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diff --git a/39490.txt b/39490.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 9dfadd1..0000000 --- a/39490.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6784 +0,0 @@ - A LAD OF GRIT - - - - -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 http://www.gutenberg.org/license. - - -Title: A Lad of Grit - A Story of Adventure on Land and Sea in Restoration Times - -Author: Percy F. Westerman - -Release Date: April 19, 2014 [EBook #39490] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: US-ASCII - - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LAD OF GRIT *** - - - - -Produced by Al Haines. - - - - -[Illustration: Cover art] - - - -[Illustration: "INCH BY INCH THEY WERE DRIVEN BACK"] - - - - A Lad of Grit - - A Story of Adventure on Land - and Sea in Restoration Times - - - by - - PERCY F. WESTERMAN - - - - _ILLUSTRATED BY EDWARD S. HODGSON_ - - - - BLACKIE & SON LIMITED - LONDON AND GLASGOW - 1909 - - - -By Percy F. Westerman - - -Captain Fosdyke's Gold. -In Defiance of the Ban. -Captain Sang. -The Senior Cadet. -The Amir's Ruby. -The Secret of the Plateau. -Leslie Dexter, Cadet. -All Hands to the Boats. -A Mystery of the Broads. -Rivals of the Reef. -A Shanghai Adventure. -Pat Stobart in the "Golden Dawn". -The Junior Cadet. -Captain Starlight. -The Sea-Girt Fortress. -On the Wings of the Wind. -Captured at Tripoli. -Captain Blundell's Treasure. -The Third Officer. -Unconquered Wings. -The Riddle of the Air. -Chums of the "Golden Vanity". -Clipped Wings. -The Luck of the "Golden Dawn". -The Salving of the "Fusi Yama". -Winning his Wings. -A Lively Bit of the Front. -A Cadet of the Mercantile Marine. -The Good Ship "Golden Effort". -East In the "Golden Gain". -The Quest of the "Golden Hope". -Sea Scouts Abroad. -Sea Scouts Up-Channel. -The Wireless Officer. -A Lad of Grit. -The Submarine Hunters. -Sea Scouts All. -The Thick of the Fray. -A Sub and a Submarine. -Under the White Ensign. -The Fight for Constantinople. -With Beatty off Jutland. -The Dispatch Riders. - - - _Printed in Great Britain by Blackie & Son, Ltd., Glasgow_ - - ---- - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER I--How the Tidings of the Restoration Came to Rake - CHAPTER II--Of the Arrest and Escape of Increase Joyce - CHAPTER III--Concerning my Journey to Portsmouth - CHAPTER IV--How Judgment was Passed on the Dorset Smugglers - CHAPTER V--Of my First Ship, the _Gannet_ - CHAPTER VI--Of the Finding of Pedro Alvarez, and of the Strange Tale - that he Told - CHAPTER VII--Concerning the Treasure Island - CHAPTER VIII--Of an Encounter with an Algerine Corsair - CHAPTER IX--I lose the _Little Gannet_ - CHAPTER X--How I Defended the Foretop - CHAPTER XI--Of the Manner of my Homecoming - CHAPTER XII--The Smugglers' Cave - CHAPTER XIII--The Escape - CHAPTER XIV--I Set Out to Fight the Dutch - CHAPTER XV--Of the Famous Sea Fight of Four Days - CHAPTER XVI--I Meet an Old Enemy - CHAPTER XVII--Showing that there are Two Means of Leaving a Prison - CHAPTER XVIII--The Veil is Partly Drawn - CHAPTER XIX--How Three Horsemen set out for the North - CHAPTER XX--What we Heard and Saw at Holwick. - CHAPTER XXI--Our Search for the Treasure - - ---- - - Illustrations - - -Inch by inch they were driven back . . . . . . Frontispiece -I ran at my father's murderer and rained blow after blow upon his head -and body -They clambered up our sides with the greatest intrepidity -The chest is hoisted to the surface - - - - -CHAPTER I--How the Tidings of the Restoration Came to Rake - - -The sun was slowly sinking behind the tree-clad Hampshire Downs. -Already the long shadows of Rake Hill lay athwart the misty coombe, and -the glimmer of the innumerable forges in the valley beneath began to -hold its own against the rapidly fading daylight. The cold east wind, -for it was but the beginning of March, in the year of grace 1660, -whistled through the clump of gaunt pine trees that marked the summit of -the hill, and, despite the fact that each of us wore a thick doublet, -the chilly blast cut us like a knife. - -I remember that evening well; its stirring incidents are graven on my -memory as if they had happened but yesterday, though nigh on twoscore -and ten winters and summers have passed over my head since the eventful -year of which I write. - -My father and I were returning homewards from the great fair at -Petersfield. For an old man, he being well over sixty years of age, my -father was the marvel of our village. Tall but sparely built, his frame -betokened a strength of body that harmonized with the determination of -character that made itself known by the glance of his steel-coloured -eyes. Report says that when he came to Rake to settle down, some twelve -or thirteen years back--I being but an infant in arms,--he did gain a -lasting reputation by outmatching one Caleb James, a notorious bully, at -his own game, breaking his pate with his own staff on the roadside hard -by Milland Church. - -Moreover, as proof of his hardiness, is there not the testimony of the -worthy Master Hugh Salesbury, the chirurgeon of Lyss--the same whose son -fell in Torrington's action off Beachy Head,--to the effect that though -practice was slack around Lyss, yet he perforce would have to give up if -none were better patients than honest Owen Wentworth. - -Despite the fact that he was on the losing side, my father was not -backward in declaring his attachment to His Gracious Majesty King -Charles II; and although our neighbours, even the Roundheads, were -favourably disposed to him, making allowance for his fiery temper, yet -with strangers who passed along the great highway betwixt London Town -and Portsmouth, honest Owen's outspoken declarations oft led to wordy -strife, and on occasions ended in blows. - -In defiance of the Puritan regulations against anything tending towards -the lost cause, my father, though ruined by confiscations and -sequestration, endeavoured to maintain the appearance of a careless and -social demeanour, ever cherishing a hope that each day seemed nearer -fulfilment. - -He still retained his flowing lovelocks, while the lower part of his -weather-worn face was adorned by a greyish beard of Van Dyck cut, which -failed to hide a portion of a long, whitish scar that extended from his -left eyebrow to his cheek bone--the legacy of a pike-thrust in the -sanguinary encounter of Cropredy Bridge. He was dressed in a dark-blue -suit, relieved by a deep collar of Mechlin lace, while, on account of -the severity of the weather, he was further attired in a long cloak that -barely concealed the end of a short hanger--a necessary weapon in these -troublous times. I also knew that he carried two long dags, or Scottish -pistols, yet of these there was no outward sign. - -As we neared the foot of the hill, instead of turning to the right -towards our home, my father broke the silence by saying: - -"I will call in at the 'Flying Bull'. Possibly the chapman from -Godalming is there. If so, I can replenish my stock of gun flints." - -As we entered the doorway of the "Flying Bull"--an old hostelry that has -sheltered all sorts and conditions of men, from kings and queens even to -the arch-traitor Old Noll himself, and the sign of which, painted by a -limner who had learned his art in the time of the last crusade, had -swung in the breeze for nigh on four hundred years--we were greeted with -a chorus of welcome from the score or so of persons assembled in the -large stone-flagged common room. - -"How goes the price of malt and barley at Petersfield?" questioned one -man in a voice that was like to the bellowing of a bull. - -"Man," retorted another, "doth thy reasoning not rise above the price of -petty huckstering, Obadiah Blow-the-trumpet-in-Zion? Heed him not, good -Master Wentworth. Hast news of honest George Monk and his army?" - -"None, though rumour hath it that the fleet at Portsmouth hath sided -with Monk, and that John Tippets, the mayor, hath called out the train -bands and manned the ordnance on the Platform and the Square Tower. -Moreover, a trusty messenger hath reached Sir Giles Seaward with orders -to raise the countryside and to assemble in Petersfield marketplace -to-morrow at noon. God forfend that this land be not again drenched in -blood!" - -"Ay," rejoined another, "but, as man to man, Master Wentworth, what -think ye? How blows the wind in London?" he added darkly. - -"My friend, mark ye well, the wind blows straight from the Low Country." - -"No," thundered a voice from a seat in the chimney corner; "the blast of -the Lord, that destroyed Sennacherib and his host, will utterly consume -the malignants, including Charles Stuart, the son of the enemy of the -people of England!" My father sprang to his feet, white with fury. All -eyes were centred on the speaker. He was a short, thick-set man of about -forty years of age, with a bull-neck, huge ears, small ferrety eyes, -close-cropped hair, and a clean-shaven face deeply pitted with smallpox. -He wore a buff-coloured jerkin, opened at the neck for comfort's sake, -and frayed and soiled from the wearing of armour, his breast- and -back-plates of dull steel having been removed. These, together with a -steel helmet with metal guards, and a heavy broadsword, lay on the -settle within arm's length, while a petronel and a well-weighted -bandolier hung across the back of a chair on which the man's feet, -encased in long Spanish boots, rested. - -On my father striding across the room, the stranger leisurely rose from -his seat and extended his hand in an attitude of contemptuous reproof. - -"Tut, man, 'tis time thy grey hairs taught thee wisdom! Wouldst -threaten me, Increase Joyce, trooper of Parliamentary Horse?" - -"Draw, knave, draw!" shouted my father, whipping out his hanger. -"Either unsay those words or else swallow them!" - -Instantly all was confusion. Some of the more timid made towards the -door, tables were overturned, tankards clattered on the floor, excited -men shouted in unintelligible voices. For my own part, I remained by my -father's side, unable to take my eyes off his antagonist, and, at the -same time, knowing that my father in his choler would brook no -interference from me. - -"I fight not with old men," retorted Joyce. "But this I know: 'The axe -is laid unto the root of the trees', an' if that arch-profligate, -Charles Stuart, were to set foot in England----" - -He was interrupted by a violent knocking at the door, which, being -thrown wide open, showed a man fully armed and holding the reins of a -steaming and apparently exhausted horse. - -"Host!" he shouted. "Where or which is the host?" - -Old Giles Perrin, the innkeeper, came forward and awaited his commands. - -"Now, sirrah, on thy life, hasten! Provender for my beast; a cup of -spiced ale for myself. With all dispatch, man, for I am on the service -of the State!" - -The stranger strode into the room, stooped and replaced one of the -overturned stools, seated himself thereon, and, removing a cloth that -encircled his neck, wiped his heated brow vigorously. Then he stared -haughtily around at the assembled company, seized the cup that old Giles -brought, and drained it at one gulp. - -I remarked that he spoke with an accent totally different from the -Southern dialect of our part of Hampshire and Sussex, but my doubts were -soon set at rest. - -"How far down yon road is't to Petersfield? And is one like to meet -aught of footpads, drawlatches, or vagrants of that condition?" - -It was my father who answered him, yet barely had he opened his mouth -when the stranger clapped him on the shoulder: - -"By all the powers of darkness! You, S----" - -"Hold, man!" replied my father in a tone that implied no denial. Then, -in an undertone, I heard him say: "I am now but Owen Wentworth, -gentleman yeoman, at your service." - -"I am still Ralph Slingsby, though, thanks to my General Monk, cornet of -horse no longer, but captain in his favourite regiment. Let me think. -'Tis but thrice that I have seen thee since we parted at Holwick, you to -join the king at Nottingham, I to enrol under my Lord Essex. First, at -Edgehill, when I, a mere stripling, lay under the hoofs of Rupert's -horse. Secondly, at Cropredy Bridge, when I did turn aside the pike -that would have let your soul out of the keeping of your body. Lastly, -when at the trial of----" - -"Ssh! I would have you remember that the rising generation hath long -ears." - -My father spoke truly, for though the stranger had uttered his lengthy -speech but in an undertone, yet I, with the curiosity of youth, did not -fail to hear, much to my mystification. Knowing also that the remark -about "the rising generation" was applied to me, I must needs raise my -hands to my ears to feel if they were long, much to Ralph Slingsby's -amusement. - -"So this is your son, Master Wentworth? A fitting chip of the old block! -What wouldst thou be, lad; a fighting man, like thy sire?" - -"Ay," I replied. "But I would love to go to sea, and become famous like -Admiral Blake, e'en though he were a Roundhead!" - -"What knowest thou of Blake?" - -"Henry Martin hath told me tales of his gallant deeds, and besides, he -hath shown me his medal of bronze, inscribed: 'For eminent service in -saving ye _Triumph_, fired in fight with ye Dutch'. That was the sea -fight in which Martin lost his leg." - -"Ah, Master Wentworth, that's the spirit I like! The time hath come -when Englishmen cease from flying at each other's throats. Host, my -score!" - -Then, shaking my father by the hand, and patting me kindly on the head, -he strode towards the door; then, turning, he addressed the company: - -"Gentlemen, I beg you take heed that yesternight a messenger was sent to -Holland to invite His Majesty King Charles II to return to his throne. -I bear orders to the fleet at Portsmouth that they all, with the -exception of the _Naseby_, the name of which giveth offence to His -Majesty, proceed to the Downs, there to welcome our sovereign lord. God -save the King!" - -While the silence that prevailed in the room, following on this -startling announcement, still remained, I could hear the thud of horse's -hoofs as Ralph Slingsby resumed his momentous journey towards -Petersfield. - -When, a quarter of an hour or so later, we left the "Flying Bull", the -moon had risen, throwing the long shadows of the dark pines athwart the -road. Our humble abode lay about a mile on the by-road from Rake to -Midhurst, and homewards we stepped, our thick-soled shoes ringing on the -frosty road. When but half the distance was covered, I heard the sound -of the crackling of the dry brushwood in a coppice on our left, followed -by the cry of a bird and the fluttering of its wings as it flew over our -heads. - -Instinctively I edged closer to my father and grasped his left hand. - -"Lad, art afraid of a fox running through the covert?" he exclaimed. -"And wouldst be a sailor, too!" - -In spite of my boast in the well-lit room of the "Flying Bull", my heart -throbbed painfully, and my reply seemed like to stick in my throat. We -continued in silence, and presently came to a spot where a large -reed-fringed lake lay on the right-hand side of the road, while on the -other a dense clump of gaunt firs threw a dismal gloom over our path. - -As we neared the clump a voice, authoritative, harsh, and yet familiar, -shouted: - -"Stand!" - -And into the moonlight stepped a short, thick-set man, whom I recognized -as the soldier who caused the turmoil at the inn, Increase Joyce. - -For the second time that night my father unsheathed his hanger, and, -pushing me behind him, advanced towards the man. - -"Stand!" he repeated. "See here; a word in thine ear, Master Wentworth. -Less than an hour agone I said: 'I fight not with old men'. I recall -those words. With me it is a case of doing in Rome as do the Romans. -The Commonwealth is at an end, therefore I am a Parliamentarian no -longer. Instead, I journey to the Rhine to join the German freebooters, -or else to the Spanish Main to throw in my lot with the buccaneers of -the Indies--it matters not which; but ere I go I have an account to -settle with the Lord of Holwick. Little did I think to find him hiding -in an obscure Sussex village. Dost remember twenty years aback--the -trysting place under the Holmwood Oak?--Ah! ... Nay! Stand, at thy -peril!" - -But my father, white with passion, still advanced, the moonbeams dancing -on his glittering blade. Joyce unslung his petronel, and covered his -antagonist when within fifteen or twenty paces. - -"Murderer!" shouted my father. - -"As you will; I take no risks with steel," and immediately the report of -the weapon burst upon my ears like a clap of thunder, while the trees -were illuminated by the flash of the discharge. I shut my eyes and -screamed in terror, and on opening them I saw--oh, merciful Heaven!--a -convulsive form lying in the road, while the Roundhead stood watching me -intently, the smoke from his petronel hanging round like a pall, and -slowly ascending in the chill night air. - -In an instant my terror left me and I became a demon. Grasping my oak -cudgel in my hand, I ran at my father's murderer and rained blow after -blow upon his head and body. It was but a forlorn attempt. His -headpiece and armour received the blows as lightly as if they were from -a straw, and with an oath he smote me heavily on the chest with the butt -of his pistol, so that I reeled, fell backward across the body of my -murdered sire, and struck my head on the frosty road. Multitudes of -lights flashed before my eyes, followed by a red glare, and I lost all -consciousness. - -[Illustration: "I RAN AT MY FATHER'S MURDERER AND RAINED BLOW AFTER BLOW -UPON HIS HEAD AND BODY"] - - - - -CHAPTER II--Of the Arrest and Escape of Increase Joyce - - -When I came to, the first vague impressions of consciousness were the -excited chatterings of what seemed to me a multitude of people. Then I -saw the flashing of the light of a log fire lightening the dark oak -beams of a room. I lay still, my temples throbbing like to burst, and -my head swimming till I felt ready to vomit. Trying to collect my -thoughts, I realized that I was in the kitchen of our own house. Then -in an instant the whole scene of the tragedy in the pine-shrouded lane -burst upon me in all its horror, and I raised myself on one elbow and -feebly articulated: "Father, say it is but a dream!" - -Gentle hands firmly put my head back upon a pillow, and a voice, which I -recognized as that of Master Salesbury, the chirurgeon, said: "The lad -will surely recover. No more letting of blood or cupping is needful. A -hot posset will not come amiss, good Mistress Heatherington, ere I take -my leave, for 'tis cold abroad." - -"Thou art right, Master Salesbury," replied another, Sir George Lee, -who, I afterwards found out, had been summoned as a Justice of the Peace -to take down such evidence as could be obtained. "And as for you, sir, -I must ask you to accompany me as my guest till this unfortunate matter -can fully be gone into." - -"Right gladly would I, worthy sir, but I ride hot-foot on affairs of -State. By ten of the clock I must deliver a sealed packet into the -hands of Master Jack Tippets, the Mayor of Portsmouth." - -I started, and strove again to rise; the voice seemed but too familiar -to my ears; but once more I was soothed into repose. - -"To Portsmouth, say you? Then why, may I ask, were you so far from the -highway?" - -"I had also to summon the Squire of Trotton----" - -"Trotton, say you? Then why didst take this road, seeing that the -turning at Milland is the right and proper one?" demanded Sir George -sternly. - -"I must have missed the right road, and, hearing shots, I suspected some -foul crime, and rode hither----" - -In an instant I connected that voice with that of the murderer, Increase -Joyce, and with what strength yet remained I shouted: "Seize him; he is -my father's murderer!" - -Immediately all was commotion. Women shrieked--men shouted. Sir George -Lee sprang to his feet and whipped out his sword. "Arrest him," he -ordered. Two men, who were attendants at the Court Leet, placed their -hands on Joyce's shoulder. - -"Unhand me, men!" he exclaimed; "'tis a mistake--a grave mistake. Would -ye pay heed to the ravings of a light-headed child?" - -A wave of indecision swept over the people present; but, in spite of -extreme physical pain, I had raised myself on my elbow, and in reply I -repudiated the Roundhead's taunt. "I am not light-headed nor is it a -mistake. That man shot my father with a petronel not a furlong from -this house." - -But Joyce doggedly followed up his line of argument. "Look, worthy -sir," he reiterated, "the lad is still wandering. Why, when I came upon -them, the boy was stretched senseless on the roadway. I pray you, order -your men to release me. I journey on the business of the Commonwealth." - -The two men released their hold, but Sir George turned on them with a -rage quite unusual to him. "Were ye told to unhand him, dolts?" he -shouted. "A messenger of the Commonwealth or no messenger, I take the -responsibility. Bind him, and away to Midhurst with him at once." - -With an oath the scoundrel shook off his two captors and threw himself -bodily on Sir George. Taken unawares, the knight could ill defend -himself, and before the bystanders could interfere, a knife flashed in -the firelight and was buried in his body. Then the two henchmen -grappled with the Roundhead, and all three rolled in a heap on the -floor. It was not until the miscreant was stunned by a blow from a -milking stool that he was finally secured, and attention could be given -to Sir George Lee. - -The knight was leaning against the wall, his head slightly bent, while a -deadly pallor overspread his face, on which, however, lurked a -peculiarly grim smile. - -"Art hurt, Sir George?" asked Master Salesbury. - -"Nay, Doctor, 'tis not a case for your hands this time, thanks to Lawyer -Whitehead; I am but winded." - -"To Lawyer Whitehead! How?" - -"Ay, to Lawyer Whitehead! 'Tis the first time in twenty-nine years that -I have been well served by a lawyer, and even this once it was not as a -deliberate act of kindness." And, drawing from his pocket a thick -bundle of parchment, partly cut through by the villain's knife, he held -it up for inspection. - -At that moment the door opened and a sturdy countryman entered, pulling -his forelock as a mark of respect to Sir George, and handed him a -petronel which I recognized only too well. - -"Zure, sir, I did find 'e but d'ree paces from t' road where they killed -Maister Wentworth." - -Under guard, the villain, now in a half-dazed condition, was removed in -a cart to the jail at Midhurst. Most of those present dispersed, and, -faint and tired, I fell into a troubled sleep. - -A week passed ere I had sufficient strength to be able to sit up. Under -the careful nursing of Mistress Heatherington my bodily hurts were -healed, though the mental anguish of that terrible night still gripped -me in a relentless grasp. - -It was on a Tuesday morning when Sir George came to the cottage to -enquire how I progressed, and to tell me that he was taking me to the -courthouse at Midhurst on the following Monday morning, should I be well -enough to bear the journey. - -"Lad," he exclaimed, "I would I could fathom this mystery! Thy father's -slayer is no mean reaver or cutpurse; yet, though we have him safe by -the heels, manacled and leg-ironed, and threaten him with the -thumbscrews, never a word can be wrung from him. Was there ever a feud -'twixt thy sire and him?" - -I told the knight of the event that took place at the sign of the -"Flying Bull", and of the meeting with the villain in the moonlit lane. -Sir George listened attentively, and, proud of being privileged to talk -to so exalted a personage as the wealthiest man for miles around Rake, I -let my tongue run wild for the space of nigh on an hour. - -When I had finished, Sir George, who had never ceased to stroke his -beard and play a tattoo with his fingers on the table, remained silent -for a few minutes; then suddenly he exclaimed: - -"Holwick! Captain Slingsby of Monk's Regiment of Horse! 'Tis passing -strange, yet----" - -His remarks were cut short by the thunder of a horse's hoofs, and a man -suddenly burst in through the door and exclaimed breathlessly: "Oh, Sir -George! Sir George!" - -"Well, sirrah?" - -But the man could only stammer out: "Oh, Sir George!" - -This was more than the choleric old knight could stand. "Don't stand -there babbling like a drunken mummer at Martinmas fair!" he shouted, -with a round oath. "Deliver thy message, dolt!" - -"Oh, Sir George! The murderer Joyce hath escaped!" - -With another furious outburst the knight rushed out of the room, mounted -his horse, and, followed by his two servants and the messenger of -ill-tidings, rode furiously down the road to Midhurst, the noise of the -horses' hoofs clattering on the frosty road testifying to the speed at -which they were urged. - -News travels apace, and in less than an hour it was all over our village -that Joyce had by some means obtained a file, cut through his fetters, -and, after a murderous attack on his jailer, had broken out of Midhurst -Jail, and was last seen making his way towards the bleak Sussex Downs. - - -My father had already been laid to rest in the quiet little churchyard -of Trotton, and on making an examination of the little house where we -dwelt, his will was discovered. The reading of this will, though of -little interest to me (on account, I now suppose, of my youth), was the -occasion of an assembly of many of the friends of my father, the number -surprising me; for, though highly respected, he was not one who was fond -of associating with our neighbours. - -There were present, besides Sir George Lee, who appeared to take a great -interest in me, Lawyer Whitehead, Howard Hobbs and Jack Alexander of -Iping, both of whom had seen service under Prince Rupert; Arthur -Conolly, an Irish veteran who had served in the Low Countries, and who -had come over from Chichester for the occasion; Arthur Lewis, a -gentleman of Bramshott; Percy Young, an officer of the navy, who in his -earlier days had lost a leg in the action of La Rochelle; Herbert -Collings, a master mariner of Gosport, who used to be a frequent visitor -at our house, and who greatly interested me with the account of his -adventures off the coast of Barbary; and Giles Perrin, the landlord of -the "Flying Bull", who modestly seated himself on a stool in a remote -corner of the room. There were also several others whose names I -forget. - -Lawyer Whitehead, whose name did not belie his appearance, adjusted his -horn spectacles, and, unfolding a parchment, read the will, which is as -follows:-- - -"In the Name of God, Amen, I, Owen Wentworth, late of Holwick in the -countie of Yorks" [here followed some word that had been erased and -"yeoman" written above] "being whole of bodie and perfect of mynde, do -ordaine and make this my last will and testament in manner and forme -followinge: First, I commend my soule into the handes of Almightie God -my Creator, and my bodie to be buried in the churchyarde at Trotton. -Item, I give to the poor of the parish of Rake ten pounds to be divided -amongst them by the discretion of my Executors. Item, I give to Sir -George Lee, knight, in token of friendship, my horse, alsoe a box and -contents now deposited with Master Whitehead, Lawyer of Midhurst. Item, -to my sister Margaret, now wedded to George Anderson, Clerk of Ye Survey -at the Dockyarde neare Portesmouth, One hundred Pounds. Item, to the -said George Anderson the sum of Twenty and five Pounds yearly, provided -that the said George Anderson doth fulfil to the letter the instructions -set forth by me and intrusted to the keeping of the aforesaid Master -Whitehead, Lawyer of Midhurst. - -"Item, to all persons hereinafter named" [here followed a long list of -names, embracing all present and many besides], "provided that they pay -me the last respects due to me, I give XX*s*. Item, to John Alexander -and Arthur Lewis, my welbeloved friends and Executors, I give Five -Pounds apiece. - -"Item, to my deerly beloved sonne Aubrey I give the residue of my -estate, to be held in trust by the aforesaid George Anderson till my -sonne attain the age of XXI yeares, if he doe so long live. - -"It is my will alsoe that my sonne Aubrey shall take charge and have and -hold the metal box that I do always carry attached to my belt, suffering -not the same to go out of hys possession, so that it will help in a -small matter whereof he knoweth not yet. - -"Item, it is my will if the above named Aubrey my sonne doth dye without -heires or before he come to the age of XXI years, the residue shall -remain to my sister Margaret Anderson and her heires forever." - - -There was a buzz of suppressed excitement when Master Whitehead had -ended the reading of this lengthy will. Clearly my father was a far -richer man than most people had wot of; moreover, there was a cloud of -mystery hanging over the will--that was evident by the darkly worded -passage about keeping the instructions. - -But before there was time for discussion the lawyer brought out another -bulky packet, fastened with a large red seal. This he broke and -withdrew the contents, revealing yet another sealed missive and a sheet -of vellum written in my father's hand. The missive was addressed: "In -trust for my sonne Aubrey Wentworth. To Master George Anderson, dwelling -in St. Thomas Street in Ye Burrough of Portesmouth. Not to be opened -under paine of my displeasure till my sonne attaine the age of XXI -years." - - -The letter gave instructions for me to be sent to my uncle's at -Portsmouth, to be provided for until I could choose for myself what I -should be, at the same time exhorting me to serve faithfully His Majesty -King Charles II or his lawful successor, and to abstain from vain or -idle longings to break the seals of the enclosed package till the -stipulated time limit had expired. - -This the lawyer gravely handed to me, expressing his satisfaction at the -prospect before me--a statement that left me more bewildered than -before. - -Then Sir George Lee spoke, enquiring where was the small metal box that -my father had mentioned. - -Here was another mystery. No one knew or had seen the box. Mistress -Heatherington and both the servants, Giles and William, who had brought -home the body of my murdered sire, had been ignorant of its existence, -and, at the request of Lawyer Whitehead, the clothes my father wore at -the time of his death were produced. There was the belt--a highly -ornamented broad band of Spanish leather. The lawyer took and examined -it, then passed it on to Sir George, who also looked at it closely, even -bending and shaking it in the hope that the missing box might be hidden -between the layers of leather. - -"Ah, what has been here?" exclaimed the knight, pointing to a series of -minute holes round a patch of leather that was not quite so discoloured -as the rest. - -Clearly the mysterious box was missing, and it was evident that it had -been forced away from the leathern belt. Then arose the question, how -could it have been detached, and who was the miscreant who had taken it? - -The debate lasted for a long while, but all present were agreed that the -villain Joyce must have annexed it for some particular motive, though -'twas evident that robbery was not intended, the box being of some -worthless metal. - -Master Whitehead then gave to Sir George an oaken box which my father -had mentioned in his will. The knight opened it, disclosing a lace -handkerchief marked with a deep brown stain, to which was fastened a -piece of parchment inscribed: "Stained with y^e blood of y^e Martyr His -M^tie King Charles", the jewelled hilt of a sword, a ring, and several -papers. - -The knight reverently pressed his lips to the royal relic, then -proceeded to peruse the various papers. The first he looked at intently -for some moments, then read aloud the following words:-- - -"To Beverley Gate on fir trees that wall keeping from y^e 11J feete come -to of mine directions in desires I sonne having." - -Again he read these unmeaning words, his brows knitting in undisguised -perplexity; then he handed the paper to the lawyer, who, after several -vain attempts to produce a proper sentence, turned it over in his hand. -Something was written on the back; but without saying a word he returned -the paper to Sir George, first tapping the writing with his forefinger -and clearly indicating that the knight should likewise keep silence. - -My sharp wits clearly told me that Sir George by his manner was angry -with himself for having read the paper aloud. Hastily thrusting it back -into the box, he slammed to the lid and prepared to take his departure. - -The rest of the assembled company followed his example, and, with an arm -aching with the result of vigorous handshakes, I was left alone with -Mistress Heatherington. - -It was the last I saw of kind Sir George Lee for many a long year. - - - - -CHAPTER III--Concerning my Journey to Portsmouth - - -Grief does not for long hold its sway over the buoyant spirit of youth, -and, in spite of the heavy blow that I had sustained, my boyish -disposition speedily reasserted itself, and I looked forward with -undisguised eagerness to my journey to my new home in Portsmouth town. - -Already I had heard many wondrous tales of the happenings in that town -from the lips of old Master Herbert Collings and of Henry Martin. In my -mind I pictured my worthy uncle taking me round the dockyard, showing me -this and that vessel, and pointing out this captain who fought against -the Dutch, and that master mariner who repulsed the Barbary corsair. - -With bright visions of the future I gave little heed to the troubles of -the past, and eagerly wished for the end of the nine long days that must -pass ere I left the quiet of our little village of Rake for the busy -life of a naval town. - -A day spent in Midhurst, where I was well fitted out with clothes, -helped to make the time pass, and on the evening previous to the -eventful day of my departure, I climbed the steep ascent of Rake Hill to -bid farewell to some of my friends who dwelt on the by-road towards -Lyss. - -It was dark ere I set out homewards, and on the summit of the hill I -stopped to look across the coombe, where flickered the innumerable wood -fires of the iron smelters' forges. It reminded me strangely of that -eventful day, but a few weeks past, when I journeyed over the selfsame -road with my father, and instinctively I breathed a prayer for vengeance -against his foul murderer. - -Suddenly the distant thud of horses' hoofs smote upon my ear, and before -I reached the foot of the hill, where stands the "Flying Bull", I -perceived a cavalcade rapidly approaching. - -As I drew to the side of the highway to watch them pass, I could see in -the starlight that there was a body of horse, some dozen at least, -surrounding a carriage. The horsemen were accoutred in breast- and -back-plates and steel helmets, and from their sour visages I knew them -to be Roundheads. Inside the carriage a candlelamp burned, throwing a -dim light on the occupants; and, brief as was my glimpse, I saw that -they were lavishly attired, and wore lovelocks under their plumed beaver -hats. - -Whether they journeyed as prisoners I could not tell, though from the -careless jovial expression of their faces it seemed otherwise; but -before I could remark much else the party had galloped past, and were -well on their way along this southern highway towards Portsmouth. When I -reached my home I at once retired for the night, and was soon dreaming -of horsemen and chariots till the rays of the morning sun, thrown -athwart my bed, awoke me. - -In my eagerness to start I could scarcely be persuaded to eat anything. -In vain did Mistress Heatherington coax me--my excitement was too great. -At length the two-horsed wain belonging to Farmer Hill drew up outside -our house. By this conveyance I was to be taken to Petersfield, there -to proceed by a chapman's cart that journeyed thrice weekly betwixt that -town and Portsmouth. - -My packages and boxes were lifted into the wagon. I climbed up beside -the driver, and with many a handwave my old home was left behind me, and -a new world lay before me. - -I was now fourteen years of age, and for a country-bred lad I flattered -myself that I was no fool. Tall for my age, broad-shouldered and -supple-limbed, I possessed an unusual amount of strength, and could bear -fatigue in a manner that could only be accounted for by the fact that I -had led an active outdoor life. - -Slowly the wagon ascended the steep incline of Rake Hill. The summit -gained, there was time for a parting glance across the coombe ere the -four-mile stretch of downhill road commenced. At first I talked -excitedly with the driver, a sour-faced, wizened man, whose short jerky -answers, spoken in broadest Sussex, did not encourage conversation; so -presently I dropped all attempt at talking, and took note of the various -places and persons we met on the road. - -At Sheet Bridge we were stopped by a toll-gate, the driver exchanging a -few angry words with the villainous-looking man who held the gate. - -Beyond was a short, steep hill, up which we both walked, the driver -having thrown the reins across his horse's back. At the summit was a -gallows, from which hung something black. As we drew nearer I could see -that the dark object was all that remained of what was once a man. The -corpse, daubed with pitch, was encircled with iron hoops like a cage, -and as the wind howled over the hilltop the chain that suspended the -cage creaked horribly. - -The corpse could not have been there for long; it certainly was not -there on the occasion of my last journey with my father to Petersfield. -I noticed that the little finger of each hand was missing! - -The driver looked at me over his shoulder, as if to note the effect that -this horrible sight might have on a youth. - -"See you?" he queried, knowing full well that I could not well miss -seeing it unless I were blind. - -I nodded. "Let yon be a waarning to 'e, young maaster. Do 'e never -taake to killin'. 'Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be -shed.'" And with this remarkable discourse he slowly climbed back to -his seat on the wagon, I following him. - -But I was not satisfied. Those missing fingers puzzled me, and I -ventured to ask why the hands had been mutilated. For answer he plunged -his hand into one of his many pockets and produced a small object that -looked like a leather purse. This he opened and pulled out a human -finger, the stump being mounted with silver! For a moment he held it -before my eyes; then, as if too precious to be exposed to the light of -day, he carefully replaced it in its wrappings. - -"Young maaster," he replied, "for certain prevention of agues, fever, -smallpox, plague, and all divers illnesses, for certain proof against -the evil eye, there is nowt that can compare with the little finger of a -murderer." - -By this time the square tower of