africa. With 8 coloured illustrations by the author,
+  and maps and other illustrations in black-and-white. Demy 8vo, cloth
+  extra, 6_s._
+
+--Pioneers in Canada. With 8 coloured illustrations by E. Wallcousins,
+  and maps and other illustrations in black-and-white. Demy 8vo, cloth
+  extra, 6_s._
+
+  These two volumes are the first of a series, the object of which is to
+  provide reading of "real adventures" of those pioneers who have helped
+  to lay the foundations of the British Empire. The story is truthfully
+  told in a picture of splendid colouring, and with great accuracy.
+
+
+ALEXANDER MACDONALD
+
+  Through the Heart of Tibet: A Tale of a Secret Mission to Lhasa. 6_s._
+
+     "A rattling story."--_British Weekly._
+
+--The White Trail: A Story of the Early Days of Klondike. 6_s._
+
+     "Should satisfy any boy's mental appetite."--_Outlook._
+
+--The Pearl Seekers: A Story of Adventure in the Southern Seas. 6_s._
+
+     "This is the kind of story a boy will want to read at a
+     sitting."--_Schoolmaster._
+
+--The Invisible Island: A Story of the Far North of Queensland. 5_s._
+
+     "A well-told story."--_World._
+
+--The Quest of the Black Opals: A Story of Adventure in the Heart of
+  Australia. 5_s._
+
+     "An admirable tale."--_Westminster Gazette._
+
+--The Lost Explorers: A Story of the Trackless Desert. 6_s._
+
+     "As vivid a narrative as any boy could wish to read."--_Daily
+     Graphic._
+
+
+HARRY COLLINGWOOD
+
+  A Middy of the King: A Romance of the Old British Navy. Illustrated by
+  E. S. HODGSON. Olivine edges, 5_s._
+
+--The Adventures of Dick Maitland: A Tale of Unknown Africa. Illustrated
+  by ALEC BALL. Olivine edges, 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+--A Middy of the Slave Squadron: A West African Story. 5_s._
+
+     "An up-to-date sea story."--_Truth._
+
+--Overdue: or, The Strange Story of a Missing Ship. 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "A story of thrilling interest."--_British Weekly._
+
+--The Cruise of the Thetis: A Tale of the Cuban Insurrection. 5_s._
+
+     "A good, stirring book."--_Times._
+
+
+STAFF SURGEON T. T. JEANS, R.N.
+
+  On Foreign Service: or, The Santa Cruz Revolution. Illustrated by
+  W. RAINEY, R.I. 6_s._
+
+     "It is a rousing good yarn."--_Athenæum._
+
+--Ford of H.M.S. Vigilant: A Tale of Adventure in the Chusan
+Archipelago. 5_s._
+
+     "A distinctly good story."--_Naval and Military Record._
+
+--Mr. Midshipman Glover, R.N.: A Tale of the Royal Navy of To-day. 5_s._
+
+     "Full of exciting adventures and gallant fighting."--_Truth._
+
+
+HERBERT STRANG
+
+  The Adventures of Harry Rochester: A Story of the Days of Marlborough
+  and Eugene. 6_s._
+
+     "One of the best stories of a military and historical type we have
+     seen for many a day."--_Athenæum._
+
+--Boys of the Light Brigade: A Story of Spain and the Peninsular War.
+6_s._
+
+     Professor Oman (Chichele Professor of Modern History at Oxford, and
+     author of _A History of the Peninsular War_) writes: "I can't tell
+     you what a pleasure and rarity it is to the specialist to find a
+     tale on the history of his own period in which the details are all
+     right . . . accept thanks from a historian for having got historical
+     accuracy combined with your fine romantic adventures".
+
+--Brown of Moukden: A Story of the Russo-Japanese War. 5_s._
+
+     "The book will hold boy readers spellbound."--_Church Times._
+
+--Tom Burnaby: A Story of Uganda and the Great Congo Forest. 5_s._
+
+     "A delightful story of African adventure."--_Spectator._
+
+--Kobo: A Story of the Russo-Japanese War. 5_s._
+
+     "For vibrant actuality there is nothing to come up to Mr. Strang's
+     _Kobo_."--_Academy._
+
+
+ROBERT M. MACDONALD
+
+  The Rival Treasure Hunters: A Tale of the Debatable Frontier of British
+  Guiana. 6_s._
+
+     "A story which every schoolboy would probably describe as 'simply
+     ripping'."--_Daily Graphic._
+
+--The Great White Chief: A Story of Adventure in Unknown New Guinea.