Petersfield Church was in sight, and -soon after we drew up in the courtyard of the "Red Lion", where, since -it was market day, there were numbers of carts and wagons from the -countryside for miles around. - -In the midst of the bustle and noise I saw that mingled with the -countryfolk were several soldiers, while in a corner of the courtyard -was a ponderous coach, which, if I mistook not, was the very one that -passed me yesternight at Rake Hill. - -It was but ten in the morning, and the two occupants of the coach had -not yet appeared. Apparently an accident had befallen the conveyance, -for a smith was busily engaged with hammer and cold chisel in repairing -one of the wheels. - -Notwithstanding their Puritanical garb, most of the troopers had, even -at this early hour, partaken of spirituous drinks, and, judging by their -gestures and talk, were evidently anticipating the restoration of His -Majesty King Charles. - -Perceiving a serving maid at one of the windows, one of the soldiers -began to make love to her in dumb show, kissing his hand and waving his -iron headpiece to the damsel, who seemed nothing loath to accept his -advances. - -Presently she opened the casement, and, leaning out, threw him a flower. -Few women can throw straight, and this one was no exception. Her missile -flew far above the man's head, and, running backwards in a vain -endeavour to catch it, he fell heavily into a large trough of pigs' -mash, where, half-stunned by the force of his fall, he lay wallowing in -the sticky mess, till he was helped out by his comrades, to the -accompaniment of their jeers and laughter. - -Having carried all my belongings into the inn, the old carter bade me -farewell; and as the sound of his footsteps was lost in the outside din, -I felt as if the last link that bound me to the home of my childhood was -severed. - -The host of the "Red Lion", an old soldier by appearance, came in and -asked me what I lacked. I told him I was waiting for the chapman who -travelled between Winton, Petersfield, and Portsmouth, and at the same -time ordered a meal, for the morning ride had made me hungry. - -The landlord hurried off, for callers were many that morning, and whilst -I was waiting I took stock of the room. It was panelled, and had thick -oak rafters and low ceiling. Though the weather was warm, a large fire -blazed on the hearth, while the wall above the chimney corner was hung -with an assortment of old weapons. - -There were three other occupants of the room, two of whom sat in the -chimney corner, leaning over the fire as if it were a winter's day, -while the third was spread out on the settle, gazing stolidly at his -companions. They had evidently been engaged in deep conversation, but -on my arrival they stopped talking and eyed me with no goodwill. - -All three were villainous-looking men, dark-skinned and heavy-browed. -One had a livid weal across his cheek, while another was deeply pitted -with smallpox. The third had his face nearly concealed in a dark beard -that grew so high on his cheek as almost to meet his eyebrows. Their -clothes were old and ragged; their belongings were limited to a small -bundle that was placed by each man's side. Three large tankards, lying -upset on the floor, showed that their refreshment had been copious, -while the reek of strong spirits hung around them like an invisible -cloud. - -They made no secret of the fact that my inquisitive glances were -unwelcome, and so much did they scowl that I turned hastily away and -looked out of the window, where the brilliant sunshine, beating down on -the crowded courtyard, made a pleasing contrast to the dismal trio -within. - -The arrival of another wayfarer next diverted my thoughts. The newcomer -was a burly, good-natured farmer, who, after giving the three men a -cheery salutation, which they returned surlily enough, sat down opposite -to me. - -Just then the landlord reappeared, and offered excuses for not having a -better room at his disposal. "Two officers and a troop of horse," said -he, "have stayed here overnight. What their business is I know not. -The men are free with everything but their own affairs. Not even spiced -ale makes their tongues wag in that direction. Their masters say less. -Still, 'tis not my business; they pay well. But even this young -gentleman has to stay here for want of better room. Ah, bethink me! -Didst pass Carver, the chapman, on your way hither?" - -"Are your wits wool-gathering, Master Host?" replied the other. "Seeing -that Carver gave notice that on Tuesday he would go direct from Winton, -instead of through this town, and that to-day happens to be Tuesday----" - -"Of course!" ejaculated the landlord; "I had forgotten." - -For a moment I felt staggered, then I asked if there were other means of -continuing my way. - -"None, young sir; but there is ample accommodation here for man and -beast till Thursday, when a wagon from Alton to Portsmouth passes this -hostel." - -I shook my head. The idea of spending two days and nights in this place -was out of the question. "I must go on," I replied, "even if I walk." - -"You've pluck!" exclaimed the farmer. "'Tis a good eighteen miles. -Were it any day but this I'd take you part of the way." - -I thanked him, and asked the landlord to take care of my trunks till the -Thursday; and, having finished my repast, I prepared to go. - -Having paid my account in gold, and received a quantity of silver -change, which the landlord counted slowly into my hand, I bade the -kindly farmer good-bye, and set off southward along a dusty, chalky -road. - -After crossing a small stream, and proceeding over a long causeway, the -road began slowly, yet gradually, to rise, evidently making for a gap -between two lofty hills. Two miles brought me to the foot of the downs, -where all signs of cultivation terminated abruptly, and only a treeless -expanse of turf-covered hills met my eye. - -It was warm work that last part of the ascent, and on gaining the summit -of the road I found that the hillside still towered on both sides, the -highway running through a steep chalk cutting. - -Out of breath, I sat down on a grassy bank and looked back upon the -country I had just left. Miles and miles of well-wooded land lay -beneath me, extending far away to the North Downs. I could see the town -of Petersfield nestling around the square tower of the old church. I -could trace the dusty road along which I had journeyed, save the last -half-mile, which was hidden by a chalk cliff that rose some two hundred -yards away on the right. - -For over a quarter of an hour I sat enjoying this magnificent view, when -suddenly round the bend of the road by the base of the cliff appeared -three men whom I had no difficulty in recognizing as the ill-favoured -visitors at the "Red Lion". - -Then like a lightning flash the thought swept across my mind that, -having seen the landlord give me a sum of silver, they had followed me -to this lonesome spot. - -I immediately sprang to my feet, and walked sharply onwards through the -cutting. Ever and anon I looked back, and found that they were -increasing their pace into almost a trot; so, directly I had put the -brow of the hill betwixt them and me, I ran steadily but not too swiftly -down the road. Even as I ran I took in my surroundings. In front was -the long, white road, still descending till it turned to the left beyond -a grassy spur of the hill that hid it from view, though at a -considerable distance from it. Here and there were a few stunted bushes, -too scanty to afford shelter, while not a habitation nor a human being -was to be seen. - -Again I looked back. Notwithstanding the climb, the men had gained on -me, and were even now running at full speed down the incline--not two -hundred yards away. One had out-distanced the others, yet all three -were keeping up a rapid pace. - -Instinctively I increased my speed to the utmost, and, with my elbows -pressed closely against my sides, swung down the road in a vain -endeavour to meet a friendly being, or at least to outdistance my -pursuers. - -Once round that bend, surely there would be a house or some succour; but -no, only another stretch of chalky road. Then I thought to leave the -road and climb the steep, grassy slope on my left, and before my -pursuers had turned the corner I was staggering madly up the bank, -where, under the frail shelter of a stunted bush, I lay down and panted -like a hunted hare. - -In a very short time the first of my pursuers appeared round the bend. -It was the one with the scarred face, and, being in addition grimed with -sweat and dust, and panting heavily, he presented a truly ferocious -aspect. - -When he saw the open road with no sign of his quarry he stopped, -swearing and blaspheming horribly, till his fellow rogues came up. From -my hiding place I could distinctly hear and see all, they being but -forty yards away, and some fifty feet below me. In spite of my terror I -kept them in view, and, being weaponless, I looked around for some means -of defence. Close to my feet was a large rabbit hole, and knowing from -past experience that these animals frequently throw up flints and other -stones from their burrows, I plunged my hand into the newly excavated -earth, and to my delight found a large jagged flint, and soon after my -armoury consisted of five good-sized stones. Then a piece of wood, -lying within two yards of the bush, and evidently a part of a hurdle, -met my eye. This I seized, but the act led to my undoing, for one of -the men, happening to look my way, saw me as I cautiously backed towards -my shelter. - -A volley of hideous oaths greeted my discovery, and immediately the -black-bearded fellow and the man who had proved the fastest of the three -began to climb the hill. - -I retreated slowly, so as to save my breath. Again the wealed-faced man -outdistanced his companion, and soon I could hear his deep panting -behind me. - -Then suddenly I turned, and, throwing one of the largest stones, hit him -fairly in the midriff. With a loud howl he dropped on his knees and -pressed his hands to his injured part, his cudgel rolling down the slope -till stopped by the other man. - -The third rogue, seeing how matters stood, also began to climb the -slope. For my part, flushed with my success, I slowly edged away, -intending to make a detour, regain the road, and then retrace my steps -towards Petersfield; for I knew what sort of road I had already passed, -but was in ignorance of the distance to which this wild valley extended. - -Still climbing, I reached the sloping ridge round the base of which the -road bent. Once again I could follow the highway leading to the chalk -cutting, and to my unbounded delight I saw for the third time that -ponderous coach with its attendant troopers descending the hill at a -sharp pace. - -The strong wind that was blowing towards the approaching cavalcade, and -the dusty road, both tended to deaden the sound of the horses' hoofs and -the dull rumble of the carriage, and as yet the villains were unaware of -their danger. - -On the summit of the ridge I turned towards them. Instinctively they -separated, yet came on apace--the man whom I had hit with the stone -limping onward with an effort, the others, each with a knife in his -hand, working away on either side with the intention of preventing my -escape. As the bearded ruffian came within throwing distance I flung a -stone with all my might, and had he not quickly bounded aside, there -would have been another point in my favour. - -As soon as he gained the top of the ridge, though some feet below me, I -made a sudden rush towards him, intending to make a feint and then run -towards the troopers. The man stood on his guard, his knife glittering -in the sunlight, though evidently astonished at my apparent rashness. - -When close upon him I darted to one side and ran quickly down the hill. -Suddenly my foot caught in a rabbit hole, and I fell headlong, rolling -over and over in my descent. - -With a savage curse my assailant rushed towards my prostrate body, and -even as he did so he caught sight of the troopers. - -His cursing changed into a howl of terror as he vainly tried to check -his descent; but ere he could recover himself three of the horsemen had -spurred their steeds betwixt him and the rest of the troop. He lay on -the ground whining dismally, while the soldiers hastily trussed him up -with a length of stout cord. - -Meanwhile the coach had stopped, and as I approached, limping from the -effects of my fall, its two occupants looked out of the window to -enquire the cause of the disturbance. - -Hastily I told my story, and hardly had I finished, when the elder of -the two officers called to the sergeant: "Quickly, Sedgewyke! Secure -those other rascals!" - -Half a dozen troopers were quickly out of their saddles, and, leaving -their horses in the care of two others, made their way up the slope -towards the spot where the remaining rogues were last seen. He of the -scarred face was quickly captured, being well-nigh winded with the -effects of the stone I had thrown; but the third was a more determined -quarry, though, in his stupidity, instead of climbing upwards (being far -lighter than the soldiers, encumbered as they were with breast-pieces -and riding-boots), he must needs make for the road, where he raced off -at breakneck speed. - -"A crown for the man who brings him down, dead or alive!" shouted the -officer, who looked upon the pursuit with the eagerness of a sportsman. - -Already the soldiers had regained their horses, and, leaving four as a -guard over the prisoners, dashed in pursuit of the fugitive. Too late -the wretch saw his mistake, and again ran from the road towards a steep -bank of chalk that towered up for nearly fifty feet above the stretch of -level grassland at its base. - -Lifting me into the coach, the elder man gave orders to follow the -chase, and soon we pulled up close to where the terror-stricken fugitive -was making a desperate effort to scale the slippery bank. - -"Middleton, we have some sport! I'll wager my largest snuffbox against -thine that the rogue will outwit your eleven men." - -"Taken," replied the other. "Now, men," he shouted, "remember, a crown, -dead or alive!" - -The troopers were drawn up in an irregular line along the edge of the -road, and had drawn their pistols from their holsters. - -Bang! A man on the extreme left had fired. The ball struck the cliff -just above the fugitive's head, bringing down a small avalanche of chalk -and dust. Digging his hands into the yielding soil, the wretched man -raised himself another two feet. Being but thirty yards from us, his -desperate efforts were plainly visible. - -Bang! Bang! Two reports in quick succession echoed down the valley. -This time, whether hit or not, the man slid some six feet downwards, -till his foot caught in a projection and stopped his descent. - -"Not so fast there," grumbled the sergeant. "If you fire like that, who -can claim the reward? Now, then, Wagstaff!" - -Calmly, as if at the butts, the row of men began to fire in turn. At -the sixth shot the miserable villain made a feeble attempt to regain his -former position, but ere he had ascended another two feet a shot struck -him in the back of the head, and he tumbled to the bottom of the bank a -hideously disfigured corpse. - -Striding over to the body the sergeant turned it over on its back, made -sure that life was extinct, then returned to the door of the coach, and, -saluting, said: "Trooper Jenkins's shot, sir, brought the rogue down." - -The elder man gave the sergeant the promised reward, then, turning to -his companion, with a low bow, presented him with the snuffbox. - -With this ceremonious display the tragedy was brought to a close, and -the two officers, learning that I was on my way to Portsmouth, consented -to let me ride with them. - -The troopers formed up again, the prisoners firmly bound to two of their -number, and the cavalcade passed onwards, leaving by the roadside a -motionless object that had once been a man. - -As we journeyed along, the officers plied me with questions, taking a -great interest in my account of my meeting with the three footpads. The -older of the two officers was about forty years of age, bronzed with the -sun and wrinkled with exposure to the weather. His blue eyes twinkled -in a kindly manner, while his lips, partly concealed by his closely -trimmed moustache and beard, denoted both firmness and discretion. - -His companion, apparently ten years younger, also wore a beard of Van -Dyck cut. His appearance, however, denoted a man who was given to -perform actions on the spur of the moment rather than to be ruled by -deliberate counsel. He was addressed as Middleton by his companion, but -I could not then gather what was the name of the elder man. Both men -wore flowing lovelocks, and affected the rich apparel of the Cavaliers, -which contrasted vividly with the sombre garb of their escort. - -When I mentioned that I was on my way to my uncle, Master Anderson, the -younger of the twain gave his companion a wink that did not escape me, -and remarked: "Then, Master Aubrey, we'll see more of thee anon, if I -mistake not." - -The coach now descended a long declivity, at the bottom of which lay a -straggling village, which, I was told, boasted of the name of Horndean. -Here we rested the horses, my two benefactors going into the inn, from -which presently a man came out bringing me a cup of milk and a plate of -coarse brown bread and rich yellow cheese. - -In half an hour the journey was resumed, the road leading up a short, -steep incline and then plunging into a dense wood, which once formed a -royal hunting-ground--the Forest of Bere. - -At length we entered a deep, dark hollow, where the shade made a -blinding contrast to the glare of the sun. - -Suddenly there was a shrill whistle, followed by a sound of scuffling, a -score of round oaths, and the sharp report of firearms. - -The coach came to a sudden standstill, throwing me from my seat, while -the others jumped out, unsheathing their swords as they did so. - -I too made for the door, and could see the troopers preparing to fire -into a thicket on the left-hand side of the road, while one of their -number lay on the ground, his head bleeding from a severe wound. - -After the next volley some of the men plunged into the underwood, -encouraged by the voice of the sergeant shouting: "After him, men, at -all costs; he cannot be far off." - -A moment later there was a sound of harsh voices, the noise of stones -striking against steel, more pistol-shots, and then quietness, broken at -length by the return of the troopers bearing between them a man who -moaned and cursed lustily as he was carried by none too tender hands. - -"How now, Sedgewyke!" thundered his officer. "Who is this? 'Tis not -the man we lost. Where is he?" - -The sergeant saluted, and told his story: The troop was riding in a -straggling manner, one of the men, who had a prisoner bound behind him -(he with the scarred face), being in the rear. Without warning a stout -rope that had been stretched between two trees on opposite sides of the -road was dropped, and, catching the unfortunate soldier under the chin, -hurled him and his prisoner to the ground. In a moment a party of men -had run from the cover of the brushwood, freed the captive, and, after -hamstringing the trooper's horse, had made their escape to the depths of -the forest before the rest of the escort could realize what had -occurred. - -Pursued by the soldiers, they let fly a shower of stones, and in the -confusion that followed had made good their retreat, with one -exception-- a man who had received a ball in the right ankle. - -Though chagrined by the loss of their prisoner, the capture of one of -his rescuers was a redeeming feature of the fray, and the latest captive -was brought before the officers for the purpose of being interrogated. - -He was a young man, scarce more than twenty years of age, with a heavy -poll of red hair. His sinewy arms were tattooed with various devices, -while on his chest, exposed during the scuffle, a death's-head and -cross-bones were crudely drawn. When questioned he maintained a surly -silence, only asking for water in a dialect that, country-bred though I -am, I could not readily understand. - -"Methinks I have met others of this kind before," remarked the elder -officer. "A Dorset man, I'll wager, and, that being so, he's either -smuggler or pirate. Whether he be of Poole or Weymouth 'tis all the -same. Far rather would I meet Dutchman or Frenchman in fair fight than -be cast ashore on the devil-haunted coast of Purbeck. Now, Sedgewyke, I -pray you dispatch that horse and let us hasten on, unless we wish to be -benighted on the highway." - -The sergeant saluted again and retired, while Middleton and his friend -returned to the carriage. A shot announced that the maimed animal's -sufferings were ended, and the troopers, with their two prisoners now -safely in the centre, broke into a trot, the coach swaying to and fro as -it rumbled over the rough road. - -The sun was sinking low when we reached the summit of Portsdown, a long -stretch of chalky down, whence I saw Portsmouth for the first time. - -To one living in the hilliest and most picturesque part of Hampshire and -Sussex this first glimpse came as a disappointment. I saw below me an -island so flat as to make it appear difficult to tell where the land -ended and where the water began. Save for a few trees and some -scattered houses there was little to break the dreariness of it, while, -the tide being out (as I afterwards learnt), long expanses of mud on -either side increased this aspect of monotonous desolation. At the far -end of the island I could distinguish the cluster of houses that formed -the town. At the near end was a narrow creek, which we must needs cross -to gain our destination, while away on the right was a square tower, -which, they told me, was the castle of Portchester. - -This was my first view of Portsmouth, and also of the sea, and I must -confess I felt heartily disappointed with both. - -We soon descended the hill, passed through the little hamlet of Cosham, -and crossed the creek by a narrow bridge. A short three miles now -separated us from the town, and on approaching it I saw a large mound of -earth, called the Town Mount, crowned by fortifications and fronted by a -line of bastions and earthworks, which in turn were encircled with a -moat that communicated with the mill dam on the right. - -Beyond rose the red-tiled roofs of the houses, the whole being dominated -by the massive square tower of St. Thomas's Church. - -At the Landport Gate we were received by a guard of soldiers, and as we -entered the town my first impressions were removed by the sight of so -much life and bustle. - -Inside the line of fortification the guard had turned out for the -purpose of doing honour to my travelling companions. The sight of the -rows of pikemen with their eighteen-feet weapons riveted my attention -till I was recalled to my senses by being dismissed by my benefactors, -who gave me in charge of a sour-visaged soldier, with instructions to -take me to the house of Master Anderson in St. Thomas's Street. - -Soon I found myself at the door of a tall, gabled house, where, without -waiting, my guide left me. - -With a feeling of timidity I knocked, and the door was opened. I saw -before me a rotund little man with a puffy face that a well-trimmed -beard partially concealed. His face was pitted with smallpox, but his -eyes, though swollen with the result of high living, twinkled in a -kindly manner, yet showed promise of quickly firing up in anger. - -I was unable to utter a word, and stood still, feeling considerably -uneasy under his enquiring gaze. Neither did he speak; so, driven to -desperation, I at length gathered up courage and stammered: "Sir, I am -your nephew, Aubrey Wentworth." - - - - -CHAPTER IV--How Judgment was Passed on the Dorset Smugglers - - -I soon accustomed myself to my new home. My Uncle George treated me with -every consideration--a fact that ill-disposed persons would have -attributed to the legacy left him under my father's will. Though far -from being in needy circumstances--receiving as Clerk of the Survey at -the dockyard a salary of L50, paid with more or less irregularity--it -was evident that his brother-in-law's bounty did not come amiss. - -I have already given a description of my uncle. His wife, my father's -sister, was tall, sparely built, and somewhat inclined to verbosity. It -did not take me long to ascertain that the pair were ill-assorted, and -when on certain occasions their dispute waxed hot, my uncle was -invariably driven from the house by the unrestrained reproaches of his -spouse. - -They had but two children, Maurice, a lad a year older than myself, and -Mercy, a child of nine years. I was soon on capital terms with both, -though, boylike, I treated Mercy with that sort of contempt that most -boys of my age show their female relations. - -I lost little time in telling my uncle the story of my adventures on the -road, and, happening to mention the name of Middleton, he exclaimed: - -"Why, lad, you've made a good friend. 'Tis none other than Colonel -Thomas Middleton, lately appointed commissioner of this dockyard, and he -who rode with him is Admiral Montague, who comes to take the fleet to -Holland." - -This, then, was the gallant Montague, a man who, under the Commonwealth, -had earned renown when fighting with Blake the fleets of Holland and of -Spain, and whose prompt action in co-operating with Monk and taking -command of the fleet sent to fetch the king from Holland did much to -earn the royal gratitude and favour. - -On the morrow following my arrival I, in company with my cousin Maurice, -was taken by my uncle to the dockyard. - -Here all was activity and noise. Most of the fleet--amongst which were -pointed out to me the _Yarmouth_, _Swiftsure_, _London_, and _Ruby_--lay -at anchor at some distance from the wharves, while close alongside were -the _Naseby_, her name being changed to the _Royal Charles_, and the -_Montague_. - -There was but one dry dock, and in it lay the _Providence_; and on a -slip, being nearly fit for launching, stood a large ship of seventy-six -guns, her name having but recently been changed to the _Royal Oak_. - -While we were looking on with astonishment at this busy scene, a short, -thick-set man, whose portly body was ill supported by a pair of bandy -legs, came towards the place where we stood. He wore a blue uniform, -with three-cornered hat, and carried at his side a sword that trailed -behind him as he walked, and even threatened to become entangled between -his legs. - -"Ha! Captain Duce of the _Lizard_! Stand aside, boys, while I have -speech with him." - -The captain was in a rage. - -"A pretty pass! Here lie I ready to weigh and make sail, but ne'er a -loaf of bread aboard!" - -"I cannot help you, Captain," replied my uncle. "I can only refer you -to the Commissioner." - -"Hang the Commissioner!" roared the irate officer. "First I am directed -to apply to him; he sends me to you; you thereupon give me cold comfort -by sending me again to the Commissioner. How can I take my ship to sea -lacking bread and flour? Ah! Here, sirrah!" he broke off, noticing a -man passing by. "Here, sirrah! You're the person I want." - -The man addressed came across to where the captain and my uncle were -debating. His calling was apparent, he being covered from head to foot -with flour. - -"Well, Hunt, how is it Captain Duce can get no supplies from you?" - -The baker shook his head. "Over a thousand pounds are due to my partner -and me," said he. "We were to be paid monthly, but have received nothing -since September last. Verily, I am afraid to go abroad lest I am -arrested by my creditors, whom I cannot pay, as the Navy Commissioners -will not pay me!" - -Without waiting to hear further, for complaints of arrears of payment -were a common occurrence, Maurice and I stole away and wandered towards -the slip where the _Royal Oak_ was nearing completion. - -A noble sight she made, this immense yellow-painted hull, with her -double tier of gunports and her towering stern, richly ornamented with -gilded quarter badges and richly carved galleries. Little did we know -that a short seven years hence would see the ship, the pride of the -king's navy, a battered and fire-swept wreck--but I anticipate. - -In the midst of strange surroundings the time passed rapidly. Already -the Restoration was an accomplished fact. Charles II was again at -Whitehall "in the twelfth year of his reign", as the crown document has -it. The gilded effigy of his sainted father was restored to its niche -in the Square Tower at Portsmouth, where all persons passing were -ordered to uncover. With few exceptions the townspeople welcomed the -change, the whole place being given up to unrestrained merrymaking. - -One morning in June I was called into our living-room, and found myself -confronted by a gold-laced individual, who, drawing a paper from his -pocket, read in a sonorous voice a summons for me to attend at the -courthouse as a witness against Dick Swyre and Caleb Keeping, presented -for committing a murderous attack upon divers of the king's subjects on -the highway. - -On the appointed day I attended the court, accompanied by my uncle. -There were several cases dealt with before the one in which I had to -give evidence, and, though it was in keeping with the times, the -severity of most of the sentences struck me as being most barbarous. - -One poor woman, privileged to take chips from the dockyard, had been -apprehended in the act of stealing two iron bolts. Her punishment was -that she "should return to the Gaol from whence she came, and there -remain until Saturday next between the hours of Eleven and Twelve of the -Clock in the forenoon, at which time she was to be brought to the public -Whipping-post, and there receive Twenty Lashes with a Cat-of-Nine-Tails -from the hands of the Common Beadle on her naked back till the same -shall be bloody, and then return to the said Gaol and remain until her -fees be paid!" - -If this were fitting punishment for a petty theft, what, thought I, will -be the corresponding penalty for these two highwaymen? - -Presently Dick Swyre and Caleb Keeping were placed in the dock. The -first-named was the bearded ruffian who had so nearly settled my account -in the valley near Petersfield, and now, knowing full well that his neck -was already in the hangman's noose, his demeanour was one of sullen -ferocity, and, though he was heavily manacled, his appearance was like -that of a savage beast awaiting its opportunity to spring. - -The other, Keeping, did not appear to be of the same debased kind as his -companion, though his matted red hair and sunburnt face and arms -betokened a villain whose existence had been of an out-door kind. There -was a look of haunting terror in his face that turned the bronze of his -complexion into a pale-yellowish hue, while it could be seen that he had -great difficulty in keeping his limbs under control. - -I was the first witness called, and on concluding my evidence, which -dealt solely with the first prisoner, Swyre leant across the front of -the dock, raised his fettered hands, and with a terrible oath poured out -the most frightful imprecations against me, vowing that sooner or later -his mates would doubly avenge themselves on my miserable carcass, till -at length, by dint of blows liberally bestowed by his custodians, he was -restrained, though his low cursing and threats were distinctly audible -during the rest of the trial. - -Several of the soldiers of Colonel Middleton's party, including Sergeant -Sedgewyke, having given evidence, it was thought that the case for the -prosecution was concluded, but a shiver of excitement ran through the -court when an order was given: "Call Joseph Hawkes". - -The cry was taken up by the usher and repeated thrice ere there hobbled -into the well of the court an object that could scarce lay claim to -being called a man. Yet there was no mistaking the fact that Hawkes was -or had been a sailor, for a strong odour of tar, which was a pleasant -relief to the fetid atmosphere of the crowded court, hovered around him -like a cloud. He was about fifty years of age, wizened and bent. His -face, burnt by exposure to all weathers, was of a deep mahogany hue. -One eye was covered with a patch, the other appeared to be fixed in its -socket, inasmuch as whenever he looked he had to turn his head straight -in that direction. A mass of lank hair, terminating in a greasy -pigtail, covered his head. - -His left arm was missing, the empty sleeve being fastened to his coat; -and, as if these deficiencies were not enough, his left leg had been cut -off at the knee joint, and was replaced by a wooden stump. The fingers -of his right hand were dried like a mummy's, the nails being blackened -with hard work at sea and the continual use of tobacco, and I noticed -that one of his fingers was also missing. - -Having been administered the oath, his examination commenced. - -"You are Joseph Hawkes?" - -"Yes, your Honour." - -"Do you know either of the prisoners?" - -"Yes, saving your presence, that red-haired villain yonder!" - -"Now, sirrah," exclaimed the prosecuting lawyer, addressing Caleb -Keeping, "methinks you know this witness!" - -But the prisoner replied not, except to shake his head sheepishly. - -"Proceed with your evidence, Master Hawkes." - -The man hitched at his nether garments, pulled his forelock, and without -further delay plunged into his story, which, stripped of its -peculiarities of dialect, was as follows:-- - -"Two years ago last May I shipped as mate of the bark _Speedie_, of -Poole, outward bound for the Tagus. The same night as we cleared Poole -harbour we were overtaken by a gale from the south'ard, and soon got -into difficulties close to the Purbeck coast. Seven times did we 'bout -ship to try and claw off the shore, but at daybreak we struck close to -Anvil Point." - -Here the younger prisoner began to show signs of terrified interest--a -fact that most of those present were not slow to note. - -"The masts went by the board, our boats were carried away, and the old -_Speedie_ began to break up. One by one the crew were swept overboard, -and at last a heavy sea took me, and I remember fighting for life in the -waves till I lost consciousness. - -"When I came to I was lying on a flat ledge or platform of rock with the -hot sun streaming down on me. The gale had now abated, but there were -plenty of signs of its results. Numbers of bales and barrels, that had -formed our cargo, were being collected on the platform by a number of -villainous-looking, half-naked men. A slight tingling pain in my hand -made me look down, and I saw that one of my fingers had been cut off, so -that one of the wretches could steal a paltry silver ring I was wearing. - -"Just then I heard a shout, and, keeping perfectly still, I looked under -my half-closed eyelids and saw two of the wreckers dragging a body up -the rocks. It was the master of the _Speedie_, poor old John Cartridge -of Hamworthy. The wretches began to hack his fingers off, as they had -done mine, and even tore a pair of ear-rings forcibly from his ears. -Old John wasn't dead, for this treatment revived him. Seeing this, one -of the men, who is none other than that red-haired devil yonder, plunged -a knife into his back and toppled his body into the sea." - -At this the younger prisoner yelled in a terror-stricken voice: "No, no! -You are mistaken. 'Twill be my brother as done it. 'Twas not I." - -"Liar!" retorted the old seaman. "I'll prove it. Let your men bare his -back, good sir, and if he hath not the sign of the Jolly Roger tattooed -there, I'll take back my word." - -The justice nodded his assent, and the tip-staves proceeded to remove -the clothing from the prisoner's back. Sure enough, there was a -death's-head and cross-bones indelibly impressed there. - -"Continue your evidence, Master Hawkes." - -"Well, your Honour, as I was a-saying, after they had rid themselves of -the master's body, the wretches began to carry their plunder into a cave -that opened from the back of the flat rock. Presently one of them stops -by me. 'What shall us do with 'e?' he shouts. I kept very still, -feigning death, yet expecting every moment to have a knife betwixt my -ribs. 'Is 'e done with?' asked another. 'Then overboard with 'im.' -Next minute I felt myself being dragged across the platform and pushed -off the edge. I fell about a score of feet, striking the water with a -heavy splash. When I came to the top I struck out, and found myself -close to a shelf of rock which the overhanging ledge hid from the -villains above. Here I remained till the coast was clear, then I -scrambled up, in spite of my wounds, and made my way across some downs -till I met with a kindly farmer, who took me to Wareham. - -"When I reported the matter to the authorities a body of men were sent -from Wareham and Poole; but though they discovered the caves, not a -trace of the wreckers, their spoils, or the remains of the _Speedie_ was -to be found." - -The rest of the evidence was soon concluded, proving without doubt that -both men were members of a notorious band of Dorset smugglers, whose -misdeeds had caused the utmost consternation for years past; and the -case was settled by sending both prisoners to the assizes at Winchester. - -It is unnecessary to dwell upon the account of my journey to Winton to -repeat my evidence; but on the return journey (having heard both men -sentenced to death), as we were passing through a wood between Twyford -and Waltham, a pistol was fired at our coach, the ball shattering the -glass and passing close to my uncle's head. - -This outrage was put down to the highwaymen of Waltham Chase; but in my -own mind I attributed it to the vengeance of the smugglers' gang, which -surmise I afterwards found was correct. - -The two men suffered the extreme penalty of the law. I was taken to see -them gibbeted on Southsea beach. Such occasions are invariably regarded -as a kind of holiday, and thousands of townsfolk and people from the -surrounding country came to see the sentence carried out. - -Caleb Keeping died like an arrant coward, whining like a whipped cur as -the executioner bound him. Already half-dead with fear, he submitted to -being compelled to mount the ladder, whence he was thrown violently, and -in a few moments all was over. But with Dick Swyre it was different. -Heedless of death, and accustomed to scenes of violence, he strove to -the last, cursing the crowd and endeavouring to burst his bonds. - -While most of the onlookers jeered, it was evident that some of his -friends were present, and at one time it looked as if a rescue was about -to be attempted; but the soldiers kept back the press, and in spite of -his violent struggles the prisoner was brought underneath the gallows, -where a rope was deftly passed round his neck. Still cursing and -struggling, the wretch was hoisted, and five minutes elapsed ere his -last convulsive motions ceased. - -Though the crowd looked upon this incident as a diversion, to me it -seemed otherwise. True, two deep-dyed criminals had got their deserts; -but I felt that my share in the affair had gained me many unknown -enemies. This impression grew after an attempt had been made to burn my -uncle's house, and I had been deliberately pushed from the quayside into -the Camber by a seaman; and these incidents so preyed upon my mind that -I was unfeignedly glad when I was asked if I should like to go to sea. - - - - -CHAPTER V--Of my First Ship, the _Gannet_ - - -Once it had been settled that I should go to sea, my uncle lost no time -in getting me a ship. Through his influence, his intimacy with Sir -Thomas Middleton, and also through the interest which Sir Thomas showed -towards me, the matter was an easy one, and before August was out I -found myself being escorted down to the dockyard to join the _Gannet_. - -This stout craft I must describe. She was of six hundred tons burthen -and pierced for fifty guns. She had three masts, besides a small one at -her bowsprit-head. When first I saw her she was having a new mizzen -fitted, her old mast having been lost in a gale outside the Wight. - -Her figurehead represented a man on horseback trampling on a Dutchman, a -Frenchman, a Spaniard, and an Algerine. I was told that the horseman -was supposed to be the arch-traitor, Old Noll, but a clever hewer of -wood had caused all likeness of the great rebel to disappear, and had -graven instead the features of honest George, now created Duke of -Albemarle. - -Her stern gallery was upheld by a row of gilt figures representing that -hero of mythology, Master Atlas, of whom my father used to speak; while -over the gallery towered three enormous lanterns, and above everything -was a maze of spars and rigging that confused me not a little, though -before long I was well acquainted with the names of all of them. - -This much did I see from the dockyard wall, for the _Gannet_ was lying -at anchor in the harbour. One of the seamen on the quay hailed her -through a speaking-trumpet, and presently a longboat came off for us, -manned by ten lusty rowers, while a boy of about my own age sat in the -stern-sheets steering the boat and giving orders to the men as if the -commanding of the boat had been his life-long business. - -Directly we embarked--that is, my uncle, my cousin Maurice, and -myself--the boat pushed off, and urged by long strokes soon covered the -distance betwixt the shore and the ship. As she neared the latter the -youngster shouted: "Oars!" in such a loud voice that I thought something -had happened. The rowers immediately tossed their oars, while the boat -ran alongside the _Gannet_. - -We climbed by a steep ladder up the rounding side of the ship, my uncle -performing the feat with surprising agility, though he was puffing -heartily when he gained the deck and took off his hat to the royal arms -that graced the quarterdeck at the break of the poop. - -We were received by the captain, one Adrian Poynings, said to be a -descendant of the fiery governor of Portsmouth who bore the same name, -and whose will was the terror of the inhabitants of Portsmouth in the -days of Queen Bess. - -The captain did not appear to bear the same reputation as did his -ancestor. He seemed, for a king's officer, a very mild-mannered -gentleman, for when speaking to his subordinates he would say: "Desire -Master So-and-so to do this", or "Desire the bos'n to be sent to me"; -and so on. - -Having been introduced to him, I was sent off in charge of a midshipman -to be shown round the ship. This youngster, whose name was Greville -Drake (a remote relation of the immortal Sir Francis Drake), was one of -the six gentlemen midshipmen serving on the ship. He appeared to be a -keen young officer, knowing the ins and outs of everything, yet withal -he was of a roguish disposition, and given to skylarking. Before long we -were excellent friends. - -Having inspected the waist of the ship, the main and upper gundecks, he -led me below to the orlop deck, where right aft was situated the gunroom -or midshipmen's mess. - -Here, illuminated by the glimmer of a couple of purser's dips, or tallow -candles, was the place where for the next two or three years I was to -live and sleep--otherwise my floating home. The heavy beams were so low -that I was obliged to stoop when passing underneath them. Innumerable -cockroaches crawled across the floor or attempted to climb the sides of -the cabin, till pinked by a well-directed thrust with a sail-needle. - -There were four other midshipmen, taking things as easily as their -surroundings would permit, and on our entry I was warmly greeted with a -volley of remarks that were both good-natured and humorous. - -But my tour of the _Gannet_ was by no means finished, my mentor -evidently meaning to make me thoroughly acquainted with the ship. Below -the orlop deck we went, passing down a steep ladder to the flats, or -part of the ship immediately above the ballast. The amidship portion of -this space is termed the cockpit, and, though nearly empty, it did not -require much imagination on my part to see the forms of mangled seamen -dimly outlined in the feeble glimmer of the lantern, young Drake telling -me of some of the ghastly sights of the cockpit during action in a -highly-worded and realistic style. - -I could discern the heels of the fore and main masts, and the well of -the ship's pump, while farther away was a stack of imperishable ship's -stores, from which a number of rats darted, seemingly unmindful of our -presence. - -When we gained the daylight once more I blinked like an owl, breathing -in the fresh air with a relish that the stifling atmosphere of between -decks had caused; but short was my respite, for my new friend asked me -whether I would be bold enough to go to the foretopmast head. - -Not wishing to be thought a coward, and having had plenty of experience -of tree-climbing, I assented; and Drake, kicking off his shoes, -immediately sprang into the shrouds, making his way aloft with -marvellous rapidity. - -I followed, clinging tenaciously to the shrouds with my hands, while my -bare feet were tortured by the contact with the sharp ratlines. However, -I stuck to it, followed Drake over the futtock shrouds, where for a -space I felt like a fly on a ceiling, and at length gained the foretop. - -Without pausing for breath my guide literally jumped into the topmast -shrouds, and before I had attempted to follow he was perched upon the -crosstrees. Five minutes later I was by his side, and I must confess -that on looking down I experienced a feeling of giddiness that required -a strong effort on my part to overcome. Eighty feet below, the deck -looked like a long, narrow strip of dazzling white planks, the crew -appearing no larger than manikins. - -"You have pluck, Aubrey," remarked Drake. "I thought you would have -shrunk from the task, or, in any case, have climbed no farther than the -foretop. And you didn't crawl through the lubber's hole, either!" - -"The lubber's hole! What's that?" - -"Those openings on the tops. Greenhorns generally scramble through -those instead of going over the futtock shrouds. I say, can you swim?" - -"No," I replied. "An old shipman whom I know, one Master Collings, of -Gosport, used to say that swimming was a useless art, for when a man -fell overboard his agony was only unduly prolonged." - -"Ah! Many an old seaman thinks the same, but nevertheless to be able to -swim comes in very handy. Supposing you fell overboard; well, in nine -cases out of ten you would be picked up again if you could swim. I've -been knocked overboard as often as four times and I am still here. Now, -take the first opportunity and let me teach you." - -I thanked my newly-found friend for his offer, and, now thoroughly -rested, I began my descent to the deck, grasping the shrouds tightly and -feeling very gingerly with one foot till I found a secure foothold. - -On gaining the deck I saw that my uncle and the captain had been -watching my manoeuvres, both being well satisfied with my maiden efforts -at going aloft. - -The time of parting had come, and dry-eyed, though with a curious -feeling in my throat, I bade farewell to my uncle and cousin Maurice. - -I watched them row ashore, waving my handkerchief as they went, and when -they reached the wharf they waited to see the _Gannet_ get under way. - -It was a busy scene, and an operation in which I could take no part. -The captain gave the ship in charge to the master; the red cross of St. -George was struck at the gaff and run up to the peak. The shrill notes -of the bosn's whistle had hardly died away when the rigging was alive -with men; the canvas was spread from the yards as if by magic, and all -that remained was to break the anchor out, the cable already being hove -short. - -A part of the crew manned the capstan bars, a fiddler being perched on -the capstan head. "Heave round the capstan," came the order, and with a -patter of bare feet, the clanking of the pawls, and the merry lilt of -the fiddle, the cable came inboard. - -"Up and down," shouted a man stationed for'ard, meaning the anchor has -left its muddy bed. "Now, then, my hearties, heave and away!" And to -an increased pace the anchor came home. - -A medley of other orders, unintelligible to me, followed; the sheets -were hauled well home, the braces and bowlines made taut, and by the -peculiar gliding sensation that followed I knew the _Gannet_ was under -way. - -The old town of Portsmouth appeared to slip past our larboard quarter, -and presently the ship was lifting to the gentle swell, as, -close-hauled, we headed towards the English Channel. - -Thus commenced the three years' cruise of my first ship, His Majesty's -ship _Gannet_, and I soon accustomed myself to the routine, showing a -keen interest in the duties of a midshipman; and ere long I could vie -with my messmates in the most hazardous tasks that fell to their lot. - -The _Gannet_ first sailed through the Straits of Gibraltar to the -Mediterranean Sea, for the purpose of keeping an eye on the Algerine -rovers, who had again begun, in spite of the sharp lesson taught them by -Admiral Blake, to molest peaceful traders. From the Mediterranean we -sailed across the Atlantic to the Indies, to make our headquarters the -town of Port Royal in Jamaica, an island that Penn and Venables had -seized from the Spaniards some five years before. - - - - -CHAPTER VI--Of the Finding of Pedro Alvarez, and of the Strange Tale -that he Told - - -On arriving at Port Royal Captain Poynings decided that the _Gannet_ -should be refitted. Accordingly preparations were made to overhaul the -ship thoroughly ere she joined her consorts in a cruise amongst the -Antilles for the purpose of destroying those hornets' nests of -buccaneers that made the Caribbean Sea a terror to law-abiding seamen. - -Our task was rendered doubly difficult, first by the oppressive heat, -and secondly by the fact that, like the Mediterranean, these waters are -practically tideless, so that the difference between the rise and fall -can be measured by the span of a man's hand. - -On this account it is impossible for a vessel to be left high and dry, -so the operation of cleaning her hull below the waterline is performed -by "careening", or allowing her to lie on one bilge, so that the other -side is raised above the water. - -All heavy gear, including the guns, was taken ashore, the manual work -being performed by gangs of negro slaves, who toiled and groaned under -the lash of their relentless taskmasters. - -To me the sight was a terrible one, unaccustomed as I was to scenes of -cruelty, and I unburdened myself to the master. - -"Heart alive, lad!" he replied with a careless laugh, "they are but -niggers, and know naught else of life but to toil. Treat them kindly, -and they'll take care to work still less. And, mark my words, lad, if -ever it comes to pass that these blackamoors are freed, as Master Penn -would persuade us to do, then these islands are doomed. Never a stroke -will they do save under compulsion---- There, look at that!" - -A crash, a loud shriek, and a babel of shouts showed that a disaster had -occurred. One of the largest guns was being hoisted over the side by a -combination of tackle between the lower fore and main yards. Just as it -swung outboard the sling on the chase parted, and the huge mass of metal -fell into a barge alongside, crushing two negroes and tearing through -the bottom of the shore-craft. Instantly all was confusion; the master -gunner was cursing at the loss of his piece of ordnance, his voice -raised high above the shouts of the terrified negroes, the bos'n -receiving the brunt of his attack. "Dost want me to teach thee thy -trade, landlubber? Is it not time that ye learned to tie aught but a -slippery hitch?" - -This aspersion on the boatswain's workmanship caused a fierce dispute, -but this had not lasted long when it was suddenly stopped by another -yell of terror. - -There was another rush to the ship's side, and I saw a dozen dark forms -struggling in a smother of foam-lashed water under our quarter, while -the triangular fins of several sharks showed that the culminating -tragedy had occurred. - -Two negroes, in addition to those killed by the fall of the gun, were -lost in the sudden and brief incident, yet the only remark the overseer -deigned to make was: "And they cost a hundred pieces of eight but a -month ago!" - -In less than three days the work of dismantling the _Gannet_ was -complete, and only the hull and the lower masts remained. Floating some -five feet above her usual loadline, the ship was towed into the mouth of -a muddy creek, and there careened till the whole of the bottom on the -larboard side, with the exception of the keel and a few of the lower -planks, was clear of the water, disclosing a sloping wall of -barnacle-covered timbers. - -As the next few weeks would be spent in scraping, breaming, and pitching -the hull, the officers were allowed to take up quarters ashore, and -right glad was I to have the chance of having a spell on dry land after -so long and arduous a time afloat. - -Port Royal was at that time in a state of considerable excitement, for -in the castle, heavily ironed, lay five notorious buccaneers, who a week -before our arrival had been brought in by the _Assurance_, of -thirty-eight guns, after a desperate resistance. They had been -condemned to die; but, owing to a slight difference between the admiral -and the governor of Jamaica, their fate was yet undecided, the former -wishing to send them to England to grace Execution Dock, the latter -desiring to gratify the inhabitants of Port Royal by stringing up the -prisoners in front of the castle. So hot had waxed the dispute that the -matter was referred home, and already a swift vessel had left for -England to obtain His Majesty's decision on the matter. - -On the third evening of our spell ashore we were walking across the -plaza, or open square, fronting the quay. The sun had set, and, with -tropical suddenness, daylight had given place to darkness. - -"What is that--guns or thunder?" suddenly exclaimed Drake, pointing -seaward. The horizon at one particular spot was illuminated by distant -yet bright flashes of light, while a subdued rumbling smote our ears. -Other passers-by were also attracted by the sound, and knots of people -quickly began to collect on the side of the quay, gazing intently -towards the south. - -For over half an hour the flashes continued, and it was soon evident -that an engagement was taking place, the noise of the firing gradually -coming closer. - -Several of the more timid inhabitants made for their homes, where, we -afterwards learned, they began to hide their valuables. Others, arming -themselves with a medley of weapons, hurried to the fortress, from which -a gun was fired and then lanterns hoisted as a signal when a vessel was -expected. - -In response to the gun, three companies of musketeers, with drums -beating and matches burning, marched from their quarters to the fort, -followed ten minutes later by a large body of pikemen, their arms -glittering in the light as they passed by the huge wood fires that had -been hastily kindled on the battlements. - -"Hasten, Aubrey! Our place is on board the _Gannet_," quoth Drake, and -alternately running and walking we hurried out of the town, crossed the -causeway over the marsh, and arrived at the mud dock, where the vessel -lay. - -Here, too, was activity and commotion. Captain Poynings was already on -board, directing his officers, while gun after gun was dragged over -greased planks to the ship's side, there to be "whipped" aboard by heavy -tackle. - -All night we worked like slaves, sending up topmasts, yards, and -rigging, shipping stores and ammunition. In eleven hours of darkness -the _Gannet_ was almost her former self, for, being the only warship on -the station (the rest being, as I have mentioned, away amongst the -Antilles), the governor had sent orders that no exertion was to be -spared in getting her ready for sea. - -While we worked, all kinds of rumours and reports reached us. First one -would come with a tale that war was declared with the Spaniards, or the -French, or the Dutch, or else all three. Another would arrive -breathless, saying that all the buccaneers of the Indies were off the -port, and that our fleet had been worsted. Yet another came with the -information that only one battered and shattered ship had arrived during -the night, the sole remnant of an English squadron, and that a hostile -force had landed at a spot a few miles to the east of the town. - -To all these wild rumours Captain Poynings paid but slight heed. Work -was to be done, and pressing work too; yet with such a spirit did the -men take to the task, without need of threats of rope-ends, such as the -masters of other king's ships are wont to use, that our record has never -yet been equalled. - -At break of day we could gather some true facts of the state of affairs. -Under the guns of Port Royal lay a small armed merchant vessel, the -_Whitby_, of ten guns, sadly shattered about the hull. In the offing -were five ships that many recognized as belonging to one Lewis, a -renegade king's officer, who, attracted by the glamour of easily -acquired wealth, had seduced his crew from their allegiance and turned -buccaneer. Joined by several others of like nature, Lewis had collected -a squadron of seven swift vessels; but the _Assurance_ had captured two -of the ships, and Lewis, with four of his fellow rogues, formed the -party of captives whose fate now hung in the balance as they lay in -irons in the castle. - -The _Gazelle_, a consort of the _Whitby_, had been captured and sunk by -the buccaneers that night; but after a long running fight the latter -ship had managed to make Port Royal in the darkness, this being the -cause of the firing we had heard. - -Captain Poynings lost no time in preparing to float the _Gannet_ out of -her mud dock, though it was evident from his puckered brows that he had -doubts as to whether the increased weight on board would prevent the -ship from coming off. - -Nevertheless he could not have completed the task of fitting out so -hurriedly if every piece of ordnance had to be brought off to the ship -in barges or lighters after she was afloat, so he resorted to the -hazardous expedient of careening her still more. - -Our best bower anchor, with its great twenty-inch hempen cable, was -carried out towards the centre of the harbour, the tail of the cable -remaining on board. All the guns were run over to the larboard side, so -that the _Gannet's_ lower-deck ports were within a few inches of the -surface of the water, her draught being thereby lessened. Two -additional cables were carried from the quarters to opposite sides of -the creek, where gangs of negroes were directed to pull their hardest. - -It was an anxious time. The capstan clanked slowly round as the main -cable tautened and came in foot by foot; the negroes, the sweat -glistening on their ebony arms and backs, bent to their task, encouraged -or goaded by the shouts of their overseers. - -Slowly the _Gannet_ moved towards the open water and freedom, her keel -ploughing through the liquid mud and causing a regular turmoil of yellow -foam within the little dock. - -Gradually she gathered way till her bow projected beyond the entrance to -the creek, then, as if gripped by a powerful hand, she brought up and -stopped immovable. - -The master, wild with rage, called upon the seaman to take soundings, -and, this being done, it was found that the _Gannet_ was held by the -heel, the forepart being well afloat. - -"Give the men breathing space, Master Widdicombe," said the captain, as -he saw the panting forms of his men. "Another effort and we are free." - -"Not I, by your leave, sir," retorted the master. "Let the vessel -settle but a minute and this mud holds her. Pipe the men aft," he -shouted, and in obedience to the shrill cry of the bosn's mate's whistle -the whole ship's company, including the officers, assembled at the -waist, save the men who manned the capstan bars. - -"Now, ye blackamoors, haul away!" yelled the master to the crowd on the -banks. "More beef into it, bullies," urged the bos'n to the capstan -men, and, as the strain on the cables increased, the rest of the crew, -in obedience to an order, doubled along the sloping decks, as well as -they were able, towards the bows, the whole vessel trembling with the -motion. - -This manoeuvre was successful. Hardly had the body of men reached the -foremast when the _Gannet_ glided forward and entered the deep waters of -the harbour, the two ropes on her quarter trailing astern, and the mob -of excited negroes who had manned them were shouting and dancing on the -banks of the creek. - -The _Gannet_ brought up on her shortened cable, sail was hastily made, -and away we went southward in chase of the buccaneers. - -As we cleared the mouth of the harbour we perceived their ships nearly -hull down; but with every stitch of canvas set, and withal a newly -cleaned hull, we rapidly lessened the distance between us. - -That they suspected not the presence of a king's ship in Port Royal was -evident in that they made no attempt to sheer off; instead, they beat up -towards us till we could clearly make them out. - -Then, as if aware of our formidable character, they turned, two making -away to the north-west, two to the south-east, while the fifth, though -she showed her heels for a time, backed her main-topsail and hove to. - -She was a long, rakish, yellow-sided craft, evidently built for speed, -and her audacity puzzled us mightily; but knowing the diabolical cunning -of these freebooters, we were determined to take no chance of a -surprise. - -We were almost within range when her maintopsail filled and she was off, -following the direction of her two consorts who had made towards -Hispaniola. - -As we watched her there were signs of a struggle taking place on -board--pistol-shots rang out, and a heavy form plunged over her -taffrail. Instantly several men rushed to the stern and opened fire on -the object, which, so many of our crew declared, was a man swimming. -This it turned out to be. Amid a hail of shots that churned up the -placid water all around him a man's head appeared, and the swimmer, -using powerful strokes, made directly towards us. - -"It seemeth strange that he escapes their fire," remarked the bos'n, as -the swimmer bobbed up and down amid the splash of the shot. "We may -pick him up. Away there--prepare a bowline." - -"I believe they do not try to hit him," replied the master; "or their -gunnery is far worse than yesterday, when they hulled the _Whitby_. But -he will never reach this ship alive. Look!" - -Following the direction of his finger, we perceived the dorsal fins of -two enormous sharks as they cleft their way towards the swimmer; but, -frightened by the splash of the shots, they contented themselves by -swimming in large semicircles between us and the fugitive. - -Interest in the buccaneering vessel was for the time being entirely -lost, all our crew watching the efforts of the swimmer, as with tireless -stroke he quickly lessened his distance from the _Gannet_. - -In obedience to an order from the captain our men cast loose a pair of -swivel guns, for it was evident that the buccaneer was getting out of -range, and her shots no longer disturbed the water. Far from destroying -the man, the discharge of her ordnance had proved his salvation; so our -captain resolved to act likewise and plant shot after shot close to him, -so as to frighten off these tigers of the deep, while our men waved -encouragingly to the swimmer. - -Through the drifting smoke from our ordnance I caught momentary glimpses -of the fugitive. He was swimming strongly, yet easily, and without any -sign of either physical or mental discomfort. By this time he was so -close that I could see the flash of his eyes between the matted clusters -of dark hair that covered his brows. - -The sharks still kept off; our gunners ceased to fire, and the running -bowline was dropped from our catheads for the man to be hauled on board, -when, within fifty yards from us, he suddenly disappeared, and over the -spot darted yet another huge shark that, unobserved, had lurked under -our bows. - -We could see the monster turn on its back to seize its prey. There was -a snapping of jaws, and the sea around it was discoloured with blood. -An involuntary cry of horror broke from us; then, to our surprise, we -saw the man reappear, brandishing a sheath-knife, while the shark, in -its last throes, floated belly uppermost, a skilful thrust of the knife -having practically disembowelled it. - -In another minute the man had grasped the bowline, and with the knife -between his teeth he was drawn up to the fo'c'sle. - -He was a short, ungainly personage, probably a Dago, judging by his -dark, olive skin and raven hair. Unconcernedly he drank a dram which -was given him; then, with the moisture draining from his clothes as he -hobbled across the deck, he was led off to be questioned by our captain. - -During this episode the buccaneer had shown us a remarkably clean pair -of heels, so that nothing short of an accident to the crowd of canvas -she was carrying could ever make us hope to overhaul her. - -But in spite of enquiries Captain Poynings gathered little from the -rescued man. - -"Me Portugee, me Portugee; me honest; me no rogue. Me see Senhor -Capitan alone, den me tell him ebberything," he reiterated. - -"I will not talk with you alone," replied Captain Poynings sternly. -"You are a pirate or an accomplice of that rascally crew. Now, give an -account of yourself, or a taste of the cat will make you speak." - -At the mention of the "cat" the man's eyes glittered ominously, then, -instantly relapsing into his subservient manner, he jabbered in broken -English: - -"Me no rogue. Me Pedro Alvarez of Habana. By de Virgin me speak truth!" -And holding a small wooden crucifix that hung from his neck, the man -kissed it with exaggerated fervour. - -"Me speak only to Senhor Capitan. Tell him ebberything. Senhor Capitan -much please wid my tale." - -"No!" roared Captain Poynings, knitting his brows in that manner -peculiar to him when aught vexes him. - -"Vell, den, me speak to Senhor Capitan an' three odder. Pedro's tale -too 'portant for odders to hear." - -To this the captain assented, and the Portuguese, having been deprived -of his knife, and searched for any concealed weapons he might have had, -was taken below to the stateroom, whither repaired the captain, two -lieutenants, and the master. - -For over an hour they remained, and on coming on deck we noticed that -Captain Poynings and his officers looked highly pleased, though the -Portuguese still wore an impassive look. - -"Send the ship's company aft," said the captain. "'Tis but right that -they should know." - -Eagerly the men clustered in the waist, while from the poop their -gallant leader addressed them. - -"Hearken, my men," quoth he. "It has come to our knowledge that a vast -amount of treasure lieth hidden on a cay the bearing whereof is known -only to this Portuguese. He is willing to guide us to the spot in -consideration of a safe conduct to Europe and one-seventh of the spoil. -By my commission His Majesty gives me power to engage in such -enterprise, whereof one-tenth reverteth to our sovereign lord, the king. -Be it understood that I will deal fairly with all men, dividing the -residue into shares according to the regulations pertaining to treasure -trove. For your part do your work with a will. Let no stranger learn -and forestall our mission, and I warrant ye the purser shall pay in gold -where heretofore ye had but silver." - -Cheers greeted the announcement, and the men retired to discuss this -matter amongst themselves. We, however, learned still more. Briefly, -the Portuguese's tale was this:-- - -Less than ninety years ago a Spanish treasure-ship left Vera Cruz, -richly laden with plate and specie. A few days after leaving port -yellow fever decimated the crew, and the survivors, unable to handle the -ship, ran her aground on a small cay in the Rosario Channel, between the -Isla de Pinos and Cuba. The treasure was landed and hidden, but -bickerings and disease still further reduced their number, till only one -man remained. He was rescued by a galliot the owner of which was -Pedro's grandfather. In gratitude, the Spaniard showed his rescuer a -plan of where the specie lay, the men agreeing to share the spoil. Both -men were lost in an attempt to reach the island in a small craft in -which they had sailed alone, so as to keep their secret, and thus all -trace of the spot vanished till five years ago, when Pedro came across -the rough chart and an account of the matter, which had been hidden in -the rafters of his hut. Pedro himself visited the cay, saw the treasure, -but was unable to carry off the stuff single-handed. He returned to -Habana, entrusted six others with the secret, and fitted out a small -felucca to secure the spoil. - -On the voyage the little craft was seized by the buccaneers, and all his -companions were murdered. Pedro alone was kept a prisoner, the pirate -intending that he should pilot them when occasion served. - -Never a word concerning the treasure did he say to the buccaneers, but, -taking a favourable opportunity, he had left the ship under the -circumstances that we had observed. - -Captain Poynings eagerly examined the chart. Already the lust for gold -had entered into his soul, and he was ready to hazard everything for the -sake of that which had cost the lives of hundreds of men in these -seas--the quest of hidden treasure. - -"Bring out a larger chart, Master Widdicombe," he exclaimed, "and let us -see where this island should be." - -The chart was produced, and the latitude and longitude carefully pricked -off, whereat Captain Poynings turned purple with rage and swore -horribly. - -"The villain would send us on a fool's errand," he declared, bringing -his fist down on the table with tremendous force. "The position he -would have us believe to be an island is in the midst of the Yucatan -Passage, with nothing less than eighty fathoms." - -For the moment we were all dumbfounded Visions of untold wealth were -rudely dispelled. - -"Bring out that rascally Portuguese, trice him up, and give him five -dozen!" cried the captain, a strain of his choleric ancestor betraying -itself. - -"Stay!" replied the master. "I have it! This position is shown by our -longitude, whereas this rough chart is of Spanish draughtsmanship. Now, -taking the longitude of Madrid as zero, we find that----" - -"Good, Widdicombe, you have hit it! Yet, forsooth, 'twas but your duty. -Prick out, then, a fresh position, and pray 'twill be better than the -last!" - -A few minutes' calculation enabled the master to announce that 22 deg. -4' N., 82 deg. 46' W. was the corrected position, and to the unbounded -satisfaction of us all it was found that it marked a small island almost -in the centre of the Rosario Channel, agreeing with the description -which Pedro Alvarez had given. - -As there was now no sign of the buccaneering craft, the _Gannet_ put -about and returned to Port Royal, there to wait until the return of the -cruising squadron should set us free to pursue our adventure. For -nearly two weeks we remained in suspense, Captain Poynings refusing -leave for fear that a man's tongue might get the better of his -discretion, till early one morning we perceived to our great joy the -sails of our consorts approaching the port. - - - - -CHAPTER VII--Concerning the Treasure Island - - -Hardly had the fleet anchored when Captain Poynings boarded the flagship -and obtained, with little ado, permission to part company. We then -revictualled, took in fresh powder, and weighed, steering a westerly -course till Negrille Point was well abeam. Thereupon we stood -nor'-westward, passing close to Grand Cayman. Here misfortune dogged us. -For days we were becalmed, the _Gannet_ wallowing motionless in the oily -sea within one hundred leagues of our destination. Then the dreaded -"yellow jack" made its appearance amongst us, and forty men lay sick to -death on the ballast, of whom, I grieve to relate, more than half died. - -When the pestilence would have ended it would be hard to say, had not a -favourable breeze sprung up, and on the eighteenth day after leaving -Port Royal we brought up off the cay shown in the chart. - -It was an island some three miles in extent, and about half that -distance in breadth, a line of rugged hills running from east to west, -terminating in low cliffs. Viewed from the north'ard, where we lay, the -shore appeared to be flat and lined with breakers, but Pedro told us -that a little creek opened out close to the western end, where a boat -could make a landing in safety. - -No sign of a human being could be seen, even as the Portuguese had said, -yet it is passing strange how easily even a trained seaman can be -deceived. - -Being late in the day when we arrived off the cay, it was decided not to -land till the morrow. Nevertheless, we made preparations for the -expedition, provisioning the longboat and the like. - -Early on the morrow we weighed anchor, and, under the guidance of Pedro, -towed the _Gannet_, there being no wind, through a gap in the reef, so -that her new berth was within half a league of the landingplace--though -there was an inner reef close inshore, on which the sea brake, though -not with such violence as on the outer reef. - -In his eagerness, Captain Poynings himself took command of the landing -party, though it was his duty to remain aboard. With him went the -bos'n, three midshipmen, whereof Greville Drake and I were included, and -twenty-five men. Between us we had but five musketoons and three -pistols, the men carrying, on account of the heat, nothing but their -mattocks and spades. Pedro also went as a guide, so that our party -numbered thirty-one men, sufficient, indeed, to carry off the -treasure--if treasure it were--in one journey. - -After rowing for nearly a league, viz. a quarter of a league towards the -shore, and the same distance parallel to it, the breakers preventing us -from going nearer, we espied the mouth of the little cove or creek, and -ten minutes labour at the oars sufficed to beach the boat in very -sheltered water, the trees overhanging the banks and almost meeting -those on the opposite side. - -We landed and formed up on a small stretch of sand, the only clear space -that was to be seen. - -"Hark ye, Dommett," said the captain. "Do you stay here with the boat, -and keep her off if needs be we must embark in a hurry. 'Tis now nine -o' the clock; by five we will return. If peradventure we fail to do so, -signal to the ship for more men. Keep eyes and ears open, and if any -man shall come upon you, push off and fire your piece. Now, Senhor -Pedro, lead on." - -It was an exciting moment. The Portuguese led, pressing forward with -marvellous agility and with the air of a man who is following a familiar -track. We followed in straggling order, for the way was rough, merely -allowing two men to walk abreast. Dense foliage enclosed us on either -side, and, save for the noise of the men's footsteps, and the occasional -crackle of dry underwood, not a sound either of man or beast broke the -stillness of the forest. - -The path led gradually upwards, till we emerged into a clearing, the -ground rising still steeper to the foot of a low, precipitous cliff. At -the base of this cliff we halted for breath, observing that all around -lay masses of broken rock that had at some time fallen from the heights -above. Looking backwards we could see over the tops of the trees to the -sea, the _Gannet_ looking like a cockboat in the distance. - -On resuming our march we had to scale the cliff, which, though steep, -was jagged with projections of rock, which, with strong tendrils of -tropical vegetation, afforded plenty of foothold for any ordinary -climber to make use of. - -"A pest on these Spaniards!" exclaimed the captain angrily. "Why did -they take the treasure so far inland; eh, Pedro?" - -The Portuguese shrugged his shoulders. "_Qual sabe, Senhor?