+  6_s._
+
+     "A rattling story told with spirit and vigour."--_British Weekly._
+
+
+DAVID KER
+
+  Under the Flag of France: A Tale of Bertrand du Guesclin. 5_s._
+
+     "Full of vigour and movement."--_British Weekly._
+
+--Among the Dark Mountains: or, Cast away in Sumatra. 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "A glorious tale of adventure."--_Educational News._
+
+
+ERNEST GLANVILLE
+
+  The Diamond Seekers: A Story of Adventure in South Africa. 6_s._
+
+     "We have seldom seen a better story for boys."--_Guardian._
+
+--In Search of the Okapi: A Story of Adventure in Central Africa. 6_s._
+
+     "An admirable story."--_Daily Chronicle._
+
+
+MEREDITH FLETCHER
+
+  Every Inch a Briton: A School Story. 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "Mr. Meredith Fletcher has scored a success."--_Manchester
+     Guardian._
+
+--Jefferson Junior: A School Story. 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "A comical yarn."--_Yorkshire Daily Observer._
+
+
+FREDERICK P. GIBBON
+
+  The Disputed V.C.: A Tale of the Indian Mutiny. 3_s._
+
+     "A good, stirring tale, well told."--_Graphic._
+
+
+G. MANVILLE FENN
+
+  The Boys at Menhardoc: A Story of Cornish Nets and Mines. 3_s._
+
+     "The story is well worth reading."--_British Weekly._
+
+--Bunyip Land: Among the Blackfellows in New Guinea. 3_s._
+
+     "One of the best tales of adventure produced by any living
+     writer."--_Daily Chronicle._
+
+--In the King's Name. 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "This is, we think, the best of all Mr. Fenn's
+     productions."--_Daily News._
+
+--Dick o' the Fens: A Romance of the Great East Swamp. 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "We conscientiously believe that boys will find it capital
+     reading."--_Times._
+
+
+Dr. GORDON STABLES, R.N.
+
+  The Naval Cadet: A Story of Adventure on Land and Sea. 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "An interesting travellers' tale, with plenty of fun and incident
+     in it."--_Spectator._
+
+--For Life and Liberty: A Tale of the Civil War in America. 3_s._
+
+     "The story is lively and spirited."--_Times._
+
+--To Greenland and the Pole: A Story of Arctic Regions. 3_s._
+
+     "One of the best books Dr. Stables has ever written."--_Truth._
+
+
+FRED SMITH
+
+  The World of Animal Life: A Natural History for Little Folk.
+
+  With eight full-page coloured Illustrations and numerous black-and-white
+  Illustrations. Crown 4to, 11¼ inches by 9½ inches. Handsome cloth cover.
+  Gilt top, 5_s._
+
+     "An admirable volume."--_Birmingham Gazette._
+
+
+A. J. CHURCH
+
+  Lords of the World: A Tale of the Fall of Carthage and Corinth.
+  3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "As a boys' book, _Lords of the World_ deserves a hearty
+     welcome."--_Spectator._
+
+
+G. I. WHITHAM
+
+  The Nameless Prince: A Tale of Plantagenet Days. Illustrated by CHARLES
+  M. SHELDON. 2_s._ 6_d._
+
+--The Red Knight: A Tale of the Days of King Edward III. Illustrated.
+  2_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "It holds the imagination from beginning to end."--_British
+     Weekly._
+
+
+ESCOTT LYNN
+
+  When Lion-Heart was King: A Tale of Robin Hood and Merry Sherwood.
+  3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "A lively tale."--_Birmingham Post._
+
+
+WILLIAM BECK
+
+  Hawkwood the Brave: A Tale Mediæval Italy. 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "A good story for boys."--_Literary World._
+
+
+DOROTHEA MOORE
+
+  God's Bairn: A Story of the Fen Country. 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "An excellent tale, most dainty in execution and fortunate in
+     subject."--_Globe._
+
+--The Luck of Ledge Point: A Tale of 1805. 2_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "We thoroughly recommend it as a giftbook."--_Schoolmaster._
+
+
+WALTER C. RHOADES
+
+  For the Sake of His Chum: A School Story. 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "There is a breeziness about the book which is sure to commend
+     it."--_Athenæum._
+
+--Two Scapegraces: A School Story. 3_s._ 6_d._
+
+     "A school story of high merit."--_Liverpool Mercury._
+
+
+PAUL DANBY
+
+  The Red Army Book. With many Illustrations in colour and in
+  black-and-white. 6_s._
+
+     "Every boy would glory in the keeping and reading of such a
+     prize."--_Daily Telegraph._
+
+
+J. CUTHBERT HADDEN
+
+  The Nelson Navy Book. With many Illustrations in colour and in
+  black-and-white. 6_s._
+
+     "A stirring, heartening tale, bold and bracing as the sea
+     itself."--_Standard._
+
+
+PERCY F. WESTERMAN
+
+  The Quest of the Golden Hope: A Seventeenth century Story of Adventure.
+  Illustrated by FRANK WILES. 2_s._ 6_d._
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Notes:--
+
+Variations in hyphenation (e.g. "port-hole/porthole") have been retained.
+
+The word "lintlock" (see Pgs. 285 & 288) has been retained,
+    although the author probably intended to use either "linstock" or
+    "lintstock", a staff to hold the lighted match for firing cannon.
+
+Pg. 209 "there was a single occasion on which the Spandards gained a
+    footing" changed to "there was a single occasion on which the
+    Spaniards gained a footing"
+
+Pg. 211 "in the meat to Prestor John's table." changed to "in the meat
+    to Prester John's table."
+
+Pgs. 227, 228, 229 The character name "Red Rob" corrected to "Red Bob"
+
+Pg. 233 "for the carrying of water-breakers" changed to "for the carrying
+    of water-beakers"
+
+Pg. 282 "Let cut your mainsail" changed to "Let out your mainsail"
+
+Pg. 287 "was defeaning to hear." changed to "was deafening to hear."
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Golden Galleon, by Robert Leighton
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GOLDEN GALLEON ***
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