_" he replied -nonchalantly. - -The men, strapping their spades on their backs, began the ascent, the -Portuguese being told to remain till half the party had gained the -summit. - -When my turn came I leapt with all the buoyancy of youth on to the -lowermost crag, grasping an overhanging tuft of reeds and grass to gain -the next step; but the reeds were as sharp as a razor, and before I -realized it the palm of my hand was cut to the bone, and the blood -poured in a stream down my arm and over my doublet. - -The sudden pain and the loss of blood caused me to slip to the foot of -the cliff, and for a time everything became blank and my head swam. -Someone forced my head betwixt my knees, so that in a short space of -time I felt better. - -"You would do well to return to the boat," said Captain Poynings in a -tone that meant no refusal. "Can you manage to find the path, or shall -I send a man with you?" - -I replied that I was well enough to go, and reluctantly I turned back. - -Drake laid a hand on my shoulder. "Never heed, Aubrey," said he -sympathetically. "'Tis better to return with a gashed hand like yours. -But I'll tell you all when we come back." - -Slowly I went till I reached the edge of the wood. Then I lingered, -watching the party make the ascent, which they did speedily and without -further mishap. Then I heard their footsteps die away as they plunged -through the thick underwood, and I was alone. - -The path, by reason of the numbers that had but recently passed, was now -well-defined, and I had no difficulty in finding it. Dommett, the -boatkeeper, received me without signs of surprise, and on telling him of -my misadventure, he merely ejaculated a loud "Well done", which was a -favourite expression of his, no matter what caused him to make it, -insomuch that on board he was dubbed by his messmates "Well done -Dommett". - -However, he bathed my hand in seawater, although the salt did make it -smart mightily, and, tying it with a strip of wet linen, he told me to -keep quiet, so as not unduly to excite my head, which was by now -throbbing like to burst. - -Throughout the forenoon Dommett smoked a short black pipe incessantly, -though he kept his eyes shifting, looking frequently for signals from -the _Gannet_ and the island, both towards the path and along the shore. - -There was no sign or sound till about one hour after noon, when we both -heard a faint noise like a musket being fired afar off. We listened -alertly, but no other sound was heard. - -"'Tis one of the men who has fallen over his piece, perchance," remarked -the sailor as he refilled his pipe, ramming the weed down with his -little finger. - -Hardly had he made the flint and steel to work when there was another -noise, like the distant crashing of brushwood. The sound came nearer, -so we both stood up, the boat-keeper thrusting an oar into the water so -as to keep the longboat off shore. - -Nearer came the sound, till at length a man appeared, torn and bleeding, -and spent with running. It was one of the _Gannet's_ men--the bos'n's -mate,--and, throwing himself into the boat, he lay like a log. - -"Pull yourself together, man," shouted Dommett, shaking the man in his -anxiety. "What's amiss? What's amiss?" - -"Push off for your life!" he panted. "It's all up; we are all undone!" - -This was all he could say. Nevertheless we shoved off, and waited at -about a boat's length from the mouth of the creek--waited for any -stragglers who might appear. - -Nevertheless no more of our men appeared, though a musket was fired at -us from the brushwood, followed by an irregular volley. At the whiz of -the bullets, though they passed well above us, I threw myself on the -bottom of the boat; but the firing had the opposite effect on the -bos'n's mate, for, cursing horribly, he raised himself and seized an -oar. Dommett had already done likewise, and before the volley could be -repeated we were well out of range, though throughout the whole time we -were under fire the man still kept his pipe firmly between his teeth. - -Then they called upon me to take an oar, and feeling miserably ashamed -of myself I got up, and, as well as my hand would allow, I rowed with -them. By a special providence we made the gap between the reef in -safety, then rowed slowly, for the longboat was an unwieldy craft, -towards the _Gannet_. - -The master, perceiving that something was amiss, sent a boat to meet us, -and on going on board we were surrounded by the anxious remainder of the -crew. - -The bos'n's mate told his tale, how that the expedition came across a -flat piece of ground surrounded by steep rocks, like a basin. Here, the -Portuguese said, was the spot where the treasure was buried. The men -laid aside their arms, took their spades, and began to dig. Three feet -down in the hard soil they went, but there was no sign of the treasure. -Suddenly they heard a mocking laugh, and, looking up, saw that Pedro had -slipped away and was jeering at them from the top of the rocks, and, -what was more, he spoke like an Englishman, without any of his former -accent. Captain Poynings, maddened by the man's treachery, fired a -pistol at him, but without effect. The seamen looked around for their -arms to give pursuit, but these had been stealthily removed, and instead -they found themselves surrounded by at least a hundred armed scoundrels, -who demanded that they should yield themselves. The bos'n's mate, -however, having separated himself from the rest, took to his heels and -fled for the boat, hotly pursued by half a dozen of the villains. He -gained the longboat in safety, as I have said, and the fate of Captain -Poynings and his men was still a mystery. - -Shouts and threats came from the crew of the _Gannet_ when they heard -that their beloved captain and their comrades had been treacherously -trapped. Some proposed that all hands should form an avenging landing -party, but of this our lieutenant would not hear, as the nature of the -island would be against open attack. - -Several plans were discussed, with no good result, till there came a -seaman, who offered to track the villains and try and discover the fate -of our comrades. He was of New England, having joined us at the -Bermudas on our voyage hither, and was skilled in savage warfare and -woodcraft, for at one time he had been a member of the trainband of -Salem, in New England, which town had oft been in jeopardy from the -savages. - -"Let me but land after it is night," said he, "and I'll warrant ye'll -see me with news of some sort by noon to-morrow. If so be I do not -return by that time, let the purser mark me off the books, 'D.D.' -(Discharged--dead), and send what money should be owing to me to my wife -at Providence, in Rhode Island." - -This man's offer being accepted, and assurances given that his wishes -should be carried out if he failed to return, we could do nothing but -wait for nightfall. - -Directly darkness set in we lowered a boat, the oars and tholes being -muffled to deaden all sound. The New Englander had stripped, and had -anointed himself from head to foot with a dark, offensive-smelling -grease, which, he assured us, would keep him immune from insect bites, -and at the same time render him nearly invisible. - -Nimbly he lowered himself into the boat, where the men were waiting with -tossed oars. Silently they shoved off, and were lost in the darkness; -but in a quarter of an hour the boat returned, having gone as close as -possible to the inner line of breakers, so that the man could with -little difficulty swim ashore. - -All night double watches were set, and the guns, double-shotted, were -run out ready for instant use. Still, not a sound was heard to cause us -alarm, only the dull roar of the surf both ahead and astern of us. It -was a miserable, anxious night, for the disaster to our shipmates (we -not knowing whether they were dead or alive) threw a gloom over the -whole ship. - -For my part I could not sleep, my hand paining me greatly, while I -troubled deeply for my comrades, particularly my friend Greville Drake; -so by choice I paced the deck the entire night, till with extraordinary -suddenness day broke and the sun rose above the horizon. - -The whole of the forenoon passed without incident, but just at midday -the lookout perceived a man leaping across the rocks by the tree-fringed -shore. It was the New England seaman. - -Instantly a boat was lowered, and urged by lusty strokes headed straight -for the shore. The man had thrown himself into the sea, and we could -make out his head and shoulders as from time to time he appeared between -the white masses of foam. He was an active and powerful swimmer, and -gained the boat in safety, though probably it was well that the breakers -had subsided somewhat. - -His tale was soon told. Fearing to follow the path from the cove, since -the villain might have set a guard there, he made his way through the -undergrowth directly towards the centre and highest part of the island. -Over and over again he had to attempt a fresh passage, the thickets -proving too dense even for his accustomed skill. At length he came -across a small stream, which he followed to its source, which afterwards -proved to be not far from the spot where our men were surprised. - -Here he concealed himself till daybreak, when he found himself -practically overlooking the whole island. On the south side, opposite -to where we were lying, he espied a cove, off which was anchored a craft -which he declared was the same vessel as we had chased, and from which -Pedro had thrown himself. Another hour's careful tracking brought him -close to the creek, where he saw our comrades being escorted on board by -the buccaneers in gangs, twenty-seven all told, so that they were -apparently all alive and well. Then he made out a party of men coming -down from the hillside, where they had been posted as rearguard, and -with them was Pedro. They passed quite close to where he lay hid, and -he could swear that Pedro was no more a Portuguese than he was. - -Directly this last body of men embarked the sails were shaken out, and -the swift buccaneering craft stood seaward. Having made sure that they -had all embarked, the man returned by the beaten path, striking the -north side of the island at the cove where we had landed. Thence he -skirted the shore till we perceived him and sent off a boat. - -The officers now debated as to the best course to pursue--whether to -follow the buccaneer, which, undermanned as we were, was hazardous and -reckless, or to return with all haste to Port Royal, report our loss, -and join with the rest of the fleet in the capture of the insolent -pirates. - -The latter course was decided upon, but again ill fortune looked upon -us. A strong southerly wind suddenly sprang up, and, though protected -by the outer reef, we were on a lee shore. The master would not attempt -to beat out through the gap in the reef, as his knowledge of the passage -was none too good, neither could we kedge nor tow the _Gannet_ against -the wind. So we had perforce to remain weatherbound for seven long days, -knowing full well that the same breeze that kept us prisoners within the -reef was bearing the buccaneers away in safety. - -When at length the wind veered sufficiently to enable the _Gannet_ to -sail close-hauled through the surf-encompassed passage, all plain sail -was set, and back to Port Royal we sped. - -Four days later the _Gannet_ dropped anchor in the harbour, and with -despondent mien the remaining officers went ashore to report the loss of -the captain and his men. To their unbounded astonishment and delight -they heard that Captain Poynings and his twenty-six companions were -alive and well on board the _Lizard_, man-of-war, then lying off the -castle. - -Their adventures can best be described in the story that Drake told to -me on the evening of the day that they rejoined the _Gannet_: - -"You must know, Aubrey," said he, after telling me of their capture and -forced embarkation on board the buccaneer's ship, "that this Pedro was -in reality a Cornishman, and second in command to the renegade Captain -Lewis, then lying under sentence of death at Port Royal. The whole of -this bad business had been carefully planned by the villain, and easily -we fell into the trap. Three days after we left the island the _Sea -Wolf_, for such is the name of the buccaneer's ship, hove to in sight of -Port Royal, and with the greatest audacity Pedro, or Red Peter, to give -him the name he is generally known by, went ashore under a flag of -truce, taking me with him as hostage. Would you believe it, he went -straight to the castle and demanded to see the governor! Oddsfish! And -his impudence took even the governor aback. 'I have on board,' quoth Red -Peter, 'twenty-five officers and men of his Britannic Majesty's ship -_Gannet_, not including this youngster (meaning me) and another; you -have Captain Lewis and four other of our men. So, my lord, I think -you'll see we hold a good balance in hand. Now, sink me! 'tis a fair -exchange: give us the five and take your enterprising' (how he sneered -when he said this) 'king's men unhurt, or else, for every man of ours -who dances at the end of a rope, five of yours shall dangle from our -yardarm. Come now, your answer?' - -"What could the governor say? He gave way so easily that Red Peter -spoke again. 'And, taking into consideration our great magnanimity, -'twould not be amiss to grant a free pardon to us all; then, for our -part, we do agree to cease from plundering and fighting, and become -honest men once more. Right glad would I be to see Falmouth once more -other than with a hempen rope round my neck, or with gyves and manacles -to prevent my full enjoyment of my native place. How say you, my lord?' - -"After all, I verily believe the governor was content, for he had -succeeded in ridding the Indies of these buccaneers, even as it was -ordered, though the manner of the fulfilment thereof was hardly as he -had wished. So he sent for his secretary, ordered him to write out a -general pardon, which he sealed and delivered to Red Peter with an -elaborate bow, whereat the rogue as courteously took his leave. - -"The same day the _Sea Wolf_ came into the harbour and landed our -people, Lewis and his companions were released, and, after a general -carouse on shore, the ship sailed to communicate the news to her -consorts. All the same, the trick was neatly done, and little harm came -of it." - -Such was the tale that Greville told. Years later I learned that both -Captain Lewis and Red Peter returned to England and were received by His -Majesty, who, with the same generosity as he showed towards Captain -Morgan, Colonel Blood, and other cutthroats of like nature, restored to -Lewis his commission; while Red Peter, under his real name of Peter -Tregaskis, became a red-hot Tory squire in his native Cornwall. - -However, to resume my story, Captain Poynings rejoined the _Gannet_ -without delay, and after a year or so of comparatively uneventful -sojourning in the Caribbean Sea, we received orders to proceed again to -the Mediterranean. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII--Of an Encounter with an Algerine Corsair - - -The _Gannet_ was bowling along under easy sail some fifty miles south of -Majorca. Three years of seatime had made a great difference in her -appearance. Her speed was retarded by the presence of a thick vegetable -growth on her bottom, her sails had lost their pristine beauty, while -her sides, though often repainted, bore signs of the effect of torrid -heat and the buffeting of the waves. Her crew, too, had undergone -considerable changes; wounds and disease had reduced the number of her -gallant men, while those who were left were now well-seasoned and -disciplined. - -Of the ship's officers only three had gone to their last account--the -master, who had fallen a victim to the dreaded "yellow jack", and two of -the midshipmen. Thus, including myself, there were but five midshipmen -on board, all of whom were as efficient as Captain Poynings could -desire. - -I was now nearly seventeen years of age--bronzed, hardy, and -well-grown--and would easily have passed for twenty. - -On this particular day it was about noon when the lookout reported a -sail hull down on our starboard bow. In less than an hour she had -apparently sighted us, for she altered her course so as to make straight -for us. Now this was an unusual occurrence, as the stranger must either -be a hostile craft or else a ship in distress and wishing to -communicate. Her speed was too great to justify the assumption that she -was requiring assistance, so all hands were piped to quarters. After -months of inaction the prospect of a fight acted like magic. - -The officers held a consultation, and as it was well known that a -Barbary corsair had been committing several acts of exceptional -violence, hopes were entertained that the stranger would prove to be -that particular vessel. - -Our captain showed himself to be a tactician as well as a fighter. "If -this be the Algerine," he said, "her speed will enable her to make off -when she finds out who we are. It remains, therefore, to trick and -entice her to us. See that all our ordnance is run in and the ports -closed. Keep nearly all the men out of sight, and run the flag of -Sicily up to the peak. And you, Master Bennet," he added, addressing -our newly made master, "lay me the _Gannet_ close alongside the stranger -and your duty will be done. Now, gentlemen, to your stations, and God -save His Majesty King Charles!" - -The work of transforming the man-of-war into a seemingly peaceful -merchantman was quickly performed, and long before the corsair (for such -there was no doubt she was) came within range the _Gannet_ was -floundering along with yards badly squared, for all the world like a -helpless trader, her course having been previously altered as if she -were intent on running away. - -But on board everything was different. At each of her guns on the -starboard side were men lying prone on the deck, waiting for the signal -to trice up the ports, run the guns out, and deliver a crushing -broadside. Powder, shot, and buckets of water were placed close at -hand, while boarding axes, pikes, cutlasses, muskets, and pistols were -lying about ready to be seized when required. - -The men themselves were in a state of suppressed excitement, talking -softly to one another, and with difficulty restraining themselves from -taking a view of their enemy and thus exposing our strength. - -The officers, hidden under the break of the poop, had donned their buff -coats, head- and back-plates, and plumed hats, and were as impatient as -the men to get to quarters. - -My station, with young Drake, was on the gundeck, yet I could not resist -the inclination of creeping aft and looking at the Algerine through one -of our stern ports. - -She was now tearing along at a tremendous pace, barely a quarter of a -mile astern. There was a stiff breeze blowing, and she was being -propelled by oars as well as by sails; yet a stern chase is always a -long one. - -Thinking us an easy prey, she made no hesitation in showing her true -colours, while groups of dark-skinned men, the sweepings of the Barbary -ports, clustered on her high foc's'le, yelling and waving their arms in -a truly terrifying manner. The sounds of the oars, the rattling of the -chains of the miserable galley slaves, and the sharp crack of the whip -of the merciless taskmaster could be distinctly heard, while ever and -anon a gun would be fired, merely to impress upon us the fruitlessness -of resistance. - -At length she drew up about fifty yards from our starboard quarter, and -even at that short distance they did not scent danger, their eagerness -blinding them to the fact that twenty-five closed ports separated them -from a death-dealing hail of iron. - -I ran back to my station. The word was passed round to fire high and -spare the slaves. All along the main deck there were groups of men -standing in almost total darkness, waiting at the gun tackles for the -signal to run out the guns. The feeble glimmer of the fighting-lanterns -shone on the glistening arms and bodies of half-naked seamen, who stood -in almost deathlike silence listening to the shouts of their unseen -foes. - -Suddenly came the order to fire. The ports were triced up, and -brilliant sunshine flooded the gundeck. With the creaking of the -tackles and the rumbling of the gun-carriage wheels, the muzzles of the -iron monsters were run through the ports. There was no need to take -aim, for the vessels were almost side by side. The volley that followed -shook the _Gannet_ from keel to truck and filled the deck with clouds of -smoke. - -Back ran the guns with the recoil, sponges and rammers did their work, -and again the guns roared--this time in an irregular broadside. - -Four times was this repeated, the guns' crews working as calmly as if at -practice. How it fared with the pirate we knew not. Occasionally, -between the clouds of smoke, we could catch a glimpse of her black -sides, crushed and torn by our broadsides. A musket ball came in -through an open port and struck a seaman fairly between the eyes. He -fell without a sound, and this was the only casualty on the main deck. -Seeing he was dead, two seamen dragged him across to the other side and -pushed his body through a port. A bucketful of sand was sprinkled on -the spot where he fell, and the gun at which he was stationed was run -out again. - -Suddenly there was a crashing, grinding sound. The master had laid us -alongside the corsair. - -"Boarders, away!" was the order, and, hastily closing the ports, to -prevent our being boarded in turn, the whole of the men below poured on -deck, armed with whatever weapon came first to their hands. - -The vessels lay side by side, locked in an unyielding embrace. Our -ordnance had wrought havoc on the corsair, her huge lateen yards lying -athwart her decks, while heaps of dead and dying men encumbered her -slippery planks. But the remnant still resisted, and for us the -completion of our victory was to be dearly bought. We had already -suffered considerably, many men having been slain on our fo'c'sle and -poop, and now, headed by our gallant Captain Poynings, we threw -ourselves upon the foemen's deck, where we met with a desperate -resistance. The corsairs knew that surrender meant an ignominious -death, and fought with the courage of despair, calling on Allah and -Mohammed as they slew or were slain. - -Inch by inch they were driven back, pistolled or cut down or thrust -overboard, till there remained but one Moslem, a tall, wiry villain, -armed with pistol and scimitar. Two of our men went down before him, -one having his skull cloven by a lightning sweep of the corsair's -razorlike blade, the other having his sword arm cut completely through -at the wrist. Two more rushed at him; one he shot, the second received -the discharged pistol full in the face. With that several men made ready -to shoot him down; but our lieutenant called on them to desist, and he -himself advanced on the redoubtable Moslem. - -The combat was watched with breathless interest, for Geoffrey Weaver was -a past master in the art of fencing, having acquired both the French and -Italian methods, as well as having seen active service against Spaniards -and Turks, and also in the Low Countries. In a measure he had an -advantage, wearing his breastplate; yet as the scimitar is rarely used -save for cutting, the armour did not serve him as readily as it would -have done if he had been pitted against a man armed with a pointed -sword. - -Their blades met, and so quick was the swordplay that none could follow -it. In a few seconds both were wounded, the blood trickling down the -lieutenant's face from a nick on the forehead. Then, quicker than words, -Weaver escaped a sweeping blow from the scimitar by jumping nimbly -backwards, and the next moment his blade had passed through the Moslem's -shoulder. - -With this, thinking the fight at an end, we began to cheer lustily; but -our triumph was shortlived, for, ere the lieutenant could disengage his -weapon, the corsair seized him round the waist and sprang with him into -the sea. - -We rushed to the side, but only a few bubbles came to the surface. -Carried down by the weight of his armour, Weaver sank like a stone, and -his implacable foe, holding on with a relentless grip, shared his fate. - -However, there was no time for vain regrets, and all hands were set to -work to repair the damage done by the fight. Our losses were heavy: -besides the lieutenant, two midshipmen, the bos'n, and sixteen men were -killed, and the purser and thirty-three men wounded. - -On the Algerine all her crew were accounted for, not one surviving; -while, in spite of our care, the losses amongst the galley slaves were -fearful. A few stray shots and a shower of splinters had wrought -destruction on these helpless chained-up wretches, and the gratitude of -the survivors when we knocked their fetters off was touching to witness. -There were Spaniards, Genoese, Venetians, French, and Dutch, negroes, -and one Englishman, a man from Hull--twenty-three all told, most of whom -were wounded. - -The prize was badly shattered, but little damage was done near the -waterline. The _Gannet_ suffered hardly at all, the corsairs, being -unprepared for resistance, having neglected to use their two pieces of -brass ordnance. - -The bodies of the dead were committed to the deep, the wounded attended -to, and the decks cleaned of their ghastly stains, while a party of -seamen were placed on board the prize to rig jury masts. - -When I went down below, to clean the grime of the powder from my face -and hands, I found that I had received a slight cut on the calf of my -leg. How or when it was done I could not remember, but it was too -trifling to be attended to by the surgeon, so I dressed it myself. - -While thus engaged I was sent for by the captain, and on reporting -myself he said: - -"Master Wentworth, I have been fully satisfied with your conduct in the -fight, and although you are young in years you have a man's head on your -shoulders. You will now have your first command, for I propose to put -you in charge of the prize with seven men to work her. You must keep in -company with the _Gannet_ till off the Barbary coast, where you will -have to shape a course for Tangier, which now belongs to His Majesty -King Charles. Should we be compelled to part company, I will rely on -you to work the ship into that port. You can, of course, use a -sextant?" - -I assented. - -"Very well, here is a plan of the harbour of Tangier. This place," -indicating the mole, "is where you must bring up. Now go to the master -and get the necessary charts and instruments, and take charge of the -prize as soon as possible." - -I saluted and left his cabin, feeling inclined to dance for joy, yet -having sufficient dignity left to walk sedately across the quarterdeck. - -When I gained the gunroom I told the news with unrestrained enthusiasm, -and my remaining companions, now reduced to two in number, Greville -Drake and Alan Wood, though not slow in offering their congratulations, -did not conceal the fact that my good fortune was their disappointment. - -By nightfall the fitting of the jury masts was completed, the shot holes -were plugged, and the working party was recalled. Then, with my seven -men, together with two of the liberated slaves, I took possession of the -prize, having, with Captain Poyning's permission, named her the _Little -Gannet_. - - - - -CHAPTER IX--I lose the _Little Gannet_ - - -Throughout the first part of the night we held on our course, the poop -lights of the _Gannet_ acting as a guide. Watches were set, five men in -each, I taking my turn in the first watch. Towards morning the wind -veered round and blew freshly from the west'ard, and when the sun rose, -a watery orb, the wind increased into half a gale. - -We saw the _Gannet_ shorten sail, bowling along on the starboard tack -under easy canvas to enable us to keep up with her. I ordered -additional preventers to be rove, had the hatches battened down, and -took every possible precaution to ensure the safety of my vessel. - -By midday it blew a furious gale, accompanied by showers of blinding -rain, and before long the _Gannet_ was nowhere to be seen. Even with -her jury rig the _Little Gannet_ gave a good account of herself, though -it was necessary to take an occasional spell at the pumps to keep down -the water that made its way through her hastily patched seams. - -From her build and rig my craft would lay closer to the wind than the -_Gannet_, so I ordered her to be kept on the starboard tack for two -hours, then on the larboard tack for another two hours, and so on, -hoping by these means to keep within sight of our escort when the gale -moderated. - -There were, as I have mentioned, five men in each watch--one of the two -liberated slaves, a Genoese, who spoke no English, being in mine, while -the other, a negro, was placed in the second. - -This negro was of a gigantic stature, with powerful limbs, yet of a -timorous disposition, so that directly the gale came on he could with -difficulty be made to do any work at all, but lay in a heap in the -weather scuppers, moaning and muttering in broken English, Spanish, and -his native tongue. - -All that day the gale continued, but on the morrow the wind moderated, -leaving us rolling in the trough of a heavy swell, with no sign of the -_Gannet_. - -About nine in the morning we spied a sail on our starboard quarter. -This we concluded was the _Gannet_, which we had evidently passed during -the night; but three hours afterwards we could see that it was not our -parent ship, but a smaller and speedier craft. - -She had already perceived us, and had altered her course slightly to -come up with us, and, with every stitch of canvas set, she ploughed her -way rapidly towards us. - -It was without doubt a hostile craft, but the knowledge that the -_Gannet_ was somewhere close to us, though where we knew not, spurred us -to make every preparation for flight or fight. - -By four in the afternoon the stranger was a mile astern, and with the -aid of a glass I could see her colours--they were black, and bore the -emblem of the Jolly Roger. - -I gathered my slender crew aft and exhorted them to make a desperate -resistance, telling them that a tame surrender would be as futile as -capture after a determined fight. In either case the result would be -death to us all, but the longer we held out the greater chance there was -of a timely rescue by the _Gannet_. - -They one and all expressed their willingness to resist to the last, and -now commenced one of those despairing fights against overwhelming odds -that were only of too frequent occurrence. Many a gallant English vessel -has met her fate in a glorious but unrecorded effort in similar -circumstances, her end unknown at home and her disappearance soon -forgotten, save by those bloodthirsty scoundrels who have felt the fangs -of an Englishman at bay. - -We immediately manned one of the long brass guns, training it right aft -on the advancing pirate. I directed the gunner to aim at the foeman's -spars, endeavouring to cripple her aloft. With a flash and a roar the -iron missile sped on its way, striking the pirate's topsail yard. There -was a shower of splinters and the broken spar fell, till brought up by -the strain on the topsail and t'gallant sail, and at the same time the -halyards of the foresail parted, bringing that sail down to the deck -with a run. - -Notwithstanding our danger a cheer broke from us; but before we could -reload our gun the pirate yawed and let fly with her larboard guns. - -The result was disastrous to us. Two of our men were killed on the spot -and two wounded, while both our jury masts went by the board, and the -_Little Gannet_ lay helpless on the waves. - -The end was not long in coming. After another broadside the pirate -backed her main topsail and hove to at less than a cable's length off. -Two of her boats were lowered, and a swarm of bearded ruffians tumbled -into them and pushed off towards us. - -Resistance was hopeless, but the pirate appeared anxious to take us -alive, and, partially stunned by a blow from a handspike, I was thrown -into one of the boats and taken on board our captor, where, together -with five survivors, I was placed under guard on her quarterdeck. - -The pirate ship was called the _Friend of the Sea_, but she was the -enemy of all who sailed upon it. She was heavily armed and manned, her -crew comprising a ruffianly assortment of every nation of south-western -Europe, and, judging by the gold ornaments that every man wore, their -cruise had been highly successful for these rogues. - -They were busily engaged in transferring the cargo of the _Little -Gannet_ to their own vessel. Much of this consisted of valuable stores -that the Algerine had on board when we took her, and the satisfaction of -the lawless freebooters was unbounded. - -The two brass guns were also taken on board, the work of slinging them -from the _Little Gannet_ to the boats, and thence to the pirate ship, -being performed with a celerity and skill that would have drawn an -expression of admiration from the lips of Captain Poynings himself. - -When the whole of the valuable stores were safely on board, the pirates -fired their prize, and an hour later, burned to the water's edge, my -first command sank in a cloud of smoke and steam. - -The pirates worked unceasingly. Their next task was to repair the -splintered foreyard, which they did by fishing it with capstan bars and -small spars. While this work was in progress there was a shout from the -lookout, and from the hurrying scrambles of the crew I guessed that -another sail was sighted. - -Hastily sending the spliced spar aloft, the crew squared the yards once -more, and the _Friend of the Sea_ gathered way. From where I was I -could not tell whether we were chasing or in chase; but in a few moments -we had other things to think about, for the pirate captain and his -lieutenant approached us. - -The former was a short, broad-shouldered man, with a heavy, black beard. -He was dressed in typical buccaneering rig, with a red sash round his -waist, in which were stuck a whole armoury of pistols and a short -Turkish dagger. Cruelty and viciousness were stamped upon every outline -of his face, but at the same time there were signs of a courageous -nature and resource. He was apparently a Genoese or a Tuscan, and did -not, or would not, speak English, though he understood our replies in -the subsequent discourse we had with him. - -His lieutenant was a taller man, also heavily bearded, and bronzed with -the sun. In spite of myself I gave an exclamation of surprise, for he -was none other than the man with the scarred face who had tried to rob -me on the Portsmouth road over three years ago, and who had escaped from -Colonel Middleton's troopers in the Forest of Bere. - -The recognition was mutual, and from the look of intense hatred on the -man's features I knew that my fate was sealed. The two pirates -conversed volubly in an unknown tongue, then the renegade Englishman -turned towards us again. - -"Listen, men," he said, addressing my companions in adversity. "Join us -and you'll have a life that cannot be beaten. Light work, a fair share -of fighting, and plenty of booty. In two years you'll be rich enough to -buy the best inns in England, and can live like gentlemen to the end of -your days. Refuse, and----" Here he jerked his thumb significantly in -the direction of the entry port. - -"And as for you, you white-livered young cub," he added, addressing me, -"our captain here has given you to me, and, let me say, Dick Swyre will -be avenged. I'll have a little way of my own that will make you wish -that his end at the hands of the hangman were yours. Now, my lads, what -do you say? Wilt join our merry crew?" - -The men who were appealed to were not long in making up their minds. -Tom Black and George Wilson firmly and emphatically refused, and their -example was followed by the two remaining Gannets--Dick Blake and a man -whose name I knew not, he being always called Old Shellback. The fifth -was the blackamoor who had been a galley slave. He, miserable cur that -he was, assented with alacrity, and was sent for'ard to join the -rascally crew. - -My four men were led away, and for a time I was left to myself. I was -still dizzy from the effects of the blow I had received, and this -probably accounted for the complete indifference that I felt with regard -to my fate. My wrists and ankles were tied, making it impossible for me -to move, save by crawling and worming along the deck. - -The pirates were still busily engaged in making preparations for the -coming fight, and from the general direction of the glances that they -made I came to the conclusion that the _Friend of the Sea_ was in this -case the fugitive. So busy were they that I edged towards an arm-rack, -and, placing my bound wrists against a sharp cutlass, I succeeded in -freeing them from the cords that bound them. This done, it was an easy -matter to loose the ropes that fastened my ankles; then, lying in a -position that hid my limbs from any passing pirate, I tried to form a -plan of escape. - -I could, of course, leap through a port into the sea, taking my chance -of being picked up by the pursuing craft, which I fondly hoped would be -the avenging _Gannet_; but I did not know what distance separated us, -and even then, in the eagerness of the chase, there was little -likelihood of their noticing me, still less of heaving to and picking me -up. - -Suddenly I thought of the foretop. If only I could reach that I could -defy the whole of the pirate crew, and at the same time render material -assistance to their foes. Now that I was free, my lethargy vanished, -and I was the personification of active revenge. - -Taking advantage of the confusion I ran for'ard, and before I was -recognized I had gained the nettings and was well on my way up the -shrouds. A hoarse shout announced that my escape was discovered, and a -pistol bullet buzzed close to my head, quickly followed by another, that -flattened itself against a chainplate. - -I redoubled my efforts, and, racing over the futtock shrouds, I gained -the top, where I threw myself down, panting and almost exhausted. - - - - -CHAPTER X--How I Defended the Foretop - - -For full five minutes I lay motionless, listening to the zip of the -bullets as the pirates kept up a hot fire on my perilous position. Then -I raised myself and peered cautiously over the edge of the top. - -The situation was a grave one, but I had a fighting chance. I was on a -platform some ten feet square, but the lubber's holes reduced the -standing room by nearly a quarter. The after side of the top was -protected by a mantlet of stout wood, while the sides were fitted with a -low breastwork. - -Where I was lying was thus fairly secure. The only danger was that I -might be picked off by musketeers in the maintop or crosstrees, the -foremast itself protecting me from any shots from for'ard. The planking -of the top also was stout enough to resist a musket ball, though the -thud of shots as they struck the under side of the top at first filled -me with misgiving. - -After firing for some time the rascally crew apparently came to the -conclusion that they were doing too much damage to their own sails and -rigging, the fore-topsail being holed in many places; so I could look -around in comparative security. - -The tops were to be utilized by sharpshooters in the coming fight, for -to my delight I found a whole armoury stowed away on the -foretop--muskets, pistols, cutlasses, and two sharp axes, with plenty of -powder and ball. Had I delayed my desperate plan much longer the top -would have been filled with men. I examined the muskets and the pistols -and found them already loaded. I next turned my attention to the deck -of the pirate ship. The guns' crews were at their stations, and were -either looking astern or else regarding my position. The captain and his -scarred-faced lieutenant were almost speechless with rage, for they knew -that for the time being I held the trump card. - -Not a sign could I see of my four men, but presently the wretched negro -was hauled out, a knife was thrust into his hand, and by shouts and -dumb-show he was ordered to go into the rigging and bring me down. - -The recreant blackamoor was almost mad with terror, his skin turned a -dusky-greyish hue, and his eyes rolled about in an agony of fright. -Behind and below him were the knives and pistols of the pirates, above -him was I, covering his trembling body with a pistol that I steadied -against the edge of the lubber's hole. - -Slowly he climbed till, urged on by the shouts of the fiendish crew, he -reached the futtock shrouds. Here he stopped, and in a low, agonized -voice he whispered: "No shoot, Massa; only pretend to shoot! Me come to -you; me help you! No shoot me!" - -Seeing that this man would be useful in the defence of the top, I fired, -the bullet passing well over his head. He then climbed up hurriedly, -till his head and shoulders were through the lubber's hole. Then with a -yell of triumph the treacherous black seized my right wrist in his -powerful grip, and his knife flashed in the air. - -But he reckoned not on the other weapons that I had. Seizing another -pistol in my left hand, I fired point-blank at his head. - -Through the smoke I saw the gaping hole cut by the ball, his grip -relaxed, and he fell. For a brief space his body hung suspended on the -inside of the futtock shrouds, then it slowly over-balanced and crashed -with a heavy thud across a gun carriage on the deck below. - -A loud yell came from the pirate crew, and once more a heavy fire was -opened on the foretop, but, lying snugly under the shelter of the -mantlet, I remained in perfect safety. The only chance they had of -bringing me down was by training a piece of ordnance on the top; but -either they did not possess a cannon capable of being elevated to that -height, or else they feared that the damage done would be greater than -the success of getting rid of me. - -When the firing ceased I again looked over the edge of the breastwork, -the deadeye lanyards making me practically invisible from the deck. -Cautiously taking a musket, I thrust its muzzle over the edge and aimed -at my particular enemy, the scarred-faced pirate and smuggler. I fired, -and though I missed him, the bullet struck the pirate captain in the -back, and he fell to the deck. Leaving him where he was lying, the -lieutenant took refuge on the aft side of the mainmast, cursing at me in -a lusty voice. - -Encouraged by my success, I opened a steady fire on the crew, and in a -few moments the whole of the deck that was visible from the foretop was -deserted. - -But only for a time. Groups of men made their way towards the foremast -shrouds, holding thick planks of wood over their heads. Under these -rude mantlets they made preparations for storming the foretop, some -making for the weather shrouds, others for the lee. - -Seizing one of the axes, I attacked the lower rigging vigorously, -cutting through shrouds, slings, braces, and halyards, everything that -came within reach, thus making my position secure from escalade. - -The _Friend of the Sea_ was sailing close hauled on the starboard tack, -and as I continued my work of destruction I could see the head sails -coming down, while, deprived of its principal supports, the foremast -swayed and creaked ominously. - -In spite of the frantic efforts of the helmsman, the pirate ship flew up -into the wind, her maintopsail was taken aback, and she was hove to in a -helpless state. - -Then for the first time I could see the _Gannet_ coming down on the -_Friend of the Sea_, the sun shining on her clouds of weatherworn -canvas. - -Having the weather gauge, she soon ranged up and opened fire. Why she -had not done so before I could not understand, till a crowd of the -pirates came for'ard, dragging with them my four men. While the chase -lasted they had, so I afterwards learned, suspended their prisoners over -the stern, thus preventing our humane captain from opening fire; but, -now the chase was at an end, there was no further use for the doomed -men. - -Blindfolded, and with their arms tied behind their backs, the -unfortunate men were marched to the entry port and pushed into the sea -in sight of their comrades, who were powerless to prevent yet ready to -avenge their deaths. - -Both ships were firing rapidly, the shot from the _Gannet_ whistling -through the pirate's rigging and crashing through her hull at every -broadside. - -Though overmatched both in number and weight of guns, the _Friend of the -Sea_ fought bravely, and from my elevated position I could see the men -stricken down by dozens, yet their fire was vigorously kept up. - -Being sure that escape was impossible, the _Gannet_ devoted all her -attention to the hull of her foe, at the same time shortening the -distance between them. - -Now through the drifting smoke I could distinguish the crew of the -_Gannet_. There was Captain Poynings standing unmoved amid the crash -and din of the fight, the master standing by the wheel, his head bound -with a blood-stained scarf, several men, still in death, encumbering her -decks, while amid the throng of excited fighters a continuous procession -of wounded was winding its way towards the main hatch. - -Finally both vessels came within a few yards of each other, and I heard -the order given: "Prepare to board!" - -The pirates had now abandoned their guns, and had begun to cluster -for'ard, under the shelter of the bulwarks, each man armed with pistol -and cutlass. They knew what the issue meant, and each man prepared to -sell his life dearly. - -As the crash came, and the two ships were interlocked, the Gannets, -headed by their gallant captain, poured over the hammock nettings and -gained their enemy's deck. Every inch was grimly contested, several of -the _Gannets_ falling between the two vessels and meeting a miserable -fate by being ground between the heaving sides. - -Captain Poynings singled out the scarred-faced lieutenant, and, being -well ahead of his men, his position was for a time one of considerable -danger. I watched the fight without fear of being made a mark by the -pirates, who were too hard pressed to heed me. The sight held me -spellbound, till I observed one of the pirates covering our captain with -a musket. The man waited, with finger on trigger, till the position of -the combatants would give him an opportunity to fire without injuring -his leader. - -Seeing this, I grasped a loaded musket, and at fifteen yards' distance -put a ball through the villain's head. Almost at the same time Captain -Poynings ran his opponent through the arm, and the latter, jumping -backwards, turned and ran towards the hatchway. - -Then came a cry, from which side I knew not: "The magazine! the -magazine!" and immediately the captain shouted: "Back, men, for your -lives!" - -There was a rush for the shelter of the _Gannet_, and, realizing the -danger, I crept along the foot-rope of the foreyard, gained the foreyard -of the _Gannet_, and thence made for her foretop. Once there I lost no -time in descending to the deck, heartily thankful at treading the planks -of a British man-o'-war once more, though my return in the confusion was -unnoticed. - -The fighting was practically at an end, the _Gannet_ being busily -engaged in trying to free herself from the pirate's embrace, and keeping -back the frenzied rushes of the doomed crew. - -When the last grappling was severed, the _Gannet_ swung slowly round, -her flying jibboom still entangled in the pirate's bowsprit shrouds. -Suddenly there was a blinding flash, followed by an appalling roar--the -desperate villain had fired the magazine. - -Luckily the _Friend of the Sea_ had by this time used nearly all her -ammunition, so that the explosion, though disastrous to herself, did us -very little damage. - -Before the debris flung high in the air by the explosion had fallen, the -pirate ship had sunk beneath the waves, taking our flying jibboom and -part of the jibboom with her, while a heavy pall of smoke covered the -place where a moment before she was lying like a wounded animal at bay. - -Now that all danger was past, the effects of the hardships I had -undergone began to tell. I was faint, weary, and hungry; my clothes -were in rags, my hands blistered, and my face blackened with powder. -However, I made my way aft to report myself. - -There was no sign of Captain Poynings on the quarterdeck, so I went -towards his cabin. As I passed underneath the break of the poop I came -face to face with young Greville Drake. - -He stood stockstill for a moment, his eyes starting from his head in -terror, till, realizing that I was flesh and blood, and not a phantom, -he gasped: "Good heavens, 'tis Aubrey Wentworth back from the dead!" - -Seeing I was like to fall, he took me by the arm and led me below. "But -I must report myself," I said. - -"Then report to me, Aubrey." - -"You? Why not the captain?" - -His answer was a suggestive jerk of his thumb towards the cockpit hatch, -where the grim procession of mangled seamen still continued. - -"What!" I exclaimed. "Is Captain Poynings down?" - -"Yes; struck down at the last of the fight, and so are all the other -officers. In me you see the senior unwounded officer, and as such I am -in command of the _Gannet_." - -It was only too true. Our gallant captain had been hurled to the deck -by a piece of falling timber from the doomed ship. The lieutenants were -all either killed or dangerously wounded; the master, though he remained -at his post during the engagement, had fallen through loss of blood; and -the purser, who took his part in the fight as bravely as the rest, had -had his left arm shattered above the elbow. - -With the crew the mortality had been fearful, while hardly forty men -were uninjured. With an undermanned, severely damaged ship, it was a -question whether we should ever reach port again. Only a continued -spell of fine weather would guarantee our safety. - -Having washed, changed my ragged garments, and eaten a hearty meal, I -went below to the cockpit. - -Here, lighted by the dismal glimmer of a few ship's lanterns, a ghastly -sight met my eyes, while a hot, fetid stench filled the gloomy region -like a cloud. Stretched upon rough wooden trestles, or huddled in rows -upon the bare deck, were dozens of human beings, some moaning, others -shrieking and cursing in their agony. - -Our surgeon was about to operate upon a little powder-monkey, a lad of -about fifteen years of age, who had received a ball in the shoulder. -Lying by the lad's side was his father, whose leg had just been removed, -the pitch with which the stump had been smeared still smoking. In spite -of the pain caused by the rough-and-ready surgery, the father grasped -his son's hand, encouraging and comforting the boy, as the surgeon -probed for the bullet. - -At length I found Captain Poynings. He, refusing the comfort of his own -cabin, preferred to share with his gallant crew the horrors of the -cockpit, and lay, with his head and shoulders swathed in bandages, on a -rough mattress, as if he had been an ordinary mariner. - -Added to the dismal noises came the dull thud of the carpenters' hammers -and mallets as they drove plugs into the shot holes betwixt wind and -water, while the creaking of the ship's pumps betokened that she was -leaking freely. - -On going on deck I found that, as the next officer fit for duty after -Drake, I was put in charge of the starboard watch, and had to take my -share in the responsibility of navigating the _Gannet_ to the nearest -port. - -This happened to be Gibraltar, which we reached after thirty-six hours -of anxiety and arduous labour, and when the _Gannet_ dropped anchor off -the mole our feelings were those of relief and thanksgiving. - -I accompanied Drake on shore to pay a visit to the Spanish authorities, -asking them to afford us assistance in refitting. This request was -readily and courteously granted, and during our stay, extending over -three weeks, we had frequent opportunities of visiting the famous rock. - -My companion often called my attention to the fact that military -discipline seemed very lax at this great fortress; so when, forty-one -years later, it was captured by a _coup de main_ by Admirals Rooke and -Shovel, the news of its falling an easy prey to us did not come as a -great surprise. - -At length the _Gannet_ was again fit for sea; our captain was well -enough to take command, and on the tenth day of September, 1663, we -sailed for the shores of Old England. - - - - -CHAPTER XI--Of the Manner of my Homecoming - - -Bad weather dogged us during our homeward voyage. Crossing the Bay of -Biscay we were battened down for three days, and, save on one occasion, -I did not go on deck the whole time the storm raged. - -That occasion called for every available hand, for the securing bolts of -two of our deck guns had broken adrift, and the huge ungainly weapons -charged to and fro across the ship, carrying destruction in their -passage. After strenuous efforts the guns were secured, but at a cost -of four men washed overboard and five injured, either by the heavy seas -that came tumbling inboard, or else by the wild career of the derelict -weapons. After the gale came a fog, so thick and continuous that for -two days we could scarce see the end of our jibboom. - -Captain Poynings, after deliberating with the master, came to the -conclusion that land was not far off, but the weather did not allow of -the use of either sextant or quadrant. The lead, then, was our only -guide; so a man was stationed in the chains, and minute-guns were fired -in the hope that we might hear an answering and reassuring sound. - -With the first cast a depth of thirty fathoms was obtained, and shortly -afterwards the fog cleared, disclosing a bold headland on our larboard -bow. - -"Land! land!" was the cry, and amongst the men for'ard there was almost -a wrangle, some affirming that the headland was the Start, others the -Lizard or "The Bill", while a few sanguine men expressed their belief -that it was the coast of the Wight. - -"Keep the lead going," shouted the master, as the fog again swept down -upon us like a pall, shutting us out of the sight of the land we so -eagerly desired. - -With great regularity the lead gave a gradual shoaling till twenty-four -fathoms were announced. - -Suddenly we were startled by the lookout shouting: "Breakers ahead!" - -"'Bout ship!" ordered the master, and with a creaking of blocks and a -slatting of sails the _Gannet_ stood off on the other tack. - -We could hear the dull roar of rushing water, but how far the sound came -we could not determine.. - -"Keep her as she is, bos'n's mate," commanded the master. "Faith, as if -I did not know; this is none other than the Race of Portland!" - -As night came on, the wind, hitherto steady, increased into a gale, and -before midnight it blew a hurricane such as had not been known for -years; and to sheer off a dangerous coast we had to keep under storm -canvas, though had we had searoom the master would have had the ship to -lay to. - -An hour after midnight our mainsail, though treble-reefed, parted with a -report that was heard above the storm, the torn canvas streaming out to -lee'ard like so many whips; and simultaneously our bowsprit carried away -close to the gammonings, with the result that the ship yawed, then shot -up into the wind. - -With a shuddering crash the foremast went by the board, and we were -helpless in the midst of the raging sea. - -I kept close to Captain Poynings, who gave no sign of the presentiment -that the _Gannet's_ last hour had come. - -Rapidly we drifted shorewards, where, in the inky blackness, a line of -phosphorescent light denoted the breaking of the boiling water upon an -ironbound coast. - -The master came aft and shouted in the captain's ear. What he said I -could not tell, the noise of the elements deadening all other sound, but -to his question the captain merely shook his head. Again the master -appealed, pointing to the now rapidly nearing cliffs. A deprecatory -shrug was the reply, and Captain Poynings, turning on his heel, walked -to the shelter of the poop. - -The master made his way for'ard, and, turning out some of the seamen, -bade them let go the anchor. With a rush and a roar the stout hempen -cable ran through the hawsepipe, the vessel snubbed, swung round, and -the next moment the cable parted as if made of pack thread. - -Anticipating the worst, we all gripped the first object that came to our -hands and awaited the shock. - -It was not long in coming. There was a crash that shook the ship from -stem to stern; her keel had struck a rock. Again she swung till her -bows pointed inshore. Then came another crash, the main and mizzen -masts went over the side, and after one or two violent motions the -_Gannet_ remained hard and fast, the heavy seas pouring right over her. - -By this time the day had dawned, and we could see that the ship's bows -were close inshore, so that had our bowsprit and jibboom remained they -would have been touching the rocks, up which the broken water dashed in -a terrific manner that made any attempt to swim ashore a matter of utter -impossibility. - -The after part of the ship was now breaking up fast. Our gallant -captain still remained on the quarterdeck, having buckled on his sword -as if going into action. Grasping his speaking-trumpet he shouted his -last order: "Look to yourselves, men, and God have mercy on us all!" -Then came a huge, tumbling, white-crested wave that swept the doomed -vessel from the stern as far for'ard as the foremast. - -When it had passed, not a sign was to be seen of the brave and ill-fated -captain, who, with a score of his men, had been swept against the -pitiless rocks. - -Clustered in blank despair on the fo'c'sle were all that remained of the -once smart crew of the _Gannet_. I remember seeing the lieutenant, the -bos'n, Greville Drake, and about a score of the men, but, huddled on the -lee side of the bulwarks, I remained, chilled to the bone and drenched -by the drifting spray, hardly conscious of my peril or the presence of -my shipmates in distress. - -Above the slight motion caused by the heavy seas striking the hull there -came a greater shock --the _Gannet_ had parted amidships. - -The bos'n's voice was heard faintly above the roar of the elements, and -looking up I saw that, by the breaking of the ship, the forepart of the -_Gannet_ was raised in consequence of the 'midship portion subsiding, -and that her bows were nearly level with a flat, rocky ledge but twenty -feet away. - -At the same time several men appeared on shore, looking at us intently, -yet making no offer of assistance. We waved, making signs to them to -throw a rope, but, to our astonishment, our appeals were met with a -callous indifference. "You miserable wretches!" yelled the bos'n, -shaking his fist in the direction of the inhospitable men. "Would I -could get at you, ye cowardly landlubbers!" - -Then a seaman close to me cried out: "Never a helping hand will we get -from they, bos'n. I know where we be, for yon's the Tilly Whim Caves, -and nought but smugglers and wreckers bide hereabouts." - -Smugglers and wreckers! Instantly my mind harked back to the scene in -the court at Winton, when Master Joseph Hawkes gave testimony against -the two rascally Dorset smugglers. - -"Now, men, bestir yourselves," said the bos'n, turning towards us. -"Bear a hand with that spar, and with the help of Providence we'll save -our skins yet." - -The prospect of safety lashed the worn-out crew to action. By their -combined efforts a fore-t'gallant spar was dragged to the spot where the -broken bowsprit formed a secure support. With a hoarse "Yo ho!" the spar -was thrust forward, and just as its weight was on the point of -overbalancing the weight of the seamen on the inboard part, the -extremity touched the edge of the rocks. With another effort it was -thrust securely on to the ledge, and the bos'n, with a line round his -waist, crawled carefully ashore. - -The rope served as a guideline to the rest, and without further mishap -the twenty-two survivors of the _Gannet_ made the perilous passage, -though after three years' knocking about on the high seas it was a sorry -homecoming. - -The inhuman spectators of our plight had vanished, and not a single -being was to be seen. In our wretched and half-starved condition we were -nearly exhausted; in fact, many of the seamen dropped on the ground from -sheer want of strength. - -The bos'n, who was the life and soul of the survivors, then picked out -the more active men to explore the locality. The old seaman who had -recognized the coast said that two villages were within easy -distance--Worth Matravers and Swanage--though a lofty barren line of -rugged hills separated us from both of them. - -By this time I had recovered sufficiently to look around. We were on a -flat ledge some fifty yards in length and about ten broad, thirty feet -from the water, and close on a hundred from the top of the cliffs that -towered above us. Running back into the cliff were two or three small -caves, but there was nothing in them save a few broken barrels and a -coil of rope. The ledge itself, though level, was encumbered by -numerous massive boulders that had at one time fallen from the beetling -cliffs, while to the left ran a path which undoubtedly led to the top of -the dizzy heights above us. - -All the while the spray dashed over us, while swiftly the irresistible -breakers were grinding to pieces the wreck of the ill-fated _Gannet_. - -But there was no time for mournful reveries on the untimely end of our -noble craft and her gallant captain, for already the exploring party had -returned with the news that the cliff path had been found, and that a -village was not far distant. - -The sorry remnant moved forward, those whose strength failed them -supported by the arms of their stronger companions. - -The path was steep and rugged. After having been so long on board, and -being weak in body through the hardships I had undergone, I felt weary -and ill before half the ascent was completed; so, while my shipmates -proceeded, I was obliged to sit down to recover my breath. - -In a few moments I felt better; then, starting to my feet, I hurried -after them, half running, half walking up the path. - -I had not gone farther than twenty paces when my ankles turned under me, -and I fell sideways, crashing into a thick bush. - -Vainly endeavouring to save myself, I clutched at the bush, but the -ground all around seemed to be flying upwards. The daylight gave way to -pitch darkness, and I was falling, falling,... - -Then I dimly remember striking on some hard substance, and with that I -lost consciousness. - - - - -CHAPTER XII--The Smugglers' Cave - - -How long I remained insensible I cannot say, but with the return of my -senses I found myself lying on some warm, soft substance, though what -the object was the gloom did not permit me to ascertain. - -The darkness was intense, and for some time I imagined it to be night, -till the remembrance of my fall gradually dawned upon me. Once I -thought I was dead, and pinched my limbs to make sure that I was not. -My head throbbed terribly, while my wet clothes struck a chill that was -still more striking by reason of the coldness of the hole or cave into -which I had fallen. - -Then I moved my hands around to try and discover my surroundings. The -object on which I was lying was an animal, which, though motionless, was -either stunned or recently dead, for its body was still warm. - -As far as my arms could reach I could touch nothing else save the floor, -which appeared to be of smooth rock. Then I looked upwards, where, far -above, a dim light flickered through a hole which was wellnigh covered -with brushwood. The light was not sufficient to illuminate the bottom of -the pit, the hole being, I imagined, some thirty feet in depth. - -Here I was, then, in a kind of natural bottle dungeon or "oubliette", -such as I have often seen since, both on the Spanish Main and in our own -country. In fact, it can be well likened to the dungeons of the castle -at Newark (which was dismantled by the rebels), where a dismal hole some -twenty feet below ground is only accessible by a rope ladder dropped -through a narrow opening above. - -How, then, could I escape? Climbing was an impossibility, so I -staggered to my feet and began a round of exploration, carefully -shuffling one foot in front of the other for fear of some hidden -pitfall, making towards the sound of water trickling from the roof, a -sound that seemed a long way off. - -Presently my outstretched hand touched a wall of rock. Turning to the -left, I followed the direction of the wall, which, for a cave, was very -regular. At length my left hand touched a rock; either I had reached a -corner of the cave, or this was a pillar of detached stone. - -Carefully feeling with both hands, I discovered that I was standing in -an angle, and right in the corner my hand came in contact with an object -that, on inspection, proved to be a gun; also, by the smoothness of the -barrel I knew that it had recently been in use, there being no rust on -the ironwork. - -This discovery cheered me, as the cave would before long be visited by -the owner of the piece. Taking the musket in my hand I felt the pan, -removed the powder from it, then cocked the hammer. On pulling the -trigger the flash of the flint gave a tolerable illumination. This -action I repeated several times, till I could form some idea of the -cave. - -In the part opposite where I was standing I saw more weapons, several -large casks, and bundles of what looked like woollen and silk goods. - -Then the truth flashed across my mind: I was in one of the storehouses -of the Tilly Whim smugglers! - -Replacing the musket where I found it, I made my way cautiously towards -the barrels. Here I felt about carefully, till my hand alighted on an -opened box of coarse biscuits, which served as a meal, as I was wellnigh -spent with hunger. Then, after a drink from the water that trickled -through the roof of the cave, I resumed my tour of inspection. - -Groping on, my knees came in contact with a large wooden box. Its -contents were apparently hay and straw, but curiosity prompted me to -plunge my hand through the upper surface, and it was no surprise to me -to find that underneath was a thick layer of silk. The box or crate was -some six or seven feet in length and three in breadth, the depth being -about the same as the breadth; so its contents must have been worth -several hundreds of pounds. - -While engaged in my investigations I heard the sound of footsteps and -voices. The smugglers were coming to their storehouse! - -There was not a moment to be lost, and rapidly making up my mind, I -burrowed underneath the hay and straw, and concealed myself on the -layers of silk. - -The sound of shuffling feet drew nearer, there was a noise like the -throwing back of a curtain, and the cave was flooded with a subdued -daylight. - -The men feared no interruption, for they were singing a lusty song in -broad Dorset dialect, the chorus of which ran: - - "He used to laugh a horrible laugh, - His fav'rite cry was 'Priddys', - His life he held in his own right arm, - His soul was Cap'n Kiddie's!" - -Often in my younger days had old Henry Martin and Master Collings told -me tales of a buccaneering Captain Kidd and his bloodthirsty henchman, a -renegade Scotsman called Angus Priddys, whose career was ended at -Execution Dock; so I formed a conclusion that these smugglers were men -whose illicit dealings were not the worst of their accomplishments. - -Through a knot hole in the side of the box I could see the whole of the -rascally crew. - -There were about thirty, all well armed and dressed in usual mariner's -style, save that two or three wore smocks. Several carried beakers on -their shoulders, while two bore between them a small but heavy chest. -They had evidently had a successful haul, for all were in high spirits, -and the chorus of their gruesome song echoed along the walls of the -cavern. The refrain was interrupted by one of the men exclaiming that -their stores had been disturbed, and a search commenced which might have -ended with my discovery but for the fact that in the far end of the -cave, immediately underneath the funnel through which I had fallen, lay -the dead body of a fox, whose body had broken my headlong descent. -Deeming this a satisfactory explanation for this interruption, the -rogues resumed their carousing. - -I could now see how near I had been to regaining my freedom, for just -beyond the place where my tour of exploration had abruptly terminated -was the entrance to the cave, skilfully hidden by a heavy screen of -painted canvas that, even at a short distance, would deceive all who -were not acquainted with the secret. - -For nearly an hour the smugglers devoted themselves to a reckless -carouse, till at length their leader called for silence. With a -discipline that is rare amongst such people, the gang sat down on -barrels and rough stools and awaited their captain's orders. - -In the broad Dorset dialect their leader recounted the various -successful runs they had made, as if vainglorious of their deeds, and -finished by demanding: "Be there any of ye as be not content with his -share?" - -Their answer, with one voice, was "No". "Then," resumed the speaker, "if -so be as that ye are all content, how comes it that one of ye must needs -taake bloodmoney from the gaugers? And how comes it that dree[1] of -our'n have been stuck wi' a Bridport dagger?"[2] - -[1] Dree=three, still used in Wilts and Dorset. - -[2] "Stuck wi' a Bridport dagger".--A local witticism meaning to be -hanged, Bridport being noted for the manufacture of hempen rope. - - -The smugglers looked at one another in amazement. Clearly there was a -Judas amongst them. - -"Stand out, Ned Crocker!" - -There was a scuffling in the farther corner of the cavern, and presently -a man was roughly hauled out into the centre of the assembly. I could -see him distinctly; he was a little, under-sized apology for a man, with -sharp, pointed features, a nose resembling a bird's beak, a loose, -weak-natured mouth, and small, shifty eyes. His complexion was dark, -almost of a dirty yellow, while his face was covered with blotches and -pimples. - -In his terror his skin turned almost a greyish white, while his thin -legs, which struck me as being too weak for even his undersized body, -were bent and shaking like a reed in a March gale. - -Several of the rogues hurled imprecations at him, but their leader -silenced them by raising his hand. - -"I bain't a done nothin'!" cried the miserable wretch. - -"I don't know as 'ow ye've been taxed wi' aught," ejaculated the -captain, "but I'll do it now. Look you, Ned Crocker, have ye at any -time been unfairly done by? No? Then why did ye blab on the run we -made nigh Dancing Ledge, when Thompson, John Light, and Long Will of -Corfe were taken?" - -"'Tweren't me, maaster!" answered the rogue sturdily and doggedly, -though his bearing did not fit with his manner of speech. - -"Not ye? Ah, now harken! Know'st Jim Harker, the court-leet man and -king's officer at Wareham?" - -A shake of the head was the only reply, though the accused man shook -more violently than before. - -"No? Then methinks ye'll know him no more on this earth, for he's -dead!" - -The speaker paused to mark the effect of his words, then he continued: - -"An', what's more, we killed him close to Arishmell Gap. 'Twas his own -doin'. But on him we found this. Now, being no scholard, I ax Master -Fallowfield to read what's on this paaper." - -Master Fallowfield, who, as I afterwards learned from the conversation, -was the parish clerk of Worth Matravers church on Sabbaths and holydays, -and an arrant smuggler at other times, took the paper and read in a -sonorous voice a message from a neighbouring justice to the ill-fated -James Harker, telling him that the reward due to the informer Crocker -would be paid at any time after Martinmas. - -A deathly silence, broken only by the short gasps of the doomed wretch, -followed this announcement. - -"And the sentence is----?" - -"Death! Death!" shouted the smugglers with no uncertain voice. Crocker -made a desperate effort, shook off the men who advanced to hold him, -and, flinging himself down before the captain, clasped his knees and -begged for mercy. In a second, however, his executioners sprang upon him -and bound him hand and foot, and a scarf was fastened over his eyes. -One of the men drew a pistol. I watched the scene, for the moment -unmindful of my dangerous position, but drawn by an indescribable -feeling to watch the last moments of a doubly-dyed rogue. - -Slowly the pistol was raised till its muzzle was level with the doomed -man's temple. I could even see the smuggler's finger resting lightly on -the trigger, while his eyes were turned towards the leader as if -awaiting the signal to fire. The remainder of the rascals looked on -impassively, as if thoroughly used to this kind of rough-and-ready -justice. - -But the fatal signal never came. The captain signed for the pistol to -be lowered, the bandage was removed, and the culprit, already half-dead -with fear, was told that he was pardoned conditionally. - -Without waiting to hear the conditions, Crocker lurched forward and fell -heavily to the ground in a dead faint. - -"Hark ye, George Davies! When yon lubber comes to himself, tell him to -make hotfoot for Lyme, and put hundreds of leagues of sea betwixt him -and us. If he says nay, keep him safely till we return." - -Once more the drunken revels were resumed, and again the rollicking -chorus, for the men would sing naught else, echoed through the cave: - - "He used to laugh a horrible laugh, - His fav'rite cry was 'Priddys'!" - -Gradually the dim light of the cave diminished, and I knew that night -was falling. Torches and lanterns were lighted, and still the smugglers -kept high carnival. - -Suddenly, above the noise of the revellers, came a shrill whistle, and -as if by magic the din of merrymaking gave place to an almost oppressive -silence. - -Again the whistle was repeated--like the cry of some bird of night--and -one of the smugglers replied with a sound like the hooting of an owl. - -Then came the noise of brushwood being removed, and a block and tackle -were lowered through the chimneylike aperture. - -"Now, my lads, look alive; casks first." - -The smugglers worked with a will. The casks were rolled under the -tackle, and whipped up to the open air. Six in all were sent up, and -then the men began to handle the bales. At length two of the rogues -laid hands on the box of silks wherein I lay concealed. I had a -difficulty in restraining myself from springing up; but with a great -effort I remained perfectly quiet, though expecting every moment to find -a knife passed through my body, or a dozen rough hands seize me in their -merciless grip. - -"Be this one to go?" - -"Bide a bit. I'll ax." - -The footsteps died away and came again. - -"Yes, Charlie, up with it!" - -"What a weight!" muttered one man with an oath. "Here, Dick, come here -a moment and bear a hand. Who'd a thought as that silk be so weighty?" - -"Is the straw agoin' too?" - -My heart was literally in my mouth. - -"No; but stop! P'raps it'll save questions being axed, and straw's -cheap enow." - -I felt myself being lifted with my luxurious bed and carried across the -floor of the cave. Then slings were fastened round the crate, the tackle -creaked, and I was on my way to the open air, the box rubbing and -grinding against the sides of the shaft in its ascent. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII--The Escape - - -Strong hands seized the box and lifted it on to a cart, the rough -springs of which shook alarmingly as they felt the weighty load. - -Then came a hurried discussion as to the destination of the booty, some, -including the parish clerk, Fallowfield, who had gained the upper -regions by means of the tackle, urging that it had best be taken and -placed in the tower of Worth Church, the others insisting that it would -be best to make one journey do, and convey it as close to Wareham as -possible, where their accomplices could make arrangements for its -distribution. - -The latter argument prevailed; a heavy tarpaulin was thrown over the -cart, a whip cracked, and we were off. I could hear the sound of the -brushwood being replaced and the rough farewell greetings of the -smugglers, and, by the jolting of the cart and the muffled noise of the -wheels, I knew that the route lay across a grassy down. - -Presently I became emboldened sufficiently to clear away the material -that prevented an outlook through the hole in the woodwork of the box. -But my task was unavailing, for it was night, and the darkness so -intense that nothing could be distinguished. - -For quite half an hour the cart jolted over the sward, then the wheels -struck the hard surface of a road, and the pace became quicker but more -even. - -There were but two men with the cart, and their conversation was carried -on in a series of short sentences spoken in the broadest Dorset dialect. - -Presently a low oath came from one of the men, and the cart was dragged -off the roadway and hidden in a hollow, or such I thought it to be. - -Wondering at the cause of this, I heard the sound of horse's hoofs -coming nearer and nearer; then, with a deafening clatter on the stony -road, the animal passed by, and the sounds died away in the distance. - -"It be 'e, sure enow," muttered one of the men. - -"Yes, it be. Howsoever 'e bain't seen we, so let's get the cart back to -t' roaad." - -Who the mysterious "'e" might be I could not discover; one of the king's -officers, perchance, though in this lawless district they rarely ride -alone. - -The task of getting the cart back to the roadway was longer than the men -had reckoned upon, and when at length they succeeded, one remarked in a -breathless voice that dawn was breaking. - -Soon the light was sufficient for me to see out of my spyhole. We were -descending a steep hill, and on one side towered a lofty down, round -which the white mists of morning still hung like fleecy clouds. - -"'Tis no use to go to Wareham," remarked one of the men. "We'd be -stopped, sure as faate." - -"That's so," replied the other. "There's but one thing to do." - -"What's that?" - -"Leave the stuff at Carfe and take caart home." - -"Where?" - -"Where! Why, in the castle, ye dolt!" - -Soon the cart was being driven through a village street. I could see -the houses distinctly. They were all built of stone, and most of them -were roofed with stone as well. This, then, was Corfe, or Carfe, as the -inhabitants call it. - -Here a thought occurred to me to spring from my hiding place and make a -dash for freedom, but the weight of the tarpaulin, which was securely -lashed down, prevented me; so I was perforce obliged to remain, though -firmly resolved to free myself at the first favourable opportunity. - -The cart proceeded on its way, and passed through a wide marketplace in -the centre of which stood a cross. Then it rumbled over a stone bridge -and entered the courtyard of the castle. - -Corfe Castle was well known by reason of its stubborn defence against -the malignants during the Great Rebellion, Lady Banks having all but -successfully withstood a lengthy siege when rank treachery did its fell -work. - -On the fall of the fortress it was "slighted" by order of Old Noll -himself, and the keep and walls were blown up with powder. So strong -was the construction of the masonry that the work of destruction was -only partially done, though the keep was riven from base to summit, and -several of the smaller towers were thrown bodily out of plumb. - -This much I had heard from report, and now, in spite of my cramped -position, and faintness from want of food, I could not help looking with -interest on the shattered walls, which still showed the black marks of -the powder, though now, after a lapse of twenty years, their barrenness -was beginning to be hidden by a kindly garb of ivy. - -The fear of sorcery and witchcraft was firmly fixed in the minds of the -Dorset peasantry, and in consequence few would venture amid the grim -ruins by day, still less by night, so the smugglers' hiding place was -practically free from interruption. - -The cart came to a sudden stop in an archway under the keep, and, with a -hurried warning: "Look alive; the sun's nearly up", the men proceeded to -unfasten the tarpaulin. This was done, the canvas fell in a heap on the -ground, and the men began to unload the straw. - -The time for action had arrived. With a bound I sprang from the cart, -nearly overthrowing the astonished men, who yelled with terror, as if -his Satanic Majesty had suddenly appeared. - -I did not stop to think in which direction I should run, but started off -towards a gap in the walls. Passing through this, I found myself on a -steep bank, at the bottom of which a white chalky road led towards a -town some miles away, the towers of whose churches were plainly visible -in the morning light, while away to the right was a large expanse of -water which I guessed correctly was the harbour of Poole. - -Descending the steep, grassy mound at a breakneck pace, I gained the -road and headed northwards, keeping the sun on my right hand. After -running a quarter of a mile or so, and finding no signs of pursuit, I -slackened my pace and walked, the effect of my prolonged fast being very -evident. - -An hour later I was crossing a long causeway close to the town. Here I -met a cowherd, who looked at me in astonishment, my clothes being in -rags and covered with wisps of straw, while my face, blackened with -dirt, was surmounted by a crop of ruffled hair that did duty for a hat. - -In answer to my question he told me that I was in Wareham, and a few -minutes afterwards I was sitting in a bakery, eagerly devouring a -half-loaf and a cup of milk that a kindly baker provided for me. - -Seeing that I was utterly exhausted, he allowed me to lie down in front -of his oven, and, in spite of the hardness of my couch, I slept soundly -till midday, when I was aroused by Greville Drake and some of the late -crew of the _Gannet_, who were being entertained in the town till they -could be conveyed to their homes. - -I was, however, too ill to be moved; so the kindly baker, hearing my -story, and being informed of my rank, had me put to bed in his own -house, where later in the day a magistrate attended to take down my -depositions as to the gang of smugglers. - -That night I got worse, and for three weeks I lay betwixt life and death -with an ague brought about by the cold and exposure. - -Then one morning I awoke to find my Uncle George sitting by my bedside. -The kindly little man had heard of my being ill at Wareham, and had -immediately travelled posthaste to my side. - -From that day my recovery became rapid, and in less than a fortnight I -could sit up. - -One afternoon, as the late autumnal sun was sinking in the west, I heard -the tramping of feet and the clanking of fetters. My uncle helped me to -the window, and on looking out I saw the whole gang of smugglers, save -two who had preferred death to capture, being led through the town on -the way to Dorchester Jail. - -Fortunately I was spared the ordeal of attending the trial, but I heard -that the gallows or transportation to the West Indies accounted for the -whole of the rascally crew, against whom the barbaric crime of wrecking, -as well as smuggling, was proved right up to the hilt. - -It was late in December, in clear, frosty weather, that we started on -our homeward journey, proceeding by easy stages through Wimborne, -Ringwood, and the New Forest to Southampton, and on the last day of -December of the year 1663 I arrived at Portsmouth again, after an -absence of over three years. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV--I Set Out to Fight the Dutch - - -I must now pass over a space of a year, there being but little of -interest to record. All this time it must not be imagined that I had -given up the quest for my father's murderer; indeed, as I grew older, my -thoughts of bringing the villain to justice waxed hotter instead of -waning. My uncle, Sir George Lee, and Lawyer Whitehead had each -prosecuted vigorous enquiries, but all attempts to run the felon to -earth had proved fruitless. - -The loss of the mysterious metal box also caused me considerable -misgivings, and the vague hints thrown out by my uncle at sundry times -did much to increase my uneasiness on that score. - -Meanwhile it seemed as if the earth had opened and swallowed both -Increase Joyce and the box (for in my mind the two were inseparably -associated), though I had a presentiment that I should obtain -satisfaction in the end. - -But to resume my story. Twelve months sped swiftly by ere my physical -condition became as good as before my malady, and with the lengthening -days of January I entertained great hopes of going again to sea. - -Rumours of a rupture with the States of Holland were in the air, and, -taking the aggressive action of the Dutchmen in mercantile matters into -consideration, the prospect of a war was hailed with delight. - -One day early in February I went to call on my benefactor, Sir Thomas -Middleton, in the hope that he would get me appointed to a ship. - -He received me kindly, but held out little hope of my desire being -fulfilled. - -"Would that I could, Aubrey," he remarked sorrowfully. "My whole time -is spent in writing to Master Samuel Pepys praying for money to pay the -arrears of both seamen and workmen. God knows, the poor wretches are -hard put; but the money that should go for the defence of the realm -finds its way into the hands of His Majesty's favourites. There is a -new ship to be launched this month, but there is not a man belonging to -her except the officers, whose work is to look about them. Never did we -require cordage and hemp more than we do now. Fifteen ships now in port -are making demands for rope, and what we have in store signifies -nothing. The blockmakers and joiners have gone away, refusing to work -any longer without money; the sawyers threaten to do the same. I am even -now going the rounds of the yard, so if you will bear me company you can -see for yourself to what straits we are put." - -So saying, the commissioner led the way to the dockyard, past the -ropehouse to the building slips, where a tall vessel lay ready for -launching, yet hardly a workman was to be seen. Instead, a mob of women -and children followed Sir Thomas at a distance, reviling and cursing the -king, the commissioner, and the navy in general by reason of the -non-payment of their husbands' and fathers' wages. - -"Faith, 'tis hard on them," remarked Sir Thomas; "but for foulness of -tongue they out-vie the daughters of Billingsgate. Now, we'll make for -yonder workshop, for there will be found the only reliable men working -in the dockyard." - -But alas for the commissioner's hopes! On entering the shop he found -that, instead of being diligently employed, the men were listening to a -heated discourse from a malcontent from another part of the dockyard. -This last straw raised Sir Thomas's ire. Seizing a stout cudgel from -one of the men, he struck out right and left at the astonished party -till bruised and cut pates became the order of the day. Then, having -thoroughly cowed the malcontents by taking more pains in the use of the -stick than in any business for the last twelve months (as he afterwards -expressed it), he sent for the guard and clapped three of the -ringleaders in the stocks. - -"You see, Aubrey," he exclaimed on our return to his house, "how I am -put upon. Though I would gladly serve His Majesty in great and small -matters, yet how can I when the lack of money hangeth like a millstone -round my neck? As for you, the moment I can get you a vessel I'll do my -utmost, but, as things are, I can hold out but little hope." - -I thanked him and withdrew, feeling sick at heart at the prospect of a -life of idleness when I might be serving the king at sea. - -Towards the end of February news came that war had been proclaimed -against the Dutch, and the beating of drums and the firing of cannons -welcomed the announcement. What ships there were in the harbour weighed -and sailed for the Downs, to join the fleet that lay there under the -command of the Duke of York. Disconsolately I watched their departure, -regretting the fact that I was unable to take a part in the coming -struggle. - -As time wore on, news of sanguinary naval engagements reached us, while -occasionally a Dutch vessel would be brought into the harbour, her -ensign hoisted beneath the cross of St. George, and her crew battened -down in the hold. - -The captives were invariably taken to Porchester Castle, a building of -immense strength that lay on the shores of Portsmouth harbour, some four -miles away by water. - -Spring came and went, yet to my great mortification I was not sent to -join a ship, though in the interval I engaged in a private venture--a -few gentlemen of Hampshire having fitted out a small vessel to prey upon -Dutch merchantmen. But the task was not to my liking; little renown was -to be gained, and after three weeks I was glad to return home. - -One evening in June I went down to the Sally Port, as was my wont, to -look towards Spithead, in the hope of seeing part of our victorious -fleet return. The guard had been doubled since the declaration of -hostilities, and every vessel and boat that made for the harbour was -vigorously searched. - -"Ah, Master Wentworth," remarked the captain of the guard, who dwelt not -far from us in St. Thomas's Street, and whose acquaintance I had made -some time back, "our town hath other enemies to fight besides the -Hollanders!" - -"Oh!" I ejaculated, in a manner that implied that I wanted to be further -enlightened. - -"Yes, 'tis true. The Dutchmen we can fight man to man in a -straightforward manner, but our latest foe is not to be conquered by -strength of arms--'tis the plague!" - -"The plague?" - -"Yea. From Southampton comes news that the plague is in that town, and -eight houses are shut up. Sir Thomas Middleton hath given orders that -the shipwrights who dwell there are not to be allowed to go home, and -those already living there are not to be readmitted to the dockyard. -Furthermore, the poor there will not suffer the rich to leave, neither -doth our governor permit ships from Southampton to land their cargoes -here." - -Here was grave news. I hurried homewards and communicated the captain's -information to my uncle. He shook his head sorrowfully. - -"The plague is rampant in London. In Chichester eleven persons have -died. At Newport there have been two cases, yet in this town we are -free, though in dire straits. Still, Aubrey, let not a word escape to -alarm your aunt. I must see that we lay in a goodly store of -brimstone." - -Throughout the long sultry summer we were mercifully preserved from the -contagion; then, as autumn came, and still the plague did not appear -amongst us, people began to think that with the approach of the cold -weather all danger was past. - -But this was not the case. Winter drew on, and with it the cold was -intense, a sharp frost lasting for over six weeks. - -Towards the end of December the _Essex_, man-of-war, came into port, and -hardly had she moored alongside the jetty when the report spread about -that she was infected with the dread disease. Immediately there was a -panic amongst the workmen, and, throwing down their tools, they betook -themselves off, vowing that neither the king nor the king's enemies -would make them resume work till the _Essex_ had gone. - -Finding threats and entreaties useless, the commissioner ordered the -_Essex_ to moor in the centre of the harbour. This was done, but rumour -had it that at midnight the bodies of eight men, victims of the plague, -were taken ashore and buried secretly in the Pest House fields. - -Two days afterwards it was known that three more of her crew had died, -and were buried on the foreshore at Gosport; while, to disinfect the -ship, great quantities of brimstone were burnt, but to no purpose. - -Then, strange to relate, the plague broke out in Gosport town, whither -some three hundred men pass over every day to work in the dockyard, so -it was not surprising to learn that at length the dreaded scourge had -appeared in our own town. - -With fierce violence it spread. Many houses were shut up, their doors -marked by a cross with the words "God have mercy upon us" written -underneath. At first passers-by would cross in fear and trembling to -the other side of the street whenever this mournful sign met their eyes, -but as the number of cases increased people became hardened to the -danger. - -Many put the cause of the disease, rightly enough, to the filthy habits -of the poorer people, and hearing that salt water was a preventive, -scores of the inhabitants repaired daily to the seashore, plunging into -the bitterly cold waves in the hope of staving off the malady. - -Day and night large fires were lighted in the streets, while, to add to -the misery, the silent watches of the night were broken by the hoarse -shout of the watchmen, who, ringing their bells, cried out in solemn -tones: "Bring out your dead." - -All the time the war with the Dutch was waged unceasingly, till it was -reported that the French, apprehensive of our supremacy at sea, joined -forces with the States of Holland and declared war against us. - -Early in April, to my great joy, Sir Thomas Middleton informed me that I -was to join the _Prince Royal_, a ship of 100 guns, then lying at -Chatham with the rest of the fleet under the command of the Duke of -Albemarle and Prince Rupert. - -"As the pestilence rages in London town," said he, "it is not meet that -a man should risk an inglorious death when he would serve His Majesty -better by dying for his country while fighting the Dutch. Therefore, -instead of going by coach to London, and thence to Chatham by river, we -are sending a shallop to Dover, whence you can travel through the county -of Kent to Chatham. Several officers and men are making the passage, to -bring up the crew of the _Prince Royal_ to full strength, for she has -had some hard knocks, and promotion is sure to be rapid should she again -meet with the Dutch." - -I thanked the commissioner heartily and withdrew. Having bade farewell -to my friends, and gathered together my few personal belongings, I -retired for the night, as the shallop was to sail at six the next -morning. - -On going aboard I found that not less than four officers and thirty men -were packed in this little craft. To my surprise and delight Greville -Drake was amongst the former, he having been promoted to lieutenant. -There were also several of the old Gannets, and to me it seemed as if -the glorious doings in the stout old craft would be worthily followed by -the crew of the _Prince Royal_. - -The shallop was but fifty feet over all, unarmed save for the muskets -and swords carried by the men, and relied on her speed only for safety -in case of attack. - -With a fair wind the little craft tore eastwards, passing through the -Looe before nine o'clock. Then the wind fell lighter as the sun rose -higher, and midday found us forging slowly along off Littlehampton, on -the Sussex coast. - -Four hours later we had Brighthelmstone on our larboard bow, the master -of the shallop keeping close inshore for fear of being attacked by a -French or Dutch man-of-war. Finding, however, that there was more wind -offshore, he altered the helm and stood more to the south-east. - -At sunset a thick mist came on, which caused our careful and anxious -master to lose his bearings. Most of us remained on deck, though the -weather was exceedingly cold. As darkness set in our position became -still more uncertain, and even the oldest seamen began to look alarmed. - -Drake and I stood side by side conversing in low tones as we clung to -the weather rails, the lively motion of the little craft making it a -difficult matter to keep one's feet. - -Between the gusts of wind I thought I heard a sound. Drake listened, -but could hear nothing. In a few minutes the noise was repeated, several -of the crew hearing it besides myself. It was the roll of a drum. - -Again the sound was heard, this time nearer; but almost immediately it -was answered by another faint beating, another, and yet another, till -the sea seemed to echo with the rapid roll of drums. - -"Stand by, lads, to 'bout ship!" shouted the master, slacking off the -tiller lines. "We are across the bows of a large fleet, if I mistake -not." - -"God forfend 'tis not the French!" remarked Greville. "'Tis not to my -liking to see the inside of a French prison." - -We peered through the mist and darkness of the night, but nothing could -be distinguished. Sea met mist in an undefined blur at less than twenty -yards from us. - -Half an hour passed in breathless suspense, then the noise broke out -again, this time close ahead and far away on both quarters as well. - -"'Tis no use to go about now," said I to my companion. "We are sailing -right across the van of a great fleet." - -The master was of the same mind, for in a few minutes he put the -shallop's head more before the wind, so that she lay in the supposed -direction of the invisible squadron. - -Now we could hear the rush of the water from the vessels' cutwaters, the -straining of the ropes and the creaking of the blocks, while the ships -were continually hailing one another so as to keep in touch. - -In what language they were talking we could not make out, but it did not -sound like an English hail. Anxiety was stamped on all our faces, for -we had to run the risk not only of collision with a vessel ten times our -size, but of being taken by a French or Dutch man-of-war. - -By this time the moon had risen, dispelling the darkness, though the fog -hung around as thick as ever; but withal there was enough light to see -the length of our craft. - -Suddenly, with a swirl of beaten water, a huge vessel loomed out of the -mist, her flying jibboom seeming to project right over our stern. Our -master and one of the seamen flung themselves on the tiller and put it -hard down. The shallop ran up into the wind and lost way, and as she -did so the man-of-war thrashed by us so near that we could see the -gunports of her lofty tumble-home sides, though her spars and sails were -lost in the mist. - -We were seen by those on board. Shouts followed the discovery, and -every moment we expected to find some heavy weight crashing down upon -us, or a discharge from some of her lower-deck guns; but beyond the -shouting we were not molested. - -We rubbed sides with the hulking ship as she shot past, and when clear -of her quarter we read the name _Jeanne d' Arc_ emblazoned on her stern -gallery, with an elaborate embellishment of gilded eagles and -fleurs-de-lis. - -"Oh for a barrel of powder and a slow match lashed to her rudder -pintle!" exclaimed Drake. "But stand by, here comes another!" - -Such was the case, and before the _Jeanne d' Arc_ was lost in the mist -the bows of another vessel loomed up. By this time the shallop was -wearing and gathering way, so the master ordered both sails to be -lowered, a manoeuvre that was smartly executed, and as the second -Frenchman passed us our craft was lying motionless on the water. - -This time fortune did not smile on us, for as the shallop was on the -Frenchman's lee a spurt of flame burst from the man-of-war, immediately -followed by a deafening roar, and with it our mizzen mast went by the -board with a terrific crash. - -The shot was replied to by the nearest Frenchman, and for the space of a -quarter of an hour a spirited pitched battle occurred between the -various ships of the squadron, friend firing into friend in the -confusion and excitement. - -Though several shots pitched close to us, we escaped without further -injury, and ere the echoes of the last report had died away we were far -behind the now invisible fleet. - -The anxiety of the master on account of the fog had vanished utterly on -meeting with the Frenchmen, and with spirited promptness he set the crew -to clear away the wreckage and parbuckle the broken mast. - -"My men," he cried, "that fleet is none other than the forty sail of the -Duke of Beaufort, who seeks to effect a junction with the Dutch! Yo ho! -Straight for the nearest land we'll make now. Whether we beach the -shallop on an exposed coast or bring her into port I care not, but land -we must, and bear tidings hot-foot to His Grace the Duke of Albemarle." - -So saying, he turned the shallop's head due north, and as daylight -dawned the mist dispersed, and we found ourselves a few miles from the -Kentish coast, with Rye plainly visible. - -An hour later and the shallop was making her way cautiously into the -sand-encumbered harbour, and, the moment we landed, the officers, myself -included, obtained horses and set out for Chatham, leaving the men to -follow afoot as best they might. Meanwhile the news that the Duke of -Beaufort's squadron was really in the Channel had spread abroad, causing -the timid inhabitants of Rye to make preparations for a hurried exodus, -while the trainbands were called out by beat of drum, and had assembled -in the marketplace. - -Our journey to Chatham was performed without incident, though the heavy -rains had made the roads a perfect quagmire in many places. Tenterden we -reached in an hour, and two hours later we were clattering through the -streets of Maidstone. - -At four in the afternoon five weatherworn and mud-bespattered travellers -arrived at Chatham, where a rowboat took us to Albemarle's flagship, -which lay at anchor in Gillingham Reach. - -Honest George, as the seamen still loved to call the gallant duke, was -now getting on in years and weighed down by physical infirmity, yet in -time of danger his energy and fearless determination would have put to -shame many a younger man. If he had had but a free hand, I warrant the -disgrace of the Dutch in the Medway would never have occurred; but the -baneful influence of the court beauties drove His Majesty almost to -poverty, so that when retrenchment had to come it was the fleet that -suffered. - -The admiral received us kindly, and on receipt of our news ordered a -signal to be flown recalling all officers and men belonging to the fleet -who were on shore, and ere sunset the English squadron was making its -way towards the Nore to chase and destroy the Hollanders' ally. - -On joining the _Prince Royal_ I was surprised at her size, equipment, -and smartness. Practically a new ship, she was commanded by the veteran -Sir George Ascue, and her crew were all men who had seen active service -against the Dutch, the Spaniards, or the Barbary pirates. Compared with -the _Gannet_ the _Prince Royal_ was as a mastiff by the side of a -lapdog, while the smallest of her 100 guns was larger than the heaviest -piece of ordnance in my first ship. - -With a favourable wind the fleet arrived off the Forelands and thence -beat up for the Downs, where we were in a position to meet either the -Dutch or the French squadrons; but off Dover we learned from a fishing -boat that Beaufort was seen heading back towards Brest in order to refit -some of his ships, so that for the time our chances of smelling powder -were very remote. - - - - -CHAPTER XV--Of the Famous Sea Fight of Four Days - - -During the whole of the month of May the English fleet remained cruising -betwixt Gravelines and Dover, till Albemarle began to revile the Dutch -for their cowardice in fearing to leave their harbours, while of de -Beaufort we had neither signs nor tidings. - -At length, on the last day of May, news was brought that the French -fleet was actually in the Channel once more, and that de Ruyter and Van -Tromp, with eighty sail, were already on the way to effect a union with -de Beaufort. - -A hurried council of war was held on board the flagship, and here -Albemarle made the first great mistake of his life; for it is reported -he held the Dutch so cheaply that he ordered Prince Rupert to take -twenty vessels of our fleet and make to the westward to find and engage -the French, while he relied on his remaining fifty-four ships to meet -the formidable array of Dutchmen. - -This counsel our captain, Sir George Ascue, ventured to oppose, but -honest George in his wrath bade him hold his tongue, and Prince Rupert -hastened on board his ship to detach the squadron of twenty ships in -order to seek de Beaufort. Before nightfall we saw them hull down, and -we set sail so as to arrive off the coast of Holland and destroy de -Ruyter's craven fleet. - -Craven we dubbed them; but when, on the morning of the 1st of June, we -found the Dutch fleet lying at anchor, to our surprise they immediately -slipped their cables and stood out to meet us, with a courage and -determination that made Albemarle bitterly regret his lack of caution. - -On board the _Prince Royal_ all was bustle and excitement, yet our -preparations were made without untoward confusion. Sir George made a -stirring speech, the drums beat to quarters, and then came that irksome -interval before opening fire that tells so acutely on the nerves of even -the most hardened veteran. - -The action began in a strong wind that, blowing athwart the tide, raised -such a steep sea that most of our ships were unable to open their -lee'ard lower-deck ports, a misfortune that more than outbalanced our -advantage in having the weather gauge. - -When within a mile of the enemy a signal was made to shorten sail, but -the hot-headed vice-admiral, Sir William Berkeley, kept on till, half a -mile ahead of the rest of us, he encountered the fire of over twenty of -the Dutchmen. - -We watched the gallant though unequal conflict. Unflinchingly his ship -received the tremendous broadsides of the enemy, and, undaunted, Sir -William returned the fire, till at length the combatants were lost in a -heavy pall of smoke. Gradually the noise of the struggle ceased and the -smoke cleared away. Then, to our dismay, we saw the gallant vessel a -helpless, dismasted wreck in the possession of the Dutch. - -Now came our turn, and before we were within a comfortable distance our -spars and rigging began to fall on the deck in a manner that none of us -had previously experienced. The solution of the mystery was afforded -shortly afterwards by three seamen being cut in two apparently by one -shot, which finished up its career of death by splintering the base of -the mainmast. - -The bos'n, who was standing close to me, hastened to where the missile -lay, and lifting it up he exclaimed: "That's where they have us! 'Tis a -chain shot--a new invention of that stubborn fiend de Wit!" - -We were soon hotly engaged. Dead and wounded encumbered our decks, -while the new and stately appearance of the _Prince Royal_ altered till -our ship resembled a butcher's shambles. Nevertheless, against -tremendous odds, we kept up a hot fire, and had the satisfaction of -seeing more than one of the towering sides of the Dutchmen crumbled into -a shapeless mass of charred and splintered timbers. - -With the approach of night both fleets withdrew; but for us there was -little rest, as all hands were employed reeving fresh rigging, splicing -spars, and plugging shot holes, while our dead were committed to the -deep, and the wounded transhipped to one of the smaller vessels. - -As the sun rose we descried the enemy lying a mile from us. Without -hesitation both sides made ready to renew the sanguinary combat. The -wind was now much lighter, and in consequence our ships triced up our -lower-deck ports and ran out their formidable array of guns--a sight -that gave us additional courage,--and the result was not lost upon the -Dutch. - -In spite of their number we stuck closely to them, the flagship of Van -Tromp, who fought in a manner worthy of our former foeman, his -redoubtable sire, being singled out as a prize worth taking. Three -vessels engaged his ship, and were within an ace of making him haul down -his flag, when de Ruyter threw seven of his largest vessels between Van -Tromp and our shattered ships. Then through the smoke we perceived that -sixteen ships had reinforced the already superior number of the -Dutchmen, and, to save ourselves from total destruction, Albemarle -hoisted a signal for the English to retreat slowly towards the mouth of -the Thames. - -Smarting under the disgrace, we obeyed, firing as we went. Scarce -thirty English ships remained out of the fifty-four that commenced the -fight. Keeping close together, and yawing from time to time in order to -deliver a broadside at our pursuers, we held doggedly on our course, -till at length a flat calm set in, and both fleets lay inactive at a -mile apart, in which situation darkness again overtook us. - -Through sheer exhaustion our men were unable to execute even the -smallest, necessary repairs, and throughout the short summer's night -they slept heavily at their posts. - -As daylight dawned upon the third day of the fight we continued our -retreat, and as a faint southerly wind sprang up the enemy drew near -with the intention of renewing the fight, concentrating their efforts on -Albemarle's ship, which, covering the retreat, presented an undaunted -spectacle to our relentless foes. - -The _Prince Royal_ was next in line ahead, and so close were we that one -of Albemarle's officers hailed us to the effect that the admiral had -expressed his intention of firing the magazines should things come to -the worst. - -Shortly after midday a loud shout rose from the Dutch ships, and their -rigging was alive with men gazing southward and frantically waving their -arms. - -"Send a man aloft there," ordered Sir George Ascue, his face crimson -with excitement, "and see what those beggars are clamouring over." - -The command was obeyed with alacrity, and several of our vessels also -sent a seaman to the masthead on a similar errand. - -"Sail, ho!" sang out the lookout. "There's a fleet hull down to the -south'ard." - -"Heaven grant 'tis Rupert's squadron!" ejaculated our captain; "though -methinks by their noise those scurvy Dutchmen are sure 'tis de -Beaufort." - -A few hours would decide whether the English ships would be hopelessly -trapped betwixt the two fleets, or whether Prince Rupert's vessels would -arrive to turn a retreat into a decisive victory. - -The suspense was far more trying than the heat of the engagement had -been, but about six o'clock Albemarle hoisted a signal that decided the -matter. It was: "Fleet turn four points to the south'ard to effect -junction with Prince Rupert." - -Eagerly was the manoeuvre executed, and our shattered fleet bore up to -meet our welcome reinforcements; but at this juncture an accident -occurred that, as far as we were concerned, threw us into the direst -misfortune. - -The _Prince Royal_, on the new course, was the leemost vessel, and to -bring her more into line the master sailed her more off the wind than -the rest. - -Suddenly a heavy thud shook us from stem to stern, and our damaged -mizzen mast went by the board. Shouts and execrations arose, and all -was confusion; we were hard and fast aground on the Galloper Sands, -while we had the mortification of seeing the rest of the fleet stand off -and leave us to our fate. - -With the falling tide the _Prince Royal_ listed heavily to starboard, so -that her guns were for the most part unworkable, and her great sides -were exposed an easy target for the enemy. - -Above the din we heard Sir George's voice ordering the men to fall into -their stations quietly and orderly. "We're safe enough for the present, -my lads," he exclaimed, "for the rascally Dutchmen cannot approach us -save in their pinnaces. These we can easily drive off. At this range, -too, their fire will be ineffective. They themselves will be too busy -with our ships, and with the next tide we'll float easily enough." - -His example animated the men, who immediately began to load their -muskets and serve out boarding pikes and broadswords, while the master -took steps to lay out a couple of anchors in readiness to warp the ship -into deep water directly the floodtide should release her. - -Meanwhile our consorts were miles away, though probably the desired -junction had been made, and we expected to see their topsails fill as -they turned to renew the combat. But our attention was drawn by the -near approach of the Hollanders. Four large vessels hove to at a -quarter of a mile to windward of us and opened a furious fire. Their -shots punished us terribly, though, as if hoping to take possession of -us, they spared us betwixt wind and water, and directed their fire on -our upper works and spars. An hour we lay thus, receiving their combined -storm of shot, yet unable to reply. Splinters flew, ropes, blocks, and -spars came tumbling down from aloft, men fell dead or wounded, and -shrieks and groans rent the air, while all we could do was to shake our -fists in useless rage at our unapproachable foes. - -Presently we saw boatloads of armed men leaving the Dutch ships, and we -realized that an attempt was to be made to carry us by boarding. This -spurred us to action, and directly the boats came within musket range a -hot fire was opened on them, though in this act many of our men, -exposing themselves recklessly, were shot down by the fire from the guns -of the ships. - -Several of the boats were sunk by a well-directed fire from our swivel -guns, but eight or nine gained the side of the _Prince Royal_, and, -passing under the comparative shelter afforded by our lofty stern, -boarded us on the starboard side, where, owing to the list, our bulwarks -were much lower than on the other side. - -They clambered up our sides with the greatest intrepidity, but were met -with equal resolution and courage. More boats were sunk alongside by -dropping heavy shot into them, those of their crew who wore breastplates -perishing miserably in the sea. Evidently the Dutchmen thought our -losses under fire had been greater than they actually were; but they -soon realized their mistake, and with thrust of pike, swordthrusts, -musket and pistol shots, they were swept aside as fast as their heads -appeared above the bulwarks. - -[Illustration: "THEY CLAMBERED UP OUR SIDES WITH THE GREATEST -INTREPIDITY"] - -Only one of the enemy reached our deck, and he was dragged on board by -the clever cast of a running bowline thrown by a seaman, who, seizing -his captive in his powerful grasp, demanded and obtained his surrender -at the point of a gleaming knife, while his comrades roared with -laughter at the hapless Dutchman's discomfiture. - -The attempt to board us failed dismally, only four boats, filled with -more or less wounded men, getting clear from our sides, their retreat -being hailed with shouts of derision from our exultant seamen. - -But our joy was turned to feelings of dismay when we perceived that two -small ships had joined the Dutch men-of-war, and that they were brought -to with reduced canvas immediately to windward of us, and were held by -stern moorings only, so that their bows were pointed straight at our -luckless vessel. Most of us knew too much of the art of war to need to -have these new tactics explained: we were to be attacked by fire ships! - -In our helpless position we were doomed. Not a boat did we carry that -was in a condition to float, otherwise volunteers would not have been -lacking who would have risked their lives in an attempt to tow these -furnaces clear of us. The officers held a consultation--Sir George -Ascue was not one of them; whether he was killed or wounded I did not at -that time know--and the opinion of the council was that if we were -grappled by the fire ships our fate would no doubt be a glorious one, -but of little use to His Majesty the King. On the other hand, if we -surrendered, there was a possibility of being recaptured by our -consorts, and thus our services would be still at His Majesty's command. - -The latter alternative was accepted, and, amidst the furious and -indignant shouts of the seamen, the Cross of St. George was struck, and -a white flag fluttered from our mainmast truck. - -The Dutchmen immediately sent boats to take possession of the -unfortunate _Prince Royal_, but ere the first boat came alongside, most -of the crew had secured their personal belongings. I, for my part, went -below and placed all the money I had in a leather pouch, which I -strapped to my waist with a belt underneath my clothing--though it is -reported the Hollanders always respect personal property. Then I came -on deck and joined my comrades, who stood in a disconsolate group -awaiting the arrival of our captors. - -We were curtly ordered over the side, and hurriedly the whole of the -crew were transferred to the various Dutch ships. The officers were -taken on board the admiral's, where de Ruyter himself accepted our -surrender, complimenting us on our gallant defence, and permitting the -senior officers to retain their swords. - -This done, we were sent on board a frigate and placed in a dark, stuffy -hole below the waterline. Faintly we could hear the dull booming of the -guns, which told us that the fleets were re-engaged, but gradually the -sound died away. - -Greville Drake had a pocket compass, which showed us that the vessel was -heading eastward. Our captors had taken good care that we should not -fall into the hands of our friends: we were on our way to Holland and -captivity. - -How the engagement would end we knew not, but our spirits were greatly -depressed with our misfortunes, and one and all, having seen that the -courage and fortitude of our enemies had been unduly depreciated by our -leaders, were far from sanguine as to the prospects of a victory of our -hitherto redoubtable fleet. - -Our reveries were cut short by the appearance of a stolid Dutchman, who -brought us a liberal supply of food that, compared with our hard fare of -the last month, was a bounteous feast. We plied him with eager -questions, but his only reply was an expressionless shake of his massive -head, and for the time being vague surmises had to suffice. - -At length, worn out with bodily fatigue, we threw ourselves down on our -rough and hard pallets, and slept soundly till we were awakened by the -unmistakable sounds that accompany the action of a ship taking in sail. - -We had arrived in the land of our captivity. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI--I Meet an Old Enemy - - -Directly our prison ship was moored alongside a quay we were summoned on -deck, where an escort of soldiers was in waiting to convey us to a place -of confinement on shore. - -Some of our officers immediately recognized the port as Rotterdam, which -to me appeared a city of lofty buildings beset with canals and -waterways. - -It was soon evident that we were to be separated, and seeing this to be -the case I kept close to Drake and another young lieutenant, Hubert -Felgate by name, who had been slightly wounded in the right arm during -the first day's engagement. He was of a somewhat taciturn disposition, -though, when properly understood, he was a good-hearted and reliable -friend. - -To our great satisfaction the three of us were taken to a magistrate's -office. As none of us could speak their language, a Dutchman was called -in to act as interpreter, but so quaint was his attempt at speaking -English that it was with the greatest difficulty that we could -understand what was required of us. - -At length we discovered that if we gave our parole we should be allowed -comparative freedom within the city; if not, well--a meaning shrug of -the shoulders completed the unspoken sentence. - -We were permitted to reason the proposition out among ourselves, which -we did in an undertone. Young and hot-headed, the idea of a possible -exchange of prisoners never entered our heads, but on the other hand the -excitement of an attempt at escape held out an inducement to refuse our -parole. We quickly decided on the latter course. The magistrate closed -a book in front of him in a manner that denoted a feeling of -disappointment, then, signing to our guards, he motioned us to be -removed. - -We were conducted along a stone passage and down a spiral staircase, the -weapons of our guards clanking dismally as they struck the stone steps. -At the bottom of the staircase we proceeded along another passage, which -was lighted by a few feeble lamps, while water trickled through the roof -in such a manner as to suggest that we were passing under some canal. -At the end an iron door barred the way. This the sergeant of the guard -unlocked and threw open, disclosing a large room with a vaulted stone -roof, lighted only by two small grated windows some twelve feet from the -ground. The atmosphere was rank, while moisture was everywhere--on the -walls, floor, and even on the top of a massive oak table, the polish of -which was cut and scraped till it resembled a butcher's block. - -As our eyes grew accustomed to the dim light we perceived that the room -was a torture chamber. In one corner stood a ponderous rack, its -rollers still glistening with a coating of oil. Other instruments of -torture were placed round the walls in an orderly manner, showing by -their brightness that they were still kept in use. - -I must confess the sight turned us, though we had never yet had accounts -of prisoners of war being put to the torture. We were not left long in -suspense, for the soldiers, having carefully searched us (though they -left us our money), went out and locked and barred the door. - -Left to ourselves, we began to discuss our situation. Escape from this -horrible hole was out of the question, but we began a tour of the room -to ascertain our bearings. - -"I almost wish that we had given the burgomaster our parole," remarked -Felgate dolefully. "To eke out an existence for a few months, or even -weeks or days, in this den would almost drive one to madness." - -"What do they mean by putting us in here?" asked Drake. "Surely they -don't mean to put us to the torture as if we were political prisoners?" - -"I don't think that," I remarked, "otherwise those rascals would have -relieved us of our money." - -"Well, they took my knife," grumbled Felgate. "Ah! What fools these -Dutchmen are! Look! Why should we not take some small articles that -might aid our escape?" - -He pointed to the walls, where hung several small knives. We -immediately secured one each, and in addition concealed a few iron -spikes under our clothing, chuckling to ourselves at the folly of our -captors in searching us before we were left alone amid so terrible yet -useful an array of instruments. - -Then, having completed our inspection, we seated ourselves on the -framework of the rack, relapsing into a silence that was broken only by -the occasional scamper of a swarm of rats across the floor, and the -rippling of a stream of water outside the thick stone walls of our -prison. - -The solitude was unbearable, though we never stopped to consider what it -would have been like had we been placed in separate rooms. At length -Felgate stood up, and, seizing a hammer that was used apparently to -drive the wedges into the boot, he strode across to the door and began -to thunder a rain of blows upon it. Then he waited, but for all the -good it did he might well have saved himself the trouble. No one came -to see who was the cause of the clamour, and silence again reigned -supreme. - -The hours rolled slowly by, and just as the daylight that filtered -through the narrow windows began to fade, our prison door was thrown -open and the guards reappeared. Hardly able to repress a smile that -flitted across his grim features, the sergeant deliberately walked up to -Felgate, relieved him of the knife and two spikes that he had concealed, -and replaced them. Greville and I were served in the same manner, our -crestfallen faces plainly showing our dismay. We had been watched -through some secret spy-hole during the whole time we were left, as we -had imagined, alone. - -Once more we were taken into the presence of the magistrate, who, -phlegmatic as ever, merely raised one eyebrow slightly and tapped the -book in front of him with the feathered end of his pen. - -The gesture was impressive with its silent enquiry, but with the -obstinacy of our race we again refused to give any pledge that would -debar us from making any attempt at escape. A sign, and we were hurried -from the burgomaster's presence, and, with a file of pikemen surrounding -us, we were taken, not to that loathsome dungeon, but into the open air. - -Through crowds of silent spectators we were marched, along a broad -street planted with tall trees, the light of the buildings on the far -side being reflected in the placid waters of a canal. Then we crossed a -drawbridge, and a hundred yards farther our guards halted outside a -building the entrance to which was gained by a double flight of broad -stone steps. - -A challenge and a password were exchanged, and we were handed over to -another armed guard, who escorted us to a small room, which, though -roughly furnished, was a surprisingly comfortable prison. Some bundles -of straw were thrown on the floor, a plain though ample meal was -provided, and we were left to ourselves once more. - -It was now late, but for several hours we tossed uneasily on our straw -couches, till, worn out with the excitement and fatigue, we fell asleep, -to be awakened only too soon by the entry of our jailers. - -By signs they informed us that we were to start on a long journey, and -providing us with blankets and klompen, or wooden shoes similar to the -sabots of the French, they left us to enjoy another meal of porridge, -rusk bread, and cheese. - -An hour later they returned, and rolling our blankets they fastened them -bandolier fashion across one shoulder and under the other. Our shoes, -though admirable for wear on board ship, were useless on a rough road, -so these were slung round our necks and the klompen were placed upon our -feet. Our captors were of a mind to treat us kindly, but I must admit -that walking in these clumsy wooden shoes occasioned us no little -discomfort. - -Where our destination was we could not discover. Our guards would not, -or could not, understand the enquiries we made in dumb-show, but when -clear of the city our route lay to the north. - -For miles we marched between the files of our escort of pikemen, and we -had ample opportunities of studying the nature of the land, which in no -small measure well deserves the name of the Low Countries. The road was -bordered with an avenue of trees that served to break the monotony that -the broad expanse of flat country affords. There were scores of -windmills all busily engaged, not in grinding wheat, but in pumping -water from the drains and throwing it over the dykes. - -These dykes, which were cut by the Hollanders to such good purpose -during their desperate resistance against the might of Spain, were -massive embankments planted with sedge and reeds, and faced in places -with straw so as to resist the sea better. As we progressed we saw -nothing of the ocean, though it was said that the place where we were -walking was well below the sea level. - -We passed through numerous villages, the inhabitants of which flocked -out to see us, though they behaved courteously, and refrained from -insulting us, a contrast to the behaviour of our own countrymen to their -Dutch prisoners. - -After marching for over two hours we arrived at a town called Delft, -where the curiosity caused by our progress was somewhat alienated by a -sight that greatly astonished us. A crowd of townspeople was -approaching us, and in the centre walked a portly _vrouw_, wearing a -weighty vessel not unlike a butter churn, her head appearing through a -hole, the rest of her being hidden inside the wooden barrel. Her -miserable plight made her the butt of the crowd. But for what reason -she was undergoing this punishment we could not discover, though I doubt -not that she was a scold, such as we in England place in the ducking -stool. - -We halted for an hour at Delft, the pikemen refreshing themselves by -taking enormous quantities of ale, while we were fain to be content with -a loaf of bread, cheese, and a pitcher of water. A woman, taking -compassion on us, however, sent a little girl to us with a jug brimming -with fresh milk. - -We talked freely, none of the soldiers apparently understanding our -conversation, and discussed the possibility of making our escape. - -"Could we but once slip between the men, I think we should be -swift-footed enough to shake them off," remarked Felgate. "What with -their breastplates and headpieces their running would be like to that of -Goliath of Gath." - -"True!" replied Drake. "But with these wretched wooden shoes----" and -he pointed meaningly at his feet. - -"We can make out that they gall our heels, and take them off for a -while; then at the favourable moment--you, Drake, can give the -word--we'll make a dash for freedom." - -"And after----?" I enquired. - -"That remains to be seen," rejoined Felgate. - -While we conversed I could not help noticing that the sergeant eyed us -sharply more than once; and whether it was merely fancy or not, I could -not help thinking that I had seen him before. But as very few Dutchmen -had made my acquaintance (and these only as enemies) I dismissed the -idea from my mind. - -The man was short, thick-set, with a heavy beard that concealed most of -his features, but the look in his eyes betokened that he was no infant -in the art of war, and could, if occasion served, prove a harsh -taskmaster. - -At length the order was given to proceed. At a mile from Delft, Felgate -began to limp. His example was quickly followed by Drake, and shortly -after I adopted the same ruse, though in reality I had good cause to do -so, the unaccustomed nature of my footgear beginning to have an ill -effect. - -Soon Drake stopped, pointed to his shoes, and made signs that he could -not walk farther. The pikemen came to a halt and looked at us -sympathetically, while the sergeant talked volubly. We seized the -opportunity of pulling off the klompen and replacing our own shoes, and -the march was resumed. - -The country was perfectly flat, as hitherto, but the dykes were at a -greater distance from the road. Though they shut in our range of vision -we knew that dry land lay beyond, as we could discern several windmills, -roofs of houses, and trees on the other side. - -The pikemen struggled on, apparently fatigued by the heat of the day. -Drake touched my arm and whispered: "Be ready!" I was all alertness, -waiting for the signal to break away. - -Suddenly Felgate staggered, as if seized with faintness, and fell on his -hands and knees. The soldier immediately behind, unable to check -himself, fell over him; then, with a loud cry of "Now!" Felgate jumped -to his feet, and, followed by us, rushed off towards the nearest dyke. - -Our guards, to our surprise, did not attempt to follow us; instead, they -stood looking at us, till, at a command from the sergeant, they spread -out, some remaining still, the rest marching slowly in both directions -along the road. - -Wondering at this manoeuvre we still ran, looking backwards at -intervals. When close to the dyke we saw that the pikemen had extended -over a distance of one hundred yards, and were now making their way in a -long straggling line straight for the dyke. - -We redoubled our efforts, climbed up the soft sandy embankment, and -gained the top. Here we found that a broad ditch barred our progress. -"On, lads, on!" cried Felgate. "These scurvy pikemen will never dare -cross this with the weight of their accoutrements." - -Carried away by his words, we dashed down the slope of the dyke, only to -find, too late, that a broad belt of liquid mud, thickly interspersed -with sedge, lay betwixt us and the water. In a moment we were all -struggling up to our waists in the impenetrable ooze. - -At length, worn out by our fruitless endeavours to extricate ourselves, -we waited motionless in the slime till the grinning faces of the pikemen -appeared above the bank. By this time we had sunk nearly to our -shoulders; but by the aid of the men's pikes we were hauled on to dry -land, amid the coarse jests and laughter of our rescuers. - -We were in a truly miserable plight, the mud clinging to our wet -garments like pitch, while the stench was abominable. To complete our -discomfiture, the sergeant tapped his petronel significantly and -exclaimed in perfect English: "Now, sirrahs, you will perceive that -escape is no easy matter. Another attempt and I'll warrant ye will not -fare half so lightly." - -We gazed on him in amazement; then Drake exclaimed: "My man, if thou'rt -not a renegade, then may I not see England again!" - -"As you will," rejoined the sergeant, and ordered the men to fall in. -Then we regained the highway and resumed our weary way. - -It was late in the evening ere we arrived at our destination, which -proved to be the town of Haarlem, of which I had heard much with -reference to its stubborn defence against the Spaniards. This was to be -our prison for many dreary months. - -We were placed in separate rooms, though during the day we were -permitted to take exercise together. For a long time we hardly dared -mention the possibilities of escape, with the thought of our previous -attempt fresh in our minds. We frequently discoursed on the probable -events that were occurring at home, but our guards refrained from giving -us any information on the subject, though one or two of our new -custodians spoke a few words of broken English at intervals. - -Thus we knew not of the glorious victory of Albemarle over de Ruyter on -the 25th of July following our capture; but by the sullen demeanour of -the soldiers we guessed that once more the States of Holland were -suffering for their audacity in questioning our supremacy on the sea. - -Autumn passed, and winter, with intense cold, drew on apace. About this -time I made an important discovery, which served to throw a little light -on the mystery that enshrouded my existence. - -One day the renegade sergeant came into my apartment. He had grown -somewhat communicative of late, talking freely of the country in whose -service he was, though very reserved in matters pertaining to the land -of his birth. The feeling that I had seen him before grew apace, till -on this occasion I asked him bluntly why he took service with our -enemies. - -His reply was a hideous scowl, and like a flash the truth came to my -mind--it was Increase Joyce, my father's murderer! - -For a moment I could scarce refrain from throwing myself upon him; but -reflecting that little would be gained thus, and that much might be -obtained by strategy, I refrained, and, shrugging my shoulders -indifferently, I turned from him and walked to the farther part of the -room. - -I saw him no more that day, but on the day following he again entered my -apartment or cell--call it which you will. Though feigning to avoid -conversation with him, I found that his moody fit had passed, and that -he was willing to talk. - -Little by little I gathered his history, which, though mostly lies, gave -me an insight into his movements and plans. - -He had, he said, fled the country at the Restoration for political -reasons, a price having been set upon his head. (I smiled grimly at -this, knowing only too well why his head was thus valued.) He had -served as a soldier of fortune on the Rhine and in the Low Countries, -finally joining the army of the States of Holland and rising to his -present rank; though, in justice to the Dutch be it said, he was never -allowed to take up arms against his own countrymen. - -I had heard enough for once, and for the time being I resolved not to -mention the matter either to Drake or to Felgate. - -Of what was taking place betwixt England and Holland we learned little. -Occasionally we had a visit from the governor of the fortress, a Major -Van der Wycke, a courteous and honest soldier, who carefully refrained -from hurting our susceptibilities with reference to the war, though he -told us of the great fire that practically destroyed the best part of -London. This we were told on Christmas Day, over three months after its -occurrence. - -Very slowly the days passed. Winter gave place to spring, yet no sign -of our being released was given us, neither did any loophole of escape -present itself. One day Joyce came into my room with the news that he -was leaving the service of the States of Holland, and had a good offer -for his sword from the King of France. He seemed very elated, and now -was the time to obtain what information I could. - -"Thou art a Yorkshireman, perchance?" I enquired offhandedly, -interrupting him in the midst of a rambling statement. - -"I a Yorkshireman? Never, young sir!" - -"Then from Lincolnshire, doubtless?" - -"Nor from Lincolnshire. Why didst think so?" - -"From thy manner of speech, Sergeant," I replied, forcing a laugh. "It -savours much of the north." - -"I have travelled much, and know both those counties well." - -"Then perchance Midgley is known to you, Sergeant?" - -"I cannot recall the name. Where is it?" - -"It is my native village," I asserted, with a slight deviation from the -truth. "It lies betwixt Pontefract and Holwick." - -At the mention of Holwick he started, yet, retaining command over his -feelings, he remarked: "I know it not. But, beshrew me! the name of -Holwick reminds me---- Dost know Holwick well?" - -"Passably," I replied offhandedly. "There is a market cross, a church, -a score or so of stone houses, a castle more or less in ruin, and a----" - -"A castle, sayest thou?" he interrupted excitedly. "And who lives -there?" - -"I cannot say." - -"Ah! Now, concerning this castle," he remarked, tapping his clay pipe -on his heel with such vehemence that the stem broke in three places, "I -have heard that a goodly store of treasure lies hidden there. In fact, -an old comrade of mine, who lay stricken to death on the field of -Marston Moor, did bestow upon me a paper whereby the treasure should be -mine. But either he was befooling himself or me, for I could find -nothing." - -Here was a piece of good fortune. - -"Where did you look?" I enquired disinterestedly. - -"Where did I look? Now, out on me for a dolt! I delved every night for -more than a fortnight, till the countryside rang with tales of the ghost -of Holwick, and none would venture near o' nights, and hardly by day." - -"Were the directions fully adhered to?" - -He looked fixedly at me for a moment, as if suspecting my thoughts, then -from his pocket he produced the identical metal box that he had filched -from my father's corse. Again I could hardly refrain from springing -upon him; but discretion is ever the better part of valour. - -From the box he drew a folded paper, yellow with age, and discoloured -and torn with frequent usage. - -"Mark you, what a jargon! 'Without ye two tall of ye thirty-two paces -right dig Holwick may the treasure give full out mine whereas my----' -Did ever a man have such a frail clue?" - -"Then what did you do?" - -"Do? I dug thirty-two paces from the castle walls on all sides save the -west, for at that distance there was naught but a muddy stream. It might -be thirty-two paces from the church, the cross, or what not. But I have -a mind to make one more attempt ere I go to France. If that fails, then -my right I'll sell to the first Jew that makes me an offer." - -"Let me see if I can make aught of it," I said, carelessly stretching -out my hand. To my delight Joyce handed it to me, and I saw the writing -I knew so well. - -For over an hour we talked, I, for my part, throwing out idle -suggestions and listening to Joyce's explanations, trying at the same -time to commit the apparently senseless words to memory. - -Suddenly the door was flung open and the governor appeared. With a -motion of his hand he signed for Joyce to withdraw, and the villain went -out, leaving the precious document in my hands. Major Van der Wycke -used to do the rounds in a somewhat erratic fashion, and for this once I -thanked his eccentricity. When he went he desired the sergeant to -accompany him, and for the time being I was at liberty to copy the -mysterious message. - -I had not quill nor crayon nor paper. I had read of men writing with -their blood, but this method appeared very unsatisfactory. At length I -bethought me of the fire, and taking a piece of charcoal I scrawled the -words on the under side of my table. This I did, promising myself to -ask for pens and paper at the first opportunity, and barely had I -finished my task when the renegade reappeared. - -"Where's that paper?" asked he. "I'll venture that your wits are no -sharper than mine." - -I handed it back to him with the remark that it conveyed nothing, and -wished him all the luck he deserved. This double-barrelled compliment -he took as favourable to himself, and after a short further conversation -he left. - -That night Joyce quitted Haarlem, and I was not fated to see him again -for some time. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII--Showing that there are Two Means of Leaving a Prison - - -With the lengthening days our hopes of effecting an escape increased. -The vigilance of our guards had somewhat relaxed, and we were allowed to -remain in one another's company for a much longer period. - -Felgate and Greville discussed innumerable plans with me, but in every -case a serious obstacle arose that necessitated the abandonment of that -particular scheme, till one day the long-hoped-for opportunity arrived. - -In the middle of the month of June--I had just celebrated my twentieth -birthday in a very despondent style--Van der Wycke came to us one -morning with a beaming face that showed that something very unusual had -occurred to upset the stolidity of this typical Dutchman. - -"Ah, Mynheer Drake," he said in his very broken English, "I must tell -you ze goot news for us, but bad news for you. Our ships have broken -all ze Englischman, Chatham is burnt, and ve vill even now take London." -And in this style he told us the heartbreaking news of the -never-to-be-forgotten disgrace at Chatham, of the burning or sinking of -the _Royal Oak_, the _James_, the _London_, and several other smaller -vessels. He also said that His Majesty and the Court and Parliament had -removed to Bristol, though this latter information afterwards proved to -be false. - -For days we remained too sick at heart to attempt an escape; but early -in the month of July we were informed that our prison was to be -limewashed, and that for a few days at least we were to be kept in one -room at the farther side of the building. - -I had long before this secured a careful copy of the paper that Increase -Joyce had shown me, and this I kept concealed on my person, so that in -any case I should still retain what might subsequently prove a valuable -piece of information. - -Our new quarters overlooked the town walls, and, the windows being lower -and larger than those of our former prison, we could easily observe what -was going on. - -The Hollanders were evidently making preparations to celebrate their -victory, for garlands and decorated masts were being displayed. This -served to increase our bitterness at heart, and, curiously enough, our -guards became particularly lax in their duties. In fact, but for the -purpose of supplying us with food, we were practically ignored. - -We soon discovered that the bars of one of the windows could easily be -wrenched from their fastenings, and with these removed only a ten-foot -drop lay between us and freedom. - -Carefully setting apart a portion of our rations, we soon secured enough -food to last us for a couple of days, and one evening, directly the -guards had visited us for the last time that night, Greville climbed on -Felgate's shoulders and attacked the crumbling mortar that kept the bars -in position. - -In less than an hour we succeeded, by dint of plenty of hard work, in -removing the bars, and all was ready for our flight. - -The night was dark, the stars being constantly hidden by dense masses of -drifting clouds, while the wind howled mournfully amid the trees that -lined the roadway within the ramparts. - -The steady tramp of a sentry showed the necessity of extreme caution, -and the clocks chimed ten ere the man was visited by the rounds. Half -an hour later he left his post and disappeared--in all probability to -enjoy a quiet sleep. - -"Now is our time," whispered Drake, and squeezing his body through the -aperture he dropped lightly upon the pavement. His example was quickly -and cautiously followed, and in less time than we expected we were -creeping along in the darkest shadows towards the open country. - -Instinct took us towards the sea, from which blew a stinging, salt-laden -breeze that caused a sensation of freedom, and when at length we gained -the summit of the last rush-grown dyke, we could see the waves lashing -the beach in so violent a manner as to make an attempt to escape by boat -an absolute impossibility. - -However, the hours of darkness were fleeting fast, so we pressed on -along the shore, peering through the darkness to try and secure a safe -shelter. Soon we came upon a small hamlet, of which every house was in -darkness, though the occasional barking of dogs warned us that the place -was to be avoided. A short distance beyond was a small haven, wherein -we could see several boats of all sizes riding easily at anchor. - -The wind had now veered more to the north-'ard, and with it a heavy rain -came on. This decided us, and, trusting that the downpour would deaden -the force of the wind, we launched a small boat and pulled off to a -galliot of about twenty tons burthen. - -We approached her cautiously, for fear that she might have someone -sleeping on board. On coming alongside we fended off our frail cockle -shell, while Felgate climbed softly up her sides and gained the deck. -She was open amidships, but had a cuddy for'ard and a small cabin under -her poop. - -Felgate made his way aft, and we saw him disappear under the shadow of -the poop. A moment later and he reappeared, glided across the deck, and -explored the cuddy. Everything appeared satisfactory, so we joined him, -sending the dinghy adrift. - -The galliot carried two masts, the after one only being set up. The -foremast was housed in a tabernacle and lay on the deck. We manned a -windlass, and with a dismal creaking, that alarmed us mightily, the mast -slowly rose to an upright position. Then it was an easy matter to -spread the great tanned sail, and having slipped the cable we stood -westwards towards England and freedom. - -Once clear of the haven we felt the lift of the ocean as the vessel -heeled to the breeze. Drake and I stood by the tiller, while Felgate -went for'ard to keep a bright lookout. - -There was no longer need for silence, and our tongues wagged merrily at -the thought of our escape. The galliot was, like all Dutch craft, of -great beam, with bluff bows and an ugly square stern. She would, we had -little doubt, prove a good sea boat, but sluggish in a light wind. As -it was, the steady breeze was just strong enough to make her lively, and -it was with satisfaction that we saw the dim outline of the low-lying -coast get fainter and fainter. - -Suddenly a massive post, crowned by a triangle, loomed out on our -starboard bow. - -"Steady there!" shouted Felgate; "there's a beacon ahead." - -"Which side shall we make for?" asked Greville. - -"Quick, Aubrey, try a cast!" said Felgate, and I picked up a heavy piece -of metal which happened to be lying near, fastened a line to it, and -threw it overboard. Less than three fathoms! Again I tried, and -touched the bottom in little more than two. - -"'Bout ship!" shouted Drake, bearing down on the long tiller, and the -galliot, her sails flapping in the wind like the wings of a wounded -bird, came about slowly yet surely, the breeze filled her sails as she -lay on the other tack, and once more she slipped into deep water. - -But the result of this manoeuvre was bewildering. The blackness that -precedes the dawn is always greatest; the shore was invisible, and our -sole guide as to direction was the wind, which we hoped still blew from -the same quarter. All around were the short, steep, white-crested waves -that are so typical of the shallow waters around the Dutch coasts, while -our range of vision on all sides was limited to a space of about a -hundred yards of heaving water. - -"Keep the lead going!" ordered Greville, and feverishly I made cast -after cast with my rough-and-ready leadline. - -For some time I found no bottom with four fathoms, which was the -available length of the line, and I was on the point of giving up the -task with a feeling that we were clear of the shallows, when I felt the -sinker touch bottom. - -The boat was once more put about and the lead kept going, but still the -depth remained the same, or, rather, slightly shoaling. Again we -tacked, but our efforts to find deeper water were unavailing, and at -last the galliot ran aground with a slight shock on a bed of soft sand. - -With a falling tide our position was hopeless, and when daylight dawned -and objects became visible, we found to our dismay that we were within -half a mile of the shore, and in full view of the hamlet from which we -had taken the galliot. As we had been sailing for over two hours, we -must have doubled backwards and forwards for want of keeping a proper -course, our numerous tacks having completely bewildered us. - -The inhabitants of the town of Haarlem were abroad early, and it was -evident that our ignominious situation had come to their knowledge, for -crowds lined the shore looking steadfastly in our direction. - -At about six in the morning the tide had left us high and dry, and the -boundless expanse of sandbanks showed us how hopeless was our task on a -dark night. Thoroughly disheartened and ashamed, we withdrew to the -cabin, where we awaited the arrival of the soldiers who were to take us -back to captivity. - -"Ah, goot-morning, Mynheer!" was the greeting of the governor, as he -made his way across the sloping deck of the galliot, his usually grave -visage puckered with a thousand wrinkles, while his eyes twinkled with -grim humour. - -"Take us and do whatever you will," replied Felgate savagely, "but for -any sake taunt us not!" - -Van der Wycke bowed in well-feigned gravity. - -"Pardon, Mynheer," he replied, "but you yourselves haf put to much -trouble for nothing. You are now free!" - -And to our astonishment we learned how that peace had been proclaimed at -Breda on the previous day, and that our futile attempt might well not -have taken place. - -Needless to say, our further stay in the Low Countries was hurried as -quickly as possible, and next day a stout little brig conveyed us from -Rotterdam to London. The joys of seeing our native land once more were -somewhat damped by the pitiful sight of the blackened hulls of our -men-of-war that had been sunk off the mouth of the Thames. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII--The Veil is Partly Drawn - - -Directly I set foot once more on English soil I hastened to Portsmouth, -though on my journey thither I did stay a while at Rake, for the sake of -old memories. On my arrival at Portsmouth I found my uncle looking -careworn and haggard, due to the constant strain and worry that his -duties in the dockyard entailed, for discontent amongst the workmen had -almost grown into open mutiny. So ill paid were they that in some cases -families were starving while work was plentiful. - -As the 23rd day of April, 1668, drew near, that being my twenty-first -birthday, I found that I was becoming more and more excited over the -vague rumours that I had heard from time to time respecting the -remarkable disclosures that were to be made under the terms of my -father's will. - -Nor was the excitement confined to myself. My uncle busied himself till -all traces of his worry lost themselves in his activity; my aunt bustled -about the house, driving the servants hither and thither, bringing linen -from the huge oak chest, furbishing the massive furniture, and causing a -huge supply of viands to be prepared for the entertainment of our -guests--for the invited company numbered close on a score, so that our -house would be filled to overflowing, and rooms had to be engaged at -"The Bell Inn" and "The Blue Posts". - -On the Monday preceding the eventful day the guests began to arrive. -There were Sir George Lee, greyer and more bent than of yore, Master -Hugh Salesbury, Lawyer Whitehead, all from the neighbourhood of Rake; my -old shipmates, Greville Drake and Felgate, the latter accompanied by his -young wife, whom he had lately wedded, and several others who had been -friends of my father long before I could remember. - -My birthday eve they kept in high style, the men smoking long clay -pipes, till our dining-room was enveloped in a cloud of tobacco smoke, -so that my aunt declared that her best hangings would reek for days like -a London coffee tavern, whereat Sir George pacified her by saying that -the weed of Virginia is ever a sovereign safeguard against the plague! - -My twenty-first birthday came at last, and at ten in the morning we all -assembled in our largest room, where, after I had received the -congratulations of my friends, the long-expected legal formality began. - -I sat at the head of the long oak table, with Lawyer Whitehead on my -right and Sir George on my left, the others being seated at the sides. -Before the lawyer was placed a heavy brass-bound box, which, besides -being locked, was fastened with a formidable-looking red seal. - -With a solemn bow Master Whitehead stood up, and, clearing his throat -with a professional cough, began in a dry, legal manner: - -"In accordance with the instruction laid down by my late client, Master -Owen Wentworth, I have to make the announcement that his son, who this -day attains his majority, can now take upon himself his rightful title, -Sir Aubrey Wentworth of Holwick, in the county of Yorks." - -At this astounding information my senses became numb, and I could but -dimly see the faces of my friends and hear the indistinct murmur of -astonishment and congratulation from those of my guests who up to the -present were not in the secret. - -"The late Owen Wentworth, by reason of his excessive loyalty to His -Majesty the King, and of his careful thought for the proper upbringing -of his son during the past troublous times, did part with a portion of -his family estates and personal property in order to furnish His Majesty -with such aid as all loyal cavaliers were bound by their duty to give. -The residue, which is no inconsiderable amount, he hid in a secure -place, taking good care that it should come to his son on his attaining -the age of twenty-one, provided that he showed great promise of filling -his position in a right and proper manner. The recovery of the hidden -treasure will depend on certain conditions imposed by Sir Owen (to give -him his rightful title), and these conditions were written and entrusted -to my keeping." Here the lawyer tapped the box with his finger and -proceeded to break the seal. This done, he produced a small key and -unlocked the box. The hinges creaked as he threw back the lid and -disclosed a number of parchments all neatly tied with faded ribbon. - -Placing the documents on the table, the lawyer continued. "I have -here," he said, "a third part of a sheet of writing, which, when united -to its fellows, will disclose the exact position of the hidden riches of -Holwick. Another portion worthy Sir George hath, while you, Sir Aubrey, -must in truth produce the third part." - -At this the knight laid down a paper which I recognized as the one that -had been read by him under such strange circumstances at Rake, some -eight years before, and the light flashed across me--the senseless -jargon that he had read was part of a secret code whereby I should -inherit my fortune. - -"Now, Sir Aubrey, where is your share of the document?" - -I stammered that I had not such a paper. - -"Then----" - -"Stay one moment, Master Whitehead," said Sir George; "if I remember -aught, Sir Aubrey never had his part of the document delivered to him. -His father expressly stated that a metal box was to be given to him, and -under pains and penalties he was not to open it to this day. But, as we -know, that box was filched, and therefore Sir Aubrey could not possibly -have opened it, neither can he be held accountable for its contents." - -"True, true! Sir George," replied Master Whitehead; "but unfortunately, -though Sir Aubrey is not to be held accountable, the fact remains that -the complete solution is missing, and, as my late client refused to make -a duplicate, the secret is as far off as ever." - -Here I could not forbear from interrupting the argument betwixt the -knight and the lawyer. - -"But I have a copy of the part that should have been entrusted to me!" - -"Heaven bless the boy!" ejaculated Sir George. "Where is it, and how -came you by it?" - -In answer I rushed off to my own room, laid hold of the precious copy, -and returned. - -"Here it is!" I shouted triumphantly, handing it to Master Whitehead, -and straightway I told them of my meeting with Increase Joyce, and how I -secured the temporary possession of the filched document. - -"Now for the test," remarked Sir George when I had finished my tale, and -straightway the three papers were placed side by side on the table, -everyone crowding round to read what the joint document would reveal. - -The paper which I produced did not correspond with the others, and the -lawyer twisted and turned them about for some considerable time. At -length a puckered frown overspread his wizened face, and he beat upon -the table with his fingers with the air of a man who has sustained a -momentary check. - -"'To Beverley without ye gate on ye highway----' that reads aright; but -the next line doth not seem in keeping with the rest. How now, Sir -George, if thy wits are as sharp as thy sword----" - -But Sir George Lee shook his head. "Troth!" he ejaculated, "if a man of -law cannot frame the wording of a document, how can I, a country -gentleman, hope to do it?" - -"Methinks I can help you," spoke a soft, sweet voice, and looking up I -saw Mistress Felgate, who, hand in hand with her husband, had been a -silent yet interested listener to the discussion. - -The lawyer rose, and with great courtesy placed his hand over his heart -and bowed, yet his manner betokened a professional scorn for feminine -advice. - -"At your service, madam." - -"Then begin with the bottommost line and read upwards." - -"'Whereas my sonne having trulie carried out mine desires----'" - -"Faith, sweetest, thy wits have proved better than the lawyer's!" -interrupted Felgate, bringing his fist down heavily on the table in his -excitement. - -"'----Mine desires'" resumed Master Whitehead, receiving the -interruption with a deprecatory cough, "'I doe hereby give full -directions in soe that the treasures of mine house at Holwick may come -to him by right. Digge IIJ feet down at XXXII paces from y^e west side -of y^e wall, keeping in line II tall fir trees that doe lie without y^e -gate on y^e highway to Beverley.'" - -"Nothing particularly difficult about these instructions," remarked my -uncle. - -"I think so too," I replied; "and even now that villain Joyce may be -making a second and possibly successful attempt to recover what is mine -by rights. Indeed, from what he told me, he must have been very near -the spot." - -"There is little time to be lost," replied Sir George. "My advice to -you is that you travel hotfoot to Holwick, and leave nothing undone till -you lay hands on the treasure. Would I were a score or so of years -younger and I would bear you company with the greatest of pleasure." - -"I'll start to-morrow!" I exclaimed resolutely. - -"I am with you, Aubrey," said Drake, grasping my hand. - -"And I cannot desert my old shipmates," added Felgate. "So I hoist the -signal for permission to part company; and if my senior officer will -comply, I'll weigh anchor with you to-morrow." - -Mistress Felgate gave her permission with the stipulation that her -husband must run no needless risks, the compact was sealed by a kiss -bestowed by her gallant and unabashed bridegroom, and the conversation -was resumed, while mirth and gaiety reigned supreme. - -My mind, however, was too full of feverish anxiety for me to enjoy the -festivities, and drawing Greville aside, I discussed our forthcoming -journey. - -"And if you find that Joyce has forestalled you?" he asked. - -"Then I'll track him to the utmost end of the earth." - -"And then----?" - -"Greville, you know that I am not a revengeful man by nature, but I -swear that that villain dies by my hand." - -"Then why didn't you kill him at Haarlem?" - -"And get hanged for my pains? No, no! 'Tis a waiting game." - -Presently Felgate joined us, and together we slipped out of the house, -crossed the street, and entered the establishment that Nicholas Wade ran -under the designation of posting stables. - -The owner, bald-headed, high-shouldered, and bow-legged like many of his -class, came forth and mincingly asked what we required. - -"Horses, man, horses! The best you have in your stables. - -"For how long, your honour?" - -"As long as it serves us. This bay will suit me." - -"And I take a fancy to that black mare," added Drake. - -"Nay, you've forestalled me," rejoined Felgate laughingly. "But no -matter, the brown nag will serve me, for of a verity I feel more at home -in a jollyboat than on the back of that beast." - -The question of terms was quickly settled, and the mounts were ordered -to be brought round at nine the next morning. Then we went back to -enjoy the festivities, longing the while for the morrow to come. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX--How Three Horsemen set out for the North - - -Punctually to the minute our steeds were brought round, the farewells -were said, and with a loose rein we cantered down the narrow -cobble-paved street towards the Landport Gate. The horses' hoofs echoed -under the dark gateway and clattered across the drawbridge, the town of -Portsmouth was left behind, and the dense cluster of timbered and -red-tiled houses gave place to verdant fields and clumps of tall trees -that even now were beginning to burst into leaf. - -We were each armed with sword and pistols, for the highways were far -from safe, and we wot not what awaited us at our journey's end. The -fine spring morning told on our spirits and we were in good humour. -Conversation, mingled with laugh and jest, flowed fast, and one would -have imagined we were setting out for a holiday rather than on an -expedition on which fortune, nay life and death, depended. - -At the summit of Portsdown we halted to look back upon the good old -seaport once more, then we cantered easily down the long slope to the -village of Purbrook. Then came the steady climb through the Forest of -Bere, where memories of a journey seven years before rose before my -mind. - -At Butser we reined our horses while I pointed out the scene of my -encounter with the three Dorset smugglers. Then we reached the lofty -summit of the road, from which the magnificent view of the valley of the -Rother could be seen under its fairest conditions. - -At Petersfield we stopped for our midday meal, and after giving our -horses a well-earned rest, we resumed our way northward till the bold -headline of Hindhead loomed up in front of us. - -At Rake we stopped to visit the scenes of old associations, calling in -at the "Flying Bull", where Giles Perrin, now grey-haired, bent, and -decrepit, still followed his calling. - -"Lord ha' mercy on me if 'tis not young Master Wentworth!" he exclaimed, -showing that, though grown in stature, I had not outgrown the appearance -of my boyhood; and when Drake told him of my newly found title, the old -man tottered away to let the frequenters of the inn know the news; -whereat we, unwilling to tarry longer, pushed on towards the towering -heights of Hindhead. - -Presently we crossed a heath beyond which we could perceive the village -of Liphook. In the distance we could make out a crowd of people whose -infuriated shouts were plainly audible. - -"Come on, lads, let's see what this uproar means!" shouted Felgate, and, -setting spur to our steeds, we soon covered the distance that lay -between us and the howling mob. - -The cause of the tumult was soon plain. At the outskirts of the village -was a small stagnant pond, by the side of which was erected a post with -a swinging beam. At one end of the beam was a rough chair in which was -bound a miserable old woman of repulsive appearance, whose face bore a -look of mute despair. Around her the crowd surged, yelling: "Duck her! -Duck the witch!" while eggs and filth were thrown with no uncertain aim -at the unhappy specimen of humanity whom the mob had seen fit to bait. - -As we approached, the crowd, too intent to notice our coming, had seized -the beam and were swinging it over the pond with the object of immersing -the occupant of the ducking stool. - -We reined in for a moment to take counsel amongst ourselves. - -"Rescue her by all means," said Felgate. - -"But she is a witch; beware of the evil eye," demurred Drake, who, like -all West-countrymen, deeply believed in witchcraft and sorcery, far more -so than dwellers in other parts of England. - -"Witch or no witch, she is a woman," retorted Felgate, "and it behoves -all true gentlemen to protect a woman in danger." - -With that we spurred forward and reached the outskirts of the crowd just -as the great beam was being slowly lowered into the water. - -"Hold!" shouted Felgate authoritatively, forcing his horse into the -press. The mob gave way, still shouting fierce imprecations against the -terrified old woman, and making hostile demonstrations against the -interrupters of their fiendish sport. - -"Who is responsible for this conventicle?" he continued, urging his -horse towards the ducking stool. - -"I am, worthy sir," replied a short, stout man with heavy, beetling -brows, who stood his ground doggedly. - -"And who are you, sirrah?" demanded Felgate, giving him a fierce look -that cowed him for the time. "And where is your warrant for this deed?" - -"By virtue of the act passed in the reign of His Majesty King James the -First, of blessed memory, concerning the punishment of sorcerers, -witches, warlocks, and the like." - -"Tut, tut, man, the statute is dead! Have you a magistrate's warrant, -Form 226, giving you authority for this? Quick, answer me! I am a -King's officer, so on your peril speak truly!" - -The man shook his head. - -"Then let her go free!" - -Here the mob redoubled its cries, and a few missiles came hurtling -through the air towards us. - -"Draw, comrades, draw!" shouted Felgate, and, unsheathing our swords, we -urged our horses through the crowd till we reined up abreast of our -chivalrous friend. - -"Would ye have 'em take a witch out of your hands?" cried the officious -man, appealing to the crowd. - -"No! No! Down with them, and death to the witch!" came like a hoarse -roar from the excited crowd. - -"Ay, ay, down with them!" repeated their incautious leader, seizing -Felgate's horse by the bridle and attempting to force it on its -haunches. - -His ill-advised action soon earned its reward, for Felgate struck him a -heavy blow with the hilt of his sword, then, clutching at him as he -fell, he backed his horse through the crowd till he reached the edge of -the pond. Then with a mighty effort he flung the man into the slimy -water, where he fell with a heavy splash. A moment later he reappeared, -clambered to the bank, and made his way towards the village, cursing us -at the top of his voice. - -But the danger was not yet over, for the mob showed signs of a combined -and active resistance. Fortunately we were together by the side of the -pool, so that none of our attackers could get behind us. - -"Draw your pistols and fire at the first man who steps forward!" said -Felgate, loud enough for all to hear him. - -At the sight of six levelled weapons the crowd drew back; then, -satisfied that the cowards were properly cowed, Felgate jumped from his -horse, made his way to the ducking stool, and cut the bonds that held -the old crone to the chair. - -Baulked of their prey, the mob still surged round us, and with a shout -of: "Let 'em have the cat!" a great black object was sent flying towards -us, and, striking my horse on the crupper, resolved itself into an -enormous black cat, that spat and howled, digging its claws into the -horse's hide, and arching its back like the demon cat that is the -reputed companion of every witch. - -A word from the old woman caused the animal to jump towards her, and, -climbing on her shoulders, it mewed and purred with a fearsome delight. - -Lifting the beldam to his horse, Felgate placed her pillionwise behind -him. We closed in on either side, and, forcing our way through the mob, -our pistols still pointed ominously at them, we gained the highroad once -more, and trotted unmolested through the village of Liphook. - -Now that the danger was past, Drake and I could not help laughing at our -cavalier companion and his fair burden, for the hag had clasped him -tightly round the waist with her skinny arms, while the cat, perched on -her shoulders, was rubbing its head against the back of Felgate's plumed -hat, so that it was being continually thrust over his eyes despite his -frequent attempts to place it firmly on his head. - -"How far do you journey with your gentle burden?" quoth Greville. - -"Bless me for a landlubber if I thought of it at all!" replied Felgate. -"Say, mistress, where shall we set you down?" - -"At the top of the Devil's Punch Bowl, if it pleases you, sir," replied -the old woman in a quavering voice, "for then I shall be safe." - -"'Tis a big request, Felgate," I remarked, knowing that the summit of -Hindhead, close to which the Bowl is situated, was a good six miles off, -and an uphill road the whole way. - -"Never mind; a good deed but half done is a sorry performance." And -with this we set spurs to our horses and trotted briskly up the long -slope that led to the towering heights that showed clearly before us. - -Although I had oft journeyed across this bleak hill, never before had I -seen it under such depressing circumstances. The sun had long vanished -behind a bank of dark-grey, undefined clouds, while a cold wind howled -across our path, moaning through the treetops and raising clouds of -choking dust on the sun-dried highway. - -Just as we reached the summit, where the road makes a vast horseshoe -curve round the dark, forbidding cavity known as the Devil's Punch Bowl, -a heavy rainstorm came on, blotting out the horizon, while a vivid flash -of lightning, followed at a short interval by a tremendous clap of -thunder, startled our horses, and, be it confessed, ourselves as well. - -"Thunder in April! And in company with a witch! This smacks of His -Satanic Majesty with a vengeance!" muttered Drake, drawing closer to me. - -"Set me down here, sir," whined the hag, and Felgate having done so, she -turned towards us. - -"I have not far to go now--my home is down there," indicating with a -skinny finger the rain-blotted heathery pit beneath us. - -"And now," she continued, "take an old dame's blessing for your kindness -in helping the helpless, and may success reward your search." - -"Our search?" exclaimed Greville, astonished at her words. - -"Ay, your search," mumbled the old crone. - -"And shall we succeed?" I asked. - -"Not till the waters run dry!" she replied mysteriously, and with that -another flash of lightning left us blinking in semi-darkness. When we -looked round the witch had gone. A moment later we saw her making her -way with great agility down the steep slope of the Bowl, till she -disappeared from our view behind a large clump of heather and gorse. - -"Well, I'm----," and here Felgate broke off for want of a word to -express his surprise. - -"How did she know we were on a treasure hunt?" - -"That's more than I can tell," replied Drake, and drawing our cloaks -tighter around our shivering bodies, we rode down the hill, silent and -depressed, through the driving rain, towards the town of Godalming. - - - - -CHAPTER XX--What we Heard and Saw at Holwick. - - -The rest of our journey northward passed almost without incident. The -day after our arrival at Godalming we rode quickly through Guildford to -London, where we tarried no longer than we could possibly help, staying -that night in the village of Highgate. - -Four days later, following the seemingly endless Great North Road, we -arrived at the village of Bawtry, from which it is said most of our New -England colonists had come. This place is just over the Yorkshire -border, and to our unaccustomed ears the broad dialect seemed almost a -foreign tongue. - -Here we stayed the night, intending to make an early start, so as to be -at Holwick before sunset. An old farmer advised us to go by Thorne -rather than by Doncaster, and, taking his advice, we rode over a fairly -level road, which in three hours brought us in sight of the former -place. - -Here we followed a broad, sluggish river, whereon lay many -broad-bottomed craft not unlike those we had seen on the inland waters -of the Dutch Republic. This river they call the Don. When we left it -we crossed another--the Aire--at a place called Snaith. - -We were now but a few miles from our destination, and our hopes and -fears ran high. At Carleton we left the main road, and after a few miles -of a narrow winding lane the gaunt tower of Holwick rose before us. - -The village was a straggling one, consisting of a few stone cottages, an -indifferent inn, and a small church, its square tower, blackened by -fire, a silent witness to a long-forgotten Scottish raid. From its -lead-covered summit Old Noll himself had directed the attack upon my -father's stronghold. - -Poverty, through manorial neglect, was only too apparent, and I could -not help exclaiming despondently: "Look, friends! What a heritage, and -hardly a scrap of paper to prove my right to it!" - -We halted at the old inn, and enquired in a seemingly casual tone -whether we could be accommodated there. "For," quoth Felgate to the -servile landlord, "we have a desire to know more of this old castle, and -methinks that good fishing is obtainable in this stream." - -"Eh, my masters," replied he, "'tis not to be beaten in all Yorkshire -for good sport--trout, dace, chub, and even the lordly salmon; and as -for t'old castle--well, 'tis said that spooks be about. Leastwise I -never care to go yonder missen, for strange noises affright the whole -countryside!" - -"Oh!" I ejaculated. "And is that so?" - -"Ay, young sir. With the disappearance of Sir Owen, the owner of -Holwick, after the taking of the castle some two-and-twenty years ago by -the malignants--and a curse be on 'em all--Sir Owen was last seen -fighting his way through the rebel foot. They say he was killed, and -his body buried in the dry moat by the rebels; and ever since that time -we often hear most fearsome cries and noises." - -When we had arranged for a few days' stay, a serving man led our horses -away, and we entered the best room of the place. It was an -oak-panelled, wainscoted room, with a low, smoke-grimed ceiling that was -traversed by a massive beam. The floor was paved with large stones, -while an ingle nook and settle imparted a cheerful aspect to the -apartment. But what attracted my attention most was a mattock and a -couple of spades, with the rich red clay still sticking to them, lying -in a corner of the room. - -"Is our host a gravedigger as well as an innkeeper?" asked Drake, his -eye following the glance I gave at the implements. - -"Nay, Greville, it means that we are forestalled; someone is already at -work here." - -"Who?" - -"I'll wager 'tis none other than that villain Increase Joyce." - -"Ho, landlord!" shouted Felgate, in a voice that sounded like the -bellowing of a bull. - -Our host soon appeared, cringing and bowing like the menial that he was. - -"Where is the man that uses these things?" I demanded, pointing to the -spades and mattock. - -Our host, taken aback, stammered some inaudible reply. - -"Speak up, man!" I commanded sternly. - -"'Tis but a king's officer making a survey of the castle." - -"King's officer, forsooth! Now, listen! As you value your hide, answer -truly. We are king's officers; he is an arrant rogue and villain. For -aught I know you may be his accomplice. Now, where is he?" - -"He rode off this morning to Selby." - -"And he returns----?" - -"Sir, I know not--on my honour!" - -Whether the man lied or not I could not tell. His crafty face was -expressionless. - -"Now, listen, sirrah! Say not one word that we are here, but directly -he returns let us know. Fail us, or play us false, and you'll answer to -the king's justices at York." - -The landlord, thoroughly cowed, promised compliance, and we withdrew to -a remote room to await events. - -Twilight was drawing in as the sound of horse's hoofs was heard on the -hard road. We made our way to a window where we could overlook the -front of the inn, and the horseman proved without doubt to be the rogue -Joyce, though he was arrayed more gaily than of yore, and a -close-trimmed beard hid the lower part of his face. - -The landlord took his horse to the stables where ours were kept, and -Joyce made to follow, but with some inaudible remark the former -succeeded in inducing the villain to enter the house. - -In a few minutes we heard him calling for food and drink, and the -clattering of knives and platters showed that he was appeasing his -appetite with zest. - -It was a pitch-dark night; a keen easterly wind whistled through the -trees, while rain-laden, murky, ill-defined clouds drifted across the -sky. - -"Hist!" whispered Felgate, laying his hand on my arm. - -Cautiously out of the doorway crept the figure of a man, his form -muffled in a dark cloak, while a broad-brimmed hat was pulled down over -his face. In his hand he carried a horn lantern, while the jangle of -steel showed that the spades were to be brought to work. It was -Increase Joyce. - -With a stealthy tread he vanished down the road, hugging the buildings -as if fearful of meeting a benighted stranger in the now deserted -village. - -Without a word we buckled on our swords and left the inn, following -carefully in his track, pausing ever and anon to try and detect the -sound of his footsteps. - -At length we came to the confines of the castle grounds, where a thick -belt of trees added to the already overpowering darkness. Groping -blindly forward, stumbling over roots and colliding with unseen trunks -of trees, we continued our quest, fearful lest the crackling of a dry -twig or the clanking of our weapons should betray our whereabouts. - -Just as we reached the far side of the wood the sudden gleam of a -lantern being lit arrested us. Simultaneously we dropped on the -dew-sodden grass and awaited further developments. - -The ghostly light of the lantern flickered upon the grey walls of the -tower, casting the long shadow of the man upon it in grotesque shapes. -For a moment Joyce paused, then, turning towards us, began to walk, -counting the paces as he went. At the thirty-second he set the lantern -down, and, plying his spade with great vigour, sent the soil in all -directions, some of the dirt falling close to us. - -For over an hour he delved, till his laboured breathing showed how great -his efforts were. Five feet down he dug, till the heap of soil hid him -from us. - -"Now!" whispered Felgate, laying his hand on his swordhilt. - -"Nay! He has found naught. Let him enjoy his disappointment for a -while." - -Muttering curses at his want of success, Joyce dragged himself out of -the pit and walked towards the castle, leaving the lantern on the -ground. Then he began to pace afresh, but in a different direction, -till his form was lost in the darkness. - -For a while no sound save the occasional hoot of an owl and the rapidly -dying breeze broke the stillness as we waited for some signs of the -renewed efforts of the treasure seeker. - -Suddenly a hideous cry, so terrifying that it caused the blood to freeze -in our veins, echoed through the silence of the night. Accustomed -though we were to scenes of bloodshed and violence, this weird outburst, -the concentrated expression of mortal agony, held us spellbound. - -Drake was the first to recover himself, and, springing to his feet with -a shout, he drew his sword and dashed across the open space of grass, -while we followed close at his heels. - -Stopping but for a moment to possess himself of the lantern, he made his -way in the direction from which the sound had come. - -Something compelled him to halt, and we stopped too. At our feet flowed -the stream, its weed-encumbered waters looking black and forbidding in -the dim light of the lantern, as with silent eddies it swirled between -the steep rush-lined banks. - -"Aubrey, that man is beyond your vengeance; a Higher Power has claimed -him," exclaimed Greville, pointing with his weapon at a dark object -that, arrested by a dense growth of weeds, floated in the centre of the -stream. It was the hat of the doomed man, but not a bubble marked the -spot where he had sunk. - -In the presence of Death, that great leveller of rank and persons, we -removed our hats and stood in silence, our eyes riveted on the spot -under which the remains of my mortal enemy lay hidden from our view. - -Then, extinguishing the lantern, we made our way through the wood, -regained the road, and returned to the inn. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI--Our Search for the Treasure - - -The excitement of the previous night banished sleep from our eyes, and -rising betimes we formed our plans for the day's work. Now that Joyce -had gone to his last account there was no longer need for caution or -concealment of our plans, and to the utmost astonishment of the crafty -host of the Wentworth Inn, I was presented to him as the rightful lord -of Holwick. - -We thereupon breakfasted, and then made our way to the castle grounds. -Viewed by daylight the whole scene was changed. The grey old tower, -blackened by powder and fire, was so badly damaged as to be useless as a -place of abode, little tendrils of ivy already serving to clothe the -ruin with a kindly garb. The stream that looked so black in the -darkness now glittered in the warm sunlight, as if unmindful of the -tragedy that had been enacted but a few hours before. - -A careful search amid the dense masses of weed failed to give any clue -to the mysterious disappearance of the double-dyed villain, so we -concluded that his body must have escaped the tenacious grip of the -thick vegetable growth. - -On all sides rose little mounds of excavated earth, showing how -vigorously Joyce had pursued his quest for the hidden treasure, each -mound being thirty-two paces from the wall. - -"Now, Aubrey, let's to work," exclaimed Felgate, throwing off his cloak -and vest and rolling up his sleeves in a manner that showed his -enthusiasm. - -"Here, take the document and apply the directions to the actual place," -I remarked. "This is the west side; yonder are two tall fir trees. Now, -measure off thirty-two paces." - -Felgate commenced to do so, Drake following at his heels. - -"... Twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty---- Ha!" - -For the thirtieth pace had brought him to the edge of the stream, and -the thirty-second would be as near as anything right in the centre of -the river bed. - -For a moment we stood aghast. Surely there must be some mistake! Then -Drake, slapping me soundly on the back, exclaimed in excited tones: -"Bethink thee, Aubrey, the old hag's words: 'Till the waters run dry'!" - -"And what of that?" I replied, dull of comprehension. - -"Simply that the treasure lies in the bed of the stream. We must divert -its course and the hiding place will be revealed." - -"Let me try," exclaimed the impetuous Felgate, and in spite of our -protests he waded into the water, which seemingly rose no higher than -his knees. - -At the third step he suddenly lurched forward, threw out his arms in a -frantic effort to regain his balance, then disappeared beneath the -surface. - -The next instant he reappeared; but though he kept his head above the -water, his legs were held by the weeds, and a look of horror overspread -his face when he realized the danger of his position. - -Had we not been there, his fate would have been sealed; but, cautiously -wading in, Drake holding my left hand, I extended my right arm towards -him. - -I grasped him with a great effort, and we dragged him out of the hole, -his jack boot being wrenched from his foot by the unrelenting grip of -the tendrils. - -"You are right, Drake," he panted. "There's a deep hole there, and the -treasure lies in it." - -"Come, then, at once," said Drake, "to the village, and enrol every man -who can use mattock and spade. We'll have a channel cut here" -(indicating a semicircle of about forty yards in diameter), "and dam the -stream on each side of this hole." - -There was no need to go as far as the village. Already the strange -tidings had spread, and a motley throng of villagers were gathered -around the entrance to the estate, curious, yet loath to come nearer. - -They raised a cheer at our approach, and when we told them of our wants -there was a general stampede on the part of the men folk for digging -implements. - -While we awaited their return, a man having the air of petty authority -stepped up to us and, addressing me, said: - -"You are Sir Aubrey Wentworth, I am told." - -I assented, and at the same time asked the fellow his business. - -"In me you see the lawful representative of the sheriff of York. Before -you delve, or take possession of, any portion of this land, I must have -his authority. For aught I know, saving your presence, ye may be -adventurers of low degree, outlaws, or the like." - -"And where is your authority?" I demanded, wroth at being interfered -with on my own land. - -For answer he pulled a parchment from his pouch and held it up for my -inspection. - -"And have you any proof, sir, that you are lord of Holwick?" he -continued. - -Save for a few papers relating to the finding of the treasure I had -none; even the title deeds, though close at hand, were not to be -produced till the stream had been diverted; so I shook my head. Surely -it was a pretty pass--a knight without a scrap of script to prove -himself such! - -"Then, till you get authority from the sheriff I cannot allow you to -tarry here," said the bailiff in a deferential yet decisive tone. - -"Then there remains but for me to journey to York," I replied. "How far -lies the city?" - -"One hour's ride by Fulford will bring you to Walmgate Bar. The -sheriff, methinks, will be found at Clifford's Tower." - -Ten minutes later Drake and I were spurring hotly towards York, Felgate, -by reason of having but one jack boot and wet clothes, being compelled -to stay behind, and before long the massive towers of the Minster showed -above the skyline. - -So strong was our pace that in less than the hour our horses' hoofs -clattered under the archway of the Bar. - -On our being ushered into the presence of the sheriff, that worthy, a -man of fierce and resolute aspect, curtly demanded our business. - -"Sir Aubrey Wentworth, forsooth," he cried, "and not a word in writing -to prove your right! Nay, good sirs, I cannot grant you your desires on -so weighty a matter with so light a claim. A person of repute must -identify you." - -"But I know no man in the whole of Yorkshire!" I exclaimed, feeling the -hopelessness of my position. - -"Then authority must be obtained from the King's Court at St. James's. -I can say no more to you, Sir Aubrey, so I wish you good-day." - -His manner showed that the interview had ended, and, sick at heart, I -left his presence, Drake offering me wasted yet well-meaning -consolation. - -We walked slowly towards Petergate, where our steeds had been stabled. -As we turned into that street an officer came swiftly round the corner, -so that we ran violently against each other. In a moment I recognized -him; he was none other than Ralph Slingsby, who brought the tidings of -the Restoration to us at the "Flying Bull" at Rake on the same evening -that my father was murdered. - -"Ah, Captain Slingsby!" I exclaimed. - -He eyed me with astonishment. - -"I know you not, young sir, and as for the captain, that is but a bygone -handle to my name, for I am Colonel Ralph Slingsby at your service." - -Briefly I recalled the scene in the "Flying Bull". - -"Then you are Sir Owen Wentworth's son?" he asked. - -I assented, and told him briefly of what had happened. - -"Back with me to the sheriff's house," he said. "It would ill repay the -friendship I owed your father if I did not render this slight service to -his son. Young sir, I see now that you are the very image of your -father when first I knew him." - -With Slingsby to aid us, the interview with the sheriff was of short -duration, and, armed with a warrant, I left his presence in a far better -mood than I was in an hour before. - -Shaking the colonel warmly by the hand, I bade him farewell, promising -to call upon him directly my affairs were settled, and, mounting our -horses, Drake and I sped joyfully back towards Holwick, which we reached -within four hours of our departure. - -For the rest of the day our army of workers toiled at their arduous -task, and before nightfall a cutting was made sufficiently wide and deep -to divert the stream. - -Next morning the men commenced to construct the two dams, and so well -did they labour that by noon the river was diverted, and only a pool of -water covered the mysterious hole where we supposed the treasure was -lying. - -Then came the difficulty of getting rid of the water and emptying the -cavity in the old bed of the river. Pumps were procured, yet the -progress was slow, and as the sun sank to rest the bed was dry, though a -pool of dark water showed clearly the position of the hiding place. - -"Why did Sir Owen go to that extreme trouble?" remarked Drake, as we -were returning to the inn. "Surely he could have deposited the treasure -and the papers with Master Whitehead?" - -"I cannot tell," I replied, "except, perhaps, that his faith in lawyers -was none too strong." - -"Then he was like my sire," rejoined Felgate, laughing. "For he used to -say: 'Show me a lawyer and I'll show you a thief!'" - -Early next morning the work of pumping was resumed, and as the water -sank slowly down the mouth of the cavity, a dark object showed amidst -the lank weeds. One of the men pounced upon it, cut the restraining -tendrils, and held the object up for our inspection. It was Felgate's -jack boot. - -Before noon the pumps sucked dry; the hole was emptied of water. A -ladder was thrust down, and found a firm bottom at about fifteen feet. -Armed with lanterns, Felgate and I prepared to descend, and, having -fastened a rope round our waists, we commenced carefully to climb down -the ladder. - -By the fitful glimmer of the candles we could see that we were in a -vaulted chamber, the roof of which had caved in, forming the aperture -through which we had descended. Apparently it had at one time been a -subterranean passage between the castle and the village, but walls had -been built, converting it into a small chamber of about twenty feet in -length and six in breadth. - -The floor was slimy with mud, and when our eyes had grown accustomed to -the darkness we perceived an object lying close to our feet. Felgate -stooped and flashed the lantern on it. It was the body of Increase -Joyce, his features drawn horribly in his death struggles! - -We shouted for another rope to be let down, and, tying it round the -limp, lifeless form, we gave the signal, and the body of the unfortunate -ruffian was drawn up to the light of day. - -Another object met our gaze; it was the skeleton of a man encased in -armour that showed him to have been a Roundhead. He must have perished -during the attack on the castle, for his heavy broadsword was found by -his side. - -"Send a man down with a spade," called Felgate to those above, and -presently a man came down the ladder, followed by Drake. In less than -an hour the mud was heaped in one corner of the vault, laying bare a -hard, roughly paved floor. Still there was no sign of the -much-sought-for prize. - -The damp, unhealthy atmosphere made our heads swim, so for a time the -work was suspended and we gained the upper air, where a crowd of morbid -countrymen were dividing their attention between the corpse of the -unfortunate Increase Joyce and the gaping hole from which we had -emerged. - -A rest of half an hour revived us, and we returned to the attack with -feverish anxiety. - -"Three feet down and we'll come across it right enough," said Drake, and -lustily two stout countrymen plied their tools. - -The cobbles, set in cement, were like an iron plate, but once these were -removed the work of digging a hole became easy. As the depth increased -our excitement rose, till at length one of the mattocks struck something -that emitted a metallic sound. It was a heavy iron chest. - -When laid bare, the box was about three feet in length, about two feet -in breadth, and a foot and a half in depth. Two handles, rusted with -age, were sufficiently strong to enable the chest to be hoisted by means -of a stout rope, and with a shout of suppressed excitement from the -crowd the precious box was hauled up and deposited on the grass. - -[Illustration: THE CHEST IS HOISTED TO THE SURFACE] - -As we had no keys a cold chisel was required, but, this not being -forthcoming, a man was dispatched to the village to procure one. - -While we were waiting, the bailiff, who was now most civil and obliging, -placed in my hands an object that had been found in Joyce's pocket. It -was the long-lost metal box which my father had mentioned in his will, -but its contents were simply two pieces of faded and much-handled paper -containing one-third of the mysterious directions that had so puzzled -the murderer and would-be thief. - -On the messenger's return we used the cold chisel to such good purpose -that the massive lid flew open with a clang and a groan, disclosing a -number of canvas sacks filled with coins of all sorts. Underneath were -a few pieces of silver-plate, such as had not been melted down for the -use of His Late Majesty King Charles, the martyr, while at the bottom of -the chest was a package carefully protected by a covering of oiled silk. - -Tearing open the covering, I found all the documentary evidence that was -required to prove my right to the Manor of Holwick--the cup of joy was -filled to overflowing, and, in spite of my surroundings, I sought relief -in a flood of tears. - - ---- - -Concerning the events that marked the close of the strange history of my -father's will there is but little to write. - -The contents of the treasure chest were sufficient for me to restore the -Manor of Holwick to its former greatness. The castle still stands, a -venerable ruin, but a small yet stately mansion, designed by the great -Wren himself, occupies a commanding position within a mile of the -shattered remains of our ancestral hall. - -Still the years roll on. The Merrie Monarch was succeeded by his -brother James, whose ill-advised acts alienated his subjects. William -and Mary then reigned, William being succeeded by his wife's sister, -good Queen Anne, whom God preserve. All these monarchs I have actively -served; and when the call of duty has not taken me to the high seas, or -on service in some foreign land, my leisure time has always been spent -in the quietness of Holwick. - -One by one the friends of my youth have gone. None have I grieved for -more than for Felgate when I learned of his glorious death in the moment -of victory at the battle of La Hogue. Greville Drake still remains my -tried and trusted companion, and our greatest pleasure during our -frequent meetings is to talk of the many adventures of our youth in the -days of the Merrie Monarch. - - - - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LAD OF GRIT *** - - - - -A Word from Project Gutenberg - - -We will update this book if we find any errors. - -This book can be found under: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/39490 - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one -owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and -you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission -and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the -General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and -distributing Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works to protect the -Project Gutenberg(tm) concept and trademark. 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